The Sun.
London, England, 1865-04-06 00:00:00

UNIVERSITY BOAT RACE.

We have to record in the practice of yesterday—which,
despite the unfavourable state of the weather, was wit-
nessed throughout by a largo number of equestrians and
others—two fine races, one between the Oxonians and a
crow of picked London watermen, and the other between
the Cantabs and a fine crew of the Groat Kingston Rowing
Club, mainly composed of past University men of eminence.
The first of these trials of skill and stamina took place at
noon between the Oxford and the best 8 London watermen
selected for the occasion, the boats being manned as
follows :

OXFORD Si lb
1. Mr. R. T. Raikes, Merton ... 11 0
2. Mr. P. Senhouse, Christ Church 11 1
3. Mr. E. F. Henley, Oriel 12 10
4. Mr. G. G. Coventry, Pembroke... 11 10
5. Mr. A. Morrison, 8a11i01... 12 6
6. Mr. T. Wood, Pembroke 12 1

7. Mr. H. Schneider, Trinity 11 10
8. Mr. M. Brown, Trinity 11 2
C. E. W. Tottenham, Ch. Ch (cox.) ~. 7 13
WATERMEN.
1. David Coombes, Horsleydown
2. T. Wise, Hammersmith
3. Horace Cole, Chelsea
4. John Mackinney, Richmond
5. J. W. Tagg, East Moulsey
G. T. Hoare, Hammersmith
7. George Hammerton, Kingston
8. Henry Kelley, Putney.
John Phelps, Fulham (cox.)
Tho Oxonians loft their boat-yard at 20 minutes past 11,
and started straight up the river at a fine pace, doing 37 to
38 strokes per minute in a drizzling rain, which increasedin
intensity as they got to Mortlake. Contrary to usual prac-
tice, they did not leave their boat until they reached the
Ship, shortly after which the watermen appeared coming
through Barnes-bridge, rowing in such finished style as to
induce the belief that they were quite fitted to hold their
own against the Oxonians. After the gentlemen had taken
some rest they got into their boat again, and turned her
head down the river, but they had drifted some 50 or GO
yards below the Ship before the race commenced, owing
to a desire on the part of the watermen to forge ahead.
At the actual moment of starting the watormon wore a few
yards in front, and, although the gentlemen rowed at the
top:of their speed at 42 strokes per minute, the professionals
gradually left them, had cleared themselves in about a
quarter of a mile, and opposite the White Hart, Barnes,
were leading by half a clear length, the Oxonians having
to row through a heavy wash, which watermen know so
well how to throw up. The course taken by John Phelps,
moreover, whose crew had started with the best station, was
exceedingly good, while that of the Oxford coxswain was
the reverse, and the watermen reached Barnes-bridge first
by a length and a half. The time of the Oxonians was
2min. 45sec.—a splendid performance ; but it must be borne
in mind that they rowed on a much better tido than that of
Tuesday, and had a strong wind down the roach in their
favour. After this performance the two crows paddled
down a little distance, and then continued a series of races
all the way to Putney, the watermen having generally
rather the best of it.

The Cantabs left Putney about three quarters of an hour
after their opponents, and after a smart row up to the
White Bart at Barnes turned and rowed through the
bridge, and started down some few yards below it under
the same favourable circumstances as the Oxonians, ex-
cept that the rain had very much increased, rowing 43
strokes per minute, which they continued for some consi-
derable distance, the pace upon the boat being very great,
and the form improved. At Ilammersmith-bridge, which
was lined with spectators on horse and foot, a very fine
crew of the Kingston Rowing Club were in waiting to give
them a spin home to the aqueduct, the gentlemen man-
ning.the Kingston eight being—Bow, F. Middleton ; 2, C.
Cardale ; 3, C. C. Mowbray ; 4, F. Wade ; 5, E. Seymour ;
6, R. Shepherd ; 7, W. B. Woodgate ; stroke, W. Risley ;
F. Walton (coxswain). Messrs. Risley, Woodgate, and Shep-
herd rowed in the Oxford crow of former years. At the time
they started the Kingston Club was some two lengths in
advance, and before the Cantabs wore well into theirstroke
had added another to it. Both came down at a flying pace
past the Soap-works, where there was no diminution in
the lead of the Kingston gentlemen ; but from this point
the superior condition of the Cantabsbegan to tell, and they
gradually gained upon theiruntrained opponents, who were
barely enabled to reach Putney-bridge a length in advance.