The Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race牛津剑桥划船赛

Oxford and Cambridge are the oldest and most famous universities in Britain,and there has always been a great rivalry between the two institutions.牛津和剑桥这两所英国一流大学向来竞争激烈，

But the most public competition between the two is the annual Boat Race.但最为公开的竞争是年度划船比赛。

Both universities are located near rivers,and rowing is a popular and prestigious sport.由于牛津和剑桥都坐落在河边，所以划船是一项很流行且颇具声望的运动。

The very first race took place in 1829,when a Cambridge student challenged a school-friend studying at Oxford.两校之间的划船比赛始于1829年，当时是一名剑桥学生向其在牛津就读的朋友提出挑战。Ever since, the defeated team from the previous year challenges the opposition to a rematch.从那以后,去年的败者挑战对方进行复赛。

The only times when no Boat Races took place were during the First and Second World Wars.这么多年来，牛津剑桥划船赛除了因为两次世界大战中断过之外，从来不曾取消过一次。

The race is between two crews of eight rowers,each led by a pilot, who steers and gives commands to the rowers.比赛由双方各八位划手组成,每方都有给划手下达命令的向导员。

Since 1836, the rowing eights have worn different shades of blue- Oxford wear dark blue and Cambridge light blue.自1836年以来,划船的八人都会身着不同深浅的蓝色-牛津穿深蓝色而剑桥则是浅蓝色。

As a result, the rowers are known as the Blues.因此, 划手被戏称为蓝军。