Thank you Trenton Oldfield.

“THE Boat Race” between Oxford University and Cambridge University is actually just “A Boat Race” between Oxford University and Cambridge University. While many of the rowere have been or are top class athletes, most are not international standard. It has been an annual event since 1830s.

Rather like the Grand National Horse Race or the FA Cup Final, it was traditional in the 1960s and 1970s for the Saturday afternoon  BBC Grandstand sports programme to come live from the banks of the River Thames on “Boat Race” Day.

As a purely sporting event, it does not deserve a place in BBC Schedules but is shown primarily because it is a social event…..providing of course that a person moves in those social circles. As a rule BBC producers DO move in those social circles but as a rule BBC audiences DO NOT move in those social circles.

It is…elitist. It is hardly a genuine sprting contest. The most exciting thing is the toss which determines which team has the winning  Surrey side (or is it Middlesex side?) of the River.

To protest “Elitism” yesterdays Boat Race was disrupted by Trenton Oldfield, a student at the London School of Economics. He went for a swim in the River Thames, causing havoc and causing the race to be re-started. Oxford were leading. Cambridge won the re-started race, seemingly influenced by a clash of oars (Oxford’s fault seemingly).

Trenton Oldfield has been charged with a Public Order offence. And there is much “tut-tutting” that he disruped the biggest day in the lives of so many splendid young people. All of which is complete nonsense.

The notion that two elite university rowing teams can just come up to London for a boat race along a busy waterway…….because it is a tradition is hardly the point.

Increasingly people are suffering privation at discovering Society is not nearly as fair as we are led to believe. Or allowed ourselves to believe. The two boat race crews and Trenton Oldfield were all in it together……the River Thames………so what exactly is the problem.

It is I think part of a larger disconnect. Normally I would be against party poopers but I have a certain regard for Trenton Oldfield. People who want to do……something…….almost anything ……to point up inequality can rely on my support. Teachers are clearly itching for a confrontation with the Government. For me, the merits of their case are secondary to the fact that they are doing “something”. Likewise the large number of people who are witholding payment of the Republic of Irelandd’s household charge are perhaps worthy of support. They are doing …something.

Those of us who believe people should do “something” all have thresholds. A Teachers Strike in England? Witholding proper payment in the Republic of Ireland.? Swimming in the River Thames during a boat race for toffs? Legitimate I would say.