Dark Blues Flash Across Finish Line with Winning Margin. of Two Lengths London, Apr. 2.
EPBATING their success of last year, Oxford carried the Dark Blue pennant across the finish line at Mortlake this afternoon, two clear lengths ahead of the Cambridge crew. The time, 20 minutes 32 seconds, though well off the record set up in 1934, of 18 minutes, 3 seconds, was extremely creditable in view of the somewhat adverse weather conditions.
The race seemed to he a victory of swinging over leg-work. The head wind favoured Oxford, who kept their form very well right up to the very end. The Dark Blues were, of course, the heavier crew, and gove promise of their fine form in the paddling down to the starting point at Put ney, when the consensus of those along the bank was in favour of Oxford.
Cambridge rowed a higher rate of stroke throughout the race, but got very ragged towards the end.
The Light Blues won the toss and elected 10 row on the Surrey side. Patches of sunlight were visible from Uime to time as both crews got into their boats and paddled down to the starting point in somewhat rough water which looked as if it was Rotting rougher every minute: Football bladders, incidentally had been placed under the seats of both crews, for buoyancy.
The start was fairly even, with Cambridge pulling the faster stroke: both boats, however, threw up quite a fair amount of water. Oxford drew ahead gradually by half 3 Tength, a length and then to a length and a half, keeping their swing very well and seemingly trying to pull far enough ahead to be in the advantageous position by the time Hammersmith Bridge was reached. Cambridge were pulling smoothly, and seemed to be holding somethin In reserve.
At the Mile Post, where the water was much smoother, Oxford had improved their lead to a good two and a half lengths. Cambridge, well to the Surrey side of the river, however, were creeping up and ai Harrods only half a length separated the two boats.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.