boat race 100th boat race took place april held annually boat race rowing race crews universities oxford cambridge river thames race umpired cambridge rower oxford won half lengths time minutes seconds taking overall record competition cambridge favour 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 led overall victories oxford excluding dead heat cambridge coached rowed race represented cambridge races rowed race oxford coaches blue represented oxford races race umpired fourth time british rowed cambridge races build race rowing correspondent times suggested weeks ago cambridge victory certain practice rows proved disappointing oxford crew struck training order month race new order weak better progress training cambridge light blues described erratic remained favourites crews cambridge crew weighed average pounds rower opponents oxford crew saw members return boat including cox boat club president making consecutive appearance cambridge crew contained single participant boat_race experience stroke boat club president according rowing correspondent times crews closely matched oxford crew contained non british participants australian race oxford won toss elected start surrey station handing middlesex river cambridge stiff south westerly wind umpire started race oxford quick start according rowing correspondent times literally away seemingly row strokes cambridge begun end minute dark blues feet ahead bend river favouring cambridge crews level despite push cambridge stroke light blues gain advantage crews passed mile_post level rating slightly lower opposition oxford best bend river lead canvas length time passed hammersmith_bridge strong faced crews rowed cambridge struggled rough water middle river oxford cox steered shelter surrey shore gained length half minute extending lengths oxford won half lengths time minutes seconds second victory years
The Boat Race 1954