AQUATICS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1433, 15 July 1865, Page 2

AQUATICS.

THE OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE BOAT RACE. This annual contest, which for some time past has caused a vast amount of excitement, came off on Saturday, April 8. The following interesting account of the race is from Bella Life "The morning of the eventful day was worthy of the middle of June, and accordingly the numbor of spectators, which has been annually increasing, was on this occasion nearly doubled. Warm and balmy, with a breeze of air from the 8.W., nothing could be more favourable for this all-im-portant aquatic event. Evory spot from which a view of the race could be obtained—Putney,Hammersmith, and Barnes Railway bridges, and the banks of the river were literally covered, and Barnes-terrace almost reminded one of the grand stand at Ascot. It was a perfect bevy of the fairest and brightest of England, bedc'ckod in light and dark blue, ready to reward with their smiles and applause both the victors and thoir loss fortunate oppononts in this gallant struggle. Wo counted, we regret to say, no lens than 17 steamboats, many of them dangerously crowded with their living freight. The tide which had been gradually improving for tho last few days, Aide up strong at 11 o'clock, and as noon approachcd the excitement became intense. Cambridge, who bad been non-favourites at the commencement of the week, had gradually increased in popular estimation, their form of rowing having decidedly improved, while the same onward movement had not been so visible in tho Oxford boat. The odds had now become even, Oxford for choice. It waa arranged that the race should commence from two barges moored opposite the Star and Garter, and should terminato at a flag-boat placed about 300 yards below Barker's Rails. At 12.34 the

Cambridge ship vu launched from Simmondii'i yard, the Oxford being brought out about five minutjoi afterword* from the boat-howo of the London Rowing Club, who had kindly allowed the loan of their thed during their iqjourn at Putney. They paddled down toward! Putneybridgo amid the hearty cheering of the thousands present. Oxford hating won the ton, took up their position nearest the Middlesex shore, having their opponents on the port hand, Mr. Edward Searle being in a boat between the two barges ready to receive them, and for several minutes endeavoured to effect a start, which was rendered utterly impossible, on account of the bad behaviour of some of the many steamboats, some of which surrounded, and somo remained directly in the course of the boats. We are delighted, however, to havo to record the determination of Mr. Brown and Mr. Lawes, who, instead of going through the farce of attenpting a start under such circumstances, wisely paddled back towards their respective boat houses. The captains of the steamboats, seeing that the crews were determined not to be bullied, at once commenced backing towards the Aqueduct. The crews once again returned to their stations, and ere their tormentors had time to surround them again, Mr. Edward Searle effected the start, which took place at 1:1:40. Cambridge, in the first six strokes, jumped off with nearly half a boat's length lead, Oxford appearing to be hardly aware that the contest had commencod. Cambridge continued to increase their lead, and at Finch's nearly cleared their length, where they settled down to a longer swing than we have seen them row during the whole of their practice. Oxford, at which we are not surprised, were rowing wildly, being already fearfully hampered by a steamboat and a screw tug. The Cambridge coxswain, off Bose Bank, as appeared to us very .wisely, kept in mid stream, thereby saving his crew from the draught of the steamboats, while Oxford, having been steered previously too much towards the Middlesex shore, had the disadvantage of having her rudder put on to bring her again into her right course. .The crew now settled down to their work, the style of their rowing having decidedly improved. Cambridge, however, continued to increase her lead up to the Crab Tree, where there were two lengths between them. At this point, Oxford were rowing 39 strokes per minute, Cambridge slightly quicker In going over to the Soap Works Point, Cambridge took her opponents' water, giving them the wash, amidst the deafening applause of her partisans, and this course was continued till Hammersmith wits reached by Cambridge in 7 minutes 30 seconds from the time of starting, and two boats' length and a-half ahead of Oxford. "It's all over!'' was the general cry. Pluck and determination, however, showed how fallacious was this opinion, for, separated by the above-mentioned distance, they continued rowing with unabated vigour round the Horse-shoe bend, and Cambridge being kept too much in the bight which lies immediately above it, Oxford, being kept out with the full benefit of what tide yet remained, begam slowly, but surely to decrease the gap between the boats. This being observed by Cambridge, Mr. Lawes quickened his stroke, working the crew up, we should almost fear, to 42 or 43 strokes a minute. As may be supposed, the • crew were unable to row this through; and Oxford, showing* a determined depression of the knees, exhibited a piece of rowing worthy of any University crew, and passed their opponents with unexampled rapidity opposite Ckiswick church. Then it was really over. The rowing of Cambridge became shorter and shorter; and though their great strength and indomitable courage gave the leading boat no rest, by the time of reaching the Duke's bathingplace, Oxford, admirably steered by Mr. Tottenham, regained their lost course, and were carefully holding tieadvantage they had gained. In this position Barnes Bailway bridge, in 17 minute 30' seconds,' about four strokes ahead of their adversaries, and still rowing in excellent form. In feet, throughout the whole of the last part of this raoe. they fully justified the great confidence which had been reposed in them by the best judges. Notwithstanding two or three plucky spurts on the part of Mr. Lawes, they held their own, and passed the flag-boat, in which was seated John Phelps, the waterman, as judge, in case of a close result; about six strokes ahead of Cambridge, doing the entire distance in 21 minutes 23 seconds, having scored the fifth race in succession for their University, a feat which has never been performed before. Mr. J. W.Chitty, of Exeter College, Oxford; as usual, acted as umpire. We cannot quit our .narrative of this race without paying a tribute to the excellent rowing of Messrs. Brown, Morrison, tod Baikes, in the Oxford boat, and Messrs. Griffiths and Kinglake in the Cambridge; the great deficiency in this latter boat, as we remarked a week 'ago, was the want of sufficient use of the stretchers, which caused them to row so very short, though we are bound to say they had decidedly improved in that respect during their practice at Putney; ;their oars, too, never met the water ;at right angles. " Considering the many difficulties which imperilled them, we must say that the steering, though, as we have mentioned above, not faultless, was a manifest improvement upon the last three years. Both boats were built by Messrs. Salter of Oxford, and seemed to carry the crews admirably." The following are the names and weights of the rowers:— OXFOBD. st lb 1. B. T. Baikes, Merton U i 2H. P. Senhouse, Christ Church ... 11 2 3. E. P. Henley, Oriel 12 13 4. G. G. Coventry, Pembroke 11 12 5. A. Morrison, Baliiol 12 0 0. T. Wood, Pembroke ... 12 2 7. H. Schneider, Trinity 11 11 8. M. Brown, Trinity ... ... ... n 4 C. W. Tottenham, Christ Church (cox.) 713 CAMBRIDGE. 1. H. Watney, St. John's 11 2. M. H. Beebee, St. John's ... • ... H 0 3. E. V. Pigott, Corpus... ' 11 13 4. B. A. Kinglake, Trinity 12 8 5. D. P. Steavenson, Trinity Hall ... 12 5 0. G. H. Borthwick, Trinity' 12 0 7. W. B. Griffiths, Trinity 11 g 8. C. B. Lawes, Trinity... 11 7 F. H. Archer, Corpus (cox.) 7 3 The annual dinner given by the members of the Thames Subscription Club to the. Oxford and Cambridge Crews took place at Willis's rooms in the evening, the Hon. George Denman, M.P., Q.C., the president of the club, being in the chair. About 200 gentlemen, well known in rowing circles, snt'down to dinner, and a very pleasant evening was passed.