boat race 54th boat race took place april boat_race annual rowing race crews universities oxford cambridge river thames oxford went race reigning champions having won previous year race crews evenly matched weight wise oxford marginally heavier crew consisted entirely veterans event race umpired rower oxford won half lengths time minutes seconds victory taking overall record favour oxford eighth consecutive victory fastest winning time history event background boat race rowing competition boat clubs university_of_oxford referred dark blues university_of_cambridge referred light blues race held taken place mile championship course river thames southwest london rivalry major point honour universities followed united_kingdom broadcast worldwide oxford went race reigning champions having beaten cambridge length previous year race held overall lead victories cambridge oxford coached rowed oxford races rowed oxford races times record coached cambridge crew oxford quick set course record tide minutes seconds weeks race conversely according author rower cambridge fulfilled early promise slow water umpire race ninth year row won event consecutive times rowing oxford races crews oxford crew weighed average pounds rower opponents cambridge boat included blues number participating boat race light blues studying number american rower participant race registered non british new_york oxford crew rowed event prior new race members crew educated crew studying oxford rower author stated year saw finest oxford crew rowed race result impressive performances build race oxford clear favourites win cambridge won toss elected start middlesex station handing surrey river oxford race started light breeze east favourable tide light blues quicker start stroke taking crew strokes minute quarter mile cambridge held half length lead dark blues began draw contention took lead mile_post light blues kept touch oxford rowed away taking clear water advantage hammersmith_bridge effectively ending contest oxford extended lead liked passed finishing post half lengths clear cambridge winning time minutes seconds oxford eighth consecutive victory time fastest winning time history event took overall record oxford favour
The Boat Race 1897