The 158th Boat Race takes place place on Saturday April 7 and local residents can watch the action from two of the best vantage points on the route, Bishop’s Park in Fulham and Furnivall Gardens in Hammersmith.

In what has become an annual tradition, H&F Council is hosting two family friendly Boat Race in the Park events, where revellers can catch all the action on giant screens for free, accompanied by beer tents and food.

The Bishop's Park event will offer visitors a chance to enjoy the new facilities including play areas and a refurbished cafe and will also feature live music, children's rides and sporting activities to keep guests entertained until the big event.

Both events take place from 12noon to 6pm, with the race itself starting at 2.15pm.

Bishop’s Park has the added advantage of being at the start of the race, while Furnivall Gardens takes in the middle of the course where the race starts to heat up as the crews make their move under Hammersmith Bridge.

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.

Despite their defeat last year, Cambridge  lead the overall series by 80 wins to 76, with the sides having drawn in a dead heat once in the 1800s.

Councillor Greg Smith, cabinet member for residents' services, says: "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."

The Boat Race in the Park events are organised in partnership by H&F Council and The Boat Race Company Ltd. For more information visit the Boat Race website or contact the council's Events Team on 0845 337 0314 or events@lbhf.gov.uk.

 

 

March 14, 2012