The Express.
London, England, 1863-03-28 00:00:00

OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE EIGHT-
OARED MATCH-(THIS DAY.)

This great annual aquatic event, which always
commands great attention in sporting circles ex-
ceeded only by the Derby Day, excited additional
interest this year from the supposed near equality
of the contesting crews, and an announcement
which had obtained currency that this was the
last occasion u pou which the two great
Universi,ine would compete upon the Thames.
The betting had been for some days previous
to the race in favour of the Oxford crew, but the
trial which took place on Thursday rather told in
favour of the Cambridge, and the weather this
morning tended to equalise the odds. The un-
usually early hour for which the contest was fixed,
owing to the state of the tide, namely, half-
past eight a.m., would, it might have been
anticipated, have considerably thinned the
throng of spectators, and at that hour the numbers
assembled upon the banks confirmed the supposi-
tion, but the delay occasiondl the change of
tide sooner than was calculated upon enabled
thousands to roach the spot in time for the great
attraction of the day. The morning broke with
a threatening cloudy sky and a brisk breeze
from the west, and this, no doubt, had also some
influence in discouraging sightseers, as was appa-
rent from the extraordinary room and ease in every
one of the steamboats chartered to accompany the
race.
The tide reached its height shortly before 8
o'clock, but the power of the wind made it advisable
that a change should be made in the usual course ;
it was accordingly determined to delay the start,
and to row f rom Mortlake to Putney, making the third
time in the history of these contests in which the
course has been "down" the river. Shortly
after 9 o'clock a bright warm sunlight broke upon
the scene, which at this time was one of
the liveliest. Both banks of the river were
crowded with spectators, amongst whom
were imany ladies, the great majority decorated
with the colours of one or other of the
contesting crews. Hammersmith-bridge presented
a. appearance of extraordinary animation, the dark
figures of multitudes of men forming a favourable
ground for the exhibition of the dark blue or light
dresses, bonnet ribbons, and parasols by which the
fair sex showed their sympathy with Oxford or
Cambridge. Along the towing paths between
Putney and Mortlake, numbers of equestrians,
most of them evidently mounted • from the re- I
sources of the locality, and under circumstances of
extreme pressure, were galloping to and fro, to the
terror of- the pedestrians, and in not a few cases
to the discomfiture of the riders themselves ; nigger
melodists were blocking the way, and making a rich
harvest from the impatient crowd, ready generally
to reward any efforts to relieve the weariness of
waiting ; and " knock-ern-down" proprietors took
possession of every place where a few feet of grass
were to be found.
The boats took their places at half-peat 10, Ox-
ford winning the toss, and selecting the Middlesex
side of the river ; a good start was immediately
afterwards effected. For a few stroke° they kept
well together, bat the Oxford crew soon took the
lead, and continued to improve their advantage
to the end of the course. In rounding the point
opposite Hammersmith mall, Oxford appeared
some three or four seconds before their opponents,
and at the bridge the lead had been so far increased
as to place the result beyond a doubt. There was
an finites/on that Cambridge was lessening the
distance between the boats shortly before the Star
and Garter at Putney was reached, but Oxford was
still 22 seconds ahead at the winning-post, The
time occupied in the race was 23 min. 6 secs. by the
winners, and 23 min. 27 sec. by the Cambridge meu.
Both crews were vociferously cheered throughout
the whole of the course, and the Oxford men, on
leaving their boat, were received with shouts of
congratulation.
The boats were manned as follows :
Oxman. at. It
1. B. Shepherd, Brannan)
2. F. R. Reny, University
3. W. B. R. Jaceheon. Chriat Chwah
4. W. R. Woods's* Braastiom
6. A. Merriam, Ballioi
6. W. Audrey, Menial ll 7
7. C. R. Ouv, Wadhata
8. W. M. Boers, Raster
F. E. Hopwood, Christ Olimok (am) 8 3
Miasmas.
1. J. C. Hawk:Maw, Trinity it 2
2. W. C. 'Natty
3. R. H. Morsltk.maaust
11 13
5
4. J. WOrion
6. C. H. Le Moths, Bt. John's LI 1
6. R. A. Ringlake, Trinity
7. J. G. Chambers, Trinity -.. 11 10
8. J. Miming, Triaity
F. H. Archer, Maas (sax.)
Great credit is due to those who had the arrange-
ments for the manner iu which they succeeded in
keeping the accompanying steamboats, no less than
16 in number, from interference with the race ;
but notwithstanding the precautions taken in this
respect, both of the match boats suffered some
damage after the contest was decided. The race
wad over, and the crews were returning lei-
surely to the shore, when the steamers
passed all abreast, throwing up a swell
which rolled the match boats upon the shore,
filling both with water, injuring one of the row-
locks of the Oxford boat, and knocking a bole in
the bottom of the Cambridge.

Moen • Second Edition of Bell's Life.)
Oxford having won the toss took the Middles
shore,with Cambridge on the outside. The steamboat,' caused
much daisy at the start, owing to the great difficulty which
the 'uptake had in keepisg them up above the starting buoys
at Barker's Rails, and indeed it would have been very much
better had they been left to themselves, and allowed to take
up their positioas along the shore. At length, however, a
tolerably fair opportunity presented itself. and Ir.Searle pro-
nounced the word "off "at precisely 20 minutes post ten
o'clock. They took the water almost simultaneously, Cam-
bridge being, perhaps, a trifle quicker than their opponents.
This gave them a slight lead, which, however, Oxford imme-
distally =deep, and they were timed to be doing Cambridge
40 and Oxford 39 strokes per minute. In 100 yardsafter the
start the Cantabs forged a leadegain, bat Swam weeded from
them is 200 yards at the furthest ; and Oxford were here
to fast that before they reached the Ship they led by
a dear length, both crews having been somewhat wild up
to this point. Here the Cambridge crew, whose cox swain
had kept them much too far over on the Surrey shore,
increased the rapidity of their stroke, and were row-
ing uncommonly well, bat soon afterwards both boat.
dropped to 37 strokes per minute, which was not
varied much afterwards. At the point below Fronk Godfrey's
Oxford had added half a length to their lead, and they
rsaahed Barnes-bridge—Oxford is sm. 35a., with Cambridge
15s. behind. These positions were maintained to the Bathing
place, when a soe spurt in the Cambridge boat lessened the
gap, but at the botto Chiswick Eyott the °goatees bad
settled down into thm eiorf very best form, and rapidly im-
proved their advantage. From here the pace of the con-
tending crews so entirely beat the steamboats, locked
together as they were, that nothing more was seen of the
race until they reached the Star and Garter, at Putney.
where Oxford woo by 22 seconds, their time being 23 min.
6 sec., and that of Cambridge 23 mia. 27 sac.
When the shouts which greeted the victors bad subsided,
both crews proceeded to partake of the hospitality of Mr.
Phillips, at The Cedars, Mortlake.

(From a Second Edition of the Field.)
At as early hour large numbers of persons arra
eneseed to easemble on the towing-path and on the
river, and the steamers one by one made their
through Fulham-bridge. We counted fourteen o them
including the River Queen, with members of the Thames
Bukeeriptioa Club; the Warrior, with the Loudon
Rowing Club ; the Victoria, with the Lowder
Club ; the Mil& Harold (private) ; the Waverley,
with Cambridge meal the Rifleman, with members of the
Orford Usiveerity Boat Mb ; Citizens L (umpire's boat).
D. J, K., Y, P, the Veins, arid the Jupiter, which latter
afterwards got aground on the Middlesex shore, just oppo-
site the starting place. A small private steamer called
the Rifle also attended. The tide wooed to flow at
Putney at eight o'clock, the wind Mein it out very
mesa In oonsequesee of the early oommenormeet
of ebb on Friday morning, the presidents of the Oxford and
Cambridge University Bast Clubs decided on that day that
the nee should be rowed down, instead of up with the flood.
se lead latterly bees iatended. The two eight-oared boats