Two Crimson Oarsmen View English Crew

The first two Americans-and the first two Harvard graduates-over to row together on a Cambridge crew will paddle down the Thames River against Oxford in the 101st Cambridge-Oxford Boat Race this Saturday. R. A. G. Monks '54 and P. M. DuBols (Initials are in the grand tradition) have written us a brief account of their adventures with English crew.

In training for the race both have avoided the outbreak of chicken pox which has struck several members of the crew. They have received favorable mention in the British press. The London Times, in particular, singled out Monks in its dally reports on the Cambridge work-outs. Writes the paper's correspondent, "Monks is their king pin, and dominates the crew. To see him start a hard paddle is a Joy, for he can move a mountain of water."

"Two weeks ago we moved from Henley to Putney, the starting place of the Boat Race. For more than a month we have given up all pretense of academic endeavor. We are living for rowing alone.

"Life at Putney came as a distinct shock to the old Harvard oarsman used to the spartan rigours of Red Top. . . . Every day a press launch follows the crews, and some hundreds of people show up to watch the eights paddle off from the boathouses.

"We not only row as the Cambridge crew, we live as the crew: clad in light blue from dawn until dusk. We wear old flannel bag pants and padded blazers during the day and dress for dinner. Studs are standard equipment. Special light blue blazers and white flannels complete the evening habit."

Their account goes on to describe other differences between Harvard and Cambridge training: "All the coaches are amateur and are invited by the Club President to take the crew for three week periods. Since January 1, we have had five different coaches. The president retains final authority over all they do and say."

As for the differences between Oxford and Cambridge: "Oxford will go into the race as firm favorites. This means absolutely nothing. It is almost a propitious sign since Cambridge has won as many races as Oxford has been favored in since the war ( 6 to 3 for Cambridge).

"Oxford is a neat, small, coherent, and stale crew. Their form has commanded plaudits from all sides, but their speed and racing Instinct is highly dubious. By English standards Cambridge has a large crew, by three pounds the heaviest ever to row in the Boat Race. We are certainly not as smooth, but have far more power and vigour."

This appears a fair appraisal, judging on the basis of recent London newspaper accounts.

The two oarsmen concluded their description with a general impression of English crew:

"Although English crew is amateur in name, it actually assumes a more dominant position in undergraduate life than at Harvard. Some undergraduates come to Cambridge simply to row. Even in these days, rowing a "blue" has definite financial advantages later in life. The academic standard of rowing people is lower than at Harvard, but the system seems to accommodate them.

"One should not conclude that the vast amount of time spent on rowing makes Cambridge crews either better coached, better conditioned, or faster; on the contrary, since so much of this time is ineffectually spent, on dressing, for example."

As for their predictions on the outcome: "A Cambridge victory by between four and ten lengths."