 Cambridge won the toss and elected to start from the Surrey station , handing the Middlesex side of the river to Oxford . The race commenced at <unk> , with the Dark Blues making a better start and quickly held the lead , as Cambridge had a " sticky second stroke " . With both crews rating 34 strokes per minute , the Light Blues quickly restored parity before taking the lead and holding a one @-@ length advantage by Craven Steps . A spurt from Oxford reduced the deficit to half a length but Cambridge began to pull away again , despite being outrated by the Dark Blues . Another spurt at the Crab Tree saw the two crews level by Harrods Furniture Depository , and as they passed below Hammersmith Bridge . 
