boat race took place march held annually boat race rowing race crews universities oxford cambridge river thames cambridge won half lengths race saw competitors norway history race brothers time competing previously won event reserve race cambridge defeated oxford isis cambridge 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 cambridge went race reigning champions having won race half lengths cambridge leading overall victories oxford excluding dead heat race sponsored eighth consecutive year 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 preparing race cambridge defeated crews oxford lost lightweight crew narrowly defeated went secure victory reading head river race head coach assistant removed positions installed finishing coach dark blues build concluded loss cambridge coached crews crews weighed days prior race oxford weighed average rower pounds opponents oxford crew featured norwegian brothers rowers country participate boat race participated world championship olympic races president referred noted got kind thing switch nuts cambridge welcomed blues oxford saw return form chick race cambridge considered pre race favourites oxford won toss elected start middlesex station poor start oxford cox chick referred bit cambridge took early lead seconds ahead mile_post extended advantage seconds hammersmith_bridge sixteen poor steering combined determination oxford stay touch kept cambridge moving ahead light blues passed finishing post minutes seconds half lengths seconds ahead dark blues cambridge victory race umpired reserve race cambridge won thirteen lengths isis seventh victory years cambridge won 49th women boat race week earlier metres race thames length time minutes seconds fifth victory years reaction cambridge boat club president said better cambridge number descriptive bitch race cruised
The Boat Race 1994