New-York tribune., 1921-03-31
nark Blues Overtaken Az
ter Holding Half-Length
Lead at Three-Mile Mark
By Arthur S. Draper
Speciai Cable to The T'rst;src

rONDON, March 30.-The Cambridge
.rsity eight defeated the Oxford Uni
.,rsity crew this afternoon in one Of
AZ most thrilling struggles ever rowcd
n the Thames. Nearly 100000 per-
sons witnessed the race, which was
,ala over the 4A-mile course from
putney to Mortlake. The Dark Blues
~,re beaten by about a length, after
hsyiug held a half-length lead at the
.hree mile mark. The time WAS 10
ninutes III seconds. one minute and
srenty-seven seconds faster than the
rme made by the Light Blues last year.
Three of the oarsmen collapsed at the
auish, so strenuous was the pace. They
we're F. B. Lothrop at No. 4 for Oxford.
vho was the only American in she race;
.. |. Coates, No. for Oxford, and II.
0. Boret, the Cambridge bow. All were
carried from the shells in q semi
conscious condition, but. shortly after
we're reported to be in no danger of
ufering from the effects of the terrific
Struggle.
UnIike last year, when drizzling
nin and fairly strong wind kept down
the attendance and made the going un-
usually difficult for the crews, ideal
Weather greeted the boats to-day. How
ever. there was enough breeze stirring
10 break the surface of the water on
one side of the river, and this proved
handicap to the Cambridge men at
the start, for Oxford won the toss and
7owed in smooth water for She first few
miles.
Both sides OF the course were dense
With spectators, even as early as noon
tine, although the race was not sched-
il was estimated that the race attracted
the greatest crowd that ever witnessed
my sporting event.
Nobility Watches Contest
Every method Of transportation was
taxed to capacity, thousands travelling
BY train, bus and motor to the long
stretches of the Thames. The Prince
Of Wales, the Duke of York and Prince
Henry witnessed the race from the UNI
plre's boat, which at times had great
difficulty making it's way past the
canoes and houseboats which, bedecked
With varsity colors, banked the edges
of the river along the entire course.
er's gun and approaching the mile post
length. 1t appeared that the Light
Blues were out to have the affair over
With quickly, for the heavy crew bent
to its task in manner which indi
xted that the critics were justified in
making it a favorite in the seventy
second conflict with Oxford.
The Dark Blues quickened the stroke
shortly after the mile and flashed by the
food CT div
vantage, until at the two-mile mark
Cambridge was almost third OF a
length behind Both boats were under
q great strain at this stage, but their
strength was still due for an even
greater strain.
Dark Blues Overtaken
Cambridge's efforts to hold the Dark
Blues over the next mile were unavail-
ing and Oxford doomed past the third
mile slightly more than half length
in front. At this period of the Cruel
ing contest the Cambridge athletes
gave all that was in them in a desper-
ate squirt to overtake their rivals and
slowly the Light Blues began cutting
down Oxford's advantage.
A quarter of mile further on Cam
bridge drew up on even terms with the
leaders and few moments later the
Light Blues went to front, never to be
headed in the final sprint down the
stretch. The slightly heavier Cam
bridge crew gradually pulled away, in
spite of the frantic squirt of the ex-
hausted Oxford eight and the Light
Blues flashed across the finish line with
! length to spare.
Had the winners given battle in the
.arly periods of the race, when Oxford
vas ahead, it is believed that a new
record for the course would have been
ssta ablished. AS 1t was, the time is only
l:15 slower than the worlds record,
rhich was established in 1911, when
Oxford won by two and three-quarters
engths.