The Boat Race 1852

Typically held annually, the event is a side-by-side rowing race between crews from the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge.

Former Cambridge cox Thomas Selby Egan coached Oxford, the first time that either crew had been trained by a member of the opposing university.

[10][11] Three members of the Oxford crew had participated in the previous meeting of the universities in December 1849, Houghton, Joseph William Chitty and the cox, Cotton.

[11] Cambridge won the toss and elected to start on the Surrey side of the river, handing the Middlesex station to Oxford.

[13] Cambridge, following Coombe's advice, opted to shoot the bridge towards the Surrey side and in doing so "lost the stream" and allowed Oxford to extend their lead.