boat race 53rd boat race took place march boat race annual rowing race crews universities oxford cambridge river thames race umpired rower oxford won length time minutes second taking overall record event favour seventh consecutive victory winning margin background boat race rowing competition boat clubs 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 oxford went race reigning champions having beaten cambridge quarter lengths previous year race held overall lead victories cambridge oxford coaches rowed oxford races president captain 1st rowed trials cambridge selected blue boat times cambridge coached rowed cambridge times races umpire race eighth year row won event consecutive times rowing oxford races crews oxford crew weighed average pound rower opponents cambridge crew rowed previous year race boat club president oxford crew contained blues including making consecutive appearance event oxford crew educated race cambridge pre race favourites won toss elected start surrey station handing middlesex river oxford starting race conducted strong westerly winds rain showers cambridge started faster crews oxford strokes minute approximately yards course held length lead bend river favour oxford drew level mile_post ahead holding quarter length advantage hammersmith_bridge rough water past bridge oxford struggled light blues clear pub extended lead half lengths despite race oxford stroke maintained crew pace rhythm miles race overlapping light blue boat encountering challenging combination wind tide cambridge began struggle brewery dark blues took advantage overtaking cambridge passed finishing post length ahead time minutes second seventh consecutive victory margin victory race author oxford rower described race contested rowed
The Boat Race 1896