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THE 'VAHSITY lit) ATE ACE.
OXFORD'S RECORD PERFORMANCE.
[From our Special Correspondent]
London, March 24. 1S!)3.
Year by year popular interest in what was
once the great carnival of the English spring is
fading. ' Of that there cannot be a doubt.
Tips anniversary one heard or read little
about it, save tba,t Oxford was bound to win,
till the day of the race. Then indeed a
feverish rush Putney wards did not seem to
seize the metropolis, but glorious spring sun
shine and the consequent desire to be out of
doors had, in my opinion, quite as much to do
with this as interest in the boat race. ^
I confess I had business to do and could nt
go. Those who aid came back "enthused"
and full of Oxford's. record performance.
"Never saw anything like it; what with the
wind and tide the boats fiew through the
water, our steamers were left quarter a mile
behind, though doing their best." I append
particulars of the race, which Oxford had in
hand from first stroke to last.
The contest was fixed to start at a quarter
past 4, but it was three or four minutes
later when the Cantabs, who, as the losers last
year, were the first to get afloat, put off and
paddled quietly down to the stake boat on
the Surrey side, which, having won the toss,
they had selected, though, with the wind in
that quarter, the difference in the matter of
stations was reduced to a minimum, in fact,
not a few experienced critics expressed a pre
ference for the Middlesex berth. Six or seven
minutes later the dark blues got afloat, and
quickly joined the challengers at the starting
point, where the outer wraps, which had till
then been worn, having been removed and
transferred to the umpire's launch, all was* in
readiness for the start. A slight delay, how
ever, was occasioned just at the last moment,
as, following the umpire's question of " Are you
ready ?" and anticipating the firing of his pistol,
the attendant holding the stern of die Cam
bridge boat relaxed his hold and allowed the
craft to commence the journey too soon. The
light blues quickly backed iuto position again,
and at -1.35 the signal to go was given, and an
excellent start waB effected. The Cantabs got
perhaps a trifle better grip at the first stroke,
and for the first half dozeu strokes or so
certainly had a slight advantage, though from
the press boat, which was then steaming
right alongside the two eights, it was quickly
seen the dark blues were going the faster, and
before the expiration of the first half-minute,
during which period each crew had taken 20
strokes, the Oxonians had obtained a slieht
lead. At the creek in the grounds of Ful
ham Palace, the time to which was 1 min.
6 sec., the .Oxonians, who were clearly
in front, were pulling 37 strokes ;
minute to the 36 of their opponents
while, continuing to go the faster, the
dark blues liad by the time the steps at the
upper end of the "concrete wail were reached
in 2 min. 23 sec. from the start, obtained a
lead of, as well as could be judged from the
steamers, which had now fallen astern, a
quarter of a length. At the old tree, situated
a mile above Putney-bridge, and consequently
about 100 yards less from the starting point,
the Oxonians, whose time was4 mm. 6 sec., bad
managed to increase their advantage to about
half a length, and were going on in a manlier
that seemed to indicate their very easy victory.
Between this point and the lower end of the
soap\vorke, below Hammersmith, the Oxonians
continued to increase their lead until they ap
peared to those on the steamers, which were
now beginning to be left behind, very nearly
if not quite clear, and began to give the
wash of their stroke-side' oars to their
rivals. The light-blue oarsmen objected
to this, and quickening up a trifle and
putting some good work into their strokes
gained sufficiently to make the leaders give
way, and so, at Hammersmith-bridge, reached
by the leaders in the very fast time of 7 mm.
20 gee, from the start, the Oxford boat was only
about half a length in advance. Prom this
point a splendid bit of racing was seen, and one
that aroused the enthusiasm of the onlookers
to the highest 'piteh. The Cantabs, increasing
their rate of striking to 3S a minute and
making every effort to wrest the lead from
the dark blues, forced their boat along m
a most determined fashion, and creeping up
inch by inch, actually succeeded, when opposke
Biffen's boathouse, in getting as nearly as pos
sible level. The Oxonians responded in capital
style, and the light blues being unable to sus
tain the tremendous exertions they had been
making gradually fell behind again. Passing
the timber stacks, below Chiswick Eyqb, the
Oxonians had increased their advantage to
three-quarters of a length, but quickly lost a
third of it. though in passing Ghiswick Church
(11 min. 33 sec. after the commencement of the
struggle) the}' once mpre began to go ahead ;
and gaining steadily succeeded on passing the
Iionsdale-road in getting a clear length to
the good. ' From this point they were of course
greatly favored by the station, anil ivere
enabled before Barnes-bridge was reached to
almost double their advantage, the times for
the two boats as they passed under the bridge
being 15 min. 37 sec. and 15 min. 45 sec. respec
tively. The Cantabs persevered in the most
praiseworthy manner, but despite their utmost
exertions the leaders continued to gain until
their advantage was, as nearly as could be esti
mated, three lengths, though by this time the
eights were so fair ahead of the steamers that
the exact distance could not be made put.
Nearine the finish the Cantabs spurted up to
40 strokes a minute and drew up slightly, and
eventually Oxford won an unexpectedly inte
resting race by about two lengtbi in IS min.
47 see., as shown by Benson's chronograph—
the fastest time on record. The latest weights
of the crews were :—
OXFORD.
H. S. Cctton, Magdalen (bow) _
2. J. A. Ford. Braseno'ss „ „
3. J. A. Morrison. New — — ~
4'. H. Legge, Trinity ' _ L _
5. V. Nick'alle',Magdalen _ 3 _
6. W. A. IT." Fletcher, Christ Church L.
7. C. M. Pitman, New
' M. E. Pilk'ihgtan. Magdalen (stroke)
A. B. Portman, Uniyerrity (cox.) _.
CAMBRIDGE.
G. A. H. Branson, First Trinity (bow)
2. R. F. Bay ford. Trinity Hall ..
3. 0. F. Fogg-Elliott. Trinity Hall
4. E. H. 41. Waller, Corpus " _ —
6. L. A. E'. Cillfv'ont, First'Trinity 11
b. G. C. Kerr. First Trinity" _
7. R. O. lierrisori, Tliird Trinity' _
T. G-: Lewis, Tni'rd Trinity "(stroke) _
C. T. Agar, Third Trinity (cox.) ...
St. lb.
9 12
11 13
12 '4s
12 131
1.
13 4
?
33 Si
?
12 01
?
11 11=
7 7
10 9?
11 9"
11 10.V
12 5,"
33 31
11
12 0"
12 p
11
11 12
"7 6
Mr. Frank Weston will repeat his humorous
lecture at the (goodwood Institute this evening.
The foundation-stone of the An gas Build
ings at the Adelaide Children's Hospital will
be laid tp-morrojy afternoon "by 'Mrs." J. H.
Angas.
There will be on view to-day ab the Central
Mart a fine lot of New Zealand ferns, including
the Cape variety, which with pot plants, tree
ferns, and hanging baskets are to be sold by
Mr. D. W. Melvin.
$