boat race 41st boat race took place april boat_race annual rowing race crews universities oxford cambridge river thames race acted umpire starter time won cambridge margin half lengths time minutes seconds victory took overall record event oxford favour background boat race rowing competition university_of_oxford referred dark blues university_of_cambridge referred light blues held race takes place miles 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 half lengths held overall lead victories cambridge excluding dead heat oxford coached rowed dark blues times races represented oxford races cambridge coach rowed light blues times president umpire race rowed cambridge times time acted starter replaced acted capacity previous year chaotic start crews failed hear command start race postponed days funeral prince duke albany cambridge crew took unusual step taking week break practice late january settled crew according considerably faster oxford day race conversely noted crew come somewhat day race crews cambridge crew weighed average pounds opponents oxford saw blues return crew including rowing fourth consecutive boat race cambridge crew contained rowers including making fourth appearance event time years race featured non british competitors race oxford won toss elected start surrey station handing middlesex river cambridge light blues quicker start held clear water advantage time crews passed crab tree pub cambridge kept advantage hammersmith_bridge point oxford recovered deficit increased stroke rate clear despite efforts oxford stroke push crew according barnes bridge fell pieces cambridge went win half lengths time minutes seconds recording victory years took overall record oxford favour
The Boat Race 1884