THE 2021 Boat Race won’t happen on the Thames – for the primary time in 185 years.
Organisers have moved the annual Cambridge v Oxford race to the Nice Ouse at Ely, Cambridgeshire to keep away from giant crowds gathering in London subsequent April.
The 2021 Boat Race between Cambridge and Oxford will happen on the Nice River Ouse in AprilCredit score: AFP or licensors
Official races have been held on a Thames course because the second staging of the race in 1836.
The Boat Race was held away from London in the course of the Second World Conflict however these had been unofficial occasions.
A press release mentioned: “The choice to relocate the 2021 occasion displays the problem of planning a high-profile newbie occasion round persevering with Covid-related restrictions.”
Nonetheless, the security considerations over Hammersmith Bridge additionally performed a big function within the choice to relocate.
The landmark bridge, nearly on the midway level on the common Thames course, has been closed for the final 18 months on account of structural points.
All river traffic under the bridge was banned in August after giant cracks had been found with restore prices estimated at £120million.
The course for 2021 on the Nice River Ouse is three miles, a mile shorter than the same old Putney to Mortlake course in London.
There can even not be the bends which frequently play their half within the Boat Race spectacle – as an alternative it will likely be one lengthy slog in a straight line to the top at Littleport.
Hammersmith Bridge is at the moment closed and is taken into account too dangerous to have river site visitors move beneathCredit score: Occasions Newspapers Ltd
This yr’s occasion was axed 13 days before it was scheduled to go ahead because of the global coronavirus pandemic.
Cambridge won both men’s and women’s races in 2019, as James Cracknell joined up with the Gentle Blues.
Their men lead Oxford in the all-time head-to-head record 84-80 with one draw from 165 races whereas the ladies from Cambridge – who took on Oxford first in 1927 – are forward 44-30.
Cambridge gained all 4 races in 2019 with James Cracknell, second proper, becoming a member of the boys’s workforceCredit score: Reuters
Cambridge president Dara Alizadeh lifts the trophy in the course of the 2019 celebrationsCredit score: Reuters
