UNIVERSITY BOAT RACE

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1092, 3 April 1911, Page 6

UNIVERSITY BOAT RACE

A WIN FOR OXFORD. EECOED TIME PUT UP, By Telegraph—Press Association-CopyrielH (Eeo, April 2, 5.5 p.m.)

London, April 1. The annual boat raco on the Thames between Oxford and Cambridge Universities was rowed to-day, and resulted in a win for Oxford in record time. Oxford has now won on 37 occasions, and Cambridge on 30. Tho time put up, ISniin. 29sec, was 18 seconds better than the previous best record of ISmin. 17sec, made by Oxford in 1893 and Cambridge in 1900. ' Cambridge had a better start than Oxford, and led for a short distance. Oxford,- however, quickly overhauled the rival crew, and was leading by two lengths at Hammersmith' Bridge (I}, miles). Cambridge improved its position between Doves and Thomacroft's (2i miles), where only a length separated the boats. The Oxonians then forged ahead again, and, on passing Barnes Bridge (3J miles), had three lengths to the good. They held this advantage to the finish (•11 miles), winning by two and a half lengths. Time, lStnin. 29sec.

HISTORY OF THE RACE. ■ EVOLUTION OF BKITISH BOWING. The greatest amateur rowing contest the world over is the.' race between Oxford and Cambridge Universities. It is now 82 years since tho race was first hold, and the recent contest was the sixty-eighth. Of these, Oxford has won 37 and Cambridge 30.- the race of 1877 being a deadheat. Tho whole evolution of our rowing is found in these contests, and every improvement in methods, boats, oars, and system of coaching and training have been largely duo To the keenness of competition between theso two great rowing schools. In the early days the boats used wero long skiffs, the oars were square in the.loom, the blades similar to those of the present day ash sweep, and; needless to Say, there was no knowledge of the slide, nor; of swivel rowlocks. The art of present-day rowing is the complete combination of swing and slide, and the supporting of the body by tho well-timed use of the legs. In 1818 outriggers wero first used, and ten years later, keel-less boats were used; also round-loomed oars. Slides were used for the first time, and by both crews, in 1873,- about two vears after the invention had been introduced in a very crude form. During the past thirty years there-have'been many improvements, although the- shape of the boat has been very little altered. Crews aro.not yet seated down tho centre of the boat, said- a recent writer, but as it has been found to be a distinct advantage by oarsmen in other countries, including Australia and America, the change might well be tried. As showing the value of the slide, the fixed-seat crew averaged 22miri. 56sec. for the course, which they now row in 20min. Msec, The previous record for the course was made by both crows in ISmin. 47sec, but' when Cambridge made it ten years ago they won by no less than 20 lengths, equal to a quarter of a mile. . The course is from tho University stone at Putney Bridge to a mark.above the "Ship".at Mortlake, and in distance is i miles. 440 yards. Hammersmith Bridge is just uibout If miles, Chiswick Church 2\ miles, Barnes Bridge 31 miles. * v

''THE-CREWS. The following.. were the _ names and weights of this 1 year's 'cretrsl'a month ago:— ....■• -.., Oxford. . . st.lb. ''ti'."'A'. Gladstdne'r(Christ Church) (bow) ; 10 121 2. L. G. Wormald (Magdalen) 12 5} 3. C. E. Tinne (University) ....;....... 12 Oj 1. -E. Jlillington Drake (Magdalen) 12 8 5. C. AV. Littlejohn (New College) 12 11 6. A. S. Garton (Magdalen) 13 9 7. R. E. Burgess (Magdalen) 12- 1 E. C. Bourne (New College (stroke) .:.......; ;... 10 ill H..8. Wells.(Magdalen) (cox) ... 8 B" ■ Cambridge. S. E. Swaiin (Trinity Hall) (bow) 11 91 2. 8.-Davies (St. Catharine's) ...... 12 1 3. F. E. Hellyer (First Trinity) ... 12 i\ i. C. F. Burnand (First Trinity) ... 12 6 5. B. le Blanc Smith (Third Trinity) :. 13 U G. J. B. Bosher (First Trinity)' 14 1H 7. G. E. Fairbairn (Jesus) 12 5 R.' AV. M. Arbuthnot (Third Trinity) (stroke) 10 9 J. N. Garnett (Pembroke) (cox) ' 8 6

WINNERS OF PREVIOUS RACES, ■ Time.

Tear. "Winner. m. s. Won by. 1829 Oxford 14 30 Easily. 1836 Cambridge..:.....-.: 36 0 lmiu. 1839 Cambridge... 31 0 lmin. 45sec. 1840 Cambridge „29 30 3 length. 1841 Cambridge 32 30 lmin. 4sec. 1842 Oxford. : 30 .45 13sec. - 1845 Cambridge 23 30 30see. 1846 Cambridge 21 5 2 lengths.* 1849 Cambridge 22 0 Easily. 1849 Oxford - Foul. 1852 Oxford 21 26 27sec. IBM' Oxford 25 29 11 strokes. 1856 Cambridge 25 50 i length.t 1857 0xf0rd....... :..'22 75 35sec.f 1858 Cambridge 21 23 22aec. 1859- Oxford 24 40 Camb. sank. 1860 Cambridge 26 5 1 length. 1861 Oxford 23 30 Msec. 1862 Oxford 24 41 Msec. 1863 Oxford 23 6 43scct 1864 Oxford 21 40 26ecc. 1E65 Oxford 21 24 4 lengths. 1666 Oxford 25 35 15sec. 1867 Oxford ; 22 40 ■ i length. 1868 Oxford 20 £6 6 lengths. 1869 Oxford 20 5 3 lengths. 1870 Cambridge 22 4 1J lengths. 1871 Cambridge 23 5 1 length. 1872 Cambridge......... 21 15 2>lengtlis; 1873 Cambridge 19 35 3} lengths.! " 1874 Cambridge 22 35 3. lengths. 1875 Oxford 22 2 10 lengths. 1876 Cambridge 20 20 Easily. 1877 Oxford 24 8 Dead 1877 Cambridge 24 8 heat.|| 1878 Oxford 22 13 10 lengths. 1879 Cambridge 21 18 ii lengths. 1880 Oxford 21 23 33 lengths. 1881 Oxford 21 51 3 lengths. ' 1882 Oxford 29 12 . 7 lengths. 1883 Oxford 21 8 4 lengths. 1884 Cambridge 21 39 25" lengths. 1885 Oxford 21 36 3 lengths. 1836 Cambridge 22 291 2-3 length. 1887 Cambridge 20 52 35 lengths. 1887 Cambridge 20 52 3J lengths.lT 1888 Cambridge...-. 20 48 5 lengths. 1889 Cambrdge 20 14 21 lengths. 1890 Oxford 22 3 1 length. 1*691 Oxford 21 48 h length. 1892 Oxford 19 21 2} lengths. 1893 Oxford 10 47 1 length 4ft, 1894 Oxford 21 39 31 lengths. 1895 Oxford 20 50 2i lengths. 1896 Oxford 20 1 2-5 length. 1897 Oxford 19 12 2 1-3 leugens. 1898 Oxford 22 15 Easily. 1899 Cambridge 21 4 3} lengths. 1900 Cambridge 18 47 20 lengths. 1901. 0xf0rd..... 22 31 2-5 length. 1902 Cambridge 19 9 5 lengths. ISO 3 Cambridge 19 321 6 lengths. 1904 Cambridge 21 36 41 lengths. 1905 Oxford.. 20 35 3 lengths, 19C6 Cambridge 19 25 31 lengths. 1907 Cambridge 20 26 41 lengths. 1908 Cambridge 19 ■20 21 lengths. 1909 Oxford 19 50 31 lengths. 1910 Oxford 20 14 31 lengths. 1911 Oxford 18 29 21 lengths. *The first University race was rowed in outriggers. Mortlako Church to Putney. fThe first race- in which e'ther University rowed in tho present stylo of eights without keels; also the first time cither rowed with round oars. Both used tho same kind of oars and boats. tßarker's Rails to Putney. §Both crows used sliding seats for tho first time. llThe Oxford bowman damaecd his oar UNo. 7 in the Oxford boat broke his oar.