03/28/24 04:36:00
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03/28 04:34 CDT 'National disgrace': Oxford coach laments pollution in the
Thames ahead of Boat Race
'National disgrace': Oxford coach laments pollution in the Thames ahead of Boat
Race
LONDON (AP) --- The coach of Oxford's crew taking part in the Boat Race
described the pollution in London's River Thames as a "national disgrace."
Testing by a campaign group has found high levels of E.coli along a section of
the Thames in southwest London that will be used for the historic race on
Saturday.
Crew members have been warned about the risks of entering the water and advised
to use a "cleansing station" at the finish area. The pollution has also cast
doubt on the post-race tradition of throwing the winning cox into the water.
It comes as figures released by the Environment Agency showed the level of
sewage spills into England's rivers and seas by water companies more than
doubled in 2023 compared to 2022.
There has been no suggestion that the Boat Race between storied universities
Oxford and Cambridge that dates to 1829 will not go ahead. The women's race
will precede the men's event along the same 4.2-mile (6.8-kilometer) section of
the Thames.
But Oxford coach Sean Bowden has lamented the state of the water the crews will
be competing on.
"It's a national disgrace, isn't it?" Bowden posed. "It would be terrific if
the Boat Race drew attention to it. We are very keen to play a part and we
recognize we have a role and a responsibility to it.
"Why," he added in British newspaper The Daily Telegraph, "would you want to
put your kids out in that?"
Invariably, the focus has turned to whether the winning crew will dunk its cox
into the Thames at the end of the race.
E.coli bacteria normally live in the intestines of healthy people and animals.
Most strains are harmless, cause relatively brief diarrhea and most people
recover without much incident, according to the Mayo clinic. But small doses of
some strains --- including just a mouthful of contaminated water --- can cause
a range of conditions, including urinary tract infection, cystitis, intestinal
infection and vomiting, with the worst cases leading to life-threatening blood
poisoning.
"If there's a health and safety problem, I don't think we'll be throwing him in
because we don't want to risk that," said Harry Glenister, who has rowed for
Britain and will compete for Oxford.
"It's just too much of a risk. We support whatever the Boat Race is saying
about the conditions in the water. We just hope we'll win and then we'll
decide."
Cambridge has won four of the last five men's races and leads the rivalry 86-81.
Cambridge has won six straight in the women's race.
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AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports
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