Torpids 1978

MEN'S BUMPS WOMEN'S BUMPS

STANDINGS Start Finish Pos College Pts Pts College 1 Oriel 122 114 Oriel 2 Christ Church 71 78 Keble 3 University 69 65 Christ Church 4 Balliol 63 63 University 5 Keble 61 59 Balliol 6 S.E.H. 58 55 Queen's 7 New College 58 53 Lincoln 8 Lincoln 54 51 Worcester 9 Queen's 47 50 New College 10 Worcester 40 45 Exeter 11 Magdalen 39 43 Trinity 12 Wadham 38 43 S.E.H. 13 Jesus 38 41 Jesus 14 Trinity 37 39 Wadham 15 Pembroke 35 33 Merton 16 Brasenose 33 32 St John's 17 Exeter 33 28 St Catherine's 18 St Catherine's 28 27 Brasenose 19 Corpus Christi 27 27 St Peter's 20 Merton 27 27 Magdalen 21 St John's 27 27 Hertford 22 St Peter's 23 25 Pembroke 23 Hertford 22 25 Corpus Christi 24 Osler House 16 19 Osler House 25 L.M.H. 12 15 Wolfson 26 Wolfson 10 6 L.M.H. 27 Somerville 9 5 Mansfield 28 Mansfield 7 5 Regent's Park 29 Regent's Park 2 3 Somerville 30 Linacre 2 3 Linacre 31 O.U.W.B.C. 2 3 St Anne's 32 St Benet's Hall 1 1 St Benet's Hall 33 St Anne's 1 1 O.U.W.B.C.

STATISTICS College All Crews Men's Crews Women's Crews [ ]=ranking Crews Bps Avg Crews Bps Avg Crews Bps Avg Queen's 5[ 1] 16[ 1] 3.20[ 9] 5[ 1] 16[ 1] 3.20[ 8] Exeter 3[ 6] 15[ 2] 5.00[ 3] 3[ 4] 15[ 2] 5.00[ 3] St John's 3[ 6] 13[ 3] 4.33[ 5] 3[ 4] 13[ 3] 4.33[ 5] Regent's Park 1[26] 10[ 4] 10.00[ 1] 1[24] 10[ 4] 10.00[ 1] St Peter's 2[13] 7[ 5] 3.50[ 8] 2[10] 7[ 5] 3.50[ 7] Wolfson 1[26] 6[ 6] 6.00[ 2] 1[24] 6[ 6] 6.00[ 2] Osler House 2[13] 6[ 6] 3.00[10] 2[10] 6[ 6] 3.00[ 9] Worcester 2[13] 6[ 6] 3.00[10] 2[10] 6[ 6] 3.00[ 9] Linacre 1[26] 5[ 9] 5.00[ 3] 1[24] 5[ 9] 5.00[ 3] Hertford 4[ 3] 5[ 9] 1.25[13] 3[ 4] 0[15] 0.00[15] 1[ 3] 5[ 2] 5.00[ 2] St Anne's 1[26] 4[11] 4.00[ 6] 1[ 3] 4[ 3] 4.00[ 3] St Benet's Hall 1[26] 4[11] 4.00[ 6] 1[24] 4[10] 4.00[ 6] Jesus 3[ 6] 4[11] 1.33[12] 2[10] 3[11] 1.50[11] 1[ 3] 1[ 4] 1.00[ 4] Merton 2[13] 2[14] 1.00[14] 2[10] 2[13] 1.00[12] Keble 4[ 3] 1[15] 0.25[15] 4[ 3] 1[14] 0.25[14] St Catherine's 4[ 3] 0[16] 0.00[16] 3[ 4] 3[11] 1.00[12] 1[ 3] -3[ 6] -3.00[ 7] Lincoln 2[13] -1[17] -0.50[18] 2[10] -1[16] -0.50[17] Balliol 1[26] -1[17] -1.00[19] 1[24] -1[16] -1.00[18] Oriel 5[ 1] -2[19] -0.40[17] 5[ 1] -2[18] -0.40[16] Trinity 2[13] -2[19] -1.00[19] 2[10] -2[18] -1.00[18] Wadham 3[ 6] -4[21] -1.33[21] 2[10] -10[27] -5.00[25] 1[ 3] 6[ 1] 6.00[ 1] University 2[13] -4[21] -2.00[23] 2[10] -4[20] -2.00[20] Brasenose 3[ 6] -5[23] -1.67[22] 2[10] -4[20] -2.00[20] 1[ 3] -1[ 5] -1.00[ 5] L.M.H. 2[13] -5[23] -2.50[24] 2[ 1] -5[ 7] -2.50[ 6] O.U.W.B.C. 1[26] -5[23] -5.00[29] 1[24] -5[22] -5.00[25] Mansfield 1[26] -5[23] -5.00[29] 1[24] -5[22] -5.00[25] Somerville 2[13] -7[27] -3.50[27] 2[ 1] -7[ 8] -3.50[ 8] New College 2[13] -7[27] -3.50[27] 2[10] -7[24] -3.50[24] Christ Church 3[ 6] -8[29] -2.67[25] 3[ 4] -8[25] -2.67[22] Corpus Christi 3[ 6] -9[30] -3.00[26] 3[ 4] -9[26] -3.00[23] Pembroke 2[13] -10[31] -5.00[29] 2[10] -10[27] -5.00[25] S.E.H. 2[13] -12[32] -6.00[32] 2[10] -12[29] -6.00[29] Magdalen 2[13] -17[33] -8.50[33] 2[10] -17[30] -8.50[30]

Notes

• Wed 22 - Sat 25 Feb 1978
• A women's division was included for the first time, hence the first appearance in Torpids of L.M.H., Somerville and St. Anne's.
• Also first appearance in Torpids of Regent's Park and St Benet's Hall.
• OUWBC raced in Men's Div VII
• Multilane racing, although this year modified to re-introduce Sandwich Boats, so that the top boat in each division raced bottom in the division above on the same day rather than the following day, but the division boundaries were still moved down each day.
• Men's Div I ended in confusion on the first day and a re-row was ordered, initially to take place immediately, then at noon the following day, but neither took place. So the 'first' official day's racing was at 4:30pm on Thursday, the 'second' day at noon on the Friday, and the 'third' day at the originally scheduled time of 4:30pm on the Friday.
• No results in The Times apart from the 1st day, so I've used results from The Oxford Mail (thanks to The Oxfordshire History Centre), as well as The Daily Telegraph

• The Oxford Mail Tue 21 Feb, by Tom Goodway

  Torpids go-ahead for women

  There will be a women's division for the first time at Oxford University Boat Club Torpids, which begin on the Isis tomorrow and continue until Saturday.

  It was planned to introduce the women's division last year but Torpids were cancelled because the Thames was in flood and considered too dangerous for boating.

  Torpids committee had little to go on in making the draw for the women's division, which will be rowed at 2.15, so they decided the starting order by pulling the names out of a hat.

  Consequently there could be some dramatic ups and downs before the headship is decided on Saturday afternoon.

  Oxford University women's crew face a challenge from the men when they start at the head of Division VII.

  If OUWBC should row over at the top, they must return immediately to the start as sandwich boat in division VI.

  Sandwich boats are not normally a feature of Torpids, but that rule was also introduced but not implemented because of the cancellation.

  Oriel, who like Queen's have five crews, sit proudly at the head of the river and the crew they fear most are Keble in sixth place.

  Keble have John Wiggins, who twice rowed for successful Dark Blues crews against Cambridge and the two crews could be compared at Sunday's Southern Universities Regatta, where Imperial College scored a ¾-length victory over Oriel and Keble, without Wiggins, went down to Imperial College by two lengths.

  Wiggins broke a foot last term and he has only had four outings so far in Hilary Term, but his experience should prove helpful to Keble when they launch their assault on the leaders.

  Oriel's rowing strength in depth is reflected by their second crew who are in Division II in ninth place overall, and as one crew is added each day to the first division, they might end the week with two crews in the top echelon.

  The next college second crew us University II down in 26th place, but Balliol, who start second overall tomorrow, surprisingly have only one crew in the event.

  There are 66 men's crews left after the getting on trials and there are 12 women's eights, including OUWBC.

  The total of 12 women's crews included Wolfson, originally down to start 4th, although they never raced.

• The Daily Telegraph Wed 22 Feb, by A Special Correspondent

  Women's Boat Heads Div. VII

  Oxford introduce a women's division for the first time when the Torpids start on the Isis tomorrow. Another innovation will be "sandwich" boats.

  Both decisions were made before last year's event, but they were never implemented because the Torpids were cancelled as a result of flooding.

  There are 66 men's crews and 12 all-women's crews competing, including OUWBC who start at the top of Division VII. [Starting Order]

• The Times Thu 23 Feb

  Torpids off to an uncertain start on Isis

  The first day of the Oxford University Torpids seldom is completed without a hitch and yesterday on the Isis was certainly no exception. Racing started late after Division VII waited for some hefty driftwood to pass.

  Even the more experienced men in Division I got it wrong. At least three crews crossed into the wrong lanes and New College came past the Boathouses minus their stroke who had been thrown off his seat.

  Consequently Division I, which Oriel led comfortably, will be rerowed at noon today. Wolfson withdrew from the women's division.

• The Daily Telegraph Thu 23 Feb, by A Special Correspondent

  Division I thrown into confusion

  The first day of the Oxford University Torpids was more chaotic than usual and Division I must be re-rowed at noon today.

  Balliol, Christ Church and New College all took up the wrong stations.

  And New College's confusion was complete when their stroke caught a crab and was thrown out of the boat.

  Oriel rowed over comfortably and there seems no reason why they should be threatened, even when everyone gets the rules right.

• The Oxford Mail Thu 23 Feb, by Tom Goodway

  Turbulent Torpids!

  It would be asking a lot for the first day of Oxford University Torpids to run without the occasional hitch, but yesterday things became chaotic at times and even Division I had to be re-rowed.

  Second-placed Balliol, the crew immediately behind them Christ Church, and New College crossed into the wrong lanes and to add to the farce New College came past Oxford University Boathouse without their stroke, who had fallen out of the boat on catching a crab.

  The immediate reaction of the committee, plagued with protesters of varying degrees of credibility for most of the damp, uninspiring afternoon, was to re-row the race there and then.

  But this brought heated and understandable protests from Worcester who had progressed from second in Division II to sandwich boat in the top division.

  It would, indeed, have been asking rather a lot of them to row a third time in an hour and so it was decided that the re-row should be held at noon today.

  Whatever happens lower down, it seem unlikely that Oriel will be dislodged from the top. They rowed over quite smoothly yesterday, clear of all the trouble in their wake.

  The start of Division VII was delayed while some hefty driftwood passed, but then the first all-women's crews in Torpids, Oxford University women's crew elect, was overtaken near Long Bridges by Queen's IV, but they resisted the efforts of Osler House II to bump them.

  Wolfson men's great strides since they started at the bottom in 1972 continue. Yesterday they moved up from 31st to 28th place overall and now they have overtaken all the second crews except Oriel II [incorrect: Pemb II and Univ II also still ahead].

  Division II was also held up, while arguments raged about who should be sandwich boat after Merton had illegally bumped Pembroke in Division III, and St John's had been caught up in the turmoil.

• The Daily Telegraph Fri 24 Feb, by A Special Correspondent

  Two Division I races today

  After more protests following Wednesday's unsatisfactory events, the first race in Division I of Oxford University Torpids was completed without much fuss on the Isis yesterday.

  Originally the Torpids Committee agreed that the re-row should take place before Division VII, but the OUBC President Andrew Michelmore ruled that the second race shall take place at noon today and hopefully the third race will be rowed as scheduled at 4.30 this afternoon.

  Oriel rowed over commandingly at the head. Keble delighted their supporters by bumping University in front of their own boathouse and Sandwich Boat Worcester passed St Edmund Hall. [List of Bumps]

• The Oxford Mail Fri 24 Feb, by Tom Goodway

  Oriel look good at top

  The second day of the Oxford University Torpids saw the first race in Division I completed without any real threat to Oriel, who rowed over powerfully at the head of the Isis.

  The Torpids committee decided after Wednesday's traumatic start that Division I should be re-rowed at noon yesterday, but after more objections OUBC president Andy Michelmore was called in to arbitrate.

  He decided that yesterday's planned race should be held at noon today and that the third race should take place at 4.30 today.

  With a bit of luck everything will be in apple pie order for tomorrow's finale, when the biggest challenge to Oriel's superiority looks like coming from Keble.

  Keble chased University on the Oxford station yesterday and they timed their bump appropriately in front of their own boathouse.

  The sandwich boat Worcester, provide the only other change in the order in Division I when they passed St Edmund Hall. Lincoln rowed over in Division II.

  Pembroke, who began at the top of Division III on Wednesday, lost more ground yesterday when they were caught by Merton, St Catherine's and St Peter's.

• The Daily Telegraph Sat 25 Feb

  [article starts with report on Cambridge Lents]

  Keble move up

  Keble moved up menacingly on Oriel, the Oxford University Torpids leaders, yesterday, when they bumped Balliol at the end of the Green Bank. Keble started fourth in the delayed second race and their bump on Balliol was disallowed. They impeded Christ Church and in the ensuing melee Keble rammed Timms Raft.

  But Keble made no mistake in the third race. They overtook Christ Church before catching Balliol while Oriel continued confidently under no undue pressure.

  Sandwich boat Trinity passed St Edmund Hall, but University recovered after being a canvas down at the boathouses to pip Worcester in a storming finish. [List of Bumps]

• The Oxford Mail Sat 25 Feb, by Tom Goodway

  Keble all set for a fighting finish

  Oriel looked composed as they twice rowed over at the head of Oxford University Torpids on the Isis yesterday.

  But Keble, whose progress was temporarily impeded in the second race, are likely to make a fight of it in the finale this afternoon (4.30).

  In the delayed second race Keble's bump on Balliol was disallowed and in the ensuing melee they clashed with Christ Church before careering into Timms Raft.

  Sandwich boat in that race, Lincoln, passed St Edmund Hall and Worcester overtook New College.

  Well beaten

  In the third race, which thankfully went ahead as planned at 4.30pm Keble soon passed Christ Church and bumped Balliol at the end of the Green Bank.

  St Edmund Hall's unhappy lot was not improved as they were well beaten by the next sandwich boat, Trinity.

  Trinity rowed strongly at the top of Division II, but Oriel II slipped after they had been bumped by Exeter, while Merton spurted down the Green Bank to bump Jesus.

  Lady Margaret Hall's reign at the head of the Women's Division ended when they were passed by Jesus and then bumped by Hertford.

  Mansfield registered a 'bump' in Division IV — but it was not to their advantage, since they came off the start and crashed into a moored barge! Consequently they were passed by everyone else in the division, including the sandwich boat St John's II, who started on Wednesday in 48th position overall and are now a creditable 38th.

• The Daily Telegraph Mon 27 Feb

  Oriel stay at the Head

  Oriel held off Keble's challenge to retain the headship of the Oxford University Torpids on Saturday.

  There was only one change in the final day's order, the Sandwich Boat, Exeter, passing St Edmund Hall but sixth-placed Worcester nearly came to grief when they brushed against a raft by the Boathouse.

  Hertford, who bumped Lady Margaret Hall on Friday, passed Jesus to finish top of the new women's division. [Saturday's Bumps] [Finishing Order]

• The Oxford Mail Mon 27 Feb, by Tom Goodway

  Oriel retaing top place

  Like any christening party, the naming of Oriel's new boat on Saturday night was a joyous occasion.

  In fact, it was especially so since Oriel had held off Keble's challenge to finish head of Oxford University Torpids, a position they have held since 1972.

  The new addition to the fleet was traditionally named Hardy Norseman by Mrs Nora Andrews, the wife of Oriel waterman, Len Andrews, who also helped Oxford Blue Paul Wright coach the crew.

  Predictably Keble moved to second place after starting on Wednesday in sixth place, but their high-rating burst made next to no impression on the leaders.

  There was only one change in the Division I order on the last day, but there was no drama.

  Sandwich boat Exeter passed St Edmund Hall and Worcester in their carbon fibre boat clashed with University in the Gut, before Worcester almost mounted a raft outside OUBC.

  However, they managed to withstand New College's challenge.

  In passing St Edmund Hall Exeter complete a successful Torpids for the college. All three crews won their oars with a total of 15 bumps between them.

• OUBC Newsletter

  Alterations to the rules, introducing sandwich boats and a women's division, so bemused coxes that the first division was declared void after the first afternoon. The crews involved rowed twice on the Friday but in the event Oriel retained the headship almost unchallenged.

  Hertford gained seven [sic] places to finish head of the Women's division but the O.U.W.B.C., admitted to Division VII, subsided five places.

• The names of the head crew are listed in the Oxford Times The Daily Telegraph and the OUBC newsletter, with all with slight differences. 3: W Parkhouse (newsletter), 4: Kenney (OM), C: C Cowan (newsletter & DT).

• In other news ... [1978]

  Feb 21

  Electrical workers in Mexico City find the remains of the Great Pyramid of Tenochtitlan, in the middle of the city.

  Feb 24

  Five men with mild mental-health issues from Yuba City, California disappear in the snow on their way home from a basketball game. In June, four of the bodies are discovered in the Sierra. The fifth, Gary Mathias, is never found. The circumstances surrounding their deaths remains a mystery.

  Feb 25

  The first Legislative Assembly election is held in Arunachal Pradesh, India.

  Feb 27

  The first global positioning satellite, the Rockwell International-built Navstar 1, is launched by the United States.

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