1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989
BOAT RACE 1980 - 1989

Oxford University v Cambridge University

Map


Map taken from George Drinkwater's "The Boat Race"

126: Saturday, 5th April, 1980

In 1980 OXFORD WON by a canvas. Time 19 minutes and 20 seconds. Oxford 57, Cambridge 68
[ 1980: Reserves ISIS by 5 lengths 19:03 faster than both Oxford and Cambridge ]
Report
The day was sunny with moderate tide and light wind. Oxford won the toss and chose Surrey.
On the start there was a clash, Oxford number 7 lost a sizeable portion of his blade and the number 6 rigger was bent. Cambridge was warned.
Oxford led by ½ length at Craven Cottage and by a canvas at the Mile. Near Harrods there was another clash and Cambridge was again warned.
Oxford had ½ length at Hammersmith Bridge and six seconds at Chiswick Steps. Cambridge spurted and held Oxford to 5 seconds at Barnes Bridge.
Oxford bow (Steve Francis) was becoming less effective and stopped altogether. He was later found to have acute hepatitis.
There was another clash as Cambridge forced Oxford out - and both crews were warned. Cambridge pushed to 39 and Oxford (with seven men) to 38. Oxford just managed to hold off Cambridge by a canvas at the finish.

Oxford won with 7 men, 6½ blades and 6½ riggers


Bow
2
3
4
5
6
7
Stroke
Cox		 OXFORD 1980
S R W Francis, 13.12
N A Conington, 13. 0
M D Andrews, 14. 0½
J L Bland, 13.11
N B Rankov, 14. 3
C J Mahoney, 13. 6
T C M Barry, 13. 4½
M J Desirens, 12.13
J S Mead, 8. 3½
Bow
2
3
4
5
6
7
Stroke
Cox		 CAMBRIDGE 1980
L W J Baart, 13. 4
M F Panter, 14. 1
T W Whitney, 13. 7
J H C Laurie, 13.12
A G Phillips, 13. 5½
J W Woodhouse, 13. 9
J S Palmer, 14. 8
A D Dalrymple, 12. 8
C J Wigglesworth, 7.13½

127: Saturday, 4th April, 1981

In 1981 OXFORD WON by 8 lengths. Time 18 minutes and 11 seconds. Oxford 58, Cambridge 68
[ 1981: Reserves ISIS by 4.5 lengths 19:01 ]
Report
The flow over Teddington Weir was high, reducing a moderate tide. There was a north wind. Cambridge won the toss and chose Surrey. Cambridge had the best start and led for ten strokes. Oxford slowly eased ahead and were 9 seconds up at the Mile Post. At Hammersmith Bridge Oxford led by 10 seconds, 14 seconds at Chiswick Steps, 18 seconds at Barnes Bridge and 23 seconds at the finish.

Oxford's greatest finishing lead since 1878


Bow
2
3
4
5
6
7
Stroke
Cox		 OXFORD 1981
P J Head, 12. 6
N A Conington, 12.10
R P Yonge, 14. 4
R P Emerton, 13. 1
N B Rankov, 14. 5
C J Mahoney, 13. 8
M D Andrews, 14. 1
J L Bland, 14. 1
Sue Brown, 6. 8
Bow
2
3
4
5
6
7
Stroke
Cox		 CAMBRIDGE 1981
L W J Baart, 13. 2
M F Panter, 13.12 M J S Clark, 13. 9
M P Cowie, 13. 7
A G Philips, 13. 0
J S Palmer, 14. 5
A D Dalrymple, 12.12
C J Wigglesworth, 8. 0

128: Saturday, 27th March, 1982

In 1982 OXFORD WON by 3¼ lengths. Time 18 minutes and 21 seconds. Oxford 59, Cambridge 68
[ 1982: Reserves ISIS by 1.5 lengths 18:43 ]
Report
A calm day with no wind. Oxford won the toss and chose Surrey. Cambridge rating 1 higher led by a few feet in the first minute. Cambridge had 1 length at Craven Cottage. Oxford raised their rating and came back to reduce Cambridge's lead to ½ length at the Mile. At Harrods the crews were level.
Sue Brown [Oxford Cox] pushed Cambridge towards the centre of the river on the approach to Hammersmith Bridge. Oxford pushed at the bridge and took a small lead as they came into Chiswick Reach. With the bend in their favour Oxford moved ahead. At Chiswick Steps Oxford had 9 seconds, and the same at Barnes Bridge. Oxford went on to win by 11 seconds.


Bow
2
3
4
5
6
7
Stroke
Cox		 OXFORD 1982
N A Conington, 12.10
G R N Holland, 13.12
H E Clay, 14. 2
R P Yonge, 14. 8
N B Rankov, 14.12
S J L Foster, 13.11
A K Kirkpatrick, 14. 8
R C Clay, 13. 6
Sue Brown, 6.11
Bow
2
3
4
5
6
7
Stroke
Cox		 CAMBRIDGE 1982
P St J Brine, 12. 9
A R Knight, 12. 8
R J S Stephens, 13.12
N J Bliss, 13.10
B M Philp, 15. 3
C D Heard, 14.10
E M G Pearson, 12. 1
S A Harris, 11. 5
I Bernstein, 7. 2

129: April 2nd, 1983

In 1983 OXFORD WON by 4½ lengths. Time 19 minutes and 7 seconds. Oxford 60, Cambridge 68
[ 1983: Reserves ISIS by 6.5 lengths 19:27 ]
Report

When the toss took place there was a ‘sinking’ north-east wind. Cambridge won the toss and chose Surrey. The wind then dropped.
Oxford, underrating Cambridge, moved into a lead off the start and in two minutes had about a length. At the Mile they had five seconds and at Hammersmith Bridge 6 seconds.
Oxford then took Cambridges water round the Surrey bend. At Chiswick Steps Oxford had 9 seconds and at Barnes Bridge 12 seconds. Oxford went on to win by 4½ lengths.

130: March 18th, 1984

In 1984 OXFORD WON by 3¾ lengths. Time 16 minutes and 45 seconds. Oxford 61, Cambridge 68
[ 1984: Reserves GOLDIE by 2.75 lengths 17:37 ]
Report Video

The race was planned for Saturday March 17th but with 20 minutes to go Cambridge, practising a start, rammed a barge and smashed their boat, writing it off. The race was postponed until the following day.
In calm conditions Oxford chose Surrey. Cambridge led off the start, but Oxford came back to level after the first minute. Cambridge were twice warned for steering with the oars overlapping. At the mile Oxford were 2 seconds ahead. At the Crabtree, Oxford spurted to a 1 length lead and were clear before Harrods. At Hammersmith Bridge Oxford had 5 seconds. At Chiswick Steps they had 7 seconds and at Barnes Bridge 12 seconds. Oxford won 12 seconds ahead in a record time of 16 minutes 45 seconds (judged as 3¾ lengths). Cambridge also beat the old record.

131: April 6th, 1985

In 1985 OXFORD WON by 4¾ lengths. Time 17 minutes and 11 seconds. Oxford 62, Cambridge 68
[ 1985: Reserves ISIS by 6 lengths 17:34 ]
Report
Cambridge won the toss and chose Surrey. Cambridge started well, gaining a few feet and then between ¼ and ½ length by Beverly Brook. The Umpire began to warn both coxes for their steering. Oxford on the inside of the bend came back to a lead of 1 second at the Mile. Up the Crabtree Reach the boats were so close that continual warnings were given. At Harrods the boats were level, but then Oxford went into a canvas lead at Hamersmith Bridge. At Chiswick Eyot Oxford pushed again and had a lead of 2 seconds at Chiswick Steps. Cambridge could not respond and Oxford moved on to a 10 second lead at Dukes Meadows and won by 13 seconds, 4¾ lengths.

This made ten successive races Oxford had won ...

132: March 29th, 1986

In 1986 CAMBRIDGE WON by 7 lengths. Time 17 minutes and 58 seconds. Oxford 62, Cambridge 69
[ 1986: Reserves ISIS by 3.25 lengths 18:48 ]
Report
There was a gusty south-west wind. Oxford won the toss and chose Surrey. Cambridge led from the start. Cambridge were warned for their steering. At Craven Cottage Cambridge had one length and it was 5 seconds at the Mile. At Hammersmith Bridge Cambridge had 7 seconds. At Chiswick Steps it was 14 seconds and at Barnes Bridge 19 seconds. Cambridge won by 21 seconds (7 lengths).

So after ten successive Oxfords wins it was that simple to break the run ...

133: March 28th, 1987

In 1987 OXFORD WON by 4 lengths. Time 19 minutes and 59 seconds. Oxford 63, Cambridge 69
[ 1987: Reserves GOLDIE by 1 length 20:30 ]
Report
The year of the Oxford mutiny - you will have to find the details elsewhere.
There was a near-gale-force west wind and a tide reduced by the amount of land water. Oxford won the toss and chose the more sheltered Middlesex station. Various things delayed the start which was just as well as the weather then was appalling. As it was when they did start it had calmed down a little. Oxford set off for Middlesex to get under the protection of the Fulham Wall. For a minute the crews were tens of yards apart, then Cambridge followed Oxford over. At Fulham Football ground Oxford had almost a length.
At the Mile Oxford had clear water and pushed over towards the Surrey bank into Cambridge's water. At Harrods Oxford had 1¾ length and at Hammersmith Bridge 7 seconds. Cambridge pushed by St Paul’s School and reduced Oxford to a 2 length lead. But then at Chiswick Steps Oxford had 10 seconds and 12 seconds at Barnes Bridge. Oxford won by 12 seconds, 4 lengths.

134: April 2nd, 1988

In 1988 OXFORD by 5½ lengths. Time 17 minutes and 35 seconds. Oxford 64, Cambridge 69
[ 1988: Reserves GOLDIE by 5.5 lengths 17:55 ]
Report The weather was good. Oxford won the toss and chose Surrey. On the start Oxford rated 44 and Cambridge at the same rating took a few feet. After one minute the crews were level. Oxford took a ¼ length by the Black Buoy, ½ length by the end of the Fulham Wall and then 1 length at the Mile Post. Oxford drove hard and moved to 2 lengths by the middle of the Crabtree Reach. Cambridge number 7 caught a crab and Oxford gained another length. At Hammersmith Bridge Oxford had 9 seconds.
Oxford had 11 seconds by Chiswick Steps and 15 seconds at Barnes Bridge. Oxford won by 16 seconds.

135: March 25th, 1989

In 1989 OXFORD WON by 2½ lengths. Time 18 minutes and 27 seconds. Oxford 65, Cambridge 69
[ 1989: Reserves ISIS by 1.25 lengths 18:34 close to Cambridge time ]
Report

Cambridge won the toss and chose Surrey. From the start both crews were warned, Cambridge more than Oxford. There were several clashes of blades, some quite dramatic, and the boats were level for three minutes. Then, with the Middlesex bend assisting them, Oxford moved away by about a ½ length. At the Mile Oxford had a lead of 3 seconds.
It was still about 1 length at Harrods but the Oxford opened it to two lengths by Hammersmith Bridge. In Chiswick Reach Oxford took Cambridge's water. At Chiswick Steps the Oxford lead was 7 seonds and by Barnes Bridge, 8 seconds. Oxford won by 8 seconds, reckoned as 2½ lengths.

In 1989, after one hundred and thirty five boat races, the overall tally was: Oxford 65, Cambridge 69 (and one dead heat)
Oxford had won 13 out of the last 14 races.
Leadership in Overall Tally of Boat Race Wins:

1829 1989

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Boat race in 1990s