boat race boat race took place march held annually boat race rowing race crews universities oxford cambridge river thames race oxford crew slightly heavier opponents umpired rower cambridge won lengths time minutes seconds sixth win seven years took overall record event 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 canvas cambridge leading overall victories oxford excluding dead heat cambridge coached represented cambridge races rowed times coach club rowed race oxford coaches rowed dark blues race hugh edwards rowed oxford rowed wartime race race umpired second time oxford rower build race opinions divided crew favourite win according rowing correspondent arrival demonstrated great superiority cambridge light blues improved pace form win times declared oxford stronger crew day race queen mary died days prior race wore black flag post umpire launch black marks respect umpire accompanied launch chancellor university_of_cambridge lord crews oxford crew weighed average pounds rower opponents cambridge saw rowers return crew number number oxford crew contained rowers boat_race experience participants race registered non british oxford smith australian cambridge united_states rowing correspondent times described oxford crew containing outstanding individuals weak links conversely cambridge crew variable quality harvard_university rower outstanding crew race cambridge won toss elected start surrey station handing middlesex river oxford poor tide strong south westerly wind umpire started race noon crews rated minute light blues held quarter length lead bend river began favour oxford cambridge continued pull away clear length crews passed mile_post increased lead half length passed crab tree pub oxford bursts passed hammersmith_bridge seconds light blues fell visible gesture despair according rowing correspondent pushing away bridge oxford stayed touch cambridge brief period reduce lead rowing rough water cambridge moved seek shelter closer surrey shore oxford continued difficult conditions lead seconds extended seconds time crews passed barnes bridge cambridge won lengths time minutes seconds time shortened half minute winners pressed sixth victory past seven fastest winning time race rowing correspondent times described result spectacular reversal form having failed pace demonstrated practice
The Boat Race 1953