Eights 1898

BUMPS CHARTS

STANDINGS Start Finish Pos College Pts Pts College 1 New College 22 22 New College 2 Magdalen 19 19 Magdalen 3 Trinity 16 16 Balliol 4 University 14 14 Trinity 5 Balliol 12 12 University 6 Christ Church 11 11 Christ Church 7 Exeter 9 9 Brasenose 8 Brasenose 8 8 Hertford 9 Hertford 7 7 Merton 10 Queen's 6 6 Queen's 11 St John's 5 5 Exeter 12 Pembroke 4 4 Worcester 13 Jesus 4 4 St John's 14 Keble 3 3 Keble 15 Corpus Christi 3 3 Pembroke 16 Merton 2 2 Corpus Christi 17 Worcester 2 2 Lincoln 18 Lincoln 2 2 St Catherine's 19 Wadham 2 2 Jesus 20 Oriel 1 1 Wadham 21 St Catherine's 1 1 Oriel 22 S.E.H. 1 1 S.E.H.

STATISTICS College All Crews [ ]=ranking Crews Bps Avg Merton 1[ 1] 7[ 1] 7.00[ 1] Worcester 1[ 1] 5[ 2] 5.00[ 2] St Catherine's 1[ 1] 3[ 3] 3.00[ 3] Balliol 1[ 1] 2[ 4] 2.00[ 4] Lincoln 1[ 1] 1[ 5] 1.00[ 5] Hertford 1[ 1] 1[ 5] 1.00[ 5] Brasenose 1[ 1] 1[ 5] 1.00[ 5] S.E.H. 1[ 1] 0[ 8] 0.00[ 8] Keble 1[ 1] 0[ 8] 0.00[ 8] Queen's 1[ 1] 0[ 8] 0.00[ 8] Christ Church 1[ 1] 0[ 8] 0.00[ 8] Magdalen 1[ 1] 0[ 8] 0.00[ 8] New College 1[ 1] 0[ 8] 0.00[ 8] Oriel 1[ 1] -1[14] -1.00[14] Wadham 1[ 1] -1[14] -1.00[14] Corpus Christi 1[ 1] -1[14] -1.00[14] University 1[ 1] -1[14] -1.00[14] Trinity 1[ 1] -1[14] -1.00[14] St John's 1[ 1] -2[19] -2.00[19] Pembroke 1[ 1] -3[20] -3.00[20] Exeter 1[ 1] -4[21] -4.00[21] Jesus 1[ 1] -6[22] -6.00[22]

Notes

• 6 days: Thu 19 – Wed 25 May 1898
• Notes from Sherwood
  • Second night: St. Catharine's blocked at the Cherwell; Oriel rowed past them but were rebumped.
  • Third night: Brasenose caught a crab and were rebumped by Hertford.
  • Fifth night: Brasenose broke a stretcher and were rebumped by Hertford.
• From the main text of Sherwood (p.43)

  [1898] An extraordinary number of bumps were caused by crews failing to clear out of the way, and consequently the rule to punish failure in this respect was made more stringent.

• The Times Fri 20 May

  The summer Eights began at Oxford yesterday in miserable weather, heavy rain falling as each division was rowed.

  The second division started at half-past 4 in the following order :— St. John's, Pembroke, Jesus, Keble, Corpus, Merton, Worcester, Lincoln, Wadham, Oriel, St. Catherine's, St. Edmund Hall. Pembroke got badly away, and St. John's gained at starting , but Pembroke soon recovered the lost ground, and, steadily improving their position, were within a length at Magdalen Barge. St. John's, however, held their own and were more than half a length to the good at the finish. Keble went off in capital style and caught Jesus as they came out of the Gut. Then followed a fine race between Corpus, Merton, and Worcester: the last named gained on Merton at the start, three-quarters of a length separating them at the Gut. In the meantime Merton had drawn on Corpus, who had ultimately to resign their position at the Hertford Barge. Wadham were faster than Lincoln, but failed to bump, and Oriel succumbed to St. Catherine's at the boathouse.

  The order of starting of the first division was :— New College, Magdalen, Trinity, University, Balliol, Christ Church, Exeter, Brasenose, Hertford, Queen's, St. John's. Magdalen gained considerably up to the Gut, from which point the longer stroke of New College told, and, getting away again, they reached home a length and a quarter to the good. Trinity followed several lengths in the rear of Magdalen, and University proved no match for Balliol, who ran into them just before reaching the Gut. Christ Church rowed over, Exeter falling victims to Brasenose at the Freewater Stone. Hertford also paddled over, as Queen's made a bad start, and, being blown into the bank, St John's secured them without any difficulty.

• The Times Sat 21 May

  In spite of the rain there was a good attendance yesterday at the Second Division races. The boats started in the following order :— Queen's, Pembroke, Keble, Jesus, Merton, Corpus, Worcester, Lincoln, Wadham, St. Catherine's, Oriel, and St. Edmund Hall. Pembroke were overtaken by Keble near the Worcester Barge. Merton gained on Jesus early in the race and succeeded in making the bump just after passing the long bridges. After an exciting struggle between Corpus and Worcester the latter were successful opposite their own barge. The boats which had bumped almost blocked the course, and although Lincoln and Wadham managed to pass safely, St. Catherine's, who had been pressing Wadham, were not so fortunate, and ran into Keble, whose stroke sought refuge in the water to escape injury. St. Catherine's riggers got locked, and Oriel, rowing past them, gained a place.

  In the First Division the order of starting was :— New College, Magdalen, Trinity, Balliol, University, Christ Church, Brasenose, Exeter, Hertford, St. John's, and Queen's. Magdalen drew on to New College over the first part of the course, but from the boathouse New came away and finished with more than half a length to the good. There was a fine race between Balliol and Trinity, the former gaining rapidly from the gut, and at the crossing overlapping by a few feet. Trinity, however, rowed on in most determined fashion, and Balliol showing signs of distress by the Cherwell, Trinity drew away again, and passed the post a length to the good. Balliol were four lengths ahead of University, and Christ Church, although losing ground to Brasenose, escaped by a third of a length. Exeter succumbed to Hertford in the gut. A capital race was witnessed between St. John's, and Queen's, but the former got home by a few yards.

• The Times Mon 23 May

  The attendance on Saturday at the Oxford University Summer Eight-oar Races was much larger than on the previous evenings.

  The second division started in the following order :— Queen's, Keble, Pembroke, Merton, Jesus, Worcester, Corpus, Lincoln, Wadham, Oriel, St. Catherine's, and St. Edmund Hall. Queen's were in no danger from Keble. The efforts of Pembroke to get away Merton, who had succeeded in making bumps on Thursday and Friday, were fruitless. At the ferry Merton gained rapidly, and scored their third victory just after passing the Long-bridges. Jesus once more had to lower their colours, being overtaken by Worcester early in the race. There was an exciting struggle between Corpus and Lincoln as far as the Gut, and the position of the latter at one time was most gratifying to their friends, but they were interfered with by the boats in which the crews had ceased rowing, and Corpus got away. St. Catherine's regained the position they lost on Friday evening, owing to their riggers getting locked, by catching Oriel opposite the Freewater stone.

  The order of starting in the first division was as under :— New College, Magdalen, Trinity, Balliol, University, Christ Church, Brasenose, Hertford, Exeter, St. John's, and Queen's. The struggle for the headship was watched with the keenest interest. New College kept well away as far as the Willows; at this point the Magdalen men responded in determined style to a spurt by God, but it was in vain, and New College passed the post quite a third of a length to the good. Trinity, who found it a hard matter to escape Balliol on Friday, were compelled to acknowledge defeat near Rough's boathouse. University were a long distance in front of Christ Church. Brasenose got off very badly, and were quickly overtaken by Hertford. On the opening night Queen's were blown into the bank and fell to St. John's, but they recovered their position on Saturday by bumping St. John's at the Willows.

• The Times Tue 24 May

  The weather was fine at Oxford, yesterday, and there was a very large attendance at the University Summer Eight-oar races.

  The second division started in the following order :— St. John's, Keble, Merton, Pembroke, Worcester, Jesus, Corpus, Lincoln, Wadham, St. Catherine's, Oriel, and St. Edmund Hall. A fine race was witnessed between the three leading boats up Iffley Reach, Keble gaining on St. John's, whilst Merton in turn passed Keble. Merton, who, so far, have gained a place every night, came up rapidly from the Freewater Stone, and continued their upward career by bumping Keble near the green bank, Keble at the time being within three quarters of a length of St. John's. Worcester, who have also been successful, proved much faster than Pembroke, and the latter had to give way before they were clear of the Gut. Jesus were again unfortunate, as they had to lwoer their colours to Corpus at the Long Bridges, and Lincoln were hard pressed all the way up by Wadham, but, after a good struggle, reached home half a length to the good.

  The first division started in the following order :— New College, Magdalen, Balliol, Trinity, University, Christ Church, Hertford, Brasenose, Exeter, Queen's, and St. John's. New College did better than on any evening, and were not at any time in danger of being overtaken. Balliol displayed excellent form, and were withing a quarter of a length of Magdalen at the Gut. As they neared their barge Magdalen spurted and passed the post three quarters of a length to the good. Hertford, who bumped Brasenose on Saturday in consequence of the latter being blown into the bank, were deprived of the position at the crossing, and Exeter gave way to Queen's in Iffley Reach.

• The Times Wed 25 May

  Charming weather prevailed at Oxford, yesterday, and the attendance was much larger than has been the case hitherto at the University eight-oar races.

  The second division started in the following order :— St. John's, Merton, Keble, Worcester, Pembroke, Corpus, Jesus, Lincoln, Wadham, St. Catherine's, Oriel, and St. Edmund Hall. Merton continued their sequence of successes by securing St. John's just at the end of the willows. Worcester also added one more to their list of victories by overtaking Keble before the latter got through the Gut. A splendid struggle ensued between Pembroke, and Corpus. Although Corpus overlapped at the boathouse, Pembroke drew away again, and finished a quarter of a length to the good. Jesus proved no match for Lincoln, who caught them just after passing the ferry, and although St. Catherine's were right on Wadham at the willows the excellent coxing of the latter boat enabled them to escape disaster until opposite the Hertford Barge.

  The first division order of starting was :— New College, Magdalen, Balliol, Trinity, University, Christ Church, Brasenose, Hertford, Queen's, Exeter, and Merton. New College displayed excellent form and maintained their position in front of Magdalen without difficulty, leading at the finish by quite a length. Balliol failed to cause any anxiety to Magdalen, and Trinity, University, and Christ Church were all well away from each other. Brasenose and Hertford exchanged places for the third time, Brasenose on this occasion breaking a slide and succumbing to Hertford on nearing the ferry, whilst Merton followed up their success in the second division by securing Exeter at the commencement of the green bank, this making the sixth bump in five nights.

• The Times Thu 26 May

  The eights at Oxford, which were concluded yesterday, were very largely attended.

  The second division started in the following order :— Exeter, St. John's, Worcester, Keble, Pembroke, Corpus, Lincoln, Jesus, St. Catherine's, Wadham, Oriel, and St. Edmund Hall. Exeter, who had hitherto lost a place each day, managed to retain their position at the head of the division. They were hard pressed by St. John's, in the Gut, but were relieved of any anxiety by Worcester's bumping of St. John's at the Long Bridges Keble were two lengths ahead of Pembroke and had gained quite that distance on Exeter. Pembroke had a hard struggle with Corpus, who in turn were hard pressed by Lincoln. Lincoln were within a couple of yards at the Gut, but along the wall they dropped back, and Corpus continued their struggle with Pembroke, who reached home with about three yards to spare. St. Catherine's made their third bump by catching Jesus in Iffley Reach.

  In the first division the order of starting was New College, Magdalen, Balliol, Trinity, University, Christ Church, Hertford, Brasenose, Queen's, Merton, and Exeter. The first six boats came up some distance apart. New College retained the headship without much difficulty, but Magdalen lost ground to Balliol. Hertford for the fourth time changed places with Brasenose, the latter, after a determined struggle, rebumping at the Hertford barge. A capital race was witnessed between Queen's and Merton. The latter were successful at the Cherwell, thus making seven bumps in the six night — a performance which gained them an enthusiastic reception on returning to their college barge, where they were welcomed by the Warden, the Hon. G. C. Brodrick.

  The article concludes with the finishing order.

• In other news ... [1898]

  Thu 12 May

  Spanish-American War: the Puerto Rican Campaign begins, with the Bombardment of San Juan

  Fri 27 May

  The territory of Kwang-Chou-Wan is leased by China to France, according to the Treaty of 12 April 1892, as the Territoire de Kouang-Tchéou-Wan, forming part of French Indochina

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