boat race boat race took place april held annually boat race rowing race crews universities oxford cambridge river thames oxford went race reigning champions having won previous year race race umpired cambridge rower attended won oxford quarter lengths time minutes seconds second consecutive victory took overall record event cambridge favour background boat race rowing competition university_of_oxford referred dark blues university_of_cambridge referred light blues held race takes place mile championship course river thames southwest london rivalry major point honour universities followed united_kingdom broadcast worldwide oxford went race reigning champions having won race lengths cambridge led overall victories oxford excluding dead heat cambridge coached rowed cambridge race rowed light blues races blue rowed times race oxford coaching team comprised rowed oxford rowed dark blues races oxford crew opted use pound pounds lighter normal main race umpired seventh penultimate time british rowed cambridge races cambridge victory race princess margaret spectators board cambridge launch crews crews weighed average cambridge crew contained rowers taken race bow oxford saw rowers return previous year race olympic gold writing observer said dark blues good precise boat control admirable suggested cambridge crew fully control definite hurry work participant year race registered non british harvard_university captain race oxford won toss elected start middlesex station handing surrey river cambridge dark blues quicker start held canvas length lead strokes extending half length minute bend river favour oxford pulled ahead quarters length passing mile_post record time beating set oxford hold held clear water advantage lengths ahead time crews passed hammersmith_bridge oxford cox steered dark blues middlesex shore allowing cambridge start reduce deficit difficult conditions barnes bridge slowed pace race barnes allowed cambridge close gap seconds aggressive steering cambridge held oxford took advantage tide sprint finish oxford won quarter lengths time minutes seconds oxford second consecutive victory second time world war time race event witnessed member writing observer described event struggle exceptionally race rowing correspondent guardian stated race saw finishing efforts crew lengths half way mark
The Boat Race 1960