boat race 27th boat race crews university_of_oxford university_of_cambridge took place river_thames april cambridge won half lengths time minutes seconds victory race 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 year race led overall sixteen wins cambridge cambridge coached coached rowed races acted non rowing president race previous year decision engage member opposing university greeted considered disgrace club morrison coached oxford times previously oxford coach rowed victories dark blues race rowed oxford harvard_university race umpired rowed oxford twice march december races race starter crews sets rowers averaged weight oxford crew contained blues rowing consecutive race similarly cambridge saw crew return including president race according despite oxford weaker crew pre race favourites based prestige report graphic noted present following race carrying umpire transport edward prince wales later king edward vii francis prince oxford won toss elected start surrey station handing middlesex river oxford cambridge took early lead stroke rate lower dark blues led quarters length time crews shot hammersmith_bridge oxford stayed touch miles following race cambridge stroke led surge pull ahead oxford despite best efforts oxford recover cambridge won half lengths time minutes seconds victory cambridge race brought overall record oxford favour
The Boat Race 1870