The Boat Race 1897

54th Boat Race
Date3 April 1897 (1897-04-03)
WinnerOxford
Margin of victory2+12 lengths
Winning time19 minutes 12 seconds
Overall record
(Cambridge–Oxford)
22–31
UmpireFrank Willan
(Oxford)

The 54th Boat Race took place on 3 April 1897. 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 race as reigning champions, having won the previous year's race. The crews were almost evenly matched weight-wise, Oxford marginally the heavier, whose crew consisted almost entirely of veterans of the event. In a race umpired by former rower Frank Willan, Oxford won by 2+12 lengths in a time of 19 minutes 12 seconds, the victory taking the overall record to 31–22 in their favour. It was Oxford's eighth consecutive victory and the third fastest winning time in the history of the event.