Olympian and Boat Race Record Holder Announced as 2013 Umpires
Oxford Old Blues Sir Matthew Pinsent and Boris Rankov have been appointed as The 2013 BNY Mellon Boat Race Umpires. Boat Race umpiring veteran Rankov will take charge of the Isis Goldie Race, while this will be the first time that Pinsent has umpired The Boat Race.
Each year The Boat Race Umpires are chosen from a panel of Old Blues, comprising three members from each University. This year the honour of choosing the officials, from the opposing side, lay with Cambridge University Boat Club.
Sir Matthew Pinsent, who rowed for Oxford three times in the 1990, 1991 and 1993 Boat Races (as President in 1993), will take the honour of umpiring The Boat Race for the first time. He was Assistant Umpire to John Garrett last year in perhaps the most difficult Race of all time from an umpiring perspective, and umpired the 2011 Isis Goldie Race. He is one of Great Britain’s most successful athletes ever, winning four Olympic gold medals and 10 World Championship titles. Commenting on his appointment…
A Boat Race Umpire plays a crucial role not only on Race Day but also in the weeks and months leading up to the Race. They not only officiate at the trials and club fixtures during the season but also oversee certain key events during Tideway Week. Tideway Week is the final week leading up to The Boat Race and sees both University Boat Clubs training daily on the Championship Course. The Umpires will attend many of these training sessions and will oversee the all important practice starts and cox rehearsal, allowing them to guide the coxes on the line they expect the crews to take during the Race.
Boris Rankov has been announced as the Umpire for the Isis Goldie Race and said…Rankov has rowed in more Boat Races than any other athletes, leading Oxford to victory six times between 1978 and 1983. Rankov has also umpired The Boat Race three times, in 2003, 2005 and 2009.
The 159th Boat Race – sponsored by BNY Mellon – will take place at 16:30 on Sunday 31st March 2013.