Torpids 1969

BUMPS CHARTS

STANDINGS Start Finish Pos College Pts Pts College 1 St John's 59 57 Balliol 2 Balliol 59 55 Christ Church 3 Oriel 49 48 St John's 4 Christ Church 48 48 New College 5 Worcester 44 47 Oriel 6 University 39 40 S.E.H. 7 New College 39 40 Lincoln 8 Lincoln 38 37 University 9 S.E.H. 37 36 Worcester 10 Pembroke 29 30 Wadham 11 Queen's 28 29 Queen's 12 Keble 26 23 Merton 13 Wadham 23 22 Keble 14 Merton 20 21 Jesus 15 Trinity 17 18 Pembroke 16 Exeter 17 18 St Catherine's 17 Hertford 16 17 Hertford 18 St Catherine's 15 15 St Peter's 19 Corpus Christi 13 13 Trinity 20 Jesus 13 12 Brasenose 21 St Peter's 11 12 Magdalen 22 Brasenose 10 10 Corpus Christi 23 Magdalen 9 10 Exeter 24 Mansfield 2 2 Osler House 25 Osler House 1 2 Mansfield

STATISTICS College All Crews [ ]=ranking Crews Bps Avg Wadham 3[ 2] 13[ 1] 4.33[ 3] St Peter's 2[ 7] 9[ 2] 4.50[ 2] Osler House 1[20] 8[ 3] 8.00[ 1] Christ Church 4[ 1] 5[ 4] 1.25[ 7] Jesus 2[ 7] 4[ 5] 2.00[ 5] Brasenose 1[20] 3[ 6] 3.00[ 4] New College 2[ 7] 3[ 6] 1.50[ 6] Queen's 2[ 7] 2[ 8] 1.00[ 8] Oriel 2[ 7] 2[ 8] 1.00[ 8] Hertford 1[20] 1[10] 1.00[ 8] St Catherine's 2[ 7] 1[10] 0.50[11] Merton 2[ 7] 0[12] 0.00[12] St John's 3[ 2] 0[12] 0.00[12] Lincoln 3[ 2] -1[14] -0.33[14] Worcester 2[ 7] -1[14] -0.50[15] Magdalen 2[ 7] -3[16] -1.50[16] S.E.H. 2[ 7] -3[16] -1.50[16] Trinity 1[20] -3[16] -3.00[21] Balliol 2[ 7] -4[19] -2.00[18] Mansfield 1[20] -4[19] -4.00[23] Corpus Christi 1[20] -4[19] -4.00[23] University 3[ 2] -6[22] -2.00[18] Keble 3[ 2] -7[23] -2.33[20] Pembroke 2[ 7] -7[23] -3.50[22] Exeter 2[ 7] -8[25] -4.00[23]

Notes

• Wed 19 – Sat 22 Feb 1969
• Multilane racing, but now modified to have two lanes rather than three above the Gut.
• Divisions at 30min intervals from 2pm (Div VI) until 4:30pm (Div I)
• First appearance in Torpids of Osler House.

• The Times Wed 19 Feb, by Douglas Calder

  Oriel could surprise leaders

  My dictionary defines "torpid" as "dull, inactive, or sluggish", and I am sorry to say that so far as today's Oxford University Torpid races are concerned it is not far wide of the mark.

  Ever since Oxford rowing became more and more centralized around the activities of the University squad of oarsmen, the Torpid races, once quite a landmark in the early season, have suffered accordingly. By now they have hardly any relevance at all in rowing though they remain a colourful and entertaining event in the University calendar.

  All the same, when the curtain is rung up this afternoon for the first of four performances we shall see a new departure. Having begun life as traditional bumping races in the mists of the last century, the Torpids have in recent years been run on the lanes system with three crews racing abreast after reaching the Green Bank.

  It was an ingenious system and gave Torpids the added attraction of considerable excitement for the spectators and a longer race for the oarsmen since the sudden death of a bump was made far less likely. Now instead of three lanes we are to have only two.

  Boats will start from bung lines below Haystacks Corner at three-quarter-length intervals, and will immediately peel off alternately into two lanes. Thus the clear disadvantage to the crew facing the worst of the stream on the centre station is avoided. The spectators will see a spectacular procession of boats racing both alongside each other and in line ahead and, provided no cox gets his number wrong, the oarsmen should benefit from a longer row.

  Balliol start head of the river today, but since they have been training alone at Wallingford no one knows for sure how fast they are. St. John's, in second place, are usually fit and with one Isis cap in their crew they could well depose Balliol. Christ Church, starting fourth, are easily the most polished crew and if they are fit enough to stay the course they could find themselves at the top of the chart when racing finishes on Saturday. However, in spite of their untidiness, I have a hunch that Oriel, after intensive practice at Godstow, will achieve the number one place instead.

  One boat sure to gain plenty of places will be Christ Church IV who start today at the bottom of the ladder. With two Isis oarsmen, Von Harrach and Wakefield, they ought to slice their way through the crews in front.

  Order of starting :— [...]

• The Daily Telegraph Wed 19 Feb, by Desmond Hill

  New Stations Look Fairer

  The Oxford Torpids are to drop the three-lane format they have followed since 1960 and when the races start this afternoon crews will come up two abreast. In theory, at least, this should prove much fairer than the last system.

  Crews will start from bunglines at threequarter-length intervals, but by the time every other boat has crossed to the far bank these intervals should be doubled. It is most unlikely that any of the upper division boats will climb more than two places in any day.

  One need therefore look no further than the first six boats for the likely winner. Balliol defend the title they won in the last race in 1968, but have been hiding their light so assiduously at Wallingford that they have escaped me altogether.

  Oriel favourites

  St. John's look respectable, but were thoroughly discomfited by New College in a weekend friendly. Oriel have worked harder than any and are the popular tip, though I thought them surprising unco-ordinated. Christ Church are smooth and Worcester are not.

  But until one can see the effect of the new stations, forecasting would be even more foolhardy than usual. Racing, at half-hourly intervals, lasts from 2 o'clock to 4,30 for the next four days. [Start Order]

• The Times Thu 20 Feb, by Douglas Calder

  Oriel unlikely to catch Balliol

  It was Balliol all the way in the first division of the Oxford University Torpids yesterday. Starting at 41, they led out from St. John's and Oriel at once. Steadying to 33, they continued to gain all the way over and finished a good four lengths clear.

  St. John's, Oriel, and Christ Church all finished in a gaggle, with Oriel a mere 3ft. in front of St. John's as they crossed the line. Oriel therefore start second today; but although they will have the more favourable towpath station again I cannot see them catching Balliol.

  In the second division, the Pembroke four lost his oar as he passed O.U.B.C.. He made one attempt to put it back in its swivel, but it jumped out again, so he gave up. His seven comrades just got him home safely in front of Keble.

  There was much palaver in the third division. Corpus, having found the allotted time for reaching the start insufficient, failed to get off at all when the gun went. They were fined £1 and penalized two places in the re-row which was necessary. They offered to pay an increased fine if they were not penalized, but virtue triumphed. [Bumps Chart]

• The Daily Telegraph Thu 20 Feb, by Desmond Hill

  Balliol Retain Headship

  Balliol retained the headship with such ease on the opening day of the Oxford Torpids yesterday that survival for the rest of the week looks a formality.

  Oriel moved into second place but only in the last few strokes and were three of four lengths behind the leaders.

  Balliol were at 34 and well clear leaving the Gut, where St. John's, Oriel and Christ Church were all a diminishing length apart. By finishing 3ft ahead of St. John's, Oriel ensured they have the favoured towpath station again tomorrow.

  New College went past Worcester at the earliest permissible moment, but will have more to do tomorrow. Merton and Wadham made bumps in Division II. Keble, Merton's victims, nearly restored the damage when Pembroke lost an oar and just struggled home ahead of them.

  Magdalen move up

  In Division IV, Magdalen made the first upward move that most can remember. Their last success was in 1964, when they were fifth in Division I. The lower half of Division III was forced to re-row after Corpus Christi arrived late and news of the postponed start percolated too slowly.

  Two boats were broadside on when Division VI should have started, but eventually Christ Church IV, coxed by a don and with two Isis caps, were adjudged to have gone up three places and Osler House, the new medical college, four.

  There were no audible complaints at the new lanes, but their equality cannot be gauged until boats have tried both stations. A firmer hand in the committee room, to stifle trivial complaints, would not come amiss.

  Today's Order of Start [...]

• The Times Fri 21 Feb, by Douglas Calder

  Oriel held firmly at bay

  For the second day Balliol made it clear that they intend to stay at the head of the river in the Oxford University Torpids, yesterday. This time on the less favourable barges station, they still held Oriel firmly at bay.

  At the bottom of the Green Bank, Balliol had already gained a length and a quarter on Oriel. Striking 34 to Oriel's 35, they cruised safely home, if anything gaining a little more in the process.

  Behind, there was considerable excitement. New College, after looking out of the hunt altogether, gained rapidly on St. John's approaching the university boat house. They made their bump only a few feet from their own club house.

  Since St. John's, who had to continue racing to the finish, did not quite overhaul Christ Church, New College in fact only gained one place, but there was only half a length in it.

  Thanks to the presence of mind of their number four, Andrew Ingram, New College made a spectacular recovery. At the Stone, he came off his seat altogether, but after half a minute's industrious effort in the middle of the race he had put things right. "He's had plenty of practice at it. He does it about once a week", remarked their coach, Ashton Calvert, laconically. [Bumps Chart]

• The Daily Telegraph Fri 21 Feb, by Desmond Hill

  Three Crews Seek Place

  With Balliol's largely graduate crew again outstanding at the head, interest now turns to who will be runners up in the Oxford Torpids when they finish on Saturday. After the second day's racing three crews must come into the final reckoning.

  Balliol had opened up two lengths of clear water from Oriel by the Long Bridge [sic] but Christ Church had drawn level with St. John's and neither was all that far behind. New College had had a man off his seat but were a length down on St. John's.

  New College gained rapidly along the Green bank and bumped St. John's at New Cut, but St. John's fought on and finished only half a length behind Christ Church. On this form New College could well score at least one more success.

  Lincoln and University had a good race at the head of the second division but Lincoln at the lower rate eventually held off their pursuers but almost a length. After a gap, four crews came up tightly grouped and Queen's bumped Pembroke at the Pink Post.

  Insistent Queen's

  At this point Wadham were almost level with Pembroke and as the victorious Queen's insisted on rowing on, Pembroke failed to get clear and lost a further place.

  After Wednesday's Committee room bedlam it is only fair to report an entirely new look. What few protests there were were dealt with forcefully and succinctly and there was no danger of a repetition of Wednesday's embryo sit-in.

  Starting Order [...]

• The Times Sat 22 Feb, by Douglas Calder

  New College have a chance to excel

  New College had their day in the Oxford Torpids yesterday. Improving with every stroke, they bumped the fancied Oriel crew resoundingly at the Pink Post. At the bottom of the Green Bank, New College were nearly three-quarters of a length away from Oriel, but sniffing victory, they were up to 38 halfway down the Green Bank, and gaining fast.

  The pity was that New College bumped Oriel too hard for their own interests. Their boat made contact with Oriel's boat, the Oriel cox acknowledged the bump, but still New College ploughed on. At the time, Oriel were almost level with Christ Church, lying number two but in the other lane, and they looked to have every chance of finishing ahead of them.

  If Oriel had done this, New College would have started second today. However, they put Oriel off so much at the moment of contact that they lost three-quarters of a length in a flash, leaving Christ Church to scramble home in second place.

  Balliol came home safely enough in first place. Even so, they did not look nearly as secure as on previous days. Striking 36 instead of their usual 34, they had over a length of clear water behind them at the bottom of the Green Bank.

  New College's success obviously spurred Christ Church to greater effort, and they gained over Balliol towards the finish. Only three-quarters of a length came between the boats as they crossed the line.

  If New College excel today, they may bump Balliol, and finish at the top of the tree. That would really confound the form book. [Bumps Chart]

• The Daily Telegraph Sat 22 Feb, by Desmond Hill

  Balliol tire but stay Head

  Yesterday's racing threw an entirely different light on the Oxford Torpids, and, although Balliol will probably stay Head, they can no longer be odds-on to do so. After looking perfectly safe at Tims, they tired badly, and Christ Church were within a half-length at the finish.

  New College made up more than two lengths to bump Oriel at the Pink Post, and had a demoralised Oriel not let Christ Church pass them, New College would start second and not third this afternoon. Whether they have the pace both to overhaul Christ Church and bump Balliol is questionable.

  St. John's held their place for the first time, but were well astern, with not all that much to spare from St. Edmund Hall. Lincoln quickly went past Worcester.

  A breathless Keble, stroked by P. Wingfield, of Isis, and with the FISA youth winner R. C. Floyd, at last made an upward move by struggling into Pembroke opposite the boathouses. Jesus made the other Division II bump, catching Hertford at the Pink Post, and have now climbed six places.

  Magdalen improving

  Magdalen's resurgence continues. A bump yesterday lifted them half-way up Division III (they were second in Division IV on Wednesday). Their second boat subsided from top to bottom of Division VI in two days.

  The star-studded Christ Church IV have done just the opposite, and, after starting last, today move into Division V. Ahead of them, Osler House have also done well, gaining six places.

  Starting Order [...]

• The Sunday Telegraph Sun 23 Feb

  Balliol on top

  Balliol had an easy task in maintaining their position at the head of the river in the Oxford University Torpids which finished on the Isis yesterday, when they won the fourth race by three lengths from Christ Church. Final Order [...]

• The Times Mon 24 Feb, by Douglas Calder

  Balliol retain their place

  New College never quite rose to the heights expected of them on the final day of the Oxford Torpids on Saturday, and so Balliol retained their place at the head of the river. At the finish Balliol led by about three lengths, a safe enough margin, but they had clealy pulled out all the stops to do so.

  All the way up the Green Bank, Balliol were striking 36, and going much harder than on the previous days. At the university boat house they led Christ Church, on the towpath station, by one and a half lengths with New College well behind them. Putting on the pressure towards the finish Balliol drew steadily away to set the seal on a convincing victory. All the same I should not like to say that they were decisively faster than New College or even Christ Church, but only a side by side race could have proved that.

  With two members of last summer's Cherwell crew which won the Henley Ladies' Plate, Nigel Campbell-Crawford and Chris Wood, Balliol certainly looked mature by comparison with the majority of the crews. Perhaps the fact that six out of their eight oarsmen were post-graduate students from universities in Canada, the United States and United Kingdom had some part in this.

  Several crews made spectacular progress during the four days of racing. Christ Church IV having started right at the bottom gained eight places and so, too, did Osler House (the Radcliffe Infirmiary in disguise). Jesus I and Wadham II also gained seven places apiece.

  However, I find it difficult to raise much enthusiasm for Torpids. With a very few exceptions the standard is dismally low. After Wednesday's chaos in Division III when Corpus Christi failed to start at all, a fairly senior Oxford oarsman quelled the potential dispute with his opinion "It's only a game." [Head Crew, as below] [Bumps Chart]

• The Daily Telegraph Sun 24 Feb, by Desmond Hill

  Balliol keep Headship

  Balliol, having thoroughly scared their supporters on Friday, made no mistake about retaining the Headship by finishing well clear of Christ Church on Saturday, when the Oxford Torpids ended. This time Balliol were on the Oxfordshire station, and the greater ease of their success perfects reflects the advantage of that station.

  New College, who had gained a place daily without ever leaving the Oxfordshire station, made surprisingly little impression on Christ Church after nearly drawing up to them the previous day. St. John's, after holding off St. Edmund Hall on Friday, now went down when the stations were reversed.

  Head of River Crew: [as from The Times, below] [Final Order]

• In other news ... [1969]

  9 February

  The Boeing 747 "jumbo jet" is flown for the first time, taking off from the Boeing airfield at Everett, Washington.

  24 February

  The Mariner 6 Mars probe is launched from the United States

  2 March

  In Toulouse, France the first Concorde test flight is conducted

  3 March

  Apollo program: NASA launches Apollo 9 to test the lunar module.

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