Although this was not known at the time, because for several years there had been a hope that an annual event could be undertaken, this was the thirteenth and last of the irregular races and the first of the regular annual ones.

It appears that the structure which would have enabled an annual event to be undertaken at the time of the 1854 Race and that there was a genuine interest on the part of both Universities to achieve it.

However, in 1855 there was a great frost which affected effectively the whole of Europe and which created such enormous problems in Sebastopol during the Crimea War. The secondary effect of this great frost was to make it impossible to even contemplate a Race in the Easter vacation and two crews, probably very similar to those who would have contested the race over the championship course contested the Grand at Henley.

Because there had been no Boat Race in 1855, there was not a single member of either crew who had previous experience of the race over the championship course and surprisingly few of either crew had rowed in the Grand crews of the previous year. Experience was very limited and there is no useful information on how the training progressed in 1856.

This was one of the years in which the times of high tide were inappropriate for rowing the race on the flood and in consequence it was fixed for 11.00am on Saturday March 15th, with Mr William Rich of Christ Church, the Oxford stroke in 1849 as Umpire.

This is one of the few years at that period when we do not read of the steamers hindering the start, which took place only 30 seconds late from just below Barker’s Rails, with Cambridge having won the toss and chosen the Middlesex station on a stormy morning.

But though the start was not delayed by untoward attention of the steamers, considerable difficulties were encountered during the race, though, in the event it was one of the hardest fought of the early races, particularly of those rowed on the ebb from Mortlake to Putney.

One of the best accounts is to found in the book published by William MacMichael in 1870, the first of the recognised accounts of the history of the Boat Race. He only rowed in 1868 and 1869, but it appears to be based on a contemporary account.

“At the Ship Inn, Oxford were no more than a few feet ahead when an extra large wave caught the oar of number six in the Cambridge boat wresting it from his hands and almost bringing matters to an untimely end. In fact Mr McCormick had caught such an immense shell fish that its weight overpowered him and he fell back in Mr Williams lap; who with great politeness and presence of mind restored his oar to him and him to his seat. Fully roused by this accident which cost them nearly a boat’s length, Cambridge put in a spurt which has seldom been witnessed , so that by Barnes Bridge they had not only gained back all they had lost, but had pushed their bow a yard or teo in front, 3which lead they gradually increased to half a length.

"Thus they continued escaping the dangers of many sailing barges and other craft by the most marvellous steering on the part of both, but more especially on that ot Mr Wingfield [William Wingfield, the cox of Cambridge], whose difficulties at this point were greater than those of his antagonist. He was called upon to decide whether he could get between the bank and a barge which was going head on to it – those only who have been similarly circumstanced can judge of the nerve and prompt decision required – the man on board the lighter did all in his power to assist by throwing out a sweep [long oar] ahead and stopping her way as much as possible and the Cambridge boat just cleared through. Not much less in its degree was the promptitude required and displayed by Mr Elers [Frederick Elers the Oxford cox] who, now in the middle of the river and going astern of the same lighter, had every prospect of being jammed into her by a sailing barge that was standing over to that shore.

"The nose of the Oxford boat was already sheered a bit over towards the Surrey side preparing to go astern, when suddenly the barge was put about and no sooner did the quick eye perceive a shake in her sails than he put his ship straight and these dangers were cleverly surmounted.”

Despite all the problems suffered by both crews, Cambridge maintained their advantage to the finish, winning by about half a length in 25 minutes 45 seconds.