boat race 2nd boat race took place river_thames june held london quarter mile stretch westminster time cambridge sported light blue form ribbon boat oxford rowed dark blue race umpired lord cambridge won race lengths level overall record background boat race annual rowing competition university_of_oxford university_of_cambridge held attempt organise second race cambridge initially proposed race oxford suggested cambridge agreed compromise race stretch thames westminster richmond agreement reached year universities issued challenge arrangements event meeting star pub june according journalist disagreement length race oxford preferring short course mile half cambridge opted course previous year agreed race place following day mile stretch river championship course professional agreed boats steered university men professional second boat race history event conducted london inaugural race taking place thames oxford went race reigning champions having won race easily cambridge coached cox race lord christ church according author oxford rower year cambridge adopted light blue racing colours provided strip blue ribbon fixed bows boat oxford wore white dark blue stripes race crews cambridge crew weighed average pounds rower opponents competitors taken previous boat_race participants registered british followed brother rowed oxford race race oxford favourites win race cambridge won toss heavy rain began fall hours start race rain descended gay race started cambridge starting taking early lead cambridge lead significant rowing author rower noted cambridge race way passed bridge minute lengths ahead oxford time minutes victory series sports writer described race hollow affair cambridge completely rivals noted quality rowing good deal criticised according reporter stood shadow chance looked bigger men author claimed cambridge best boat rowed flat thames
The Boat Race 1836