The Boat Race 1869
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| 26th Boat Race | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | 17 March 1869 | ||
| Winner | Oxford | ||
| Margin of victory | 3 lengths | ||
| Winning time | 20 minutes 4 seconds | ||
| Overall record (Cambridge–Oxford) | 10–16 | ||
| Umpire | Joseph William Chitty (Oxford) | ||
| |||
The 26th Boat Race between crews from the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge took place on the River Thames on 17 March 1869. Oxford won by three lengths in a time of 20 minutes and 4 seconds. It was their ninth consecutive victory and was, at that point, the fastest time ever recorded in the event.
The Boat Race is a side-by-side rowing competition between the University of Oxford (sometimes referred to as the "Dark Blues")[1] and the University 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 the River Thames in southwest London.[2][3] Oxford went into the race as reigning champions, having defeated Cambridge by six lengths in the previous year's race and led overall with fifteen wins to Cambridge's ten.[4]
Having lost the last eight Boat Races, the Cambridge University Boat Club president William Anderson wrote to G. Morrison of Balliol College, Oxford, inviting him to coach the trials eights and the University eight.[5] Morrison had rowed in the 1859, 1860 and 1861 races and had also acted as a non-rowing president for the 1862 race.[6] The decision to engage a member of the opposing university was greeted with consternation and considered by many Cantabrigians as "a disgrace to the Club".[5] Indeed, five Old Blues refused to row, only William MacMIchael agreed to row again.[7] After the usual difficulty to agree arrangements, Cambridge eventually sent the traditional challenge and the date of the race was set for 17 March 1869.[8] Cambridge arrived at Putney a fortnight beforehand and made several practice rows in variable conditions, the worst of which included heavy snow, three days prior to the race.[9]
The race was umpired by Joseph William Chitty who had rowed for Oxford twice in 1849 (in the March and December races) and the 1852 race, while the starter was Edward Searle.[10]
Crews
The Oxford crewed weighed an average of 12 st 0.25 lb (76.1 kg), 2.125 pounds (1.0 kg) more than their opponents.[11] The Cambridge crew contained three returning Blues, William MacMichael, William Anderson (for his third Boat Race) and John Still (his fourth), while Oxford saw the return of five rowers, including their boat club president J. C. Tinné for his third appearance and Frank Willan in his fourth Boat Race.[11]
| Seat | Cambridge  |
Oxford  | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | College | Weight | Name | College | Weight | |
| Bow | J. A. Rushton | Emmanuel | 11 st 5 lb | S. H. Woodhouse | University | 10 st 13.5 lb |
| 2 | J. H. Ridley | Jesus | 11 st 10.5 lb | R. Tahourdin | St John's | 11 st 11 lb |
| 3 | J. W. Dale | Lady Margaret | 11 st 12 lb | T. S. Baker | Queen's | 12 st 8 lb |
| 4 | F. J. Young | Christ's | 12 st 4 lb | F. Willan | Exeter | 12 st 2.5 lb |
| 5 | W. F. MacMichael | Downing | 12 st 4 lb | J. C. Tinné (P) | University | 12 st 10.5 lb |
| 6 | W. H. Anderson (P) | 1st Trinity | 11 st 4 lb | A. C. Yarborough | Lincoln | 11 st 11 lb |
| 7 | J. Still | Gonville and Caius | 12 st 1 lb | W. D. Benson | Balliol | 11 st 7 lb |
| Stroke | J. H. D. Goldie | Lady Margaret | 12 st 1 lb | S. D. Darbishire | Balliol | 11 st 8.5 lb |
| Cox | H. E. Gordon | 1st Trinity | 7 st 8 lb | D. A Neilson | St John's | 7 st 10.5 lb |
| Source:[12] (P) – boat club president[13] | ||||||
