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手に汗握るボート対抗戦
1829年に始まり、今年で149回目を迎えたオックスフォード大学とケンブリッジ大学の対抗ボートレース。テムズ川沿いに25万人もの観客を集めたこのレースは、国内はもちろん、世界中でテレビ放映されるほどの人気イベントなのです。今年は史上まれにみる接戦でした。果たしてレースの結果はいかに!?
The 149th University Boat Race
On a cold and dreary April afternoon, 250,000 people gathered along the banks of the River Thames in London, while 7.7 million people in the U.K. and 400 million people around the world tuned their televisions to the BBC.
Everyone eagerly awaited the start of the most popular British collegiate sporting event of the year: the 149th University Boat Race. What we were about to witness was perhaps the most memorable battle in the competitive history of eternal rivals Cambridge and Oxford.
The University Boat Race is, quite simply, a race between two rowboats, with eight oarsmen to a boat. Oxford and Cambridge have a history of fierce rivalry that goes back centuries. In all sports, from soccer and rugby to judo and ping-pong, the Oxbridge battle is occasion for excitement and suspense. The University Boat Race in particular is rich in tradition, with the very first race taking place in 1829.
Last year's race was considered the best in years, as the Oxford Dark Blues vanquished the Cambridge Light Blues by the closest of margins in the 4 1/2-mile race. This year's University Boat Race, however, was heavily reported to be in Cambridge's favor. Not only was the Cambridge crew heavier than Oxford's by a stone per man, the Oxford crew was young and inexperienced, while the Cambridge crew was comprised of seasoned veterans. To make matters worse, Oxford had lost the coin toss and would be starting from the northern side of the river, a disadvantageous position.
I stood on the riverside with my friends near the goal. It's more exciting to watch the boats approach you as they cross the finish line, rather than see them start and disappear into the distance. We had a portable TV so we could hear the live broadcast from the reporters and watch the majority of the race. We waited with bated breath as the boats were lined up at the starting point. The tension lingered in the air as we prayed our oarsmen would win.
The audience roared as the race began with excellent starts from both crews. Oxford took an early lead, with their youthful energy propelling them forward in vigorous spurts. Yet Cambridge remained close on our heels, with a controlled calm that echoed their experience and maturity.
The Light Blues took the lead a number of times during the middle of the course. Yet neither boat would relent. The suspense was unbelievable as the Dark Blues came ahead by just seven feet at the very last river bend. As the crews approached the finish, it appeared as if the race would end in a dead heat.
At the final stretch, Oxford's lead quickly began to diminish as Cambridge started an incredible last spurt. With the energy still left in their bodies, Cambridge put up a gutsy comeback, while the young Oxford crew passionately struggled to hold on. My friends and I stood frozen, completely captivated by the amazing race before our eyes.
As the boats crossed the finish line, none could discern the winner. The race was that close. The stopwatch clocked each boat at 18 minutes 6 seconds. Neither crew celebrated as it stopped rowing. The oarsmen just sat limp in their boats, exhausted. Yet as the official results were checked, it was announced that Oxford were victorious by a mere foot - the closest race in Unversity Boat Race history.
Everyone who had watched the 2003 race knew they had witnessed the most thrilling, dramatic race ever. I saw something very special, a feat of sportsmanship by both crews that was truly legendary. Congratulations to all!
Shukan ST: May 30, 2003
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- University
- オックスフォード大学とケンブリッジ大学のこと
- dreary
- 陰気な
- gathered
- 集まった
- banks
- 土手
- River Thames
- テムズ川
- tuned their televisions to 〜
- チャンネルを〜に合わせた
- eagerly awaited 〜
- 〜を待ちわびていた
- collegiate
- 大学の
- were about to witness
- 目の当たりにすることとなる
- competitive
- 競争の
- eternal
- 永遠の
- rowboats
- 手こぎボート
- oarsmen
- こぎ手
- fierce rivalry
- 激しいライバル関係
- goes back centuries
- 何世紀もさかのぼる
- Oxbridge
- オックスフォード大とケンブリッジ大
- suspense
- はらはらすること
- in particular
- 特に
- rich in tradition
- 長い伝統を誇る
- taking place
- 開催された
- was considered 〜
- 〜と見なされた
- Dark Blues
- オックスフォード大のチーム名
- vanquished 〜
- 〜を負かした
- Light Blues
- ケンブリッジ大のチーム名
- margins
- 差
- mile
- マイル(約1.6キロメートル)
- was heavily reported to be in 〜
- 〜が非常に有利とされていた
- crew
- ボートチーム
- stone
- ストーン(約6.35キログラム)
- per 〜
- 〜に付き
- inexperienced
- 経験の浅い
- was comprised of 〜
- 〜で構成されていた
- seasoned
- 経験のある
- To make matters worse
- さらに悪いことに
- had lost the coin toss
- コイントスに負けた
- disadvantageous
- 不利な
- riverside
- 川岸
- rather than 〜
- 〜するより
- disappear into the distance
- かなたに消えていく
- portable 〜
- 携帯〜
- live broadcast
- 生中継
- with bated breath
- かたずをのんで
- were lined up
- 並んだ
- tension lingered in the air
- 緊張感が漂っていた
- roared
- ざわめいた
- propelling 〜 forward
- 〜を前に進ませる
- in vigorous spurts
- 力漕で
- remained close on our heels
- すぐ後ろについていた
- calm
- 落ち着き
- echoed 〜
- 〜がにじみ出た
- maturity
- 熟練
- a number of times
- 何度か
- relent
- 勢いが弱まる
- came ahead
- 前に出た
- feet
- フィート(約30.48センチ)
- bend
- 湾曲部
- it appeared as if the race would end in a dead heat
- レースは同着に終わるかに見えた
- At the final stretch
- 最後の直線で
- diminish
- 縮まる
- incredible
- 見事な
- put up a gutsy comeback
- 力強い追い上げを見せた
- passionately
- 一生懸命に
- struggled to hold on
- 持ちこたえようとした
- completely captivated by 〜
- 完全に〜に夢中になって
- none could discern 〜
- だれも〜が分からなかった
- that
- それほど
- sat limp
- ぐったりしていた
- exhausted
- 疲れ果てて
- mere
- わずか
- feat
- 偉業
- legendary
- 伝説に残るような