1900
1901
1902
1903
1904
1905
1906
1907
1908
1909
BOAT RACE 1900 - 1909
Oxford University v Cambridge University
Map
Map taken from George Drinkwater's "The Boat Race"
57: Saturday, 31st March, 1900
In 1900 CAMBRIDGE WON by 20 lengths. Time 18 minutes and 45 seconds. Oxford 32, Cambridge 24
The Cambridge crew of 1900 was widely regarded as one of the best crews of that period and equivalent
to the magnificent Oxford crew of 1897.
The 1899 Cambridge crew had been good and the five stern men from that crew were still available
and rowed in that same order from the first training outing in 1900. The 1899 cox was also available
although he had put on 9lbs over the year. The crew could have been even better because W.H.Chapman
who rowed at bow in 1899 was also due to be available but decided to discard his academic and
sporting pursuits for a time in order to go off to fight in the Boer War. When he ultimately returned,
in 1902 and 1903 he made a marked difference to the then Cambridge crew. Most of their coaching was
in the hands of S.D.Muttlebury.
Oxford, on the other hand had only three members of the 1899 crew in residence, in addition to the
President, F. W. Warre and the newcomers that he invited to complete the crew did not come up to
expectation. This applied particularly to Lord Grimston who weighed 13 stone 11¾lbs and H.B.Kittermaster
who at over 14 stone (the exact weight differs between authorities) was one of the heaviest men to
row for either crew at that time. These should have provided a strong powerhouse but neither really
fitted with the Oxford rhythm of what was really a light crew. Then Hale, one of the 1899 crew
members broke down in training, one of the new members M.C.McThornhill was ordered to stop rowing
by his doctor and finally Warre himself had to withdraw with scarlet fever. A sorry Oxford crew
was left to compete with a strong Cambridge one and the result was a forgone conclusion.
It was a good tide on Race day though this was somewhat inhibited by a high flow of land water
and the wind was a modest one from the east-south-east, giving good rowing conditions but because
of the land water, not those associated with records. Oxford won the toss and chose Surrey.
From the first stroke Cambridge went into the lead and they moved ahead from Oxford so rapidly
over the fist two minutes that it was only a question of by how much Cambridge would win.
Although it was a magnificent row it was anything but an exciting race. By the Mile Post the
Light Blues were already 15 seconds ahead in 3 minutes 56 seconds and they rowed on to pass
Hammersmith bridge in 7 minutes 10 seconds, 25 seconds ahead. At Chiswick Steps ( reached in 11
minutes 28 seconds ) they were 30 seconds ahead and they extended this to 57 seconds at
Barnes Bridge (15.34). The result at the finish reached in 18.45 with a gap of 1 minute to
Oxford was 20 lengths.
Bow 2 3 4 5 6 7 Stroke Cox |
OXFORD 1900 H H Dutton, 10. 9½ R H Culme-Seymour, 11. 7½ C E Johnston, 12.12 C W Tomkinson, 11.13 Viscount Grimston, 13.10¾ H B Kittermaster, 14. 6 T B Etherington-Smith, 11. 5¾ C P Rowley, 11.12½ G S Maclagan, 8. 5 |
Bow 2 3 4 5 6 7 Stroke Cox |
CAMBRIDGE 1900 S P Cockerell, 11.10 C J M Adie, 12. 3 B W D Brooke, 10.10¼ J E Payne, 13. 0 R B Etherington-Smith, 12.11¼ R H Sanderson, 12.13¼ W Dudley Ward, 12. 9 J H Gibbon, 11. 8 G A Lloyd, 9. 0 |
"Ethel" [!] Raymond Broadley Etherington-Smith
Cambridge 5, later a Surgeon at Barts
58: Saturday, 30th March, 1901
In 1901 OXFORD WON by 2/5 length. Time 22 minutes and 31 seconds. Oxford 33, Cambridge 24
On 30th March 1901, Bertram Robinson attended the 58th annual 'Varsity Boat Race as a
reporter for The Daily Express.
On 1st April, that same newspaper published an article that was by-lined by him.
His enthusiasm for the event is palpable through the following description of the climax to the race -
A RACE WORTH WATCHING
How Oxford Beat Cambridge in One of the Best Struggles on Record
... Culme-Seymour (The Oxford Coxswain) had been working for the chance which he knew must come.
The station was now in his favour. He spurted, and the Cambridge crew gallantly answered.
But the Oxonians were now rowing in better style and time. They began to draw up rapidly.
The leaders got short and began splashing. Their cox ran a little out of his course.
The people shouted from the banks, and the partisans roared from the following steamers.
Now they were level. Now Oxford led. A hundred yards more and Cambridge spurted again,
rowing forty strokes a minute. It was a gallant effort. Would they succeed?
The gun and both crews dropped dead-beat over their oar handles.
Oxford had won by 25 feet
The New York Times, March 31st 1901 -
COXSWAIN SAVES OXFORD
CLEVER STEERING WON ANNUAL BOAT RACE WITH CAMBRIDGE
RARE CONTEST FROM START
RESULT WAS IN DOUBT TO THE END, SO EVENLY MATCHED WERE THE TWO CREWS
LONDON, March 30 - Oxford's coxswain snatched a victory from Cambridge to-day in a boat-steering
race after the Light Blues (Cambridge) had led by a length and a half at Barnes Bridge,
an advantage which at that point is supposed to mean a sure victory.
The crews were so evenly matched that clever steering meant everything.
In this alone the Dark Blues (Oxford) had the advantage.
The weather could hardly have been worse.
Rain fell all the night before, and, with a strong south wind, made a discouraging outlook.
The race was up stream, on a flood tide, with a seven knot breeze on the port quarter at the start,
which was at 10.25 A.M.
Both crews rowed down to the starting skiffs.
There was little to choose between them in action or physique.
At Col. Willan's signal the crews caught the water together, but Cambridge's snappy stroke gave them a shade the best of the start.
Cambridge rowed thirty-four strokes to the minute at the start and Oxford thirty-five,
which brought the Dark Blues abreast of Cambridge and gave them a fractional lead,
which they lost just before Hammersmith Bridge was reached.
Cheers rose from Cambridge's steamboat as their crew passed Hammersmith Bridge half a length ahead.
On the Oxford steamer there was deep silence and anxiety.
At Thorneycroft's very rough water was met, and the turn of the course brought the wind around and ahead.
There the superiority of Broca's (Oxford) boat showed itself.
Both crews dropped their stroke to twenty-nine, but Oxford was the steadier.
Still Cambridge gained.
At Barnes Bridge their lead was a length and a half.
Then the Oxford champions, on the Oxford steamer, gave tongue for the first time,
and yelled encouragement to their crew.
The response was instantaneous, and, as heartbreaking as the pace had been for the first mile, which was one second under the record,
Oxford quickened her stroke to thirty-two, and then to thirty-four, and Cambridge quickened to thirty-six.
But the latter lacked the driving power of Oxford, which went up, foot by foot.
The crowds on the banks caught the contagion of the struggle and surged along toward the finish.
Oxford crept slowly up and overcame the Cambridge lead,
in spite of the constant quickening of the Cambridge stroke.
On the Cambridge steamer the passengers following the race cheered despairingly,
and the Light Blues (Cambridge) quickened again to thirty-six, then to thirty-eight,
and finally to forty.
The Oxford bow lapped the Cambridge stern for a time, and the race hung in the balance.
Oxford quickened to thirty-six, and Cambridge struggled gamely,
but lost her hard won lead by inches, failing significantly at each turn,
while Oxford never lost an inch in the geometry of the course.
In the last 200 yards Oxford's bow began to show ahead, and she relentlessly
overhauled Cambridge, who rowed strong to the finish.
Nevertheless, deep-throated cheers arose as the crews flashed between the red flags at the finish
and Cambridge saluted Oxford as they ceased rowing.
...
The Transvaal war left its mark on the crews of the rival blues this year.
Several who might have rowed in the historic race were fighting in South Africa, and two of them were shot.
Two, recent university coaches, McClean and Trevor Jones, died within a few weeks of the race.
...
The race of 1901 was the third included by Rudie Lehmann in his list of RACES WON AFTER BARNES BRIDGE in his book "The Complete Oarsman -
In 1899 Cambridge had turned the tide of victory, which,
for the second time in the history of the race, had given to
Oxford nine successive races. Both in 1899 and in 1900 the
Cambridge crew had been of very high class. Indeed, in
1900 they had won by more than a minute.
In 1901, however, many of the best men of the previous two years
had gone down, and, though the new material was by no
means bad, the crew had not been able during their practice
to attain to any high degree of regularity and uniformity.
They had strength, pluck, and a considerable amount of
skill, but they were not welded together.
Oxford, on the
other hand, after their terrible defeat of the previous year,
had set steadily to work to retrieve their fortune. In
Culme-Seymour they had discovered a very excellent stroke,
and, though at first they did not seem to be a particularly
brilliant combination, they showed themselves during practice
to be possessed of the invaluable qualities of doggedness and
endurance. They improved very rapidly under careful
coaching towards the end of their practice.
On the day of the race a violent gale was blowing from
the south-west, ie from the Surrey shore. The wind was
across in the first reach, and after Hammersmith it was
almost a dead noser. The Surrey station, therefore, had
exceptional advantages. For two miles and a half, at least,
the crew which rowed on that station was sheltered from the
force of the gale. Even without a wind, the Surrey station
is nineteen times out of twenty the better of the two, for it
gives to a crew at a very critical period of the race the
advantage of rowing in the inside of the long curve that
extends from Harrod's almost up to Chiswick. Time and
again I have seen a crew gain a length on its Middlesex
rival over this curve.
When it was seen, therefore, that Cambridge had won the
toss, and had, of course, chosen Surrey, there were very few
who were prepared to back the chance of Oxford under the
weather conditions that prevailed. Oxford, however, were
confident in their pace and their endurance, and they had
mapped out a careful plan of campaign beforehand.
If, as was probable they failed to gain a sufficient lead at Harrod's
to enable them to take the Surrey water ahead of Cambridge,
they proposed to drop astern of the leaders, and to content
themselves with rowing in this position under the shelter of
the Surrey bank, until the water once more made it possible
for them to come out and challenge for the lead.
The crews started at a high rate, Cambridge however,
rowing a point or two faster than Oxford. Slowly they
drew ahead, and, in spite of Oxford's efforts, they went
through Hammersmith Bridge with a considerable lead.
A furious storm was raging as the crews opened out into
Comey Reach. Cambridge were rowing well under the
shelter of the bank, and Oxford, in obedience to instructions,
had come over, and were rowing in a direct line behind, with
about half a length of clear water separating them from the
leaders. It was apparent here that Oxford had the greater
pace ; more than once they drew up to Cambridge, but the
coxswain gave the word to paddle, and they once more
dropped back.
To those who realised what was going on,
it was one of the most curious and interesting spectacles
ever seen on the Putney to Mortlake course. So the crews
proceeded till they came to the broad reach that leads on to
Barnes.
The water here became smoother, for the wind was
not directly against the tide, and it became possible for Oxford
again to assert themselves. Up to this point Cambridge had
consistently rowed the faster stroke, and they were beginning
to show signs of exhaustion.
Culme-Seymour shook his crew
together ; they picked the stroke up with a will, and raced after
Cambridge. They were now rowing with great vigour, and
they steadily gained. Foot by foot the gap between the
boats decreased, and as they passed under Barnes Bridge the
bowmen in the Oxford crew were once more cheered by
the sight of their rivals.
From this point Oxford had the
better conditions ; the bend of the course was in their favour,
and they were moving faster, stroke for stroke, than Cambridge.
They did not allow the matter to remain in doubt for a single
instant; rowing with extraordinary dash and vigour, they drew
level with Cambridge at the Bull's Head, and finally won the
race by two-fifths of a length.
Bow 2 3 4 5 6 7 Stroke Cox |
OXFORD 1901 F O J Huntley, 11. 6½ H C de J Du Vallon, 12. 4½ J Younger, 12.12 A de L Long, 12.12 H J Hale, 12.11 F W Warre, 12. 8½ T B Etherington-Smith, 11. 5½ R H Culme-Seymour 11. 9½ G S Maclagan, 8. 5 |
Bow 2 3 4 5 6 7 Stroke Cox |
CAMBRIDGE 1901 R H Nelson, 11. 3 B C Cox, 12. 0 B W D Brooke, 11. 9½ C W H Taylor, 12. 7½ G Parker, 12. 5½ H B Grylls, 12. 7 E F Duncanson, 12. 7 G M Maitland, 12. 1 E A O A Jamieson, 8. 6 |
R C Lehmann failed to get a blue in 1879 - having his seat taken by his president ...
He made a considerable contribution to rowing. In 1901 he wrote in 'Anni Fugaces' -
Now sixteen youngsters in their pride of muscle
Prepare at Putney for the final tussle.
Two puny tyrants of the coxswain tribe
Whom threats deter not nor caresses bribe,
Hold in their hands, those ruthless hands, the fate,
Each, as he steers it, of his labouring eight.
Through the long weeks these men must meekly train,
Their style as pretty as their food is plain.
Primed with small beer and filled with prunes and rices,
They tempt each day the waves of Cam or Isis.
Eggs they may eat, but not the tasty rasher
Who to Clayhithe proceed or to the Lasher,
And tarts and jams and entrees are taboo
To those who daily row in either crew.
59: Saturday, 22nd March, 1902
In 1902 CAMBRIDGE WON by 5 lengths. Time 19 minutes and 9 seconds. Oxford 33, Cambridge 25
With 1902 another short series of victories started for Cambridge. They were now getting the
better men from Eton, and the backbone of their crews was found by Third Trinity who won the Grand in 1902.
Taylor was President, and though they were much shorter in the swing than the 1900 crew
they had the same leg drive.
Hale was President at Oxford and produced a heavy crew of rather ponderous oarsmen.
They rowed at first in a new boat designed by Dr Warre supposed to be an improvement on his first "Snubby".
She was, however, very broad in the beam, too big for them, and very off hand;
shortly before the race she was discarded for the old "Snubby", which was very weak and was
moreover too small.
The crew were incapable of rowing a real racing stroke though they had good length.
Both crews were driven off their home waters by frost, Oxford going to Bourne End as guests of
R C Lehmann, and Cambridge to Henley to stay with Sir John Edwards-Moss the father of their seven.
There is hardly a story of the race to be told. Cambridge won the toss and led from the first stroke.
Rowing two strokes a minute faster all the way, they increased their lead steadily to win by five
lengths in the good time of 19 minutes 9 seconds.
Bow 2 3 4 5 6 7 Stroke Cox |
OXFORD 1902 G C Drinkwater, 11. 7 D Milburn, 12. 4½ J Younger, 12.12½ H J Hale, 13. 1 J G Milburn, 13. 3½ A de L Long, 13. 0¼ H W Adams, 12. 1½ F O J Huntley, 11. 7½ G S Maclagan, 8. 5 |
Bow 2 3 4 5 6 7 Stroke Cox |
CAMBRIDGE 1902 W H Chapman, 11. 1½ T Drysdale, 12. 1½ P H Thomas, 12. 2 C W H Taylor, 12. 8 F J Escombe, 12. 7 H B Grylls, 12.10 J Edwards-Moss, 12. 6 R H Nelson, 11. 5 C H S Wasbrough, 8. 2 |
Wilfrid Hubert Chapman
Cambridge Bow and President in 1903
60: Wednesday, 1st April, 1903
In 1903 CAMBRIDGE WON by 6 lengths. Time 22 minutes and 4 seconds. Oxford 33, Cambridge 26
In 1903 Chapman, who had returned from South Africa in time for last year's race, was president
at Cambridge, and had the better part of the 1902 crew available, and though it was certainly
not so good as that crew, it had definite pace.
At Oxford Long had to face a lot of misfortune. Monier-Williams, the stroke-elect,
met with an accident in Switzerland.
Later W W Field went down with influenza, and in the reorganisation which followed Monier-Williams
was brought in as stroke. He was lively, and could drive his crew for a distance but, lacking in
length which he might have obtained had he rowed the whole term, he could not keep them going long.
The race was rather a fiasco. F I Pitman was umpire for the first time, Colonel Willan
having retired after the last race. Provided by Tom Tims with an antediluvian double-barrelled pistol
which had been used for the start since time immemorial [possibly since 1884?], he got it stuck at half cock.
On the words "Are you ready?" Cambridge squared their blades against the strong tide which was running,
and the stakeboat man could not hold them. Oxford taking the water from the back stop to be drawn forward by the tide,
were held more firmly. Cambridge got nearly a ¾ length start which the umpire did not notice,
being occupied with his pistol.
Oxford, not knowing why they had been slipped, rowed like a beaten crew from the first stroke.
Cambridge went right away and won as they liked by six lengths.
The above account was written by the Oxford 7, George Drinkwater.
Bow 2 3 4 5 6 7 Stroke Cox |
OXFORD 1903 C A Willis, 11. 4 A K Graham, 10.12 A de L Long, 12.11 F S Kelly, 11.12 H W Adams, 12. 1 D Milburn, 12.10 G C Drinkwater, 11.11 E G Monier-Williams, 12. 5 F T H Eyre, 6. 6 |
Bow 2 3 4 5 6 7 Stroke Cox |
CAMBRIDGE 1903 W H Chapman, 10. 7 P H Thomas, 12. 8 S R Beale, 11. 2 C W H Taylor, 13. 0 J S Carter, 13. 4 H B Grylls, 12.13 J Edwards-Moss, 12. 9 R H Nelson, 11. 6 B G A Scott, 8. 0 |
61: Saturday, 26th March, 1904
In 1904 CAMBRIDGE WON by 4½ lengths. Time 21 minutes and 37 seconds. Oxford 33, Cambridge 27
Cambridge won the toss and chose Surrey.
CUBC Minute Book -
We got up and had breakfast at 5.30 and went down to the Leander Boathouse [then on the Em
bankment at Putney] at about 7.00 a.m. Notwithstanding the early hour, several old Blues were there.
Oxford went out for a preliminary spin, but we stayed at the boathouse as the morning was very cold
and there was a slight fog. Oxford left the London R.C. at 7.45 and we followed at once.
We both got to our stake-boats and Mr F. I. Pitman started the race.
The tide was not very strong
and Oxford rowing the slightly faster stroke, drew away steadily from the start and by the Mile Post
were clear of us. But we had settled down to a steady 32 and after this we began to
gain steadily upon them.
By Harrods, the Oxford cox had come too far across to our shore
(the Surrey) and Scott [the Cambridge cox] managed to drive him back again and thereby gained a
lot of ground for us.
We still continued to gain and at Hammersmith Bridge we were
only two thirds of a length to the bad. At the Doves we were level again.
Once we got level the race was practically over, for the Oxford crew went to pieces and by
Chiswick Ferry we were practically clear; after that it became a procession,
we winning by four and a half lengths.
Bow 2 3 4 5 6 7 Stroke Cox |
OXFORD 1904 T G Brocklebank, 10. 9¼ R W Somers-Smith, 10. 8 A J S H Hales, 12. 3¾ H W Jelf, 12. 6 P C Underhill, 12. 9 A R Balfour, 12. 0 E P Evans, 13. 0½ A K Graham, 11. 0 E C T Warner, 7.10 |
Bow 2 3 4 5 6 7 Stroke Cox |
CAMBRIDGE 1904 H Sanger, 10. 7 S M Bruce, 12. 0 B C Johnstone, 12. 4 A L Lawrence, 12.13¾ R V Powell, 12. 2¾ P H Thomas, 12. 7 H D Gillies, 10. 5 M V Smith, 10. 5½ B G A Scott, 8. 4 |
MUSIC HALL
Two boxes at the Alhambra on Saturday night were occupied by the Oxford and Cambridge
crews at the invitation of the management of that hall.
A special feature of the programme - and one of great interest to the University men -
was a reproduction on the Urban Bioscope, of the race rowed that very morning.
The picture is an excellect reproduction of the race, and was hugely enjoyed by the visitors.
...
Taken from the bow of the "Sportsman's" fast steamer which followed closely in the wake of the crews.
62: Saturday, 1st April, 1905
In 1905 OXFORD WON by 1½ lengths. Time 20 minutes and 35 seconds. Oxford 34, Cambridge 27
Cambridge won the toss and chose Middlesex.
The wind was fairly strong south-west wind, and there was a very modest tide.
Oxford went off the stake-boat faster and were two lengths ahead at the Mile Post.
Oxford maintained that lead to Hammersmith Bridge and increased it slightly at Chiswick Steps.
Oxford continued to open the gap to Barnes Bridge and won by 3 lengths.
Bow 2 3 4 5 6 7 Stroke Cox |
OXFORD 1905 R W Somers-Smith, 10. 9 H M Farrer, 11. 5 A J S H Hales, 12. 0 A R Balfour, 12. 0 L E Jones, 13. 9½ E P Evans, 13. 2½ A K Graham, 13. 3½ H C Bucknall, 11. 1½ L P Stedall, 8. 0 |
Bow 2 3 4 5 6 7 Stroke Cox |
CAMBRIDGE 1905 H Sanger, 10. 9 W B Savory, 12. 9 B C Johnstone,12. 4 P H Thomas, 12. 4½ E P W Wedd, 13. 1 B R Winthrop-Smith, 12. 7 R V Powell, 12. 3 C H S Taylor, 10. 4 R Allcard, 8. 6 |
63: Saturday, 7th April, 1906
In 1906 CAMBRIDGE WON by 3½ lengths. Time 19 minutes and 25 seconds. Oxford 34, Cambridge 28
The Oxford Boat lost their seven due to an accident and then all suffered from influenza.
They never got together and could not row a racing stroke.
Cambridge raced off at a higher rating and had two lengths in less than two minutes.
Cambridge paddled home to win by 3½ lengths.
1906 (Popular mechanics)
Notice that Cambridge sides are reversed with Stroke rowing on starboard.
[ I hesitate to say stroke rowing on "bowside" otherwise sanity goes out of the window!
Bowside is presumably the side on which the bow oarsman rows
and clearly stroke is not rowing on that side!]
Bow 2 3 4 5 6 7 Stroke Cox |
OXFORD 1906 G M A Graham, 10.13 C H Illingworth, 11.13 J Dewar, 12. 4½ L E Jones, 13.12 A G Kirby, 13. 8 E P Evans, 13. 6 A C Gladstone, 10. 7½ H C Bucknall, 11. 3 L P Stedall, 8. 5 |
Bow 2 3 4 5 6 7 Stroke Cox |
CAMBRIDGE 1906 G D Cochrane, 10. 8½ J H F Benham, 11. 6 H M Goldsmith, 12. 6½ M Donaldson, 13. 9½ B C Johnstone, 12. 6½ R V Powell, 12. 6½ E W Powell, 11. 6 D C R Stuart, 11. 1½ A G L Hunt, 8. 0 |
In 1906 Cambridge raced Harvard on the Tideway. Rudy Lehmann wrote in Punch -
LIGHT BLUE AND CRIMSON
A song for the Cambridge and Harvard Crews
There were nine true men of Harvard, and they wished to sail the sea,
And eight of them were sturdy men, as sturdy as could be,
For eight of them were rowing men and to the manner born,
But one he was a coxswain bold who sat the seat of scorn.
(Chorus ...)
So it's drive her all together, boys,
And mind your level feather, boys!
Oh, swing to it, and spring to it, and trim her when she rolls!
For it's fury fight and tussle, but without a hint of bustle,
While you fire your weary muscle with the ardour of your souls!
There were nine true men of Harvard, and when they'd beaten Yale
They all began with one accord to hanker for a sail;
"For now", they said, "we mean to try a bout of oars with you
Who defend the pride of England and the flag of bonny blue ...
When we heard that fiery challenge, oh we couldn't well be dumb,
So we shouted back our answer, and they knew we meant to come,
Knew we meant to come and race them, not for gold or gaudy gems,
But for love and sport and friendship on the tideway of the Thames ...
Then they crossed the fierce Atlantic and they came to us from far,
They whose mother is our Cambridge too, whose faithful sons we are.
And we faced them and embraced them here as brothers of the blade;
And they said we did them honour, but they didn't seem afraid ...
Now the light blue and the crimson flags flags are floating side by side,
And the men are in their racing boats and out upon the tide;
And it's rah-rah-rah! for Harvard and her crimson flying free,
And it's three good cheers for Cambridge and just another three ...
So we paddle to our stake-boats and there comes a hush of death,
And the umpire holds his pistol and the watchers hold their breath;
And it's "Steady, Are you ready?" and before there's time to cough,
Lo, a flash, a roar, a rattle, and the racing boats are off! ...
And it's all a blur of shouting and of steamers blowing steam,
And of launches close behind us that are churning up the stream;
And it's hammersmith and Chiswick and the noise of many men,
While they spurt and we keep spurting as the coxes call for ten ...
And every man is plugging as he never plugged before,
With his feet upon the stretcher and his grip upon his oar;
And we've passed the 'Ship' at Mortlake - but I wonder which has won
Now the judge's flag has fallen and the mighty race is done! ...
Cambridge, with six of their boatrace crew, won in the end fairly comfortably.
Punch published the cartoon of the race.
Note the accuracy - the nearest crew is Cambridge with stroke rowing on starboard!
Cambridge v Harvard cheered on by the Jolly Thames Waterman.
64: Saturday, 16th March, 1907
In 1907 CAMBRIDGE WON by 4 lengths. Time 20 minutes and 26 seconds. Oxford 34, Cambridge 29
Though Cambridge started off at a slower rate than Oxford they still had the pace of them and were
clear in a minute and a half, and had three lengths at Hammersmith.
Then, running into rough water, Oxford began to creep up slowly and, although Gillan [Oxford 5]
was far from well, they had almost wiped out the Light Blues' clear lead at the end of Chiswick Eyot.
This was, however, the limit of their effort, and Cambridge went away to win easily in four lengths.
Bow 2 3 4 5 6 7 Stroke Cox |
OXFORD 1907 W T Heard, 11. 0 H C Bucknall, 11. 8 G E Hope, 12.13 R M Peat, 11.11 J A Gillan, 12. 7 A G Kirby, 13.10 E H L Southwell, 12. 1 A C Gladstone, 11. 0 W F Donkin, 8. 5 |
Bow 2 3 4 5 6 7 Stroke Cox |
CAMBRIDGE 1907 A B Close-Brooks, 11. 0 J H F Benham, 12. 5½ H M Goldsmith, 12. 6 J S Burn, 12. 9½ H G Baynes, 14. 0 B C Johnstone, 12. 9 E W Powell, 11. 6 D C R Stuart, 11.1 R F R P Boyle, 8.10 |
 "Duggie", Douglas Stuart, Cambridge Stroke |
 "Bush" B C Johnstone, Cambridge 6 |
65: Saturday, 4th April, 1908
In 1908 CAMBRIDGE WON by 2½ lengths. Time 19 minutes and 20 seconds. Oxford 34, Cambridge 30
Olympic rowing at Henley. It was expected that the boat race would decide the Great Britain
representation. In the event neither crew were sufficiently impressive and a joint crew
rowing as Leander won the Gold Medal.
Oxford again had problems both of style and illness. Cambridge simply had style problems.
Both had experimented wih an unorthodox style with a pronounced leg drive in mid stroke,
with loss of both length and swing.
There was a fairly strong west wind which met a good tide and caused rough water.
Cambridge rowed 39½ to Oxford's 38, but did not go away so fast in the lumpy water
as they had done in previous years and, though they were on Middlesex, they were not clear until the
Mile. By Harrods they had two lengths and then could gain no more. Oxford kept attacking
and Cambridge could not increase their lead until they reached Barnes,
but then they went away to win by two and a half lengths.
Bow 2 3 4 5 6 7 Stroke Cox |
OXFORD 1908 Hon R P Stanmore, 9.10 C R Cudmore, 12. 0 E H L Southwell, 12. 3 A E Kitchin, 12. 7 A G Kirby, 13. 7 A McCullough, 12. 9½ H R Barker, 12. 0½ A C Gladstone, 11.13½ A W F Donkin, 8. 7 |
Bow 2 3 4 5 6 7 Stroke Cox |
CAMBRIDGE 1908 F H Jerwood, 11.10 G E Fairbairn, 11.13 O A Carver, 12.10 H E Kitching, 13. 2 J S Burn, 12.10½ E G Williams, 13.0½ E W Powell, 11. 6 D C R Stuart, 11. 2 R F R P Boyle, 8.10 |
66: Saturday, 3rd April, 1909
In 1909 OXFORD WON by 3½ lengths. Time 19 minutes and 50 seconds. Oxford 35, Cambridge 30
The weather was good on Race day, with a south-easterly breeze and average land water and the
only problem was that it was likely to be a slow race because of the slack tide. Cambridge won
the toss and chose Surrey and both crews had a good start at high rating which they maintained
for longer than usual rowing almost stroke for stroke. Gradually Oxford assisted by the Fulham
bend squeezed into a lead by Craven steps, but at the Mile reached in 4 minutes 3 seconds they
were only a second in the lead and had clearly no chance of manoeuvring into a position from
which they could move ahead of Cambridge at this stage to secure their rival's station.
Both crews settled down to the hard slog up Crabtree Reach to Harrods, where the Surrey bend
would first really come to the help of Cambridge. At Harrods the crews were level and at
Hammersmith Bridge the same official time was credited to both (7.23) though it appeared that
Cambridge were a few feet in the lead.
Now as thy moved into Chiswick Reach, the long bend really came to the benefit of Cambridge who
should have been able to move well into the lead, but each time that the Cambridge stroke (Stuart)
spurted he was pulled back by the long powerful stroke which Oxfords stroke Bourne was achieving
and Oxford, although they were travelling round the outside of the bend kept within a few feet
right the way along the Chiswick Reach and past Chiswick Eyot to be rewarded with the same time
as Cambridge (11.56) at Chiswick Steps. The crews had been side by side for the whole of the Race
to this point. Now the time would come when the advantage would lie with Oxford and they were in
a perfect position to take advantage of it assuming that they had not overstrained in order to
keep with their rivals round the outside of the long bend.
Stuart made a splendid spurt and took Cambridge a few feet into the lead just before the crossing,
but just after the Bandstand, when the Cambridge spurt had drawn to a close and the bend was clearly
in his favour Bourne applied a further sharp spurt. Initially his crew failed to respond and it
looked as though their effort was spent, but they rallied superbly and picking up the higher
rate and the drive they moved ahead so rapidly between the Bandstand and Barnes Bridge
they moved from a slight deficit to a lead of 5 seconds at the bridge (16.28).
Now the Light Blues had no response to offer and Oxford moved on to win a classic race
by 3½ lengths.
Bow 2 3 4 5 6 7 Stroke Cox |
OXFORD 1909 A C Gladstone, 11. 6½ H R Barker, 12. 5 C R Cudmore, 12. 4 A S Garton, 13. 8½ D Mackinnon, 13. 3½ J A Gillan, 13. 1 A G Kirby, 13.10½ R C Bourne, 10.13 A W F Donkin, 8. 8 |
Bow 2 3 4 5 6 7 Stroke Cox |
CAMBRIDGE 1909 R W M Swanstone, 10. 4½ H E Swanston, 12. 4 G L Thomson, 12. 6½ H E Kitching, 12.12 E G Williams, 13. 0 J B Rosher, 14. 0 E S Hornidge, 12.13 D C R Stuart, 11. 3 G D Compston, 8.10 |
And so after sixty six boat races the overall tally was Oxford 35, Cambridge 30 (and one dead heat)
Leadership in Overall Tally of Boat Race Wins:
 
|
| 1829 - - - Cambridge - - - 1863 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Oxford - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1909 |
Click for Hammersmith Bridge
Boat race in 1910s