Eights 1925Eights 1925
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Favourable weather prevailed for the first day's racing of the Oxford University Summer Eights, and the river banks and college barges were thronged with spectators. The course was from near Iffley to Salter's Barge, and the boats, thirty nine in number, started the usual 130yds [sic, presumably 130 feet] apart in three divisions. There were several bumps during the afternoon. Details ... [essentially identical to those reported in The Times].
The Summer Eights were begun at Oxford yesterday, several bumps being made during the afternoon. The results were :—Third Division
Order of Starting.— Worcester II, Brasenose II, Wadham II, Keble, St. Catharine's, Magdalen III, Oriel II, Trinity II, University II, Lincoln II, Pembroke II, St. John's II, St. Edmund Hall, Jesus II. Brasenose II gradually gained on Worcester II from the start, but three-quarters of a length separated them at the finish. St. Catharine's bumped Keble before reacing the Long Bridges, and Trinity II were bumped by University II near the Freewater Stone. Lincoln II were bumped by Pembroke II at the Red Post and St. John's II were bumped at the Free Ferry by St. Edmund Hall.Second Divison
Order of starting.— Wadham, Magdalen II, University, Balliol, New College II, Hertford, Corpus Christi, St. John's, Jesus, Queen's II, Balliol II, Merton II, Christ Church II, Worcester II. University got within half a length of Magdalen II, who reached the post after a spurt three-quarters of a length to the good. Hertford gained rapidly on New College II after passing the Weirs Bridge, and effected their bump a short distance from the spot. St. John's bumped Corpus Christi at the Long Bridges, and Balliol II bumped Queen's II near the Freewater Stone.First Division
Order of starting.— Christ Church, Magdalen, New College, Trinity, Merton, Worcester, Brasenose, Oriel, Lincoln, Queen's, Pembroke, Exeter, Wadham. Christ Church retained the leading position without difficulty, and Magdalen increased their starting distance from New College. Merton bumped Trinity at the Long Bridges, Worcester were bumped by Brasenose after passing the Free Ferry, Queen's bumped Lincoln near the Freewater Stone, and Exeter bumped Pembroke just before reaching the Long Bridges.The races will be continued to-day.
The Oxford Summer Eights were continued yesterday, when there was again a large attendance of spectators. The results were :—Third Division
Order of Starting :— Worcester II, Brasenose II, Wadham II, St. Catharine's, Keble, Magdalen III, Oriel II, University II, Trinity II, Pembroke II, Lincoln II, St. Edmund Hall, St. John's II, Jesus II. Worcester and Brasenose had a hard race for half the course, but Brasenose fell away after passing Saunders's Bridge, and Worcester reached the post a length in front. St. Catharine's gained quickly on Wadham II and bumped them at the Free Ferry. Keble were bumped by Magadlen III at the Free Water Stone, and shortly before reaching the Long Bridges Oriel II were bumped by University II. Pembroke II bumped Trinity II, and Lincoln [II] were bumped by St. Edmund Hall at the Green Bank. A close race between St. John's II and Jesus II resulted in the former reaching the post only half a length in front.Second Division
Order of Starting :— Wadham, Magdalen II, University, Balliol, Hertford, New College II, St. John's, Corpus, Jesus, Balliol II, Queen's II, Merton II, Christ Church II, Worcester II. Hertford, after a bad start, were bumped by New College II at the Willows. The only other change in this Division was the bumping of Queen's II by Merton near the Long Bridges.First Division
Order of Starting :— Christ Church, Magdalen, New College, Merton, Trinity, Brasenose, Worcester, Oriel, Queen's, Lincoln, Exeter, Pembroke, Wadham. The leading boat kept their position with comparative ease, finishing about five lengths in front of Magdalen, who were hard pressed by New College. Brasenose bumped Trinity at the Free Ferry, and a short distance from there Oriel bumped Worcester. Exeter bumped Lincoln before the Long Bridges, and at the Free Water Stone Pembroke were bumped by Wadham.
To those who saw the practice for the Boat Race, the immediate outlook of Oxford rowing cannot have appeared any too reassuring, but, as often happens, when the Boat Race crew of a University is not quite up to the average, Summer Eights are. Since the war it has especially been noticeable that the Colleges of the University which has been beaten in the Boat Race have been particularly to the fore at Henley, and the same is likely to be true of Oxford this year.Another fact that impresses the spectator of Summer Eights this year is how Colleges, and those at the head of the river especially, are producing the same type of crew year after year as they did before the war. Not that there is any definite College style to be compared with the Jesus style at Cambridge, but the Christ Church, Magdalen, Merton, and Brasenose crews, and, to a less extent, the New College crews, row with the same merits or defects as they have in the past four years, and it would be almost possible for one who has seen the crews of these Colleges for the last few years to distinguish their crews of this year, even were they wearing no colours.
If Oxford Summer Eights were to be judged by the best crew alone, it would be hard to praise them high enough. Ever since a Balliol crew with five Blues went down four places [I can't work out which year this refers to; Balliol had 5 Blues in 1899 but rowed over every day, the 1922 and 1923 crews both went down 5 places, but would not have contained more than a couple Blues] it has been tradition at Oxford that it is bad to have too many Blues in a Summer Eight, but the Christ Church crew, with five Blues and a spare man, which is rowing Head of the River, is in a different class from any Summer Eight crew which has been seen since the war. It is well together, rhythmical, and the blade-work is excellent. It must be remembered that the Magdalen crews which won the Grand Challenge Cup in 1920 and 1921 were not the same as those which rowed in Summer Eights, and if this Christ Church crew is not yet as good as those there is no reason why it should not be better when Henley comes. Unfortunately, most of the crew have "Schools," and these are a great handicap, coming, as they do, actually in Regatta week. Prospects, however, are very bright, even allowing for this.
The crew in practice succeeded in beating the long-standing "record" of 1min. 23sec. to Weir's Bridge by 2sec. Even though the stream is supposed to have been accelerated by the new weir at Iffley, any crew that can do this has very exceptional speed. The bold experiment of relegating the University stroke [Campbell] to No. 4 and putting Edwards, the University No. 3, at stroke has succeeded. it will be remembered that Edwards showed an unusual similarity of form to Gadsden during training, and the blending of these two is just what is needed. Edwards can give them rhythm and length which, fine racer that he is, Campbell never could, and with this to help them, the other Blues in the boat are all at the top of their form.
Magdalen, the second crew on the river, are very like the Magdalen crews of the past four years. They are really well together, and rhythmical, but they are not so fast as their rowing would warrant. Had they one really strong man in the middle of the boat to give them punch, they would probably have pace, but, though they look the second fastest on the river in a practice row, in some mysterious way they lack pace. New College have gained on them every night so far, and Merton and Brasenose are each faster than the one in front, but not fast enough, one suspects, to effect a bump. New College have no oarsmen of any note in their crew, and they have exaggerated their chief fault of former years — namely, a hang over the stretcher. This makes them appear not to be working very hard, but the impression is a false one, as it has been in all New College crews since 1919. They get a good leg drive together in the middle of the stroke, and though not so attractive a crew as Magdalen, they are faster.
Merton again are reminiscent of former years. They have been coached by Mr. Bucknall and Mr. Raikes who, both of them notable racers in the past themselves, have evidently determined that the Merton crew, if they cannot be stylists, should make up for their somewhat ragged bladework and lack of rhythm by hard work. They may be considered the third fastest crew after Christ Church and Brasenose, and, capable as they are of great improvement, they should be a dangerous entry for the Ladies' Plate, if they decide to go to Henley. Brasenose, in which the ex-President [Mower-White] is rowing at No. 5, have all the length and rhythm of Mellen's two Brasenose crews, and Harrison, the stroke, should be watched if it is decided that Edwards cannot be spared to row stroke in next year's University crew, when Gadsden will be no longer there to row at No. 7. The crew does not appear capable of commanding a high rate of stroke, however, and there is a hint about it of that ponderosity which is so oftern mistraken for "stride" in a University crew. Having bumped Worcester and Trinity with ease on the first two nights, many expected them to go up to second, but they, like Magdalen, have not the pace which their style suggests, and a ragged crew like Merton found little difficulty in keeping away from them on Saturday.
Oriel and Exeter, who have both made two bumps, are rough, but have length and drive. Yet there is no crew in the First Division comparable to Christ Church, who have always paddled over with ease.
In the Second Division University are not so good a crew as the presence of the University No. 6 should have made them, and Thomson himself has unfortunately been adversely affected by rowing in an indifferent crew. It is to be hoped that he will find his form again, but, if not, he would be by no means the first promising Freshman to have lost his form in this way. In the Second and Third Divisions the rowing, as a whole, is up to, but not above the average. The chief fault, it must be admitted, is the lack of hard work on the part of the men rowing at Nos. 5 and 6. Sliding, on the whole, is not bad, but the wristwork is not so good as it should be, and this is true of the First Division also. Some mention should be made of the St. Catherine's crew, who are quite easily the best in the Third Division, and are likely to reach the Second Division, a position which they have not occupied for very many years, if at all [actually 1923]. They bumped a good Brasenose II crew, containing three school eights men, and are rowing in a manner in which one rarely sees displayed so low on the river.
Unfortunately, there are few new oarsmen whom one is able to pick out as being promising, and it is difficult to see at present where two Trial Eights are coming from next year, but possibly Henley will be more enlightening, and the schools may send up some good Freshmen. Beyond the Brasenose stroke, No. 5 in the Magdalen crew is the only comparative novice who shows promise for the future.
Saturday's Racing
There was again a big crowd on the river banks and college barges at Oxford on Saturday for the third day's racing of the Summer Eights. The results were:—
Third Division
Order of Starting.— Worcester II, Brasenose II, St. Catherine's, Wadham II, Magdalen III, Keble, University II, Oriel II, Pembroke II, Trinity II, St. Edmund Hall, Lincoln II, St. John's II, Jesus II. The first three boats were close together for some distance, and eventually St. Catherine's bumped Brasenose II at the Willows. Magdalen II [III?] gained on Wadham II from the start, and bumped them near the Long Bridges. Keble were bumped for the third time, University [II] bumping them near the Freewater Stone, so scoring their third bump. A good race between St. Edmund Hall and Lincoln II resulted in the former getting home by only a quarter of a length.Second Division
Order of Starting.— Pembroke, Magdalen II, University, Balliol, New College II, Hertford, St. John's, Corpus, Jesus, Balliol II, Merton II, Queen's II, Christ Church II, Worcester II. Pembroke were only half a length in front of Magdalen II at the post, and a similar distance separated University and Balliol. Hertford were bumped by St. John's as they were nearing the Long Bridges, Balliol II were bumped by Merton II at the Willows, and Christ Church II bumped Queen's II at the Freewater Stone.First Division
Order of Starting.— Christ Church, Magdalen, New College, Merton, Brasenose, Trinity, Oriel, Worcester, Queen's, Exeter, Lincoln, Wadham, Pembroke. Christ Church again easily maintained their position, reaching the post fully six lengths in front of Magdalen, who escaped being bumped by New College by only half a length, who in turn finished only a third of a length from Merton. Trinity were quickly bumped by Oriel, the bump occurring at the Free Ferry, and a short distance further on Queen's bumped Worcester. Lincoln were bumped by Wadham at the Willows.The racing will be continued to-day.
The summer eights were continued at Oxford yesterday in fine weather.Third Division
Order of Starting :— Worcester II, St. Catherine's, Brasenose II, Magdalen III, Wadham II, University II, Keble, Oriel II, Pembroke II, Trinity II, St. Edmund Hall, Lincoln II, St. John's II, and Jesus II. An exciting struggle for the headship of the division took place between Worcester II and St. Catherine's, the latter getting to within a yard at the Boathouse, but Worcester II spurted and reached the post three-quarters of a length to the good. Wadham II were soon overtaken by University II, the bump taking place before going out of Iffley Reach. Keble were bumped by Oriel II near the Red Post and St. John's II bumped Lincoln II at the Launch Works.Second Division
Order of Starting.— Pembroke, Magdalen II, University, Balliol, New College II, St. John's, Hertford, Corpus Christi, Jesus, Merton II, Balliol II, Christ Church II, Queen's II, and Worcester II. Balliol bumped University near the Long Bridges, and Hertford were bumped by Corpus Christi near the Free Ferry. Balliol II were bumped by Christ Church II at the Freewater Stone and Queen's II were bumped by Worcester II at the Long Bridges.First Division
Order of Starting.— Christ Church, Magdalen, New College, Merton, Brasenose, Oriel, Trinity, Queen's, Worcester, Exeter, Wadham, Lincoln, and Pembroke. The leading boat again easily kept its position, leading Magdalen by quite half a dozen lengths at the finish. New College pressed Magdalen for some distance, and were only half a length behind at the post. Brasenose bumped Merton under the Willows, and Trinity were bumped by Queen's shortly after passing the Freewater Stone. Exeter bumped Worcester early in the race, effecting their bump at the Weir Bridge.The races will be continued to-day.
There was a falling off in the attendance on the College Barges and the riverside when racing in the Summer Eights was continued at Oxford yesterday.Third Division
Order of Starting.— Queen's II, St. Catherine's, Brasenose II, Magdalen III, University II, Wadham II, Oriel II, Keble, Pembroke II, Trinity II, St. Edmund Hall, St. John's II, Lincoln II, and Jesus II. Queen's II sustained their fifth reverse, St. Catherine's bumping them at the Green Bank, and University II gained their fifth success by bumping Magdalen III at the Boathouse. Keble also lost a fifth place, Pembroke II bumping them at the Freewater Stone. St. Edmund Hall bumped Trinity II opposite the Oriel Barge. The last three boats provided an exciting struggle. Jesus II in the last 200 yards spurted and bumped Lincoln II on the post, the latter being but a few feet from St. John's II.Second Division
Order of Starting.— Pembroke, Magdalen II, Balliol, University, New College II, St. John's, Corpus Christi, Hertford, Jesus, Merton II, Christ Church II, Balliol II, Worcester II, and Queen's II. Balliol got within half a length of Magdalen II at the finish. Near the Long Bridges University were delayed through one of the crew catching a crab and were bumped by New College II, and shortly after passing the Freewater Stone Jesus bumped Hertford. The remaining boats passed the post at about their starting distances apart.First Division
Order of starting.— Christ Church, Magdalen, New College, Brasenose, Merton, Oriel, Queen's, Trinity, Exeter, Worcester, Wadham, Lincoln, and Pembroke. Christ Church paddled up several lengths in front of Magdalen, Brasenose quickly overtook New College, bumping them at the Weirs Bridge. Queen's bumped Oriel at the Willows; Exeter bumped Trinity at the Red Post; and Wadham bumped Worcester at the Free Ferry. Both Trinity and Worcester met with their fifth reverse.The races will be concluded to-day.
The Summer Eights were concluded at Oxford yesterday.Third Division
Order of Starting.— St. Catherine's, Queen's II, Brasenose II, University II, Magdalen III, Wadham II, Oriel II, Pembroke II, Keble, St. Edmund Hall, Trinity II, St. John's II, Jesus II, and Lincoln II. An exciting race took place between Queen's II, Brasenose II, and University II, and at the Willows Brasenose II bumped Queen's II, University II being close up to Brasenose II at the time. Oriel II gained on Wadham II until at the Green Bank they overlapped, but missed their bump, and at the finish Wadham II were barely a quarter of a length to the good. Keble were bumped by St. Edmund Hall at the Green Bank, and St. John's II were bumped by Jesus II, after passing the Freewater Stone.Second Division
Order of Starting.— Pembroke, Magdalen II, Balliol, New College II, University, St. John's, Corpus, Jesus, Hertford, Merton II, Christ Church II, Balliol II, Worcester II, and St. Catherine's. Balliol bumped Magdalen II shortly after passing the College Barge. Merton II bumped Hertford near the Freewater Stone, and Balliol II were bumped by Worcester II at the Long Bridges.First Division
Order of Starting.— Christ Church, Magdalen, Brasenose, New College, Merton, Queen's, Oriel, Exeter, Trinity, Wadham, Worcester, Lincoln, and Pembroke. Christ Church kept their position as head of the River with the greatest ease, finishing some lengths over the starting distance from Magdalen, who were very nearly caught by Brasenose after passing the Freewater Stone, but the bump was not long delayed, as they made it at the Oriel Barge. Exeter bumped Oriel near the Freewater Stone. Trinity were bumped early in the race, Wadham overtaking them near the Free Ferry, and Lincoln bumped Worcester at the Freewater Stone.
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