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Boat Race That Wasn't

Oxford and Cambridge battle it out in traditional fashion on the River Thames.

Non-Fiction 1925 4 mins Silent

Overview

Topical Budget's intrepid camera crew take to the water for the annual University boat race - a firm sporting favourite and focus for inter-university rivalry. 1925 was an eventful year as the Oxford team were caught short at Hammersmith when their boat became waterlogged, leaving Cambridge to secure a hollow victory. Not the first time a boat had sunk during the race: in 1912 a gale forced both teams under.

Unusually long by Topical Budget’s standards, the extended coverage of this newsreel item reflects both the popularity of the event and the logistical achievements of the film crew who went some lengths to capture the action.