Umpired by former Cambridge rower Frederick I. Pitman, Oxford won this year's race by three-quarters of a length in a time of 20 minutes 53 seconds.

Cambridge's crew included two rowers with Boat Race experience in Sidney Swann and Ralph Shove, the former making his third appearance in the event.

The Oxford crew saw five participants return, including Leslie Wormald and cox Henry Wells who were both taking part in their third race.

[10] Edgar Burgess, Swann, Wormald and Ewart Horsfall had all won gold medals in the men's eight at the 1912 Summer Olympics, rowing for Leander Club.

[11][12] Cambridge won the toss and elected to start from the Surrey station, handing the Middlesex side of the river to Oxford.

[10] Umpire Pitman started the race at 4:38 p.m. in conditions described by former author and former Oxford rower George Drinkwater as "almost perfect" but with a "modest" tide.

Taking advantage of the bend in the river, the Light Blues pulled away again and were nearly clear by the time the crews passed below Hammersmith Bridge.