Grand National or Boat Race??

[LongbridgeMGRover]

The clocks have moved and spring is well and truly here as these two sporting events are upon us again.

I used to think the National was a wonderful spectacle and even little old ladies had their annual flutter, this was truly a working class event albeit set near Liverpool where few have jobs.

But the Boat Race...why always Oxford v Cambridge?
Any chance of Huddersfield Poly v Luton Uni?? No way, this is class ridden elitism of the sort i truly despised.

Or is the National the obscenity? Horses slaughtered and the evils of gambling pushed in our faces. All sponsored this year by Crabbies the new face of alco-pops.

Meanwhile the boat race is a wonderful free spectacle watched by a crowd bigger than Wembley can hold.

And these are real dedicated athletes who love their sport but will never become big names  or earn big  bucks.

And the sponsor: BNY Mellon. This is not a fruiterer ftom New Covent Garden but an investment bank-oh dear.

Thankfully neither have sold their souls to Sky Sports, but which is it for you if you had to choose one....??

[jucyberry]

The boat race every time.. Always cheer for Cambridge. I love it.

As for the National, I have no stomach for the potential of horses dying in front of my eyes. Poor things.

[BigColSutherland]

What is the point of the Boat Race? Why is it given airtime?

[The Red Baron]

Although I've never done any rowing (unless you count the boats at Sandall Park!) I think it is a great sport to watch. A lot of the crew members in the Oxford and Cambridge boats are international-standard rowers, so it is always an interesting contest.

I always used to joke that the Boat Race was like the Scottish Cup Final- the same two teams always contested the final. Not quite the same in Scotland now, although ironically it might be Rangers who are the ones who reach the Final this year.

[BigColSutherland]

I don't know anyone who watches the Boat Race - but, it does get 7m+ viewing figures, so it's obviosuly popular. Not for me though.

[The Red Baron]

I don't know anyone who watches the Boat Race - but, it does get 7m+ viewing figures, so it's obviosuly popular. Not for me though.

6pm on Sunday. I'll be watching.

http://theboatrace.org/men/watching-the-race

[Yargo]

The boat race every time.. Always cheer for Cambridge. I love it.

Awe shit its not the same two teams in the final again is it?

[big fat yorkshire pudding]

Boat race is just not for me, nothing wrong with it, but what makes it better than say Sheffield v Sheffield Hallam?????

I like my horse racing so I'd much prefer the national really.

[GazLaz]

This is like comparing Wembely stadium with Millmoor.

[SoundbiteBarmyArmy]

Both a snorefest, cannot see the fascination with any of them!

[The Red Baron]

Boat race is just not for me, nothing wrong with it, but what makes it better than say Sheffield v Sheffield Hallam?????

You wouldn't have international-class rowers in the race if it was between those two- assuming that they even have a rowing club, of course!

Ultimately I suppose it depends whether you like rowing as a sport or not. I do. On the other hand, motor racing bores me senseless. One man's meat...

[BigColSutherland]

Are all the rowers actually students at Oxbridge? And did they get their A-Levels to get in, or is it a bit like the US sports scholarship system?

[The Red Baron]

Are all the rowers actually students at Oxbridge? And did they get their A-Levels to get in, or is it a bit like the US sports scholarship system?

They're students, but a lot of them are postgrads and some are part of national sports programmes anyway, so they are funded by those.

As a general rule, if you're a high=performance sportsperson in any discipline, it certainly doesn't do your application to an Oxbridge college any harm!

[GazLaz]

The National is a far superior spectacle. Nothing what so ever happens in the boat race. The only excitement involved in that is seeing who wins. The GN is non stop drama.

[RedRover45]

The National is a far superior spectacle. Nothing what so ever happens in the boat race. The only excitement involved in that is seeing who wins. The GN is non stop drama.

To be fair Gaz, we had the swimmer trying to disrupt the race, was it last year or the year before ?
Now that was real gripping edge of the seat drama 😉

[not on facebook]

I can live and Enjoy both just as Much as each other

For sole reasons i was brought up watching them and either day
Was exciting to me as a kid and had to watch them via the idiot box.

And another reason ,they are english enough said