1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979
BOAT RACE 1970 - 1979

Oxford University v Cambridge University

Map


Map taken from George Drinkwater's "The Boat Race"

116: Saturday 28th March, 1970

In 1970 CAMBRIDGE WON by 3½ lengths. Time 20 minutes and 22 seconds. Oxford 51, Cambridge 64
[ 1970: Reserves GOLDIE by 14 lengths 19:58 24 seconds faster than boatrace winner! 8 lengths! ]
Report.

Cambridge won the toss and chose Surrey. At the start Cambridge rated 37 and took nearly a length by the end of the boathouses. Oxford steered well into Cambridge water around the first bend and were warned. At the Mile Cambridge were 1 length ahead. By Hammersmith Bridge the Cambridge lead was 4 seconds. Oxford were continually warned for their steering. Cambridge pushed and by Chiswick Steps had 7 seconds and 11 seconds at Barnes Bridge. Cambridge went on to win by 11 seconds (3¼ lengths).


Bow
2
3
4
5
6
7
Stroke
Cox
OXFORD 1970
R J D Gee, 13. 8
J K G Dart, 12.10
D M Higgs, 13. 9
S E Wilmer, 13.11
F J L Dale, 13.11
A J Hall, 15. 7
N D C Tee, 12. 4
W R C Lonsdale, 13.10
A T Calvert, 8.12

Bow
2
3
4
5
6
7
Stroke
Cox
CAMBRIDGE 1970
J F S Hervey-Bathurst, 13. 1½
C L Baillieu, 13. 5
A C Buckmaster, 13. 8
C J Rodrigues, 13. 2
C J Dalley, 14. 5½
D L Cruttenden, 16. 0
C M Lowe, 13. 7
S N S Robertson, 12. 3½
N G Hughes, 8. 9

117: Saturday, 27th March, 1971

In 1971 CAMBRIDGE WON by 10 lengths. Time 17 minutes and 58 seconds. Oxford 51, Cambridge 65
[ 1971: Reserves GOLDIE by 15 lengths 18:37 ]
Report.

There was a fresh north-north-westerly wind. Cambridge won the toss and chose Surrey. Oxford spurted hard off the start to make use of the advantage of their bend. But at Craven Cottage the crews were level. Oxford found the wind difficult and Cambridge had 1 length at the Mile. At Hammersmith Bridge Cambridge had three lengths. At Chiswick Steps they had four lengths and at Barnes Bridge over eight lengths and at the finish 35 seconds (said to be ten lengths).


Bow
2
3
4
5
6
7
Stroke
Cox
OXFORD 1971
S D Hunt, 12.10
K Bolshaw, 12.11
S D Nevin, 13. 8
C R W Parish, 13.10
D R d'A Willis, 15. 0
A J Hall, 14.13
F J L Dale, 13. 3
J P W Hawksley, 12.10
M T Eastman, 8.11

Bow
2
3
4
5
6
7
Stroke
Cox
CAMBRIDGE 1971
G J O Phillpotts, 11.11
C L Baillieu, 13. 5
J F S Hervey-Bathurst, 13. 4
N W James, 13.10
B A Sullivan, 14. 7
D L Maxwell, 13. 1
S R Waters III, 13. 8
C J Rodrigues, 13. 6
N G Hughes, 8.11

118: Saturday, 1st April, 1972

In 1972 CAMBRIDGE WON by 9½ lengths. Time 18 minutes and 36 seconds. Oxford 51, Cambridge 66
[ 1972: Reserves GOLDIE by 2½ lengths 19:19 ]
Report.

There was a light south-westerly wind with a reasonable tide. Oxford won the toss and chose Surrey. Cambridge started well and steered well over towards Oxford and were warned on several occasions. Cambridge had 7 seconds at the Mile and 11 seconds at hammersmith Bridge. At Chiswick Steps Cambridge had 21 seconds and 24 seconds at Barnes Bridge. Cambridge won by 34 seconds (said to be 9½ lengths).


Bow
2
3
4
5
6
7
Stroke
Cox
OXFORD 1972
M A Margarey, 13. 8
K Bolshaw, 12.11
D R d'A Willis, 14.12
A J Hall, 15. 3
D R Payne, 12.10
J P W Hawksley, 12.12
Hon P D E M Moncrieffe, 11. 6
M G C T Baines, 12. 3
E Yalouris, 8.12

Bow
2
3
4
5
6
7
Stroke
Cox
CAMBRIDGE 1972
R J S Clarke, 13. 1
C L Baillieu, 13.13
S G I Kerruish, 12.10
J A Hart, 13. 5
N W James, 14. 0
G A Cadwalader, 14.10
M J Hart, 14. 2
D L Maxwell, 14. 6
N G Hughes, 9. 1

119: Saturday, 7th April, 1973

In 1973 CAMBRIDGE WON by 13 lengths. Time 19 minutes and 21 seconds. Oxford 51, Cambridge 67
[ 1973: Reserves GOLDIE by 5 lengths 19:13 8 seconds faster than winner! Since Isis were also faster than Oxford this might have been down to conditions? ]
Report.

In near gale conditions Oxford won the toss and chose Surrey. Oxford had not fitted adequate rough water protection and were already in some difficulty on the stake boat. Surrey with the better stream also had the rougher water. Oxford led off the start but shipped an enormous amount of water and by the Black Buoy, the water in their boat was almost up to the slides. Cambridge stayed drier and were 10 seconds ahead at the Mile, 16 seconds at Hammersmith Bridge and 26 seconds at Chiswick Steps. At Barnes Bridge they were 37 seconds ahead and finished 48 seconds ahead (equated to 13 lengths)


Bow
2
3
4
5
6
7
Stroke
Cox
OXFORD 1973
R G A Westlake, 12.13
J S Ollivant, 12. 3
M R Magarey, 14. 1
P D P Angier, 11.13
S G Irving, 13. 8
A J Hall, 14.13
D R Payne, 12.12
D R Sawyier, 13. 8
E Yalouris, 8.10

Bow
2
3
4
5
6
7
Stroke
Cox
CAMBRIDGE 1973
J D Lever, 12.10
H R Jacobs, 13. 6
R P B Duncan, 13.10
C L Baillieu, 13.10
D P Sturge, 13.10
M O'K Webber, 13.10
S C Tourek, 14. 4
M J Hart, 13.12
M D Williams, 9. 3

At 16 ahead in the overall tally Cambridge now held the greatest lead in the history of the race


120: Saturday, 4th April, 1974

In 1974 OXFORD WON by 5½ lengths. Time 17 minutes and 35 seconds. Oxford 52, Cambridge 67
[ 1974: Reserves GOLDIE by 4 lengths 17:51 very close to Cambridge time ]
Report.

There was a good tide and a firm north easterly wind. Cambridge won the toss and chose Middlesex. Oxford had the best start and were a canvas up after 1 minute. Cambridge were rating four or five strokes lower than Oxford. At the Mile Oxford were 2 seconds ahead and handled the rough water much better than Cambridge. At Hammersmith Bridge Oxford were 7 seconds ahead, at Chiswick Steps 13 seconds ahead, and at Barnes Bridge 17 seconds ahead. And Oxford finished 20 seconds ahead or 5½ lengths.
Oxford rated 36 or above throughout, Cambridge never rated above 33.


Bow
2
3
4
5
6
7
Stroke
Cox
OXFORD 1974
N D C Tee, 12. 1
G S Innes, 13. 2
D D Rendell, 13.10
S D Nevin, 13.13
G P G Stoddart, 13. 0
P J Marsden, 13. 6
D R Payne, 13. 5
D R Sawyier, 14. 2
G E Morris, 8.12

Bow
2
3
4
5
6
7
Stroke
Cox
CAMBRIDGE 1974
R P B Duncan, 13. 8
H R Jacobs, 13. 6
D J Walker, 13. 9
D B Sprague, 13. 2
J H Smith, 14.12
J H Clay, 13. 4
T F Yuncken, 12.12
N C A Bradley, 12. 3
H J H Wheare, 8.11

121: Saturday, 29th March, 1975

In 1975 CAMBRIDGE WON by 3¾ lengths. Time 19 minutes and 27 seconds. Oxford 52, Cambridge 68
[ 1975: Reserves ISIS by 9.5 lengths 21:16 ]
Report.

There was a strong north-north-west wind and a rather early slack tide. Oxford won the toss and chose Surrey. They started well and were a canvas up in 30 seconds. Then they were warned for trying to push Cambridge out of the tide. By the end of the Fulham Wall the more experienced Cambridge crew had come back into the lead and retained it for the rest of the race. At the Mile Cambridge had 2 seconds. By Harrods the crews were in line astern. At Hammersmith Bridge Cambridge had 5 seconds and Oxford held it at that until at Chiswick Eyot,the Oxford bowman's blade was knocked clean out of the swivel by a wave. That gave Cambridge nearly another length. At Barnes Bridge Cambridge had 9 seconds and finished 13 seconds ahead, declared to be 3¼ lengths.


Bow
2
3
4
5
6
7
Stroke
Cox
OXFORD 1975
A G H Baird, 13. 1
M G C Harris, 11. 8
D R H Beak, 13. 2
C J A N Money-Coutts, 14. 7
J E Hutchings, 14. 2
R S Mason, 14. 1
N D C Tee, 11. 8
G S Innes, 13. 7
J N Calvert, 8. 2

Bow
2
3
4
5
6
7
Stroke
Cox
CAMBRIDGE 1870
C Langridge, 13. 7
N C A Bradley, 12.11
J H CLay, 13. 4
A F U Powell, 13. 2
S C Tourek, 14. 8
J Macleod, 14. 5
P J Robinson, 13. 6
A N Christie, 14. 7
D J T Kitchin, 8.12

Cambridge looked out from the dizzying height of a lead of 16 - rather like the view from the top of a big dipper ...


122: Saturday, 20th March, 1976

In 1976 OXFORD WON by 6½ lengths. Time 16 minutes and 58 seconds. Oxford 53, Cambridge 68
[ 1976: Reserves ISIS by 2.5 lengths 17:34 ]
Report.

There was a good tide, smooth water and a following wind. Oxford won the toss and chose Surrey. They started well and were half a length up in ten strokes. Oxford had clear water at the end of the first minute. At the Mile post Oxford were 9 seconds up (and 13 seconds inside the record - Cambridge were therefore 4 seconds inside the record). At Hammersmith Bridge Oxford had 12 seconds and at Chiswick Steps 15 seconds. At Barnes Bridge Oxford had 18 seconds and finished 22 seconds ahead.
Cambridge had magnificently broken the record by no less than 15 seconds. This great achievement, unfortunately for them, was in a race in which Oxford broke the record by 37 seconds!


Bow
2
3
4
5
6
7
Stroke
Cox
OXFORD 1976
D R H Beak, 13. 6
G S Innes, 13.10
A D Edwards, 14. 0
R S Mason, 14. 6
S G H PLunkett, 16. 5
K C Brown, 14. 5
A J Wiggins, 13. 5
A G H Baird, 12.10
J N Calvert, 9. 4

Bow
2
3
4
5
6
7
Stroke
Cox
CAMBRIDGE 1976
D J Searle, 12. 7
R R A Breare, 14. 6
M R Gritten, 14. 0
M P Wells, 14.12
P B Davies, 14. 1
R M Cashin, 14.12
J H Clay, 12.11
R Harpum, 12. 4
J P Manser, 9. 5

123: Saturday, 19th March, 1977

In 1977 OXFORD WON by 7 lengths. Time 19 minutes and 28 seconds. Oxford 54, Cambridge 68
[ 1977: Reserves GOLDIE by 7 lengths 19:35 faster than Cambridge ]
Report.

Oxford won the toss and chose Surrey. Cambridge started at 41½ but Oxford took a ½ length in the first minute. At the Mile Post Oxford had 6 seconds. In rough water above Harrods, Oxford increased their lead to 9 seconds at Hammersmith Bridge. At Chiswick Steps Oxford had 16 seconds and 20 seconds at Barnes Bridge. Oxford won by 7 lengths (21 seconds).


Bow
2
3
4
5
6
7
Stroke
Cox
OXFORD 1977
P S T Wright, 12.11
G E G Vardey, 12.10
M M Moran, 14. 4
R S Mason, 14. 8
C J A N Money-Coutts, 15. 2
A W Shealy, 14. 6
A J Wiggins, 13. 3
A G Michelmore, 12. 3
C B Moynihan, 7. 9

Bow
2
3
4
5
6
7
Stroke
Cox
CAMBRIDGE 1977
N G Burnet, 11.11
R A Waterer, 13. 1
D J Searle, 12. 6
A E Cooke-Yarborough, 14. 4
R C Ross, 14. 1
C M Horton, 14. 0
M D Bathurst, 13. 6
S J Clegg, 12.10
J P Manser, 9.11

124: Saturday, 25th March, 1978

In 1978 OXFORD WON. Cambridge sank. Time 18 minutes and 58 seconds. Oxford 55, Cambridge 68
[ 1978: Reserves GOLDIE by 1.25 lengths 19:37 ]
Report.

There was a high tide and a south-south-west squally wind. Oxford won the toss and chose Surrey; after a false start caused by Cambridge, Oxford had almost a ¾ length in the first minute. Cambridge came back to 2 seconds down at the Mile, both crews breaking the record. Oxford were 4 seconds up at Hammersmith Bridge.
Above the bridge the water became rougher and rougher. Both crews used the shelter of the Surrey side. At Chiswick Steps Oxford had 7 seconds. At the crossing Cambridge took on a disastrous amount of water. At Barnes Bridge Oxford had 10 seconds. But then just above the bridge Cambridge sank and Oxford rowed on to win.


Cambridge sank in 1978


Bow
2
3
4
5
6
7
Stroke
Cox
OXFORD 1978
T J Sutton, 14. 2
R A Crockford, 13. 2
J R Crawford, 14. 0
N B Rankov, 14. 3
M M Moran, 14. 2
A W Shealy, 14. 2
J W Wood, 12.10
A G Michelmore, 12. 3
J Fail, 7.13

Bow
2
3
4
5
6
7
Stroke
Cox
CAMBRIDGE 1978
M D Bathurst, 13. 4
S J Clegg, 13. 6
W M R Dawkins, 14. 5
C M Horton, 14. 1
R C Ross, 14. 7
A E Cooke-Yarborough, 14. 8
A N de M Jelfs, 13. 3
R N E Davies, 12. 2
G Henderson, 8. 5

125: Saturday, 17th March, 1979

In 1979 OXFORD WON by 3½ lengths. Time 20 minutes and 33 seconds. Oxford 56, Cambridge 68
[ 1979: Reserves GOLDIE by 12 lengths 22:50 ]
Report.

Cambridge had three crew affected by illness and then lost their stroke on the morning of the race. The tide was slack and the wind light. Oxford won the toss and chose Surrey going into the lead off the start. At the Mile Oxford led by 1½ lengths. Despite several pushes by Cambridge, Oxford led by 9 seconds at Hammersmith Bridge. Cambridge reduced that to 8 seconds at Chiswick Steps. At Barnes Bridge Oxford had 11 seconds and Cambridge held them to that at the finish.


Bow
2
3
4
5
6
7
Stroke
Cox
OXFORD 1979
P J Head, 12. 4
R A Crockford, 13. 4
R J Moore, 13. 3
N B Rankov, 14. 5
J R Crawford, 14. 0
C J Mahoney, 13. 4
A J Wiggins, 13. 5
M J Desirens, 12. 9
C P Berners-Lee, 7. 9

Bow
2
3
4
5
6
7
Stroke
Cox
CAMBRIDGE 1979
S J Clegg, 13. 0
A H Gray, 13. 1
A G Phillips, 12.12
J S Palmer, 14. 2
A N de M Jelfs, 13. 4
P W Cross, 12.11
R C Ross, 14. 4
R N E Davies, 12. 5
G henderson, 8. 8

In 1979, after one hundred and twenty five boat races, the overall tally was: Oxford 56, Cambridge 68 (and one dead heat)
In 1973 and 1975 Cambridge's lead of 16 was the greatest of either university in the history of the boat race.
But Oxford had won the last four races ...
Leadership in Overall Tally of Boat Race Wins:

1829 1979

Click for Hammersmith Bridge  
 
 
 
Boat race in 1980s