boat race boat race took place april held annually boat race rowing race crews universities oxford cambridge river thames won oxford passed finishing post half lengths ahead cambridge winning time minutes seconds fastest history race beating existing record set race umpired reserve race beat isis cambridge 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 cambridge went race reigning champions having beaten oxford thirteen lengths previous year race cambridge held overall lead victories oxford excluding dead heat 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 preparation race crews defeated thames boat london writing times impressed established class crews boat race day final days training simply produced cambridge lost twice short races reserve crew oxford defeated river race seconds conditions cambridge won interrupted race crew oxford defeated lengths course oxford finishing coach cambridge guided british olympic rower race umpired rowed cambridge races crews cambridge crew marginally heavier opponents weighing average pounds rower oxford oxford saw blues return crew american cambridge welcomed race cambridge won toss elected start middlesex station oxford took early lead stroke making good start despite mile_post oxford length clear cambridge stroke rate lower opposition remained contention hammersmith_bridge oxford held length lead despite favourable wind ride cambridge failed respond lead extended lengths oxford passed finishing post record breaking time minutes seconds breaking existing record race half lengths clear light blues commented records reflect conditions comparisons previous boat_race crews noted considering slow conditions oxford performance particularly inspired winning time seconds faster best time course set oxford practice seconds quicker race record set race cambridge reserve race cambridge beat oxford isis lengths seventh consecutive victory 28th running cambridge eleventh consecutive victory
The Boat Race 1974