The Boat Race 1909
| 66th Boat Race | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | 3 April 1909 | ||
| Winner | Oxford | ||
| Margin of victory | 3 and 1/2 lengths | ||
| Winning time | 19 minutes 50 seconds | ||
| Overall record (Cambridge–Oxford) |
30–35 | ||
| Umpire |
Frederick I. Pitman (Cambridge) |
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The 66th Boat Race took place on 3 April 1909. Held annually, the Boat Race is a side-by-side rowing race between crews from the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge along the River Thames. Cambridge were reigning champions, having won the previous year's race, while Oxford's heavier crew contained three Olympic gold medallists. In a race umpired by Frederick I. Pitman, Oxford won by three-and-a-half lengths in a time of 19 minutes 50 seconds. It was their first win in four races and took the overall record to 35–30 in their favour.
The Boat Race is a side-by-side rowing competition between the 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; it is followed throughout the United Kingdom and, as of 2015, broadcast worldwide. Cambridge went into the race as reigning champions, having won the 1908 race by two-and-a-half lengths, while Oxford led overall with 34 victories to Cambridge's 30 (excluding the "dead heat" of 1877).
Oxford's coaches were G. C. Bourne who had rowed for the university in the 1882 and 1883 races, Francis Escombe (for the sixth consecutive year), Harcourt Gilbey Gold (Dark Blue president for the 1900 race and four-time Blue), W. F. C. Holland who had rowed for Oxford four times between 1887 and 1890, and Felix Warre (who had rowed in 1898 and 1899). Cambridge were coached by Stanley Muttlebury, five-time Blue between 1886 and 1890, and David Alexander Wauchope (who had rowed in the 1895 race). For the sixth year the umpire was old Etonian Frederick I. Pitman who rowed for Cambridge in the 1884, 1885 and 1886 races.
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