boat race took place march held annually boat race rowing race crews universities oxford cambridge river thames won cambridge passed finishing post thirteen lengths ahead oxford largest winning margin race despite pre race favourites oxford warm saw board large water rough conditions reserve race beat isis 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 cambridge went race reigning champions having beaten oxford half lengths previous year race cambridge held overall lead victories oxford excluding dead heat race umpired howard rowed races 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 year main race covered bbc national radio networks start coincided conclusion cup semi finals decided rowing broadcast described race disappointed want little surprised event like boat race tradition history bbc find minutes networks carry oxford preparations race including coming second head river race crews cope strong winds large pieces providing additional hazards boats cambridge number recovered injury cox spent time race upset stomach number seven forced boat illness missing days training cambridge oxford boat built swiss manufacturer considered suitable continental lakes cambridge boat pounds lighter previous year craft deeper hull better equipped conditions interview writing observer oxford stroke suggested lose hope kind end year crew beaten sight crews cambridge crew weighed pounds rower opponents oxford saw blues return hall cox cambridge welcomed fourth race oxford crew contained non british competitors americans rowed harvard_university united_states olympic team summer olympics cambridge featured foreign participant american rower race following good performances practice buildup oxford considered pre race favourites won toss elected start surrey station handing middlesex river cambridge warm race light blues opted calm waters oxford rowed course rough conditions mile_post arriving stake boat dark blues spent considerable time attempting alleviate boat large amounts water makeshift oxford fast start rating strokes minute rough conditions resulted water drawn boat cambridge slowly surely took control lead lengths minutes start second lead mile_post extended sixteen seconds hammersmith_bridge oxford taking water pursuit light blues oxford seconds despite push oxford reduce deficit cambridge passed finishing post minutes seconds lengths seconds ahead opponents cambridge sixth consecutive victory overall oxford wins reserve race cambridge beat oxford isis lengths seventh consecutive victory 28th running cambridge eleventh consecutive victory reaction oxford boat club president said water round mistake warm course water board thought god going sink hopeless losing race hall lose 20th century writing times summarised race cambridge beat beat oxford according race soon statement began
The Boat Race 1973