Object Detail
Object Name
medal
Description
Oxford and Cambridge University Boat Race medal 1877 (dead heat).
A silver medal enclosed glass casing with silver edge, awarded to a member of the Cambridge University crew.
This medal commemorates one of the strangest episodes in the race's history. Few believed that it really had been a dead heat, many were convinced that Oxford had won. There were slurs upon the intergrity of the finishing judge 'Honest' John Phelps, not surprisingly, as he tried to record his verdict without the aid of a finishing post or any kind of marker, and despite the fact that he was well over 70 and 'a bit blind'. Needless to say he was not asked to judge again.
A silver medal enclosed glass casing with silver edge, awarded to a member of the Cambridge University crew.
This medal commemorates one of the strangest episodes in the race's history. Few believed that it really had been a dead heat, many were convinced that Oxford had won. There were slurs upon the intergrity of the finishing judge 'Honest' John Phelps, not surprisingly, as he tried to record his verdict without the aid of a finishing post or any kind of marker, and despite the fact that he was well over 70 and 'a bit blind'. Needless to say he was not asked to judge again.
Accession No
1999.4
Collection
Rowing
Associated Date
1877
Associated Period
19th century
Associated Event
The Boat Race, 1877
Date
1877