Eights 1903

BUMPS CHART

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

STATISTICS College All Crews [ ]=rank Crews Bps Avg St John's 1[ 1] 5[ 1] 5.00[ 1] Jesus 1[ 1] 5[ 1] 5.00[ 1] Merton 1[ 1] 4[ 3] 4.00[ 3] Christ Church 1[ 1] 4[ 3] 4.00[ 3] Oriel 1[ 1] 3[ 5] 3.00[ 5] Brasenose 1[ 1] 2[ 6] 2.00[ 6] Magdalen 1[ 1] 1[ 7] 1.00[ 7] New College 1[ 1] 1[ 7] 1.00[ 7] St Edmund Hall 1[ 1] 1[ 7] 1.00[ 7] Exeter 1[ 1] 0[10] 0.00[10] Trinity 1[ 1] 0[10] 0.00[10] Corpus Christi 1[ 1] 0[10] 0.00[10] Balliol 1[ 1] 0[10] 0.00[10] Hertford 1[ 1] -1[14] -1.00[14] St Catherine's 1[ 1] -1[14] -1.00[14] Lincoln 1[ 1] -2[16] -2.00[16] Pembroke 1[ 1] -2[16] -2.00[16] University 1[ 1] -2[16] -2.00[16] Keble 1[ 1] -3[19] -3.00[19] Queen's 1[ 1] -3[19] -3.00[19] Worcester 1[ 1] -5[21] -5.00[21] Wadham 1[ 1] -7[22] -7.00[22]

• 6 days: Thu 21 – Wed 27 May 1903
• The Times Fri 22 May

  The Eights began at Oxford yesterday in delightful weather. The floods considerably interfered with the practice, and the crews generally were below the usual standard.

  The second division started in the following order :— Lincoln, Keble, Wadham, Merton, Hertford, Queen's, Jesus, Corpus, St. John's, Oriel, St. Catherine's, and St. Edmund Hall. Merton gained on Wadham from the start, and overtook them near the Long Bridges. Queen's pressed Hertford, Jesus were not far behind Queen's, and Corpus gained on Jesus. St. John's, however, came up rapidly under the Willows, and Corpus had to give way to them at the red post. An exciting struggle took place between St. Catherine's and St. Edmund Hall, and only a few feet separated the boats at the finish.

  In the first division the order of starting was :— University, New College, Magdalen, Balliol, Pembroke, Worcester, Brasenose, Trinity, Exeter, Christ Church, and Lincoln. Contrary to expectation, University had considerable difficulty in keeping clear of New College, while only a quarter of a length separated Magdalen from New College at the boathouse. No bump, however, took place. Worcester lowered their colours to Brasenose at the freewater-stone, and Christ Church displaced Exeter at the Willows.

• The Daily Telegraph Fri 22 May

  The annual summer races at Oxford commenced yesterday, in beautiful weather, and the large crowds which lined the banks were treated to some keen and exciting racing, although only two bumps were registered in each division. In the first division the three leading boats, University, New, and Magdalen, had a great struggle, only a few feet separating them at the finish. Worcester succumbed to Brasenose at the Freewater Stone, and Exeter were beaten by Christ Church at the Willows. In the second division Merton caught Wadham just before entering the Gut, and St. John's captured Corpus at the Red Post. The races will be continued today.

• The Times Sat 23 May

  The weather was again fine at Oxford, and there was a very large attendance at each division of the eight-oar races last night.

  The second division started in the following order :— Lincoln, Keble, Merton, Wadham, Hertford, Queen's, Jesus, St. John's, Corpus, Oriel, St. Catherine's, and St. Edmund Hall. Keble were overtaken by Merton under the willows. Wadham again lost a place, having to lower their colours to Hertford, who were themselves hard pressed by Queen's opposite the Balliol barge [? possibly by St. John's, given the following ...]. Jesus caught Queen's shortly before reaching the long bridges, St. John's being only half a length behind at the time. St. Catherine's failed to get away from St. Edmund Hall, the bump taking place at the Weirs' bridge.

  In the first division the order of starting was as follows :— University, New College, Magdalen, Balliol, Pembroke, Brasenose, Worcester, Trinity, Christ Church, Exeter, and Lincoln. There was an exciting struggle between the leading boats. New College gained at the outset, and under the willows were within half a length of University, Magdalen also being close up. At the boathouse only a few inches divided the first two boats, but from this point University improved their position, and finished a quarter of a length in front, a quarter of a length too separating Magdalen from New College. Brasenose continued their upward course by overtaking Pembroke soon after passing the long bridges, and Worcester were bumped by Trinity at the gut.

• The Daily Telegraph Sat 23 May

  Delightful weather favoured the continuation of these races yesterday, and another large attendance witnessed some interesting struggles. Four bumps were recorded in the second division. Merton defeated Keble at the Willows. Wadham again descended, Hertford catching them at the Balliol Barge. Jesus captured Queen's at the Freewater Stone, and St. Edmund's Hall bumped St. Catharine's soon after the start at Weir's Bridge. In the first division, a hard race was again seen betwen the leading boats, and barely a quarter of a length separated each at the finish. Brasenose accounted for Pembroke at the Willows, and Trinity defeated Worcester at the Gut.

• The Times Mon 25 May

  The weather was very favourable for the eights at Oxford on Saturday, and the attendance was much larger. After a magnificent struggle University were deprived of the headship by New College.

  The second division started in the following order :— Lincoln, Merton, Keble, Hertford, Wadham, Jesus, Queen's, St. John's, Corpus, Oriel, St. Edmund Hall, and St. Catherine's. Merton, who had already bumped on Thursday and Friday, were again successful, overtaking Lincoln at the Red Post. There was a close race between Keble and Hertford; the latter came up rapidly from the boathouse and endeavoured to make the bump at the Cherwell, but just failed. This enabled Keble to reach the post a few yards in front. Jesus displaced Wadham soon after passing the Weirs Bridge, and Queen's were compelled to give way to St. John's opposite the Freewater stone.

  The order of start in the first division was :— University, New College, Magdalen, Balliol, Brasenose, Pembroke, Trinity, Christ Church, Exeter, and Merton. Owing to the death of the Provost [William Inge], the Worcester crew did not row [so lost a place to Christ Church]. The race between the leading boats was watched with much interest. At the Long Bridges University was nearly a length in front; but under the Willows New College gained rapidly, and amid much excitement University were obliged to acknowledge defeat opposite the New College barge. This was the only bump. Trinity pressed Pembroke for a considerable distance, and a bare quarter of a length divided the boats at the finish.

• The Daily Telegraph Mon 25 May

  An almost record crowd witnessed the third evening's racing at Oxford on Saturday. In the second division three alterations took place. Merton effected another bump, catching Lincoln at the Red Post. Jesus lowered Wadham's colours at the Gut, and St. John's accounted for Queen's at the Freewater Stone. In the premier division New, after a great race with University, succeeded in catching them just opposite their own college barge, and thus went head of the river. The only other alteration in the order was that Christ Church and Worcester change places, as the latter, owing to the death of the Provost, did not start.

• The Times Tue 26 May

  Delightful weather again prevailed at Oxford yesterday, and the attendance was unusally large.

  The second division started in the following order :— Merton, Lincoln, Keble, Hertford, Jesus, Wadham, St. John's, Queen's, Corpus, Oriel, St. Edmund Hall, and St. Catherine's. Lincoln got within half a length of Merton, Jesus bumped Hertford at the Corporation Ferry, St. John's overtook Wadham before the Long Bridges were reached, and Corpus displaced Queen's in the Gut.

  In the first division the order of start was :— New College, University, Magdalen, Balliol, Brasenose, Pembroke, Trinity, Christ Church, Worcester, Exeter, and Merton. New College maintained their position as head of the river without difficulty. University soon after the start were closely pressed by Magdalen, who were ultimately successful at the Red Post. Christ Church gained a place owing to Worcester's not rowing on Saturday, and yesterday they lowered the colours of Trinity near the Freewater Stone. Exeter overtook Worcester shortly before reaching the Long Bridges.

• The Daily Telegraph Tue 26 May

  The annual summer races were resumed at Oxford yesterday, under most favourable conditions, and large crowds witnessed some interesting racing. In the second division three bumps were made, all of them in the first half of the course. Jesus defeated Hertford opposite the Ferry; St. John's caught Wadham just before reaching the Gut; and Queen's succumbed to Corpus near the Freewater Stone. In the first division, New maintained their position at head of the river, but University were caught by Magdalen at the Red Post, and Christ Church captured Trinity at the Freewater Stone. Worcester were again afloat, but were defeated by Exeter just before entering the Gut.

• The Times Wed 27 May

  Although the weather was fine at Oxford last evening, there was a cold easterly wind and the attendance was not so large as before.

  The second division started in the following order :— Merton, Lincoln, Keble, Jesus, Hertford, St. John's, Wadham, Corpus, Queen's, Oriel, St. Edmund Hall, and St. Catherine's. From the outset Jesus gained on Keble, who were bumped at the ferry. Hertford were overtaken by St. John's under the willows. The stroke of the Corpus boat had a mishap at the start, and Queen's recovered the position they had lost the previous evening. St. Edmund Hall gained on Oriel, but were unable to effect a bump.

  In the first division the order of starting was :— New College, Magdalen, University, Balliol, Brasenose, Pembroke, Christ Church, Trinity, Exeter, Worcester, and Merton. The interest centred in the struggle for the headship. Magdalen, after passing the Long Bridges, succeeded in getting within a quarter of a length of New College, but the latter spurted at the Cherwell and finished quite half a length to the good. Christ Church displaced Pembroke at the Weir's-bridge, and Merton lowered the colours of Worcester early in the race.

• No coverage in the The Daily Telegraph Wed 27 May

• The Times Thu 28 May

  These races were concluded at Oxford yesterday in fine weather...

  The second division started in the following order :— Worcester, Lincoln, Jesus, Keble, St. John's, Hertford, Wadham, Queen's, Corpus, Oriel, St. Edmund Hall, and St. Catherine's. Lincoln were overtaken by Jesus soon after the start. St. John's gained rapidly on Keble and overtook them before the Long Bridges were reached. Corpus had no difficulty in recovering the position which they lost by an accident to Queen's the evening before. An amusing event then happened. Oriel went on in pursuit of Wadham, and in the excitement one of the latter crew caught "a crab," and Oriel made the bump opposite their college barge. Oriel consequently gain three places and Wadham lose the same number.

  In the first division the order of starting was :— New College, Magdalen, University, Balliol, Brasenose, Christ Church, Pembroke, Trinity, Exeter, Merton, and Worcester. Although there was some capital racing, no bumps took place. Magdalen made a splendid attempt to secure the headship, but could not overtake New College, who finished half a length to the good. Trinity pressed Pembroke, and only a few yards separated them at the boathouse.

  During the six nights's racing 30 bumps were made, and every boat except Balliol changed its position. Jesus and St John's went up five places, Merton and Christ Church four each, Oriel three, Brasenose two, and New College, Magdalen, and St. Edmund Hall one each. On the other hand Wadham lost seven places, Worcester five, Keble and Queen's three each, University, Lincoln, and Pembroke two each, and St. Catherine's one.

  The article also lists the members of the New College head crew.

• The Daily Telegraph Fri 29 May

  New College have wrested from University the honour of the headship of the river at Oxford, but they only retained it on Wednesday night by a very narrow margin indeed from Magdalen, who may well be consoled for being only second by the consideration that they have shown themselves to be a much faster boat than the crew ahead of them, though not quite fast enough to effect the bump. The only other race as good as this, on the last night, was that between Pembroke and Trinity, who would certainly have gone up one had their rudder taken a less active part in the performance. Christchurch found they were not good enough to catch Brasenose, so the First Division ended without a change. This was far from being the case with the lower boats, for the hapless Wadham crew, already ruined by illness, had managed to keep away, while Corpus bumped Queen's behind them, but then seemed to fall to pieces; so that, while they were catching crabs, Oriel rushed up from all the way behind Queen's, and effected a "double bump," which resulted in their gaining three places, while Wadham fell to within two from the bottom of the river, a catastrophe which is unparalleled for very many years in racing. On the whole showing, Christchurch have gained four places, but Jesus and St. John's can each claim five victories and Merton have got back again to the First Division, while Worcester have sunk to "sandwich boat." The form shown generally proved that the unprecedented floods have destroyed any chance of thorough coaching. The best crews felt it, and the worst crews were, in consequence, unspeakable. Graham of New College, looked the best stroke, after the President [possibly referring to E.G. Monier-Williams, of Univ, stroke of the 1903 Oxford crew]

• In other news ... [1903]

  Monarch: Edward VII

  Prime Minister: Arthur Balfour (Conservative)

  Sun 24 May

  The Paris-Madrid race for automobiles begins, during which at least 8 people are killed; the French government stops the event at Bordeaux, and impounds all the competitors cars.

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