boat race 5th boat race took place river_thames april fourth rowing competition university_of_oxford university_of_cambridge contested london race held won cambridge crew featured pairs brothers rowing defeated oxford distance lengths time minutes seconds victory took overall record event cambridge favour background boat race rowing competition university_of_oxford referred dark blues university_of_cambridge referred light blues race held takes place river_thames southwest london cambridge went race reigning champions having won previous year race quarters length disagreement day selected race mainly attempt coincide suitable tide cambridge cox race oxford race referee cambridge universities rowed boats constructed vessels generally admired significant difference oxford boat built cambridge built race took place quarter mile stretch thames arrangements police course clear according cambridge number seven work decide ahead astern train barges catering river according report morning chronicle crews agreed match attempt lead oxford arrived thames days prior race rowed course cambridge started practice runs days later racing crew subsequently won grand challenge cup royal suffered injury practice struck tremendous blow shoulder cured application oxford crew settled days race competed crew crews cambridge crew weighed average pounds rower opposition cambridge crew contained blues rowed previous year race similarly oxford saw return members boat_race experience time history race pairs brothers rowed cambridge joseph william george lewis race cambridge considered favourites race mainly won previous races thames light blues won toss elected start arch centre surrey oxford arch race commenced light blues making better start taking early lead getting clear lead lengths extended lengths cambridge won lengths time minutes seconds fourth consecutive victory took overall record favour despite earlier fears managed offered boats
The Boat Race 1841