As Anticipated

"Boat Race Day is likely to be remembered by those who see it because of the orderliness of the crowds, their patient waiting, their good humor, quiet expectancy and hilarious enthusiasm. . . ."

This tribute to a sporting event that annually draws from 500,000 to 1,000,000 Londoners to the banks of the Thames was written last month in Great Britain's Coming Events by J. N. Duckworth, coxswain of the Cambridge crew for the past four years. Had he been more frank and less polite, Cambridge's Coxswain Duckworth might have added that there was a time when Boat Race Day was also memorable for the boat race between his crew and Oxford's. Since 1923, however, this has not been the case. Cambridge has won regularly by distances varying from one length to 30.

Far from stimulating Oxford's rowing Blues to greater efforts, a dozen defeats dulled their interest in the sport. Last month, while Cantabrigians were trying new and spectacular routines of preparation, such as having each man in the boat row a stroke in turn to perfect coordination, all Oxonian oarsmen could think of was to guzzle milk instead of good strong beer at their training table. The night before the race, to nerve themselves for the ordeal, they consumed a champagne supper.

Since Boat Race custom requires the losing crew of the year before to row out to the stake boats first, Oxford was first at the starting line last week. For the first half of the 4 1/4-mile course, the boats raced on almost even terms. As anticipated, Cambridge was ahead thereafter, five lengths at the finish.

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