 The 43rd Boat Race took place on 3 April 1886 . The Boat Race is an annual side @-@ by @-@ side rowing race between crews from the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge along the River Thames . Repairs to Hammersmith Bridge restricted the crews to pass through a single arch . Umpired by Robert Lewis @-@ Lloyd , Cambridge won the race by two @-@ thirds of a length in a time of 22 minutes 30 seconds , becoming the first crew to come from behind at Barnes Bridge to win . 
