Torpids 1979

MEN'S BUMPS WOMEN'S BUMPS

STANDINGS Start Finish Pos College Pts Pts College 1 Oriel 117 108 Oriel 2 Keble 79 74 Queen's 3 Christ Church 66 67 Keble 4 University 65 67 Balliol 5 Balliol 62 66 Lincoln 6 Lincoln 56 65 Worcester 7 Queen's 56 64 Exeter 8 Worcester 53 58 Christ Church 9 New College 51 52 Jesus 10 Jesus 49 48 S.E.H. 11 Exeter 49 45 University 12 Wadham 45 45 Wadham 13 Trinity 44 45 New College 14 S.E.H. 44 37 Brasenose 15 Merton 34 34 Magdalen 16 Hertford 33 34 Pembroke 17 St Catherine's 33 33 Hertford 18 Brasenose 33 32 Trinity 19 St John's 31 30 St Catherine's 20 St Peter's 28 28 Osler House 21 Magdalen 26 25 Merton 22 Pembroke 26 24 St John's 23 Corpus Christi 25 23 St Peter's 24 Wolfson 22 22 Wolfson 25 Osler House 18 17 Corpus Christi 26 L.M.H. 13 13 L.M.H. 27 Linacre 9 10 Linacre 28 Mansfield 7 10 Mansfield 29 St Anne's 7 7 St Hugh's 30 Somerville 6 6 Regent's Park 31 Regent's Park 5 6 Somerville 32 St Hugh's 3 3 St Anne's 33 St Hilda's 1 1 St Hilda's

STATISTICS College All Crews Men's Crews Women's Crews [ ]=ranking Crews Bps Avg Crews Bps Avg Crews Bps Avg Queen's 5[ 1] 22[ 1] 4.40[ 2] 5[ 1] 22[ 1] 4.40[ 3] Exeter 4[ 3] 12[ 2] 3.00[ 7] 4[ 3] 12[ 2] 3.00[ 7] Osler House 2[17] 10[ 3] 5.00[ 1] 2[ 9] 10[ 4] 5.00[ 2] Pembroke 2[17] 7[ 4] 3.50[ 6] 2[ 9] 7[ 5] 3.50[ 6] Brasenose 3[ 8] 7[ 4] 2.33[10] 2[ 9] 11[ 3] 5.50[ 1] 1[ 5] -4[11] -4.00[11] Lincoln 3[ 8] 7[ 4] 2.33[10] 3[ 5] 7[ 5] 2.33[11] Balliol 2[17] 6[ 7] 3.00[ 7] 2[ 9] 6[ 7] 3.00[ 7] S.E.H. 2[17] 5[ 8] 2.50[ 9] 2[ 9] 5[ 9] 2.50[10] Worcester 3[ 8] 5[ 8] 1.67[12] 3[ 5] 5[ 9] 1.67[12] St Hugh's 1[28] 4[10] 4.00[ 3] 1[ 5] 4[ 1] 4.00[ 1] Regent's Park 1[28] 4[10] 4.00[ 3] 1[27] 4[11] 4.00[ 4] Magdalen 1[28] 4[10] 4.00[ 3] 1[27] 4[11] 4.00[ 4] Hertford 4[ 3] 4[10] 1.00[13] 2[ 9] 6[ 7] 3.00[ 7] 2[ 2] -2[ 9] -1.00[ 9] Wadham 3[ 8] 3[14] 1.00[13] 2[ 9] 1[15] 0.50[15] 1[ 5] 2[ 4] 2.00[ 3] Mansfield 2[17] 2[15] 1.00[13] 2[ 9] 2[13] 1.00[13] Christ Church 3[ 8] 2[15] 0.67[16] 3[ 5] 2[13] 0.67[14] St Hilda's 1[28] 0[17] 0.00[17] 1[ 5] 0[ 5] 0.00[ 5] Somerville 1[28] 0[17] 0.00[17] 1[ 5] 0[ 5] 0.00[ 5] L.M.H. 3[ 8] 0[17] 0.00[17] 3[ 1] 0[ 5] 0.00[ 5] Linacre 4[ 3] 0[17] 0.00[17] 2[ 9] -3[16] -1.50[18] 2[ 2] 3[ 3] 1.50[ 4] Wolfson 3[ 8] -3[21] -1.00[21] 2[ 9] -7[23] -3.50[23] 1[ 5] 4[ 1] 4.00[ 1] New College 2[17] -4[22] -2.00[26] 2[ 9] -4[18] -2.00[20] Oriel 5[ 1] -5[23] -1.00[21] 5[ 1] -5[19] -1.00[16] St Catherine's 4[ 3] -5[23] -1.25[23] 2[ 9] -3[16] -1.50[18] 2[ 2] -2[ 9] -1.00[ 9] Keble 4[ 3] -5[23] -1.25[23] 4[ 3] -5[19] -1.25[17] Jesus 3[ 8] -5[23] -1.67[25] 2[ 9] -5[19] -2.50[21] 1[ 5] 0[ 5] 0.00[ 5] St Anne's 1[28] -5[23] -5.00[29] 1[ 5] -5[12] -5.00[12] St John's 2[17] -6[28] -3.00[27] 2[ 9] -6[22] -3.00[22] St Peter's 2[17] -9[29] -4.50[28] 2[ 9] -9[24] -4.50[24] University 2[17] -10[30] -5.00[29] 2[ 9] -10[25] -5.00[25] Merton 2[17] -11[31] -5.50[31] 2[ 9] -11[26] -5.50[26] Trinity 2[17] -15[32] -7.50[33] 2[ 9] -15[27] -7.50[28] Corpus Christi 3[ 8] -21[33] -7.00[32] 3[ 5] -21[28] -7.00[27]

Notes

• Wed 28 Feb – Sat 3 March
• Multilane racing
• Second women's division added
• First appearance in Torpids of St Hilda's and St Hugh's.
• Division times: 12:10 (W2), then at 30 min intervals from 12:45 until 4:30, W1 at 2:15.
• The The Times was not published for most of 1979 due to industrial action.

• The Daily Telegraph Wed 28 Feb, by Desmond Hill

  It all looks so easy for Oriel again

  It is seven years since Oriel went ahead [sic] of the Oxford Torpids and they look sure to retain that title this week with less difficulty than ever before. Indeed, their second eight looks at least as good as most first boats.

  The weather and flu epidemics have played havoc with preparations and most forecasts are of descents rather than climbs — notably for Balliol, University and possibly Keble in Division I, though it is hard to see who can replace them.

  No official starting order had been posted by Monday night and a decision whether they race two abreast, or normal bumping races, is to be taken this morning.

  I understand, too, there are nowhere enough cartridges for the starting cannon.

  The women have now taken to the river in sufficient numbers to have two divisions of their own. [Provisional Order of Start]

• The Daily Telegraph Thu 1 Mar, by A Special Correspondent

  Oriel stay out of argument

  Oriel sat composed and seemingly immovable at the head, leaving an argumentative procession in their wake on the first day of Oxford University Torpids.

  It was decided that conditions were calm enough on the Isis to row two abreast in the traditional manner and sandwich boats were used.

  There are rules, it is assumed, to cover every eventuality and, of course, the umpires' decision is final. But a steady stream of protesters went away unhappy yesterday.

  Avoiding action

  Balliol moved up to second place by passing Keble and Worcester bumped Christ Church, who stopped rowing and slewed across the river. Sandwich boat Lincoln clashed with New College while taking avoiding action, and although they overtook New College, Lincoln's pass was not allowed.

  Wadham took over at the top of the Women's Division I by passing Jesus in the Gut and bumping Hertford by the boathouses. [Results]

• The Daily Telegraph Fri 2 Mar, by A Special Correspondent

  Oriel easily hold off Balliol challenge

  Oriel's chance of retaining the headship of Oxford University's Torpids improved yesterday — the second day — when they held off Balliol's challenge with ease. Rating 32 to Balliol's 34 past the Boathouses, Oriel stayed a comfortable length water clear, while the pair of them extended the lead over Keble, who were passed by Balliol on Wednesday.

  Worcester overtook University but, since they did not catch Keble, their chances of earning a tilt at Oriel tomorrow can be rated as no more than slender.

  Exeter, the sandwich boat, made rapid progress in the top division, passing hapless Christ Church and New College, who had already been overhauled by Lincoln.

  Seat jams

  Christ Church, who started fourth on Wednesday, plunged to ninth yesterday after their No. 2's seat had jammed just at the moment the pressure was really on.

  After the chaos of the first day, order mercifully reigned, although Division III was held up for 40 minutes while Corpus Christi, who holed their boat before the start, changed boats. [Results]

• The Daily Telegraph Sat 3 Mar, by A Special Correspondent

  Keble Escape to Re-Row

  Keble's alleged misdeeds very nearly landed them in deep water yesterday and Division I of the Oxford University Torpids must be re-rowed at 11:30 this morning.

  Keble were twice warned for over-running the buoys and they collided with Balliol in mid-river, consequently obstructing Worcester.

  However, the committee, whose task this week has been far from easy, reversed their original decision to relegate Keble three places after it deemd the offence was not deliberate.

  Oriel were well clear of the trouble, neverthelss they must defend their long-held Headship twice today.

  Sandwich boat in the top division, Queen's, completed a nap hand for the college, all of whose five crews celebrated progress yesterday. [Results]

• The Daily Telegraph Mon 5 Mar

  Oriel at the Head Again

  Oriel duly retained the Headship of the Oxford University Torpids — which they reached in 1972 — when they twice rowed over on Saturday.

  Worcester's progress up the Division One ladder continued, but although they passed Keble and pushed second-placed Balliol hard in the final race, they had to be content with third position.

  Worcester's climb — they launched a reconstruction plan three years ago — has been quite remarkable. Starting in Division Two, 10th overall, last year, they battled to line up sixth this time.

  A captains' meeting is being sought to discuss the possibility of discontinuing the two-lane system, which this year more than ever led to all sorts of confusion. [Results] [Finishing Order]

  The article lists members of the men's Head crew which is consistent with the version in the OUBC newsletter.
• OUBC Newsletter 1979

  Oriel retained their title with very little difficulty, despite rumours of an assault from Balliol on the second and fourth days, when they were on the Oxon station. This was the seventh year that Oriel have headed Torpids, though there were no races in 1977. In view of the stream and generally lower standards caused by influenza and the arctic weather, a firm decision to race two abreast was only taken on the morning of the first day. Worcester, who pressed Balliol on the last night, were clearly second best, while Exeter had their best crew for years.

  Wadham were equally convincing winners of the Women's races, which had two divisions for the first time.

• The newsletter also lists the Head crews

• In other news ... [1979]

  March 1

  Scottish devolution referendum: Scotland votes in favour for a Scottish Assembly, which is not implemented due to failing a condition that at least 40% of the electorate must support the proposal; in a Welsh devolution referendum, Wales votes against devolution.

  March 1

  Philips publicly demonstrate a prototype of an optical digital audio disc at a press conference in Eindhoven, Netherlands.

  March 2

  Ugand-Tanzania War: Battle of Tororo: Ugandan rebels attack and capture the town of Tororo.

  March 4

  The U.S. Voyager 1 spaceprobe photos reveal Jupiter's rings.

  March 4

  Uganda-Tanzania War: Battle of Tororo: The Ugandan military retakes Tororo from rebels.

Wadham
B:	Angela Kelly
2:	Alison Style
3:	Pauline Prince
4:	Vigdis Vasspo
5:	Jacqui Messado
6:	Alison Horner
7:	Teresa Strather-Dunn
S:	Linda Cribb
C:	Susan Brown

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