 Gaining further, the Light Blues were a quarter of a length clear of the Dark Blues by the Mile Post.At this point, the Cambridge boat attempted to cross into the Surrey side of the river, but Oxford responded and surged to become level by the time the crews passed below Hammersmith Bridge.As the course of the river now favoured Oxford, they pulled away and, according to author and former Dark Blue rower George Drinkwater, after a "ding-dong struggle" held a half-length lead by Barnes Bridge.