Eights 1920Eights 1920
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Impressions of the Crews"Eights" and "May week" are once more about to be celebrated at the Universities with all their old-time splendour. "Eights" will start at Oxford to-morrow (Thursday), and continue until the following Wednesday; while the May races take place at Cambridge from June 9 to June 12. Although bumping races were held at Oxford last summer, they were in the nature of an interlude, and will not be allowed to affect the positions of the boats on the river this year, when the order of starting will be based on the results of the 1914 races. University College are at present head of the river, with New College second, followed by Christ Church, Magdalen, Merton, and St. John's, and it seems probable that there will be some good racing and considerable changes in the order among the first few boats.
Taken all through, the standard of rowing is certainly low, and the boats display a mediocrity which is not relieved by any crew of outstanding merit. This is, perhaps, to a large extent explicable by the lack of experienced coaches among the resident members of the college boat clubs. During the last week or two several Old Blues, including Messrs. H. C. Bucknall, H. R. Barker, C. K. Philips, and E. D. Horsfall, have been giving their assistance, but it is difficult for even the most capable coach to produce a good crew when the foundation has not been properly laid. It is in the early stages of elementary instruction that an oarsman may be made or marred, and the merits or deficiencies of the Torpid are usually reproduced and possibly accentuated in the Summer Eight. During the past year this elementary instruction has necessarily had to be carried out by instructors with but a few months' more experience than their pupils, and it is not surprising, therefore, if the results have not been altogether satisfactory. The first impression gained from a general survey of the crews is one of an almost universal tendency to rush forward with complete disregard for, or ignorance of, rhythm, with the result that in almost every case, after a minute or two, the rowing degenerates into an ineffective scramble. Where an evil makes itself apparent by such frequent recurrences it is reasonable to expect that there should be one common underlying cause, and in this case I do not think it is far to seek. At any given rate of stroke pace of forward and backward swinging and sliding must vary inversely, and steadiness forward and rhythm can only be attained by increased speed of the backward stroke, and that is just where most of the crews are failing. Too little attention appears to have been paid to the elemental principles. It is the work behind the rigger that moves a boat, and its effective application depends on the use of the legs.
Magdalen Disappointing
University, the head of the river, are not a good crew, and it is very unlikely that they will be able to maintain their position. They are short, and in endeavouring to row a fast stroke come forward too fast, with the result that they cover very little water. Magdalen are certainly the fastest crew, but they are by no means first-class, and considering their strength on paper are decidedly disappointing. They have three of this year's University crew, in James, Durand, and Earl, and Porritt, the University cox, is steering them. Supported by Lucas, who was given a prolonged trial in the University boat, and Nickalls, this should have proved a formidable combination, of a different class from the crew which, in fact, they have produced. They are extremely ponderous, and the heavy men are not getting a firm grip on the boat at the beginning of the stroke. Their marked failing of rowing their blades along the top of the water, in which respect Durand is the worst offender, makes them short, a deficiency which their stroke is vainly endeavouring to cure by lying back at the finish.
New College do not appear to possess very much pace. They have very little swing, and are not finishing out on to the chest. Stroke is particularly noticeable for this fault, and is failing to give his men time at this part of the stroke, with the result that they get very short when rowing. Christ Church have been making drastic changes at the last moment, and last week moved "stroke" and "seven" from their second crew into the first boat. They are not a taking crew, and are rather "scrappy," but they have the merit of doing a lot of work, although it may not all be effective. Merton, who have Raikes, "five" of this year's University crew, rowing at "six," have a turn of speed for a short distance, but get very unsteady towards the end of the course. Speed off the mark is, however, valuable in bumping races, and I think they will probably go up. Balliol have Cairns and McNeil, the 'Varsity "seven" and "two", rowing at "seven" and "six" respectively, but they lack life and dash. Ellis, who stroked Oxford at Putney, is stroking Keble, but he is not well supported, and has not much chance of displaying his abilities to the best advantage. Amongst the lower boats there does not appear to be any crew of outstanding merit, and the second crews, as a whole, display the same general failings as are noticeable in the higher boats.
After so long an interval it is natural that the continuity of college traditions and records should to some extent have been broken, and in the process of regeneration the leaven has probably become more evenly dispersed throughout the lump than was usual in the past, when club reputation was handed down continuously from generation to generation. However, in the changes from the old order of 1914 which are certain to take place, many of the less famous rowing colleges should find an opportunity of improving their positions.
The first Summer Eights since 1914 will be begun at Oxford to-day. Unlike those at Cambridge, the eight-oared races at Oxford last summer did not influence the starting positions of the various colleges, and, considering the unsettled state of rowing, this undoubtedly was for the best, for it allowed many colleges to enter their crews for fixed seat races and this to set a firmer groundwork for future excellence. The only cause for regret is that it is impossible to repeat the experiment for one more year; the sight of so many crews on the river certainly lends some justification to such a course of action; but, on the other hand, the popularity of rowing at Oxford, both as an exercise and as a spectacle, would suffer in more than a corresponding degree.The standard of skill shown by the crews this year is higher than that of last year, as is only to be expected, but it has not improved so much as might have been hoped. This probably is accounted for by the fact that a certain number of pre-war men, who came up to start things again, have now gone down. It should take four years, the full residence of an undergraduate, to introduce that leaven of experience into the various college boats upon which their merit depended. The first thing that strikes the attention of an onlooker is the lack of groundwork; in all but some six or seven crews such faults as shortness of swing, slowness of the hands, and failure to keep the knees down at the finish are everywhere apparent. Everybody has been put on a slide so quickly, however, that this is not surprising. None of the crews compares with the Magdalen crew of last year, but there are more than last year which display form sufficient to win the Thames Cup or even to go near to securing the Ladies' Plate at an average Henley. Going lower down the scale, the general average of the second and third divisions is distinctly higher than that of the least capable sliding-seated boats last year.
The best crews, so far as can be judged from the practice on Saturday, are, in order of merit, Magdalen, Christ Church, New College, Merton, and Queen's. University, who are head of the river, are a most disappointing crew. They possess a vary fair proportion of invidivual talent, but are slow and ponderous and, when paddling, make no impression on the water, with the result that any attempt to row a fast stroke develops into a bucket. Mr. Tinne, the old Blue, certainly has made immense strides with them, but even his efforts will hardly prevent them from being displaced. New College, who are second, are a neat crew, but are lacking in punch; they show a tendency to be short and to row their blades into the water. They are, however, well together, the best, perhaps, of any. They are also quite fast, particularly over the second half of the course, for they are using 12ft. 6in. oars. They are a very level crew, of whom perhaps D. P. Leney, at No. 4, is rowing best at present. Christ Church, behind them, have been changing their order until within a day or two of the races, and it is rumoured that they may change again. In spite of this, under Mr. H. R. Barker, they are a remarkably uniform and taking crew; they are longer in the water than any other crew, and have quite a hard beginning. They doubtless will improve still further before the races and quite possibly may go head. R. S. Partridge at No. 6, although rough, is a worker who would be of great use to any crew, and W. M. Binney, at No. 3, is a young oarsman of considerable promise.
Magdalen, the next boat, are the fastest on the river at the time of writing, and possibly are the favourites, but they will have to go very fast to get Christ Church; and, up to date, they have not reproduced their form of last year. Their merit is individual, with three Blues in W. E. C. James, the President, A. T. M. Durand, and S. Earl; and R. S. C. Lucas, who rowed in last year's Oxford crew at Henley, besides G. O. Nickalls, son of Mr. Guy Nickalls, an Eton Eightsman of promise, and another Trial Eightsman. They are not, however, so fast as their material and form would warrant; they are rather short in the water and very apt to bounce their boat, which fact tends to destroy the pace which their hard beginning should give them. Mr. James, probably, is rowing the best of anyone in the Eights and undoubtedly sends down a puddle in proportion to his weight of nearly 14st. Merton, who are behind Magdalen, are the surprise of the year. They do not include any individual oarsman of remarkable merit, except D. T. Raikes, the University Secretary at No. 6, but they have made vast strides under the coaching of the famous stroke, Mr. Bucknall, and are so fast for the first two minutes that they might easily surprise Magdalen. Beyond doubt they are the hardest working crew at Oxford, and, although their lack of experience makes them ragged and slow over the latter half of the course, the first part of their rows is an example to many other boats. Balliol are a disappointing crew; in spite of their two Blues and a trials man, besides a stroke who stroked a good Adelaide University crew, they seem to possess little pace. They are ponderous and do not use their legs to advantage; and, although as low as eighth, are not likely to make bumps. They have a useful No. 7 in H. W. B. Cairns, the Blue, and a very hard worker at No. 3, but apart from these oarsmen they are not a very promising crew.
Queen's, who are in the Second Division, should go up a long way; they are rather ragged, but quite long, and Mr. Berrisford, the ex-president, is sure to drive them along fast. Oriel, in the First Division, are not at all a slow crew, but very rough and lacking in watermanship. They should, however, keep their place or even bump St. John's, who, in spite of A. C. Hill, the Blue, at No. 6, are short and slow.
Of the other crews, the fastest, perhaps, are Brasenose, with a good No. 6, Lincoln, with a good No. 7 in D. I. Coates, and Magdalen II and New College II. The order of starting is :—[...]
It is difficult to prophesy with any certainty as to the result of races, into which the element of luck enters so much; but the headship probably will go either to Magdalen or Christ Church. New College will go head on the first night, but should be displaced. Merton may go up at the expense of any of the boats in front of them, but if they do so all but University may be capable of rebumping them over the second half on another night. Magdalen II may make two or three bumps at the expense of Corpus Christi and Trinity, though the latter have a useful stroke and No. 6. Brasenose, too, should improve their position; they have had the benefit of the advice of Mr C. W. Kent, and have a good turn of speed considering their position. It would please many to see them once more in the First Division, which they never left until 1914.
One other point of interest is the comparative paucity of good individual oarsmen, and this makes those which there are the more conspicuous. Indeed, the problem of where to find 'Varsity oarsmen is going to be a hard one till some period of time has elapsed and things are more settled.
The University Summer Eight-oar Races were resumed at Oxford yesterday afternoon after a lapse of six years and will extend over six days. The boats started in the same order in which they had left off in 1914. The weather was favourable and there was a large attendance. Ten bumps were made in the three divisions, and, as was expected New College deprived University College of the Headship.The order of starting in the Third Division was as follows :— New College II, Keble, Jesus, St. Edmund Hall, St. Catherine's, Balliol II, Hertford, University II, Lincoln II, St. Catherine's II, and New College III.
Keble gained on New College II and there was less than a length between them along the green bank, but New College drew away and finished a length to the good. St. Edmund Hall proved no match for St. Catherine's, who made a bump at the Freewater Stone. Balliol II were overtaken by Hertford approaching the Long Bridges, and St. Catherine's II were bumped by New College III before reaching the Free Ferry.
The order of starting in the Second Division was as follows :— Corpus, Magdalen II, Worcester, Brasenose, Christ Church II, Pembroke, Lincoln, Queen's, Wadham, Exeter, and New College II.
Magdalen II gained on Corpus from the start and made their bump near the Long Bridges. The best race of the day was between Brasenose and Christ Church II, the latter only just failing to make the bump. Queen's overtook Lincoln near the Weir's Bridge; and Exeter ran into Wadham soon after the start.
The order of starting in the First Division was as follows :— University College, New College, Christ Church, Magdalen, Merton, St. John's, Oriel, Balliol, Trinity, and Magdalen II.
University were unable to maintain their position and New College, displaying capital form, gained rapidly from the start, securing the Headship just before reaching the Long Bridges. Magdalen caught Christ Church at the Weir's Bridge, Oriel bumped St. John's at the Boathouse, and Trinity caught Balliol near the same spot.
The races will be continued to-day.
The Summer Eight-oar Races were continued at Oxford yesterday afternoon. Some close racing took place, and in the three divisions there were eight bumps.The order of starting in the Third Division was as follows :— New College II, Keble, Jesus, St. Catherine's, St. Edmund Hall, Hertford, Balliol II, University II, Lincoln II, New College III, and St. Catherine's II.
There was an interesting race between the first two boats, not more than half a length separating them at the Long Bridges. New College then drew away and finished about a length to the good. An exciting struggle took place between St. Catherine's and Jesus, but St. Catherine's could not get within striking distance, and Jesus escaped defeat by about a quarter of a length. Hertford overtook St. Edmund Hall at the Weirs Bridge, and Lincoln II were bumped by New College III before reaching the Long Bridges.
The order of starting in the Second Division was as follows :— Magdalen II, Corpus Christi, Worcester, Brasenose, Christ Church II, Pembroke, Queen's, Lincoln, Exeter, Wadham, and New College II.
Worcester went off with great dash and bumped Corpus Christi at the Boathouse. Christ Church II showed much improved form and overtook Brasenose approaching the Long Bridges. Queen's were again successful, and bumped Pembroke near the Weirs Bridge; Exeter overtook Lincoln shortly after passing the Free Ferry.
The order of starting in the First Division was as follows :— New College, University, Magdalen, Christ Church, Merton, Oriel, St. John's, Trinity, Balliol, and Magdalen II.
The effort of University to escape Magdalen was futile, the latter making the bump before reaching the Long Bridges. Trinity lost a race to Balliol. "No. 2" of the Trinity crew caught a crab and fell overboard near the Free Ferry. Balliol then went in pursuit of St. John's and succeeded in getting within a length.
Racing will be continued to-day.
There was a large number of visitors at Oxford on Saturday, and they were able to watch the third day's racing of the Summer Eights in beautiful weather. Magdalen, as was anticipated, deprived New College of the headship of the river, making the bump early in the race. There were eight bumps in the three divisions. The results were :—Third Division. Order of starting.— New College II, Keble, Jesus, St. Catherine's, Hertford, St. Edmund Hall, Balliol II, University II, New College III, Lincoln II, and St. Catherine's II. There was a keen struggle between Keble and New College II; from the boathouse New College held their own and passed the post three-quarters of a length to the good. Jesus found it difficult to escape St. Catherine's, who, in turn, were hard pressed by Hertford, the latter making their third bump by catching them at the Free Ferry. The struggle between Balliol II and St. Edmund Hall was an interesting one. St. Edmund Hall persevered with great determination to the finish and escaped defeat by a quarter of a length. New College III started off smartly and overtook University II in Iffley Reach.
Second Division. Order of starting.— Magdalen II, Worcester, Corpus Christi, Christ Church II, Brasenose, Queen's, Pembroke, Exeter, Lincoln, Wadham, and New College II. Queen's bumped Brasenose at the Freewater Stone; Exeter overtook Pembroke at the Weirs Bridge, and Wadham bumped Lincoln at the boathouse.
First Division. Order of starting.— New College, Magdalen, University, Christ Church, Merton, Oriel, St. John's, Balliol, Trinity, and Magdalen II. After a short but sharp struggle Magdalen ran into New College near the Free Ferry. University lost another place, Christ Church catching them at the Freewater Stone, and St. John's were compelled to strike their colours to Balliol at the Corporation Ferry.
The races will be continued to-day.
The college barges were packed and a record crowd lined the towing path when the Summer Eights were continued at Oxford yesterday. Only four bumps were made in the three divisions. The results were :—The order of starting in the third division was as follows :— New College II, Keble, Jesus, Hertford, St. Catherine's, St. Edmund Hall, Balliol II, New College III, University II, Lincoln II, and St. Catherine's II.
Keble II, who managed to get within a length of New College II, were themselves hard pressed by Jesus. The latter in turn were threatened by Hertford, who attempted to make the bump at the Willows, and Jesus, finishing the stronger, passed the flag with half a length to spare. St. Edmund Hall were at one time in danger of defeat by Balliol II, but drew away and were well ahead at the finish. New College III gained in the first part of the race on Balliol II, but were unable to sustain the effort and finished half a length behind.
The order of starting in the second division was as follows :— Magdalen II, Worcester, Corpus Christi, Christ Church II, Queen's, Brasenose, Exeter, Pembroke, Wadham, Lincoln, and New College II.
Magdalen II were never in danger of being overtaken by Worcester. Corpus Christi at one point gained on Worcester, being driven on by Christ Church II, but the latter were bumped by Queen's at the Willows, this being their fourth success. Exeter were close on to Brasenose at the Long Bridges, but failed to make the bump, and Brasenose succeeded in finishing a length to the good. Wadham bumped Pembroke at the Weirs Bridge. An exciting race was witnessed between New College II and Lincoln; the former came up splendidly from the Cherwell and missed the bump by only a few inches.
The order of starting in the first division was as follows :— Magdalen, New College, Christ Church, University, Merton, Oriel, Balliol, St. John's, Trinity, and Magdalen II.
Magdalen maintained the leading position easily and finished quite three lengths in front of New College, who were only about three-quarters of a length ahead of Christ Church at the post. University experienced their fourth defeat, Merton overtaking them near the Long Bridges, and St. John's were bumped by Trinity near Rough's Boathouse.
The races will be continued to-day.
Racing in the Summer Eights was continued at Oxford yesterday in delightful weather, and there was again a large attendance at the river side. Three bumps were made in each division. The results were :—The order of starting in the third division was as follows :— New College II, Keble, Jesus, Hertford, St. Catherine's, St. Edmund Hall, Balliol II, New College III, University II, Lincoln II, and St. Catherine's II.
An exciting struggle was witnessed between the two leading boats, Keble pressing New College II all the way, and at the finish about half a length only separated them. Hertford bumped Jesus near the Long Bridge, Balliol II bumped St. Edmund Hall at the Weirs Bridge, and Lincoln II lowered the colours of University II at the Red Post.
The order of starting in the second division was as follows :— Magdalen II, Worcester, Corpus Christi, Queen's, Christ Church II, Brasenose, Exeter, Wadham, Pembroke, Lincoln, and New College II.
Queen's continued their victorious career in scoring their fifth success by bumping Corpus before reaching the Free Ferry. Brasenose, who narrowly escaped disaster from Exeter on the previous day were caught at the Boathouse. Lincoln, while being pressed hotly by New College II, succeeded in overtaking Pembroke at the Weirs Bridge.
The order of starting in the first division was as follows :— Magdalen, New College, Christ Church, Merton, University, Oriel, Balliol, Trinity, St. John's, and Magdalen II.
The leading boat maintained their position easily, but New College near the Long Bridges were scarcely a quarter of a length away from Christ Church. University lost another place, making the fifth since the beginning of the races, Oriel overtaking them at the Free Ferry. Balliol were caught by Trinity at the Oriel Barge, and Magdalen II bumped St. John's between the Weirs Bridge and the Free Ferry.
The races will be continued to-day.
The Oxford University Summer Eight-oar races were brought to a close yesterday afternoon. There was some very interesting racing and in the three divisions seven bumps were made. Magdalen experienced no difficulty in maintaining the Headship of the River. The results were :—The order of starting in the Third Division was as follows :— New College II, Keble, Hertford, Jesus, St. Catherine's, Balliol II, St. Edmund Hall, New College III, Lincoln II, University II, and St. Catherine's II.
An exciting race was witnessed between the first three boats for a considerable stretch of the course; half a length separated New College [II] from Keble near the Long Bridges and Hertford were the same distance from Keble. They reached the post without a change having been effected, although they were less than half a length apart. St. Catherine's were overtaken by Balliol II early in the race, their stroke having injured a shoulder. New College III overtook St. Edmund Hall at the Weirs Bridge. A close race resulted between Lincoln II and University II, the former escaping by about a quarter of a length.
The order of starting in the Second Division was as follows :— St. John's, Worcester, Queen's, Corpus Christi, Christ Church II, Exeter, Brasenose, Wadham, Lincoln, Pembroke, and New College II.
There was a keen struggle between the first three boats; Worcester drew up rapidly on St. John's and at the same time Queen's overlapped Worcester, but the coxswain missed the bump. Worcester continued to gain on St. John's and at the Boathouse made the bump, Queen's then being half a length away. Exeter bumped Christ Church II near the Boathouse; Brasenose lost another place, Wadham bumping them near the Long Bridges; and New College II, the sandwich boat, caught Pembroke near the Free Ferry.
The order of starting in the First Division was as follows :— Magdalen, New College, Christ Church, Merton, Oriel, University, Trinity, Balliol, Magdalen II, and Worcester
Magdalen, the head boat, rowed in fully three lengths ahead of New College, who were hard pressed throughout by Christ Church, and they reached the post by about a quarter of a length to spare. The only change in the division was the bumping by Trinity of University near the Freewater Stone, the being the sixth time they have been bumped.
During the six days's racing 46 bumps were made, of which Queen's and Exeter were credited with five each, Hertford and New College III with four each, and Magdalen with three. University have lost six places, St. John's and Pembroke five each, and Brasenose and St. Edmund Hall four each. The following are the names and weights of the Magdalen crew :— [as below]
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