This was not a good year for Oxford preparations for the race. Not only did they have difficulty in selecting a crew, but they had greater difficulty in sorting out their order.

This was not helped by the fact that A.W.Nicholson the President, had to absent himself from the crew for a large part of the training due to a bereavement in the family.

Indeed it was only just before the race, when it was clear that Oxford was rowing very poorly without him, that Nicholson came back into the crew. Things then improved but it was too late.

This was another excellent year for Cambridge. Goldie had gone down in 1872 but his influence was still being felt and this year, he came back to assist Mr Morrison, the famous coach for Cambridge and then went on to help Mr J.G.Chambers the finishing coach, produce another fine crew.

Sliding seats had come in during 1973 but with the level of coaching that then existed in Cambridge, they took very rapidly to the new rowing style which was required, despite the fact that Goldie, who had considered their use in 1872, was at that stage against them. Oxford on the other hand took much longer to adjust to the change.

It was a fine day for the race with a very slack tide and although there was a north-west wind, it was scarcely more than a breeze early on and hardly disturbed water at the start, though the wind freshened a lot later and became a problem further along the course.

This was one of the years in which His Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales attended in the Umpire’s launch, although on this unlike some other occasions, his presence was hardly noticed by the spectators. This was also one not of the early years in which the number of steamers following the race was restricted by the Thames Conservancy. Cambridge won the toss and chose Middlesex.

The start was a clean one with Cambridge trying to force the pace. After a few strokes the Light Blue crew was already leading and Oxford steering became rather haphazard, so that Cambridge gained a further advantage. Cambridge progressed well towards Craven Cottage keeping a good course while Oxford showed an inclination to go wide.

By the time that the Mile Tree had been reached, Cambridge was almost a length ahead, but nearer the Crabtree, Oxford became steadier and came up closer to their rivals who were rowing much better than they had during practice. Before the Soap Works, Cambridge again pressed ahead to try to clear the Dark Blues.

However, to ensure that they gained the second arch of the Hammersmith Bridge Candy, the Cambridge cox steered rather wide and this enabled Oxford to reduce the gap between the boats.

Lambert, the Oxford cox, took a much more direct line towards the Surrey side of the second arch, saving time and gaining some more on the leading VIII. What is more, gaining the best of the water as soon as the Bridge had been passed.

In the early part of the race the north-west wind had not be a problem, but now it had freshened and as they came round on the long bend, the water became quite rough and there was a head wind. On the Surrey shore a long line of boats of various descriptions covered with spectators extended right out into the channel.

Although Oxford was pushed out further into the stream than they would have wished from the point of view of the rough water, they were at least somewhat protected from the wind by the moored boats, while Cambridge further out in the stream, had water coming in over their quarters and at times almost stopped as a result of the strong gusts which were increasing the whole time.

Oxford were gaining rapidly and just at the foot of the Eyot they took the lead and, by the time they had reached Chiswick Church where the moored boats on the Surrey shore gave them smoother water Oxford moved well in front and were half a length ahead. However despite this advantage they were now looking a tired crew.

Once Cambridge reached the Middlesex bank after the crossing they had a clear advantage because numerous steamers were moored along this bank and provided smoother water for the inside crew, which was now Cambridge.

The half length lead which Oxford had previously enjoyed was soon reduced as they moved along Corney Reach and by the Bathing Place, Cambridge had once more come level with their rivals and the Cambridge rowing was now much cleaner and sharper than that of Oxford who were now quite clearly getting rather ragged.

Way, the Oxford stroke, tried hard to spurt to catch up their rivals but to no effect. As they moved along Mortlake Brewery Reach, they were still increasing the lead which moved to about two lengths at the White Hart. Oxford pushed once again but to no avail and at the finish in 22 minutes 35 seconds Cambridge had won by 3 1/2lengths.

There is little doubt that, at various stages, the moored craft had exerted an influence on the race but, because of the twisting nature of the course and the areas where the craft were moored, the effect was probably equal to both crews over the whole course.

However it was suggested that as a result of these moored craft and the course which was defined through the two bridges, the course may have been some 100 yards longer than in former years.