The Boat Race 1903

Background

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 2014, broadcast worldwide. Cambridge went into the race as reigning champions, having won the 1902 race by five lengths, and led overall with 33 victories to Cambridge's 25 (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 and C. K. Philips who had represented the Dark Blues four times between 1895 and 1898. Cambridge were coached by Charles John Bristowe who had represented the Light Blues in the 1886 and 1887 races and Claude Goldie who had rowed in the 1898 and 1899 races. The Light Blues were later coached by William Dudley Ward. The umpire for the first time was old Etonian and former Cambridge rower Frederick I. Pitman who rowed in the 1884, 1885 and 1886 races.

During the build-up to the race, Oxford suffered a series of misfortunes, including a bout of influenza which caused several changes in the Dark Blue crew. Centred on the group of Blues returning from the previous year, Cambridge were able to produce "a very fast crew".

Crews

The Cambridge crew weighed an average of 12 st 3.5 lb (77.6 kg), 4 pounds (1.8 kg) more per rower than their opponents. Oxford's crew contained four rowers with Boat Race experience, including A. de L. Long who was rowing in his third consecutive event. Cambridge saw six rowers return from the 1902 crew, including W. H. Chapman, H. B. Grylls, C. W. H. Taylor and R. H. Nelson, all of whom were taking part in their third Boat Race. Only Oxford's Devereux Milburn was registered as a non-British rower. An American, he attended The Hill School in Pennsylvania before graduating from Harvard University.

Race

Oxford won the toss and elected to start from the Surrey station, handing the Middlesex side of the river to Cambridge. On a strong tide, umpire Pitman attempted to start the race at 3:35 p.m. After he shouted "Are you ready?", Cambridge squared their blades and were dragged away from their stakeboat, and rowed on despite Pitman failing to correctly discharge the starter pistol. Worse, he failed to notice the departing Light Blues who were already one third of a length ahead before Oxford got on their way. Somewhat dismayed by the disadvantageous start, author and the number seven for this year's race George Drinkwater stated they "rowed like a beaten crew from the first stroke."

With a lead of nearly three lengths by Hammersmith Bridge, Cambridge pushed on to hold a four-and-a-half length lead at Barnes Bridge, and passed the finishing post six lengths ahead, in a time of 19 minutes 33 seconds. It was their second consecutive win and their fourth in five years, and took the overall record in the event to 33–26 in Oxford's favour.