Eights 1974

BUMPS CHARTS

STANDINGS Start Finish Pos College Pts Pts College 1 Christ Church 199 204 Christ Church 2 Oriel 175 177 Oriel 3 S.E.H. 169 173 S.E.H. 4 Keble 162 157 Balliol 5 Balliol 154 154 Keble 6 University 143 152 University 7 Wadham 132 119 Magdalen 8 Queen's 112 118 Lincoln 9 St John's 110 117 New College 10 Pembroke 110 117 Wadham 11 Magdalen 109 115 St John's 12 New College 108 113 Pembroke 13 Lincoln 105 99 Queen's 14 Worcester 105 93 Merton 15 Jesus 101 93 Worcester 16 Merton 94 90 Jesus 17 Exeter 85 88 Exeter 18 Brasenose 84 79 Brasenose 19 St Catherine's 76 66 St Catherine's 20 St Peter's 68 62 St Peter's 21 Corpus Christi 57 62 Corpus Christi 22 Hertford 53 54 Trinity 23 Trinity 51 53 Hertford 24 Osler House 28 32 Osler House 25 Wolfson 16 19 Wolfson 26 Mansfield 12 13 Mansfield 27 Linacre 3 3 Regent's Park 28 Regent's Park 2 2 Linacre 29 St Hugh's 2 1 St Hugh's

STATISTICS College All Crews [ ]=ranking Crews Bps Avg Magdalen 4[13] 8[ 1] 2.00[ 4] Osler House 2[24] 7[ 2] 3.50[ 1] Wolfson 2[24] 6[ 3] 3.00[ 2] New College 4[13] 6[ 3] 1.50[ 6] University 5[ 5] 6[ 3] 1.20[ 8] Trinity 3[18] 5[ 6] 1.67[ 5] Oriel 6[ 1] 5[ 6] 0.83[ 9] Christ Church 6[ 1] 5[ 6] 0.83[ 9] Regent's Park 1[27] 3[ 9] 3.00[ 2] Mansfield 2[24] 3[ 9] 1.50[ 6] Hertford 5[ 5] 3[ 9] 0.60[11] Balliol 5[ 5] 3[ 9] 0.60[11] Lincoln 5[ 5] 2[13] 0.40[13] Exeter 5[ 5] 0[14] 0.00[14] Pembroke 6[ 1] 0[14] 0.00[14] S.E.H. 6[ 1] 0[14] 0.00[14] Corpus Christi 3[18] -1[17] -0.33[17] St Hugh's 1[27] -2[18] -2.00[24] Jesus 4[13] -3[19] -0.75[18] St John's 5[ 5] -4[20] -0.80[19] Keble 5[ 5] -4[20] -0.80[19] St Peter's 3[18] -4[20] -1.33[23] Linacre 1[27] -4[20] -4.00[29] Merton 5[ 5] -5[24] -1.00[21] Wadham 4[13] -5[24] -1.25[22] Brasenose 3[18] -6[26] -2.00[24] Queen's 3[18] -6[26] -2.00[24] St Catherine's 4[13] -8[28] -2.00[24] Worcester 3[18] -10[29] -3.33[28]

Notes

• Wed 29 May – Sat 1 June 1974
• First appearance of St Hugh's (women's VIII rowing in men's divisons)
• Division times: 1:05, 1:40, 2:15, 2:50, 3:25, 4:00, 4:35, 5:15 and 6:00.
• Wolfson promoted from Div VII (1973) to bottom of Div IV.

• The Times Wed 29 May, by Jim Railton

  Oriel crew ambitious

  Christ Church, with three winning Boat Race oarsmen (one from Cambridge) and two of this year's Isis crew, look unbeatable on paper for the head title in the Oxford Summer Eights, which start today.

  This seems even more likely with David Sawyier, an American Olympic and Oxford stroke, on board, making his farewell appearance on Oxford's home waters. The Christ Church crew's other two Blues are Nevin, who will stroke his college eight from the bow side, and Lever, bow of the 1973 Cambridge crew.

  Christ Church, however, are destined to be chased hard all week by an ambitious Oriel crew in their new Italian boat. It is difficult to see Christ Church being toppled from their perch.

  Whereas the top of Division I is likely to see no change, crews expected to advance are Magdalen and University at the expense of Wadham, with Worcester also likely to lose ground this week. The order of starting is: [...]

• The Daily Telegraph Wed 29 May, by Desmond Hill

  Holders must be odds-on

  Oxford's Boat Race victory has certainly rubbed off on the colleges and the standard and enthusiasm of the Summer Eights, which start today, is higher than it has been for several years. Only bumps may be in short supply.

  Christ Church, who must be at astronomically long odds on to retain the headship, bear comparison with the best crews seen on the Isis since the war.

  Though in fact they include only three Blues — one of them a Cambridge man — their strength in depth is remarkable.

  Behind them, Oriel would have been good enough to have rowed over untroubled at the head in many years, but now it will be surprising if they stay within their distance. Balliol, starting third, are sound but unspectacular.

  There were an unusally large number of applications for the Getting On races, and for the first time a ladies' college, St Hugh's, have qualified and will start at No. 100. Today's Order [...]

• The Times Thu 30 May, by Jim Railton

  Christ Church stay well clear of Oriel

  Oriel look destined for three more frustrating days in attempting to topple Christ Church from the head of Division I of the Oxford Summer Eights. On the opening day yesterday, Christ Church cruised home almost four lengths clear of Oriel, who were well clear of their immediate pursuers, Balliol.

  Three bumps were made in Division I by Magdalen, St Edmund Hall and Lincoln at the expense of Wadham, Jesus, and Queen's. Keble and Wadham may be threatened today by Magdalen and University.

  Some complications arose in Division VI after a storm of protests. In the course of the race, Wadham III caught Worcester III with both crews obstructing traffic. As a result Exeter III was unable to pass and was overhauled by Jesus III. After an appeal it was ruled that Jesus III and Exeter III crews should be promoted at the expense of Worcester III and Wadham III, which I hope explains to enthusiasts the unusual course of progress indicated by some crews in Division VI. [Bumps Chart]

• The Daily Telegraph Thu 30 May, by Desmond Hill

  Losing fight by Oriel

  Christ Church's massed talent overwhelmed the opposition when the Oxford Summer Eights began in yesterday's sunshine, and their pursuers will need an outboard engine or torpedoes to dethrone them.

  The good Oriel crew was four lengths behind halfway up the Green Bank. Behind these the procession straggled up.

  Wadham and Jesus succumbed quickly and, like Worcester and Queen's, look set for a sorry week. Though Worcester survived, they had lost six lengths to University by the Long Bridges.

  An over-bump by Pembroke II in the Third Division apparently used up most of the bumps ration for Division II, which furnished only two. The first five boats came up closely spaced but Merton, pressing Pembroke, crabbed at Tims and no contacts were made.

  Chaos in Division VI

  The Division VI chart is in a barely comprehensible state since the umpires promoted both the Jesus and Exeter third boats two places each for being obstructed.

  St Edmund Hall VI were penalised two places for obstructing Division III [? Div VII presumably], while St Hugh's women's crew made a brave but unsuccessful debut. [List of bumps]

• The Times Fri 31 May, by Jim Railton

  Christ Church continue to show authority

  Christ Church continued to stamp their authority at the head of Division I yesterday, the second day of the Oxford Summer Eights. Four crews advanced in the first division — Magdalen, St. Edmund Hall, Lincoln, and St John's at the expense of Keble, Worcester, Jesus and Queen's. Wadham gave a spirited performance, saving their skins with a late rally after University College had closed to within half a length.

  Main interest in Division I today centres on Magdalen in pursuit of Balliol; University College's second stab at Wadham, with Keble threatened, and Lincoln, in spite of the absence of the Blue, Marsden, in line for their third successive bump. [Bumps Chart]

• The Daily Telegraph Fri 31 May, by Desmond Hill

  Oriel's gambit fails

  Oriel's experiment of a higher-rating start availed them little on the second day of the Oxford Summer Eights for Christ Church, their boat running particularly sweetly, were at least five lengths clear before the Pink Post and outrating their pursuers.

  Magdalen ran into Keble on the Green Bank and might worry Balliol, but University, after coming within 10 feet of Wadham, fell back and could be threatened by the Hall, who caught Worcester in the Gut. Lincoln scored early but Queen's survived until the Long Bridges.

  Bitter argument raged after Division III, when Balliol II claimed to have caught Hertford above Donnington Bridge. Hertford faltered, but rowed on and later were in some danger of being overbumped by Osler House, who have the Blue John Darts [Dart], at No. 6.

  Umpire unsighted

  The umpire confessed to have been "looking the other way" and apparent deadlock in the committee room was resolved only when one Hertford oarsman admitted that contact had indeed been made.

  In the nether regions, Mansfield and Wolfson both had second successes. [List of Bumps]

• The Times Sat 1 June, by Jim Railton

  Magdalen strive for place in first three

  Christ Church frustrated Oriel's third successive attempt to unseat them at the head of Division I on the second last day of the Oxford Summer Eights yesterday.

  Accepting Christ Church's supremacy, interest at the top today lies with Magdalen's attempt to reach the first three. Yesterday Magdalen, stroked by the Blue, Rendel, came within a canvas of Balliol approaching the boat houses; but a late rally saved Balliol.

  Division I bumps were made by University College, St John's and Lincoln, the last named for the third successive day. Those threatened in Division I are Balliol, Keble, Wadham and Worcester. The Worcester eight were weakened by the loss of their stroke, Jenni, who sustained head injuries in an accident on the bank, cycling down to take part. [Bumps Chart]

• The Daily Telegraph Sat 1 June, by Desmond Hill

  Christ Church again in front

  Christ Church once again stormed home with minimal trouble on the third day of the Oxford Summer Eights, striking 38 at the Pink Post to Oriel's 36. They were a good four lengths clear and covering more water.

  Magdalen, strongly fancied, were within a canvas of Balliol at this point, but faltered and fell back. Wadham, as expected, went down in the Gut, while there were early successes for Lincoln and St John's.

  Worcester were forced to row a substitute stroke, for Nicolas Jenni was thrown heavily on to his head in a towpath cycling accident and taken to hospital. Not surprisingly the crew did not last long.

  Man overboard

  It was all action in Division II. New College overlapped Queen's but failed to score, but Merton finally disposed of Pembroke at the Pink Post. Christ Church deprived Oriel of the honour of being highest second boat, while Hall II lost a man overboard and succumbed. Corpus and St Catherine's changed places.

  On the petticoat front St Hugh's made history by meritoriously covering the whole course. Janet Rossant steered Wolfson to their third successive bump, but Linacre with two girls aboard, continued their descent unchecked. [List of Bumps]

• The Sunday Telegraph Sun 2 June

  It's Christ Church

  Eights Week at Oxford ended with Christ Church finishing about six lengths ahead of Oriel, easily retaining their place at the Head of the River.

  During the four days of racing when 141 bumps had been made, there was no change of position among the three leading boats, though yesterday Magdalen went very near to displacing Balliol in third place.

  In addition to Christ Church, the following crews gained their oars by rising four or more places: Balliol II, Pembroke II, Lincoln II, University II, Wolfson, Hertford II, Magdalen II, Mansfield, Jesus III, Oriel IV, St. Edmund Hall V, Balliol IV, Osler House II, New College IV. [Finish order of Divs I & II]

• The Times Mon 3 June contains just the final bumps chart, their rowing correspondent, Jim Railton, having once again departed to cover Mannheim Regatta over the weekend.

• The Daily Telegraph Mon 3 June, by Desmond Hill

  Fine chance for Christ Church

  On the form they showed when the Oxford Summer Eights ended on Saturday, Christ Church must stand a great chance of beating back the Dutch and American invaders in Henley's Ladies Plate. Seldom can a head crew have shown such superiority.

  Holding 38 each day unti well onto the Green Bank, they had the situation wholly under control before the Gut. On Saturday they were a good six lengths clear of the pursuing Oriel by the O U B C.

  Since the Ladies Plate was opened to foreign students it has become very much an overseas preserve, but with far less examination interference than usual, and ex-president Dave Sawyier as lynchpin, Christ Church must surely take an immensity of beating.

  In third place Balliol had just a foot to spare from Magdalen at the University Boathouse, but as on Friday, the new president Nick Tee rallied his forces and the Magdalen effort petered out.

  Quick bumps

  Wadham, Worcester and Jesus all fell once more, but New College, having rowed over three times, spurred themselves to two quick bumps and an overdue return to Division I. Winning crew: [as below]. Finishing order [...]

• In other news ... [1974]

  Thu May 30

  Johnny Rutherford wins the first of three Indianapolis 500 automobile races.

  Thu May 30

  NASA's ATS-6 satellite is launched.

  Sat June 1

  The live album June 1, 1974 is recorded at the Rainbow Theatre, London. The main performers are Kevin Ayers, John Cale, Brian Eno and Nico.

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