Boat race in the Park

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Boat Race in the Park

Wednesday March 3, 2010

On your marks, get set, go! If you are looking for something to do on Easter Saturday, then look no further than Boat Race in Park!

The 156th Boat Race will be taking place on Saturday April 3 and you can watch the action from two of the best vantage points on the route, Bishop’s Park in Fulham and Furnivall Gardens in Hammersmith.

And with face painting, a bouncy castle, giant TV screens and a bar, this is truly an event not to be missed!

The first Boat Race took place in 1829 after Cambridge challenged Oxford to a race on the Thames. The modern race still runs along the same lines and has now become a major international sporting occasion drawing millions of viewers from around the world. On race day up to 250,000 spectators crowd the banks of the Thames to witness the action. The race actually runs through four London boroughs but Hammersmith & Fulham is the only borough to host public viewing on both the Thames path and on large screens. Bishop’s Park and Furnivall Gardens offer two of the best views for family and friends to take in the world-famous race.

The fun and games will start at Bishop’s Park at 12noon and will feature activities for all of the family, including a bouncy castle, face painting and refreshments. There will also be a beer tent and big screen so that revellers can enjoy the Boat Race in real style.

The race itself starts at 4.30pm with the best views from the Thames Path running through Bishops Park, Fulham. So if you want to sample the prestigious Boat Race atmosphere from the starting line, then this really is an event not to be missed.

There will also be a big screen and bar at Furnivall Gardens in Hammersmith. So if you want to watch the action from the first bend then this is the party for you.

With BBC coverage on brand new giant screens, there will be a great atmosphere in the parks for crowds of race goers to enjoy.

Councillor Paul Bristow, cabinet member for residents’ services, said: “The Boat Race is one of the highlights of the sporting calendar and is particularly special for borough residents. It also provides the perfect opportunity to enjoy two of the borough’s most-loved parks so why not bring a picnic and make it a great family day out.”

Following Oxford’s victory last year, Cambridge now leads the overall series by 79 wins to 75, with the sides having drawn in a dead heat once in the 1800s.

While the aim of both events is to provide a fun afternoon that will live long in the memory, the council is also committed to creating a cleaner greener borough. In order to keep both Bishop’s Park and Furnivall Gardens clean volunteers will be at both Bishop’s Park and Furnivall Gardens picking up litter.

For further information on the Boat Race visit www.theboatrace.org (opens new window) or contact the councils Events Team on 0845 337 0314 or events@lbhf.gov.uk.

Facts and figures:

  • The heaviest oarsman ever was Thorsten Engelmann, the stroke man of the 2007 Cambridge Blue Boat. He weighed in at 17 stone 6lbs (110.8 kilos).
  • The tallest oarsman ever is Josh West 6" 9.5" (2 metres 7 cm) - Cambridge 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002.
  • The 1877 race resulted in a dead-heat, the only time this has ever happened.
  • The current course record is 16 minutes and 19 seconds, set by Cambridge in 1998.