UNIVERSITY BOAT RACE.

Southland Times, Volume 2, Issue 69, 3 July 1863, Page 5 (Supplement)

UNIVERSITY BOAT RACE.

;<THE v%- The great event in the aquatic register of the year —the Derby of the Thames —was Towed.and Won on Safcur--1 day morning, March 28, in the presence of a vast number of spectators, who, in spite/of the earliness of the hour, as ,-- usual lined the shore and bridges. Oxford, as all anticipated, won with comparative ease, thus making the score of these victories between the rival Universities equal —lo and 10 for each. For the third time during the many years that this race has taken place, it was rowed down the river with the ebb from Mortlake to Putney, and the start was Bade at a much earlier hour than usual. Both these points were only decided on the previous evening, and were adopted entirely as precautions to avoid the annoying - crowd of steamers which usually follow the boats, and always add so much to the difficulties and even dangers of the contending crews. The presidents of the clubs of either universities have now, we are glad to say, determined to make a stand against this encroaching nuisance, and the race of Saturday showed that with a little careful management on the part of the Universities a good deal may be done to mittgate this growing evil. It is fortunate that this is the case ; otherwise this most exciting and important of all our great aquatic contests would be driven from the Thames altogether. The experience of the last few years has made it evident that no manner of reliance is to be placed on the masters of steamers keeping at a fair or even safe distance from the struggling crews, and that the only way really to guard the competitors from their interference is to so fix the time of starting as to make it impossible for the steamboats to reach the spot unless by leaving London at such an hour as gives them few passengers, and makes it therefore not worth the while of many to go at all. This was done on Saturday, and the advantage of thp plan was at once evident from the extreme scantiness of the passengers which the few steamers off Mortlake had on board. It was plain that the number of the latter were not likely much to interfere with the race, ' nor would their masters have their old excuse that the numbers of those on board,^by making their vessels sway from side to side, rendering them almost unmanageable, be of much avail on this occasion. Nor was it only on the steamers that the influence of tbe early hour and cold gusty morning was perceptible. A good muster of boats was on the river darting to and fro, but not nearly so many as for the same race last year. There were a great many equestrians along the bunks. Opinions this time set strongly in favor of Oxford, and the small chance that Cambridge had if they won the choice of place was thought to be more than counterbalanced by the roughness of the water, which was all in favor of the strong and sturdy rowing of their antagonists. Both crews took the water at about half-past nine, amid tje loud cheers of their own supporters and of the public generally, who cheered both in the certainty that one must win. Oxford rowed in a boat, light, yet evidently very strong, and almost stout, built by Salter, of Oxford. Cambridge rowed in a boat built by Searle, and one in every respect, as good and suitahle as that of their opponents. Both crews and boats looked the very height of perfection, and it was almost impossible even for the most experienced eye to detect any inferiority on the part of Cambridge, as with a light powerful sweep they shot out in splendid style into the river. The crews and weights of each were as follows: — Oxford. —l. R Shepherd, Brasenose, lOst o£lb ; 2. P. H. Kelly, University, list s*lb; 3. TV. B. R. Jacobson, Christ Church, I2st 41b; 4. W. D. Woodgate, Brasenose, list 1 lib ; 5. A. Morrison, Balliol, 12st 4Mb; 6. TV. Awdry, Balliol, list 4lb; 7. C. R. Carr, Wadham, list 3£lb ; 8. W. M. Hoare, Exeter (stroke), list 7*lb ; F. Hopwood, Christ Church (coxswain), Bst 4*lb. Cambridge. —l. T. C. Hawkshaw, Trinity, list; 2. W. C. Srayly, Trinity, list 4£lb : 3. R. H. Morgan, Emmanuel, Ilst3£lb; 4. J. Wilson, Pembroke, list lOilb; 5. C. If. La Mothe, St. John's, 12st 2|lb; 6. R. A. Kinglake, Trinity, 12st ; 7. J. G. Chambers, Trinity, list 61b; 8. T. Stanning, Trinity (stroke), lOst s£lb ; F. H. Archer, Corpus sst 7ilb. By this it will be seen that, as is generally the case with the Oxford crews, they were slightly heavier than their opponents ; but on the whole the balance was very even, indeed, and in point of weight both were fairly matched. Some time was lost in get* ting off the start, tbe umpires being very properly determined to give no starting signal till the steamers were well in the rear, and out of all chance of interference with the race. At last, at twenty minutes past 10, Mr. Searle gave the word, and in an instant the' oars of Cambridge smote the water with a flash of spray. They had practised starting the day previously, and showed , the advantage they had gained, as with •a quick and somewhat flurried stroke they thrust their boat's nose ahead of' that of, Oxford, which jir a more boatstyle was sWting with a but more regu!ar\nd evidently nerv>

their style Was at all hurried, that of Cambridge was yet quicker — they were doing rather more than forty strokes to the thirty-nine of Oxford. With a slow but unerring certainty, dark blue crept on, till, within two or three minutes of their starting, Oxford began to show a lead. With almost frantic efforts, Cambridge strove to keep them back. Shouts, ad vices, and entreaties could make them do no more,rfheir oars bent to their stroke, and their boat sprang with an actual leap forward from the desperate strain they put upon her, but all in vain. Labor as they might, there was no withstanding the deep long stroke of Oxford, which showed more and more in front with every second that elapsed. Without hurry, but with an even regularity of power that seemed to tell with certainty of winning, the Oxford crew drew a clear length ahead, and, barring accidents, it v as evident even when the boats were off the •' Ship" at Mortlake, that Cambridge had been beaten beyond all redemption. Still they struggled on with unflinching gallantry to deserve success, if they could not command it — that dubious meed of approbation which courtesy allots to failure. Yet, row as they could, it was evident that they might as well have tried to overtake the previous tide as that dark blue array of oars ahead of them, and more ahead of them with every stroke, From this time it was a hollow race ; Oxford had ceased to hurry, and dropped into their steady, powerful stroke of thirtyseven a minute, just so much quicker than their ordinary style as to show that they were at their best, leading by more than a length and a half and with a certainty of increasing it. Once Cambridge put on a magnificent spurt, which for a time revived the drooping hopes of their supporters, and even then lessened the long gap between them and the winners. More than this it was not in their power to do ; it was even wonderful that they did so much. From this point out the pace of both was so fast that the steamers were left far in the rear till the race was run and won, Oxford having increased its lead of fifteen seconds on passing Barnes Railway Bridge to twenty-two seconds at the winning-post, or about twelve boats' lengths, — a slighter advantage, on the whole, than was anticipated. The race itself calls for very few remarks, it so entirely confirmed the opinions previously expressed as to the result. After the first flurry of starting was over, Cambridge rowed admirably. Their coxswain might by better have lessened the interval of time between the boats, and the choire of shore, had it fallen to their lot, would also have bettered their chances. But. the general opinion was that Cambridge under no circumstances couid have won, and that they were fairly out rowed by a strong r and a better crew. From this evident superiority at the commencement, the race excited but little actual interest after Oxford began to lead. In the evening the crew?, according to the usual Custom, were entertained at dinner by the Thames Subscription Club. About one hundred gentlemen assembled for this purpose at St. James's Hall, and sat down to dinner at seven o'clock. The chair was taken by the Hon. G. Denman, M.P., on whose right, placed alternately, were the members of the? respective crews ; Oxford occupying the post of greatest honor. — Home Itetvs, 27th April.