THE BIRTH OF ENGLISH ORTHODOXY letter in Bell’s Life, the foul that marred the second boat-race in 1849398 was in large measure attributable to instructions given by Coombes to the Cambridge coxswain. This professionalism on the part of Cambridge led to a breach between the C.U.B.C. and Mr. Egan, and in 1852, being then on a visit to Oxford, Egan offered his services as coach to the Dark Blues. “The offer was accepted, and the resulting Oxford Crew, one of the finest ever put on the water by the O.U.B.C., won the race against Cambridge by six lengths.”399 “Cambridge reverted to better methods, the quarrel between them and Tom Egan was made up, and in 1854 he was not only put in charge of the Cambridge crew but was actually made President of the C.U.B.C., though he had taken his degree so far back as 1839. Since that time there has been no professional control or coaching of Univer- sity eights [as of 1908].”400 A.T.W. Shadwell coached Oxford against the Egan-coached Cambridge crews in 1854 and 1858401 as their collaboration and friendship continued. Soon professionals were being spurned as coaches of amateurs in every sport. You might recall that in the 1981 film Chariots of Fire, English 1924 Olympic Champion 100- meter sprinter Harold Abrahams had to hide Coombes do not differ substantially.” – Egan, Principles, p. 3 398 Cambridge took an early lead and as they say, “took Oxford’s water,” moved over in front the Oxford boat. When Oxford caught back up, Cambridge did not move back into its own water quickly enough and was bumped from behind. Oxford later crossed the finish line second but was awarded the win due to the foul. It is the only occasion in Boat Race history that a race has been decided on a foul. – Dodd, Oxford & Cambridge, p. 92 399 Lehmann, p. 14 400 Ibid, p. 16 401 Burnell, Swing, p. 23; Burnell, Oxford and Cambridge, pp. 241-2 the fact that he employed a professional trainer by the name of Sam Mussabini. The Role of the Coxswain The further influence of Egan and Shadwell on their sport cannot be underestimated. Not only did they banish professional watermen from coaching and training University crews in favor of guidance from within the team itself, but they also elevated the role of the coxswain. Lehmann: “Coxswains, to be sure, will refer you to the early history of rowing, and will point to the honoured names of Tom Egan and Arthur Shadwell, who for many years not only steered the crews of their respective Universities, but also took command of them and coached them. In and out of the boat, their word was law. They did not confine themselves to trite admonitions in regard to time or feather, but they acted as style-masters and trainers of their galley-slaves, and lorded it over the world of oarsmen.”402 Postscript: A.T.W. Shadwell In 1850, Arthur Shadwell became rector of St. Wilfred’s Church in Langton, Yorkshire. In 1879, he moved on to the ancient church of St. Mary, Little Ilford, near London.403 In around 1888, when he was about 68 years old, he had a memorable chance encounter with rowing coach and historian, Rudie Lehmann, then 32, which gives us some sense of Shadwell as a man of ardent opinion. Lehmann, remembering in 1908: “It was my privilege some twenty years ago to meet and converse with the Rev. Arthur Shadwell. The ancient hero had been sculling himself and his little bag of belongings down the river when he had been 402 Lehmann, p. 97 403 www.british-history.ac.uk 111
