THE OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY BOAT RACE.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume III, Issue 178, 10 June 1864, Page 3

THE OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY BOAT RACE.

AVe extract the following description of this race from (he Home Hews :—

There was cheering, some slight swearing, great firing off of small ordnance, volumes of smoke from'the hated “lugs,” and unpitying obstinacy in the navigation of the obstructive “Billyboys.” It was, in fact, liberty hall on the water, and the presence off the .heir apparent on her fore deck did not secure for the George Peabody any. exemption from the pleasant miseries that beset her neighbours. Every eye peered through the smoke to catch a glimpse of the contending boats as they came out from their moorings. Cambridge was first on the ground, and previous to casting off guernseys and dinging away caps, the crew took a little paddle down stream, and in doing so certainly offered grounds for an unfavourable augury of the future contest. There was a slight tendency to crab-catching, a wabbling of the boat in the water, and an indirectness of motion that did not look exactly like the perfection of drill. Amateurs looked grave, and began to inquire how it was that Cambridge could not get up a crew equal to Oxford P Some said the men were too heavy —others, that they were not “trimmed some said that the day was too fine for the Cambridge quality: and one hardy speculator affirmed that it vas the mathematics that took the pluck and spirit out of the men. Then Oxford won the toss ; Oxford always wins the toss, at least has done so for the last four years, and in selecting the Middlesex side had a double advantage ; the boat had a olear passage before it, and was immediately under the eye of the Prince of Wales, who it was hoped would now have a fine view of the race. The gun was fired, boats took their places, and the rowers took off their guernseys and threw away their caps. Cambridge performed this preliminary operation with immense energy, and each rower flung his cap down with tho air of a man who meant to win the race or perish in the attempt. Oxford took the matter much more coolly. The men in their dark blue frocks looked exactly like a crack man-of-war’s crew, and there was nothing intbeir looks to belief the illusion. They were bronzed, hirsute, and manly, and when (hey at last bared their arms, displayed biceps and triceps and deltoid and forearm in a high slate of training and development. They did not condescend to (ling away their caps until tho very last moment, and from t in's it was inferred that they did not see anything in the coming struggle to justify extraordinary excitement. The start on both sides was perfect, just like two first-rate four-

in-hands of the old coaching days, when the team went off at once into a clean ten -mile trot, without any previous prancing. The illustrious passengers on board the George Peabody prepared for a grand treat; but alas, for human, even royal expectations, the moment the boats were off, the whole steam fleet, tugs and all, recklessly converged in their wake, and in a moment there was nothing but universal bump, smoke, alarm, and confusion. Fenders were flying about in every direction, captains were dancing wild corroberies on the several paddle-boxes, and hateful “ tugs” belched fresh volumes of smoke at every collision, as if to puff away all obstacles, and the result was that the George Peabody soon found herself bringing up the rear of an imposing fleet, with the umpire boat for a companion in misfortune, and nothing ahead but the steam fleet and the smoke. One thing, however, must be admitted for the advance squadron, they shouted the vicissitudes of the race for the information of the rear guard, and in this way it was not long before news was heard, ominous for Cambridge, of “Oxford a 100 yards a head.” This however, was an exaggeration, as it was afterwards found that Cambridge kept brest up for a considerable distance ; that at “Craven-cottage” Oxford was scarcely a length clear, which was increased to four lengths as the boats shot under Hammer-smith-bridge amid the shouts of 10,000 spectators. The greater rapidity and regularity of stroke which Oxford possessed now began to tell tremendously. At Barnes the Cumbridge men seemed distressed, while the Oxonians, some 8 or 10 lengths a head, were rowing quickly, 37 strokes a minute, and were evidently as fresh as when they started. Oil the Ship at Mortlake Oxford was leading by at least 12 lengths, and here they ceased rowing, imagining the race to be over, and at that moment twenty minutes and fifty seconds bad elapsed from the time of starting. Luckily they discovered their mistake in time, rowed on, finally reaching the flog boat, which had been placed some 200 or 300 yards higher up than usual, in 21 minutes forty-eight seconds, and about half a minute, or some twelve boats’ lengths a head of Cambridge. The following are the names of the rowers, with their weights;— OXFORD. St. Ib. 1. C. P. Roberts, Trinity ... 10 8 2. W. Awdry, Balliol 11 4 3. P. H. Kelly, University ... 11 8 4. J. C. Parson, Trinity ... 12 9 5. W. B. Jacobson, Ch Ch.... 12 3 6. E. B. Seymour, University 11 1 7. M. Brown, Trinity 11 3 8. D. Pocklington, Eraserose 11 1 W. Tottenham, Christ... Church (coxswain) 7 3 Cambridge. st. lb. .1. J. C. Hawkshaw. Trinity... 11 3 2. E. V. Pigott, Corpus 11 9 3. H. Watson, Pembroke ... 12 4 4. W. Hawkins, St. John’s ... 12 0 5. R. Kinglake, Trinity 12 5 6. G. Borthwick, Trinity ... 12 1 7. F. Steavenson, Trinity Hall 12 2 8. J. R. Selwyn, Trinity ... 11 0 G. H. Archer, Corpus (coxswain) 8 6