boat race boat race took place march held annually boat race rowing race crews universities oxford cambridge river thames race umpired rower cambridge won half lengths time minutes seconds victory took overall record favour race provided radio commentary bbc 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 won race lengths led overall victories oxford excluding dead heat cambridge coached rowed cambridge times rowed race time blue oxford coaches took races rowed times dark blue inclusive race umpired cambridge rower participated races rowing correspondent times stated crews matched correspondent predicted struggle time provided radio commentary bbc corporation year including race crews cambridge crew weighed average pounds rower opponents oxford saw rowers return crew boat_race experience including making consecutive appearance cambridge crew included rowers participated event prior year including stroke rowing year row participants race registered british race oxford won toss elected start middlesex station handing surrey river wind south west umpire started race cambridge took early lead rated dark blues boats close nearly touching minutes race cox steered avoid collision end cambridge held half length lead oxford kept touch reduced deficit quarter length time crews passed mile_post crab tree pub cambridge stroke push strokes oxford responded kind second push light blues saw pull away lead quarter lengths passed hammersmith_bridge crews dropped strokes minute styles markedly different cambridge lively oxford lead half lengths dark blues pushed hard final stretches slowly reduced cambridge lead final secure victory cambridge won half lengths time minutes seconds eighth consecutive win event margin victory race win took overall record event favour
The Boat Race 1931