boat race boat race took place april held annually event rowing race crews universities oxford cambridge river thames oxford won quarter lengths man row universities having previously rowed cambridge female cox cambridge isis won reserve race oxford victorious background boat race rowing competition university_of_oxford referred dark blues university_of_cambridge referred light blues held race takes place mile championship course river thames southwest london rivalry major point honour universities followed united_kingdom broadcast worldwide oxford went race reigning champions having beaten cambridge quarter lengths previous year race cambridge held overall lead victories oxford race sponsored ninth consecutive year 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 crews oxford pre race favourites weighed average pounds rower opponents oxford crew contained blues cambridge featured man row universities having represented cambridge races woman cox cambridge boat race cambridge won toss elected start surrey station quick start cambridge coupled poor oxford saw light blues length lead second lead mile post preceded period warnings umpire contested water oxford held canvas lead crews passed hammersmith_bridge began away second lead barnes bridge thirteen second lead finishing post oxford took win quarter lengths time minutes seconds oxford tenth consecutive victory eleventh years took overall record favour cambridge reserve race oxford isis beat cambridge lengths oxford won 40th women boat race reaction cambridge stroke said tried vital moment boat went heavy oxford counterpart said optimistic power waiting switched asked oxford coach suggested given middlesex station advantage glad middlesex training minutes relatively poor
The Boat Race 1985