The 63rd Boat Race took place on 7 April 1906. Held annually, the Boat Race is a side-by-side rowing race between crews from the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge along the River Thames. Oxford went into the race as reigning champions, having won the previous year's race, and their crew was slightly heavier than their opponents. In a race umpired by Frederick I. Pitman, Cambridge won by 3+1⁄2 lengths in a time of 19 minutes 25 seconds, the fastest winning time for four years. The win took the overall record to 34–28 in Oxford's favour.
The Boat Race is a side-by-side rowing competition between the University of Oxford (sometimes referred to as the "Dark Blues")[1] and the University of Cambridge (sometimes referred to as the "Light Blues").[1] 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.[2][3] The rivalry is a major point of honour between the two universities; it is followed throughout the United Kingdom and, as of 2015, broadcast worldwide.[4] Oxford went into the race as reigning champions, having won the 1905 race by three lengths,[5] and led overall with 34 victories to Cambridge's 27 (excluding the "dead heat" of 1877).[5][6]
The Oxford crew weighed an average of 12 st 3.5 lb (77.6 kg), 4.125 pounds (1.9 kg) per rower more than their opponents.[9] The Cambridge crew included two rowers with Boat Race experience, in Banner Johnstone and Ronald Powell, both of whom were rowing in their third consecutive event.[9] Powell was rowing alongside his brother Eric.[10] Oxford's crew contained four who had represented their university in the event, including E. P. Evans who was making his third appearance.[9] All of the participants in the race were registered as British.[11]
Oxford won the toss and elected to start from the Surrey station, handing the Middlesex side of the river to Cambridge.[9] According to former Oxford rower and author George Drinkwater, the Light Blues went into the race as "firm favourites".[13] Conditions were described as "very fast, a strong tide and no wind".[13] Umpire Pitman started the race at noon, and Cambridge led from the first stroke.[13]
Going clear within two minutes, the Light Blues held an advantage of at least four lengths by the time they passed below Barnes Bridge. The victory secured, they paddled to the finish, winning by three and a half lengths in a time of 19 minutes 25 seconds.[13] It was their fourth win in five years in the fastest winning time since the 1902 race, and took the overall record in the event to 34–28 in Oxford's favour.[5]
