boat race 50th boat race took place march boat_race annual rowing race crews universities oxford cambridge river thames oxford went event reigning champions having won previous year race race umpired rower oxford won length quarter time minutes seconds time fastest history event fourth consecutive victory took overall record favour 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 rowed dark blues times cambridge coached president captain 1st rowed trials cambridge selected blue boat umpire race fifth year row won event consecutive times rowing oxford races according author undergoing repair running race occasions race held saturday crews oxford crew weighed average pounds rower opponents cambridge saw rowers boat_race experience return including light blues oxford boat contained blues including participating fourth boat race dark blues studying competitors race registered british oxford members previous year race available injured practice cambridge crew considered powerful technically race cambridge won toss elected start surrey station handing middlesex river oxford good spring tide light breeze east umpire started race light blues opponents strokes minute taking early lead oxford drew level moved ahead holding length lead mile_post advantage river course cambridge hammersmith_bridge lead cut half length pub miles course crews level despite higher stroke rate cambridge failed ahead showed signs oxford began away barnes bridge length half clear encountered difficult water temporary dam constructed created cambridge took advantage reduce deficit pushed way finishing post oxford won quarter lengths fourth consecutive victory time minutes seconds fastest history event
The Boat Race 1893