In the autumn of 1863 Trial VIIs race between three selected crews was rowed at Cambridge for the first time, all the crews being chosen by the President, John Hawkshaw.

The racing continued over three days and this replaced the previous arrangement by which the University crew (i.e. one selected by the President) rowed in bumping races against one of College ‘Captains’ (i.e. college strokes).

The change did not seem to have produced any improvement in the crew selected for Putney.

At Oxford, Charles Carr was President but did not row, restricting himself to coaching until the crew went to Putney, some ten days before the Race, at which stage George Morison took over. At Putney, Oxford was notably faster than Cambridge in staged races against scratch crews.

In 1864 a further attempt was made by the two Presidents to eliminate the problem caused by the steamers. The start line was moved to 140 yards above Putney Bridge to allow adequate space for the following steamers to assemble behind the crews on the stakeboats and the finish line moved a like distance up-river of The Ship. The following announcement was made by the two Presidents: “CAUTION TO STEAMERS The boats will start from two barges moored off the Star and Garter, We have agreed that the race shall not start with a single steamer in front of the boats. If the captains of steamers do not abide by these orders the race shall be rowed on the ebb.

1. C. Hawkshaw Capt. CUBC
2. R. Carr Capt. OUBC”

The threat to row on the ebb was a serious one for up river of Mortlake on a falling tide it was possible for the crews to hold the race sufficiently long to maroon the steamers on the mud in the falling tide and this fate had befallen one steamer on a previous occasion.

Unfortunately the threat could not be carried out. The Prince of wales was honouring the crews by following the Race and had to leave immediately afterwards to attend a Drawing Room. In consequence the race could not be postponed and as usual there were a substantial number of steamers ahead of the crews at the start.

In a slight easterly breeze, Oxford won the toss and chose Middlesex, as was usual at that period. Cambridge went off the faster and moved into the lead, assisted by the fact that one of the Oxford men caught a crab, skewing them further over towards the Fulham bank.

However they soon got back into the rhythm and moved up rapidly after the Light Blues, came level with them by just before Craven Steps and by the mile post were ahead by 2 lengths. Oxford continued an their way from there on gradually increasing their lead even more.

At The Ship Oxford easied, not realising that the finish had been moved up-river to compensate for the move of the start. The time for their win is recorded as 21 minutes 40 seconds but the extent of the win is far from clear. Various contemporary accounts quote 1 minute 20 seconds, 20 lengths and 27 seconds. The present official distance is recorded as 27 seconds.