The Sun.
London, England, 1864-03-17 00:00:00

ri tHRRIDGE.

st lb
J. R. Selwyn, Trinity (stroke)
F. Stevenson, Trinity . .
G. Borthwick, Trinity
R. A. Kinglake, Trinity
W. W. Hawkins, St. John's ... 12 4
11. Watson, Pembroke..
E. V. Pigott, Corpus .. 11 11
J. C. Hawkshaw, Trinity (bow)
G. H. Archer, Corpus, (cox.)
PICKED LONDON WATERMEN,
H. Kelly, Putney (stroke)
G. Hammerton, Teddington
J. W. Tagg, Hampton
J. Mackinney, Richmond
J. Biffen, Hammersmith
T, Royal, Westminster
H. Cole, Chelsea
T. Hoare, Hammersmith (bow)
J. Phelps, Putney (cox.)
The distance was the same as that fixed for the great race
itself, but was reversed, the start taking place at the Ship
at Mortlake, on the ebb tide, and finishing at Putney. The
Watermen, amongst whom will be found most of the best
oarsmen of the present day, went up to the starting place
first, and it is almost needless to say that, although they
had never rowed together before, they were soon seen doing
their work like men who live by it. Tho Cambridge crew
followed shortly afterwards, and when they got their boat
straight, and sufficiently out from the shore, went off to
row up against the tide as evenly as clockwork. The ob-
jectionable practice of some of the crew throwing them-
selves too much back was no longer visible, and their row,
ing was generally good, all the men taking the water
together. They brought their oars fairly through the
water and feathered very low—but there was a slight scoop
at first—and when fairly under way were going beautifully.
The two crews started at a quarter to twelve, with the
Watermen three lengths ahead of the Collegians; but the
work before them differed from that of the day previous in
these respects—that the wind was now easterly, and conse-
quently against them, while the land water, having nearly
drained out, the tide under them was weaker. The Cantabs
started, without any perceptible fury or irregularity, at the
same moment as the professionals; and although the Col-
legians were doing thirty-nine good strokes per minute,
they passed Willcox's, the white Hart, at Barnes, without
any diminution in the gap between them and the watermen.
The Cambridge crew then began to gain a little, and at
Barnes-bridge had decreased their opponents' lead by half
a length, and they then continued at such gallant work
that at Chiswick they had rowed the nose of their
boat up to No. 6 in the waterman's ; but the latter broke
away again, and at Hammersmith-bridge were a clear length
ahead. The steering in the Cambridge boat was not good,
and their position was not advantaged by the Watermen,
like expert practitioners, giving them their wash pretty
strongly; but the University men, nothing daunted, lay-
ing down to their work in admirable style, began to
overlap their opponents at Craven, and at the point had
drawn themselves level. The pace was fine, as will be
seen by the time, and the Cambridge gentlemen were
fairly ahead of the others at the middle of Finch's field, and
41 strokes per minute having been done in the hottest part
of the race without any diminution in their good form of
rowing. At Simmonds's the Cantabs cleared their oppo-
nents, and came in first by a length and three- quarters,
having performed the distance in 21 minutes 35 seconds,
and not exhibiting the slightest symptoms of distress.
The Oxford gentlemen went out from the London Rowing
Club boat-house immediately after the conclusion of the
above race, and rowed up against tide to Barker's Rails,
Mortlake, from which point they had a fine spin down
through Carney-reach to Chiswick Church. The start and
pace were fine, as was the style of rowing throughout, at
the rate of 39 and 40 strokes per minute, the distance being
accomplished in a trifle above 11 minutes. They then pro.
ceeded down with a succession of animated spurts.
The concourse of visitors throughout the day at Putney,
in carriages, on horseback, and on foot, was very great ; the
betting nearly even, Oxford for choice, and in some few in-
stances 5 to 4 laid upon them.
The above detail warrants the presumption that the
public will be gratified with a very fine race on Saturday,
We learn from a distinguished Oxford University oarsman
that that crew is increasing under the training in weight.
It is said that the increase may be estimated at pretty well
31b. per man.