 Oxford won the toss and elected to start from the Surrey station , handing the Middlesex station to Cambridge . Commencing at 1.38pm , the Light Blues made the better start and by the time the crews passed Craven Cottage , they held just less than a half @-@ length lead . Oxford began to close the gap , and by the soap works , the boats were level . On the approach to Hammersmith Bridge , the coxes " steered with such accuracy and nerve as they had never shown in practice " and both crews were able to shoot the bridge safely , with only a " few inches to spare " . Rowing into rough water , Oxford started to pull away and between Chiswick and Barnes Bridge , the lead increased to more than two lengths . At the bridge , Cambridge made a push and increased their rating to 40 strokes per minute , sustaining the drive for three minutes and overtaking Oxford , passing the finishing post by a margin of two @-@ thirds of a length . The winning time was 22 minutes 30 seconds and the win was Cambridge 's second victory in three years , taking the overall record to 23 – 19 in Oxford 's favour . 
