Eights 1963Eights 1963
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Keble Confident of Progress
A special marquee goes up at Oxford this week for supporters of Keble, who, rightly, hope to see their college go head for the first time in Eights Week, after a spectacular rise from the bottom of the second division. If they succeed Keble will have made 23 bumps in 24 nights, with only two missed in six years' racing. At this moment, at the beginning of the week, their tally stands at 19 places in 20 nights, or, from their lowest ebb in 1954, 23 places in 32 nights.This is not so uncommon as might be imagined. Queen's, twenty-first when racing was resumed after the war, climbed from twenty-second in 1951 to take the headship in 1957, 21 places in 25 nights. Merton achieved the same ascent in 34 days. St. John's, by contrast, who were sixth in 1946, managed to fall from eighth place in 1952 to twenty-fifth place in 1956, and to climb again to fourth place last year, a loss of 17 places in 21 nights, immediately followed by a gain of 21 places in 21 nights. In a total of 44 nights racing, St. John's rowed over only seven times, on five of which they were robbed, or saved, by bumps ahead or behind them. Lincoln, more leisurely, rose from twenty-seventh to eighth in 32 nights, and, after a slight relapse, rose again from thirteenth to third in 18 nights. They have the distinction, at present, of standing higher above their postwar starting position than anyone else.
To put these performances into perspective one must add that they are only possible to colleges which have also stood low on the river. At the other end of the scale, in the 84 days racing which have taken place since 1946 Magdalen have been placed in the first three boats on the river on 48 nights.
The main excitement this week lies in Keble's bid for the headship. With five Blues it should be within their compass, but they must bump every night. St. Edmund Hall, starting second, are thought to be just about fast enough to catch Christ Church. If they do it tonight then Keble will presumably be behind them on Saturday. If they gamble on waiting until Friday, and then bumping Christ Church before they themselves are caught by Keble they might rob Keble, and so snatch the headship themselves. This, at any rate, is the way the reasoning goes on the towpath.
Today's order of start will be :— [...]
Keble should finish at Head of River
On all known form Keble, with their six Blues, should be Head of the River at Oxford on Saturday night. They have gained 19 places in 20 days' racing and are at last within range of the top.If they row anywhere near their potential, the four remaining bumps which separate them from their goal should be well within their compass.
They could so easily be thwarted by a bump ahead of them that the form certainty turns into something of an outside chance [sic].
Probably with this in mind, they have been at pains to put it abroad that they regard Eights Week as no more than a tiresome preliminary to Henley and that they will be quite satisfied to finish in the first three. Whether anyone is misled by this peculiar ploy is questionable.
Christ Church and St. Edmund Hall, starting first and second, must be grateful for at least two days' grace in which to settle their private dispute before the Keble threat affects them, and it is here that attention will be focussed to-night.
Modified style
The House, stroked by Duncan Spencer, are the exact antithesis of their pursuers. They are big, long in the water and cover a good deal when cruising around 33. They lack something in sparkle and are slow starters, but they will be very hard to catch once they reach the Green Bank.The Hall, with S. R. Morris at No.5 and stroked by his elder brother [presumably B. T. C. Morris], have modified their style, aiming at what could be called maximum economy. The uninitiated would doubtless describe it as plain short, but what they do they do with drilled determination and immense life.
One would expect them to close appreciably in the first two minutes but if they have not made contact before the Pink Post, Christ Church should pull away however astronomical a rating the Hall may muster in their wake.
Lincoln, with Morland replacing C. M. Davis at stroke, have again done marvels with the minimum of material and though they should be safe from a rough, tough and oddly-rigged St. John's to-day, they will probably have Keble behind them to-morrow.
Balliol have been much under-estimated and would be set for an excellent week if they were not forced to feed on the crumbs from the Keble table. They are strong and long — perhaps a shade too long for the ratings demanded by bumping races.
Lower down, particularly in the smaller colleges, the effects of the loss of a winter's rowing are all too obvious. New College, with two Blues, should continue to climb, though a much improved Trinity could prove a troublesome target.
Christ Church, St. Edmund Hall and Keble, who include D. G. Bray, who so narrowly missed his Blue this year, look to have the best second eights. St. Edmund Hall supplied seven of the 85 boats on the river and Balliol one less. Racing starts at 1.35 and continues until 6.30. [Order of Starting]
St. Edmund Hall must improve — Magdalen's good start to the week.
St. Edmund Hall never looked like catching Christ Church when Eights Week was begun at Oxford yesterday. It may be that their row was spoiled by uncertainty as to whether they really wanted to go ahead [sic] on the first night, with the threat of Keble behind them. But the one thing that is certain is that they will need to row much better than they did yesterday if they are even to get within striking distance. They were a full distance behind at the O.U.B.C. last night, and looked short and scrappy. Christ Church are rough, and perhaps a but sluggish, but with D. C. Spencer at stroke they will take quite a lot of catching over the second half of the course.Keble made their bump on St. John's in 25 strokes, and with St. Edmund Hall's stock now at a discount their chances of gaining the headship must be much improved. Magdalen bumped Merton at the Stone, contrary to general expectation. Their second eight made an overbump in the third division, so they had a good day.
Trinity had the bad luck to foul their bung line, which caught in the rudder lines, and they were bumped by New College virtually without starting. However, New College, with two Blues, T. W. Tennent [Tennant] and P. A. V. Roff, would almost certainly have caught them in any case. Several crews in the lower divisions were balked by boats ahead which did not get out of the way after bumping or being bumped. The president, D. D. S. Skailes, announced after the second division that if there were further cases the guilty crews would be fined. It is, of course, absolutely essential in bumping races that crews shall not stop rowing when a bump is made, but carry on until they are well clear of the course. [Bumps Chart]
Oxford, WednesdayChrist Church Keep Calm to Resist Challenge
Christ Church retained their position at the Head on the first night of Eights Week to-day with surprising ease, and from close observation of St. Edmund Hall behind them, it is hard to believe the current rumour that they are delaying their effort until Friday.As they shot Donnington Bridge, the House were 39 to the Hall's 37, but approaching the Bay Spencer was below Morris's 36 and remained so to the end.
At the Stone, there was starting distance between the boats and though the Hall gained a few feet by better steering through the Gut, Christ Church continued unruffled and had if anything increased their lead by the finish.
Lincoln were three lengths back from St. Edmund Hall and must be in grave danger from Keble, who required only 25 strokes to demolish St. John's under the bridge. Balliol could never quite shake off Queen's, but both rowed over, well spaced.
The remaining six boats changed places early in the proceedings. Merton stuggled on to the Stone before succumbing to Magdalen, but Trinity broke their rudder lines at the start and, with only three men rowing, were immediately hit by New College.
Strong crosswind
There now seems but one problem for solution and that must wait till Friday. If Keble catch the Hall convincingly, they can hardly fail to go Head on the last night, though there seems little doubt that Christ Church had more than a little in hand to-night.Conditions were infinitely more pleasant than yesterday, but there was a stiff crosswind to dissipate what heat the sun produced and though the tow path was quite thickly covered, some of the spectators were sheltering gratefully under rugs.
There were three bumps and one close race in the Second Division. Oriel came up comfortably clear of Hertford and at Tims the latter were that distance ahead of Exeter. Jesus were within three quarters of a length ahead [sic] of Exeter, but their effort petered out as Exeter mounted an attack on Hertford.
Exeter went to 36 against Hertford's 32 and started to gain rapidly. The Hertford cox delayed his crossing almost until the new Cut and this may have saved his crew, for Exeter were within two feet at the finish but on the other side of the river.
In the lower strata, Magdalen II over-bumped Oriel II at Tims after Keble II had overhauled Queen's II in under 30 seconds. This repaid with interest Oriel III's bump on Madgdalen II, which took but 10 strokes.
In Division Four there was a four-boat pile up under the bridge behind the bump by Exeter and Worcester second boats. It cost the offenders £2 in fines for obstruction and the others involved re-row at 11 a.m. to-morrow.
Many coxes seemed unaware it was their prime responsibility to clear the course after a bump and there was more than one bump disputed on grounds of interference. The day yielded 25 bumps and one overbump. [List of Bumps and new Start Order]
Tense Moment in Summer Eights — Umpires uphold Christ Church denial
The second day of Summer Eights at Oxford brought a tense race when St. Edmund Hall made their second attempt to oust Christ Church at the head of the river. At the top of the Green Bank St. Edmund Hall were only a canvas down. Fifty yards from the finish the boats were overlapping and St. Edmund Hall claimed a bump. Christ Church denied it, and after two umpires at the finish had given their opinions, Christ Church retained their place at the head.Keble continued to climb up the ladder when they caught Lincoln between Donnington Bridge and the Gut. For what may happen today it is significant that when Lincoln were bumped they had gained half a length on St. Edmund Hall. But, will Keble now force St. Edmund Hall into just the little extra speed, which will help them to bump Christ Church and so rob Keble of their chance?
Trouble behind
In the fourth, fifth and sixth divisions there was complete upset and all of it happened between the start and the Gut. St. Catherine's III had a stately progress at the top of the sixth with all the trouble behind them. Hertford II in the fifth division had the trouble all around them, and alone of the 13 crews, came through unscathed, and in the fourth divsion Oriel III, making their first appearance as sandwich boat after making their bump in the fifth division, had all the trouble in front of them.After Balliol II had caught Lincoln II and Magdalen II had bumped St. John's II in the third division, Keble II, all out for adventure, had nothing left to go for except a double over bump on Wadham. At the start there was a gap of something like 200 yards between Wadham and Keble II, but at the finish Keble's brave effort had reduced it to three lengths or about 60 yards. Merton II also attempted a big task in going for an overbump on Queen's II and it was only by one foot that they failed to make it.
There was a tense battle at the top of the second division. At the University Boathouse Brasenose were only 6ft ahead of Hertford, who were struggling to keep away from Exeter. It must have been a great relief to Brasenose when Hertford shot their bolt and Exeter made their bump. [Bumps Chart]
Oxford, ThursdayChrist Church Survive by Inches to Stay Head
It took Christ Church half an hour to retain the Headship to-night, for after a desperate race all down the Barges St. Edmund Hall's claim to a bump was disallowed by the umpires. The House's escape was a triumph for their cox, who was hunted all over the river.As the crews passed the Free Ferry, Christ Church at 38 had about a length but in the Gut the Hall was starting to close and they were reported to be almost overlapping at the Pink post.
Spencer took Christ Church clear again at their boat house but the Hall threw everything into a second assault and were within inches throughout the last minute and a half. Their supporters seemed certain that they had succeeded but the umpires saw no contact.
Keble needed 79sec to catch Lincoln in the Bay, when the latter were perhaps two lengths behind the Hall. Balliol bumped St. John's in the same place, while New College and Oriel overtook Merton and Trinity under Donnington Bridge.
Exicting Prospect — Photo-finish likely
To-morrow should be the most exciting night for many years. I still believe that Keble will manage it but if the Hall close on Christ Church earlier than to-day there could well be a photo-finish.Though this is far from a vintage year for the Second Division, it again produced a most exciting race. Hertford went up quickly on Brasenose and were within half a length at the Free Ferry.
Both crews were striking 35 through the Gut, where there was a bare canvas interval. Exeter were then still their starting distance astern of Hertford but beginning to make some impression. BNC could raise no more than 32 by the Pink post but they were holding. Exeter came with a rush at 38 and caught an exhausted Hertford at the OUBC.
Behind these, Corpus and University climbed for the second time at the expense of St. Peter's and Pembroke, both bumps occurring near the bridge. St. Catherine's also lost a second place when falling to Christ Church II, who thus avoided St. Edmund Hall's growing challenge for highest second boat.
Further down, only five of the last 50 boats rowed over. The record was spoilt on [sic] the Third Division, but there were two heroic near misses. Merton II failed by only a foot to overbump Queen's II on the post and ahead of them Keble II almost went one better.
Having been within a quarter of a length of Magdalen II when the latter caught St. John's II, they set off to close the 200-yard gap which, with a further bump, separated them from Wadham.
Though Wadham, down to 25, were not unduly perturbed, Keble had made up all but three lengths by the finish. Their progress was assisted by the general improvement in coxing by boats involved in bumps. The day passed with only one protest, which with 34 bumps was something of a record in itself. [List of Bumps and new Start Order]
Keble remove last doubts — Christ Church home in lonely state
At Oxford yesterday the weather was more reminiscent of what our fathers tell us it used to be like than we have come to expect of Eights Week these days. The crowd, for a night which was clearly destined to be the crisis of the week, was sparse, and, sartorially speaking, hardly did credit to the weather. But those who stayed away did not miss much.Any doubt there might have been about the headship disappeared when Keble bumped St. Edmund Hall coming out of the Gut. Nothing bar an accident can rob them now. All that the spectators at the boathouses saw of the First Division, therefore, was Christ Church in lonely state at the head of the river, and Trinity desperately escaping from the attentions of the sandwich boat, Exeter at the tail end. Exeter were within 10ft at the University boathouse, and seemed to close up even more. But Trinity just got home. Balliol caught Lincoln after a stern chase at the top of the green bank. All the other First Division crews made their bumps, or were dispatched, long before this.
The Second Division was no more accommodating. Brasenose were just in sight on the green bank when Exeter caught them. The only real excitement was provided by Jesus and Hertford. At the pink post Hertford were well over towards the Berkshire [towpath] shore, and it seemed that Jesus, crossing from the green bank, had only to hold their course to strike them fairly amidships. Instead, the Jesus cox made an abortive shot below the O.U.B.C. and missed. His crew faltered, and although they rallied again their chance had gone. That is the way in bumping races. [Bumps Chart]
Oxford, FridayKeble Set to go Head of the River — Odds are against Christ Church
Keble are expected to-morrow to emulate Queens' feat at "the other place" last year by going Head of the River for the first time in their history after making a bump on every night. Christ Church will not submit without a struggle, but they can hardly survive beyond the Freshwater Stone [sic].The biggest crowd I can remember was gathered between Donnington Bridge and the Long Bridges and it obscured any view of the crews from Tims' balcony until they started the Gut crossing.
The absence of gunfire made one wonder whether nothing after all would occur. Christ Church emerged at 37 harassed but unscathed with half a length of water between their rudder and St. Edmund Hall's bows.
Within five seconds a crescendo of sound indicated that the Keble bump on Hall when Strong made contact at the first attempt. The crew admitted to two minor crabs but they have now proved themselves immeasurably the fastest boat in Oxford.
16 Row Over — Three move up four
The rest was anti-climax. Lincoln took Balliol as far as the OUBC crossing while Exeter, newly-arrived in the first division, failed by 4ft to catch Trinity. Queen's, New College and Oriel had quick successes just through the bridge.Below the first division those going steadily up continued on their way largely at the expense of those doing the opposite. Only 16 out of 72 rowed over and Keble IV, Magdalen and Exeter II boats have gained four places already. The three-day total is now 95 bumps.
Brasenose said farewell to the first division at the bottom of the Green Bank, while Jesus looked certain to catch Hertford until catching a crab and throwing away further distance by some unintelligent steering at the crossing. [List of Bumps and new Start Order]
Oxford, SaturdayKeble Head for 1st time
Registering their 23rd bump in 24 nights of Eights Week rowing, Keble crowned their phenomenal rise from obscurity in the Second Division by going Head for the first time in their history.It is hardly surprising that they proved to be in a class by themselves when seven of crew, including the cox, are survivors from last year, and six are Blues.
Christ Church, stroked by Duncan Spencer, nevertheless gave them a row for their money.
Their dark blue blades were the first to creep into view round the shrubbery, riding the Gut, indicating that Keble had so far been denied. But Keble were chasing close behind and Strong soon made his bump along the Green Bank.
St. Edmund Hall were streets ahead of Balliol and interest next centred on whether Queen's might catch Lincoln. Lincoln looked none too safe, but Queen's were too rough to polish them off.
Early bump
New College, who are also on the updgrade, did not appear before the waiting spectators, having gained a fourth and early bump on St. John's.Oriel hove in sight close behind Magdalen, only a canvas away at the University Boat House. They should have made it, but were prisoners of a heavy looking spade-oared rig and finished rather wearily, while a more flexible Magdalen escaped.
Trinity reversed their downward trend by treading Merton down for a fourth night. Undoubtedly, it was Keble's day. But, with all this glorious weather, where had the colour and fashion and gaiety on the bank disappeared to? Beatnikery seemed to be the order of the day. [Head crew - as below] [List of bumps & Finish order].
Keble outstanding Eights crew — Headship taken for first time
It was indeed a glorious first of June for spectators when Oxford University Eights Week ended on Saturday, with brilliant sun and a cooling breeze, and it was especially glorious for Keble. Christ Church put up a gallant fight, and so brought Keble.for the first time within sight of their supporters at the boathouses. But there could only be one end, and Keble duly made their bump near the pink post, their twenty-third in 24 nights of racing; and of course they took the headship for the first time.St. Edmund Hall were the second fastest crew, though perhaps only marginally faster than Christ Church. They finished well ahead of Balliol, who were rather more than their distance in front of Lincoln.
So far as the spectators were concerned there was a magnificent race between Oriel and Magdalen. Magdalen, with only a quarter of a length to spare at the top of the green bank gradually drew away to finish over a length ahead. Unfortunately for them, however, Oriel had claimed a bump in the Gut, and the umpire decided that they had made it. This gave Oriel their fourth bump, but one must say that it was more by brute force than anything else.
In the second division, Exeter were well away at the top. Hertford came within feet of Brasenose at the O.U.B.C., but could not catch them. At the bottom of the divison, St. Edmund Hall II thought they had caught Pembroke at the crossing, and stopped rowing. A lot of other people thought so too, but not, apparently, Pembroke, who went on. One should say that St. Edmund Hall deserved to lose their bump for ignoring a first principle of bumping races — never to stop until the bump is beyond dispute, but in fact they started up again, nearly two lengths behind, and no doubt stimulated by righteous indignation, overhauled Pembroke as though they were standing still, and, to rub it in, made their bump opposite the Pembroke barge.
The general standard was not exciting, but probably as good as last year. Christ Church, St. Edmund Hall and Balliol were the best of the general bunch. Keble were outstanding. Success in the eights, of course, is no real criterion; and already the Jonahs are whispering that they would be made to enter for the Grand at Henley. Yet, in truth, it is hard to see what else they can do, with honour. Besides the coxswain, they have five Blues, three of whom have won the Boat Race, and one, G. V. Cooper, rowed in the Olympics in Rome before he gained his Blue.
Four of them have rowed in the final of the Ladies' Plate, two of them have won, all as boys at school. Four have won the Visitors' and one was twice a runner-up in the Princess Elizabeth Cup. The crew averages 13st. 1lb., and in strength, technique and experience they are giving nothing away to any crew in England at the moment. To succeed in the Grand they will need fitness and determination above what is usually found in University rowing. But with this opportunity it is surely for them to prove that they can rise to the occasion. [Keble entered the Grand, but lost their quarter final race to Thames RC]
[Head crew — as below]. [Bumps Chart]
Keble's Strength takes them to Head of River
Ten years before their centenary Keble reached the Head of the River on Saturday and with six of this year's boat available in 1964 they are going to take some dislodging. All the same Christ Church made them go farther than any other crew since 1961.As they shot Donnington Bridge Keble had gained no more than a quarter of a length, but they closed coming through the Bay. In the Gut the interval was a third of a length and along the Green Bank it hovered at a breathless 6ft.
Finally, just below the Pink Post Keble's relentless 38 had its effect and history was made. After Thursday's unsatisfactory incident of the disputed bump, the House at least had the solace of knowing that St. Edmund Hall were a good three lengths behind Keble.
And so in appropriately "jolly boating weather" Keble's six Etonians completed the ascent from 24th place, begun in 1958 and the boats at the head of the first division at last found their true level.
St. John's Caught — Queen's near Lincoln
Balliol were three lengths behind the Hall but Queen's came up to within half a length of Lincoln. New College, who caught St. John's below the the Stone after missing them twice, might have gained two more places if the races had run six days, but were probably no faster than Balliol.Apart from Keble, New College, Oriel, Corpus and University went up every day while St. John's and Merton (both shadows of their former selves), St. Peter's, Pembroke and St. Catherine's had a week of unrelieved disaster. The 129 bumps demonstrated the unevenness of standards and many could well be reversed next year. [Head Crew - as from The Times but adding schools] [List of Bumps & Finishing Order]
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