The Boat Race - Oxford vs Cambridge

Saturday morning we journeyed out to Chiswick on the tube for a catch up with Cully and Mel, have a few pints and watch the Oxford vs Cambridge rowing race. After a bit of a tiki tour down around the river we pitched up for a few ales and ciders at the Black Lion which was coincidentally owned and run by a kiwi guy.

At about 2.15pm the rowing teams swept past our vantage point.  With clear flat water ahead of them getting into their work.  Their entourage of motor boats coming along behind churned up the dirty Thames River water.  

Rowing teams coming towards us

After the boats had passed we all gathered back in the pub to watch the race finish, where we found that an Aussie guy protesting about elitism had swum into the course of the boats and caused the race to stop. The race was restarted with the boats clashing oars just off the start line with an Oxford rower snapping an oar.  From here the race was a mere formality with 7 rowers against 8.  Cambridge the eventual winner of the race.

Oxford and Cambridge rowing teams on the Thames

It was a pretty chilly day so we headed for one of Cully's favorite local pubs for their famous Beef pie for two a beer an a chinwag.  The pubs over here are basically an extension of peoples living rooms, with children running around and the occasional dog tied up in the corner.