boat race boat race took place march held annually event rowing race crews universities oxford cambridge river thames race umpired won cambridge half lengths won reserve race cambridge won 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 broadcast worldwide oxford went race reigning champions having won previous year race quarter lengths 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 oxford coached cambridge overseen team including result television contracts avoid clash scheduled start time race pushed minutes best tide umpire rowed cambridge races represented great_britain summer olympics crews cambridge crew weighed average pounds rower opponents oxford crew contained blues including future coach rowing boat race cambridge saw blues return boat club president making appearance event cambridge crew contained registered overseas competitors oxford united_states race cambridge won toss elected start surrey station race commenced slight fast start cambridge took half length lead rounding middlesex bend oxford drew contention crews level mile_post time minutes seconds approach painter dark blue cox steered boat close surrey shore writing times suggested crews gone farther practically warned twice umpire steering close opponents taking small lead oxford light blues cambridge rallied despite rough water reach cambridge pushed bridge opened second lead time crews reached barnes bridge extended lead seconds passed finishing post half lengths ahead time minutes seconds light blues victory years cox remarked think won foul forced collision want win way help decided oxford rope hang cambridge won fourth running reserve race defeating oxford isis half lengths time minutes seconds 23rd women boat race cambridge won taking sixth consecutive victory
The Boat Race 1968