boat race boat race took place march cambridge won lengths race clashes oxford appeal row conclusion race rejected umpire event sponsored final time broadcast united_kingdom bbc reserve race isis beat oxford won background boat race rowing competition university_of_oxford university_of_cambridge held competition mile race championship course river thames southwest london rivalry major point honour universities followed united_kingdom worldwide oxford went race reigning champions having won race foot cambridge leading overall victories oxford excluding dead heat race sponsored fifth final time bbc 50th anniversary live broadcast event 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 crews cambridge crew referred light blues weighed average pound rower opponents average age oxford crew referred dark blues averaged oxford crew featured seven americans cambridge crew consisted british american german french german american australian race description oxford considered pre race favourites cambridge won coin toss elected start northern bank middlesex thames conditions described fairly calm oxford better start pulling away lead half length following number clashes oxford lost seating causing boat slow cambridge took lead clear water pulled away win cambridge finished time minutes seconds oxford finishing lengths cambridge victory brought overall result cambridge favour oxford cox appeal umpire result stood finish following tradition cambridge crew threw cox water celebration reserve race oxford isis beat cambridge earlier oxford won women boat race lengths reaction oxford cox said came seat continue properly race rejected appeal claimed umpire laid race way wanted conduct race completely different race claimed cent confident happened didn happen won cambridge cox stated umpire good told hold line knew exactly needed
The Boat Race 2004