boat race 55th boat race took place march held annually boat race rowing race crews universities oxford cambridge river thames oxford reigning champions leading overall went race marginally heavier crew cambridge won easily cambridge boat strong winds conditions ninth consecutive victory took overall lead event winning time minutes seconds slowest race 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 rivalry major point honour universities followed united_kingdom broadcast worldwide oxford went race reigning champions having won race half lengths cambridge leading overall victories cambridge excluding dead heat oxford coached rowed oxford races times cambridge president despite opposition invited coach assist teaching crew style required challenge dark blues members crew refused row refused leave row grounds sickness according rower author turned crew average previous years conversely oxford develop means average went umpire race tenth year row won event consecutive times rowing oxford races crews oxford crew weighed average pounds rower opponents cambridge crew contained participants boat_race experience rowing fourth contest cox steering second appearance son john rowed number seven light blues oxford saw members previous crew return including making fourth consecutive appearance race crew oxford crew studied rowing bow oxford siblings participate boat race rowing cambridge rowed oxford race according author oxford rower gale blowing met spring tide water rough start oxford slight pre race favourites won toss elected start middlesex station handing surrey river cambridge started race strokes cambridge boat half water oxford steered shore shelter cambridge following taken water placed seats kept afloat dark blues shipped fair water able continue cambridge race effectively ended contest oxford won easily secure ninth consecutive victory slowest winning time race
The Boat Race 1898