The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-04-03
0XF @ R D
" | N s
RACE
Cambridge Defeated in
the Sixty-sixth Eight
cared Boat Race

Putney, April 3-The si1ty-sixth
Oxford Cambridge eight-oared rowing
race was won on the Thames today
by Oxford by three and one-half
lengths, after tussle, which for three
quarters of the course. was one OF the
most stirring contests seen on the
Thames for many years. The time
was 10 minutes and so seconds. But
had the Oxonians been pressed at the
finish they could have reduced this by
a good many seconds. AS far as
Barnes Bridge, 1t was anybody'S race.
but at this point, the greater weight
and stamina OF the dark blues told,
and with magnificent dash, r. G.
Bourne. the Oxford stroke. sent his
boat to the front and passed the
post the easiest of winners
Cambridge won the toss and chose
the surrey side Of the river, but in
the absence of wind, the water was
smooth, and there was not much ad-
vantage In the selection Of a station.
At the crack Of the pistol, the Oxford
stroke, Bourne. was the first to grip
the water and for the first minute,
his oar moved at the rate Of 39 strokes
To the 38 strokes a minute set by D.
c. Stuart. the Cambridge stroke. In
the beginning the nose of the Oxford
boat showed slightly in the lead. Call
ing to his men at Beverley Brook, the
veteran Stuart quickly overlook the
leaders and forged to the front. Soon
he was a quarter length to the good.
Bourne. however, was not to be out
done. The Oxonians' answering squirt
was short and 1t soon became evident
that the race Of 1909 would be mem
orable.
Aware that his chances of victory
rested In securing commanding lead
early in the race, Stuart held to
swift stroke. He was we'll backed up
by his crew, who pulled In splendid
rythm and pushed, farther and farther
ahead until the coxswain of the Cam
tridge boat was on level with the
Oxford boat. Then the Oxford crew
came on again and closed up rapidly,
until, passing the half-mile post, the
two boats were level.
The excitement on the banks was
tremendous, and roar of cheering
broke out as the Oxford men, gripping
the water in great STYLE passed their
opponents and established a lead of
half a length at Harrods.
Stuart, however. quickened his
stroke and the Cambridge eight rowing
with splendid DASH gradually over
hauled their rivals and the two crews
shot under Hammersmith Bridge al
most on a dead level.
Here Bourne's longer stroke of 30
to the minute against Stuart's SO, be-
gan to tell, and the Oxonians drew
sway until spectators boat got In
the way anil made swerve to one
eide necessary. This enabled CAM
bridge again to draw up OH level. or
| Chiswick, the Oxonians were again
slightly in the lead. but this advan-
tage was only momentary as Stuart,
by counter spurt brought the boats
together again at Thorncroft.
BY this time. the excitement aboard
the launches following the boats and
along the river banks had arisen to
fever pitch. and the shouts of encour-
| agement were deafening.
Passing Barnes. the boats were prac-
| tically level, but from this point on.
4 the Oxford crew drew away, and by
I the time the Barnes bridge WAS reach
ed. there was daylight between them.
| The Cambridge men were beginning
to show signs of the heroic struggle,
and although they stuck gallantly TO
their work. the issue never again was
In doubt The Oxonians came right
away and soon led by two lengths.
Nearing the finish, Stuart, the Cam
| bridge stroke. made a desperate at
tempt to rally his tired crew, but his
squirt was short-lived and could make
no impression On the leaders. The
further Oxfords crew went, the bet
ter it seemed to row.