boat race boat race took place april held annually event rowing race crews universities oxford cambridge river thames oxford won half lengths time minutes seconds equal fourth fastest time event history race umpired cambridge rowing blue mike reserve race cambridge won oxford won 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 oxford went race reigning champions having won race lengths cambridge leading overall victories oxford excluding dead heat event sponsored televised united_kingdom bbc sports programme 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 crews oxford weighed heaviest crew boat race history average rowers weighed man cambridge oxford tallest rower history boat race cambridge crew included blues oxford featured oxford coaching team included canadian international coach race race took place april oxford started pre race favourites having won toss elected start surrey station immediately start umpire called action warning steering closely cambridge took slight lead oxford soon recovered level mile_post seconds ahead shortly cambridge number caught crab causing boat halt oxford slowly extended lead seconds ahead bridge seconds oxford passed finishing post seconds ahead cambridge winning half lengths time minutes seconds equal fourth fastest time event history reserve race cambridge won half lengths time minutes seconds second consecutive victory oxford won 43rd women boat race victory years reaction trophy presented said crab stroke tip caught water president said easy race enjoyable kept heads found rhythm moved
The Boat Race 1988