boat race boat race took place april held annually boat race rowing race crews universities oxford cambridge river thames cambridge reigning champions having won previous year race race umpired cambridge won half lengths time minutes seconds consecutive victory sixth win seven races taking overall record event 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 half lengths oxford led overall victories cambridge excluding dead heat cambridge coaches fifth consecutive year time blue rowed race oxford coached president race time blue rowed times fifth year umpire old rowed cambridge races crews cambridge crew weighed average pounds rower opponents oxford crew contained members previous boat race experience including rowing race crew educated cambridge saw members return making appearances event light blue number following uncle footsteps rowed cambridge times 1880s oxford number australian non british participant registered race oxford rower author assessed cambridge crew better stronger previous year conversely oxford crew firstly number available forbidden row doctors swept crew struck despite fully recovering took race race oxford won toss elected start surrey station handing middlesex river cambridge strong head wind umpire started race light blues better start slightly rating oxford began pull away rough water favoured cambridge style rowing clear oxford time passed mile_post crews passed light blues lengths ahead dark blues failed cambridge lead began pull away passing barnes bridge passed finishing post leading half lengths time minutes seconds cambridge consecutive victory sixth seven years took overall record oxford favour winning time fastest race margin victory race described race finer struggle previous years
The Boat Race 1908