To coincide with the Paris 2024 Olympics we thought it would be a good idea to collaborate with Traditional Punting Company to do our very own Olympics and introduce a new sport into the mix, Punting.
Cambridge has had a longstanding connection to sport throughout history, most famously the annual Oxford and Cambridge boat race that is held on the River Thames each March. Seven Team GB rowers in the 2008 Beijing Olympics were members of Cambridge University.
Stade de Cam
One fine July morning, six chauffeurs, two (human) batons, and three cameramen took their places along the College backs. All ready for the race of a decade (these punt races don’t happen very often). The starting point was the tree by Garrett Hostel Bridge, the first leg running until Kings College Chapel. The second leg ran to Mathematical Bridge. The third leg goes from Mathematical Bridge to the finishing line at Clare Bridge.
There were two teams, Red and Green, with four team members in each. Instead of the more traditional sprint race, we opted for a relay as we felt it added a bit more excitement. Especially when you add human batons into the mix. There weren’t many rules for this contest, only that the second and third boats weren’t allowed to start until the baton was safely in their punt.
Leg One
Once all the team members were in their places, the race could start. Ben and Pascal were heading up the first leg for Team Red and Team Green respectively. Once the countdown had finished, both boys started punting with vigor. The legs’ short distance certainly added to the pressure of having to have a strong start.
All was going well for the first 100 metres, but like most aspects of life, things can only go so well for so long. Just before Clare Bridge we had our first lost pole- a common occurrence in the punting world, but not one you would want mid race! Team Green hung on to Team Reds boat for dear life, whilst Ben managed to fish Pascals’ pole out of the water.
After this slight delay, things were back on track. Although as expected, the gap between the two punts had increased dramatically. The red team reached the relay cross over several boat lengths ahead of the green team.
Leg Two
After the first passing of the batons had been safely completed (i.e. neither of the two girls falling in), Luke (Red Team) and Matt (Green Team) swiftly bought the race back to a nailbiting head to head. The power in which both of them were propelling the punts was phenomenal. They both understood what was at stake- being crowned the faster punter.
Matt incredibly managed to (not only) catch up with Luke, he also ended up overtaking him. Thankfully, no poles were lost during this leg, making this one a really close call. The race was quickly become neck and neck with no clear indicator of who was going to win.
The tables had turned since the last changeover at the start of leg two, with Green Team being several boat lengths ahead. Once at the Mathematical Bridge (marking the third and final changeover), all the pressure was on the batons’ heads. Each of them making 1 metre jump from one boat to the next, with both of them landing quite hard!
Leg Three
It was down to the wire. Archie and Cam, Green and Red teams respectively, had the weight of a crown upon their shoulders. And, it is worth mentioning, that they also had the longest leg to complete. It was also going swimmingly (pardon the pun) for the first 200 metres, Cam was making up good time and Archie was strongly holding onto the lead.
Then, just before Kings Bridge, it all went downhill for Green Team- they lost another pole! The defeat in their eyes was apparent, they called across to other boats to help rescue them but it was to no avail- Cam and the hopes and dreams of the red team went sailing off towards the finishing line.
Arguably, the red team had quite an anti-climactic win, but all the same it was well deserved. Not only did they get the pride and joy of winning, they also got to celebrate with some bubbles.
You can see how it all unfolded below:
