 Cambridge won the toss and elected to start from the Surrey station , handing the Middlesex side of the river to Oxford . Drinkwater described the conditions as " perfect " and umpire Pitman started the race at 12 : 38 p.m. Both crews made strong starts but Oxford edged ahead and held a third of a length lead after a minute which they extended to a half @-@ length after two minutes . The Cambridge stroke Stuart kept the Light Blue stroke rate high round the bend to the Mile Post and his counterpart Bourne allowed them to draw level by Harrods Furniture Depository . 
