Eights 1839

BUMPS CHART

STANDINGS Start Finish Pos College Pts Pts College 1 Exeter 13 13 Brasenose 2 Balliol 10 10 Balliol 3 Merton 8 8 Merton 4 St John's 7 7 Christ Church 5 Trinity 6 6 Wadham 6 Brasenose 4 4 Exeter 7 Jesus 4 4 St John's 8 Christ Church 3 3 Oriel 9 Wadham 2 2 University 10 Oriel 2 2 New Inn Hall 11 University 2 2 Magdalen Hall 12 New Inn Hall 1 0 Trinity 13 Magdalen Hall 1 0 Jesus

STATISTICS College All Crews [ ]=rank Crews Bps Avg Brasenose 1[ 1] 5[ 1] 5.00[ 1] Christ Church 1[ 1] 4[ 2] 4.00[ 2] Wadham 1[ 1] 4[ 2] 4.00[ 2] Oriel 1[ 1] 2[ 4] 2.00[ 4] University 1[ 1] 2[ 4] 2.00[ 4] New Inn Hall 1[ 1] 2[ 4] 2.00[ 4] Magdalen Hall 1[ 1] 2[ 4] 2.00[ 4] Balliol 1[ 1] 0[ 8] 0.00[ 8] Merton 1[ 1] 0[ 8] 0.00[ 8] St John's 1[ 1] -3[10] -3.00[10] Exeter 1[ 1] -5[11] -5.00[11] Jesus 1[ 1] -992[12] -992.00[12] Trinity 1[ 1] -994[13] -994.00[13]

• Dates: Sat 25, Mon 27, Wed 29, Fri 31 May, Mon 3, Wed 5 and Fri 7 June 1839
• First appearance of New Inn Hall (merged into Balliol in 1887)
• Magdalen Hall only raced on the last day.
• Notes from Sherwood
  • Bumps cancelled on first night
  • The members of Brasenose gave a supper in their Hall to 150 gentlemen, in honour of their victory, after the race.
• From the main text of Sherwood (p38)

  On the first night, owing to the boats being late through a dispute at starting caused by the high wind, the race began 'after dark' at 9 o'clock. Merton bumped Balliol, but the race was cancelled. In consequence of this, starting lines were instituted, which were held 'by a man on the shore,' and it was agreed that for the future the boats should leave Sandford at 7 o'clock, and the race should be started with two pistols instead of one, and at the second pistol all must start. The consequence was the next race was rowed 'in broad daylight'.

  [...] This was possibly the last year that the Eights went down to Sandford before the races. We have, as we have seen, a record of their doing so this year, and the practice had ceased in 1842.

• Since it seems to have been the custom to start on a Thursday (at least in the previous two years), I assume the 'cancelled' first day was Thu 23 May.

• In other news ... [1839]

  Monarch: Victoria

  Prime Minister: William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne (Whig)

  May 22

  Former British statesman Lord Durham, as President of the New Zealand Company, formally asks the British government for permission to colonize New Zealand, and to establish a colonial government under the sovereignty of the United Kingdom.

  May 23

  Turkish troops cross the Euphrates River and invade Syria, but are defeated in battle in June.

  June 3

  Destruction of opium at Humen begins, casus belli for Britain to open the 3-year First Opium War against Qing Dynasty China.

Return to Bumps Index