boat race boat race took place april held annually boat race rowing race crews universities oxford cambridge river thames won oxford closest finish century despite collapsing end race reserve race isis beat lengths oxford victorious background boat race rowing competition university_of_oxford referred dark blues university_of_cambridge referred light blues held race takes place miles championship course river thames southwest london rivalry major point honour universities followed united_kingdom broadcast worldwide oxford went race reigning champions having beaten cambridge half lengths previous year race cambridge held overall lead victories oxford race sponsored fourth time race 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 stroke light blues race racing oxford coach dark blues year president noted cut number formal old blues old coaches tried evenings quiet crews oxford crew featured old blues rowing cambridge crew contained blues returning previous year race following tradition father president olympic gold ran won boat race race oxford won toss elected start surrey station race started following clash soon start crews level despite oxford number seven losing blade crew established lead defended higher rating cambridge allowed race continue despite clash close steering oxford son author exhausted stopped rowing cambridge push continued oxford passed finishing post canvas advantage closest finish century francis treated exhaustion later diagnosed reserve race isis beat lengths victory years 35th running oxford second victory years reaction time oxford won consecutive races closest finish turn century recalls attempts emulate father rowing career rowing boat races recalls race memorable continued unbelievable kept coming time tried away happened lamented shouldn lost bbc reporter boat race remarked absolutely cracking race grand battle
The Boat Race 1980