boat race 28th boat race crews university_of_oxford university_of_cambridge took place river_thames april race umpired won cambridge length time minutes seconds second consecutive victory 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 cambridge went race reigning champions having defeated oxford lengths previous year race oxford led overall sixteen wins cambridge oxford coached non rowing president rowed times dark blues races cambridge coach rowed race non rowing president race rowed races race umpired rowed oxford twice march december races race starter crews oxford crew weighed average pounds opponents cambridge crew saw new rowers returning race including president appearance event cox henry gordon similarly oxford saw crew return including bow participating race little tide head wind course according cambridge won toss elected start surrey station handing middlesex station oxford umpire got race underway cambridge taking early lead light blues clear water advantage point held length lead time crews shot hammersmith_bridge despite instigated oxford stroke barnes bridge remained steady final strokes increased stroke rate saw cambridge home length time minutes seconds second consecutive victory took overall record oxford favour
The Boat Race 1871