The Boat Race 1868

Oxford cox Charles Tottenham became the first person in the history of the event to win five Boat Races, and Cambridge saw their first non-British rower compete.

[4] In February 1868, former Cambridge Blue Hon J. H. Gordon was found fatally wounded in his room from an accidentally self-inflicted gun discharge.

This resulted in Cambridge University Boat Club president John Still requesting that the usual challenge, which had been sent to Oxford in the Lent term, be rescinded.

[14] The Light Blue cox, Thomas Warner, was the first registered non-British competitor to represent the university, having studied at Melbourne Church of England Grammar School in Australia before becoming an alumnus of Trinity Hall.

[9] As a result of a number of boats moored on the north bank of the river, the tide which would have assisted the Light Blues was substantially blocked.

[4] Willan paid tribute to his cox: "In conclusion, I must again testify to the splendid steering of Tottenham, who for the fifth and I am sorry to say for the last time has contributed mainly to our victory over Cambridge.