The Boat Race 1974

[6] During preparation for the race, both crews were defeated on the Thames by the Lubrication Laboratory boat from Imperial College London.

[8] Jim Railton, writing in The Times was not impressed: "It has already been well established that there are no top class crews in this ... Boat Race.

[11] Oxford saw four Blues return to their crew, Nick Tee, Sam Nevin, Dennis Payne and American Olympian David Sawyier, while Cambridge welcomed back two – Ben Duncan and Howard Jacobs.

Despite this, by the Mile Post, Oxford were just one-third of a length clear, and while Cambridge's stroke rate was lower than their Dark Blue opposition, they remained in contention.

By Hammersmith Bridge, Oxford held a two-length lead, and despite favourable wind and ride, Cambridge failed to respond.

Oxford passed the finishing post in a record-breaking time of 17 minutes 35 seconds, breaking the existing record from the 1948 race, 5+1⁄2 lengths clear of the Light Blues.