The Washington times., 1912-04-01
OXFORD AGAIN WINS
ANNUAL BOAT RACE
FROM CAMBRIDGE
Cambridge Loses Annual
Boat Race to Its
! Ancient Rival.

LONDON, April 1.-oxford won tho
annual race with Cambridge on the
Thames here today, scoring an easy VIC
tory. The race was rowed over as the
result of Saturdays fiasco.
The result was a foregone conclusion
from the start and there was much less
interest than usual in the outcome. OK
ford went into the lead at the first half
mile and from then on it was process
sion, although nearing the finish Cam
bridge made a desperate effort to cut
down their rivals lead, but they had
shot their bolt
The winners finished first by six
lengths. The exact time for the four
and one-quarter miles was % minutes 8
seconds.
Stroke Slower.
Instead of the fast stroke of Saturday,
Cambridge began with an average of
thirty strokes to the minute. oxford
rowed a steady thirty-two to the min
ute, which was maintained as though
the crew was simply on practice row,
their shell slipping through the water
quietly and swiftly. 1t was plain there
was much latent energy behind the
workers and that when they got ready
For the first half mile the crews held
together. with the thin blade of the Ok
ford shell about three feet in front of
their rivals. Then their stroke cut
loose and called for a trifle more
, steam" The effect was instantaneous,
and slowly but surely the oxford shell
forged to the front. In a frantic effort
) to staVe off defeat as lonS as possible,
Cambridge ran her stroke up to thirty
AtrrtNf ,1 l,A1I lAFA I,,,A h. v.V
was in the other craft, and for all prac-
teal purposes the race was already
over.
At Harods. which was the half way
point, oxford had pulled into clear
lead OF three open lengths. Following
Instructions, oxford then slackened up a
trifle, and Cambridge began to encour-
age her hackers. making up about
three-mile point both crews were rowing
a perfect thirty-four stroke, ard OK
ford's lead was exactly two lengths.
Storm Sweeps River.
Then oxford began to utilize its re-
serve power. and in a few seconds the
! most ardent Of the Cambridge follow
! ers realized there was no hope. About
! this time the skies, which had become
overcast, opened, and a heavy hall
storm swept over the river. 1t was ac-
companied by a renewed gust OF wind,
but there was little water shipping, as
the shells had been equipped with
higher washboards, and they worked
{ perfectly.
The scenes before the race were du-
plication of Saturday. Although the
crowd on the trldges and along t.Le
banks was much smaller 1t made up III
enthusiasm what 1t lacked in numbers
Oxfords luck was with 1t from the
outset and il won the toss Today II
took the Middlesex side of the river be-
cause the wind, which was. penetrating,
was from the north. For long while
It seemed that there would necessarily
be a repetition of Saturdays troubles,
as the wind was kicking up lively
smother, and the whitecaps followed
each other In rapid succession, each
carrying the 'kick' that seemed certain
10 spell disaster to frail racing craft.
AS the morning advanced, however,
the water became calmer as the wind
died down, although the sky was over
cast. and at II o'clock the announce
nent was made that the race would
certainly be rowed, setting at rest
rumors of postponement AS tnt
Cambridge challengers padded down to
the starting line the men seemed IT
plainly none the worse for that ex.
perience. They were warmly greeted
by their supporters, while the Oxford
followers "ioshed" them in the usua
style. Five minutes after Cambridge
was in position the oxford shell was
by a launch. AS they cut loose and
moved slowly over TO the Middlesex side
the contrast in appearance between the
two crews was very apparent; Iht
greater weight of the Oxford mer
stood out very plainly, and 1t was GER
tain that IL form counted for any
thing the betting odds offered on then
Nwere we'll justified.