The Boat Race 1911 refers to the 68th edition of the annual rowing competition between the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge, known as "The Boat Race." The event took place on the River Thames in London on 3 April 1911.
Background
The Boat Race, first contested in 1829, is a side‑by‑side eight‑man rowing race over a 4.2 mi (6.8 km) stretch of the Thames known as the Championship Course, running from Putney to Mortlake. By 1911, the competition had become a major sporting fixture in the United Kingdom, attracting large crowds and extensive media coverage.
Course and Conditions
The 1911 race was run under typical spring conditions. Contemporary reports describe the water as relatively calm, with a light to moderate breeze, providing fair racing conditions for both crews.
Crew Composition
Oxford (the “Dark Blues”) and Cambridge (the “Light Blues”) each fielded a crew of eight rowers plus a coxswain. The crews were selected from the universities’ rowing clubs and comprised predominantly British students, with a few participants from other Commonwealth nations. Detailed crew lists, including individual rowers’ names and positions, are recorded in the official Boat Race archives.
Race Outcome
Cambridge won the 1911 race by a margin of three lengths (approximately 57 seconds). The winning time was 20 minutes 31 seconds. This victory marked Cambridge’s eighth consecutive win, extending their dominance over Oxford that began in 1902.
Significance
The result contributed to a period of Cambridge superiority in the early 20th century. The 1911 race is often cited in historic analyses of the competition for illustrating the tactical innovations employed by Cambridge’s stroke and for highlighting the impact of crew preparation methods that were evolving at that time.
Aftermath
Following the 1911 contest, both universities continued to refine their training programmes. The subsequent race in 1912 saw Oxford regain the trophy, ending Cambridge’s winning streak.
References
- “The Boat Race – Official History.” The Boat Race Company Limited.
- “Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race 1911.” The Times (London), 4 April 1911.
- Rowing – The Boat Race, Oxford University Press, 1913.