Eights 1953Eights 1953
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Merton II chasing St. Catherine's in the second division of the Oxford University summer eights which were continued on Saturday.
Magdalen's chance to go Head
There is every prospect of an interesting week's racing in the Summer Eights, which start at Oxford to-morrow.Some fast times have been recorded in practice, but favourable conditions, and in particular the low level of the river in recent weeks, has no doubt helped, for there does not appear to be any outstanding crew, nor even any really first class one. Magdalen seem to be the strongest crew on the river, and they may well be the fastest. They have that reputation, but I cannot confirm it without having seen Balliol, who have proved somewhat elusive in practice, and will no doubt do their best to remain so in the races.
What does seem clear is that between the first four crews — Balliol, Merton, New College, and Magdalen — there will be a stern fight for supremacy. Merton, with the new president H. M. C. Quick, at seven and another blue, A. J. Smith, at four, have a strong and well drilled crew, but lack poise and rhythm. New College have a blue, R. A. Byatt, at five, but are erratic and show a dangerous tendency to dip over their stretchers; nevertheless they are said to be fast. Magdalen, with four trial eightsmen, have the advantage of a crew with no obvious weak links, and it is they, if any, who should displace Balliol. But it is a hard task to gain three places at the top of the first division.
Two Neat Crews
After these four there is a drop in the standard, though Christ Church and St. Edmund Hall, lying seventh and eighth, are both neat crews. University College, with D. T. H. Davenport and J. S. Howles rowing at six and stroke respectively, as they did in the Oxford crew, are quite formidable, and may well get up behind the leaders. But they are slow in the water and do not look as fast as they should be. Below University there is again a noticeable falling off, and one must look for the few individual crews which might make bumps. Jesus have probably now found their level, and will not find it easy to continue their upward climb, but Oriel should regain most of the five places they lost last year. Wadham, who start twenty-third, have a much better crew than usual, and should get their full share of bumps. There are several useful second eights, but Balliol II, strategically placed near the top of the fourth division, appear to have the best chance for a large number of bumps.It cannot be pretended that the standard of Eights looks high, though there are perhaps less bad crews in the first two divisions than in recent years. The greatest all-round weakness seems to be in stroking, or at least in lack of poise and rhythm, which can, of course, be due to other causes than bad stroking.
The Oxford University Summer Eights, inaugurated in 1818, [sic] will be begun to-day and last for the usual six days. They are rowed in seven divisions, the first at 1.30 and the last at 6.30. The order of starting is:— [...]
Balliol's hard task to hold Headship
The six days racing for the Oxford University Summer Eights, which begin to-day and finish on Wednesday, should provide an exceptionally keen contest for the headship, held by Balliol.It is doubtful, however, if the holders are as fast as any of the next four boats, Merton, New College, Magdalen and Trinity, each of whom have Blues or trial eightsmen (Merton have both). Order of starting: [...]
Balliol managed to stave off the challenge of Merton College when the Oxford University Summer Eights opened in ideal weather on the Isis yesterday, but the challengers were about a canvas away at the finishing-post after a great struggle.Magdalen, reputed to be the fastest crew on the river, disposed of New College in the Gut and are now behind Merton. There were four bumps in the first division and 28 in all, including an over-bump. [Bumps Chart]
The Oxford University Summer Eights began yesterday in ideal weather and with a following wind. In the seven divisions there were 28 bumps and one over-bump, made by: [...]
Merton's Challenge Resisted
The weather deteriorated (the red flag was hoisted on the O.U.B.C. boathouse) and there was a much smaller attendance for the second day of the Oxford University Summer Eights in which 24 bumps and one over-bump were recorded.In the morning University III and Trinity III re-rowed in division V and the bump claimed by the former on Thursday was disallowed, while in division III Christ Church II were awarded the disputed bump over Brasenose II.
There was another close race for the headship with Balliol finishing about a quarter of a length ahead of Merton and Magdalen some distance behind.
In the second day's racing of the Oxford University Summer Eights, bumps were made by: [...]
Keen Struggle for Headship
The five top crews in the Oxford University Summer Eights rowed over on Saturday for the second night in succession. But nothing could be more deceptive than that bare statement, for there was, in fact, a titanic struggle between the first three boats.Magdalen, once again showing the pace which enabled them to catch New College so early on the first night, closed up rapidly on Merton, and were already threatening them in the Gut, while Merton were closing, surely but less quickly, with Balliol. Up the Green Bank Magdalen continued to gain ground steadily, until it seemed that they must make their bump before the O.U.B.C. There can have been no more than 6ft. between the boats at the crossing, and there may well have been even less. As the crews passed the boat houses Magdalen were within striking distance, but they were getting ragged, while Merton were making superhuman efforts to save themselves and to catch the leaders. It soon became apparent that Magdalen had shot their bolt. Balliol, too, had nothing to spare, but it looked as though they would just get home. And so it turned out, the three crews finishing with perhaps a third of a length of clear water between each other.
New College and Trinity also rowed over, well outside their distances, but University College made their third successive bump, at the expense of Christ Church. University College are a powerful crew, if not very lively, and it looks as though they may make things uncomfortable for Trinity and New College before the end of the racing. If so it will be possible to judge how they compare with the three leading crews.
So far the racing has fully confirmed the impression, given in practice, that it is a lack of strokes which is most apparent among this year's crews. There is no shortage of plucky racers, but there is an absence of rhythm which reduces the rowing to a matter of physical strength and courage. [Bumps Chart]
In the Oxford University Summer Eights on Saturday Merton made their third unsuccessful effort to deprive Balliol of the headship. Bumps were made by: [...]
Balliol Scrape Home
The usual close race between the three headboats Balliol, Merton, and Magdalen was repeated on the fourth day of the Oxford University Summer Eights.At the boat house Magdalen were only a few feet from Merton and Merton had a canvas length from Balliol. Along the Wall the distances were slightly increased and in fact there was no change between any of the first eight crews. University College, by failing to catch Trinity, were deprived of a bump for the first time in the four days' racing. [Bumps Chart]
After four days racing Balliol remain Head of the River in the Oxford University Summer Eights. Hard on their heels are Merton, themselves extended by Magdalen. Bumps were made by: [...]
Magdalen Catch Merton
After trying unsuccessfully for four nights Magdalen at last made their bump on Merton yesterday. The wind had veered round so that it was slightly ahead instead of following and this may have helped them.But they must certainly have rowed much better than on the preceeding nights, for they were overlapping by some quarter of a length as the came up the Green Bank and they made their bump about half-way between the Long Bridges and the O.U.B.C. The bump was certainly well deserved and hard-earned, but one must be sorry for Merton, who had fought Magdalen off so gallantly on three occasions and who, yesterday, were within feet of making their own bump on Balliol.
Merton's proper place on the river was, no doubt, second and, had they gone down to Magdalen earlier, it seems probable that they would have finished there, for Balliol could hardly have kept away from them without the advantage of rowing in smooth water at the head of the river. Balliol, too, have rowed most gallantly and will certainly put up a great fight to-night, but, barring accidents, there is every possibility that Magdalen will go head.
During the interval before the first division started, the R.N.L.I. lifeboat Elizabeth Wills Allan, which has been showing the flag up the river, made her way down the course on her way back to London. [Bumps Chart]
Magdalen, after three unsuccessful efforts, yesterday bumped Merton and are now in a position to challenge Balliol for the headship in the Oxford University Summer Eights. A strong head wind was partly responsible for the high number of bumps, 31, made by: [...]
Magdalen Head of the River
Seven Bumps for Oriel
As was to be expected Magdalen went head of the river at Oxford yesterday, which was the closing day of eights week. They bumped Balliol at the top of the green bank.Magdalen have not finished at the head of the river since 1932, but they are no strangers to the position of honour, for this year's success brings their total to 15, one more than New College, but still three fewer than Brasenose, who have finished head 18 times. Magdalen could hardly be called a really good crew, for they were inclined to be clumsy, and did not seem to be good stayers. None the less, they were considerably the fastest crew at Oxford for three or four minutes. On three successive nights they were within striking distance of Merton, only to drop back after the O.U.B.C., a fact for which H. M. C. Quick, rowing seven in the Merton crew, was in no small degree responsible.
Credit for Balliol
But, on Monday, Magdalen excelled themselves, and Merton, who were the second fastest crew at Oxford, at last succumbed. Since it was only fitness and the greatest determination which had kept Balliol away from Merton, they had little chance of evading Magdalen last night. But Balliol, too, deserved the fullest credit for staying head for so long with an inexperienced crew. Their mainstay was the American D. Cadell [Cadle] and one could not but wonder what contribution he might have made to Oxford rowing if the University coaches had persevered with him in 1951.Oriel made their seventh bump yesterday to finish ninth on the river, while Wadham completed six bumps and could, no doubt, have made more if they had had the opportunity. Other successful crews were University and Queen's, who made four bumps each and Hertford, who made six, while Balliol II went up seven places.
Altogether it was a successful eights week, with plenty of hard racing, even if there was a general lack of finesse. Even the weather was kind in that the storm did not finally break until the end of the first division racing last night. [Head crew details, as below] [Bumps Chart]
Magdalen are Head of the River
In a dramatic finish to the Oxford University Summer Eights, Magdalen displaced Balliol and became Head of the River for the first time since 1932. The number of bumps — 172 and two over-bumps — is a record since the seven divisions were instituted. Yesterday's bumps: [...]
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