The Boat Race Trophies Go On Public Display at Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge
The Boat Race Company Ltd. is pleased to announce the display of the Men’s and Women’s Boat Race trophies at The Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge.
With the support of Cambridge University, for the first time in the history of The Oxford and Cambridge University Boat Race – one of the world’s oldest annual sporting events, regularly watched by 250,000 riverside supporters and 10 million TV viewers worldwide – five trophies associated with this Battle of the Blues will go on public display in the Courtyard of the Fitzwilliam Museum from 9 November 2021 until 27 March 2022. These trophies are:
1. The current Men’s Blue Boat Race Trophy, known as The Aberdeen Asset Management ‘Quaich’
2. The current Women’s Blue Boat Race Trophy, known as The Newton Trophy
3. The original Women’s Blue Boat Race Trophy, known as The Francombe Cup
4. The current Men’s Reserve Boat Race Trophy, known as the Goldie-Isis Cup
5. The current Women’s Reserve Boat Race Trophy, known as the Blondie-Osiris Cup
Until now, the two Blue Boat trophies have resided in the offices of sponsors and only brought out on Race Day. In 2020, it was decided that responsibility for safe storage of the trophies between Boat Races should pass to the winning University. The 2021 Men’s and the Women’s Boat Races were won on April 4th by Cambridge University Boat Club , giving a unique opportunity to display both trophies side by side in The Fitzwilliam Museum.
With the support of Cambridge University, for the first time in the history of The Oxford and Cambridge University Boat Race – one of the world’s oldest annual sporting events, regularly watched by 250,000 riverside supporters and 10 million TV viewers worldwide – five trophies associated with this Battle of the Blues will go on public display in the Courtyard of the Fitzwilliam Museum from 9 November 2021 until 27 March 2022. These trophies are:
1. The current Men’s Blue Boat Race Trophy, known as The Aberdeen Asset Management ‘Quaich’
2. The current Women’s Blue Boat Race Trophy, known as The Newton Trophy
3. The original Women’s Blue Boat Race Trophy, known as The Francombe Cup
4. The current Men’s Reserve Boat Race Trophy, known as the Goldie-Isis Cup
5. The current Women’s Reserve Boat Race Trophy, known as the Blondie-Osiris Cup
Until now, the two Blue Boat trophies have resided in the offices of sponsors and only brought out on Race Day. In 2020, it was decided that responsibility for safe storage of the trophies between Boat Races should pass to the winning University. The 2021 Men’s and the Women’s Boat Races were won on April 4th by Cambridge University Boat Club , giving a unique opportunity to display both trophies side by side in The Fitzwilliam Museum.
Dr Victoria Avery, The Fitzwilliam Museum said "The Boat Race is an annual sporting highlight for millions but very few people have ever had the chance to see the winners’ trophies up close. And even fewer realise that the Blue Boat trophies are actually significant examples of contemporary British silver"
The Boat Race Company Limited (BRCL) Chair, Tim Senior, said
“Aside from being the rewards for immense sporting endeavour, the Boat Race trophies are beautiful works of art in themselves. We are very pleased that they will be on public display within The Fitzwilliam Museum for the first time and would like to thank Museum Director Luke Syson, Applied Arts Keeper Dr Victoria Avery and their team for making this display possible. We hope this exhibition will appeal to a wide range of people who will be able to see these trophies, learn more about The Boat Race and discover how much sport and art have in common.”
Nick Brooking, Cambridge University’s Director of Sport said
“When we were made aware that the Boat Race trophies needed a new home we were keen to find somewhere that they could not just be kept secure but also viewed by the widest possible number of people. We were delighted when our colleagues at the Fitzwilliam Museum reacted so positively to our request for help and have added their professional expertise to make sure the trophies now shine brilliantly and also to tell the story around them.”
“Aside from being the rewards for immense sporting endeavour, the Boat Race trophies are beautiful works of art in themselves. We are very pleased that they will be on public display within The Fitzwilliam Museum for the first time and would like to thank Museum Director Luke Syson, Applied Arts Keeper Dr Victoria Avery and their team for making this display possible. We hope this exhibition will appeal to a wide range of people who will be able to see these trophies, learn more about The Boat Race and discover how much sport and art have in common.”
Nick Brooking, Cambridge University’s Director of Sport said
“When we were made aware that the Boat Race trophies needed a new home we were keen to find somewhere that they could not just be kept secure but also viewed by the widest possible number of people. We were delighted when our colleagues at the Fitzwilliam Museum reacted so positively to our request for help and have added their professional expertise to make sure the trophies now shine brilliantly and also to tell the story around them.”
Nick Brooking, Cambridge University’s Director of Sport said, "We were delighted when our colleagues at the Fitzwilliam Museum reacted so positively to our request for help and have added their professional expertise to make sure the trophies now shine brilliantly and also to tell the story around them.”
Dr Victoria Avery, Keeper Applied Arts said,
"The Boat Race is an annual sporting highlight for millions but very few people have ever had the chance to see the winners’ trophies up close. And even fewer realise that the Blue Boat trophies are actually significant examples of contemporary British silver. I am thrilled that this year’s double Cambridge Blue Boat victory has given the Fitzwilliam Museum a unique opportunity to display both trophies side by side. For the first time in Boat Race history, people will be able to see for themselves just how beautiful these iconic trophies are, and appreciate all the skill and thought that has gone into their design and making. And it’s especially fitting that both trophies are on display in Cambridge given that the 2021 Boat Race unusually took place on the River Great Ouse in nearby Ely (rather than on its traditional venue on the River Thames in South-West London). The Blue Boat trophies are joined by three other key trophies connected with The Boat Race: the original Women’s Blue Boat trophy, first awarded in 1936, and the cups awarded to the Men’s and Women’s Reserve Boats."
"The Boat Race is an annual sporting highlight for millions but very few people have ever had the chance to see the winners’ trophies up close. And even fewer realise that the Blue Boat trophies are actually significant examples of contemporary British silver. I am thrilled that this year’s double Cambridge Blue Boat victory has given the Fitzwilliam Museum a unique opportunity to display both trophies side by side. For the first time in Boat Race history, people will be able to see for themselves just how beautiful these iconic trophies are, and appreciate all the skill and thought that has gone into their design and making. And it’s especially fitting that both trophies are on display in Cambridge given that the 2021 Boat Race unusually took place on the River Great Ouse in nearby Ely (rather than on its traditional venue on the River Thames in South-West London). The Blue Boat trophies are joined by three other key trophies connected with The Boat Race: the original Women’s Blue Boat trophy, first awarded in 1936, and the cups awarded to the Men’s and Women’s Reserve Boats."
The Boat Race Company Limited (BRCL) Chair, Tim Senior, said “Aside from being the rewards for immense sporting endeavour, the Boat Race trophies are beautiful works of art in themselves.
📸 Photo Credit Michael Jones & Copyright The Fitzwilliam Museum
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