Eights 1966

BUMPS CHARTS

STANDINGS Start Finish Pos College Pts Pts College 1 S.E.H. 201 191 S.E.H. 2 Keble 157 144 Keble 3 Christ Church 142 143 Christ Church 4 Oriel 118 133 Oriel 5 St John's 112 119 St John's 6 Merton 108 110 Merton 7 Lincoln 108 110 Lincoln 8 Balliol 108 108 University 9 University 104 103 Balliol 10 Queen's 98 99 New College 11 New College 88 85 Queen's 12 Magdalen 85 82 Worcester 13 Exeter 82 80 Magdalen 14 Worcester 73 78 Exeter 15 Brasenose 65 72 Brasenose 16 Hertford 59 62 Pembroke 17 Pembroke 55 55 Hertford 18 Corpus Christi 55 53 Jesus 19 Trinity 51 50 Trinity 20 Jesus 50 50 St Catherine's 21 St Catherine's 50 48 Corpus Christi 22 St Peter's 47 43 St Peter's 23 Wadham 43 43 Wadham 24 Mansfield 3 4 Mansfield

STATISTICS College All Crews [ ]=ranking Crews Bps Avg Worcester 5[ 4] 11[ 1] 2.20[ 3] Oriel 5[ 4] 11[ 1] 2.20[ 3] University 6[ 3] 11[ 1] 1.83[ 6] Brasenose 3[15] 10[ 4] 3.33[ 2] Lincoln 5[ 4] 9[ 5] 1.80[ 7] St John's 5[ 4] 9[ 5] 1.80[ 7] Pembroke 4[10] 7[ 7] 1.75[ 9] Merton 3[15] 6[ 8] 2.00[ 5] Mansfield 1[24] 5[ 9] 5.00[ 1] Hertford 3[15] 3[10] 1.00[10] New College 3[15] 2[11] 0.67[11] S.E.H. 7[ 1] 2[11] 0.29[12] Trinity 3[15] -3[13] -1.00[14] Christ Church 5[ 4] -4[14] -0.80[13] Balliol 4[10] -4[14] -1.00[14] St Peter's 2[23] -4[14] -2.00[19] Wadham 3[15] -5[17] -1.67[16] Jesus 3[15] -5[17] -1.67[16] St Catherine's 3[15] -6[19] -2.00[19] Exeter 4[10] -7[20] -1.75[18] Queen's 5[ 4] -10[21] -2.00[19] Corpus Christi 4[10] -11[22] -2.75[23] Magdalen 4[10] -13[23] -3.25[24] Keble 7[ 1] -14[24] -2.00[19]

Notes

• Wed 25 – Sat 28 May 1966
• 8th Division added
• Divisions at 1:05, 1:35, 2:15 then every 45 min until 6pm.

• The Times Wed 25 May, from Our Rowing Correspondent

  St. Edmund Hall may stay head.

  The pattern of rowing at Oxford at present can well be summed up by quoting the distribution of this year's Blues and Isis men. St. Edmund Hall and Keble have five and six respectively, University and New College two each, and Magdalen one.

  It may be thought that the fact that no Blues and only one or two of the Isis men are rowing for their colleges might even things up in the Summer Eights, which begin today. But in fact St. Edmund Hall looks safe to retain the headship, and Keble will most probably stay behind them.

  The Oxford crew are now in full training for Henley, with two changes from the crew who beat Cambridge in the Boat Race. C. I. Blackwall and R. D. F. Spry replace R. A. D. Freeman and F. C. Carr. It is right and realistic that these men should not be rowing for their colleges, but it is perhaps unfortunate that the men from Isis were not made available early enough to join their college crews for Eights. Only D. Topolski and P. C. Prichard are rowing, and they should help lift New College from the bottom of the first division.

  Oriel did well to finish third last year and again have a tough and energetic crew. But if they fail to catch Keble, which seems probable, they could be in trouble from Christ Church.

  Below Christ Church are some uneven crews. Merton are rough, but may be fast for a short distance. Queen's and Balliol are weak. University have been on the upgrade, but probably lack the strength in depth to do without E. C. Meyer and Spry, both of whom are rowing in the Oxford boat. [Order of Start]

• The Daily Telegraph , Wed 25 May, by Desmond Hill

  The Hall have good chance

  St. Edmund Hall have headed the Oxford University Summer Eights for four and a half of the past six years and there seems little reason why they should not maintain their dominance, writes Desmond Hill.

  The Blues are busy preparing for the Grand but the Hall's reserve strength should see htem through against the slightly sub-standard field, even though they have lost Edward Gould, the Rugby Blue, who has replaced the injured C. H. Freeman in the Blue Boat.

  Keble, who lost in the Dublin University Centenary Regatta on Saturday, must be in some danger from Oriel and Christ Church.

  There is a new eighth division, accounted for more by the OUBC's need for the entry fees than by the standard of the participants. The eighth and seventh divisions start at 1.5 and 1.35, the sixth at 2.15 and thereafter the intervals are 45 minutes. Starting order: [...]

• The Times Thu 26 May, from Our Rowing Correspondent

  Confusion and disputes at Oxford

  The first division on the opening day of Eights Week at Oxford yesterday ended in chaos and confusion with six crews involved in disputes. St. Edmund Hall retained the headship, but since Keble closed on them at the start, and Oriel caught Keble at long bridges, Oriel clearly have at least a hope of upsetting the forecast by displacing St. Edmund Hall.

  Christ Church were pressed by Merton, who were well away from St. John's and Lincoln. Then came the real trouble, of which this account is necessarily largely hearsay. Balliol claimed a bump on Queen's which was not acknowledged. They then apparently suffered a shipwreck, which resulted in their number six being hit by his oar handle and knocked unconscious. University then bumped Balliol, on the inside of the corner at the bottom of the green bank.

  Squeezed by

  St. Edmund Hall II just managed to squeeze by, but New College claimed that they were impeded by Balliol and University, and that this resulted in their being caught by Exeter. Thus Queen's, Balliol, University, St. Edmund Hall II, New College, and Exeter were all involved in this multiple dispute, which seemed to be an ironic reply to those who claimed that bumping races are preferable, because they are fairer than the Torpids system.

  In the second division Worcester and Trinity made early bumps and St. Catherine's came within 6ft. of Pembroke in the Gut, only to drop back to a distance.

  At the O.U.B.C. it looked as though the whole of the rest of the Division would row over, but Hertford failed along the barges, and Brasenose came up fast to catch them within a few strokes of the finishing line.

  In this division there was another dispute, for Pembroke claimed that they were baulked by Trinity and Christ Church II, and that they would otherwise have made an overbump on Jesus.

  Not ready

  Lower down Oriel II caught Lincoln II to become the sandwich boat of the Fourth Division, and went on to overbump Queen's II, making a total of four bumps for the day. Merton III made a normal overbump on Magdalen III in Division Five. In Division Six St. Edmund Hall VI caught Exeter III, but Exeter lodged a protest, optimistically one would have thought, that they were not ready at the starting gun.

  All these disputes, of couse, are a reflection on the organization. For while obstructions are sometimes unavoidable in bumping races, disputed bumps rarely are. In nine cases out of 10 it should be quite simple for the umpire to rule at once whether or not a bump has been made. [Bumps Chart]

• The Daily Telegraph Thu 26 May, by Desmond Hill

  Oxford, Wednesday

  Oriel chase closer to the Head

  St. Edmund Hall survived at the head of affairs in the Oxford Summer Eights tonight, but it must be very questionable if their reign will be any further prolonged, for they were only half a length ahead when Oriel caught Keble.

  The Hall were at 38 crossing the Gut, and can probably go a little faster, but it is hard to see how they can escape Oriel, who were at 41 when they made their bump at the Long Bridges.

  Christ Church had only half a length to spare from Merton at this point, but there were two lengths between each of the next three boats. Balliol were within inches of Queen's and claimed to have hit them more than once before they themselves succumbed to University.

  Re-row needed — Balliol's casualty

  The Balliol No.6 was knocked out by an oar in the confusion, and University were so elated by their success that they made no attempt to clear the way for New College, who were under half a length from St. Edmund Hall II.

  The bottom three crews will re-row at noon, but University's bump on Balliol stands, the later's claim against Queen's having been disallowed. Balliol's R. G. H. Fletcher has been taken to hospital.

  The second division offered much less excitement, as most boats came up well spaced. Trinity at last reversed their downward trend by catching Christ Church II before the Bridge, though they were in some danger from Pembroke at the time.

  Thwarted, Pembroke in their turn were bustled up by St. Catherine's, but stretched six feet at Tims to a length at the OUBC, and were safe. Brasenose gained on Harvard [sic, presumably Hertford] up the Barges, and caught them 20 strokes before the finish. Worcester overhauled Corpus in the Gut.

  There were two overbumps, by Merton III and Oriel II, the latter climbing four places in all thanks to an earlier success in Division III.

  The best protest of the day came from Exeter III, who claimed they were "not ready" for the start. Objection overruled. [Bumps and Thursday start order]

• The Times Fri 27 May

  Oriel's place hard to hold

  After being Head of the River for the past two years, St. Edmund Hall were dethroned when Eights Week was continued at Oxford yesterday. As expected, Oriel, who can be really fast for a couple of minutes, were always gaining on them and made their bump halfway along the Green Bank.

  Yet Oriel cannot feel completely confident of holding their place. Christ Church caught Keble about 100 yards above the University boathouse and if, as seems likely, they can bump St. Edmund Hall today they may be in a position to press Oriel hard on Saturday.

  Oriel II kept up the good work of the boat club by bumping Exeter II in Division III and have now risen five places in two days. Merton III and University IV both continued their upward journeys and each has made four bumps.

  When Magdalen bumped Exeter at the top of the barges in Division II they once again established their right to race in Division I as sandwich boat. But it did not avail them much, as they never made any impression on St. Edmund Hall II. [Bumps Chart]

• The Daily Telegraph Fri 27 May, by Desmond Hill

  Oxford, Thursday

  Oriel Return to Head after 30 Years — Weakened Hall caught when striking 40

  After 30 years Oriel returned to the Head of the River, in the Summer Eights here tonight, by catching St. Edmund Hall. Five years ago they were halfway down the Second Division.

  As the two leading boats made the Gut crossing both were at 39, with the Hall cox looking round apprehensively, for Oriel were but four feet behind. Both strokes went to 40, but the Hall fell just short of the Pink Post.

  One must have every sympathy for the Hall, who are currently supplying three members of the Oxford boat, but a change at the head will undoubtedly act as a spur to the less successful colleges.

  Little further change can be expected in the first five, though Christ Church made up a length along the Green Bank and caught Keble at the Boathouses. University and New College both scored quick successes.

  University may well catch Lincoln tomorrow, but ahead St. John's and Merton were so widely divided that this is likely to be the limit of their progress.

  In the morning re-row, New College made short work of St. Edmund Hall II, scoring below the Free Ferry, but their victims are still 10 places above the next best [sic, presumably '2nd boat.' was intended].

  Exeter Bumped — Compensation for Magdalen

  As some compensation for the misfortunes of their lower boats, Magdalen regained the First Division when bumping Exeter near the finish. Exeter had a length's lead at Tims but found the headwind too much for them. Worcester had a second quick success, catching Hertford in the Gut.

  Corpus's new boat, with a thin rudder, very nearly repaid its cost as Jesus steered three times for the non-existent rudder-tree and missed each time. Contact was finally established below the Pink Post. Pembroke caught Christ Church II early on.

  There were two overbumps lower down, University IV overhauling Trinity III, and Keble III catching Magdalen II. This was the second Magdalen boat to be overbumped, as their third subsided last night. Exeter III really were "ready" tonight, and avenged yesterday's defeat by recatching Hall VI. [List of Bumps]

• The Times Sat 28 May, from Our Rowing Correspondent

  Oriel almost certain of success

  With the ever necessary proviso, barring accidents, Oriel must now be assured of the headship of the River at Oxford, which they last held 30 years ago. No doubt it will be the sweeter for being unexpected, and for following on a chequered career in recent years. For after a brief spell at second in 1946 Oriel gradually drifted downwards to 18th place on the river in 1960, and have now made 16 places since 1962.

  There was only one bump, but plenty of excitement to make up for the miserably cold weather, in the First Division yesterday. St. Edmund Hall made no impression at all on Oriel, and were themselves in no danger from Christ Church. Keble, on the other hand, were threatened by Merton, who were within half a length at the O.U.B.C., where Keble hit the raft with stroke's blade, but just managed to escape.

  University were a third of a length behind Lincoln, and closing, but their bow man went overboard just before the finish, which effectively ended their race. New College duly made their bump on Queen's, their third in succession. Behind them there was a great struggle between St. Edmund Hall II and Balliol.

  St. Edmund Hall claimed a bump in the Gut, but this was disallowed. Coming on to the green bank they were almost overlapping, but well away laterally. Balliol then inexplicably steered back in front of them. At the O.U.B.C. there was less than six feet between the boats, but St. Edmund Hall had shot their bolt, and Balliol struggled home.

  In the Second Division there were only three bumps. Jesus had to go to the New Cut to catch Hertford. Pembroke caught Trinity at the Stone, and St. Catherine's also made a quick bump on Christ Church II. At the O.U.B.C. it looked as though Exeter might re-bump Magdalen, who caught them on Thursday. They came within a quarter of a length, but could not finish the job. [Bumps Chart]

• The Daily Telegraph Sat 28 May, by Desmond Hill

  Oxford, Friday

  Only threat to Oriel now removed

  There was only one bump in the first division of Summer Eights here tonight, which means that the only threat to Oriel's supremacy has now been removed. But if there was a dearth of bumps, there was no lack of excitement.

  At the Long Bridges Oriel were two lengths clear of St. Edmund Hall, who were their starting distance ahead of Keble [? Christ Church presumably]. A Keble oar hit the OUBC raft but though furiously pressed by Merton Keble survived by feet.

  Lincoln were three lengths behind St. John's but University made up a length and looked on the point of bumping them when their bow caught a crab and was thrown into the river.

  New College caught Queen's below the Stone and apart from Oriel are now the only first boat who could win their oars tomorrow. Hall II claimed a bump, subsequently disallowed, against Balliol, but though overlapping for most of the second half they could not make definite contact.

  There were more desperate but inconclusive duels in the second division.

  Exeter, intent on revenge, were within a canvas of Magdalen the full length of the Green Bank without being able to clinch it. Worcester were almost as close to Brasenose but they, too, failed to score.

  Hertford looked fairly safe from Jesus but caught a crab on the Green Bank and succumbed at the OUBC, though their cox took them almost up the New Cut in an attempt to escape. St. Catherine's and Pembroke both scored before halfway.

  There was little of note lower down, beyond a major pile-up in Division III, when the river was blocked by St. Edmund Hall III's bump on Merton II, the successful cox ending in the water. Mansfield, who first appeared last year, made their fourth bump in three days. [List of Bumps & Saturday start order]

• The Sunday Telegraph Sun 29 May

  Oriel are Head of the River

  Oriel, who took over the leadership of Division I from St. Edmund Hall on Thursday, rowed over at the head of the River when the Oxford University summer eights ended yesterday. Oriel were last head of the River in 1936.

  Christ Church bumped St. Edmund Hall 20 yards from the finish to climb to second place. New College, who finished eighth, were the [only?] first crew to make four bumps. Order of finish: [...]

• The Times Mon 30 May, from Our Rowing Corrrespondent

  Oriel eight not troubled at head

  Oriel had no trouble in holding the Headship in the Summer Eights at Oxford, which they gained last Thursday for the first time in 30 years. Finishing at 38, they were nearly three lengths ahead of St. Edmund Hall, who fell to a fierce attack by Christ Church, almost at the finish The only other bump in the first division gave New College their full quota of four for the week. They were the only crew in the first two divsions to achieve this.

  It is always harder to judge standards in bumping races, and the only valid test, of course, comes when these crews are matched against outside opposition in regattas. it is no disparagement of Oriel to say that there was no first class crew. The remarkable thing is that, with no special talent, they went ahead [sic] so convincingly.

  In spite of the lack of any outstanding crew, the general quality of the first division crews was rather above average. Oriel, Christ Church, Merton, St. John's, University, and New College were all rough, but fitter than usual, and quite well together. Balliol's disaster on the opening night was apparently due to having a sick man in the crew before they started. With a substitute in the boat they regained one place on Saturday.

  The week's racing must give the Oxford University Boat Club food for thought, because St. Edmund Hall and Keble, the two colleges who have dominated Oxford rowing in recent years, both failed badly. Both probably feel that they were sacrificed to the University and Isis crews. While this is superficially true, both had the material to hold their places without these men.

  University rowing can only flourish today if the University crews are kept together during the summer, and it is certainly this policy which has put Oxford back on the map. But it was a pity that senior oarsmen who were not rowing for Oxford or Isis did not return to help their colleges for Eights. [Head crew — as below] [Bumps Chart]

• The Daily Telegraph Mon 30 May, by Desmond Hill

  Oriel's hard work well rewarded

  As the first seven Summer Eights came up the Green Bank at Oxford for the last time on Saturday, Oriel were two and a half lengths clear of St. Edmund Hall, who had a length to spare from Christ Church, and no alteration looked remotely possible.

  The leaders both faded up the Barges and Christ Church snatched second place from the Hall within sight of the finish. Their jubilation must be tempered by the knowledge that a higher rating on Friday might have given them at least a crack at Oriel.

  Oriel were not a good-looking crew but their success was full reward for a policy of hard work and continuity of coaching and personnel. They had no stars but five men and the cox from last year's boat.

  There were ever-increasing intervals between Keble, Merton, St. John's and Lincoln, and New College, who won their oars by catching University at Donnington Bridge were probably faster than all four. They were immeasurably strengthened by the Isis stroke and No. 7, P. C. Prichard and D. Topolski, and admirably steered.

  Queen's Caught — Balliol recover place

  Balliol, rowing a substitute for the last three nights, recovered one place by catching Queen's on the Green Bank and the chart shows no further bumps until second division successes for Pembroke, with St. Catherine's and Wadham.

  The Head of the River crew: [as below, except A.R. Butler and P.J. Hawkings]

  The Oxford crew, with three changes since Putney, will make their first public appearance at Reading Regatta on June 11. Isis, also changed, reassemble today.

  Saturday's Bumps [...]. Order of Finish [...]

• In other news ... [1966]

  Wed May 25

  Explorer program: Satellite Explorer 32 (Atmosphere Explorer-B) is launched from the United States.

  Wed May 25

  No. 9 Squadron RAAF becomes part of the 4,500 strong Australian Task Force assigned to duties in Vietnam, leaving for Southeast Asia aboard the aircraft carrier HMAS Sydney.

  Thu May 26

  British Guiana achieves independence, becoming Guyana.

  Sat May 28

  Fidel Castro declares martial law in Cuba because of a possible U.S. attack.

  Sat May 28

  The Indonesian and Malaysian governments declare that the Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation is over (a treaty is signed on August 11).

  Sat May 28

  Boat ride "It's a Small World" opens at Disneyland.

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