Year: 1869

THE UNIVERSITY BOAT RACE


The annual race between the crews of tbe
Universities of Oxford and Cambridge took
place at Putney yesterday, resulting in the
ninth successive triumph for Oxford. The
cable this morning brings us some particulars
of the race, from which we learn that Oxford
won by four lengths. The race was much
better contested than that of last wear.
though the excellence Of Cambridge in the con.
test of 1867 was not attained. In thas year
Oxford won by only half length, and at no
time throughout the whole course of four and
quarter miles was either Eight clear of its
antagonist Last year the match was very
hollow affair, and the result was fOregone
conclusion from the start. Then Cambridge
hesitated long time before accepting the
challenge of its rival, but was alert and active
for the contest of the present year Betting.
we are told, was in favor of Oxford yesterday,
and, notwithstanding the promise of Cambridge
it could scarcely be otherwise. Eight success
siye defeats was too much for betting men,
who are likely to stake their money on the
side which has the prestige of victory


The Oxford crew were described as a heavy,
powerful set of men, well fitted for the work
they had undertaken. But when they came
from the Isis to the Thames at Putney, two
weeks ago. they were wanting in swing and
simultaneous catch, and were sadly In need OF
coaching" Five of the crew, were in the
successful Eight of last year, and the three
new men were possessed of local reputation
at Oxford, and two of them had rowed on the
winning side in the matches OF the
Public Schools. The want OF coach
cling" in the early part of their training was
owing to the tow-path at Oxford being
flooded, beside which, in consequence OF the
quantity of water being too great and the
stream too strong, they were deprived OF long
rows below lock. There was opportunity for
Improvement after they put their new boat on
the Thames, but as merit does not consist
solely in success, fuller details are necessary
to show their capacity as oarsmen.


Cambridge showed manifest Improvement
over the crews of former years. They had
not been deprived of the coaching from the
bank necessary to make good Oarsmen, and
the old errors and eccentricities had for the
most part disappeared. Their stroke was
steady and uniform, with 10 tendency to
bucket and the crew, without being partic.
ularly strong was believed to be really good,
though it was urged that their pace was not great.
All the men, with two exceptions, were fresh
to Putney, two of them rowing in the unsuc'
cessful contest of last year, and one In the
memorable match of the year before. That
they failed may be owing more to the inherent
deadness of the waters of the Cam than their
lack IN the qualities of finished oarsmen; but,
so far as we can judge, when their inexperl-
ence in racing is considered, they have no
reason to deplore either their effort or their
failure.


The season of the year when this race, now
generally known in England as the water
derby" is contested is nearly always in the
early Spring, but this year it was even earlier
than usual Last year it was rowed on the Atm
of April, and the previous year on the Path OF
March, but never before, we believe, so late IN
the day as yesterday. Owing to the exigencies
of the tide the races have often taken place
at o'clock in the morning. In 1868, when
1 o'clock was the hour for the contest,
the multitude was unprecedented, and tins
year it was anticipated that the number
of sight-seers would exceed anything before
witnessed at Putney. The cable gives MS no
satisfactory information as to the tHreur, us
Tbackeray has it, but we know enough to as-
sert that Pendennis and Harry FOker, had they
been on the Thames yesterday, would have
been surprised at the changes that have taken
place at Oxbridge since riding and tandum
driving were in vogue, not more than twenty
years ago.