THE BOAT RACE

Hokitika Guardian, 2 June 1921, Page 4

THE BOAT RACE

CAMBRIDGE WIN*.

FINEST RACE FOR YEARS

LONDON, April 3. The race was the finest rowed for! many years and the result was in doubt until 250 yards from the finish. The boats were only clear of each other at one point, Cambridge leading their rivals by a quarter of a length of daylight just above the Mile Post. The crowd was enormous and must have been a record. - y OXFORD WIN THE TOSS. The conditions "for the race were excellent, both for the crews and the vast crowd. After veering to the north in the morning, the wind was almost due west when the crews came out, but it was very light and there was no great advantage in the choice of station. Oxford won the toss and chose the Surrey

side. Oxford, as the challengers, launched their boat first, soon after 5 o’clock. Cambridge followed at once, and at 5.20 Mr F. I. Pitman, who umpired the race, gave the word to go. A very level start was effected, Hartley (Cambridge stroke), rowing 10-19 37 in the quarter, half anil full minute, and Raikes (Oxford stroke) 10-20-3* ]. Cambridge were the first to show in front, and with both rowing 34 in the second minute the crews reached Craven Steps with Cambridge nearly half a length to the good. Rowing beautifully together and with fine length and rhythm, the Light Blues gained steadily and reached the Mile Post just clear of Oxford in 4min. ()see. Just for a brief period it looked as if Cambridge were going right away, and their coxswain brought them over to the Surrey side in front of Oxford. Raikes at once replied with a spurt it 34 and Cambridge had to give way. Amid tremendous excitement Oxford began to close up. Hartley kept his crew going very steadily at 31, and when the crews shot Hammersmith Bridge the Cambridge lead had been reduced to a few feet, the time to the bridge being 7min. 32 sec.

Just above the bridge Oxford drew level, and rowing a slightly faster stroke than their rivals led by half a length at the Doves. Above this point the crews met a head wind and slightly listurbed water, and a trendous struggle ensued at this critical stage. The Oxford coxswain kept his crew in miilriver and forced Cambridge right over to the Middlesex side. Oxford were working tremendously hard to keep their lead, working the rate up to 34 just before they reached Chiswick Steps; loading by three-quarters of a length in llinin. 59 secs. In making the crossing to the Meadows they gained a trifle, and at the Brewery were almost clear, but the (fort to get well away and take the inride station along the Meadows failed. At the lower end of the Meadows Hartley raised the rate to 3-2. and from his point Oxford were rowing a losing race. Stroke by stroke Cambridge

crept up along the C.TJ.TLC. enclosure amid the frantic cheers of their supporters. At Barnes Bridge, reached in 10min. 21 see., Oxford’s lead was no more than a few feet of their forward canvas. Above tho bridge Cambridge bad tin 1 inside station. , Raikes rowed with tremendous pluck 11(1 Iris tried crew responded nobly, but it was o vident that the Light Blues had 1 bit more in hand. They drew level just above the bridge, rowing 32 to Oxford’s 33, and were half a length op at the Mortlake Brewery. Raikes made a final effort at 35, but the rowing was scrappy; and keeping theirlorui to the finish Comhridge at once quickened and won a magnificent raceI y a length in Rhein. 45scc. The race was a triumph for Hartley and the Cambridge style. The president stroked his crew with wonderful judgment, and declined to he flurried by the Oxford lead. He always appeared to have a hit in hand and refused to hurry his crew into a fast rate of stroke which would probably have brought about the loss of their length and steadiness. Throughout the race Cambridge appeared to he travelling more easily than their rivals, who worked tremendously hard at tho faster rate of stroke without being able to get away from the l ight Blues. Fremantle rowed well at <•7” hut ho was not the equal of the two Old Blue .heavyweights —Campbell and Playford. Tho former is the finest heavy-weight oarsman turned out by Cambridge for many years. Oxford rowed well—well enough to win in man v years—but they were opposed by an exceptionally fine crew. 1 he fact that they had never acquired the length and uniformity of their rivals told against them in a hard race, and their rowing was laboured compared with the smooth progress of the Cambridge eight. Raikes stroked the boat with tremendous pluck and was splendidly supported by Niekalls at “7.” James and Earl also rowed well. The losers were completely rowed out at the Tmisk. The time for the race was fast in view of the moderate tide and the fact that the. wind gave tho crews little help.

The race was the 73rd of the series, and Cambridge have now won three consecutive contests. The record is now 39 wins to Oxford and 33 to Cambridge.

Tn the 1877 race there was a dead heat.

8-OATtED RACE.

BRISBANE, June 1

Tho Inter ’Varsity eight-oareil race resulted as follows: Melbourne 1. Queensland 2, Adelaide 3, Sydney 1. Won by half a length.