boat race 42nd boat race took place march held annually boat race rowing race crews universities oxford cambridge river thames race umpired cambridge rower lead changed hands times oxford won margin half lengths time minutes seconds victory took overall record favour oxford 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 cambridge went race reigning champions having won previous year race half lengths oxford held overall lead victories cambridge excluding dead heat oxford coach rowed dark blues races record coached cambridge seriously disrupted build race contracting breaking floating rib introduced crew days prior replace umpire race rowed cambridge times crews oxford crew weighed average pounds opponents heaviest crew featured boat race cambridge crew contained rowers boat_race experience including participating race similarly oxford saw blues return making appearance rowing brother time race featured registered non british participant oxford number originated tasmania race cambridge pre race favourites oxford won toss elected start surrey station handing middlesex river cambridge race started fine weather moderate tide oxford better start cambridge held half length lead time crews passed advantage bend river oxford stroke increasing stroke rate took crew level ahead mile_post cambridge stroke tried restore encouraging oxford held light blues hammersmith_bridge held length lead despite appearing crew going pieces difficult conditions oxford extended lead lengths pub approaching barnes bridge dark blues avoid allowing cambridge come pushing win half lengths time minutes seconds race noted oxford number shoulder continued despite injury
The Boat Race 1885