Eights 1902

BUMPS CHART

STANDINGS Start Finish Pos College Pts Pts College 1 New College 22 22 University 2 University 19 19 New College 3 Magdalen 16 16 Magdalen 4 Balliol 14 14 Balliol 5 Worcester 12 12 Pembroke 6 Pembroke 11 11 Worcester 7 Trinity 9 9 Brasenose 8 Merton 8 8 Trinity 9 Exeter 7 7 Exeter 10 Brasenose 6 6 Christ Church 11 Lincoln 5 5 Lincoln 12 Keble 4 4 Keble 13 Queen's 4 4 Wadham 14 Hertford 3 3 Merton 15 Christ Church 3 3 Hertford 16 Corpus Christi 2 2 Queen's 17 Wadham 2 2 Jesus 18 St Catherine's 2 2 Corpus Christi 19 Jesus 2 2 St John's 20 Oriel 1 1 Oriel 21 St John's 1 1 St Catherine's 22 St Edmund Hall 1 1 St Edmund Hall

STATISTICS College All Crews [ ]=rank Crews Bps Avg Christ Church 1[ 1] 5[ 1] 5.00[ 1] Wadham 1[ 1] 4[ 2] 4.00[ 2] Brasenose 1[ 1] 3[ 3] 3.00[ 3] Jesus 1[ 1] 2[ 4] 2.00[ 4] St John's 1[ 1] 2[ 4] 2.00[ 4] University 1[ 1] 1[ 6] 1.00[ 6] Pembroke 1[ 1] 1[ 6] 1.00[ 6] Exeter 1[ 1] 0[ 8] 0.00[ 8] Keble 1[ 1] 0[ 8] 0.00[ 8] Lincoln 1[ 1] 0[ 8] 0.00[ 8] Balliol 1[ 1] 0[ 8] 0.00[ 8] St Edmund Hall 1[ 1] 0[ 8] 0.00[ 8] Oriel 1[ 1] 0[ 8] 0.00[ 8] Magdalen 1[ 1] 0[ 8] 0.00[ 8] Worcester 1[ 1] -1[15] -1.00[15] Trinity 1[ 1] -1[15] -1.00[15] New College 1[ 1] -1[15] -1.00[15] Hertford 1[ 1] -1[15] -1.00[15] Corpus Christi 1[ 1] -2[19] -2.00[19] Queen's 1[ 1] -3[20] -3.00[20] St Catherine's 1[ 1] -3[20] -3.00[20] Merton 1[ 1] -6[22] -6.00[22]

• 6 days: Thu 22 – Wed 28 May 1902
• Start of Christ Church's ongoing presence in Div I. [Stats]
• There were no bumps in Div I on the Monday
• The Times Fri 23 May

  Great disappointment was experienced by the large number of visitors to Oxford for the eights at the extremely unfavourable weather which prevailed yesterday. Rain fell without cessation from about 10 o'clock in the morning. There was, notwithstanding, a large attendance both on the barges and on the banks.

  The second division started in the following order :— Lincoln, Keble, Queen's, Hertford, Christ Church, Corpus, Wadham, St. Catherine's, Jesus, Oriel, St. John's, and St. Edmund's Hall. Queen's were closely pressed by Hertford, and ultimately had to give way just before reaching the Hertford barge. Keble gained slightly on Lincoln along the green bank, but the latter were never in danger and finished their distance clear. Wadham gained a somewhat easy victory over Corpus, displacing them at the Corporation ferry, and Jesus overtook St. Catherine's before reaching the Gut. St. John's gained considerably on Oriel, but could not sustain their effort, and the latter reached home a length to the good.

  In the first division the order was — New College, University, Magdalen, Balliol, Worcester, Pembroke, Trinity, Merton, Exeter, Brasenose, and Lincoln. A fine race ensued between the two leading boats, and at boathouse University slightly overlapped New College, but were too wide to make a shot. From this point New College rowed a long, telling stroke, gradually got away, and reached home about three yards in front. Magdalen were pressed by Balliol, but got to the post without disaster. Worcester were caught by Pembroke at the crossing, and Merton were bumped by Exeter at the ferry.

• The Times Sat 24 May

  Although cloudy, the weather yesterday was a great improvement on that which prevailed on the previous day, as there was no rain and the temperature was some degrees milder. The attendance was very large, both the banks and all the college barges being crowded.

  The second division started in the following order :— Lincoln, Keble, Hertford, Queen's, Christ Church, Wadham, Corpus, Jesus, St. Catherine's, Oriel, St. John's, St. Edmund's Hall. Lincoln were in some danger from Keble for some distance, but the latter could not sustain the effort and Lincoln drew away. Queen's made a capital struggle to keep away from Christ Church but were overtaken at Long Bridges, and the only other change in the position was that Oriel displaced St. Catherine's.

  The order of starting in the first division was :— New College, University, Magdalen, Balliol, Pembroke, Worcester, Trinity, Exeter, Merton, Brasenose, and Lincoln. After the excellent form displayed by University on the opening day, great interest was evinced in the struggle between them and New College. The leading boat maintained its distance until emerging from the Gut, at which point University quickened their stroke, and, maintaining their spurt along the Willows, secured New College amid a scene of great excitement at the Boathouse. The last occasion on which University was at the head of the river was in 1878. Merton made a poor fight against Brasenose, who succeeded in displacing them before reaching the Gut. Magdalen at the finish were only half a length in front of Balliol.

• The Times Mon 26 May

  There was a welcome change in the weather at Oxford on Saturday, and the eight-oar races were rowed under the most favourable conditions. The attendance of spectators appeared to be larger than ever at both divisions.

  In the second division of boats the order of starting was as follows :— Lincoln, Keble, Hertford, Christ Church, Queen's, Wadham, Corpus Christi, Jesus, Oriel, St. Catherine's, St. John's, and St. Edmund's Hall. An exciting struggle ensued between Lincoln and Keble, the latter gaining considerably for some distance, but the effort, however, was too severe to be sustained, and Keble, fell away, Lincoln being a good three-quarters of a length in front at the finish. Christ Church rapidly gained on Hertford from the start, and before getting through the Gut the latter were displaced. Queen's were bumped by Wadham at the Long Bridges. St. Catherine's once more failed to keep their position, begin overtaken at the Willows by St. John's.

  The order of starting in the first division was as under :— University, New College, Magdalen, Balliol, Pembroke, Worcester, Trinity, Exeter, Brasenose, Merton, and Lincoln. The leading boat was never in any danger from New College, who were called upon to use every effort to keep away from Magdalen. The next few boats followed with very little variation in their starting distances. There was a close struggle between Trinity, Exeter, and Brasenose. In Iffley Reach Exeter succeeded in getting near to Trinity, who afterwards got away somewhat, and Exeter, in turn were severely pressed by Brasenose. The latter were successful at the Willows, Exeter being at the time within a quarter of a length of Trinity. Merton were again defeated, Lincoln, the sandwich boat, overhauling them in Iffley Reach.

• The Times Tue 27 May

  Delightful weather prevailed at Oxford yesterday, when the University eight-oar races were continued, and the attendance was extremely large. There were three bumps in the second division, but none in the first division.

  The boats in the second division started in the following order :— Merton, Keble, Christ Church, Hertford, Wadham, Queen's, Corpus Christi, Jesus, Oriel, St. John's, St. Catherine's, and St. Edmund's Hall. The ill-luck which has attended Merton since the races began continued, and they have now lost a place each evening. Keble gained rapidly at the outset, and Merton were compelled to give way before the long bridges were reached. There was an exciting struggle between Hertford and Wadham, and the latter, after overlapping at the red post made the bump at the boathouse. For a considerable distance Queen's, Corpus, and Jesus were very close together. At one time Corpus were within half a length of Queen's, but fell away, and Jesus, coming up rapidly, overtook Corpus opposite the Oriel barge.

  In the first division the boats started as under :— University, New College, Magdalen, Balliol, Pembroke, Worcester, Trinity, Brasenose, Exeter, Lincoln, and Keble. In spite of the fact that no bumps were recorded, the racing was of an interesting character. A capital struggle took place between Worcester, Trinity, and Brasenose, and Trinity experienced great difficulty in avoid defeat. Lincoln succeeded in getting on with half a length of Exeter.

• The Times Wed 28 May

  Fine weather again favoured the racing yesterday, and there was as large an attendance of spectators as ever.

  The order of starting in the second division was Keble, Merton, Christ Church, Wadham, Hertford, Queen's, Jesus, Corpus, Oriel, St. John's, St. Catherine's, and St. Edmund's Hall. Keble kept well away from Merton, who were overtaken at the ferry by Christ Church. Wadham endeavoured to catch Keble, but the intervening gap was too great, although they drew up to within a length. A good race took place between the next three boats, Jesus getting to within half a length of Queen's, and Corpus also drew up near to Jesus. St. John's overtook Oriel under the Willows.

  In the first division the order was :— University, New College, Magdalen, Balliol, Pembroke, Worcester, Trinity, Brasenose, Exeter, Lincoln, and Keble. University maintained the position with ease. Magdalen at one time were within a quarter of a length of New College, but were not equal to the task of maintaining the pace, and fell away, enabling Balliol to finish within half a length of them. Trinity were displaced by Brasenose under the Willows, and the other boats were their starting distance apart.

• The Times Thu 29 May

  These races were brought to a conclusion yesterday evening, and were witnessed by several thousands of people. The weather was again fine, but a cold wind prevailed.

  In the second division the order was :— Keble, Christ Church, Merton, Wadham, Hertford, Queen's, Jesus, Corpus, St. John's, Oriel, St. Catherine's, and St. Edmund Hall. A capital struggle took place between Keble and Christ Church, the latter making an attempt at a bump under the green bank. Though Keble got away for a short distance, Christ Church again overtook them, and ran into them at the Balliol barge amid great excitement. Merton lost a place for the sixth time, Wadham securing them at the Long Bridges. Jesus gained considerably on Queen's, as also did St. Edmund Hall upon St. Catherine's, but no change was effected.

  The order in the first division was as follows :— University, New College, Magdalen, Balliol, Pembroke, Worcester, Brasenose, Trinity, Exeter, Lincoln, and Christ Church. University maintained their position as head of the river in very easy style. Most of the other boats maintained their respective distances, though Trinity got within a quarter of a length of Brasenose. Christ Church, the sandwich boat, achieved a second success, overtaking Lincoln very easily at the ferry.

  Christ Church head the list of successful boats with five bumps in the six days. Wadham made four, Brasenose three, Jesus and St. John's two each, and University and Pembroke one each. Merton was the most unsuccessful, losing a place each day, followed by Queen's and St. Catherine's three, Corpus two, and Worcester, Trinity, Hertford, and New College one.

  The article ends by listing the finish order and the members of the University head crew.

• In other news ... [1902]

  Monarch: Edward VII

  Prime Minister: Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury (Conservative)

  April

  Vladimir Lenin (under the alias Jacob Richter) begins a year's stay in London where he edits the newspaper Iskra, studies in the British Museum Reading Room and in October first meets Leon Trotsky.

  Thu 22 May

  The White Star Liner SS Ionic is launched by Harland and Wolff in Belfast

  Thu 29 May

  The London School of Economics is opened by Lord Rosebery.

  Sat 31 May

  Treaty of Vereeniging signed by the United Kingdom, the South African Republic and the Republic of the Orange Free State bringing the Second Boer War to an end.

  Mon 2 June

  Land of Hope and Glory (with music by Edward Elgar and lyrics by A. C. Benson) receives its London premiere, sung by Clara Butt.

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