The Boat Race 1890
| 47th Boat Race | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | 26 March 1890 | ||
| Winner | Oxford | ||
| Margin of victory | 1 length | ||
| Winning time | 22 minutes 3 seconds | ||
| Overall record (Cambridge–Oxford) |
22–24 | ||
| Umpire |
Frank Willan (Oxford) |
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The 47th Boat Race took place in 1890. Held annually, it is a side-by-side rowing race between crews from the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge along the River Thames. The race, umpired by former Oxford rower Frank Willan) was won by Oxford. They passed the finishing post one length ahead of Cambridge in a time of 22 minutes 3 seconds, and took their overall lead in the event to 24–22.
The Boat Race is a side-by-side rowing competition between the boat clubs of University of Oxford (sometimes referred to as the "Dark Blues") and the University of Cambridge (sometimes referred to as the "Light Blues"). 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. 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. Cambridge went into the race as reigning champions, having beaten Oxford by seven lengths in the previous year's race, while Oxford held the overall lead, with 23 victories to Cambridge's 22 (excluding the "dead heat" of 1877).
Oxford's coaches were F. P. Bully, F. Fenner, William Grenfell (who rowed for Oxford in the 1877 and 1878 races, and was non-rowing boat club president in the 1879 race) and Frederick Smith, 2nd Viscount Hambleden. There is no record of who coached Cambridge. The Light Blues began their practice on 9 January, nearly two weeks ahead of Oxford, but it was not until 4 March that Cambridge persuaded James Cardwell Gardner to return as stroke. They improved and were considered by author and former Oxford rower George Drinkwater to be "by no means a bad crew, though deficient in length and watermanship". Despite William Fletcher being considered "one of the greatest sixes", and although "no greater worker has ever rowed", he was positioned at stroke.
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