boat race 36th boat race took place april boat_race annual rowing race crews universities oxford cambridge river thames crew contained blues race umpired oxford rower cambridge led way won margin lengths time minutes seconds victory took overall record oxford favour background boat race rowing competition university_of_oxford referred dark blues university_of_cambridge referred light blues race held taken place mile championship course river thames southwest london cambridge went race reigning champions having won previous year race lengths oxford held overall lead victories cambridge excluding dead heat cambridge coaches rowed light blues races took races blue oxford coached rowed dark blues non rowing president race umpired rowed oxford twice march december races race starter crews cambridge crew weighed average pounds opponents oxford crew contained blues including rowing fifth consecutive boat_race similarly cambridge saw blues return crew including cox steering light blue boat fifth time rower author stated crews year high standard winning crews past years cambridge crew included non british participant race australian rower born victoria educated race oxford won toss elected start surrey station handing middlesex river cambridge cambridge better start clear oxford seconds race despite lower stroke rate light blues extended lead lengths hammersmith_bridge encountering rough water cambridge slowed allowed oxford gain crews passed water light blues dominance passed finishing post lengths ahead time minutes seconds cambridge victory race seventh races taking overall record oxford favour
The Boat Race 1879