| 52nd Boat Race | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | 30 March 1895 (1895-3-30) | ||
| Winner | Oxford | ||
| Margin of victory | 2+1⁄4 lengths | ||
| Winning time | 20 minutes 50 seconds | ||
| Overall record (Cambridge–Oxford) | 22–29 | ||
| Umpire | Frank Willan (Oxford) | ||
| |||
The52nd Boat Race took place on 30 March 1895.The Boat Race is an annualside-by-side rowing race along theRiver Thames between crews from the Universities ofOxford andCambridge. The 1895 race was umpired by former Oxford rowerFrank Willan with one of the Oxford coaches,R. C. Lehmann being a former Cambridge alumnus. Although Cambridge made the quicker start, Oxford recovered, had the lead byHammersmith Bridge, and won by2+1⁄4 lengths in a time of 20 minutes 50 seconds. It was their sixth victory in a row and took the overall record in the event to 29–22 in Oxford's favour.
The Boat Race is aside-by-side rowing competition between the boat clubs ofUniversity of Oxford (sometimes referred to as the "Dark Blues")[1] and theUniversity of Cambridge (sometimes referred to as the "Light Blues").[1] The race was first held in 1829, and since 1845 has taken place on the 4.2-mile (6.8 km)Championship Course on theRiver Thames in southwest London.[2][3] The rivalry is a major point of honour between the two universities; as of 2014 it is followed throughout the United Kingdom and broadcast worldwide.[4][5][6] Oxford went into the 1895 race as reigning champions, having beaten Cambridge by3+1⁄2 lengths in theprevious year's race, and held the overall lead, with 28 victories to Cambridge's 22 (excluding the"dead heat" of 1877).[7][8]
Oxford's coaches were G. C. Bourne (who rowed for Oxford in the1882 and1883 races),Douglas McLean (an Oxford Blue five times from 1883 through 1887), andR. C. Lehmann. Lehmann was a former president of theCambridge Union Society and captain of the1st Trinity Boat Club; although he had rowed in thetrial eights for Cambridge, he was never selected for theBlue boat.[9] The Cambridge team was coached byStanley Muttlebury (who rowed for Cambridge five times between the1886 and1890 races).[10]
Both crews suffered variously during the buildup to the race. A hard frost which persisted late into the season hindered training, forcing both crews to move toBourne End and more open water. Both crews were then struck by influenza, Cambridge three weeks before the race and Oxford the week of the race itself.[11] As such, Cambridge were in good form going into the race, Oxford less so.[12]
James Brooks Close was the non-rowing president of theCambridge University Boat Club – he had rowed in the1872,1873 and1874 races.[13] His election was considered by author and former Oxford rower George Drinkwater as "a bold step" in an attempt to overcome dissension as a result of Cambridge's heavy defeat the prior year.[13] Close was called away during the crew's practice, and Francis Cargill Begg took captaincy of the crew.[13] The umpire for the race for the seventh year in a row wasFrank Willan who won the event four consecutive times, rowing for Oxford in the1866,1867,1868 and1869 races.[14]
The Oxford crew weighed an average of 12 st 1.875 lb (76.9 kg), 1.125 pounds (0.5 kg) per rower more than their opponents.[15] Cambridge'scox Francis Cargill Begg was the only Light Blue participant with Boat Race experience, having steered the boat in the previous year's race. Oxford's crew contained six rowers who had previously rowed in the event, includingHugh Benjamin Cotton and Charles Murray Pitman, both of whom were taking part in their fourth consecutive race. Seven of the Oxford crew were educated atEton College.[15]
| Seat | Oxford | Cambridge | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | College | Weight | Name | College | Weight | |
| Bow | H. B. Cotton | Magdalen | 9 st 13 lb | T. B. Hope | Trinity Hall | 10 st 11 lb |
| 2 | M. C. Pilkington | Magdalen | 12 st 4 lb | F. C. Stewart | Trinity Hall | 12 st 1.5 lb |
| 3 | C. K. Phillips | New College | 11 st 12 lb | H. A. Game | 1st Trinity | 12 st 2 lb |
| 4 | T. H. E. Stretch | New College | 12 st 4 lb | W. S. Adie | 1st Trinity | 13 st 2.5 lb |
| 5 | W. Burton Stewart | Brasenose | 13 st 7.5 lb | T. J. G. Duncanson | Emmanuel | 13 st 3 lb |
| 6 | C. D. Burnell | Magdalen | 13 st 0.5 lb | R. Y. Bonsey | Lady Margaret Boat Club | 12 st 4 lb |
| 7 | W. E. Crum | New College | 12 st 2 lb | A. S. Bell | Trinity Hall | 11 st 2 lb |
| Stroke | C. M. Pitman (P) | New College | 12 st 0 lb | D. A. Wauchope | Trinity Hall | 11 st 9 lb |
| Cox | C. P. Serocold | New College | 8 st 1 lb | F. C. Begg | Trinity Hall | 8 st 9 lb |
| Source:[16] (P) – boat club president[17] James B. Close acted as non-rowing president for Cambridge. | ||||||
Oxford won thetoss and elected to start from the Surrey station, handing the Middlesex side of the river to Cambridge.[15] In a heavy wind and a strong tide, Willan started the race at 4:08 p.m. Cambridge,outrating their opponents at the start, took an early lead, but Oxford's steady rhythm drew them back level and then ahead. ByHammersmith Bridge, the Dark Blues held a lead of three-quarters of a length and took advantage of Cambridge experiencing rough water. With a well-timed spurt from Oxford's boat club president andstroke Pitman, the Dark Blues went clear of Cambridge and held a two-length lead by the time they reached Chiswick.[13]
With a lead of three lengths byBarnes Bridge, Oxford slowed to a paddle and passed the finishing post with a lead of two and a quarter lengths, in a winning time of 20 minutes 50 seconds.[13] It was the Dark Blues' sixth consecutive victory and took the overall record to 29–22 in their favour.[8]
Notes
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