boat race 26th boat race crews university_of_oxford university_of_cambridge took place river_thames march oxford won lengths time minutes seconds ninth consecutive victory point fastest time recorded event 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 oxford went race reigning champions having defeated cambridge lengths previous year race led overall wins cambridge having lost president wrote oxford inviting coach trials university morrison rowed races acted non rowing president race decision engage member opposing university greeted considered disgrace club old blues refused row william agreed row usual difficulty agree arrangements cambridge eventually sent traditional challenge date race set march cambridge arrived fortnight practice rows variable conditions worst included heavy snow days prior race race umpired rowed oxford twice march december races race starter crews oxford weighed average pounds opponents cambridge crew contained returning blues boat race john fourth oxford saw return rowers including boat club president appearance fourth boat race race according field weather boat race raw wind coloured clouds river oxford strong pre race favourites won toss elected start middlesex station handing surrey station cambridge light blues faster start oxford soon pulled alongside held lead feet cambridge closed gap oxford pulled away lead exchanged oxford took lead cottage despite erratic steering oxford cox oxford held advantage crews shot hammersmith_bridge point light blues held lead length lead pub cambridge steered close bank allowed oxford close gap passed lead half length advantage dark blues passed length lead completed course passing ship tavern lengths clear time minutes seconds ninth consecutive victory took overall record favour winning time fastest beating previous record set seconds doubt cast positioning finish believed course approximately yards shorter record stand race
The Boat Race 1869