OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE ROWING. 151 



the period of the Oxford successes, we may reasonably con- 

 clude that the difference had no real existence. 



Another theory resembling the preceding was also often 

 urged. It was said repeatedly in the papers that Cambridge 

 traditions encouraged a light flashy stroke, pretty to look at 

 but not effective ; that again, Cambridge rowed the first 

 part of the course well but exhausted themselves before the 

 conclusion of the race, through their over-anxiety to get 

 the advantage of their opponents in the beginning of the 

 contest. Critics undertook to say that the Oxford men 

 ' rowed within themselves ' at first, reserving their strength 

 for the last mile or two of the course. Now, it will presently 

 appear that there does exist in a certain peculiarity of what 

 may justly be called the Cambridge style, a true cause for 

 want of success, and even for such a repeated series of 

 defeats as the light-blue flag sustained in 1861-69. Bat 

 the Cambridge style rowed during these years was very far 

 from being a flashy style. On the contrary, the old Cam- 

 bridge style, which is still too often seen in College contests, 

 and has within the last four years been seen on the Thames, 

 involves the rowing of a longer stroke than seems to be 

 rowed in the true Oxford style. Oxford rowing is pre- 

 eminently lively. Anyone who had been at the pains to 

 time the strokes of the Oxford and Cambridge crews during 

 the years 1861-69, would have been able at once to dispose 

 of the notion that Cambridge men row the more rapid 

 stroke. In these nine races, as in the practice preceding 

 them, the Oxford crew often took forty-four strokes per 

 minute. Especially did they rise to this swift stroke in 

 some of those grand spurts which so often carried the dark- 

 blue flag in front. I do not remember that the Cambridge 

 crews ever went beyond forty-two strokes per minute. Then 

 again as to starting early and being quickly spent, a good 

 deal of nonsense was written. In some of the later con- 

 tests of the series 1861-69, indeed, the Cambridge crews, 

 urged by the thought of numerous past defeats, made 

 unduly exhausting efforts in the earlier part of the race. 



