boat race 29th boat race took place march boat race annual rowing race crews universities oxford cambridge river thames race umpired cambridge won lengths time minutes seconds taking overall record oxford favour 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 cambridge went race reigning champions having defeated oxford length previous year race oxford led overall sixteen wins cambridge build race oxford boat club president strained prohibited practice worse days race number rower broke replaced man conversely cambridge saw return president consecutive year previous year blues available selected race oxford coached rowed dark blues times races cambridge coaches rowed cambridge races non rowing boat club president race rowed times races sliding seats started come prominence having crew reluctant allow tried race boat manufacturer fitting umpire race time boat race event overseen rowed cambridge times races performed duties starter crews cambridge crew weighed average pounds opponents oxford crew contained rowers saw return cox dark blue boat time stroke president cambridge crew included rowing race rowed race cambridge won toss elected start middlesex station handing surrey river oxford race started teeth bitter north easterly gale snow storm proved uneventful light blues winning lengths time minutes seconds race broken bolt rigging longer contribute power light blue boat continued stroke provide required rhythm lead cambridge victory cambridge consecutive win took overall record oxford favour
The Boat Race 1872