boat race 44th boat race took place march boat_race annual rowing race crews universities oxford cambridge river thames umpired cambridge won race half lengths oxford crew snapping half winning time race minutes seconds cambridge victory took overall record oxford favour background boat race rowing competition university_of_oxford referred dark blues university_of_cambridge referred light blues held race takes place miles championship course river thames southwest london rivalry major point honour universities followed united_kingdom broadcast worldwide cambridge went race reigning champions having won previous year race thirds length oxford held overall lead victories cambridge excluding dead heat coaches cambridge represented cambridge races rowed races oxford coaches rowed dark blues times races rowed times oxford time blue oxford umpire race rowed cambridge times crews oxford crew weighed average pounds opponents oxford initially blues available president brother douglas persuaded return fifth boat_race appearance weeks race following return india cambridge crew boat race experience including non british participant australian fourth race race weather race good tide strong breeze rough water cambridge won toss elected start surrey station handing middlesex river oxford making better start crews cambridge length ahead extended half length time passed crab tree pub oxford came contention time crews shot hammersmith_bridge little daylight boats bridge crews hit rough water cambridge advantage shelter river pulled away quickly lengths clear bend river began favour dark blues drew level number seven broke effectively ending participation race cambridge pulled away won half lengths time minutes seconds second consecutive victory fastest time race win took overall record oxford favour
The Boat Race 1887