OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE BOAT RACE,

Otago Witness, Issue 1543, 4 June 1881, Page 20

OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE BOAT RACE,

(FROM THE &ONDON TIMES.) The morning of the Bth of April was fine, but a I strong wind was blowing- Owing to the cold weather ! and the early hour at which the race had to he rowed Borne points of view on the banks of the river were " sparsely tenanted, but at Hammersmith Bridge there was an enormous throng, and on both Bides of the i river for some distance up and down there were dense masses of human beings. Mr R. Lewis Lord, 01 Magdalen College, Cambridge, acted as umpire, ana Mr Edward Searle as starter. The following were the crews : — OXFORD. Bfc. lb. 1. B. H. Poole, Brasenose „ „ 10 11 2. 11. A. Pinckney, Exeter . . 11 3 3 A. R.Paterson, Trinity.. -. 12 7 4. E. Buck, Hartford .. ..1111 5. R. S. Kindersley, Exeter ■■ « ; 6. D. E. Brown, Hertford . . . . 12 7 7. H. T. Wharton, Magdalen -. H •> L.B. West, Christchurch(Btroke) .. 10 11$ , I E. H. Lyon, Hartford (coxswain) . . 70, CAMBRIDGE. „ - st. lb. 1. R. C. Gridley, Third Trinity . . 10 7 2. fl. Sandford, St. John's - . 11 10£ 3. J. Watson Taylor, Magdalen .. 11 °i 4. P. W. Atkin, Jesua .. •- Jl 13 5. E. Lambert, Pembroke .. .. 12 4& 6. A. M. Hutchinson, Jesus •• Hl3 7. C. W. Moore, Christ's .. .. 11 9 E. C. Brooksbauk, Trinity Hall (stroke) .. .. .. 11 1 H. Woodhouse, Trinity Hall (cox,swain) ..' ', .. •• '<" The start took place at 8.34 o'clock. Oxford was the first to catch hold of the water, and at once showed a lead of four feet, rowing 36 strokes a minute ; while their opponents, who were working at the same rate of stroke, hardly got under way as quickly as usual. At Simmons' Yard the Oxford crew were still in front, loading by four or five feet. This advantage they maintained as they passed the London Boathouse, after which the Cambridge men began to hold their own, and shortly afterwards got nearly on even terms. Both eights were rowing in a remarkably steady manner as they passed along the concrete wall, but the Oxford crew we're increasing their lead slightly. _ Neanng Craven Cottage steps, however, the Cambridge men in the better tideway gained a trifle of the ground they had lost, and off the Cottage itself the nose of the Oxford boat was only four or five' feet in advance of that of Cambridge. Opening out at Crab Tree Reach there was a nasty tide wind, and the Oxford crew being close in under the Middlesex bank added a trifle to thoir lead as they breasted the Grass Wharf, where the Cambridge men, who had more wind to content! against, were eight or ten feet astern. In making the shoot for the Surrey side of the river Cambridge once more gained a little, and at Walden's Wharf had reduced their opponents' lead to three or four feet ; but this was only temporary, for at Rosebank Villa Oxford, who were very wide of their antagonists, again led by eight feet. Between here and the Crab Tree a somewhat free use was made of the rudder of the Cambridge boat, bo that at the Cab Tree Oxford had increased their lead to perhaps a quarter of a length, and still kept close in under the bank. At Dorset Villa the Oxford boat, out of the tideway, seemed to hang on the men's hands, the result being that their rowing became irregular, and tho boat rolle 1 about so that her speed became considerably lessened. Cambridge now seemed to be rowing the better of the two, and as the two boats raced towards the Soap Works Wharf they reduced their opponents lead,_ so that at the dummy in the centre of the staging Oxford were only an eighth of a length ahead. Immediately afterwards, however, a marked change was manifest in the aspect of the race, and before the distillery was reached Oxford, having now plenty of tide under their bo'it, foil together again, and rowing away from their opponents led them at Gwynne 8 Factory by half a length, both boats making for the centre arch of the Suspension Bridge. As they neared it Oxford increased their lead fast and 'passed underneath it in 8 mm is 'see. from tho start, three-quarters of a length' ln advance of Cambridge. After clearing the- bridge Cambridge, notwithstanding the eddy of the buttress, gained a few feet as they neared Biff ens >ard; but this only lasted for a moment, inasmuch as opposite the Lead Mills the Oxford men again added to their lead, and were merely a length ahead when they t-eached the Doves. Cambridge, on the inside, now had the best of the turn in the river, and once more decreased their opponents' lead ; but again an injudi- ■ cious use of the rudder-lines interfered with the speed of the boat. Kear the Oil Mills, Cambridge, rowing 37 strokes to Oxford's 35, made an effort to ward off defeat just as the latter became unsteady, and their advantage was not more than three-quarters of a length. As they entered Corney Reach the water was found to be somewhat rough and, both crews were timed to be rowing 36 strokes a minute through it. I Passing Chiswick Eyot, Oxford steadily drew away from their opponents, and it became evident that the race was virtually over, as, notwithstanding an accelerated stroke in the Cambridge boat, they were unable to make any impression on the leading crew. Chiswick Church was passed in 13 mm. 28 sec. by Oxford with a lead of a length, and as the time of the Cambridge oars was indifferent, and their (boat rolled considerably, the lead of Oxford was increased to a length and.a-quarter at the White Cottage. In Horse Reach the rowing of the Cambridge crew became somewhat wild, and their sluggish recovery caused them to tall astern rapidly, so that Oxford went away fast. Rowing 37 to the minute as they passed the Bull s Head, they increased their lead to two lengths at Barnes Bridge, which waa reached in 18 mm. 10 aec. Thence to the finish the race had become a procession, as notwithstanding a plucky spurt, made by Cambridge as the boats neared Mortlake Brewery, they failed to reduce their opponents' lead, and as they fell into the wash of the Oxford's boat for a short time above the Brewery, their discomfiture was complete. They spurted again towards the finish, but became very unsteady, owing to the surf of a boat as they passed the Ship, and were beaten by about three lengths in 21 mm. 61 sec. The time was slow, but the tide was almost spent before the race began.