Full Description
Boat races and regattas are mainstays of the British summer - but where did these races originate and how have they become so important a part of our culture? Historian, writer and novice sculler Julie Summers here explains the history of British rowing as a competitive sport from the early nineteenth century to the present day. She then profiles the three most famous rowing events: the Boat Race, rowed on the incoming tide from Putney to Mortlake in spring; Henley Royal Regatta, which takes place on the first weekend of July; and the Olympic Games, which have yielded some of the greatest British Olympians of all time, including Sir Steve Redgrave, Sir Matthew Pinsent and Jack Beresford.
Contents
One Foot / The Rise of Competitive Rowing / Amateur Versus Professional / Racing: Principles and Traditions / The Boat Race / Henley Royal Regatta / Women's Rowing / The Olympic Games / Further Reading / Places to Visit / Index
