The 42nd Boat Race took place on 28 March 1885. Held annually, the Boat Race is a side-by-side rowing race between crews from the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge along the River Thames. In a race umpired by former Cambridge rower Robert Lewis-Lloyd, the lead changed hands several times. Oxford won by a margin of 2+1⁄2 lengths in a time of 21 minutes 36 seconds. The victory took the overall record to 23–18 in favour of Oxford.