Cambridge cox Jack Nicholas launched an X-rated verbal tirade not befitting the prestigious Boat Race just moments after the starting gun went off. Nicholas was coxing for Cambridge in the Women’s Boat Race against Oxford when the two boats crashed into each other, seconds into the competition.
Matthew Pinsent waved a red flag while Nicholas could be heart shouting: “F****** move it!” Pinsent considered disqualification but decided to restart the race instead.
Cambridge were, however, handed a 1/3 of a length advantage after Oxford’s Daniel Orton, in the inferior lane round this first corner, was deemed to be at fault.
Jasper Parrish, who coxed for Cambridge in 2023, assured viewers that a challenge would be made at the end of the race, no matter the end result.
Last year’s race wasn’t without its share of drama either as Oxford cox Joe Gellett launched an appeal, claiming that Cambridge had cut them off. However, his appeal was unsuccessful.
The Boat Race rules state: “It shall be considered a foul, when after each race has started, there shall be any physical contact between the boats, oars, or persons, of the two crews.
“In the event of a foul occurring either crew may claim, to the Umpire, that the other crew be disqualified.
“If the crew making the claim was in its proper course, and the crew against whom the claim is made was out of its proper course, the latter shall be disqualified unless the foul was so slight as not to influence the race.
“In this case the crew against who the claim was made shall only be disqualified if, in the opinion of the Umpire, it has seriously or deliberately encroached on the course of the crew making the claim.”
Following the early controversy, the Cambridge boat eventually claimed a comfortable win in a time of 19:25, completing the course with a clear gap between them at the line.
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