For many years a great deal of inequality has existed in sport. Those spectators who prefer watching the fairer gender in action have not been well catered for. Fortunately, at least in this respect, all Society members and their guests were fully satisfied at the boat races event this year – as we were treated to both the female and the male contests in one afternoon!
Rewinding a little, the afternoon actually began on an equestrian theme. We watched the Grand National on our television with great enthusiasm, not least because there were forty horses and we had forty people. Each attendee was awarded a horse upon arrival. Congratulations to member Keira McNeice for her victory with Many Clouds!
The women’s and the men’s boat races that followed shall not be dwelt upon as the wrong shade of blue surged to victory in each case. We did, however, very much enjoy the spectacles, the excitement and the atmosphere, watching the start of the races directly from our windows in our elegant Victorian-style private room and then turning to our television for the remainder of each race. Between the main races, the men’s reserve crews competed and, unfortunately, our Goldie boat was unable to prevent a victory for the dark blues, known in this case as Isis.
The outcomes of the three boat races soon faded from our memories as we tucked into a delicious three-course meal and drank the evening away. All in all, an entertaining and enjoyable occasion with delightful company.