boat race 13th boat race took place river_thames march typically held annually event rowing race crews universities oxford cambridge race second held tide won cambridge beat oxford half length 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 second race held tide time race rails approximately yards longer conventional course oxford went race reigning champions having defeated cambridge seven lengths previous race held cambridge led overall seven wins oxford boat race took place severe frost caused thames oxford freeze heavy snow curtailed efforts practice race instead universities faced royal cambridge won despite victory cambridge agreed propose challenge oxford october term duly accepted crews raced boats constructed umpire race president rowed march december races starter crews cambridge crew weighed average pounds rower opponents competitors taken previous boat race race cambridge won toss elected start middlesex station handing surrey river oxford race commenced shortly oxford taking early lead cambridge number caught wave ship pub lost seat allowing oxford extend lead recovering cambridge substantial push passed oxford hold small advantage hold half length nearly increased lead length light blues encountered barge caused change course lose ground enabling oxford draw level crews exchanged leads oxford shooting hammersmith_bridge half length advantage cambridge steered closer shore retook lead despite late surge dark blues cambridge passed finish winning half length time minutes seconds cambridge win attempts eighth win overall oxford victories
The Boat Race 1856