boat race 12th boat race took place river_thames april typically held annually event rowing race crews universities oxford cambridge race won oxford cambridge seven lengths 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 oxford went race reigning champions having defeated cambridge lengths previous race cambridge led overall seven wins oxford boat race scheduled time proposed cambridge challenge oxford universities race year grand challenge cup won oxford february challenge sent oxford cox assumed temporary despite having coached dark blues victory race oxford arrived favourites win race cambridge style force odds practice race dark blues defeated scratch crew easily restored position pre race favourites crews rowed foot long boats manufactured umpire race starter crews oxford crew weighed average pounds rower opponents cambridge saw rower return race oxford crew contained blues president race oxford pre race favourites won toss elected start middlesex station handing cambridge surrey river race commenced oxford pulling away start dark blues clear cambridge time crews reached crab tree hammersmith_bridge forced action result barge blocking route lead lengths bridge oxford continued increase lead eventually passing flag boat seven length advantage time minutes seconds consecutive victory took overall record cambridge favour speech evening celebrations umpired previous declared longer young active continue act capacity umpire replaced president rowed march december races
The Boat Race 1854