boat race 46th boat race took place march boat race annual rowing race crews universities oxford cambridge river thames time history event rowers cambridge crew rowed previous year cambridge won lengths time minutes seconds fourth consecutive victory took overall record event oxford favour background boat race rowing competition university_of_oxford referred dark blues university_of_cambridge referred light blues held race takes place miles championship course river thames southwest london rivalry major point honour universities followed united_kingdom broadcast worldwide cambridge went race reigning champions having won previous year race seven lengths oxford held overall lead victories cambridge excluding dead heat cambridge coaches rowed light blues races represented cambridge races rowed rowed races oxford coached rowed dark blues times races rowed oxford non rowing boat club president umpire race won event consecutive times rowing oxford races crews oxford crew weighed average pounds rower opponents time history event rower cambridge crew taken previous year race making fourth consecutive appearance result availability blues little competition trial cambridge crew considered nearly fast cox new event oxford crew contained blues including rowing boat race competitors registered british race cambridge won toss elected start surrey station handing middlesex river oxford commencing high stroke rate cambridge took early lead settling long steady powerful stroke crab tree pub clear despite dark blues cambridge length half ahead hammersmith_bridge continued pull away despite tremendous sea raised wind barnes extended lead win lengths time minutes seconds cambridge fourth consecutive victory fifth years fastest winning time oxford victory race victory took overall record oxford favour
The Boat Race 1889