Eights 1991

MEN'S BUMPS WOMEN'S BUMPS

STANDINGS Start Finish Pos College Pts Pts College 1 Oriel 204 218 University 2 University 202 205 Oriel 3 New College 202 195 Christ Church 4 Christ Church 186 187 New College 5 Pembroke 169 179 Pembroke 6 Brasenose 145 158 Brasenose 7 S.E.H. 142 136 St John's 8 Balliol 139 136 S.E.H. 9 St John's 138 135 Balliol 10 Wadham 134 129 Worcester 11 Worcester 129 124 Wadham 12 Keble 127 124 Keble 13 Jesus 117 122 Wolfson 14 Hertford 114 113 Hertford 15 St Catherine's 110 109 Osler House 16 Osler House 109 108 Jesus 17 Wolfson 103 106 St Catherine's 18 Lincoln 98 96 Magdalen 19 Magdalen 97 95 Lincoln 20 L.M.H. 94 95 L.M.H. 21 Somerville 85 87 Somerville 22 St Peter's 68 69 Exeter 23 St Anne's 67 67 Trinity 24 Exeter 67 64 Queen's 25 Trinity 66 62 St Peter's 26 Queen's 64 62 St Anne's 27 St Hugh's 63 56 St Hugh's 28 Corpus Christi 56 52 Merton 29 Merton 51 48 Corpus Christi 30 Linacre 34 38 St Hilda's 31 St Hilda's 31 35 Linacre 32 Mansfield 28 29 Mansfield 33 Templeton 5 5 Regent's Park 34 Regent's Park 4 4 Templeton

STATISTICS College All Crews Men's Crews Women's Crews [ ]=ranking Crews Bps Avg Crews Bps Avg Crews Bps Avg Wolfson 5[13] 11[ 1] 2.20[ 3] 4[ 9] 8[ 2] 2.00[ 4] 1[23] 3[ 7] 3.00[ 3] Christ Church 10[ 1] 11[ 1] 1.10[ 7] 6[ 1] 1[13] 0.17[15] 4[ 1] 10[ 1] 2.50[ 5] Pembroke 8[ 2] 10[ 3] 1.25[ 6] 5[ 3] 10[ 1] 2.00[ 4] 3[ 3] 0[12] 0.00[12] Somerville 4[23] 7[ 4] 1.75[ 4] 4[ 1] 7[ 2] 1.75[ 8] Linacre 5[13] 7[ 4] 1.40[ 5] 3[15] 8[ 2] 2.67[ 3] 2[ 6] -1[19] -0.50[19] St Hilda's 2[31] 5[ 6] 2.50[ 2] 2[ 6] 5[ 5] 2.50[ 5] Exeter 6[ 8] 5[ 6] 0.83[ 9] 4[ 9] 4[ 7] 1.00[ 9] 2[ 6] 1[ 9] 0.50[10] University 6[ 8] 5[ 6] 0.83[ 9] 4[ 9] 5[ 5] 1.25[ 8] 2[ 6] 0[12] 0.00[12] Oriel 8[ 2] 4[ 9] 0.50[12] 6[ 1] -1[20] -0.17[20] 2[ 6] 5[ 5] 2.50[ 5] Regent's Park 1[33] 3[10] 3.00[ 1] 1[30] 3[ 9] 3.00[ 2] Trinity 3[29] 3[10] 1.00[ 8] 2[25] -3[21] -1.50[25] 1[23] 6[ 4] 6.00[ 1] Osler House 5[13] 3[10] 0.60[11] 3[15] 5[ 5] 1.67[ 7] 2[ 6] -2[22] -1.00[21] Balliol 7[ 4] 3[10] 0.43[14] 5[ 3] 4[ 7] 0.80[11] 2[ 6] -1[19] -0.50[19] L.M.H. 4[23] 2[14] 0.50[12] 2[25] 7[ 4] 3.50[ 1] 2[ 6] -5[28] -2.50[27] Queen's 4[23] 1[15] 0.25[15] 3[15] 1[13] 0.33[14] 1[23] 0[12] 0.00[12] S.E.H. 6[ 8] 1[15] 0.17[16] 5[ 3] 0[16] 0.00[16] 1[23] 1[ 9] 1.00[ 9] Merton 4[23] 0[17] 0.00[17] 2[25] 0[16] 0.00[16] 2[ 6] 0[12] 0.00[12] Brasenose 4[23] -1[18] -0.25[18] 2[25] 1[13] 0.50[13] 2[ 6] -2[22] -1.00[21] Mansfield 2[31] -1[18] -0.50[23] 1[30] 2[11] 2.00[ 4] 1[23] -3[25] -3.00[29] Worcester 7[ 4] -2[20] -0.29[19] 5[ 3] 0[16] 0.00[16] 2[ 6] -2[22] -1.00[21] St John's 7[ 4] -2[20] -0.29[19] 5[ 3] -9[30] -1.80[28] 2[ 6] 7[ 2] 3.50[ 2] St Anne's 5[13] -2[20] -0.40[21] 3[15] 3[ 9] 1.00[ 9] 2[ 6] -5[28] -2.50[27] Hertford 5[13] -2[20] -0.40[21] 3[15] -3[21] -1.00[23] 2[ 6] 1[ 9] 0.50[10] Magdalen 6[ 8] -3[24] -0.50[23] 5[ 3] -3[21] -0.60[21] 1[23] 0[12] 0.00[12] Keble 5[13] -3[24] -0.60[25] 4[ 9] -6[29] -1.50[25] 1[23] 3[ 7] 3.00[ 3] St Peter's 5[13] -4[26] -0.80[26] 4[ 9] -3[21] -0.75[22] 1[23] -1[19] -1.00[21] Lincoln 4[23] -4[26] -1.00[27] 3[15] 0[16] 0.00[16] 1[23] -4[26] -4.00[31] Templeton 1[33] -4[26] -4.00[34] 1[30] -4[25] -4.00[32] St Hugh's 5[13] -5[29] -1.00[27] 3[15] 2[11] 0.67[12] 2[ 6] -7[32] -3.50[30] Wadham 5[13] -8[30] -1.60[30] 3[15] -4[25] -1.33[24] 2[ 6] -4[26] -2.00[25] New College 7[ 4] -9[31] -1.29[29] 4[ 9] -9[30] -2.25[29] 3[ 3] 0[12] 0.00[12] St Catherine's 5[13] -9[31] -1.80[31] 3[15] -9[30] -3.00[31] 2[ 6] 0[12] 0.00[12] Jesus 6[ 8] -11[33] -1.83[32] 3[15] -5[27] -1.67[27] 3[ 3] -6[30] -2.00[25] Corpus Christi 3[29] -11[33] -3.67[33] 2[25] -5[27] -2.50[30] 1[23] -6[30] -6.00[32]

Notes

• Wed 22 – Sat 25 May 1991
• The Times Wed 22 May, By a Special Correspondent

  St John's may supply unexpected challenge

  St John's are the dark horses in the Oxford University Summer Eights, which start on the Isis today and continue until Saturday.

  Reputedly the fastest crew off the start, St John's could pose the greatest threat to University, even though they start three places behind them. To challenge University for the headship, St John's must overhaul Oriel and Christ Church, and with the top three crews evenly balanced, the confrontation could take place on Friday.

  University are certain to be lifted by the reappearance of their college barge. Beautifully restored to its original condition at a cost of £400,000, the barge has been lent to the college by the owner, David Sherriff.

  In the women's top division, Somerville, who include four blues, are in a class of their own. [Starting Order]

• The Daily Telegraph Wed 22 May, By Geoffrey Page

  Oriel are eager to regain Headship

  University College today start Head of the River in the Oxford Summer Eights, having regained the title last year for the first time since 1914. But there could be quite a battle behind them by crews eager to depose them.

  Following last year's demotion, when bumped by University and Christ Church, Oriel, the outstanding Oxford rowing college, lost the Headship after 19 years in last term's Torpids through a controversial four-bump penalty for boating when the river was deemed dangerous.

  Whether they are good enough to finish Head of the Summer Eights again by Saturday remains to be seen.

  It is easier to stay at the top than to regain the Headship. This is because of the starting gap, which means that the leading crew can be well over a length slower than the chasing crew and still stay Head.

  The indications are that Oriel, Christ Church — who took over from Oriel in the Torpids — and St John's — stroked by Richard Thorp, the 1989 winning Oxford stroke — could all be in the hunt.

  Somerville look set to row over at the Head of the women's division. Osler House, deposed by Somerville last year, are clearly faster now, but must dispose of Pembroke this time before they can challenge the leaders. [Starting Order]

• The Times Thu 23 May, by a Special Correspondent

  University steer clear of trouble

  University and Somerville safely rowed over in the top divisions of hte Oxford University summer eights, which began on the Isis yesterday and continue until Saturday (a Special Correspondent writes).

  In the men's first division, University finished two lengths clear of Christ Church, who were threatened by Oriel early on. Oriel's excellent start moved them clear of St John's, rated the fastest crew off the start. The top six crews all rowed over.

  Somerville's win in the women's first division was easier. Their closest challengers, Pembroke, were bumped by Osler House, and they finished seven lengths ahead of Brasenose, the fourth-placed crew. [List of Bumps] [Starting Order]

• The Daily Telegraph Thu 23 May, By a Special Correspondent

  University in dominant form

  University College opened Oxford Summer Eights with a dominant performance on a wide front. The men's first eight held their head position with two lengths of clear water ahead of Christ Church when they passed OUBC.

  The second crew bumped Queen's and secured a toe-hold in the second division, and the third boat made a bump on Christ Church III.

  The college women's boat, too, made progress at Donnington Bridge, where they caught LMH.

  Oriel, in third place in the men's first division, closed the gap on Christ Church to a length at OUBC, opening to three times this distance the margin ahead of St John's.

  Any challenge offered to Somerville at the head of the women's divisions evaporated rapidly as Pembroke were swiftly overhauled by Osler House. The medics bumped half-way down the Green Bank but Christ Church reportedly caught St Hugh's in 10 strokes. [List of Bumps] [Starting Order]

• The Times Fri 24 May, By a Special Correspondent

  Christ Church upset over Oriel decision

  Christ Church were the unhappiest crew on the second day of the Oxford University Summer Eights yesterday when Oriel bumped them in front of the University boathouse.

  Christ Church claimed no contact was made and were incensed when the verdict whent against them. The race committee upheld the decision of an umpire on the towpath who said there was contact.

  In the women's first division, Somerville finished four lengths clear of Osler House. [List of Bumps] [Startnig Order]

• The Daily Telegraph Fri 24 May, By a Special Correspondent

  Dispute puts Oriel second

  A vigorously disputed bump took Oriel into second place behind University College on the second day of Oxford Summer Eights.

  Christ Church, who fought off Oriel's challenge in the Gut, gradually succumbed to a sustained assault along the Green Bank and finally allowed a generous overlap.

  Although the House never conceded contact, every Oriel hand was raised and a committee of umpires upheld their claim for a bump.

  Lower down, the ascent of Pembroke, Brasenose and Lincoln continued and Somerville outclassed the Women's divisions, where Osler House could now succumb to Brasenose who moved into third position.

  Jesus first women's boat fell victim to Keble's second bump and their men counterparts could not compensate by catching Worcester. Jesus's men closed rapidly and there was scarcely more than half-a-length between boats. But that was the distance as the two crossed the line.

  Oriel 5 made the fastest bump of the day, taking New College 4 in 13 strokes. [List of Bumps] [Starting Order]

• The Times Sat 25 May, by a Special Correspondent

  Pembroke make the one bump

  There was only one bump in the men's first division of the Oxford University summer eights on the Isis yesterday, Pembroke catching New College close to the University boathouse (a Special Correspondent writes). [List of Bumps] [Starting Order]

• The Daily Telegraph Sat 25 May

  University College shrugged off Oriel's early challenge for the headship and added a length to the starting margin by the end of the third day of the Oxford Summer Eights.

  Pembroke's early contact with New College was the only real disturbance to the starting pattern of the men's first division. [List of Bumps] [Starting Order]

• The Times Mon 27 May, By a Correspondent

  No threat to river's top crew

  University, never seriously threatened, either by Christ Church or Oriel, confirmed themselves as the best crew by retaining the headship of the Oxford University summer eights on the Isis on Saturday. [List of Bumps & Finishing Order]

• The Daily Telegraph Mon 27 May, By a Special Correspondent

  University head of Oriel's challenge

  University College withstood a series of attacks by Oriel and rowed over at the head on the final day's racing in the Oxford University Summer Eights.

  University 2 scored their fourth bump, while Oriel 2 continued downward. The two second boats finished in adjacent positions, with no question that University College also have the fastest reserve eight on the Isis.

  The University College style remained aggressive to the end. Oriel's fight seemed to be over as they passed OUBC, so that the term "offensive" was more justifiably earned by the behaviour of the Oriel supporters.

  Pembroke caught St John's spectacularly in front of their own boathouse. This bump earned Pembroke their blades and took the college up to higher final position than they have enjoyed for more than 20 years.

  Fifteen yards from the finish, Brasenose at last caught St John's, who had effectively given them the slip on Friday. Behind both, Keble rowed over at the end of the First Division, untroubled by sandwich boat Wadham. LMH and St Hugh's earned their blades from more modest starting positions.

  Somerville were undisturbed at the head of the women's divisions, despite a constant reshuffle over the week of the top women's eights immediately astern.

  The first nine places looked set for roll-overs on Saturday until a disastrous unseating in the Wadham crew let University up into sixth place. St John's, Trinity and Oriel all made a fourth bump. [List of Bumps] [Head Crews — as below] [Finishing Order]

• The Times Tue 28 May, by a Special Correspondent

  Oxford Summer Eights

  University were never seriously threatened as they confirmed their position as the best men's crew on the Isis by retaining the headship of the Oxford University summer eights (a Special Correspondent writes). [Bumps Chart]

• The Times Letters, Thu 30 May

  An Oxford treble

  From Mr Peter Waymouth
  Sir, May I add to your comments about the University College barge reappearing on the Isis after 28 years (May 22). St John's also had their barge, recently restored by us, on the river to celebrate the barge's centenary, along with Tom Slocock rowing in the eight. He is the son of the president of the St John's Barge Trust, which has been responsible for the restoration of the barge, and the third generation to have rowed for the college.

• Review from the 1992 Eights Programme, by Roger Hirst

  The towpath pundits were anticipating a great tussle at the head of both men's and women's divisions, because of the abundance of squad rowers. University contained two blues and one Isis, Oriel had two blues and two Isis, whilst St John's two blues and one Isis oarsman. It was the latter who were strongly tipped to take the Headship. In the Women's 1st division, Somerville looked vulnerable to challenges from Brasenose.

  The first day saw University and Somerville row over comfortably leaving no change at the top of either the men's or women's divisions.

  On Thursday Oriel bumped up to second in front of the boathouses, though Christ Church, not contented with stopping, rowed out the full course. St John's much touted campaign had floundered, and Pembroke revealed themselves as a potent force. Somerville continued to look confident at head, and Brasenose men broke into the 1st division.

  There was little change on Friday at the top of the men's division with University now looking increasingly confident stroked by the 1992 President Jo Michels, though Oriel had lost a key oarsman to international duties. In the women's divisions Osler House were bumped out of second place.

  On the final day both University and Somerville retained their headships, the former withstanding sustained pressure from Oriel, and the latter increasing their lead to over two lengths. Pembroke justified their talent and training by winning blades when they bumped a flagging St John's into their own raft. University second crew gained blades and challenge Oriel II this year [1992], and St Hilda's won blades entering the 1st division.

• Head crew details taken from photo captions in the Eights 1992 programme.

• In other news ... [1991]

  May 22

  Acting Prime Minister of South Korea Ro Jai-bong resigns in the wake of rioting following the beating death of a student by police on April 26. He is succeeded by Chung Won-shik two days later.

  May 22

  Nearly six months after the breakthrough in the Channel Tunnel service tunnel, the breakthrough in the North rail tunnel is achieved. On the same day, road links to the British terminal are improved when the final section of the M20 motorway is opened between Maidstone and Ashford, meaning that the tunnel's unbroken motorway link with London has already been completed an estimated three years before the first trains move between Britain and France.

  May 24

  Following authorisation by Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir, Operation Solomon commences.

  May 24

  Labour tops a MORI poll for the first time this year, as they stand six points ahead of the Conservatives on 43%.

  May 24

  Sutton Manor Colliery at Bold in the Lancashire Coalfield closes, the last in Britain to use a steam winding engine.

  May 25

  The Surinamese general election is won by the military-backed New Front for Democracy and Development.

Somerville
B:	Elizabeth Ayling
2:	Vanessa Patini
3:	Michelle Houldsworth
4:	Julia Simpson
5:	Sarah Gibson
6:	Victoria Braithwaite
7:	Heather Pinches
S:	Jackie Orme
C:	Fiona Pleavin
Coaches:	Phil Halliday
	Jamie Elwin

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