boat race boat race took place april held annually event rowing race crews universities oxford cambridge river thames pre race preparation saw cambridge threaten boycott race time following inclusion oxford boat crews heaviest history event featured boat_race competitors oxford won race half lengths isis won reserve race cambridge victorious background boat race rowing competition university_of_oxford referred dark blues university_of_cambridge referred light blues held race takes place miles championship course river thames southwest london rivalry major point honour universities followed united_kingdom broadcast worldwide oxford reigning champions having beaten cambridge quarter lengths previous year race cambridge held overall lead victories oxford race sponsored winner awarded trophy march cambridge issued statement suggesting boycott race following dispute oxford selection member crew veteran previous victories cambridge argued ineligible inclusion lecturer university coach offered services crew provide opponent oxford cambridge refuse participate offered withdraw race committee rejected cambridge finally agreed race reached agreement oxford discuss possibly eligibility criteria ultimately led establishment called rule states compete race times undergraduate times graduate 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 crews crews heaviest boat_race history oxford averaging stone rower nearly pounds man heavier cambridge crew pre race favourites win eighth consecutive race cambridge crew featured unsuccessful blues oxford boat contained blues boat race victories seven oxford rowers international post graduates cambridge crew included seven average age oxford crew years cambridge race cambridge won toss elected start surrey station oxford rowing higher rate took early lead clear cambridge mile_post extending lead seconds hammersmith_bridge oxford pushed lead seconds despite trying touch cambridge lengths barnes bridge trailed seconds oxford passed finishing post oxford won half lengths time minutes seconds oxford eighth consecutive victory ninth years took overall record favour cambridge race watched million television viewers reserve race oxford isis beat cambridge half lengths cambridge won 38th women boat race
The Boat Race 1983