Eights 1984

MEN'S BUMPS WOMEN'S BUMPS

STANDINGS Start Finish Pos College Pts Pts College 1 Oriel 207 208 Oriel 2 Keble 180 170 Christ Church 3 Christ Church 174 164 Keble 4 Worcester 146 153 New College 5 New College 140 151 Pembroke 6 S.E.H. 135 141 Worcester 7 Pembroke 135 139 S.E.H. 8 Balliol 128 136 University 9 University 122 129 Lincoln 10 Magdalen 120 114 Balliol 11 Lincoln 119 111 Magdalen 12 Wadham 115 110 Wadham 13 Exeter 113 109 Osler House 14 Osler House 107 107 Exeter 15 Jesus 105 105 St Catherine's 16 St Catherine's 101 105 Jesus 17 Trinity 89 95 St Hugh's 18 Brasenose 86 91 Brasenose 19 St Hugh's 86 89 Trinity 20 St John's 85 84 St John's 21 Merton 83 77 Corpus Christi 22 Queen's 78 75 Hertford 23 Hertford 77 73 Queen's 24 L.M.H. 70 73 Merton 25 Corpus Christi 70 71 L.M.H. 26 Wolfson 58 57 Wolfson 27 St Peter's 54 52 St Peter's 28 Somerville 40 42 St Hilda's 29 Mansfield 39 35 St Anne's 30 St Hilda's 35 34 Somerville 31 St Anne's 32 33 Mansfield 32 Linacre 27 24 Linacre 33 St Benet's Hall 2 3 St Benet's Hall

STATISTICS College All Crews Men's Crews Women's Crews [ ]=ranking Crews Bps Avg Crews Bps Avg Crews Bps Avg Brasenose 6[ 4] 13[ 1] 2.17[ 1] 4[ 5] 6[ 4] 1.50[ 5] 2[ 4] 7[ 1] 3.50[ 2] New College 6[ 4] 13[ 1] 2.17[ 1] 4[ 5] 9[ 1] 2.25[ 3] 2[ 4] 4[ 2] 2.00[ 5] Jesus 6[ 4] 7[ 3] 1.17[ 5] 3[16] 9[ 1] 3.00[ 1] 3[ 3] -2[22] -0.67[20] University 5[10] 6[ 4] 1.20[ 4] 4[ 5] 4[ 5] 1.00[ 7] 1[15] 2[ 7] 2.00[ 5] St Anne's 5[10] 5[ 5] 1.00[ 6] 3[16] 3[ 7] 1.00[ 7] 2[ 4] 2[ 7] 1.00[ 9] Osler House 4[20] 4[ 6] 1.00[ 6] 3[16] 3[ 7] 1.00[ 7] 1[15] 1[11] 1.00[ 9] Exeter 4[20] 4[ 6] 1.00[ 6] 4[ 5] 4[ 5] 1.00[ 7] S.E.H. 5[10] 4[ 6] 0.80[ 9] 4[ 5] 2[12] 0.50[13] 1[15] 2[ 7] 2.00[ 5] St Catherine's 7[ 3] 4[ 6] 0.57[12] 5[ 3] 3[ 7] 0.60[12] 2[ 4] 1[11] 0.50[15] Corpus Christi 4[20] 3[10] 0.75[10] 3[16] 0[17] 0.00[17] 1[15] 3[ 4] 3.00[ 3] St John's 5[10] 3[10] 0.60[11] 4[ 5] 2[12] 0.50[13] 1[15] 1[11] 1.00[ 9] St Benet's Hall 1[33] 2[12] 2.00[ 3] 1[30] 2[12] 2.00[ 4] St Hilda's 4[20] 2[12] 0.50[13] 4[ 1] 2[ 7] 0.50[15] Lincoln 6[ 4] 2[12] 0.33[14] 4[ 5] 1[16] 0.25[16] 2[ 4] 1[11] 0.50[15] L.M.H. 5[10] 1[15] 0.20[15] 3[16] -2[21] -0.67[21] 2[ 4] 3[ 4] 1.50[ 8] Wolfson 5[10] 1[15] 0.20[15] 3[16] 8[ 3] 2.67[ 2] 2[ 4] -7[30] -3.50[29] Christ Church 6[ 4] -1[17] -0.17[17] 5[ 3] -4[22] -0.80[22] 1[15] 3[ 4] 3.00[ 3] Wadham 5[10] -1[17] -0.20[18] 4[ 5] 2[12] 0.50[13] 1[15] -3[24] -3.00[28] Pembroke 5[10] -1[17] -0.20[18] 4[ 5] -5[24] -1.25[24] 1[15] 4[ 2] 4.00[ 1] St Hugh's 4[20] -1[17] -0.25[20] 4[ 1] -1[19] -0.25[19] Linacre 3[29] -1[17] -0.33[21] 2[27] 3[ 7] 1.50[ 5] 1[15] -4[25] -4.00[30] Hertford 5[10] -2[22] -0.40[22] 3[16] 3[ 7] 1.00[ 7] 2[ 4] -5[28] -2.50[26] Worcester 5[10] -2[22] -0.40[22] 4[ 5] 0[17] 0.00[17] 1[15] -2[22] -2.00[23] Mansfield 3[29] -2[22] -0.67[24] 2[27] -1[19] -0.50[20] 1[15] -1[19] -1.00[21] Magdalen 3[29] -3[25] -1.00[26] 2[27] -4[22] -2.00[27] 1[15] 1[11] 1.00[ 9] Somerville 2[32] -4[26] -2.00[31] 2[ 4] -4[25] -2.00[23] Trinity 6[ 4] -5[27] -0.83[25] 4[ 5] -1[19] -0.25[19] 2[ 4] -4[25] -2.00[23] Merton 4[20] -5[27] -1.25[28] 3[16] -6[26] -2.00[27] 1[15] 1[11] 1.00[ 9] Queen's 4[20] -5[27] -1.25[28] 3[16] -5[24] -1.67[26] 1[15] 0[18] 0.00[18] Oriel 8[ 2] -8[30] -1.00[26] 8[ 1] -8[27] -1.00[23] St Peter's 4[20] -9[31] -2.25[32] 3[16] -10[29] -3.33[30] 1[15] 1[11] 1.00[ 9] Balliol 4[20] -9[31] -2.25[32] 3[16] -8[27] -2.67[29] 1[15] -1[19] -1.00[21] Keble 9[ 1] -15[33] -1.67[30] 7[ 2] -10[29] -1.43[25] 2[ 4] -5[28] -2.50[26]

Notes

• Wed 30 May – Sat 2 June 1984
• Division times: W4 12:00, M9 12:35, M8 1:10, M7 1:45, W3 2:20, M6 2:55, M5 3:30, M4 4:00, W2 4:30, M3 5:00, M2 5:30, W1 6:00, M1 6:30.

• The Times Wed 30 May, by Jim Railton

  Oriel likely to keep headship

  The Oxford Summer Eights, which start today, could produce a stalemate at the top end with Oriel once again making a successful defence of their headship. With the 1984 record-breaking Boat Race eight scattered among five colleges, none of Oriel's pursuers look to have the necessary pace to overhaul them.

  Oriel have one Blue on board, Long, and two Isis oarsmen; their immediate pursuers, Christ Church, have two Isis oarsmen among their ranks. [Starting Order]

• The Daily Telegraph Wed 30 May, by Desmond Hill

  Oriel's main rivals wreck chances

  The one threat to Oriel's seventh consecutive title as head of this year's Oxford Summer Eights probably disappeared last Thursday in a frightening accident which wrote off their chief rivals' boat.

  Christ Church, though a trifle short of horsepower, were generally accepted to keep the holders somewhere near full stretch.

  But in a practice race with Pembroke, the House crashed head-on into Merton and spent the weekend searching for a replacement shell.

  This appears to leave the powerful Oriel eight unchallenged, for Magdalen, New College (even with two Blues) and St Edmund Hall, all theoretically within range of the top, do not impress.

  Of this year's Blues, only Lang and the Evans twins, preparing for the Olympics, are not racing for their colleges, but Oriel look in a different class and considerably faster than last year.

  Osler House's medical students, who headed the Torpids last term, could make history by winning the women's races after bumping LMH and St Hugh's. St Hugh's made four bumps in the Torpids but finished only fifth. [Starting Order]

• The Times Thu 31 May, by Jim Railton

  Oriel move away from pursuers

  Oriel, the head crew, opened up three lengths on their immediate pursuers, Christ Church, on the opening day of the Oxford Summer Eights yesterday. There were four bumps in Division One. [Bumps Chart]

• The Daily Telegraph Thu 31 May, by Desmond Hill

  Runaway Oriel whet appetites

  Oriel presumably ordered their seventh consecutive Bumps Supper last night after the first day of the Oxford Eights. They led the unfortunate Christ Church by a good five lengths a long way from the finish.

  Christ Church, who lost their No.7 last year, now had to replace their stroke at the last moment and entrusted the job to the new president Lynton Richmond.

  At least they persuaded London University to lend them a substitute boat. New College demolished their old enemies, Magdalen, coming out of the Gut, Pembroke caught Exeter, while Worcester, at a spirited 37 ran in Keble opposite the Boat Houses.

  The men's second division produced only two bumps but no shortage of close calls. Osler House, within six feet of St John's, were in some danger of pushing the latter onto Trinity while B N C scared Queen's.

  Twelve crews changed places in the women's first division, with St Hugh's in solitary state at the head. Depite a finely choreographed display of aerobics before embarking L M H, starting second, could hold off Osler House only as far as the Long Bridges.

  St Catherine's disposed of Jesus in the early stages and whatever their seniors' fate today, St Hugh's II look set for another successful week after their swift despatch of Worcester. [List of Bumps]

• The Times Fri 1 June included just a bumps chart.
• The Daily Telegraph Fri 1 June, by Desmond Hill

  Stroke's return gives Christ Church lift

  Christ Church, with their original stroke available once more, and New College a possible threat behind them, gave the holders Oriel a considerable fight when the Oxford Eights continued yesterday, spending most of the race at their starting distance.

  There was only a third of a length between them at the finish, though Oriel were patently easing up. Pembroke and University scored the only first division bumps, but St Edmund Hall closed right up on Magdalen after Worcester had pressed them up the Green Bank.

  There were again only two bumps in the Second Division. Merton subsided once more while Osler House suffered their first reverse since their formation [actually since 1982] when succumbing to Oriel II, who had failed to catch them on Wednesday.

  Among the women, St Hugh's upset the prophets by keeping Osler House at their starting distance or more, helped by Osler's insistence on following every contour of the Green Bank.

  With L M H two lengths back, but sixth [six?] ahead of Jesus [St Catherine's?], the die here looks cast, though St Hugh's II continue to climb and might upset both of these.

  The first overbump of the week was registered by Exeter III in Division V, while St Peter's III forfeited five places and their position in Division VI for failing to acknowledge theyr had been bumped. [List of Bumps]

• The Times Sat 2 June, by Jim Railton

  Oriel again hold off challenge

  Oriel yesterday once again just held off by a quarter of a length an exceptionally strong challenge from Christ Church, and today should once again see an epic struggle for the headship. Lincoln, University, Pembroke and St Edmund Hall all gained territory.

  At the top of the women's division, St Hugh's shrugged off yet another challenge by Osler House and increased their advantage by more than a length. [Bumps Chart]

• The Daily Telegraph Sat 2 June, by A Special Correspondent

  Oriel lead reduced

  Oriel, the holders, remain in head position on the Isis last night, but by a bare eight feet in the Oxford Eights.

  Christ Church, at 37, had closed the starting distance to under a length at the Boat Club, and despite Oriel's over-rating the House, the margin continued to close as Oriel faded towards the finish.

  Magdalen, S.E.H. and Worcester's familiar concertina formation was not resolved until Magdalen made a tardy acknowledgement of having been caught by the Hall. Worcester's overlap was wasted.

  Pembroke, behind them, made a third bump — this one contributing to Keble's descent, but University moved into ninth place by catching Balliol.

  Lincoln consolidated their First Division place by taking Exeter in the gut, while Oriel II missed the one bump at the head of Division II and let St John's row over for a third night.

  Osler House's chance of dislodging St Hugh's at the head of the women's divisions looked forlorn as they passed the boat houses with a dejected length and a half between the two crews.

  Pembroke continued with their upward move by gaining a foothold in the First Division at the expense of Wadham, who descended for a third night. [List of Bumps]

• The Sunday Telegraph Sun 3 June

  Oriel rowed over head of the river in the Oxford University Summer Eights last night. There was never any doubt that Christ Church were the faster crew over the six-mile [sic] course, but by half a length yet again the House failed to make up the starting gap and Oriel survived to look forward to an eighth season as Head.

  Pembroke won their oars by catching Worcester on the Green Bank and University, Lincoln and Wadham all made first division bumps.

  St Hugh's sat on their lead at the head of the four women's divisions. Osler House made an unavailing bid for a quick bump but St Hugh's emerged unscathed and passed OUBC at an unruffled 34, having increased their margin by nearly a length. Four places behind, St Hugh's second boat won their blades.

• The Times Mon 4 June, by Jim Railton

  Oriel just keep their head

  Oriel just held on to their headship in the final of the Oxford summer eights on Saturday (Jim Railton writes). Christ Church had pressured the lead crew all week, coming within a third of a length on Friday and half a length on Saturday.

  New College finished third, well behind the wake of the top two crews. Pembroke predictably climbed on each day of the competition to reward a conscientious approach.

  St Hugh's retained their headship in the women's competition, resisting Osler House's final challenge on Saturday with consummate ease.

• The Daily Telegraph Mon 4 June, by A Special Correspondent

  Oriel reign continues

  Oriel emerged chastened but unscathed as Head of the River at Oxford on Saturday. Christ Church's determined assault on the seven-year spell of supremacy ended with half a length of clear water separating the crews at the finish.

  And in the women's divisions St Hugh's sat on a lead of more than two lengths, which never looked remotely in danger in the row-in past the boathouses.

  An Osler House bump would have been doubly satisfying for their coach Nick O'Sullivan, the Benedictine friar who also coaches the Oriel eight.

  The final night's rowing earned First Division Pembroke, and more modestly placed Linacre and L M H their oars, while Wadham, Lincoln and University were at various times reported as "closing fast" before taking Exeter, Balliol and Keble respectively. [List of Bumps]

• The final bumps chart appeared in The Times Tue 5 June.

• Head crew details taken from the Eights Week programme.

• In other news ... [1984]

  29 May

  Fighting at Orgreave colliery between police and striking miners leaves 64 injured.

  30 May

  Liverpool win the European Cup for the fourth time

  30 May

  Arthur Scargill is arrested and charged with obstruction at Orgreave.

  May 31

  Six inmates, including James and Linwood Briley, escape from a death row facility at Mecklenburg Correctional Center, the only occasion this has ever happened in the United States.

  June 7

  120 people are arrested when fighting breaks out outside the Houses of Parliament during a mass lobby by striking miners.

St Hugh's
B:	Sue Miskin
2:	Jill Williamson
3:	Charlotte Coope
4:	Philippa Bacon
5:	Fiona Walker
6:	Sarah Street
7:	Beverley Knights
S:	Anne Spilsbury
C:	Isobel Stead
Coach:	Len Andrews

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