Cambridge Wins

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVI, Issue 87, 29 March 1926, Page 5

Cambridge Wins

INTER-’VARSITY BOAT RACE. OXFORD’S FEEBLE EFFORT. London, Mar. 27. The conditions were ideal, smooth w’ater, and a light south-easterly breeze contributing to a fast race. A huge crowd witnessed the race. Oxford wron the toss and chose the Surrey side of the river. The crew’s got off to an excellent start, Oxford with a slight lead, but Cambridge rowed beautifully. At the mile post the time was 4.3, when the boats were practically level. A spurt by Oxford secured them an advantage, but Cambridge ' answered well. Hammersmith Bridge was passed in 7.27. Oxford was slightly in the lead at Chiswick, but at the Eyot, Cambridge, by a mangnificent effort, drew ahead, and although Oxford tried hard by Duke’s Meadows to reduce the lead, Cambridge reached Barnes Bridge in 16.10. They then had the race well in hand, and as they approached the finish Cambridge, by a short spurt, increased their lead considerably. The Cambridge crew appeared undistressed, but some of the Oxford men were badly done up. Cambridge won easily by five lengths in 19mins. 29secs. —(A. and N.Z.) A SURPRISING CRACK-UP. The race was most remarkable for Oxford’s surprising crack up. They only feebly responded to Cambridge’s special deciding effort in the long straight to Barnes’s Bridge. Passing Duke’s Meadows, Cambridge were doing a pleasant practice paddle, smooth and effortless. They were never sufficiently pressed. A neck-and-neck suffimight have told another tale, but beyond on© scrappy patch, when Oxford were leading, the light blues outdid them in liveliness, catch, drive and length of stroke, though generally rowing fewer to the minute. Steven Fairbank’s, interviewed, said Bell was the best man in both crews. The Cambridge coach, Escombe, built up his crew on Bell. In the last fortnight Bell had been the mainstay of the improvement, exercising as much influence as the stroke. —(A. and N.Z.) Cambridge have now won the race on 37 occasions while Oxford’s total is 40.