Eights 1990

MEN'S BUMPS WOMEN'S BUMPS

STANDINGS Start Finish Pos College Pts Pts College 1 New College 215 208 Oriel 2 Oriel 213 203 New College 3 University 193 203 University 4 Christ Church 165 183 Christ Church 5 Pembroke 160 168 Pembroke 6 Wadham 148 149 Brasenose 7 S.E.H. 146 142 S.E.H. 8 Worcester 142 137 Balliol 9 Brasenose 141 136 St John's 10 Keble 134 135 Wadham 11 Hertford 130 130 Keble 12 St John's 128 128 Worcester 13 Balliol 124 117 Hertford 14 St Catherine's 118 114 Jesus 15 Osler House 115 113 St Catherine's 16 Lincoln 106 108 Osler House 17 Jesus 106 107 Wolfson 18 L.M.H. 97 102 Lincoln 19 Magdalen 96 98 Magdalen 20 Wolfson 96 96 L.M.H. 21 Somerville 72 83 Somerville 22 St Hugh's 72 67 St Peter's 23 Queen's 72 67 Trinity 24 Trinity 70 65 Queen's 25 Exeter 66 65 St Anne's 26 Corpus Christi 64 64 Exeter 27 St Peter's 60 58 St Hugh's 28 St Anne's 55 58 Corpus Christi 29 Merton 46 50 Merton 30 St Hilda's 34 32 St Hilda's 31 Linacre 29 30 Linacre 32 Mansfield 28 28 Mansfield 33 Templeton 3 3 Templeton 34 St Antony's 1 1 St Antony's

STATISTICS College All Crews Men's Crews Women's Crews [ ]=ranking Crews Bps Avg Crews Bps Avg Crews Bps Avg Wolfson 5[16] 12[ 1] 2.40[ 2] 3[15] 6[ 5] 2.00[ 5] 2[ 7] 6[ 3] 3.00[ 3] Christ Church 8[ 2] 9[ 2] 1.12[ 6] 6[ 2] 0[11] 0.00[11] 2[ 7] 9[ 1] 4.50[ 1] Somerville 3[27] 8[ 3] 2.67[ 1] 3[ 1] 8[ 2] 2.67[ 6] Osler House 5[16] 7[ 4] 1.40[ 3] 3[15] 6[ 5] 2.00[ 5] 2[ 7] 1[13] 0.50[14] Pembroke 8[ 2] 7[ 4] 0.88[10] 5[ 3] 5[ 7] 1.00[ 8] 3[ 1] 2[ 9] 0.67[13] Balliol 6[ 7] 6[ 6] 1.00[ 7] 4[ 7] 9[ 2] 2.25[ 4] 2[ 7] -3[22] -1.50[23] St Anne's 4[21] 5[ 7] 1.25[ 5] 2[25] -1[18] -0.50[22] 2[ 7] 6[ 3] 3.00[ 3] L.M.H. 5[16] 5[ 7] 1.00[ 7] 2[25] 8[ 3] 4.00[ 1] 3[ 1] -3[22] -1.00[21] Merton 3[27] 4[ 9] 1.33[ 4] 2[25] 1[ 9] 0.50[ 9] 1[24] 3[ 8] 3.00[ 3] Lincoln 6[ 7] 4[ 9] 0.67[12] 4[ 7] 0[11] 0.00[11] 2[ 7] 4[ 5] 2.00[ 7] Jesus 4[21] 3[11] 0.75[11] 3[15] 7[ 4] 2.33[ 3] 1[24] -4[27] -4.00[30] Linacre 2[31] 2[12] 1.00[ 7] 1[29] 2[ 8] 2.00[ 5] 1[24] 0[17] 0.00[17] Magdalen 7[ 5] 2[12] 0.29[14] 5[ 3] 0[11] 0.00[11] 2[ 7] 2[ 9] 1.00[10] Mansfield 2[31] 1[14] 0.50[13] 1[29] 0[11] 0.00[11] 1[24] 1[13] 1.00[10] Brasenose 5[16] 1[14] 0.20[15] 3[15] -3[25] -1.00[25] 2[ 7] 4[ 5] 2.00[ 7] St Catherine's 6[ 7] 1[14] 0.17[16] 4[ 7] -1[18] -0.25[19] 2[ 7] 2[ 9] 1.00[10] St Antony's 1[33] 0[17] 0.00[17] 1[29] 0[11] 0.00[11] Oriel 11[ 1] -1[18] -0.09[18] 9[ 1] -2[21] -0.22[18] 2[ 7] 1[13] 0.50[14] St Hugh's 6[ 7] -1[18] -0.17[19] 3[15] 11[ 1] 3.67[ 2] 3[ 1] -12[32] -4.00[30] Keble 6[ 7] -1[18] -0.17[19] 4[ 7] -2[21] -0.50[22] 2[ 7] 1[13] 0.50[14] Trinity 3[27] -1[18] -0.33[21] 2[25] -3[25] -1.50[28] 1[24] 2[ 9] 2.00[ 7] Exeter 4[21] -2[22] -0.50[23] 3[15] -6[30] -2.00[30] 1[24] 4[ 5] 4.00[ 2] St Peter's 4[21] -2[22] -0.50[23] 3[15] 1[ 9] 0.33[10] 1[24] -3[22] -3.00[27] St Hilda's 3[27] -2[22] -0.67[25] 3[ 1] -2[20] -0.67[20] Templeton 1[33] -2[22] -2.00[33] 1[29] -2[21] -2.00[30] New College 8[ 2] -3[26] -0.38[22] 5[ 3] -2[21] -0.40[21] 3[ 1] -1[19] -0.33[19] St John's 6[ 7] -4[27] -0.67[25] 4[ 7] -4[28] -1.00[25] 2[ 7] 0[17] 0.00[17] Corpus Christi 4[21] -4[27] -1.00[28] 3[15] 0[11] 0.00[11] 1[24] -4[27] -4.00[30] Queen's 4[21] -4[27] -1.00[28] 3[15] -1[18] -0.33[20] 1[24] -3[22] -3.00[27] University 6[ 7] -5[30] -0.83[27] 4[ 7] -3[25] -0.75[24] 2[ 7] -2[20] -1.00[21] Wadham 5[16] -7[31] -1.40[30] 3[15] 0[11] 0.00[11] 2[ 7] -7[31] -3.50[29] S.E.H. 6[ 7] -9[32] -1.50[31] 4[ 7] -4[28] -1.00[25] 2[ 7] -5[30] -2.50[26] Worcester 6[ 7] -11[33] -1.83[32] 4[ 7] -7[31] -1.75[29] 2[ 7] -4[27] -2.00[25] Hertford 7[ 5] -18[34] -2.57[34] 5[ 3] -15[32] -3.00[32] 2[ 7] -3[22] -1.50[23]

Notes

• Wed 23 – Sat 26 May 1990
• The Times Wed 23 May, By Mike Rosewell

  Oriel eight aiming for double figures

  Oriel will be attempting to win their 10th headship in 12 years when the Oxford summer eights begin today. Oriel, deposed by Christ Church in 1985 and New College in 1986, have not been seriously threatened since then, but their 1990 crew is not as impressive as some of its forebears.

  New College and University College, starting second and third, have not revealed great form, but fourth-placed Christ Church, with three former Isis oarsmen and Oxford president, Jonathan Searle, on board have been producing some impressive times in training and performed well at Wallingford regatta. St John's, starting sixth behind St Edmund Hall, could also progress.

  There is also likely to be some movement in the women's first division. Osler lead off, but they were soundly beaten by an impressive Somerville crew at Wallingford. Somerville start third, with Wadham ahead of them on the first day. [Starting Order]

• The Daily Telegraph Wed 23 May, By Geoffrey Page

  University challenge Oriel rule

  Oriel have been Head of the River at Oxford for so long, apart from being deposed briefly in 1985–86 after equipment failure [?], it is almost unthinkable to suggest they could be caught in the Summer Eights which start today.

  At least one of the chasing crews, University, believes it is possible. Although they went down by a few feet to St John's in a short sprint on Monday and may lack the pace to threaten Oriel, University should deprive New College of second place today.

  St John's, stroked by Richard Thorp, last year's Oxford stroke, are one of the faster crews but are just out of reach of Oriel. Other crews to impress are Balliol and, unusually, Jesus.

  The latter have Chris Heathcote, the heaviest man to have rowed in the Boat Race, at No.6. They went up each night last year and look set to improve on their 16th position.

  In the women's division Pembroke, in fourth place, fancy their chances of deposing Osler House, and are even talking of an overbump today. [Starting Order]

• The Times Thu 24 May, By a Correspondent

  University finally pull up to second

  University took their time but eventually toppled New College from second place behind Oriel in the Oxford Summer Eights which opened yesterday.

  In fourth place and well out of contact with Oriel came Christ Church who showed their eagerness with a training outing after lunch between papers in the final examinations of President Johnny Searle.

  Somerville swiftly deposed Wadham from second position in the women's division. [List of Bumps] [Starting Order]

• The Daily Telegraph Thu 24 May

  Oriel, Osler House in lead

  Oriel and Osler House rowed over at the head of their respective divisions in the Oxford Summer Eights which began yesterday. But the second positions in the men's and women's divisions behind changed places, leaving them to challenge for the headship in the three days ahead.

  University caught New College at the bottom of the Green Bank, leaving Christ Church too much to accomplish in one night. St John's closed to ¾ of a length from SEH without making contact. Pembroke moved into seventh place with a bump on Worcester at Donnington Bridge. In the women's divisions Somerville swiftly closed on Wadham and threaten Osler. [List of Bumps] [Starting Order]

• The Times Fri 25 May

  Oriel lose advantage

  University College went head of the Oxford summer eights yesterday, forcing Oriel ignominiously to concede the bump in front of their own boathouse (a Special Correspondent writes).

  Christ Church caught New College, moving up into third place and threatening further ascent before the week is out. [List of Bumps] [Starting Order]

• The Daily Telegraph Fri 25 May

  University at the head

  University College went head of the Oxford Summer Eights yesterday, forcing Oriel to concede the bump in front of their own boathouse.

  Somerville caught Osler House a shade earlier on the course and moved to the top of the women's First Division.

  Exciting though these events were there is promise of more to come, for Christ Church men's and Pembroke women's first eights made their bumps and moved into third positions in their respective divisions.

  Brasenose established a toe-hold in the First Division by taking Hertford on the Green Bank, a strategy that moves BNC out of the immediate path of Jesus, who passed Magdalen and showed the form to move up still further. [List of Bumps] [Starting Order]

  The article is accompanied by a photograph captioned:

  Clare Everett salutes Linacre College's victory in the women's division three race at the Oxford Bumps

• The Times Sat 26 May, by a Special Correspondent

  University remain in pole position

  University and Somerville enjoyed a day's supremacy as head of the men's and women's divisions in the Oxford summer eights yesterday (a Special Correspondent writes).

  Below them, the forces established their positions for a final challenge today. Christ Church rowed alongside Oriel past the boathouses and bumped their way into second position at the entrance of the Cherwell. [List of Bumps] [Starting Order]

• The Daily Telegraph Sat 26 May

  Christ Church leave it late

  The pressure was off University and Somerville Colleges as they rowed over at the head of their respective divisions in the Oxford Summer Eights yesterday.

  Each head crew, however, was able to feel the strength of the opposition behind it when Christ Church and Pembroke took up positions to challenge the leading men's and women's crews today.

  Oriel took a long time to succumb to the House. Rating 38, they could not prevent Christ Church drawing alongside past the boat houses, finally conceding within reach of the finish. Balliol, meanwhile, took another scalp and Jesus dislodged Brasenose from their brief sojourn in the first division.

  Lower down, Lady Margaret Hall's men and St Anne's and Exeter's women were the first boats whose bumps yesterday brought them within sight of winning their blades. [List of Bumps] [Starting Order]

• The Sunday Telegraph Sun 27 May

  University and Somerville were respective winners of the men's and women's divisions of the Oxford University Summer Eights yesterday.

  In the men's division, Christ Church exerted some pressure mid-race but the effort was soon spent. Somerville held off Pembroke throughout the women's race, easing down as they crossed stroking 34.

• The Times Mon 28 May, By a Special Correspondent

  University return to top

  University and Somerville finished the Oxford Summer Eights well clear of their pursuers, confirming their undeniable pre-eminence in the men's and women's divisions respectively.

  For Somerville this is a return to the supremacy they relinquished only in 1988, but University were last Head of the River in 1914, and this year's two-place rise crowns the strenuous progress made since 1982 when the college languished in the second division.

  Jesus moved up five places to their highest position in 15 years and L.M.H.'s similar ascent lifted the Hall first men's boat into the second division. Such a status will take St Hugh's several years to achieve but they made a healthy inroad on the task with their nine-place rise. [List of Bumps] [Finishing Order] [Head crews — as below]

• The Daily Telegraph Mon 28 May

  University's long wait ends

  University and Somerville comfortably shrugged off the much-vaunted challenge of Christ Church and Pembroke when the Oxford Summer Eights ended on Saturday to confirm the positions that the crews assumed two days earlier at the head of the mens and womens divisions respectively.

  The status is not unfamiliar to Somerville, who were last Head from 1986 to 1988, but University College have not occupied this position since 1914. Less than 10 years ago their first eight was firmly embedded in the second division.

  St John's made further steady progress, comfortably bumping New College in the gut, but Balliol narrowly missed taking SEH, thereby denying the chasing crew their blades.

  Hertford avoided being caught a fourth time when they slipped out of Magdalen's reach. St Peter's with four bumps and LMH and Jesus with seven [five?], maintained a steady upward movement.

  Christ Church women's two further bumps took them up into the First Division, displacing St Hilda's and Jesus. [Finishing Order & Head Crews — as below] [List of Bumps]

• The Times Tue 29 May

  University move top after 76 years

  After a wait of 76 years, University College finished top of the Oxford Summer Eights. In the women's division, Somerville regained the headship they had lost in 1988.

  Jesus had their best result in 15 years, moving up five places into the men's first division. L.M.H. made similar progress into the second but St Hugh's ascent was most spectacular. After a nine-place rise they finished in a comfortable sixth position in the seventh division. [Bumps Chart]

• Review from the 1991 Eights Programme, by Nigel Hirst

  There was great anticipation at the prospect of this year's racing due to the widely held belief that both the men's and women's head crews were weaker than their immediate rivals. Oriel had none of the squad oarsmen so prevalent in recent years whilst University boasted one Blue and two Isis oarsmen and Christ Church one Blue and three Isis. Similarly in the women's first division Osler, head in 1989, lacked the wealth of University rowers that Somerville threatened them with.

  The first day's rowing saw Oriel unchallenged by New and left to row over head as University caught the same at the bottom of the Green Bank. This left Christ Church, St John's and Teddy Hall to row over behind them, St John's pushing Hall all the way to the finish.

  In the women's first division Osler rowed over as Somerville removed Wadham from second on the river.

  Thursday brought both head crews into direct conflict with their strongest rivals. Oriel held their own through the Gut but were rowed down and bumped by University halfway up the boathouses. Osler succumbed to Somerville in an almost identical fashion.

  On Friday it remained to be seen whether the deposed crews could mount a realistic challenge to the new head crews. Oriel closed to within half a length of University entering the Gut but could not maintain this pace onto the Green Bank, falling to Christ Church at the top of the boathouses. Osler too conceded a bump to Pembroke who moved up to challenge for the headship on the final day's racing.

  Elsewhere in the divisions Jesus broke into the first division with their third bump, whilst St John's in bumping Teddy Hall, and Oriel II in bumping Lincoln overpowered crews whom they had unsuccessfully chased on the previous two days.

  On the final day's racing both University and Somerville fended off with some ease the challenges of Christ Church and Pembroke respectively to row over head of the river. Both Jesus and L.M.H. gained blades in the men's divisions whilst there was a dearth of bladewinners amongst the women's crews.

• Details of Head crews taken from photo captions in the 1991 Eights Programme.

• In other news ... [1990]

  May 25

  The "rump" Social Democratic Party (consisting of members who backed out of the merger with the Liberal Party which formed the Liberal Democrats two years ago) finishes behind the Monster Raving Loony Party in the Bootle by-election, where Labour retain power under new MP Michael Carr.

  May 27

  In the Burmese general election, Burma's first multiparty election in 30 years, the National League for Democracy led by Aung San Suu Kyi wins in a landslide, but the State Law and Order Restoration Council nullifies the election results.

  May 27

  In the Colombian presidential election, Cesar Gaviria is elected President of Colombia; he takes office on August 7

Somerville
B:	Nicky English
2:	Jane Hughesdon
3:	Vanessa Patini
4:	Heather Pinches
5:	Sue Hartley
6:	Sarah Gibson
7:	Tamsin Brew
S:	Erica Othen
C:	Fiona Pleavin
Coach:	Phil Halliday

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