Meet the Umpires

John Garrett

Highly experienced Boat Race umpire John Garrett will umpire the 2022 Women’s Boat Race. Garrett represented Cambridge in three consecutive Boat Races from 1983 to 1985. The triple Olympian rowed for Great Britain in the men’s coxless four in Los Angeles in 1984 and in Barcelona in 1992, and in the coxed four in Seoul in 1988. He started umpiring while still a rower and now works for the international non-governmental organisation, WaterAid.

Why umpiring?

It brings me back into the rowing world and it is a very enjoyable way of staying involved with the Boat Race. My first experience of umpiring was back in the 1990s while I was still rowing actively. The London Representative of the Boat Race, Duncan Clegg, asked me to be involved. After that I had a gap and came back to it when the umpires’ panel was formed, with Mike Sweeney as chair. I have only ever umpired Boat Race crews (Blue Boats and Reserves), that’s my focus and I enjoy it. It is nice to come to the Tideway and get out on the river and watch and umpire high-quality rowing.

Your time as an athlete and as an umpire overlapped, did that change your outlook?

It was like being a player-manager in football. It was useful to start [umpiring] early because I formed an awareness of what is required as an umpire while still an active competitor. I always try to remember just how demanding the sport is. It is easy to forget the demands of side-by-side racing while umpiring from a launch! It is important to have an awareness of the athletes’ physical and mental state during the race.

Would you change any of the Boat Race rules?

There are ten rules and some ancillary ones. They are well-written and have stood the test of time. I do not think I would suggest any changes. There have been some small revisions during my time on the umpires’ panel, nothing major.

What’s a job well done?

A good race where both crews can compete safely, fairly and to the best of their abilities. That’s what I’m looking for. A fair race that is fully consistent with the ten rules. From an umpiring perspective this year’s fixtures (Oxford/Leander and Cambridge/Leander) are good examples of what I’m looking for. I felt the coxes responded when I warned them, and the crews were able to perform to their best. Win or lose, when the crews come off the water, I want them to feel that they have been able to demonstrate what they were capable of, and that their performance reflects the six months of training that went into it. As an umpire I’m hoping to facilitate that.

How do you strike the balance between overbearing and lacking presence?

If a foul or a collision is likely I will stay up close in the launch and use the flag and the megaphone. And I will warn early if I can see the crews are on a collision course. Those are the key things. I will make clear in the pre-race briefing that I expect to see an immediate response. If the coxes respond too late, an extra second or two, the delay could result in a foul and then we are in contentious territory and in danger of a spoiled race. I will only warn if there is a risk of a foul occurring, however. In that sense I won’t be overbearing. I’m not steering the crews. I’m warning them when I judge there is a risk of a collision. Generally, that’s when one crew is entering another’s water, or both crews are converging.

What’s the biggest call you ever had to make?

It was during my first race as an umpire which was the Isis Goldie race in 1990. Following a collision approaching Barnes Bridge, and damage to the Goldie boat, I disqualified Isis. It was a tough decision and the hardest I’ve ever had to make in my time as an umpire.

A trial by fire!

Yes, it was. Even though it was a long time ago. I remember it very clearly. Disqualification is a decision that you hope you never have to make. All of us umpires want to have a straightforward, uncontentious race, but we are ready to act if we need to. And we will do so with the best of our knowledge, experience and ability. If one of the 2022 Boat Race crews creates a foul which I judge to be one that merits disqualification, then I will disqualify them.

Sir Matthew Pinsent

Four-time Olympic champion Sir Matthew Pinsent will umpire the 2022 Men’s Boat Race. The Team GB rowing legend competed in three Boat Races for Oxford, winning his first two, in 1990 and 1991, but losing President of Oxford University Boat Club in 1993.

Why umpiring?

At times I ask myself the same question! turned to umpiring after my [rowing] career came to an end. There are various levels of levels umpiring and I got busy climbing the fairly soon after I stopped. I did my umpiring qualification exam in 2006. Royal Regatta and the Boat Race both in their own bubbles, beyond everything else [e.g. World Rowing]. They share the same ideas but have different manifestations of the rules and how to umpire. Umpiring was a way for me to give back and stay in touch with, the sport. It has been brilliant.

What’s a job well done?

For the crews to cross the finish and not be arguing vociferously with you, or worried about what went on. That’s hard to do on Boat Race day because very often the losing crew - and I’ve been there myself - will turn to anything. They think, if only this had happened.

It is inherent in the nature of the race that coxing, steering, and umpiring play a big part. It is true in a way that isn’t true of, say, six-lane straight-course racing. The Boat Race is the ultimate distillation of match racing. It is hand-to-hand combat in rowing boats. In any given moment the umpire can play a big role in deciding who is right and who is wrong. That’s the whole job really.

Would you change any of the Boat Race rules?

Yes. The equipment rule. If something breaks before the end of the Wall the crew can fix it and restart the race. Equipment breakages are so rare now that I’m of the opinion this rule is antiquated and out of sync with the rest of the rowing world. It weaves in a degree of uncertainty about what, how, and why something might have broken. It opens a can of worms. So, I would prefer the crews to abide by any breakages once the race starts. If anything happens after that then I’m sorry but tough luck. I don’t think the crews would be disenfranchised by that rule change. The equipment rule was born of a time when it was not uncommon to snap a blade during a standing start. Athletes were getting stronger and still using wooden equipment. I can’t think of the last time I saw someone break something. It just doesn’t happen anymore unless it is already faulty. For something to break on Boat Race day would be spectacularly unlucky.

How does umpiring the Boat Race compare to racing it?

There is no doubt about it, both are stressful. As a competitor you get yourself into a physical state where you are not sure what’s going on, and you are unable to see much or make clear decisions. As an umpire, it is the classic thing of once the race begins the nerves drop away. While umpiring I get totally lost in the experience. Lost in the process of watching two crews intently, making quick real-time judgements, and communicating with clarity and efficacy. It sounds simple but it isn’t.

As umpire your role doesn’t necessarily finish at the finish line.

Yes, it can spill on to the shingle. As umpires we have all had those situations. It is not often that the crews come and say, You’ve done a great job. After the athletes and coaches have come ashore there can be very honest discussions. You’ve got to be able to defend your decisions. Sometimes you might have to say, Look I see it differently and I don’t agree with what you are saying. For the coaches and the athletes, the stakes are high. It is easily six months of training. And for the coaches it can be a big thing in their careers, and they might look at me and think, I can’t believe you’ve done that. It goes with the territory. It is not particularly pleasant, and it is not something you look forward to but it can happen. Umpires are not above reproach. There isn’t a computer program or an app you can put in the boats to tell you the best decisions. It is a human process, and it can be stressful.