Eights 1964Eights 1964
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Keble may be hard to displace — Too few competent oarsmen
The main question in the Summer Eights, which begin at Oxford today, is whether Keble, without any of their five Blues rowing, will be able to retain the headship which they won for the first time last year. It is hard to find a crew at Oxford which does not claim to have beaten them, or their times, or someone else who has beaten them. Nevertheless Keble have had considerable strength in depth for the last few years.Some say that to assess the prospects for eights it would be appropriate to study the intake policy of the various senior common rooms, rather than the crews on the Isis. But the real weakness of Oxford college rowing is common to rowing throughout the country at the present time — that the supply of competent oarsmen is divided up among too many clubs.
Thin on the ground
Of the 16 men who rowed in the Oxford senior trials last November, five came from Keble and five from St. Edmund Hall. Another three men from each of these colleges rowed in the junior trials, and, in addition, Keble had three Blues and St. Edmund Hall one. So it can well be understood that the remaining six senior and 10 junior trial caps, spread among 21 other colleges, are pretty thin on the ground.Behind Keble are Christ Church, who are lively but not particularly polished, though Spencer is doing good work at seven. To hold their position it looks as though they must catch Keble, either before or after being caught themselves by St. Edmund Hall. And it scarcely looks as though they can do it.
St. Edmund Hall are by far the most talented crew at Oxford, and, indeed, the only crew which has no weak links. They have been training at Henley, and so have not been seen in proximity with Keble. They must be favourites to finish head this week, but it may not be an easy passage.
St. Edmund Hall Favoured
The Oxford University Summer Eights start this afternoon (1.30 p.m. and every 45 minutes) and there will be no little consternation in the camp if St. Edmund Hall do not finish at the head of the river.It is fairly common knowledge that next year's Blue Boat is to be reared almost exclusively on the current Radley-Hall lines of thought. For this policy to be generally accepted, the Eton-Keble approach must first be discredited.
Keble, weighed down with Blues past, present and prospective, reached the top last year for the first time in their history, convincingly and with no ifs and buts. Their head crew this year contains no Blues, though D. W. Steel and R. C. T. Mead are performing in the second boat.
They are well-drilled and smooth, which is in character, but not particularly quick off the mark. It will be surprising if their tenure lasts beyond to-morrow.
Spencer Moves — Rugby Blue in
Christ Church, behind them, have converted D. C. Spencer to row on bowside at No. 7, but they, too, are slow starters, for all their high ratings, and they, too, taper off rapidly towards the bow. They are certainly slower than they were in the last two years.St. Edmund Hall start third, stroked by H. M. Thomas with the O.U.B.C. secretary S. H. Morris at No. 7. Their average weight gains a tremendous fillip from E. H. Gould, the Rugger Blue, who weighed 14 stone when he rowed for St. Edwards and looked nearly twice that size at Twickenham.
Balliol are competent, if a little lacking in sparkle, but Lincoln, with the President M. O. Morland, at No. 6, show signs of life and may well return to the Leander belt. [I assume this refers to members of the top three or four crews in Eights being 'invited' to join Leander RC]
New College have had a maximum in the last two years, but are rather short of brute force.
Keble Eight in Danger — St. Edmund Hall in second place
St. Edmund Hall took the first step towards gaining the headship in the Eights at Oxford last night. They closed to a third of a length on Christ Church before the Gut and caught them at the bottom of the green bank. Keble were in no danger, nor were they noticeably up on Christ Church, so they must be in danger today.The weather was glorious yesterday, but the crowd was sparse. An innovation was a spirited, if imaginative, commentary from the Gut, which added considerably to the interest of the racing, and to the entertainment between whiles. Lincoln closed at once on Balliol, and were only a canvas behind as they went into the Gut. They continued to press, and claimed a bump at the pink post, which, however, Balliol did not acknowledge. Both crews rowed on to the finish, but Lincoln's bump was confirmed by the umpire.
New College also closed to within half a length of Queen's, soon after Donnington Bridge, but they could not get any closer. Oriel caught St. John's, and Merton caught Trinity below the Gut. Magdalen rowed over, but may be in danger from Merton today, unless they can catch St. John's. [Bumps Chart]
Oxford, WednesdaySt. Edmund Hall Advance on Keble
St. Edmund Hall must surely be head of the river to-morrow night in the Oxford University Summer Eights. They were taken on to the Green Bank by Christ Church last night but the House had closed appreciably on Keble at the head.As the three boats came into the Gut, Keble were at 37 and had two-thirds of a length to spare. Christ Church and the Hall were both at 36, separated by feet only. Thomas finally went to 37 and contact was made 100 yards later.
Lincoln made hard work of catching Balliol. They were overlapping comping out of the Gut but very wide. Their cox missed twice and the two boats rowed right through to the finish, only for the umpire to confirm that a bump had been made.
New College fade
New College were within a canvas of Queen's at the Stone, only to fall back. Oriel's spades put paid to St. John's here, while Merton demolished Trinity even quicker.In the Second Division Corpus caught Hertford at O.U.B.C. when the latter were only six feet off B.N.C.. Jesus took University rather farther than expected and survived until the Pink Post. St. Edmund Hall VII succumbed in the lunch hour but all their other boats went up. [List of bumps] [Thursday Start Order]
Eights Week Change — Keble dislodged from Headship
The second day of Eights Week at Oxford had perfect weather, and St. Edmund Hall added to the general gaiety by doing what was expected of them and displacing Keble at the head of the river. But it was not quite so easy for St. Edmund Hall as had been expected.Coming into the Gut, the gap had been reduced to threequarters of a length and for a few strokes Keble seemed to hold their own. At the bottom of the Green Bank, Keble, at 38, were rating two strokes faster than St. Edmund Hall, who then put in a spurt at 38 and began to gain fast. Keble raised their rate to 39 but they could no longer hold off St. Edmund Hall, who made their bump 100 yards below the University Boathouse.
For the spectators this gave one the few chances of spectacular excitement as nearly all the remainder of the 31 bumps in the day's racing were made below the Gut. Altogether it was a good day for St. Edmund Hall. Their second boat gained another step in the ladder with a bump on Christ Church II and their third boat, catching St. Peter's II at the top of the fourth division, then bumped Oriel II when they appeared as sandwich boat in division III.
In division V, Merton III, who, with an overbump on the first day, had already gone up places, went up again when they caught Hertford II. But it must be admitted that Merton were a little lucky and helped by some tactical rowing by Keble IV. Keble could have caught Merton but deliberately delayed making their bump until Merton had caught Hertford and then went all out to make an overbump on Corpus [II]. [Bumps Chart]
Oxford, ThursdayKeble yield despite grim resistance
Keble, who reached the Head of the River on the final night of the Oxford Summer Eights last year, were to-day dethroned by St. Edmund Hall.As the boats made the Gut crossing, there was a third of a length between them and the Hall, at 38, were two strokes higher. With danger ever more imminent, Bonsor, the boxing Blue and Keble stroke, began a sustained, if rather desperate spurt.
He held at 39 all the way up the Green Bank. The interval closed by inches only. At the OUBC Raft, the Hall's inexorable 36 had its inevitable effect. There was a great gap before the third boat arrived.
Lincoln were always well behind Christ Church, while Queen's never looked like catching Balliol. Oriel ran into New College above the Stone, while Magdalen and Trinity both succumbed in the early stages. Corpus Christi, University, St. Edmund Hall II, and Wadham, continued to climb in Div. II.
Vandals strike
In the fifth Division, Keble IV, containing two Blues J. Leigh-Wood, and R. A. Morton-Maskell, and two Isis caps, by dint of some judicious light paddling, allowed yesterday's overbumpers, Merton III, to catch Hertford II. Keble then scored an overbump at the Long Bridges.There was further light relief in Div. VI, where a dog fell into the river before the start. The stroke of St. Edmund Hall VI dived in to rescue it, re-embarked with less than a minute to spare, and made his bump.
The admirable innovation of a running commentary, introduced yesterday for the benefit of spectators on the barges, was to-day muted. Hooligans had torn up and cut the cable at the Long Bridges. [List of bumps][Friday Start Order]
St. Edmund Hall Unchallenged — Queen's caught after narrow miss
The excitement in the top division of the summer Eights at Oxford yesterday was minimal, with most of the first division rowing over, separated by massive gaps, and practically none of the second division even reaching the green bank. St. Edmund Hall rowed over unchallenged at the head of the river, and Keble answered the only remaining question about the leading places, by increasing their distance ahead of Christ Church.After a sunny afternoon, the evening was breathless and overcast, with a few spots of rain, threatening thunder. It rumbled round, and gave one defiant crash, just as the racing ended, but like the rowing, it really produced nothing at all exciting. Behind the leaders Lincoln closed a little on Christ Church below the Gut, but dropped back. Queen's also closed on Balliol, but unfortunately for them could not make a bump, and they, too, were soon threatened by Oriel. At the O.U.B.C. Oriel were within a few feet, but Queen's took them half way up the barges, before lowering their colours. Exeter pressed Magdalen in the early stages, but lacked finishing power.
Practically the whole of the second divison disintegrated below, or just above, the Gut. The exceptions were Christ Church II, who reached the pink post before succumbing to Wadham, and Pembroke, who were caught by Keble II, a little lower down the river, after a brisk turn of hide and seek among the boats which had already made their bumps and were disentangling themselves in mid-stream.
Division IV — St. Catherine's II and Oriel III re-row a disputed bump today. [Bumps Chart]
Oxford, FridayKeble delay challenge to leaders
St. Edmund Hall rowed over at the Head of the River to-day and are in an almost unassailable position, though Keble are reported to be delaying their assault until the last night.The Hall were already down to 34 at the Stone and had added a further length to their starting interval. Keble did not appear to be breathing fire, for they, too, were at 34, with Christ Church their distance behind.
The procession continued up the Green Bank, widely spaced, until the arrival of Balliol only half a length clear of Queen's. Oriel were in even hotter pursuit of both and though Queen's drew away briefly they succumbed just before the finish.
Merton needed exactly 25 strokes to catch St. John's but Exeter, though they were within a quarter-length of Magdalen for the last four minutes, were not able to press home their advantage. Corpus, newly arrived, appeared to be taking things easily.
Corpus Triumph — Gloom lifted
There was considerably more excitement in Division II with only one bump below the Stone. Corpus emerged from the gloom of the Second Division for the first time for many years when they changed places with Trinity in the Gut.University who now have some weight to add to careful coaching, also made their third bump 30 yards further on. Jesus were pressing Hertford at the Long Bridges but fell back, neither crew finding their spades much of an asset over the second half.
St. Peter's made a great effort to take their revenge on Wadham and were within a canvas at the Stone but were forestalled by Christ Church II's inability to escape Wadham. St. Edmund Hall II, who became the highest second boat yesterday, climbed again at the expense of Worcester.
Unorthodox tactics — Resounding bump
Keble II twice had to row farther than they would have wished in order to leave the Third Division, but Pembroke's unorthodox evasive tactics gave Keble a resounding bump at the Pink Post, with their opponents almost broadside on.There were for a change no overbumps but there were 31 bumps in the day bringing the total to 93. A dispute between St. Catherine's II and Oriel III in Division IV will be re-rowed at lunch-time.
So far six crews have earned their oars by making four or more bumps and 12 more are in line for a similar distinction to-morrow — the last night. [List of bumps] [Saturday Start Order]
Oxford, SaturdaySt. Edmund Hall regain Headship
The quick sprinting counter-attack by Keble, deposed by St. Edmund Hall in the Oxford Summer Eights on Thursday, of course did not come off. These things never do at the top of the First Division.So St. Edmund Hall regained the Headship which they held from 1959 to 1961.
Rain held off, but in calm muggy conditions one of the few exhilarating things was the public commentary. This reported Keble only a length off St. Edmund Hall at The Gut and closing fast through better steering and higher rating.
This one must beg to doubt, since St. Edmund reached the boathouses at least two lengths clear and going easily. Christ Church were far astern and unhealthily close to Lincoln.
Fourth bump
Oriel and Merton each made their fourth bump way down the course. Oriel have made good progress from 16th to fifth in four years and Merton have pulled out of the doldrums, too.Tradition is marvellous thing, but one wonders if Magdalen might not go faster if their cox did not have to sport such an enormous lily in his buttonhole. Apart from wind resistance, it seems all too likely to obscure his view of the crew ahead. [List of Bumps] [Finishing Order].
St. Edmund Hall win on merit — Keble's challenge dies away
There were rumours on Saturday of an impending do or die onslaught by Keble on St. Edmund Hall, to regain the headship which they lost last Thursday. The intention need not be doubted, but its fulfilment was never on the cards. Keble were reported within three-quarters of a length at the Gut, but there were at least two lengths of clear water at the O.U.B.C., and St. Edmund Hall came home easy and well deserved winners.After one of the worst attended Wakes [sic] Weeks for many years, the continued fine weather attracted a hugh crowd on Saturday, no doubt to study trends rather than rowing. They were nearly rewarded with a drenching, but the thunderstorms which threatened throughout the last division held off until most of them were home.
Dark horses
For once, there was no doubt that the first three crews finished in order of merit, for the gap between Keble and Christ Church was even greater than the gap between Keble and St. Edmund Hall. Oriel, as energetic as ever and rather better together than in recent years, made their fourth bump, and could possibly have pressed Lincoln if they had had the chance. Merton proved to be the dark horses of the first division, and could certainly have made one, and possibly two, more bumps. University, too, were still in full cry.But undoubtedly it was St. Edmund Hall's week. Their second crew made four bumps, their third and fourth crews made three, having been robbed on Thursday night. Their sixth crew held its place, and their seventh crew gained one place. No other college had more than five crews on the river.
The strength of the head of the river crew lay in fitness and uniformity of quality. It is doubtful whether they were exceptionally fast, but they were the sort of crew which would probably show to greater advantage over the Henley course. And it seems that they will leave us with an example which others might well take to heart, for they are now placing University before College, and putting all these men at the disposal of the president, who hopes to form a representative Isis crew for Henley. [Head crew — as below]. [Bumps Chart].
In Division III there was a disputed bump between Exeter II and New College II and this will be rerowed at 5 p.m. today [in which it seems Exeter II bumped New College II]
Oxford's 'new order' offers fresh hope
The old order changed at Oxford last week and with the unhappy memories of Putney still fresh in their minds, the huge crowd on Saturday did not seem heartbroken at its demise.The new, to which it has given place, does at least offer hope for the immediate future and the best news of all is that five members of the Head crew, reinforced by the President and two Isis caps, will start training to-day for the Thames Cup.
Keble certainly "had a go" on Saturday and were at 40 all through the Bay. At the Gut they were within a length, and though two lengths down at the finish it was not until the last 1½ minutes that they were outside their starting distance.
On this showing one could not but wonder how they allowed themselves to be caught on Thursday and they themselves must now be doubting the wisdom of excluding one or two of the four Blues who, if not at peak fitness, still rowed in the second and fourth boats.
Week's Ration — Nearly three per crew
This in no way decries St. Edmund Hall's success. Having seen their chance in April they took it in May and the dedication of the entire club was rewarded by a credit balance of 20 bumps for the week, just under three per crew.Oriel and Merton made four bumps on the first division, though Oriel were taken nearly to the Pink Post by Balliol after overlapping in the Gut and New College survived twice as long as any of Merton's other victims.
It was good to see them emerge from the shadows, though Oriel's renaissance is not of course new, for Saturday's bump was their third consecutive maximum. [Head of River Crew — as below, same as in The Times] [List of Bumps & Finish Order]
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