Feminising The Oxford, Cambridge Boat Race.

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/others/boat-race-2015-the-tide-has-finally-turned-for-britains-female-rowers-10156376.html

Nothing wrong in presenting a women's Oxford/Cambridge boat race, but should the traditional men's race be high-jacked in such a way as being rowed downriver, with the tide?

/// Robert Gillespie, chairman of the Boat Race Company, agreed that holding the men’s and women’s races on the same day was “good for rowing, for gender equality, and for sport as a whole”. ///

/// “The women will not achieve the same times and top speeds as the men, but this is not the ambition in moving them to the Tideway [the downriver, tidal part of the Thames],” he said. “The Women’s Boat Race is no less competitive and the athletes train and prepare in the same way, holding themselves to the same standard as the men. The move to the Tideway will showcase this and offer the same opportunities to both men and women.”

[boxtops]

Ludwig, do you mind :-) I drive better in reverse that I do going forward.

[New Judge]

Of course all competetive rowers run their races in reverse !!

[DaisyNonna]

jomifl that was just rude

[anotheoldgit]

Obviously I did misinterpret what had been written, for which I do apologise.

Thanks to those that took the time to point out my mistakes, especially the Judge who appears to have much more knowledge on the subject than most, and was polite enough to correct me without the usual rudeness that some others felt necessary to add.

[boxtops]

Well said, AOG

[jomifl]

The chair? no need to be so defensive...your name isn't Claire by any chance? By the way I am not the subject of this discussion..

[New Judge]

No apology necessary on my part, aog. Glad to be able to help iron out the misunderstanding.

Just on a point of pedantry, methyl, technically the Thames is tidal up to Teddington Lock. Richmond Lock is actually part of a comple including the lock and a "half tide barrage". The barrage has gates which are lowered into the water a couple of hours after high tide and it has the effect of keeping a navigable depth of water between Teddington and Richmond. Whilst the barrage is in this position vessels have to pass through the lock. A couple of hours before the next high tide the gates are lifted and vessels can pass through unimpeded. Without the barrage the river would only be navigable between Richmond and Teddington for an hour or two either side of the high tide.