The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-04-05
HOW OXFORD WON.
The Fifty-Fourth Annual Race of the
Varsity Crews.

Putney, Eng. April 3.-The 54th an
nual boat race between crews represent
ing the universities of Oxford and Cam
bridge was rowed today over the usual
course. from Putney to Mortlake, dis
tance of four and one-quarter miles, and
was won by Oxford by barely two
lengths. The time was 10 minutes, 10
seconds Oxford has won 81 out of the
"a races rowed, and has been tho winner
eight years in succession.
The weather was bad for boating, the
sky was overcast, the wind was gusty,
some rain was falling just before the
start, and the atmosphere was raw and
cold. The betting was to on Oxford.
The usual crowds assem- bled at all points
OF vantage along the course.
1t was expected that there would be an
unusual amount of interest in today S
race throughout the United States, as it
was the first time since the beginning Of
this series of contests in 1929 that an
American has rowed In each boat. J. j.
ksnopp of New college, Oxford, from
Albany, N. Y, rowed bow for his univer-
sity, the Dark Blues, and B. II. Howell
of Trinity hall, Cambridge, from New
York city, was No. In the boat of the
Light Blues.
The start was fixed for 2. 10 p. M, an
hour and quarter before high water.
At 2 .. m. the wind had freshened and
was piercing cold, promising to be at
the back of the crews the whole way,
and making it possible that the record
time might be beaten.
The Cambridge men were the first to
embark, having woD the toss, and chose
the Middlesex side of the river.
4r,k, ~k ,ad4 40
william effected An admira BILE start.
Bernie. Cambridge, got off the mark
sharper than Gold, Oxford, and at the
Dukes Head Gam bridge. minute after
the start, had the nose Of their boat in
front. The light blues were pulling 81
to the minute, while Oxford was strik.
ing "a, with the long. clear pull SO char
began to tell, and at Casper's Oxford was
o quarter Of length ahead, was coming
away and was soon half length in the
lead, which was never decreased.
At Waldens the Oxford men were row.
ing well within their strength and pull
ing in the most admirable form. They
passed the Grab Tree wharf three-quar-
tiers of length to the good. Abreast of
HarrUd's (the soap worksl. Fernie, Cam
bridge, who was well supported, spurted,
and succeeded In slightly reducing the
dark blue lead. though Oxford was row.
ing in the most perfect form, which could
not be said of Cambridge.
Oxford shot past hammersmith Bridge
Iengthsahead, amid uproarious cheers
from the dark blue partisans on both
banks. There Cam bridge began to feel
the effect of the Oxford wash, and at the
lead mills, the other side of Hammer
smith Bridge, and one mile six furlongs
and 80 yards from the start, the race was
practically over. Gold was coming right
away and leaving the Cambridge boat
as il 1t was standing still.
At the Doves, / mile z furlongs and 90
yards from the start, Oxford was rowing
SO and Cambridge WAS striking 80, with
the dark blues increasing their lead to
three lengths at Barnes Bridge where
Oxford was still In perfert form and it
was very obviou2 that Cam bridge had
enough Of 1t. Some Of the light blues
were palpably distressed:
a final effort, and for time
the Cambridge crew gained on their Ok
ford rivals. The latter, however, with
out unduly squirting, passed the judges
boat easy winners by a bare two lengths,
and in the second best time, 10 minutes
10 seconds, In which the race has been
rowed over this course.
The best time made was In 1898, when
Oxford won by one length ard four feet
in IS minutes AZ seconds. Cam bridge fn-
ished eleven seconds behind Oxford.
FORMER RATES.
The intercollegiate boating contests be-
tween Oxford and. Cambridge had its in
ception June 10, 1929, when the first race
between the universities took place over
the Henley course. From this date Until
June II, 1886, there is no record of row.
{vo. 1904 m 1RE1
were varying lapses in the sport of from
one to three years. Up to this contest of
today the universities have participated
| in 50 faces, and. allowing for one tie and
one race undecided because of q foul,
Oxford has won 80 events and Cambridge
| "a. For nine yearsifrom since 1861 to 1859
Inclusive Oxford won every race, the
nearest APPROACH to this record made by
Cam bridge being the five consecutive
victories from 1870 to 1876. The fastest
time over the course from Putnsy to
| Mortlake, which has been used 1864, was
that made by the Oxford crew In 1898,
when it was a victor in 10 minutes, u
| seconds, by one length and four feet.
The races since 1895 have resulted rs fol-
| lows:
March, 90. 1s95-Winner, Oxford;
time, 81 minutes, S6 second; won by
| 2 1-2 lengths.
April 5, 1sse-Winner. Cambridge;
time, az minutes, 29 seconds; won by
| 20 lengths
March 2e, lss7-winnsr Cambridge:
time, 30 minutes, 81 seconds; won by
Ia lengths.
March "a. 1Sss-winner, = Cambridge;
| time. 20 minutes, 48 seconds; won by
| Z lengths.
March 80, lsss-winner, Cambridge;
30 minutes, IA seconds; won by . "a
lengths.
March 2e, 1s9O-Winner, Oxford, time,
| 90 minutes seconds.
March 81, 1S91-Winner, Oxford; time,
81 minutes, 4s seconds; won by 1-2
leL 9Th.
April 9, 1s92-Winner, Oxford; time,
10 minutes, 81 seconds; won by ALA
lengths.
March 20. 1sss-winner, Oxford; time,
10 minutes, ~ seconds; won by length,
| 4sfeet.
March II, 1S94-winner, Oxford; time,
81 minutes, 80 seconds; won by l 2
| lengths.
March 80. 1s95-Winrer, Oxford; time,
20 minutes so seconds; won by 2 IA
| lengths.
March %. 1s9e-winner, Oxford; time,
20 minutes seconds; won by 1-8 length.