The Boat Race 1955

The race, in which the Cambridge crew was substantially heavier than their opponents and where there were more non-British participants than ever before, was umpired by former Oxford rower Gerald Ellison.

[5][6] Cambridge were coached by J. R. F. Best, G. Bogland-Wood, Thom Langton (who had rowed in the 1937 and 1938 races), Derek Mays-Smith and James Owen.

[10] The race saw more non-British participants than ever before: Oxford's crew included four Australians in Gobbo, E. V. Vine, J. G. McLeod and Edward Pain, while Cambridge's had two Harvard University rowers in P. du Bois and Robert Monks.

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

[15] Maintaining the higher stroke rate, the Dark Blues passed Craven Steps with a canvas-length lead in a record time.

Taking advantage of the bend in the river, Cambridge first drew level before holding a quarter-length lead by the time the crews passed the Mile Post.

[15] Cambridge passed below Barnes Bridge thirty seconds ahead and had reduced their rating to 26 strokes per minute, 6 fewer than Oxford who continued to struggle.