Eights 1995

MEN'S BUMPS WOMEN'S BUMPS

STANDINGS Start Finish Pos College Pts Pts College 1 Oriel 190 183 Oriel 2 Pembroke 181 177 Pembroke 3 New College 162 167 New College 4 Christ Church 155 162 S.E.H. 5 University 154 138 Brasenose 6 S.E.H. 149 138 Christ Church 7 Brasenose 138 134 University 8 Balliol 113 118 Magdalen 9 Worcester 111 115 Osler House 10 Osler House 110 113 Balliol 11 Keble 109 109 St John's 12 Magdalen 107 106 Jesus 13 St John's 100 104 St Catherine's 14 St Catherine's 99 102 Wadham 15 Jesus 98 99 Worcester 16 Wadham 97 95 Keble 17 Lincoln 80 80 Exeter 18 Wolfson 73 73 Hertford 19 Exeter 71 72 Lincoln 20 Hertford 69 67 Wolfson 21 St Peter's 66 66 St Peter's 22 Somerville 66 66 L.M.H. 23 St Anne's 63 63 Merton 24 L.M.H. 63 61 St Anne's 25 Merton 55 60 St Hilda's 26 Trinity 54 59 Somerville 27 St Hilda's 52 52 Trinity 28 Queen's 43 44 Linacre 29 Linacre 38 41 Queen's 30 St Hugh's 37 33 St Hugh's 31 Corpus Christi 33 33 Corpus Christi 32 Mansfield 23 29 Mansfield 33 Regent's Park 8 9 Regent's Park 34 St Benet's Hall 2 2 St Benet's Hall 35 St Antony's 2 1 St Antony's 36 Westminster 1 1 Westminster

STATISTICS College All Crews Men's Crews Women's Crews [ ]=ranking Crews Bps Avg Crews Bps Avg Crews Bps Avg Merton 7[ 3] 20[ 1] 2.86[ 2] 5[ 2] 17[ 1] 3.40[ 4] 2[ 6] 3[ 8] 1.50[ 8] Mansfield 3[25] 11[ 2] 3.67[ 1] 2[20] 7[ 3] 3.50[ 2] 1[22] 4[ 5] 4.00[ 1] Magdalen 5[11] 10[ 3] 2.00[ 3] 4[ 5] 13[ 2] 3.25[ 5] 1[22] -3[27] -3.00[32] St John's 9[ 1] 10[ 3] 1.11[10] 5[ 2] 3[10] 0.60[13] 4[ 1] 7[ 1] 1.75[ 6] Jesus 4[17] 8[ 5] 2.00[ 3] 3[10] 7[ 3] 2.33[ 6] 1[22] 1[12] 1.00[11] St Catherine's 5[11] 8[ 5] 1.60[ 7] 3[10] 2[11] 0.67[12] 2[ 6] 6[ 2] 3.00[ 2] Osler House 6[ 5] 8[ 5] 1.33[ 8] 3[10] 4[ 6] 1.33[ 9] 3[ 2] 4[ 5] 1.33[10] St Hilda's 3[25] 5[ 8] 1.67[ 6] 3[ 2] 5[ 4] 1.67[ 7] Linacre 4[17] 5[ 8] 1.25[ 9] 2[20] 7[ 3] 3.50[ 2] 2[ 6] -2[23] -1.00[19] Regent's Park 2[33] 4[10] 2.00[ 3] 1[31] 4[ 6] 4.00[ 1] 1[22] 0[14] 0.00[14] Wolfson 5[11] 4[10] 0.80[13] 3[10] 0[16] 0.00[16] 2[ 6] 4[ 5] 2.00[ 5] St Anne's 3[25] 3[12] 1.00[11] 2[20] 4[ 6] 2.00[ 7] 1[22] -1[17] -1.00[19] Trinity 3[25] 2[13] 0.67[14] 2[20] 4[ 6] 2.00[ 7] 1[22] -2[23] -2.00[28] Hertford 3[25] 2[13] 0.67[14] 2[20] -1[17] -0.50[18] 1[22] 3[ 8] 3.00[ 2] St Benet's Hall 1[34] 1[15] 1.00[11] 1[31] 1[12] 1.00[10] Westminster 1[34] 0[16] 0.00[16] 1[22] 0[14] 0.00[14] L.M.H. 4[17] 0[16] 0.00[16] 2[20] -1[17] -0.50[18] 2[ 6] 1[12] 0.50[13] S.E.H. 8[ 2] -1[18] -0.12[18] 6[ 1] -4[24] -0.67[23] 2[ 6] 3[ 8] 1.50[ 8] Exeter 6[ 5] -1[18] -0.17[19] 4[ 5] -7[31] -1.75[29] 2[ 6] 6[ 2] 3.00[ 2] St Peter's 4[17] -1[18] -0.25[20] 2[20] 1[12] 0.50[14] 2[ 6] -2[23] -1.00[19] Queen's 3[25] -2[21] -0.67[22] 2[20] -1[17] -0.50[18] 1[22] -1[17] -1.00[19] Oriel 6[ 5] -3[22] -0.50[21] 5[ 2] -2[22] -0.40[17] 1[22] -1[17] -1.00[19] Brasenose 4[17] -3[22] -0.75[23] 2[20] -1[17] -0.50[18] 2[ 6] -2[23] -1.00[19] Lincoln 4[17] -4[24] -1.00[25] 3[10] -4[24] -1.33[25] 1[22] 0[14] 0.00[14] Corpus Christi 3[25] -4[24] -1.33[29] 2[20] 1[12] 0.50[14] 1[22] -5[32] -5.00[34] St Antony's 1[34] -4[24] -4.00[36] 1[31] -4[24] -4.00[34] Keble 5[11] -5[27] -1.00[25] 3[10] -2[22] -0.67[23] 2[ 6] -3[27] -1.50[27] Balliol 4[17] -5[27] -1.25[28] 3[10] -4[24] -1.33[25] 1[22] -1[17] -1.00[19] New College 7[ 3] -6[29] -0.86[24] 4[ 5] -8[32] -2.00[30] 3[ 2] 2[11] 0.67[12] Somerville 4[17] -6[29] -1.50[31] 2[20] -1[17] -0.50[18] 2[ 6] -5[32] -2.50[31] University 6[ 5] -7[31] -1.17[27] 4[ 5] -6[29] -1.50[27] 2[ 6] -1[17] -0.50[17] St Hugh's 3[25] -7[31] -2.33[34] 1[31] 1[12] 1.00[10] 2[ 6] -8[34] -4.00[33] Wadham 6[ 5] -8[33] -1.33[29] 3[10] -5[28] -1.67[28] 3[ 2] -3[27] -1.00[19] Christ Church 5[11] -10[34] -2.00[32] 3[10] -6[29] -2.00[30] 2[ 6] -4[30] -2.00[28] Pembroke 6[ 5] -12[35] -2.00[32] 4[ 5] -8[32] -2.00[30] 2[ 6] -4[30] -2.00[28] Worcester 5[11] -12[35] -2.40[35] 3[10] -11[34] -3.67[33] 2[ 6] -1[17] -0.50[17]

Notes

• Wed 24 – Sat 27 May 1995
• The Rowing On system was changed so that from this year onwards crews which succeeded in Rowing On remained in their finishing order from the previous year, with new entries added at the bottom.
• Also an adjustment to division times with racing from 12:00 (W5) to 6:45 (M1) Wed–Fri, and 11:00 to 5:45 on Saturday.
• First appearance of Westminster College.

• The Times Wed 24 May

  Brasenose could challenge Oriel Eights headship

  The Oxford University Summer Eights, which start today on the Isis, offer tantalising rowing prospects over the next four days in both the men's and women's first divisions (a Special Correspondent writes).

  Oriel, who start head, were beaten by 1¼ lengths by Brasenose, who start fifth, over 1,500 metres at Wallingford. Oriel's narrow escape in Torpids last term does not bode well and Brasenose could be in a position to challenge them by Saturday.

  Osler House's women, with a strong complement of 1995 Blues, look fast and should survive at the head. Their strongest challenge could come from St Hilda's, in fifth, whose crew is composed entirely of members of the 1995 Oxford University WBC squad, with Abbie Chapman, the Boat Race cox, steering. [Starting Order]

• The Daily Telegraph Wed 24 May, By Geoffrey Page

  Oriel's title defence

  Oriel, so long the dominant force in Oxford college rowing, have failed only four times since 1978 to row Head in the Oxford Summer Eights and today they set out to defend their title.

  Last year Brasenose were the most successful of the chasing crews, making three bumps, and in the truncated Torpids in February, they gave Oriel a fright on the two days when racing was possible.

  Starting fifth today, they are within striking distance of the Head crew, although they will have to make a bump each day if they are to depose them, which is a tall order.

  Osler House bumped Somerville to go Head of the women's division last year, but today may be chased hard by New College, who made four bumps to rise to second place, while St Hilda's are in fifth place. [Starting Order]

• The Times Thu 25 May

  Brasenose launch headship ambition in style

  The top three crews rowed over on the first day of the Oxford University Summer Eights yesterday, but Christ Church, starting fourth, were caught by Brasenose, who could be in position to challenge Oriel for the headship on Saturday, coming out of the Gut.

  Also in the men's first division, New College quickly bumped Keble and University crabbed, allowing Magdalen [?] to score an overbump.

  At the top of the women's divisions, the leading three crews also rowed over, but St Hilda's, whose boat is composed of members of the 1995 Oxford University squad, achieved an early contact with fourth-placed Somerville and can expect to despatch Pembroke as quickly today. [Bumps Chart]

• The Daily Telegraph Thu 25 May, By a Special Correspondent

  Brasenose show St Hilda's the way

  Brasenose, in the men's divisions, and St Hilda's in the women's, rapidly confirmed predictions of their form on the first day of Oxford Summer Eights yesterday by bumping up from fifth position.

  St Hilda's further progress today looks assured. Languishing three lengths astern of New College, Pembroke are ready for demotion. But Osler are competent and unlikely to be deposed from head place even by Saturday night.

  Oriel are more vulnerable in the men's divisions. After threatening the head crew constantly, Pembroke fell back to three-quarters of a length of clear water at OUBC. Behind this excitement University crabbed and saw St John's row past for an over-bump — a rare spectacle at this level.

  University, however, may make good some of this decline today and elude New College who are fast over the first half of the course. [List of Bumps]

• The Times Fri 26 May

  Oxford Eights

  Pembroke bumped their way to the head of the river, but a query surfaced over the eligibility of their stroke. [Bumps Chart]

• The Daily Telegraph Fri 26 May, By a Special Correspondent

  Dispute over stroke

  Pembroke deposed Oriel at the Head of Oxford Summer Eights by making a swift bump under Donnington Bridge yesterday.

  No sooner was contact registered than a dispute as to the eligibility of Pembroke stroke Jo Michaels enetered a new phase with a reconvened race committee meeting.

  Michaels has submitted his post-graduate assignment and may no longer be considered a student. Behind this dispute the men's First Division was exciting. St John's overlapped Balliol, who had closed on Christ Church, but it was Magdalen, whose contact with St John's was acknowledged.

  In the women's divisions Osler finished well clear of New College. St Hilda's made the predicted bump on Pembroke but St Catherine's never converted an overlap on Brasenose. [List of Bumps]

• The Times Sat 27 May

  Pembroke tighten grip on top place

  Pembroke consolidated their position as head of Oxford Summer Eights. They kept a two-length lead over Oriel and heard that Joe Michels, their No 7. is still a junior member of the university. The programme today runs an hour early. [Bumps Chart]

• The Daily Telegraph Sat 27 May Just contains a list of bumps

• The Times Mon 29 May

  Pembroke ploy holds off Oriel

  Pembroke regained the Oxford University Head of the River title on Saturday, which the college last earned in 1872.

  Now, unless grey areas in the race rules are rapidly cleared up, Pembroke's solicitors have established that the way is open to pack college eights with elite performers in the quest for a place on the winners' list.

  Oriel backtracked on a declared earlier intention to do so and settled for an unimpressive crew that passed the boathouses two lengths behind the leaders.

  With characteristic maturity, Osler House retained the women's headship and New College again resisted the potent force of St Hilda's. [Bumps Chart]

• The Daily Telegraph Mon 29 May, By a Special Correspondent

  Pembroke use their advantage

  Pembroke's controversial crew finished Head of the Oxford Summer Eights. The college's only earlier appearance in the list of winners, which goes back to 1815, was 123 years ago.

  Oriel, in second spot, highmindedly disdained to recall star performers to help retain their supreme place, as Pembroke did in using post-graduate Blue Joe Michaels, which prompted an inquiry.

  Magdalen gave the coup de grâce to Christ Church whose demotion after not being attached on the start was inevitable.

  Osler, untroubled and efficient to the end, rowed over Head of the women's divisions where St Hilda's pace was effectively resisted by New College. [List of Bumps] [Finishing Order] [Head Crews — as below]

• Report in the 1996 Eights Programme, by Roy Bolton

  At the top of the first division Oriel seemed in a less than sure position to retain the headship, with only one Isis rower and a lightweight in the boat and a Pembroke crew on bungline two headed by the OUBC President. On the first day Oriel rowed over but not without a considerable threat from the strangely powerful Pembroke boat. However, on day two Pembroke had an easy row, onto the headship they had not won for 123 years, when Oriel caught a crab under Donnington Bridge. Days 3 and 4 saw Pembroke and Oriel maintain their new positions without event on the river, although in both the boathouses and the newspapers various allegations flew, none of which proved correct. New College were the only other crew in the first division to make a significant move upward, winning blades by the final day. Worcester and Christ Church plummeted 3 places, both being bumped by a well coached Magdalen boat, while University went one better and took spoons by going down every day. Only S.E.H. managed to skirt incident and stayed put at 3rd on the river.

  The Women's first division saw Osler-Green keep their laurels comfortably as head boat despite an expected threat from St Hilda's, who were staved off by a strong New College boat.

  The Men's second division were joined for the first time in living memory [actually 1992–1993] by Keble who went from 11th to 15th, being caught on the last day by the steadily rising Exeter who are sure to enter, along with Keble, the first division this year [1996]. Lincoln, starting as sandwich boat, joined Keble in the ignominy of collecting spoons as did 3rd division boats such as New College II, Worcester II, Lincoln II [?], L.M.H. II [?] and for a third year running Oriel III.

• The Times Letters, Fri 2 June

  Pembroke won by hard work

  From the President of the Oxford University Boat Club

  Sir, your report (May 29) on Oxford University Summer Eights implies that Pembroke packed its boat with elite rowers and entered the competition unfairly. This is incorrect.

  The dispute centred on one oarsman, Joe Michels, a junior dean at Pembroke for the past two years and currently a research fellow in condensed matter physics.

  The question was solely whether Michels was a junior member of the university (automatically eligible for Eights) or a senior member (eligible for Eights with permission from a captains' meeting).

  The university's published regulations clearly show that someone in Michels's situation is a junior member. The rules committee voted unanimously that this was the case and that he was eligible to row without further discussion. Oriel's threatened use of former members did not materialise because they were not current members of the university and therefore ineligible.

  Far from being stuffed full of "elite performers", the Pembroke eight contained four freshmen, three of whom had never rowed before coming up to Oxford. Gutsy rowing and a year-long commitment to training bumped Oriel in 30 strokes and easily held them off over two days, not some devious ploy.

  It is that sort of spirit that is revitalising Oxford rowing at all levels, from the Blue boat down through to the colleges.

  Yours faithfully,
  Jeremiah McLanahan
  President, OUBC

  From Mr Tim Waters

  Sir, Pembroke were greatly helped by the willingness of our two Blues to row in the crew, a refreshing contrast to the all too familiar egotism of many university level oarsmen/women.

  Unfortunately, speed on the Isis is a rare commodity and crews possessing it are often the target of malicious gossip or denigrating comment.
  Yours, etc
  Tim Waters
  (Coach, Pembroke College Boat Club)

• Details of head crews taken from the photo captions in the Eights 1996 Programme.

• In other news ... [1995]

  May 21

  United Kingdom BSE outbreak: First known death from variant CreutzfeldtJakob disease, that of a 19-year old man; not until 20 March 1996 does the Secretary of State for Health announce that vCJD is caused by eating beef infected with bovine spongiform encephalopathy.

  May 25

  Roseanna Cunningham wins the Perth by-election for the Scottish National Party, three months after the seat became vacant upon the death of the Conservative MP Sir Nicholas Fairbairn. The Conservative majority has now fallen from 21 seats to 11, in the space of three years since the last general election.

  May 28

  The 7.0 Mw Neftegorsk earthquake strikes northern Sakhalin Island in Russia with a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent), leaving 1,967 people dead and 750 injured.

Osler-Green
B:	Susie Noury	11st 10lb
2:	Sue Snape	11st 5lb
3:	Catherine Magill	12st 10lb
4:	Sophie Pilkington	12st 7lb
5:	Emma Haynes	10st 7lb
6:	Gillian Pottinger	9st 1lb
7:	Joanna Skillman	9st 7lb
S:	Denny Levett	10st 7lb
C:	Nick Schenker	8st 4lb
Coaches:	Pete Sudbury
	Hamish McCallum
	Penny Chuter

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