boat race took place april held annually boat race rowing race crews universities oxford cambridge river thames umpired blue cambridge won quarter lengths second fastest time history race reserve race cambridge defeated oxford isis record time cambridge won background boat race rowing competition university_of_oxford referred dark blues university_of_cambridge referred light blues held race takes place mile championship course river thames southwest london rivalry major point honour universities followed united_kingdom broadcast worldwide cambridge went race reigning champions having won race lengths cambridge leading overall victories oxford excluding dead heat women boat race took place annual fixture 1960s contest conducted race held river_thames day men main reserve races reserve race contested oxford isis boat cambridge boat held usually takes place prior main boat race previous year race watched seven million viewers united_kingdom oxford coach suggested appeal contest absolutely amateur represents quality olympic gold agreed calling boat race unique experience predicted close race cambridge coach agreed got accord oxford respect think better crew way find water oxford coaches noted cambridge continuity power year cambridge boat club president earlier withdrawn race injury oxford director rowing said crew guys love scrap officers lining able replace traditional helmets peaked caps time order discourage members crowd removing throwing river race sponsored tenth consecutive year umpired crews oxford crew weighed average pounds rower opponents crew saw oxford cambridge addition cambridge crew contained rowers oxford crew international rowers americans canadian race cambridge started pre race favourites won toss elected start surrey station close start boat took significant lead cambridge half length mile_post pushed thirds length lead oxford hammersmith_bridge pressure dark blues steered crew record times mile_post hammersmith_bridge barnes bridge finishing post cambridge won quarter lengths time minutes seconds second fastest time record thirteen seconds slower winning time race reserve race cambridge won lengths record time isis cambridge ninth victory years cambridge won 51st women boat race lengths time minutes seconds seventh victory years reaction race times claimed cambridge stroke conducted continual tactical conversation cambridge cox miller suggested oxford powerful crew cambridge technically superior oxford coach concluded find cohesive relaxed rhythm counterpart williams got happy
The Boat Race 1996