The 1999 Race

The 1999 race took on a new dimension, after the steady growth of the event since 1993, when the first 'modern era' race was organised. Hackett Clothing and the livery company, The Fishmongers Company, came on board as sponsors. It was filmed by BBC television and transmitted on BBC Grandstand immediately before the live Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race on the next day.

Men's race

Date: 2nd April
Time: 4pm,br> Umpire: Peter Haining MBE

Lane Name Nationality Rowing record

Lane 1 Giovanni Calabrese Italy World Champion '97 (4x)

Lane 2 Jamie Koven USA Henley Royal (Diamonds) winner (1x)

Lane 3 Iztok Cop Slovenia World Cup Winner '97 (1x)

Lane 4 Derek Porter Canada Atlanta Olympics '96 silver (1x)

Lane 5 Stefano Basalini Italy World Champion '98 (ltw1x)

Lane	Name	Nationality	Rowing record
Lane 1	Giovanni Calabrese	Italy	World Champion '97 (4x)
Lane 2	Jamie Koven	USA	Henley Royal (Diamonds) winner (1x)
Lane 3	Iztok Cop	Slovenia	World Cup Winner '97 (1x)
Lane 4	Derek Porter	Canada	Atlanta Olympics '96 silver (1x)
Lane 5	Stefano Basalini	Italy	World Champion '98 (ltw1x)

Final position Name Finish time Thames RC Milepost Hammersmith Bridge Chiswick Steps Barnes Bridge

1st Iztok Cop 22.49 3rd 4.41 8.18 13.23 18.58

2nd Jamie Koven 22.50 4th 4.55 8.29 13.33

3rd Giovanni Calabrese 23.23 2nd 4.49 8.34 13.43

4th Stefano Basalini 23.30 5th

5th Derek Porter ntt 1st 4.44 8.28 13.52

Final position	Name	Finish time	Thames RC	Milepost	Hammersmith Bridge	Chiswick Steps	Barnes Bridge
1st	Iztok Cop	22.49	3rd	4.41	8.18	13.23	18.58
2nd	Jamie Koven	22.50	4th	4.55	8.29	13.33
3rd	Giovanni Calabrese	23.23	2nd	4.49	8.34	13.43
4th	Stefano Basalini	23.30	5th
5th	Derek Porter	ntt	1st	4.44	8.28	13.52

Calabrese led from the start, with Porter soon taking over. Cop led Koven and Porter at Chiswick Eyot, the three narrowly missing the Eyot, where the water was extremely rough. This made Porter capsize at Duke's Meadows, but he managed to climb back in to finish the race. Koven was trying to catch Cop by taking the inside arch of Barnes Bridge. This illegal advantage brought him within two seconds of beating Cop. If he had, he would have been disqualified.

Women's race

Date:2nd April
Time: 3.30pm
Umpire: Martin Levy

Lane Name Nationality Weight Rowing record

Lane 1 Miriam Batten Britain 67.9kg World Champion '98 (2x)

Lane 2 Ekatharina Karsten Belarus 76.5kg Olympic Champion '96 (1x)

Lane 3 Pieta van Dishoeck Netherlands 76.5kgvWorld Cup Champion '98 (1x)

Lane 4 Sarah Garner USA 66.1kg World Champion '98 (2x)

Lane 5 Guin Batten Britain 73.8kg HTWSC Trophy holder (1x)

Lane	Name	Nationality	Weight	Rowing record
Lane 1	Miriam Batten	Britain	67.9kg	World Champion '98 (2x)
Lane 2	Ekatharina Karsten	Belarus	76.5kg	Olympic Champion '96 (1x)
Lane 3	Pieta van Dishoeck	Netherlands	76.5kgvWorld Cup Champion '98 (1x)
Lane 4	Sarah Garner	USA	66.1kg	World Champion '98 (2x)
Lane 5	Guin Batten	Britain	73.8kg	HTWSC Trophy holder (1x)

Final position Name Finish time Thames RC Milepost Hammersmith Bridge

1st Miriam Batten 22.43 1st 1st 1st

2nd Guin Batten 22.45 4th 2nd 2nd

3rd Pieta van Dishoeck 23.18 2nd 3rd 3rd

4th Ekatharina Karsten 23.38 5th 4th 4th

5th Sarah Garner 23.45 3rd 5th 5th 5th

Final position	Name	Finish time	Thames RC	Milepost	Hammersmith Bridge
1st	Miriam Batten	22.43	1st	1st	1st
2nd	Guin Batten	22.45	4th	2nd	2nd
3rd	Pieta van Dishoeck	23.18	2nd	3rd	3rd
4th	Ekatharina Karsten	23.38	5th	4th	4th
5th	Sarah Garner	23.45 3rd	5th	5th	5th

Miriam soon snatched the lead from Garner. Guin immediately started a chase, always keeping close on Miriam's heels, but her sister never left an inch for Guin to get through. Karsten had trouble with the choppy water all the way, but kept ahead of the lightweight Garner.

Visit the Photo Gallery for some pictures from the 1999 and earlier races.

Press Cuttings,/h4>
Previews of the 1999 race, transcribed from cuttings.
Reviews of the 1999 race, transcribed from cuttings.
All the major British national broadsheets covered the 1999 races, which were both extremely close and exciting.
There are picture-pages showing reports from the Telegraph, Times, Time Out, Guardian, Independent and others, from which stories are transcribed above.