1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999
BOAT RACE 1990 - 1999

Oxford University v Cambridge University

Map


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

136: March 31st, 1990

In 1990 OXFORD WON by 2¼ lengths. Time 17 minutes and 22 seconds. Oxford 66, Cambridge 69
[ 1990: Reserves GOLDIE; Isis disqualified ]
Report
Conditions were good but with very little tide. Cambridge won the toss and chose Surrey. Both crews started at 45 and Oxford took a small lead. But then Cambridge came back to a canvas up past the boathouses. Cambridge were then rating 38 against 36. Oxford then came back to take a canvas lead at Craven Cottage.
Oxford held Cambridge out on the Fulham Bend and then turned in gaining a lead of ¾ length. At the Mile Post Oxford were 4 seconds up.
Oxford then took Cambridge's water with only a few feet between them and were warned. But Cambridge were unable to close the gap and Oxford led by 1¾ lengths at Harrods. At Hammersmith Bridge, the gap was still only 4 seconds.
Oxford opened the gap to 6 seconds at Chiswick steps and then 8 seconds at Barnes Bridge.
Cambridge at 36½ against 34 closed the gap a little as Oxford won by 7 seconds.

137: March 30th, 1991

In 1991 OXFORD WON by 4¼ lengths. Time 16 minutes and 59 seconds. Oxford 67, Cambridge 69
[ 1991: Reserves GOLDIE by 4 lengths 17:38 ]
Report
Conditions were good with a good tide. Oxford won the toss and chose Surrey.
Cambridge at 40 against 42 gained a small lead, and half a length as they passed the boathouses. At Craven Steps Cambridge spurted and opened their lead to ¾ length, but then Oxford slowly came back at them and reduced the lead to 1 second at the Mile.
Oxford pushed just before Harrods and at Hammersmith Bridge Oxford led by 2 seconds. Using the bend Oxford opened their lead to 5 seconds at Chiswick Steps, and 12 seconds at Barnes Bridge.
Cambridge came home at 36, but Oxford raised to 38 and won by 13 seconds.

138: April 4th, 1992

In 1992 OXFORD WON by 1¼ lengths. Time 17 minutes and 44 seconds. Oxford 68, Cambridge 69
[ 1992: Reserves GOLDIE by 3.25 lengths 17:44 equalling Oxford's time! Might be down to conditions ]
Report
A strong north east wind was easing, with a moderate tide. There was some rough water in the Crabtree Reach. Oxford won the toss and chose Middlesex.
After difficulties with the stake boats Cambridge led by a few feet but then Oxford had a lead of 1 second at the Mile Post. Cambridge had a lead of 1 second at Hammersmith Bridge.
They opened this to ¾ length along Chiswick Reach, but then Oxford came back to level at Chiswick Steps and 2 seconds ahead at Barnes Bridge.
Oxford won by 4 seconds.

This made 16 Oxford wins out of 17 races and brought Oxford tantalisingly close to parity.
Only one more win would do it! ...

139: March 27th, 1993

In 1993 CAMBRIDGE WON by 3½ lengths. Time 17 minutes. Oxford 68, Cambridge 70
[ 1993: Reserves GOLDIE by 9 lengths 17:05 faster than Oxford ]
Report
The conditions were good and the tide reasonable. Cambridge won the toss and chose Surrey.
After some difficulty at the start Cambridge were the faster away and led by ½ length at the end of Fulham Wall.
At the mile Cambridge were five seconds ahead and at Harrods they had 2½ lengths. At Hammersmith Bridge Cambridge led by 8 seconds.
Oxford rating 2 higher than Cambridge were unable to come back. At Chiswick Steps Cambridge led by 9 seconds and by 12 seconds at Barnes Bridge. Cambridge won by 11 seconds.


Bow
2
3
4
5
6
7
Stroke
Cox		 OXFORD 1993
K K Poole
J G Michels
B Mavra
R H Manners
B D Robertson
M C Pinsent
P A A Schuller
I W Gardiner
S L Benham
Bow
2
3
4
5
6
7
Stroke
Cox		 CAMBRIDGE 1993
D E Bangert
D R Gillard
J H J Behrens
R C Phelps
J Bernstein
M P Baker
S M Gore
W T M Mason
M Haycock

140: March 26th, 1994

In 1994 CAMBRIDGE WON by 6½ lengths. Time 18 minutes and 9 seconds. Oxford 68, Cambridge 71
[ 1994: Reserves GOLDIE by 13 lengths 18:27 close to Oxford's time ]
Report
Cambridge were stroked by their President Kingsley Poole on bow side. Race day was sunny with a sharp north-west wind. Oxford won the toss and chose Middlesex.
Oxford started well and were a few feet in the lead. But Cambridge had ¾ length lead by the Black Buoy, and were clear at the Mile. Cambridge had 8 seconds at Hammersmith Bridge and 16 seconds at Chiswick Steps. Oxford were still striking 36 and then at the finish Cambridge raised their rate to 40 and won by 6½ lengths.

141: Saturday, April 1st, 1995

In 1995 CAMBRIDGE WON by 4 lengths. Time 18 minutes and 4 seconds. Oxford 68, Cambridge 72
[ 1995: Reserves GOLDIE by 14 lengths 18:29 ]
Report
A sunny day with a moderate west wind and a moderate tide. Cambridge won the toss and chose Surrey.
Oxford went off fast and led by a few feet. Despite the bend against them Cambridge came back to level and led by ¼ length at Craven Cottage. Cambridge were 1 second ahead at the Mile Post.
Oxford were warned for their steering up to Harrods. Cambridge spurted at Harrods and led by 4 seconds at Hammersmith Bridge.
Cambridge with the inside of the Surrey bend had a lead of over a length as they entered the Chiswick Reach. Cambridge slowly drew away to a lead of 9 seconds at Chiswick Steps. At the crossing they had 3 lengths and 13 seconds at Barnes Bridge. Cambridge went on to win by 12 seconds.


Bow
2
3
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5
6
7
Stroke
Cox		 OXFORD 1995
J R W Kawaja
G A Rosengren
B Mavra
L S T Reed
J B McLanahan
H S Corroon
D R H Clegg
J I Thronsden
A C Chapman
Bow
2
3
4
5
6
7
Stroke
Cox		 CAMBRIDGE 1995
R D Taylor
R C Phelps
S B Newton
S A Brownlee
D E Bangert
M H W Parish
M Banovic
M P C Barnett
R S Slatford

142: April 6th, 1996

In 1996 CAMBRIDGE WON by 2¾ lengths. Time 16 minutes and 58 seconds. Oxford 68, Cambridge 73
[ 1996: Reserves GOLDIE by 11 lengths 17:02 faster than Oxford! ]
Report
Cambridge won the toss and chose Surrey. Oxford were slightly up at the start, but then Cambridge came back and took a few feet after 1 minute. There were warnings from the umpire. Cambridge still had a slight lead at Beverly Brook, rating 2 strokes higher than Oxford.
On the Middlesex bend, the blades were so close that both crews were warned. At the Mile Post Cambridge were just half a second ahead. In the Crabtree Reach Oxford were twice warned for boring Cambridge towards Surrey and out of the tide. At Harrods Cambridge spurted and at Hammersmith Bridge were 2 seconds ahead.
Cambridge kept pushing and moved to clear water, then 4 seconds ahead at Chiswick Steps. Oxford kept trying but Cambridge slowly moved out to win by 2¼ lengths.


Bow
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Stroke
Cox		 OXFORD 1996
E J Bellamy
D R H Clegg
J F Hammond
D R West
B Mann
J W Howick
P A Berger
A R A Frost
T B Kristol
Bow
2
3
4
5
6
7
Stroke
Cox		 CAMBRIDGE 1996
J R Elliott
M P C Barnett
N J Burfitt
S J Dawson-Bowling
E Ayer
H G C Clarke
R M Waller
J F E Ball
K Whyman

143: March 29th, 1997

In 1997 CAMBRIDGE WON by 2 lengths. Time 17 minutes and 38 seconds. Oxford 68, Cambridge 74
[ 1997: Reserves GOLDIE by 6.5 lengths 17:32 6 seconds, 2 lengths faster than winner! This might to some extent be the result of the slowing caused by the close courses in the main race? ]
Report
The wind was a moderate north-west. Oxford won the toss and chose Surrey.
Oxford striking the higher rate took a lead of a few feet lead.
The umpire warned both crews throughout much of the race against taking each other's water.

This is the cox's greatest accolade - That the steering was so competitive that regular warnings were received - but that nothing either disqualified or damaged either boat.
On the tideway in the boatrace there is probably only one exact position of maximum advantage and two boats trying to occupy it. Within a few yards it is often difficult to say exactly where it is. So the two anxious coxes, desperate to give their boat any advantage that can be had, have to conduct an ongoing unspoken and very physical negotiation in which the fair outcome is that the boats are symetrically either side of the best position. Since the best position is unknown and the precise tidal direction at each bend varies with the tide (if the tide is slack cut the corner, if it is fierce go wide) and that to be perfectly honest the motivation of each cox is not exactly that there should be a fair outcome - but rather the most advantageous for their own boat short of committing a foul - it is no wonder that there are tensions. Whether warnings help is another matter.
A further complication which is not generally perceived is that eights steer somewhere around their middle. Thus two parallel eights with blades an inch or two apart, cannot separate further without first bringing their sternmost blades closer! The cox in that situation cannot just turn out, all that can be done is to maintain position, edging out fractionally - and wind and tide and random effects from the crew - not to mention the other boat - may defeat the best of intentions. And of course the cox's judgement may well be that it is the other boat that should be moving!

Oxford took a half length at Beverly Brook but Cambridge came back on them and the crews were level at the Mile. They were still level at Harrods and then Oxford began to ease ahead reaching Hammersmith Bridge with a 1 second lead. Cambridge held on round the outside of the bend and at Chiswick Steps they were level again. At the crossing Cambridge began to ease ahead and at Barnes Bridge had a 4 second lead. Cambridge won by 6 seconds.

144: March 28th, 1998

In 1998 CAMBRIDGE WON by 3 lengths. Record Time 16 minutes and 19 seconds. Oxford 68, Cambridge 75
[ 1998: Reserves ISIS by 2.5 lengths 17:02 ]
Report
Oxford won the toss and chose Middlesex. Oxford showing slightly ahead. Around the bend Oxford's favour Cambridge held them. The two boats were continually warned and there were blade clashes without any apparent damage. At the Mile the boats were level. Cambridge rating 34 had a length at Hammersmith Bridge.
Cambridge then raised to 36 and took another ¼ length in about a minute. With clear water they took take their own line and at the Eyot were 1½ lengths ahead. At Chiswick Steps the Cambridge lead was 5 seconds and at Barnes Bridge 6 seconds. At the Bandstand the distance was a definite 2 lengths and this was maintained through Barnes Bridge (Cambridge 13.32, Oxford 13.38) where both crews were substantially under the previous best time. Cambridge maintained this to the finish winning by six seconds in 16 minutes 19 seconds, 26 seconds faster than the previous 1984 record.


Bow
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Stroke
Cox		 OXFORD 1998
C P A Humphreys
J B Roycroft
J Hecht
H K Nilsson
E R Coode
A J R Lindsay
P A Berger
N J Robinson
P A Greaney
Bow
2
3
4
5
6
7
Stroke
Cox		 CAMBRIDGE 1998
G D C R Smith
P A Cunningham
J G Bull
B Crombie
T J Wallace
A P Story
S F Forster
M Webber
A J Potts

145: April 3rd, 1999

In 1999 CAMBRIDGE WON by 3½ lengths. Time 16 minutes and 41 seconds. Oxford 68, Cambridge 76
[ 1999: Reserves GOLDIE by 1.5 lengths 16:58 ]
Report
There was little wind and a good strong tide. Cambridge won the toss and raced on Surrey. After a difficult start in the strong tide Cambridge took a small lead. Oxford came back on them and as the boats were level Oxford were warned and had to steer away after a clash. Oxford pushed again but Cambridge took 1 second by the Mile Post.
Cambridge eased ahead and had ¾ length at Harrods, but they had come rather wide from the Surrey station and were warned. At Hammersmith Bridge Cambridge led by 1 length.
Once they had clear water Cambridge moved out and took a lead of 2¼ lengths at Chiswick Steps, and 3 lengths at Barnes Bridge. Cambridge went on to win by 3½ lengths.


Bow
2
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Stroke
Cox		 OXFORD 1999
C P A Humphreys
L H K Nilsson
D R Snow
T H Ayer
M M Crotty
M A L Crooks
A J R Lindsay
C R D Von Ettinghausen
N J O'Donnell
Bow
2
3
4
5
6
7
Stroke
Cox		 CAMBRIDGE 1999
T J Wallace
T A Stallard
R E B Crombie
A J West
D O M Ellis
K M West
G D C R Smith
T Wooge
V Sharif

In 1999, after one hundred and forty five boat races, the overall tally was: Oxford 68, Cambridge 76 (and one dead heat)
Cambridge had won the last seven races. Oxford had won 16 out of the 17 races previous to that.
Leadership in Overall Tally of Boat Race Wins:

1829 1999

Click for Hammersmith Bridge  
 
 
 
Boat race in 2000s