CAMBRIDGE’S EASY BOAT RACE WIN

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23219, 3 April 1950, Page 9

CAMBRIDGE’S EASY BOAT RACE WIN

(10 a.m.) LONDON, April 2. In the annual boat race on Saturday, Cambridge defeated Oxford by three and a half lengths in 20min. 15sec. It was Cambridge’s race all the way. Oxford began to slip back at the end of the first half-mile.

Cambridge led by half a length at the two-mile post, by a length and a quarter at three miles and then pulled away to slip past the post an easy winner.

Cambridge soon settled down to a long raking stroke, stroking about 30. Oxford rated slightly faster, but Cambridge was longer behind the riggers and covered more water with very powerful stroke.

Cambridge started favourites and worked throughout like a well-oiled machine.

Undergraduates dashed along the towpaths wearing long scarves of the respective university colours. Windows, balconies, rooftops and all vantage points were jammed by people who booked as long as a month ago. The Cambridge cox, A. ArmstrongJones, said in an interview that the oars of both boats touched just after the start.

“There was a cross conversation with the other cox and we both steered away. Conditions were awful. It was

very hard to steer. It was very rough in parts and the boat swung quite a bit.”

J. Crick, the 25-year-old Cambridge stroke, said the water was bad all the way and it was not a first-class row. It was the ninety-sixth boat race and Cambridge’s fifty-second win.