West London's Golden Stars: The Oxford vs Cambridge Boat Race

The banks of the West London Thames were packed to the brim. If I had not shown up early I would not have been able to jockey for a position to see any of the action amongst the West Londoners. Each group of them brandished bottles of champagne, rosé, and Pimm’s. Adorned with wide sunglasses, even wider brimmed hats, and tight linens from head to toe. I found myself in Chiswick, attending the boat race – a famed tradition on this side of London. A long-standing tradition where Oxford and Cambridge compete in a crew race along the Thames.

There were two ways in which observers could enjoy this spectacle. Some sections were made up of generally quiet, family-dominated areas transformed into a display of grandeur. Helicopters consistently flew overhead, food trucks lined the foot paths along the river, and massive TV screens had been set up for those who could not force their way up to the front to see the action. Picture a daytime music festival full of influencers. A party-focused, booze-heavy event — leaving what was meant to be the main attraction an afterthought. These folks were not focused on the action on the river, but rather a different liquid flow. That is not to say that they were not passionate about either university. It seems everyone in attendance had a connection to either Oxford or Cambridge. They would scream their support between their belches and sips. It felt a bit like the Musselburgh horse races, if the races were focused on two relatively slow moving boats that you could hardly see. 

Further west, the atmosphere changed. Quieter, more race focused. An older crowd, murmuring puzzling chat you could overhear—about their own larger seafaring vessels, their varying size and capacity, or the tenuous tube ride in from Richmond, Chelsea, or Belgravia. Naturally, they debated their tight-knit family connections to these elite institutions in competition.  

There were four total races: Women’s Reserve, Women's First Boat, Men’s Reserve, and finally the Men's First Boats. I spoke to Daisy, Chiswick resident, who told me her parents had actually met at the very race years prior. She goes every year with her family and recalled how the event brought the community aspect of West London to life for the day. “It is one of those classic West London traditions where everyone flocks to the river, not necessarily for the race, but to be together and for the fun of it… and it does not hurt that the weather is so good.” I have found all it really takes for Londoners to get excited is just a bit of sunshine. I can’t imagine the amount of sick days which must be taken when the temperature breaches 15 degrees and the sun pops out from behind the clouds. Any socially acceptable excuse to shift the drinking to outside must be taken advantage of. A spectacle and some sun? Sounds like a worthy pretext to drink to me.

As for the 13 April competition, it was a clean sweep. Cambridge dominated, winning every race by a wide margin. Well done Cambridge. I wonder when St Andrews will be allowed to compete in the race. We have been ranked number one university in the United Kingdom recently. Some have even added ‘St’ to Oxbridge. When either of these things will happen is beyond me. When talking to people around town, it still seems as though most of the Brits here are rejects from either Oxford or Cambridge. What would I know about this though? Oxford and Cambridge were not even on my list. After sifting through Ivy League rejections, St Andrews was easily my first choice in the UK. I wouldn’t say I’m resentful. There I stood, admiring intently as the entirety of West London cheered on their golden stars. Jerks.

Photo by Walt Scott