The Boat Race 1947

In a race umpired by former Oxford rower D. T. Raikes, Cambridge won by ten lengths in a time of 23 minutes 1 second, taking the overall record in the event to 49–43 in their favour.

[10] The rowing correspondent for The Times suggested that Oxford could win, claiming they had an "embarras de richesse" while Cambridge "started this year with a grievous shortage of material".

[12] That view was echoed in the Dundee Evening Telegraph, who also suggested that Oxford were favourites yet "abnormal flooding" would favour the crew who won the toss.

[14] The Cambridge University Boat Club president, M. A. Nicholson was declared unfit to row following a series of bouts of asthma.

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

[9] Out-rating Oxford by two strokes per minute, the Light Blues took an immediate lead and by Craven Steps they were pulling away from their opponents.