boat race 19th boat race crews university_of_oxford university_of_cambridge took place river_thames april oxford won lengths time minutes seconds taking overall record cambridge favour 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 worldwide oxford went race reigning champions having won race sixteen lengths cambridge leading overall victories oxford university crews trials varied success cambridge crew set record time practice oxford rough condition blues returned crew instead expected morale low camp suggested write cambridge claiming assemble crew president coach refused course action race set april boats built oxford race umpired rowed oxford twice march december races race starter crews oxford crew weighed average pounds rower opposition returned oxford crew cambridge crew featured returning blues race weather conditions day race described excessively cold smart breeze sun brilliantly oxford won toss elected start middlesex station handing surrey river cambridge light blues took early lead oxford soon level time passed star pub stroke oxford took lead clear cambridge extended lead extent cox richards soap works boat surrounded overtaken disruption severe race boat club presidents threatened postpone race remained crews dark blues held length advantage time shot hammersmith_bridge despite cambridge lead extended yards oxford won lengths time minutes seconds win years secured oxford ninth win event compared cambridge contemporary rower author suggested crews scarcely necessary reach excellence accustomed look highest standard form beauty good average specimen university rowing
The Boat Race 1862