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Trenton Oldfield on University Boat Race swim charge Trenton Oldfield 'caused chaos' at University Boat Race
(about 13 hours later)
A swimmer accused of halting the 158th University Boat Race by swimming in between the Cambridge and Oxford crews, is due to go on trial later. A swimmer "protesting about elitism" brought "chaos" to the 158th University Boat Race when he jumped into the River Thames, a court has heard.
Trenton Oldfield is understood to deny that his actions on 7 April amounted to a public nuisance. Trenton Oldfield stopped the contest for about half an hour on 7 April.
The race was stopped for around 30 minutes after the 36-year-old Australian was spotted in the water near Chiswick Eyot. Prosecutor Louis Mably said the race between Oxford and Cambridge was spoiled for hundreds of thousands of people.
The case is due to be heard at Isleworth Crown Court. Mr Oldfield, 36, of Myrdle Street, east London, denies the charge of causing a public nuisance.
Cambridge went on to win the race which had been stopped by a swimmer for the first time in its history. 'Feeling of disappointment'
Assistant umpire and four-time Olympic rowing gold medallist, Sir Matthew Pinsent, is thought to have alerted other officials to Mr Oldfield's presence in the water. Opening the case, Mr Mably told jurors at Isleworth Crown Court, west London, the annual event was spoiled not only for the rowing crews but the spectators watching at home on BBC TV and along the course.
Mr Oldfield was pulled from the river and later arrested. He said despite it continuing, "so far as the Boat Race was concerned, Mr Oldfield had obviously caused chaos".
Mr Mably added: "The feeling of disappointment was obvious - because not only had everything been delayed but the crews and the public had been denied a natural conclusion to the race that they had come to the river to see."
He said after being rescued from the river Mr Oldfield was detained by police who asked him why he had jumped in the water.
Mr Mably said: "He replied that he was protesting about elitism.
"Exactly what he meant by that - who knows?"