1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959
BOAT RACE 1950 - 1959

Oxford University v Cambridge University

Map


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

96: Saturday, 1st April, 1950

In 1950 CAMBRIDGE WON by 3½ lengths. Time 20 minutes and 15 seconds. Oxford 43, Cambridge 52
Report
Oxford won the toss and chose Surrey. The wind was a blustery south-west wind, the tide average.
Oxford started a stroke higher and past the Boathouses had a canvas. At Craven Cottage, despite the bend they were a quarter of a length up. Cambridge then came back and took a lead of a second by the Mile Post.
Cambridge opened this to a ½ length by Harrods. Cambridge then spurted, but Oxford held them to their half length at Hammersmith Bridge.
Oxford at 31 against 30 held them along Chiswick Reach, but then by Chiswick Steps Cambridge had a length.
Oxford raised their rate to 34 but Cambridge responded at 32. Cambridge led by 8 seconds at Barnes Bridge. In disturbed water Cambridge went on to win by 3½ lengths.


Bow
2
3
4
5
6
7
Stroke
Cox
OXFORD 1950
J G C Blacker, 12. 2
P Gladstone, 12.11
H J Renton, 12. 4
J M Clay, 12. 7½
G C Fisk, 11.10½
J Hayes, 13. 0
D N Callender, 12. 4
A J M Cavenagh, 11. 3
J E C Hinchliffe, 8. 6

Bow
2
3
4
5
6
7
Stroke
Cox
CAMBRIDGE 1950
H H Almond, 10. 6
D M Jennens, 12. 4
A L Macleod, 12. 9
P M O Massey, 13. 9
W T Arthur, 13. 0
E A P Bircher, 13. 6
C B M Lloyd, 12. 9
J L M Crick, 12. 8
A C R Armstrong-Jones, 8. 8

97: Saturday, 24th March, 1951
and Monday, 26th March 1951

In 1951 Oxford sank in the first race.
In the re-row CAMBRIDGE WON by 12 lengths. Time 20 minutes and 50 seconds. Oxford 43, Cambridge 53
At ten ahead in the overall tally of wins Cambridge now equalled Oxford's peak in 1898
Report
On the Saturday, Oxford won the toss and chose Surrey. The conditions were appalling with a strong west wind against the tide. Oxford had waves breaking over their washboard even on the stake boat. Oxford sank within a minute and the umpire stopped the race and a re-row was arranged for Monday.


Oxford sinking, 24th March 1951

On the Monday afternoon there was a light south-west wind and a poor tide. Oxford again chose Surrey and started at a slightly higher rate. Cambridge came back with a more effective stroke and rhythm and after two minutes rowing 30 against Oxford’s 35, they had a lead of 1 length.
Cambridge held their rating and increased their lead to7 seconds by the Mile Post, and 12 seconds at Hammersmith Bridge.
Cambridge led by 22 seconds at Chiswick Steps, and now rating 29 against 33, by 30 seconds at Barnes Bridge. Oxford raised their rate to 35 but Cambridge won by 36 seconds, 12 lengths.

Two weeks later Cambridge beat Yale University on the Housatonic River and five days later won the Patriot’s Day Regatta on the Charles River, beating Harvard by 1½ lengths and Boston University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology easily, to win the Patriot’s Bowl.


Bow
2
3
4
5
6
7
Stroke
Cox
OXFORD 1951
J F E Smith, 11.11
A J Smith, 12.11
H J Renton, 13. 1½
L A F Stokes, 13. 3
M J Hawkes, 12.11½
C G Turner, 14. 6
D N Callender, 12. 6½
C G V Davidge, 13. 7½
G Carver, 8. 7

Bow
2
3
4
5
6
7
Stroke
Cox
CAMBRIDGE 1951
H H Almond, 10. 4
D D Macklin, 11.11
J G P Crowden, 12. 7½
R F A Sharpley, 13. 5
E J Worlidge, 12.13½
C B M Lloyd, 12.12½
W A D Windham, 12.12
D M Jennens, 12. 7
J F K Hinde, 9. 4


Oxford 1951 Cambridge 1951


98: Saturday, 29 March, 1952

In 1952 OXFORD WON by a canvas. Time 20 minutes and 23 seconds. Oxford 44, Cambridge 53
Report
Cambridge won the toss and chose Middlesex. There was a snow blizzard and a strong east wind. Newspaper report -

In outline, both crews, faced with the rough water at Putney moved rapidly under the Middlesex shore, and Cambridge in the more comfortable station managed to gain a lead of between one half and three quarters of a length with the Fulham bend in their favour. But this was the greatest distance between the crews over the whole course. Over the Crabtree Reach they were rowing with still only a few feet in favour of Cambridge who were striking about two strokes lower than Oxford over most of the course. Around the long Surrey bend, in Oxford’s favour, Cambridge held on with both crews taking the lead by just a few feet on occasions, only to draw level again as they passed Chiswick Steps.

The match then moved to the advantage of Cambridge again on the Middlesex side and they managed to draw slightly ahead along Duke’s Meadows only to be brought back by their rivals to shoot Barnes Bridge level again. The perceived wisdom is that the Middlesex crew at Barnes Bridge will win if they are level or ahead of the crew on the Surrey station. This was shown not to be true for this race, for with great stroking by Davidge backed by excellent rowing from his crew, Oxford moved in the last half minute into a canvas lead, Cambridge rather struggling after their mammoth battle in wretched conditions.


Bow
2
3
4
5
6
7
Stroke
Cox
OXFORD 1952
N W Sanders, 10. 7
P Gladstone, 12.12
C D Milling, 12. 1
L A F Stokes, 13. 0
M L Thomas, 13. 6
K H Keniston, 13. 6
H M C Quick, 13. 4
C G V Davidge, 12. 7
D R Glynne-Jones, 8.12

Bow
2
3
4
5
6
7
Stroke
Cox
CAMBRIDGE 1952
E J N T Coghill, 12. 4
G A H Cadbury, 12. 2
J G P Crowden, 12. 8
G T Marshall, 13. 6½
J R Dingle, 14. 0
R F A Sharpley, 13. 8
N B M Clack, 12. 9
J S M Jones, 11.12½
J F K Hinde, 9. 3

99: Saturday, 28th March, 1953

In 1953 CAMBRIDGE WON by 8 lengths. Time 19 minutes and 54 seconds. Oxford 44, Cambridge 54
Report
The weather was cold with a fresh south-west wind. The tide was very moderate with a lot of land water. Cambridge won the toss and chose Surrey. On the start Cambridge rated 36, and Oxford rated 37 and took a small lead. But then with Oxford at 32 and Cambridge at 30, Cambridge moved ahead and had half a length by Craven Cottage. Cambridge settled into a long smooth stroke, while Oxford were clearly rushing and a bit untidy. At the Mile Cambridge had a length and a quarter.
At Harrods Cambridge had a length and a half and then pushed to 32 and moved away from Oxford. At Hammersmith Bridge it was two lengths. The wind which was now dead ahead with rough water in Chiswick Reach. Cambridge moved in towards Surrey shore for shelter and Oxford did the same but did not handle the conditions nearly so well. At Chiswick Steps Cambridge had at least four lengths.
At the Crossing Cambridge rated 26 and Oxford 28. At Barnes Bridge Cambridge led by over six lengths and went on to win by eight lengths.

BRITISH PATHE - 1953 BOAT RACE


Bow
2
3
4
5
6
7
Stroke
Cox
OXFORD 1953
R A Byatt, 12. 4
A J Smith, 12. 9
J M Wilson, 13. 3
E C B Hammond, 13. 2
M L Thomas, 13.10
D T H Davenport, 13. 1
H M C Quick, 13. 5
J S Howles, 12. 0
W R Marsh, 8.10

Bow
2
3
4
5
6
7
Stroke
Cox
CAMBRIDGE 1953
J A N Wallis, 11.12½
J S M Jones, 12. 3
J R A Macmillan, 13. 0½
G T Marshall, 13. 5
D A T Leadley, 13. 3½
L B McCagg, 13. 0
J M King, 12. 8½
P D Hall, 12. 6
B M Eddy, 8.10

100: Saturday, 3rd April, 1954

The One Hundredth Boat Race. First race 1829 and then intermittently until 1856 and then annually except 1915-1919 and 1940-1945.
In 1954 OXFORD WON by 4½ lengths. Time 20 minutes and 23 seconds. Oxford 45, Cambridge 54
Report
There was a moderate tide and a south west wind of moderate strength. Oxford won the toss and chose Surrey. Both crews made a good start with Oxford rating three higher. At the Mile the crews were level. At Harrods, Cambridge faltered and Oxford took Hammersmith Bridge ¼ length ahead. Above the bridge there was rough water. Oxford took the shelter of the Surrey bank, but Cambridge were in difficulty. They spurted two or three times along Chiswick Reach but Oxford with a strong steady stroke pulled into a lead along the Chiswick Eyot.
At Chiswick Steps Oxford led by 3 lengths and retained that to Barnes Bridge going on to win by 4½ lengths.


Bow
2
3
4
5
6
7
Stroke
Cox
OXFORD 1954
R A Wheadon, 11.13
E V Vine, 12. 0
J A Gobbo, 12. 9
R D T Raikes, 12. 6
H M C Quick, 13.12
J G McLeod, 12. 1
E O G Pain, 12. 0
J J H Harrison, 11. 9
W R Marsh, 8.12

Bow
2
3
4
5
6
7
Stroke
Cox
CAMBRIDGE 1954
J A N Wallis, 12. 0
J C G Stancliffe, 12. 3
D K Hill, 12. 6
K A Masser, 14. 0
M G Baynes, 13. 1
C M Davies, 13.13
J N Bruce, 12. 1
M J Marshall, 11.10
J W Tanburn, 8. 9

101: Saturday, 26th March, 1955

In 1955 CAMBRIDGE WON by 16 lengths. Time 19 minutes and 10 seconds. Oxford 45, Cambridge 55
Report
There was a good tide and a moderate south-south-west wind. Oxford won the toss and chose Surrey.
At the start Cambridge rated 37 and Oxford 40. At the Black Buoy Oxford had a few feet, and a canvas at Craven Steps.
At the Mile Cambridge had a few feet. Oxford were rating two higher and appeared to be short in the water. At Hammersmith Bridge Cambridge were one third of a length up.
But Oxford had rowed themselves out and McLeod and Pain collapsed. Cambridge led by three lengths at the Eyot and nearly five lengths at Chiswick Steps. At Barnes Bridge Cambridge led by ten lengths and by 16 lengths at the finish.
Oxford should have had the technique to hold a powerful Cambridge crew but on the day for some reason the fitness was not there. It only takes one or two crew members to have a bad night with nerves or 'flu (or a hangover!) and all the training goes for nothing.


Bow
2
3
4
5
6
7
Stroke
Cox
OXFORD 1955
J A Gobbo, 12.10
E V Vine, 11.13
J M Wilson, 13. 5
D P Wells, 13. 2
R D T Raikes, 12. 3
J McLeod, 12.10
E O G Pain, 12. 0
G Sorrell, 11.12
I A Watson, 9. 3

Bow
2
3
4
5
6
7
Stroke
Cox
CAMBRIDGE 1955
D K Hill, 12. 4
P du Bois, 13. 3
A A M Mays-Smith, 14. 0
K A Masser, 13.12
S G D Tozer, 13.12
R A G Monks, 13. 9½
J J Vernon, 12. 4
A R Muirhead, 12. 2
G T Harris, 9. 4

102: Saturday, 24th March, 1956

In 1956 CAMBRIDGE WON by 1¼ lengths. Time 18 minutes and 36 seconds. Oxford 45, Cambridge 56
Report
There was a good tide and a light south-easterly breeze. Cambridge won the toss and chose Surrey.
Oxford started at 41 to Cambridge's 37 and Cambridge took a length by the end of the boathouses. Rating 35 Oxford came back on Cambridge and at the Mile Cambridge, who were rating 31 led by only one third of a length.
At Harrods Cambridge pushed at 33. Oxford responded at 36 but Cambridge moved ahead to lead by a length and a half at Hammersmith Bridge. Oxford then managed to hold Cambridge to the same lead at Chiswick Steps despite the bend against them. At the Crossing both crews moved into Oxford's water on the Middlesex side and it seemed possible that if Oxford could overlap and force Cambridge back towards Surrey they could win. But Cambridge held on and there was still one third of a length open water between them at Barnes Bridge. Oxford kept pushing but Cambridge held on to win by 1¼ lengths.


Bow
2
3
4
5
6
7
Stroke
Cox
OXFORD 1956
E V Vine, 11.12
J G McLeod, 12. 0
N Paine, 12. 0
K L Mason, 12. 4
R Barrett, 14. 5
D A Cross, 13. 4
R H Carnegie, 13. 6
B S Mawer, 12. 0
B E B K Venner, 9. 2

Bow
2
3
4
5
6
7
Stroke
Cox
CAMBRIDGE 1956
J A L Russell, 12. 4
J F Hall-Craggs, 12. 7
M J H Nightingale, 13. 6
A A M Mays-Smith, 14. 5½
I W Welsh, 13. 2
K A Masser, 13.12
M G Baynes, 13. 3
M G Delahooke, 12.11
J P M Denny, 10. 0

103: Saturday, 30th March, 1957

In 1957 CAMBRIDGE WON by 2 lengths. Time 19 minutes and 1 second. Oxford 45, Cambridge 57
Report
With a good tide and a light breeze Oxford won the toss and chose Middlesex. Oxford rated 37, Cambridge 38 and Oxford took a few feet. Oxford had a half length by the end of the Fulham Wall and one and a third lengths at the Mile.
In the Crabtree Reach Cambridge held them well and forced them to stick to their own station. Then, just before Harrods, Cambridge spurted and Oxford did not or could not respond. Cambridge reached Hammersmith Bridge with a lead of one third of a length. Cambridge, with the bend against them raised the rating to 35 against Oxford's 31. By Chiswick Steps Cambridge led by one length but with the bend to come against them.
But Oxford 5 was in difficulties. At Barnes Bridge there was two thirds of a length clear water, which opened to a length at the finish as Cambridge won by two lengths.


Bow
2
3
4
5
6
7
Stroke
Cox
OXFORD 1957
G Sorrell, 12. 1
S F A Miskin, 12. 8
R L Howard, 13. 5
A H Stearns, 13.12
P F Barnard, 14. 3
R Barrett, 14. 5
R H Carnegie, 13.10
K L Mason, 11. 9
A Said, 7.11

Bow
2
3
4
5
6
7
Stroke
Cox
CAMBRIDGE 1957
M H Bartlett, 11. 8
C J Pumphrey, 12. 1
J A Pitchford, 13. 8
T P A Norman, 13. 6
J R Meadows, 14. 0
M G Delahooke, 13. 0
J M Thompson, 12. 5
F C S Clayre, 12.6
R C Milton, 9. 4

Michael Delahooke writes:

I was President of the Cambridge University Boat Club and rowed at 6 in 1957.
...
I thought your account of the race summed it up very well. Oxford were strong favourites and went away at the start but we started to haul them back from about the Mile Post and the spurt at Harrods was decisive in our favour.

Their No5 was clearly in trouble later in the race, but we have always believed that his problems did not start until we were in front. Victory was very sweet!

BRITISH PATHE - 1957 BOAT RACE


104: Saturday, 5th April, 1958

In 1958 CAMBRIDGE WON by 3½ lengths. Time 18 minutes and 15 seconds. Oxford 45, Cambridge 58
Report
There were rain and heavy mist but good rowing conditions. Cambridge won the toss and chose Middlesex. Cambridge started well and had a length at the end of the Fulham Wall and a length and a third at the Mile.
At Hammersmith Bridge Cambridge had two lengths and three lengths at Chiswick Steps. At Barnes Bridge they had nearly four lengths and won by 3½ lengths.


Bow
2
3
4
5
6
7
Stroke
Cox
OXFORD 1958
G Sorrell, 11.13
M J W Hall, 12. 5
J H Ducker, 12.13
S F A Miskin, 12.13
F D M Badcock, 13. 3
R Rubin, 14. 8
J L Fage, 12.13
D C R Edwards, 13. 2
J G Rowbotham, 9. 0

Bow
2
3
4
5
6
7
Stroke
Cox
CAMBRIDGE 1958
A T Denby, 12. 4
J R Giles, 12. 7
J A Pitchford, 13.10
R D Carver, 13. 3
R B Ritchie, 14. 2
P D Rickett, 13. 6
D C Christie, 13.12
M B Maltby, 12. 9
J S Sulley, 8. 8

105: Saturday, 28th March, 1959

In 1959 OXFORD WON by 6 lengths. Time 18 minutes and 52 seconds. Oxford 46, Cambridge 58
Report
The tide was nearly slack and the fresh south-west wind was a headwind in the Corney Reach. Cambridge won the toss and chose Surrey.
At the start both crews rated 37. Oxford took a quarter length by the end of the boathouse Reach, and a half length by the end of the Fulham wall.
Oxford steered out forcing Cambridge further out on the first bend, and after Craven Cottage had just over a length. If Cambridge had been able to come back at that moment they might have been able to force Oxford to turn sharply but it was not to be. Oxford had a length and a third at the Mile Post.
Oxford brought their rating down to 29 and despite Cambridge pushes had eight seconds at Hammersmith Bridge. At Chiswick Steps Oxford had 4 lengths, at Barnes Bridge it was five lengths and Cambridge were suffering. Oxford won by six lengths.


Bow
2
3
4
5
6
7
Stroke
Cox
OXFORD 1959
S C H Douglas-Mann, 12. 5
A T Lindsay, 12. 8
R L Howard, 13.10
D C Rutherford, 13. 0
J L Fage, 13. 3
D C R Edwards, 13. 2
D W Shaw, 13. 0
J R H Lander, 12. 4
J G Rowbotham. 9. 1

Bow
2
3
4
5
6
7
Stroke
Cox
CAMBRIDGE 1959
J R Owen, 11. 8
J R Giles, 12. 8
T C Heywood-Lonsdale, 13. 6
B M P Thompson-McCausland, 12. 9
G H Brown, 13. 9
J Beveridge, 13. 1
D C Christie, 14. 2
M B Maltby, 12. 9
J S Sulley, 8. 9

In 1959, after one hundred and five boat races, the overall tally was: Oxford 46, Cambridge 58 (and one dead heat)
Leadership in Overall Tally of Boat Race Wins:

18291959

Click for Hammersmith Bridge  
 
 
 
Boat race in 1960s