UNIVERSITY BOAT RACE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20243, 1 May 1929, Page 19

UNIVERSITY BOAT RACE.

CAMBRIDGE WINS AGAIN.

AN OXFORD MAN'S COLLAPSE.

FORTY WINS FOR EACH CREW. [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.'J LONDON, March 27. The university boat race clay was fine and sunny, with a light south-westerly wind blowing Cambridge won by seven lengths, thus in tho centenary year of tho raco drawing level with Oxford in tho matter of victories gained. Ea-.h crew had now won 40 races—one race, that in 1877, having resulted in a deadheat. When Oxford won in 1863 they equalled Cambridge's ten victories, and that was the last occasion when the universities were level in the number of wins. Cambridge won tho toss, and, as is their usual custom, they chose the Surrey station. This gave them the advantage of the inside station of tho long bend by Hammersmith. Tho tide was not a strong one and was not nearly as fast as when tho crews rowed their second trials. Oxford, as tho challengers, were the first afloat, leaving tho London Rowing Club at noon. Cambridge followed from the Leander Club a minute later and, amidst .great cheering, the crews paddled to the stake-boats moored off the University Stone, just above Putney Bridge. At 12.12 p.m. Lieutenant-Colonel C. D. Burnell, who acted as umpire for the third successive year, got the crews off to a good start. Contrary to expectations Oxford proved quicker off the stake-boat than their rivals, 'end after about six strokes they held a lead of a few feet. This was tho only time during the race that the nose of the Oxford boat showed in front. Oxford rowed 11-20-38 in the first quarter, half, and full minute, to 10-20-37 by Cambridge. The Light Blues were on terms at the end of half-a-minute, and the crews passed the London Rowing Club level. Superior Skill ol Cambridge.

At tlio end of the first minute Cambridge led by a couple o! feet, but in some rough water near Beverley Brook their superior strength told to advantage and they gradually forged ahead. In the second minute Graham towed 35 and Brocklebank 34, but the Light Blues had more rhythm and at Craven Steps reached in 2min 20sec, Cambridge led by a canvas. Opposite the football ground Oxford commenced to labour through the rough water and the superior watermanship of the Light Blues enabled them to increase their lead.

The water was a little better just beforo Ilarrods, and Brocklebank, to enable his coxswain to shape for Hammersmith Bridge, whipped the stroke up to 33 and took half a length of daylight almost at once. Sulley's coxing here was masterly and Oxford continued to drop fartliet behind across Cambridge's wash, which unsettled them not a little. Before Hammersmith Cambridge were down to 28 once more and gaining fast on a rhythmless Oxford crew spurting at 35. Cambridge shot Hammersmith just over two lengths ahead in 7min 33sec.

For two or three minutes after this Oxford held them, but at the bottom of Chiswick Eyot Brocklebank, to make matters quite certain, onco again gave the crew a minute at 33, and at Chiswick Steps, llmin. 53sec., had a lead of leiigths. At Duke's "Meadow P. D. Barr, the Oxford bow, was becoming alarmingly distressed, and it was afterwards learned he had influenza. He was gasping painfully. His oar scarcely touched tho water, he moved automatically true to a tradition that made him fight on blindly, almost unconsciously. Win by Seven Lengths.

Cambridge shot Barnes in 16min 2sec, 16scc ahead, or just under five lengths. From there to the finish they did not appreciably quicken their rate of 30, but continued in rougher water to gain from Oxford, who by this time were too exhausted to row more than 33. Cambridge passed the winning post quite fresh seven lengths ahead in the extraordinarily fast time of 19min 24sec. Had Oxford rowed with the steadiness shown in their last course the margin would not have been so great, but it would still have been considerable.

Considering the poor tide the time for the course was very fast and it has only been beaten on eight occasions during the long history of the race. There is no that had the Light Blues been pressed over the last part of the course they would have knocked at least 20sec off their time, as they took 3min 22sec to get from Barnes Bridge to the finish, which was slow compared with their previous times. There is no doubt that the Cambridge crew are a very fast combination. They proved that in their second trial when they got within Msec of the record for the course, and it was again demonstrated on Saturday.

In seeking some cause for Oxford's series of defeats the Daily Chronicle says that an examination of the crews' successes in the past serves to show how much tho influence of a few individual coaches has led to tho triumphs of one side or tho other. "The early successes of Cambridge," says the writer, " are largely attributable to tho system taught by one man—T. S. Egan; and it is a remarkable fact that when, in 1852, he transferred his service* lo Oxford, the luck of that university turned. Transfer of Coaches. "An even more striking example of what; may result from Cue method of training and (he personality of one man is to be seen in the nine Oxford victories beginning in 1861. George Morrison has been described by (ho official historians as the 'architect' of that success The tide turned in 1870 in favour of Cambridge. Why? The change is attributed in no small measure lo the fact that Morrison lent his services to Cambridge. Again, in the 'nineties, W. A. L. Fletcher carried to Cambridge tho secret which he had taught to Oxford, • with the result that, in 1899 and 1900, Cambridge won. J 'These are matters worth pondering. We cannot "assert that Oxford has been wrongly coached, but we do say (hat the possibility that Oxford has been wrongly coached should be very carefully considered. If should bo discovered that something amiss lias crept into tho system of training, it might be in the higher interests of both universities, for the sako of inter-university sport, to consider the temporary transfer of one or more successful coaches from Cambridge to Oxford."

Dr. A. E. Porritt, tho New Zealand Rhodes scholar and athlete, who is a prominent authority on university sport, said: "Success in athletics comes in cycles, and I think that Oxford will recover their position. Although Oxford lost the boat race, they put up a good show, as they did in trie Rugby match, which they also lost. I think Oxford have now reached the turn of the tide and things will improve."