It fell out as many good judges had foretold. If, said they, Oxford can establish an early lead, they will neutralise the stronger finish of the Cambridge crew and win. Oxford did, and they won, for the first time since the war, ending the succession of Cambridge victories. Cambridge in the general opinion were the better crew in form and finish, but Oxford this year had that indefinable something which is beyond all technical excellences, and in the last resort wins the race in sport and in life too.
Oxford won the toss and chose the Surrey side. They got no help from either wind or water by this position, but the bends in the river are mostly in favour of the southernmost craft. At 6.15 the race was started. The Cambridge blades were a trifle quicker into the water, and the Cambridge crew were just in front at the end of the first minute. A splendid struggle for the lead ensued to the mile post. Both crews rowed 34 in the second minute, and later dropped to 32. Rounding the turn at Harrod’s, Oxford quickened slightly, but were still rowing a slower stroke than Cambridge, and went under Hammersmith Bridge about one length to the good. At the slower stroke Oxford continued to gain.
Cambridge began to come up very fast, but Mellen increased the stroke, and was watching Sanders like a cat does a mouse. Sanders continued to gain, closed up the gap, and overlapped Oxford about 200 or 300 yards from the finish. Mellen then made his effort, and, increasing his rate of stroke to 35, more than held his own, and passed the winning post three-quarters of a length to the good, the time being 20 min 54 sec. — ODT London correspondent
Female educators overlooked
At the annual conference of the New Zealand Women Teachers’ Association the opinion was generally expressed that some of the graver problems which now vex the community would be more readily solved if women teachers wore given a more direct voice in controlling the education of girls. Regret was expressed that women teachers were being excluded from new openings in the profession. A discussion took place on the proposal that women should he appointed to the inspectorate. It was stated that the Minister had written that when the next vacancy occurred he would see if such an appointment was feasible. Since then vacancies had occurred, but no women had been appointed.
Regarding the position of women for junior high schools, the following were passed: That in some of the junior high schools the principal should be a woman. That there should be a vice-principal, and where the principal was a man the vice-principal should be a woman. All the delegates supported this view strongly, the opinion being expressed that there was absolutely no reason why some of the principals of junior high schools should not be women. It was decided that, in view of the number of women preparing for, and in, the profession, the association wishes to protest that no training college has a woman as vice-principal.
— ODT, 16.5.1923 (Compiled by Peter Dowden)
