OXFORD WINS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 807, 3 May 1910, Page 6

OXFORD WINS.

UNIVERSITY BOAT RACE. THE CONTEST DESCRIBED. Under a. fittingly-blue sky and before ono of the largest crowds of recent years Oxford won the boat race on Wednesday, March 24, by three and a half lengths. Cambridge made a sturdy race of it for a mile and a half, but afterwards they were engaged in a, hopeless struggle against a better crew. Th« triumph of Oxford came as no surprise, and tho bright, invigorating weather came as a joy, hoped for but not relied upon. Tho sun skono so benignly that even tho ioe-creain man was to bo seen doing a brisk business on the riverside stretches. And the dust on the roads was as tho dust of Epsom highway during a fine Derby week. After the race had been won and 'lost the press of vehicles at Hammersmith Bridge was so great that it took a full half-hour to cross tho river awheel. A Ladies' Day. As far as the speotatora were concerned, it was a woman's boat race. Circumstances combined to make it eo. The raid-week date of the contest naturally debarred man as a numerous sightseer, and the spring weather was a further incentive to the airing of feminine spring costumes. Tho river hanks were gay with colour and glinted as brightly as the sunlit Thames itself. Prom Putney to tho Ship at Mortlake it was "ladies' day." At Hammersmith, Chiswick, and Barnes- women easily outnumbered the men. On the way to the course Ireforc noon sped motor-car after motor-car with no man aboard save the chauffeur e but filled instead with mothers aud their daughters, Upon Barnes Railway Bridge—the comfort>9eekers': point for seeing the race —the women and men were as two to one. Even at "Crush Corner," that section of the towing path nearest to tho finishing post, women and girls had managed to secure front places. The Start. f . ' Cambridge had the hick to begin, with. They won the toss and chose Middlesex station, thereby getting the more sheltered water over the first mile: They launched their boat at 12.15, and Oxfora followed them a few minutes later. At 12.30 tho crews were ready, and a few seconds after Mr. F. I. Pitman gave the word to "go." Cambridge were quicker ■at tho start, and, rowing 10-19-37 strokes to Oxford's 10-20-38 in the first quarter, half, and full minute, gained a lead of nearly a quarter of a length. Then Shields, the Cambridgo ■ stroke, was unfortunate enough to catch a "crab," which upset tho rhythm of the 'boat, and Oxford went ahead at once. At the Craven Steps (2min. 24sec.) both crews were rowing thirty-four strokes to the minute, and Oxford led by nearly a third of a length. Above the steps the water was lumpy and the head wind was felt Cambridge were' making tremendous efforts to get up, and at the mile-post— reached in 4min. 18seo.—the Light Blues began to gain. At the Crab Tree Oxford were rowing thirty-one and .apparently reserving their strength, for Bourne, their stroke, was continually watching his rivals. Cambridge spurted in the smoother water, and at the lower end of Harrod's they held a lead of a quarter of a length. Just above .Sarrod's Bourne called on his men for a fast burst. Tho result was dramatic. Cambridge were made to look an ordinary crew, and Hammersmith Bridge was reached in 7min. 52sec., with Oxford leading by three-quarters of a length. Cambridge's Pluck. Above the bridge the ciews had a good sheet of water. Opposite The Doves Oxford were nearly clear, and rowing very comfortably. Just below Chiswick Eyot Bourne put the- result, of the race beyomt all doubt. He raised the rate to thirty-four, and, rowing with tremendous power aud dash, the Oxonians added another length to their lead in little more thana minute.

"At Chiswick Steps (12<nin. \2osec) Oxford were leading by tbreo lengths and rowing in . beautiful form, thirty-two strokes to tho minute. Cambridge kept the rato at thirty-five and thirty-six, but made not the slightest impression, and when tho crows made the shoot for tho meadows Oxford's lead was nearly four lengths. At Barnes Bridge Oxford wore rowing thirty-one and Cambridge thirty-five, but the Light Blues were in difficulties and failed to keep their length and even body swing. The time was 16inin. 4Csec. at Barnes, with Oxford ntarly four lengths ahead. Cambridge persevered to tho end with great pluck, but Oxford were-never in the slightest danger. They did not unduly exert themselves and passed the post winners by three and a half lengths in 20min. Msec. Oxford's win last year was by the same distance, but the time was 2isec faster. The tide was not a fast one, and with, the wind against the crews to Hammersmith good timd was not anticipated. Cambridge -went through a losing race with great pluck. They rowed themselves right out in their efforts to reduce Oxford's lead, and were quite exhausted at tho finish, while the Oxonians were sitting up in their boat. Shields is not an ideal stroke, but there can be no doubt about his grit and determination. Kosher was the best man in tho boat, and Williams and Davies worked tremendously hard. The crew rowed a fust stroke throughout, but they lost their length and neglected the finish when they tired, and tho sliding was' faulty. The officials for .the race were: Mr. F. I. Pitman (CD.B.C), umpire; Mr. P. Fenner (London K.C.), judge; and Messrs. B. C. Cox (C.U.8.C.) and V. M. Mansell, timekeepers. Owing to the race being rowed ■ in Holy Week the usual dinner was not held in the evening. The record for tho course is 18min. ■tfsec. by Oxford in 1693, and by Cambridge in 1900. •

The Rival Crews. The following composed the rival crows r— Oxford. ' ,. N Height. Weight. Age. ft. in. St. lb. 11. B. Higgins (Mel- , . bourne Grammar ' Sch. 'and Balliol) (bow) ..'..... 22 510 11. 6} 2 E. H. Owen (Dnlwich ■ and Wadham) 22 5 111 12 SJ 3 N. Field (Wellington and 'Brasenose) 20; 6 1} 13 8J 1 E. Jfajolicr (Eton and Christ Church) 21 6 0 12 0J 5 'D. Maokinnon (Eugby and Magdalen) 22 6 1 13 2J 6 *A. S. Garton (Eton . and Magdalen) ... 20 6 3 13 11 7 P. Fleming (Eton and Magdalen) 20 6 0 12 6 *R. C. Bourne (Eton , and New ■ College) (stroke) '. 21 .5 9J 11 0. *A. W. Ddnkin (Eton ; and Magdalen) (cox) '■ 22 5 8 8 8 Spare man: P. G. Pope (Eugby and Brasenose). *An' Old Blue. ' . Cambridge. Height. Weight Age. ft. in. St. lb. ' *B. W. M. Arbuthnot, (Eton and Third' Trinity) (bow) 201 6 0 M 5 2E. Davies (Hymer's College, Hull, and , St. Catharine's) 22i 6 0 11 li} 3 F. E. Hellyer (-Winchester and First Trinity) 211 6 I 12 3J 1 C. P. Cooko (Australia and Trinity Hall) 21$ 6 1} 12 9* 5 *E. G. Williams (Eton and Third Trinity) 211 5 111 13 2 G "J. B. Eosher (Charlerliouso and First Trinity) 13i 6 3 M 4 7 K Lo Blanc-Smith (Eton and Third Trinity) 20 511 12 GJ 11. J. S. Shields Shields (Loretto and Jesus) (stroke) 22} 6 0 II 5 C. A. Skinner (Durban . High School, Natal, and Jesus) (cox) 203 510 8 5 Spare man: H. G. Palmer (Winchester and First Trinity). •An Old "Blue,