Rowing contest (4,4)
I believe the answer is:
boat race
'rowing contest' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
This is all the clue.
(Other definitions for boat race that I've seen before include "Putney-Mortlake event" , "Cockney's face" , "Oxford and Cambridge take part in one" , "famous row" , "Oxbridge contest" .)