Eights 1969

BUMPS CHARTS

STANDINGS Start Finish Pos College Pts Pts College 1 S.E.H. 221 198 S.E.H. 2 Keble 180 188 Keble 3 Christ Church 170 181 Christ Church 4 Oriel 155 152 Oriel 5 Merton 139 141 Balliol 6 Balliol 135 134 University 7 University 126 134 Merton 8 St John's 126 117 New College 9 Lincoln 115 113 St John's 10 New College 113 112 Queen's 11 Queen's 108 109 Brasenose 12 Brasenose 107 105 Lincoln 13 Worcester 98 101 Worcester 14 Exeter 92 90 Exeter 15 Magdalen 85 89 Pembroke 16 Pembroke 82 79 St Catherine's 17 St Catherine's 81 77 Wadham 18 Hertford 70 74 Jesus 19 Jesus 70 72 Hertford 20 Trinity 70 71 Trinity 21 Wadham 64 70 Magdalen 22 St Peter's 62 60 St Peter's 23 Corpus Christi 54 54 Corpus Christi 24 Mansfield 9 10 Mansfield 25 Osler House 4 5 Osler House 26 Linacre 2 2 Linacre 27 St Hilda's 2 2 Wolfson 28 Wolfson 2 1 St Hilda's

STATISTICS College All Crews [ ]=ranking Crews Bps Avg Wadham 5[ 6] 22[ 1] 4.40[ 2] Christ Church 6[ 1] 16[ 2] 2.67[ 4] Keble 6[ 1] 12[ 3] 2.00[ 5] Balliol 6[ 1] 10[ 4] 1.67[ 9] Osler House 2[23] 9[ 5] 4.50[ 1] Corpus Christi 4[11] 8[ 6] 2.00[ 5] Pembroke 4[11] 7[ 7] 1.75[ 8] Linacre 1[26] 4[ 8] 4.00[ 3] New College 2[23] 4[ 8] 2.00[ 5] St Peter's 5[ 6] 3[10] 0.60[10] University 5[ 6] 3[10] 0.60[10] Hertford 4[11] 2[12] 0.50[12] Brasenose 3[20] 1[13] 0.33[13] Wolfson 1[26] 0[14] 0.00[14] Mansfield 2[23] -1[15] -0.50[15] Jesus 4[11] -2[16] -0.50[15] St Catherine's 4[11] -2[16] -0.50[15] Oriel 6[ 1] -3[18] -0.50[15] Trinity 3[20] -3[18] -1.00[19] Worcester 4[11] -5[20] -1.25[21] Queen's 3[20] -5[20] -1.67[23] Merton 5[ 6] -6[22] -1.20[20] St Hilda's 1[26] -6[22] -6.00[28] St John's 4[11] -7[24] -1.75[24] Exeter 5[ 6] -8[25] -1.60[22] Lincoln 4[11] -12[26] -3.00[25] Magdalen 4[11] -20[27] -5.00[27] S.E.H. 6[ 1] -21[28] -3.50[26]

Notes

• Wed 28 – Sat 31 May 1969
• Return to nine divisions
• Division times: 1:05, 1:35, 2:05, 2:40, 3:20, 4:00, 4:40, 5:20 and 6:00pm
• First appearance of Wolfson, Linacre (mixed VIII) and St. Hilda's (women's VIII)
• The bumps chart suggests that penalty bumps were introduced this year.
• The Times Wed 14 May contains photos of an L.M.H. women's crew captioned:

  An outing for the all-girl crew of Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford, who are hoping to qualify for the finals of the Oxford University Summer Eights which take place at the end of the month. It is the first time that women have been permitted to enter the Oxford Eights where boats try to catch and bump the boat in front.

  Also

  Taking the boat out and (below) receiving advice from their coach, Adrian Burns of Keble College.

• The Times Sat 3 May, by Douglas Calder

  Women to row in bumping races

  For the first time women will be allowed to compete in this year's Oxford Summer eights bumping races. The decision was taken at the annual meeting of the Oxford University Boat Club yesterday.

  Oxford have thus followed Cambridge in flouting the rules of the Amateur Rowing Association by permitting women to compete against men.

  I gather that at Oxford it will be the various women's colleges who will be producing crews, rather than the University Women's Boat Club, as at Cambridge.

• The Times Wed 28 May, by Cedric Venables

  Summer Eights may not take place

  Summer Eights (if the word summer can reasonably be used this year) are due to begin at Oxford today, though there is a chance that they may have to be postponed.

  The river is seriously in flood and after yesterday's torrential rain the flood waters will build up more. The Thames Conservancy have already forbidden any movement by motor launches or pleasure steamers and they may decide that it would be unsafe for eights to be on the water. The last word will be with them.

  In any case it is almost certain that the course will have to be shortened by something like 100 yards at each end. At the start the bottom boat in each division is not likely to row below Haystacks Corner. If racing can take place today it might be worthwhile to omit the lower divisions, where the boats are manned for the most part by hearty, but doubtful, oarsmen and steered by obliging, but inexperienced, coxswains.

  Should that be necessary it will spoil a historical moment. For the first time the distaff side are being allowed to take their chance in Eights, St. Hilda's being the bottom boat of Division VIII. Even now they may be too lowly placed as, in the getting on races they were faster than the 13 male crews who make up Division IX.

  In the difficult conditions luck may play a big part in deciding the placings at the head of affairs. On form, Keble, starting head of the river, should not be hard pressed to stay there. With three Blues and five Isis men in the boat, Keble alone have any pretensions to class. It is certain that to push a boat against the flooding stream will call for strong leg work and St. Edmund Hall, starting second and coached by S. C. Rand, the former Olympic sculler, have made special efforts to develop a strong leg drive.

  Crews who have trained to go flat out in the first two minutes (and this may apply to Oriel, who start third) in the hope of making an early bump may find themselves in trouble if the hoped-for bump does not happen. Behind Oriel are Christ Church, who are strong and well together, and when Friday comes they may find themselves chasing Keble for the head of the river. [Start Order]

• The Daily Telegraph Wed 28 May, by Desmond Hill

  Keble's Task is Easier

  Keble's scraped home at the head of the Oxford Summer Eights last year, but their task this week should be somewhat easier. Their crew contain the stroke and engineroom of the 1969 blue boat, while St. Edmund Hall, immediately behind them, have but one Isis cap.

  Oriel, starting third, got off at an astronomical rating but if there is to be any disturbance of the upper stratum it is more likely to be caused by Christ Church, who look better drilled and more carefully coached than the majority.

  A roaring stream will make the races an endurance test and the addition of a ninth division will probably do more good to the O.U.B.C. coffers than to the general standard. At least it will permit the debut of the graduate college Wolfson.

  Other novitiates are Linacre, also a graduate college, with two girls and six men, and St. Hilda's, who beat the more publicised Lady Margaret Hall girls and several male crews in the qualifying races.

  Starting Order: [...]

• The Times Thu 29 May, by Cedric Venables

  Keble easily hold their place

  The floodwater at Oxford having improved since Tuesday, summer eights were duly begun yesterday. To avoid any danger from Iffley Weir the starting stations were advanced three places for the three leading divisions, and four places for the remainder. But the most satisfactory feature of the afternoon was warm sunshine and not one drop of rain.

  Keble had no difficulty in holding their place at the head of the river. At the University Boathouse they were nearly four lengths ahead of St. Edmund Hall and then striking 34 which was their lowest rate over the course. Christ Church should have no difficulty in taking their place behind Keble today. At the top of the Green Bank they caught Oriel who were then only a quarter of a length behind St. Edmund Hall

  Over the past few years New College have been steadily improving and 50 strokes were sufficient for them to make a bump on St. John's. Queen's left it a bit late before they decided to catch Brasenose, but they eventually did at the Old Cut.

  In division II a slight difference of opinion between Wadham and Pembroke means a re-row between them at 12.30 today. Wadham a made a bump on Pembroke who claimed they had been baulked when Trinity caught St. Edmund Hall II in front of them.

  One of the surprises has been the number of crews who seemed to be unable to raise their rate above a hard paddle. Some boats, even when in imminent danger of being bumped, could not rate more than 32 so, almost without a struggle, they succumbed.

  Any hope that St. Hilda's, the first women's college to operate in eights, might make a distinguished appearance was soon dispelled as they were caught by Osler House II, a medical boat, near Donnington Bridge after rowing for a minute and a half. Linacre, another new entry, composed of six men and two women graduates, did better with a bump on Hertford IV [Bumps Chart]

• The Daily Telegraph Thu 29 May, by Desmond Hill

  Keble's may be Pushed in Eights

  Keble were little troubled to stay head of the Oxford Summer Eights when the races began yesterday, but they could be harder pressed tomorrow if, as seems likely, Christ Church catch St. Edmund Hall today.

  At the finish Keble were four lengths clear of St. Edmund Hall. Oriel, however, were within a quarter of a length of the Hall when Christ Church caught them, which makes the House indisputably second fastest of the top four boats.

  New College, lower down, are also fast, needing just 50 strokes to dispose of St. John's.

  There were other desperate fights in Division I. Balliol hunted Merton hard and came within half a length before falling back, while Queen's, who overlapped Brasenose at Tims, failed to clinch the issue before the Cherwell.

  Worcester back

  Worcester returned to Division I by catching Exeter, who could raise only 33, at the Long Bridges. Trinity's bump of Hall II in the Gut obstructed Pembroke, who were then hit by Wadham. These two will re-row this morning. Jesus bumped Magdalen at the Free Ferry.

  The flood stream had subsided a fraction but, for safety, the course was shortened by 200 yards. It was still too long for two Merton and two Magdalen crews who were over-bumped. Worcester IV forfeited four places for delaying the start in Division III.

  The girls had mixed fortunes. St. Hilda's were unlucky to find Osler House II behind them and survived only 90 seconds; as sandwich boat they must row the course twice today. The mixed crew from Linacre, however, managed to overhaul Hertford IV.

  Yesterday's bumps [...]

• The Times Fri 30 May, by Cedric Venables

  Demotion for St. Hilda's crew

  The second day of eights week at Oxford saw Keble have the easiest possible journey at the head of the river. Any fears that they might have had were dispelled when Christ Church caught St. Edmund Hall halfway along the Green Bank.

  On the showing of yesterday's racing, today's battle between Keble and Christ Church should be a tense struggle though Keble are probably just the faster crew.

  There were one or two exciting races in the first division. At the top of the Green Bank. Lincoln were within a canvas of catching Brasenose and they claimed to have made their bump near the finish. This was, however, disputed by Brasenose and they still have to re-row this morning.

  Division III saw a general upheaval and the only boat to go through with nothing to register either way was St. John's [II]

  St. Hilda's women's crew may feel that they have been ungallantly treated. Apparently they failed to acknowledge being bumped and as this caused some confusion they have been demoted four places. They will now be starting today well down in the bottom division. [Bumps Chart]

• The Daily Telegraph Fri 30 May, by Desmond Hill

  Christ Church turn Pressure on Keble

  After the second day of the Oxford Summer Eights, the stage is set for the decisive race between Keble and Christ Church, with the odds on Keble's retaining the headship now a good deal more generous than they were.

  Keble yesterday were striking 38 and two lengths clear of St. Edmund Hall crossing the Gut, but the Hall were in dire trouble from Christ Church, who were within a canvas before Stone [sic].

  Christ Church came wide out of the Gut and, swinging back, just missed the Hall's rudder, but finally established contact below the Pink Post. Oriel, who had been expected to close early, were never within range.

  Balliol fade

  At Tims, Balliol were within a quarter of a length of Merton, but faded. At the same point, University gained so fast on St. John's that the latter prematurely admitted to defeat to avoid damage.

  Lincoln's last-gasp bump on Brasenose was disputed, and will be re-rowed this morning.

  The second division was a good deal worse than of late, but there were some hairs breadth escapes. Exeter closed on Worcester, and Jesus and Wadham made bumps, but Trinity, within inches of Magdalen, tacked so violently, that they were nearly aground twice before scoring at the Cherwell.

  St. Hilda's were in further trouble. Bumped by Wolfson in the Gut, they failed to acknowledge, and struggled on to be over-bumped later by St. Catherine's IV. This cost them an adjudicated three places. Linacre's successes continued.

  Yesterday's Bumps [...]

• The Times Sat 31 May, by Douglas Calder

  Keble get safely home

  Keble, with their three Blues on board, survived the threat of the week in the Oxford Summer Eights yesterday when they got home more or less safely at the head from Christ Church, but only by three-quarters of a length. The start of the first division was presaged by a menacing thunderclap which symbolized the way in which Christ Church, starting in second place, attacked Keble right from the gun.

  Peter Saltmarsh took Keble off at 43 and by the Gut had steadied to 36. This was clearly not enough to dispose of Christ Church and at the bottom of the Green Bank Christ Church, striking 37, had closed to a bare half length. Saltmarsh spurted all the way up the Green Bank taking Keble up to 38, but Christ Church replied and at the Pink Post their frenzied supporters gave them two guns. But Saltmarsh rallied his crew and in the final stretch led them away to finish in the clear.

  Having survived Christ Church's challenge yesterday, Keble with their crew must be favourites to remain at the head of the river today. Balliol, with the Blue, David Higgs, at five, made short work of Merton whom they caught in the Gut.

  University, however, had to work far harder to defeat the wily coxing of Ashton Culvert [Calvert], of New College. Having closed steadily all the way up the Green Bank they finally caught New College right in front of their own boathouse.

  In divison eight Linacre continued to demonstrate the virtues of co-education by scoring their third success with their mixed crew. The lonely girls of St. Hilda's had no such luck, losing yet another place, this time to St. Peter's IV. [Bumps Chart]

• The Daily Telegraph Sat 31 May, by Desmond Hill

  Keble hang on to headship

  Though Christ Church pressed hard yesterday, Keble still head the Oxford Summer Eights, and should be there when the races end tonight. But the signs are that Christ Church would beat them in a level race.

  Christ Church closed quickly yesterday, and there was little more than half a length in it at the Gut, but Keble, at 38, gained respite up the Green Bank.

  Christ Church came at them again at the O.U.B.C., but Keble had nearly a length to spare at the finish.

  Oriel threatened St. Edmund Hall in the early stages, but the Hall shook them off before the Pink Post. Balliol caught Merton in the Gut, while University made up a length on the Green Bank to catch New College opposite their boathouse.

  St. John's fall again

  St. John's continued to fall, succumbing to Queen's early on, while Worcester at last escaped from sandwich boat by catching Lincoln.

  Jesus and Wadham maintained their times [sic]. Wadham caught Magdalen below the Gut, but Exeter, quickly in extremis, took Jesus as far as the Cherwell and even at the O.U.B.C. looked as though they might pull away. Trinity got within two feet of St. Catherine's, only to fall right back.

  St. Edmund Hall IV refused to appear for a Division V re-row on Thursday night, and forfeited four places for their pains.

  Yesterday's bumps [...]

• [No coverage in Sunday Telegraph]
• The Times Mon 2 June, by Cedric Venables

  Keble hold on under pressure

  Keble kept Head of the River in the summer eights at Oxford, but the race on Saturday showed that Christ Church were the fastest boat on the river.

  From the start Christ Church gained on Keble, and halfway up the Green Bank had reduced the lead to half a length. Keble were three-quarters of a length ahead at the University Boat House, but along the wall Christ Church came up fast and Keble scraped home with only a quarter of a length to spare. [Head crew — as below] [Bumps Chart]

• The Daily Telegraph Mon 2 June, by Desmond Hill

  Sad Decline in Standard

  Keble duly retained the headship at the end of Oxford Summer Eights, earning the unenviable distinction of being demonstrably slower than their pursuers for the second year running, writes Desmond Hill.

  Christ Church, with just two Isis caps, were within a quarter-length of the Keble all-stars at the finish.

  It was a depressing week, even for the partisan. Though five blues were rowing, the standard of first boats was the lowest I can remember. Even if St. Hilda's subsided nightly, Linacre's four bumps, achieved with girls rowing at bow and No.2, did little to lighten the gloom.

  Head Crew: [same as from The Times, below]. [List of bumps & Finishing order]

• In other news ... [1969]

  Mon May 26

  The Andean Pact (Andean Group) is established.

  Mon May 26

  Apollo program: Apollo 10 returns to Earth, after a successful 8-day test of all the components needed for the upcoming first manned Moon landing.

  May 26 – Mon June 2

  John Lennon and Yoko Ono conduct their second Bed-In. The follow-up to the Amsterdam event is held at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, Quebec. Lennon composes and records the song Give Peace a Chance during the event.

  Thu May 29

  Cordobazo: A general strike and civil unrest break out in Córdoba, Argentina.

  Fri May 30

  Riots in Curacao mark the start of an Afro-Caribbean civil rights movement on the island.

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