boat race boat race took place march held annually rowing race crews universities oxford cambridge river thames won cambridge passed finishing post lengths ahead oxford securing cambridge fourth consecutive victory winning time point second fastest history event reserve race beat isis cambridge victorious 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 cambridge went race reigning champions having beaten oxford half lengths previous year race held overall lead victories oxford excluding dead heat 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 cambridge coach aiming lead light blues victory fourth consecutive time guidance oxford coached blue represented university races race umpired oxford olympic rower represented dark blues races crews oxford crew weighed average pounds rower opponents cambridge saw return blues boat_race debut race oxford welcomed rowing boat race dark blues cambridge american number seven non british rower recorded race race cambridge pre race favourites according writing times strongest favourites years won toss elected start surrey station oxford middlesex consecutive races commenced good start despite desperate attack dark blues cambridge seconds ahead mile_post light blues clear soon time crews shot hammersmith_bridge held length second lead oxford lead extended seconds oxford trailed seconds barnes bridge ground cambridge passed finishing post lengths clear winning time minutes seconds second fastest history event cambridge crew race recorded time seconds faster reserve race cambridge beat oxford isis lengths fifth consecutive victory 26th running cambridge ninth consecutive victory
The Boat Race 1971