THE ERA OF POLARIZATION “New College was stunned. They couldn’t believe that we were going to do this, but they happily accepted. “The next day, we went out and had a tremendous race with them, and we bumped them right in front of their boathouse, which was immensely satisfying for all involved. “That illustrated the cultural difference, idealism versus a cynical practicality, which is the English way of doing things as we came to interpret it. “And that played itself out in the mutiny. Ultimately, we stuck to a very, very powerful set of right and wrong.”7595 After the 1987 mutiny, American Chris Penny was elected Captain of the O.U.B.C. He accepted with the proviso that Mike Spracklen be the chief coach. Was this vindication for the mutineers? Perhaps. With amusement, Topolski reports in True Blue that under Spracklen, “they reinstituted all the traditional Boat Race training schedules – running, circuits, pyramids, ladders, staircases, morning workouts and double outings on the weekends – which had been the source of all the discontent the previous year.”7596 In reality, sensible changes were made to the training schedule which made it much more efficient and user-friendly. Gill: “The gym tests and timed runs were cut, as were maximum weight circuits. They rowed between 1pm and 4pm six days a week. Much of the rowing was in pairs. The crews were coached daily, and the progress monitored continually by those coaches involved.”7597 And the hiring of Steve Royle as the paid professional Administrator of the Boat Club made a huge difference in reducing the piddle-around factor. 7595 Lyons, personal conversation, 2009 7596 Topolski, p. 304 7597 Gill, p. 179 Penny proposed a constitutional amendment to limit the power of the President and also encouraged the formation of a rower development program intended to benefit the colleges as well as the Blue Boat. Spracklen: “As I was men’s chief coach for the British Team, responsible for preparing crews for the Seoul Olympic Games, taking on Oxford in addition to my other duties was a huge commitment, particularly as I preferred to coach the crew myself through the whole of the programme. “We were fortunate to have had the help of Jon Fish, who had come to Oxford with the USA oarsmen as a coxswain in 1987 and was part of the mutiny. Chris Penny’s presidential role and Jon’s commitment as assistant coach after the fiasco of the previous year more than demonstrated the sincerity of the USA athletes and their respect for Oxford. “The preparation of the [1988] crew through the whole of their training with one coach meant a breakaway from the tradition of a team comprising several part-time coaches, but the benefits were clear to see. The programme was intensive, but it had continuity that was progressive under supervision that was consistent. The athletes had confidence in the amount of work they were being asked to do and trained with enthusiasm. “Oxford won the Boat Race in 1988, and the coaching structure never looked back. A full-time coach was seen as an advantage, and a professional has been in charge since that time. Cambridge followed with a full time professional a few years later.”7598 Who would have won that seat race between Clark and Macdonald if it had been run fairly? Who would have won between Ward and Pelham? Would Chris Clark have rounded into racing shape on bowside in the 7598 Spracklen, personal correspondence, 2010 2107
