1930
1931
1932
1933
1934
1935
1936
1937
1938
1939
BOAT RACE 1930 - 1939
Oxford University v Cambridge University
Map
Map taken from George Drinkwater's "The Boat Race"
82: Saturday, 12th April, 1930
In 1930 CAMBRIDGE WON by 2 lengths. Time 19 minutes and 19 seconds. Oxford 40, Cambridge 41
And thus Cambridge went into the lead on overall wins, for the first time since 1862.
There was a fairly strong west-south-west wind blowing and a good tide,
but the day was wet and cheerless.
Oxford won the toss and took Surrey.
Martineau [Oxford stroke] started off at slightly the higher rate
and gained a third of a length in a minute.
By Craven Steps Oxford had half a length, but at the higher rate.
Then Cambridge drew nearly level at the Mile.
Brocklebank [Cambridge stroke] spurted and gained a slight lead,
but Martineau, on the corner and without spurting, went past him
and had a quarter length lead at Hammersmith.
Here they both ran into rough water.
Martineau gained fast to the Stork, and was clear up the Eyot,
but the rough water was beginning to tell on his crew more than on Cambridge,
who had the better leg drive.
By Chiswick Steps Cambridge were already coming up again
and off the bottom of Duke's Meadows Brocklebank [Cambridge] took the lead.
Martineau spurted well and held them to Barnes Terrace, but then his crew failed him,
and Brocklebank seizing his chance, took Cambridge away to three quarters of a length at Barnes Bridge.
Then Cambridge drew away inch by inch to win a fine race by two lengths in the fast time on the day
of 19 minutes and 19 seconds.
Bow 2 3 4 5 6 7 Stroke Cox |
OXFORD 1930 M J Waterhouse, 12. 8 R V Low, 12. 2½ N K Hutton, 12.11 C M Johnston, 12.11 H R A Edwards, 13. 6 L Clive, 13. 0½ D E Tinne, 12. 1 C F Martineau, 10.13 H A G Durbridge 8.11 |
Bow 2 3 4 5 6 7 Stroke Cox |
CAMBRIDGE 1930 D Haig-Thomas, 11. 4 H R N Rickett, 12. 6 W A Prideaux 12. 6 P N Carpmael, 12. 7 M H Warriner, 13.10 J B Collins, 14. 5 A S Reeve, 12. 1 T A Brocklebank 11.11½ R E Swartwout, 7. 8 |
Oxford Crew, 1930
83: Saturday, March 21st, 1931
In 1931 CAMBRIDGE WON by 2½ lengths. Time 19 minutes and 26 seconds. Oxford 40, Cambridge 42
Oxford won the toss and chose Middlesex.
By the end of the second minute, though at a slower stroke, Cambridge had half a length.
Oxford gained back half of this distance round the Fulham Football Ground.
Then, below Harrods, came the now traditional Cambridge "20" strokes.
Cambridge went clear, and though Holdsworth [Oxford stroke] made a gallant spurt
and overlapped again, when his spurt had died down Cambridge went away fast and the race was over.
Cambridge won in the end by two and a half lengths,
Oxford fighting the whole way home.
Bow 2 3 4 5 6 7 Stroke Cox |
OXFORD 1931 W L Garstang, 11. 2 G M L Smith, 11.11 D E Tinne, 12. 4 C M Johnston, 12. 9 R A J Poole, 13. 2 L Clive, 13. 2½ W D C Erskine-Crum, 12. 1½ W G Holdsworth, 11.10½ E R Edmett, 8. 0 |
Bow 2 3 4 5 6 7 Stroke Cox |
CAMBRIDGE 1932 D Haig-Thomas, 11. 4½ W A Prideaux, 12. 6 R H H Symonds, 11.12½ G Gray, 13. 5 P N Carpmael, 13. 0 H R N Rickett, 12.10 C J S Sergel, 12. 7 T A Brocklebank, 11. 6 J M Ranking, 6.13 |
84: Saturday, March 19th, 1932
In 1932 CAMBRIDGE WON by 5 lengths. Time 19 minutes and 11 seconds. Oxford 40, Cambridge 43
The race was rowed on a perfect day with a very light breeze from the west-north-west,
but not much of a tide. Cambridge won the toss and took Surrey.
Oxford went off at the faster rate and, keeping it going, had a quarter of a length at Craven Steps
and half a length at the Mile, rowing 34 to Cambridge's 32.
Then Cambridge made an effort and drew level at the Crab Tree.
Round the bend they drew away and, after an ill-timed Oxford spurt,
had shot clear at Hammersmith Bridge. At Chiswick Steps Cambridge were nearly four lengths ahead
and won comfortably by five lengths.
Bow 2 3 4 5 6 7 Stroke Cox |
OXFORD 1932 G A Ellison, 11. 8½ G M L Smithh, 11. 9 J de R Kent, 11. 8½ C M Johnston, 12. 4½ W D C Erskine-Crum, 12. 6 R A J Poole, 13. 2½ W H Migotti, 11. 5½ C A Chawyck-Healey, 11. 6¼ T E Pritchard, 8. 2 |
Bow 2 3 4 5 6 7 Stroke Cox |
CAMBRIDGE 1932 D Haig-Thomas, 11. 6 K M Payne, 12. 5 T G Askwith, 11. 8½ W A T Sambell, 12. 6½ C J S Sergel, 12. 9 H R N Rickett, 12.11½ D H E McCowen, 12. 1½ L Luxton, 12. 2¼ J M Ranking, 6.13 |
Oxford Crew man practicing in front of a mirror so as to acquire correct form
Popular Mechanics
In 1933 Chiswick Bridge was built immediately above the finish.
Designed by Sir Herbert Baker and opened by the Prince of Wales (Edward VIII)
450 feet long, 70 feet wide.
Three flat ferro-concrete arches are faced with Portland stone.
Engineer: Alfred Dryland. Contractor: Cleveland Bridge & Engineering Co. Ltd -
Chiswick Bridge in 2005
85: Saturday, April 1st, 1933
In 1933 CAMBRIDGE WON by 2¼ lengths. Time 20 minutes and 57 seconds. Oxford 40, Cambridge 44
A light breeze blew from the north-west, but there was not much of a tide.
Cambridge won the toss and took Middlesex.
Oxford, though at the slower stroke, led off, but by the end of a minute and a half the crews were level.
Cambridge at 32 against 30 then took the lead, but by the Mile Post the crews were dead level again.
Approaching Harrods Frame-Thomson [Cambridge stroke] took half a length but Holdsworth [Oxford stroke]
drew him back, only to lose half a length again approaching Hammersmith.
By the Doves, rowing 32 to Oxford's 29, Cambridge were clear,
and had a length and a half entering Chiswick Reach, and, though Oxford pressed,
Frame-Thomson got a length's clear water between the boats on their last corner.
Through Barnes Bridge the position was unaltered, but then Cambridge steered over inside Oxford.
Holdsworth spurted well and drew up so fast that at the Brewery
Fame-Thomson had to row the faster stroke before he drew away again
to win by just over two lengths.
Bow 2 3 4 5 6 7 Stroke Cox |
OXFORD 1933 W H Migotti, 11.11½ M H Mosley, 12. 0¼ W D C Erskine-Crum, 11. 9½ J M Couchman, 12. 9 P Hogg, 12. 9 P R S Bankes, 13.12 G A Ellison, 11.12½ R W G Holdsworth, 11.13¼ C Komarakul-na-Nagara, 8. 4½ |
Bow 2 3 4 5 6 7 Stroke Cox |
CAMBRIDGE 1933 W L R Carbonell, 12. 4½ J T Gilmour, 12. 0½ T G Askwith, 12. 0½ R B F Wylie, 12.10 C J S Sergel, 12.10 W A T Sambell, 12. 5 C M Fletcher, 12. 9½ T Frame-Thomson, 12. 0 R N Wheeler, 7.12 |
86: Saturday, March 17th, 1934
In 1934 CAMBRIDGE WON by 4¼ lengths. Time 18 minutes and 3 seconds. Oxford 40, Cambridge 45
In spite of a gale warning conditions were good, and there was only a light southwest wind, which did
not upset the water and made conditions very fast to Hammersmith.
There was, of course, a phenomenal tide.
Cambridge won the toss and took Surrey. Oxford at 38 against 36
gained a third of a length in the first minute.
Then Cambridge forged their way up, both crews rowing 32, until on reaching the Mile Post
they were leading. Below Harrods Bradley [Ca,bridge stroke] started a bombardment.
He raised his rate in one stroke from 32 to 36 and left Oxford standing,
had two lengths at Hammersmith and three lengths at Chiswick Steps.
Approaching Barnes Cambridge were down to 27,
but Sutcliffe [Oxford stroke] kept spurting and presed Bradley to raise his rate to 33.
Steadily he raised it all the way home, when he was doing 36, to win by four and a quarter lengths.
Bow 2 3 4 5 6 7 Stroke Cox |
OXFORD 1934 W H Migotti, 11.11½ R W G Holdsworth, 11.13¾ P Hogg, 12.13¾ J M Couchman, 13. 3¼ P R S Banks, 14. 9 J H Lascelles, 11.12½ G I F Thompson, 12. 0½ A V Sutcliffe, 14. 2 C G F Bryan, 7.13 |
Bow 2 3 4 5 6 7 Stroke Cox |
CAMBRIDGE 1934 A D Kingsford, 11. 8 C K Buckle, 12. 4½ W G R M Laurie, 13. 6 K M Payne, 12. 6 D J Wilson, 13. 0½ W A T Sambell, 12. 5½ J H T Wilson, 12.13 N J Bradley, 14. 1¼ J N Duckworth, 7.13 |
87: April 6th, 1935
In 1935 CAMBRIDGE WON by 4½ lengths. Time 19 minutes and 48 seconds. Oxford 40, Cambridge 46
The race was a complete fiasco from the Oxford point of view.
The winning of the toss was expected to decide the matter, for there was a strong westerly wind
blowing which made for rough water in Putney Reach. Cambridge won and took Surrey.
The long series of defeats [11, Oxford last won in 1923] had left their mark on Oxford - their faces fell
at once and they looked like a beaten crew while they were putting out from the land.
Whether Sutcliffe [Oxford stroke] took his instructions "Go off steadily, they will come back to you"
too literally or not, it is a fact that he went off at 33 to Laurie's 37 [Cambridge stroke].
Cambridge were clear on the better station in a minute and a half.
Rowing a couple of strokes a minute faster over the whole course they had two lengths lead
at the Mile, three at Hammersmith, four at Chiswick, and won by four and a half lengths with
a fine burst at 38 past the Brewery.
Bow 2 3 4 5 6 7 Stroke Cox |
OXFORD 1935 R Hope, 12. 2 D M de R Winser, 11. 9½ E E D Tomlin, 12. 5 P R S Bankes, 14. 3 D R B Mynors, 13. 0 J M Couchman, 12.13½ B J Sciortino, 12.10 A V Sutcliffe, 14. 5 C G F Bryan, 7.11 |
Bow 2 3 4 5 6 7 Stroke Cox |
CAMBRIDGE 1935 T R M Bristow, 12. 4 E A Szilagyi, 12. 3 A D Kingsford, 12. 4 J H C Powell, 12. 0 D G Kingsford, 13. 3 M P Lonnon, 12. 8 J H T Wilson, 12.13 W G R M Laurie, 13. 7 J N Duckworth, 7.13 |
88: Saturday, April 4th, 1936
In 1936 CAMBRIDGE WON by 5 lengths. Time 21 minutes and 6 seconds. Oxford 40, Cambridge 47
Cambridge's 13th successive win
There was a strong north-east wind blowing which made for rough water from Beverley Brook to Hammersmith.
Oxford won the toss for once, but made a mistake of the first magnitude in taking Surrey.
There was little in the start, but at the end of a minute Oxford had definite lead.
By Craven Steps they had a third of a length.
In the rough water Oxford looked the better crew.
At the bridge they were half a length ahead.
Then both crews ran into good water with a tail wind.
Cambridge suddenly found their form, and backed up Laurie [Cambridge stroke] in a fine spurt
soon after Doves. Oxford's lead was halved.
Two more spurts followed in rapid succession, and below the Eyot the crews were level.
Winser [Oxford stroke] could not spurt, he was going his best pace.
Two further "tens" by Laurie and he was clear at the Steps and the race was over -
Cambridge won by five lengths.
Bow 2 3 4 5 6 7 Stroke Cox |
OXFORD 1936 M G C Ashby, 12. 0 J S Lewes, 12. 7½ K V Garside, 12.12 S R C Wood, 12. 7 B J Sciortino, 12.11 J D Sturrock, 14. 1½ J C Cherry, 13. 7 D M de R Winser, 11.12 M A Kirke, 8. 7 |
Bow 2 3 4 5 6 7 Stroke Cox |
CAMBRIDGE 1936 T S Cree, 12. 2 H W Mason, 12. 8 G M Lewis, 13. 0 D W Burnford, 13. 4 M P Lonnon, 13. 6 D G Kingsford, 13. 7 J H T Wilson,13. 0 W G R M Laurie, 13. 6 J N Duckworth, 8. 7 |
89: Wednesday, 24th March, 1937
In 1937 OXFORD WON by 3 lengths. Time 22 minutes and 39 seconds. Oxford 41, Cambridge 47
There was a very slack tide owing to the enormous quantity of land water coming down the river,
and a light westerly wind blowing which, however, was not strong enough to make the water really
rough above Hammersmith. Oxford's luck was in, for they lost the toss, and perforce had to take
Middlesex.
The race was full of thrills, for there was a false start and a couple of slight fouls.
Perfitt [Cambridge stroke] went off at 38 to Hodgson's 37 [Oxford stroke]
and gained a definite lead in the first minute.
Then Oxford at the slower stroke began to creep up.
By the Mile, rowing less than 30, they had a canvas length.
Below Harrod's Perfitt spurted up to 35 and went a little ahead.
Hodgson steadied his crew and made a feeler at 32 below Hammersmith.
A slight foul to which Merrifield [Oxford cox], though in the right gave way,
and the bridge was shot dead level.
And here is a photo just after the foul. Extend the wakes back and I think you can see they have just suddenly gone apart.
1937, photo from Hammersmith Bridge, Oxford on left, just after slight foul. Roughish water!
With the corner Perfitt had gained a third of a length at the Doves,
but in the short straight to the Stork, Oxford, still at the lower rate, were coming up.
To the Steps Cambridge kept spurting and gaining a few feet,
only to be drawn back each time without extra effort made by Oxford.
Then Oxford gained a lead, which they lost after another clash at the Crossing,
Merrifield again giving way.
Soon after, Oxford at 32 went away fast and, though Perfitt was spurting at 35,
were clear at the Bridge.
Hodgson did not raise his rate till the last minute, when he went away very fast to win
by three lengths. The thirteen year stigma had been removed.
Come off it George! What you mean is a 13 year record for successive wins had been established
but that now for the first time in fourteen years Oxford had won!
Oxford win in 1937 - but is that three lengths?
John William Pitt in his "The River Thames - a descriptive poem" specifically says two lengths!
The famous Boat-Race winning post not far below appears,
And here, in nineteen thirty seven, after many years
Of patient striving, Oxford's crew, by two full boat-lengths, beat
The Cambridge one, a well-earned change from fourteen years' defeat.
Bow 2 3 4 5 6 7 Stroke Cox |
OXFORD 1937 M G C Ashby, 12. 4 D M de R Winser, 12. 0 R R Stewart, 13. 0 R G Rowe, 12.11 J P Burrough, 13. 7 J D Sturrock, 14. 4 J C Cherry, 13. 11 A B Hodgson, 12. 2 G J P Merrifield, 7.11 |
Bow 2 3 4 5 6 7 Stroke Cox |
CAMBRIDGE 1937 T S Cree, 11. 6 H W Mason, 11. 8 M Bradley, 13. 2 D M W Napier, 12. 9 M P Lonnon, 12.11 T B Langton, 13.11½ A Burrough, 12. 3 R J L Perfitt, 12. 0½ T H Hunter, 8. 0 |
90: Saturday, April 2nd, 1938
In 1938 OXFORD WON by 2 lengths. Time 20 minutes and 30 seconds. Oxford 42, Cambridge 47
There was a strong westerly breeze with a touch of north in it, the worst on the course.
It was rough at the start across at the Mile, dead ahead from the Doves to the Eyot,
and again after Barnes where the worst water was found.
Losing the toss [and taking Middlesex], Oxford were thought to have lost the race.
Eadie [Cambridge stroke]
started off at 39 to Oxford's 36½, but although the latter shipped a lot of water on the
eighth and ninth strokes they had three quartes of a length at the end of a minute.
Hodgson [Oxford stroke] dropped to 32 and, with Cambridge still at 36, gained no more to
Craven Steps. Round the corner Oxford gained and were well clear at the Mile
Then, with Oxford out of the tide, Cambridge came up.
Oxford were full of water and did not spurt. At Harrods Eadie, with the bend, spurted
and reduced Oxford's lead to a quarter of a length, but, rowing stroke for stroke at 33,
Oxford got back on the outside to half a length at Hammersmith.
Hodgson dropped to 30; Cambridge shot up to a canvas at the Doves and, in the more sheltered
water, with waves breaking over Oxford's riggers, led by a little more than a canvas at the Stork.
The water was better up the Eyot, and rowing 32 to Eadie's 34, Hodgson soon went past them
and had a third of a length at the Steps.
Both crews survived the rough stuff above Barnes, and although Eadie worked the rate up to 40
all the way home, Hodgson was content with 33 and drew away to win by two lengths.
Bow 2 3 4 5 6 7 Stroke Cox |
OXFORD 1938 J L Garton, 11.12 H M Young, 12.12 R R Stewart, 12.13 H A W Forbes, 13. 2 J P Burrough, 13. 7 F A L Waldron, 13.10 J C Cherry, 13.12 A B Hodgson, 12. 0 G J P Merifield, 8. 1 |
Bow 2 3 4 5 6 7 Stroke Cox |
CAMBRIDGE 1938 B T Coulton, 10.13 A M Turner, 11.12 A Burrough, 12. 7 T B Langton, 13. 9 J L L Savill, 12.13 G Keppel, 13. 6 A Campbell, 12. 4 D S M Eadie, 12. 1 T H Hunter, 8. 7 |
G C Drinkwater in his book 'The Boat Race' ended with the 1938 race -
And so we leave the race, which it may be hoped will never again be interrupted as it was from 1914 - 1918
It was that moment before World War II when Chamberlain proclaimed "Peace in our time".
It was not to be. There would be only one more boat race before the world fell apart,
and no doubt George Drinkwater took notes
ready to write it up for his next edition. But there was no next edition.
George Drinkwater, Oxford Blue, Bow in 1902, 7 in 1903, died in an air raid.
91: Saturday, 1st April, 1939
In 1939 CAMBRIDGE WON by 4 lengths. Time 19 minutes and 3 seconds. Oxford 42, Cambridge 48
Report
There was a firm following breeze from just south of east, calm water and a reasonable neap tide on
a misty morning with the sun just peeping through and Oxford winning the toss chose the Middlesex side,
probably intending to move away rapidly from their rivals with the benefit of the Fulham bend
and then to determine their own course.
But it was not to be. Cambridge rowing with the rather rough looking, but punchy style and rating
between 2 and three strokes higher than the dark Blues moved off the stake boat into an immediate
lead of something over ¼ length in the first minute and in the second minute,
still with their faster rate, had moved out to a lead of over a length and were still going away fast.
At Craven Steps there was over a half length of clear water between the crews and by the Mile Post
(3.54) when any advantage of the the bend would have been over for Oxford,
the Dark Blues were 7 seconds adrift. This difference in pace was remarkable,
for Oxford were rowing perfectly steadily while Cambridge looked distinctly ragged and were far
from being together. They were however clearly applying the power.
Oxford now seemed to get more into their stride and managed to hold Cambridge to this lead all the
way up the Crabtree Reach although Sanford the Cambridge stroke tried to break away further and at
Hammersmith Bridge (7 minutes 12 sconds) the gap had only increased by one second.
Cambridge now dropped their rate below 30 and although Oxford continued to row at 32,
the power was not being generated, for Cambridge gradually moved further ahead passing Chiswick Steps
in 11 minutes 30 seconds, some 11 seconds in the lead, Barnes Bridge 12 seconds ahead in 15.50
and reaching the finish in 19 minutes 3 seconds 14 seconds (4 lengths) in front.
At no time did Cambridge look a beautiful crew, but they were clearly an effective one.
Bow 2 3 4 5 6 7 Stroke Cox |
OXFORD 1939 G Huse, 12. 7 J L Garton, 11. 7 A G Slemeck, 13. 1 R R Stewart, 13. 4 R D Burnell, 14. 1½ F A L Waldron, 14. 4 H A W Forbes, 13. 5 J R Bingham, 11. 2 H P V Massey, 5 .2 |
Bow 2 3 4 5 6 7 Stroke Cox |
CAMBRIDGE 1939 C N C Addison, 12. 0½ A M Turner, 12. 3 A Burrough, 12. 7 J L L Savill, 13. 2 H Parker, 12.13 J Turnbull, 13.12 M Buxton, 12.13 C B Sanford, 12. 1 H T Smith, 8.11 |
After ninety one boat races the overall tally was Oxford 42, Cambridge 48 (and one dead heat)
From 1924 to 1936 Cambridge won all 13 Boat Races, the longest unbroken run to date.
In 1930 Cambridge went into the lead for the first time since 1862.
Leadership in Overall Tally of Boat Race Wins:
 
| |
| 1829 | 1939 |
Click for Hammersmith Bridge
Boat race in 1940s