The Sun.
London, England, 1865-04-05 00:00:00

UNIVERSITY BOAT RACE.

Among other important features of the rowing at Putney
yesterday was a race between the gentlemen of Cambridge
University and the 12-oared outrigger of the London Row-
ing Club, and this, combined with the fact that both crews
would row the entire course during the day, brought
together a large concourse of spectators, among whom
were many faces well known on the river and at the
Universities.

The Oxonians were the first to show, and launched their
boat from the London Rowing Club-house at 11 o'clock, at
which time, although the air was otherwise very genial, a
heavy fog hung over the river. Attended by their trainer,
Mr. G. Morrison, of Oxford, they at once proceeded up the
Reach, commencing at 33 strokes per minute (against tide),
and were mad., in the course of their progress, to go
through some severe work ; spurting, easing all," and
spurting again, being the order of the day over the greater
part of the course. In the course of their practice they
worked up to 36 and 37 strokes per minute. They landed
at the Bull's Head, Barnes, 'about a mile below Mortlake,
and walked up to the Ship, where they took the water
again and started down for their trial three hours after
flood—at 10 minutes past 12—the water being as smooth
as glass, and the fog still hanging about a little. They
were doing 38 strokes per minute at the commence-
ment of their work, rowed in much better form than usual,
lifted the boat in the most unmistakable way, and passed
under Barnes-bridge rowing 40 strokes in the minute, the
time being 3 min. 17 secs. Through Corney Reach they had
settled down into 38 strokes per minute, and accomplished
the whole distance in 21 min. 45 secs., a very fine perform-
ance.

The Cantabs left Simmonds's boat-yard an hour later than
their opponents, and after a quiet paddle up to Mortlake
started down from the Ship with a flying start. The tide
was then of course much lower, and probably not running
quite so fast, but between the timo of Oxford starting and
Cambridge coming up a strong south-west wind had sprung
up, which was blowing smartly down the Reach, and was
of course in their favour. If the fine rowing of Oxford had
pleased their partisans, that of Cambridge must have been
equally satisfactory to the light blue division, as they jerked
less than they had done, Starting off at the enormous pace
of 43 strokes per minute, and reaching Barnes-bridge pro-
cisely the same time as their opponents had taken. After
this they settled into 41, and finished at about 37 strokes,
their whole time being 22m. sseo. They appeared to finish
somewhat fresher than their opponents, and this, added to
the closeness in the times, created a revulsion of popular
feeling in their favour, and there can be no doubt that,

whoover is dastined to reach th.e winning-post first, the
race will be very severe.

The Oxonians contented themselves with their work of
the morning, but the Cantabs turned out in the evening for
a spin against the pick of the London Rowing Club in their'
12-oared outrigger, although of course the London gentle-
men were in nothing like rowing condition. The rival boats
were manned as under :

CAMBRIDGE.
1. Mr. H. Watney, st. John's College.
2. Mr. M. H. Beebee, St. John's College.
3. Mr. E. V. Pigott, Corpus Christi.
4. Mr. R. A. Kinglake, Trinity College.
5. Mr. D. F. Steavenson, Trinity Hall.
6. Mr. G. H. Borthwiek, Trinity College.
7. Mr. W. R. Griffiths, Trinity College.
8. Mr. 0. B. Lawes, Trinity College.
F. H. Archer, Corpus Christi (cox.)
LONDON.

1. Mr. H. Hood.
2. Mr. Ry Graham.
3. Mr R. Willis.
4. Mr. E. C. Morley.
5. Mr. T. Radmall.
6. Mr. H. N. Custance.

7. Mr. D. M. O'Leary.
8. Mr. K. T. Digby.
9. Mr. G. Ryan.
10. Mr. J. Fell.
11. Mr. J. 0. F. May.
12. Mr. F. Fenner (stroke).

Mr. G. Weston (cox.).
The Londoners were the first to leave their boat-house,
and with the lively style peculiar to their club rowed down
through the acqeduct towards Wandsworth in order to get
into good swing, and afterwards turned and rowing through
the bridge again took the Middlesex shore alongside Cam-
bridge, who were waiting for them. It has been arranged
that after their severe work of the morning the race should
simply be a smart burst for a short distance, and such in
fact it was. They started at half-past six with only two
hours' flood under them, the London Club getting off with
the lead, and nearly clearing themselves by the time they
reached the Star and Garter. The Cantabs had started
somewhat wildly, but settled down as they passed the
London Boat-house, and gradually began to collar the rival
crew, rowing 44 strokes per minute. Gradually creeping
up they shot slightly ahead by the time they had rowed
about a mile,when the Cambridge Coxswain gave them the
command "Easy all." After this the Cantabs paddled up
to the Crab Tree, the Londoners waiting for them, and on
the return the two crews had a spin of 200 yards, the Lon-
don Club maintaining a slight lead.