The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-04-09 00:00:00

THE OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE

BOAT RACE.

So great an interest has the University Boat Race
excited this year, that on Wednesday, the crowds on
the banks of the Thames were beyond all precedent,
and some rif the houses which in former years made a
charge of half-a-crown ior a place on the roof, this year
let every foot of standing-room, at 153.
Although the race was not to be rowed until
evening, people began to arrive at Putney in tl
forenoon, for the idea with a large portion of the
British public is, that a sight is no eight at all
unless a whole holiday is made to see it. Nigger
midis-lists, and proprietors of knock-cm downs in
numbers were among the first arrivals ; arid the
harvest of the public-houses began at an rarly hour.
Nearly every house had one of the rival Hags, and
there was riot an inhabitant or a visitor who did
not exhibit a rihhou or rosette in bikeo of his sym-
pathies. At Barnes a similar display of colour was
eei end, and from a very early hour carriages began
to arri,e in rapid BUCCe 88i012 to take up their places
by the river-side. As the afternoon wore in
the influx If sightseers increased. Down from the
railway station and over the bridge they poured
in in almost unbroken streams. Over Hamm. r.
smith Bridge carne a still larger number, and it
required all the elf, rts of a strong body of police to
keep the roadway clear. Then from the two avenues
of approach the 'dense crowd streamed siting the river
batiks until they stood in an almost unbroken m4rs
from Putney Bridge to Mortlake, and it was
impossible to help being struck at the night of the
enormous throng ae.ruibled to view a race between
two eight-oared boats, which could barely be clearly in
sight for over a minute Or two. Hatnmerambh was,
as usual, the most imposing point, with its bridge
black with the mass or people who crowded it, arid
with both banks lined with a densely packed throng.
As the time approached ter the race it was difficult
for the late comera to force their way down upon the
towing-path. Of the hundred, of thousands of people
assembled, the number without a distinguishing badge
could have been counted by tens. Everyone had a
strong interest on one side or the other, and it was
remarkable that Light Blue had by far the larger pro-
por:ion of well-wishers.
. . ,

r,
The wide expanse of the river, unbroken except by
small boats, and by the two chartered steamers,
afforded a strong contrast to the view upon former
occasims, when upwards of twenty steamers have
rolled, and panted, and smoked in front ot Putney.
Cambridge. as the challengers, were the first to row
out to their place, and were greeted with tremendous
chsers. and Orford were not long in following them.
At 5 4 the signal was given for the start, and after a
most r‘citing race, closely contested to the end,
Canivnidge won by a length and a half. Time, 19 min.
30 sec,
Pieta winners and losers were warmly cheered, and
a better race has seldom been witnessed on the
Thames.

In connection with the above, the following brief
account of the results of previous races between the
Universities, for which we are indebted to Mr.
Mac Michael's book on the "Oxford and Cambridge
Boat Races," will not be uninteresting :

1829 Ilambledon.lo,k to lienley, 21 miles. Won by
Oxford by sixty yards, or five or six lengths. Time 14 mm.,
or &a:online to One account,!! Milt.
" ""

1836 —W;stminster- bridge to Putney-bridge. Won by
Cambridge by one minute. Time of winning h-t, 36 min.
I:39.—Westmin.ter-bridge to l'utney. Won by Cam-
go by I min 45 ae. Time of winning boat, 31 Min.
IS49.—Westminater to Putney. Won by Cambridge by a
boat's length and a half. Time of winning boat, 29 min.
30 see.

-1-8-41.—Westminster to Putney. Won by Cambridge by one
minute. Time of winning boat, 32 min.
1842. —Westminster to Putney. Won by Oxford by 13 secs.
Time of winning boat, 30 min. 45 secs.
1043.—There was no race this year beta eon the University
R at Clubs, properly so called, but at Ile., by the t anions
"seven oar race" was rowed between the Oxford University
Boat Club and the Cambridge llaismription-rooms Crew, in
hich the Oxford crew won after into gilt oar. Tnis cam.
bridge Subicriptbm.rooms walla London club, of which, how-
ever, the C,nihridge University Boat clan were nw.nd,,ss.
1644. Mere was again Tin match between the Untvenitten
atome this year, but the Oxford and Cambridge University
Boat Clubs both sent up crews to the Thames Regatta, in
which they competed with the Leander colt, Osiord won by
four lengths. Cambridge came in six lengths ahead of
Leander.

1815 —Putney to Mortlake, 4 miles 1 furlong. Won by
Camoridge by eight or ten lengths The University Clubs
al-o sent up crews to Henley, when they contented for the
" Grand Challenge Cut," Cambridge won e
1846 —Putney to Mortlake, 4 miles 1 turbine. Won by
Cambridge by about three lengths. Line of winning boat,
21 loin. 6 see. . .

1:447.-Ihere was no match, hut University crews con-
tended at Henley for the Grand Challenge Cup. Oxford beat
Cambridge by ta o.stni•a.half boat lengthi, and subsequently
won the cup from the Thames !2.1t11,.. . .

nig E uter).—Putuey to Mortlake. Won by Cambrhlge
by BO aec.
1849 .December).— Putney to Mortlake. Race adjudged to
Ortold on the ground 01 a foul.
1851.—N0 match. oa.rd beat Cambridge for the Grand
Challenge Cup at /holey by els leogths. No 3 on the
Cambriege bat broke rle thowl
. .

ISa2.—Putoty to Mortlake.
lenethe.
-

1,1ii;o by Oxford by six

1853.—N0 match. Race for the 0. C. C. at Henley.
Alinoat a ,oak an-neck race Won by Oxford.
. . . . .

-
1854.—1ban,-y to 11, .rtlake. Won by Oxford by 11 strokes.
Time ot whining boat 25 inin 29 see.
1855 —No mltch. Cambridge boat Oxford at Henley by
two and a halt length..
1856.—Mortlake to Patney. Woo by esmbridste by about
half a length. Time, 25 min. 15 sec., or 25 min 5) see-
-Iss7.—Putney to Mortlake. Won by Cambridge by 32 sec.
Time. 22 min, 50 see.
. . .

.......
--185 S —Piriwy to Ntortlaka. Wen by Cimbridge by 22 sec.
lime of winners, 21 Tulin 23 sec
Mak—Putney to Mortlake. Won by Oxford. Cambridge
boat sank

18611. —Putney to Mnrtlske. Won by Cambridge bya length
ainl 0 11.11. rime, 26 min. 5 sec.
Ir6l —Pntney to Morthke. Won by Oxford by 47 sod
lin,.•, 23 min. 3)5.0.

1.-lutney to Mortlske. Wou by Oxford by SO sec.
Time, 21 min 40 sec.
1803.—SlortItke to Putney. Won by Oxford by 4.5 see.
Time, 23 min. 6sec.

Ib6.l.—Potom to Mortlake. Won by Wont by 1 min. TO see.
Tim, 21 mit, 40 sec

. .......
1865.-I'utney to Mortlake. Won by Oxford by three and
three-quarter lengths Time, 21 min. 2; see.
IRK—Putney to 'Mortlake. Won by Oxford by three
lengths. lim, 25 nih. 35 sec. .

1867.—Puthey to Mortlake. Won by Oxterd by balls length.
Thee. 22 rn sn. 39 are.

Mortlake. Won by Oxford by four

le9.—Putney to Mortlake. Won by Oxford by three
leagthn lime, 20 min 4 4-5 see.