The 49th Boat Race took place on 9 April 1892. The Boat Race is an annual side-by-side rowing race between crews from the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge along the River Thames. Oxford went into the event as reigning champions, having won the previous year's race. In total, twelve of the competitors had previous Boat Race experience. In a race umpired by former rower Frank Willan, Oxford won by lengths in a time of 19 minutes 10 seconds. It was their third consecutive victory and the fastest in the history of the event at that time.
Background
is a side-by-side rowing competition between the boat clubs of University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge. The race was first held in 1829, and since 1845 has taken place on the Championship Course on the River Thames in southwest London. The rivalry is a major point of honour between the two universities; as of 2014 it is followed throughout the United Kingdom and broadcast worldwide. Oxford went into the race as reigning champions, having beaten Cambridge by half a length in the previous year's race, and held the overall lead, with 25 victories to Cambridge's 22. Oxford's coaches were F. P. Bully, R. C. Lehmann Douglas McLean, and Guy Nickalls. Lehmann had briefly coached Cambridge in the "early stages" of their preparation. The umpire for the race for the fourth year in a row was Frank Willan who won the event four consecutive times, rowing for Oxford in the 1866, 1867, 1868 and 1869 races.
Crews
The Oxford crew weighed an average of 12 st 3 lb, per rower more than their opponents. Cambridge's crew contained two rowers with no experience in the event, Robert Grieve Neill rowing at number two and Graham Campbell Kerr at number six. Four of their crew attended Trinity Hall. Oxford saw four rowers and the cox return from the previous year's race, and included Guy Nickalls rowing in his fourth consecutive event. Six of the Dark Blues had been pupils at Eton College, and four were studying at Magdalen College. One rower was registered as non-British: Edward Wason Lord for Cambridge hailed from Australia, having attending Brisbane Grammar School. rowed at bow for Oxford.
Race
Oxford won the toss and elected to start from the Middlesex station, handing the Surrey side of the river to Cambridge, the pre-race favourites. Conditions for the race were described by Drinkwater as "perfect" with a light breeze from the east and a good tide. Oxford led from the start and were half a length ahead by Craven Steps, extending to almost a length at Harrods Furniture Depository. A spurt from Cambridge's stroke Gerard Elin reduced the deficit and by Hammersmith Bridge they were half a length down. A malfunctioning slide rendered Elin's contributions to the Light Blues' efforts negligible and Oxford accelerated away, being two lengths up by Chiswick and four lengths ahead as they passed under Barnes Bridge. They passed the finishing post lengths ahead in a time of 19 minutes and 10 seconds. It was Oxford's third consecutive victory, and was the fastest winning time in the history of the race, beating the 1873 race winning time by 25 seconds.
