boat race 60th boat race took place april held annually boat race rowing race crews universities oxford cambridge river thames race umpired time cambridge rower starter pistol caused confusion start allowing cambridge gain advantage went win lengths time minutes seconds victory took 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 rivalry major point honour universities followed united_kingdom broadcast worldwide cambridge went race reigning champions having won race lengths led overall victories cambridge excluding dead heat oxford coaches rowed university races represented dark blues times cambridge coached represented light blues races rowed races light blues later coached umpire time old cambridge rower rowed races build race oxford suffered series including bout caused changes crew centred group blues returning previous year cambridge able produce fast crew crews cambridge crew weighed average pounds rower opponents oxford crew contained rowers including rowing consecutive event cambridge saw rowers return crew including taking boat race oxford registered non british rower american attended pennsylvania graduating harvard_university race oxford won toss elected start surrey station handing middlesex river cambridge strong tide umpire attempted start race shouted ready cambridge squared blades dragged away rowed despite failing correctly discharge starter pistol worse failed notice departing light blues length ahead oxford got way somewhat dismayed start author number seven year race stated rowed like beaten crew stroke lead nearly lengths hammersmith_bridge cambridge pushed hold half length lead barnes bridge passed finishing post lengths ahead time minutes seconds second consecutive win fourth years took overall record event oxford favour
The Boat Race 1903