Eights 1965Eights 1965
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St. Edmund Hall's powerful crews — First boat unlikely to be displaced
With five winning Blues, three winning Isis men, three Isis spares, and two junior trial caps, it is not surprising that St. Edmund Hall have two of the strongest college crews seen at Oxford for many a year.The first crew start head of the river in the Summer Eights tonight, and nothing short of a catastrophe or a miracle is likely to displace them. Their second start 18th and could probably catch a dozen crews ahead of them. But their progress must depend, of course, on the luck of the racing.
Keble have one Blue, three men and a spare from Isis, and junior trials, and should be safe enough in second place. Christ Church have one Blue and three junior trials, and Lincoln one Blue and two junior trials, and there could be an interesting struggle here. Oriel, immediately behind them, have only two junior trials men, but a record of 12 bumps in succession over the past three years. They might advance further, but have probably found their level.
In the bottom half of the first division, the racing looks open. Merton are tipped to make bumps, but may not find it easy. Magdalen are poised precariously at the bottom of the division and, to avoid the ignominy of leaving it, must catch Exeter tonight. Otherwise, they are likely to find University, with two Isis men and all set to return to the first division, on their tails tomorrow.
St. Edmund Hall II are sure to rise and will be praying for an over bump, which they could well make if given the chance. That would enable them to reach the sandwich boat position, with the opportunity of two more bumps on the last night. Sandwich boat at the bottom of the second divsion, Pembroke, after a long spell in the doldrums, look as though they could well move up. [Order of Rowing]
St. Edmund Hall's Class Well Above Rest
It will be the surprise of the year if St. Edmund Hall, with their six Blues and two Isis caps, are deposed from the Head of the River in the Oxford Summer Eights which begin today, writes Desmond HillThey have avoided the congestion on the Isis, where countless boats tack to and fro like unco-ordinated water beetles, returning from Henley on Monday.
A glimpse of them was sufficient to confirm that they are in a class of their own. This is a little hard on Keble, who have the American Blue W. Fink at No. 7.
They may lack the polish of the last two Keble crews, but they look stronger and more determined, and would be good enough nine years out of 10.
Shock for Nautilus — Stretcher broken
They gave Nautilus a fright on Saturday at Wallingford [presumably during a heat] where the national squad crew broke a stretcher on the second stroke of their final with London University and so had no hope of winning.Christ Church look safe enough from Lincoln, who are competent but light, and without the services of the retiring president [M. Q. Morland], who is working. The House might just possible be bustled up by Oriel, who have climbed 12 times in the last three yeras and are energetic if rather rough.
Balliol have some merit, while University, in the Second Division, may well continue the unbroken ascent they began in 1963. Even lower, Pembroke should also prosper for the first time for many years.
After the headship, the safest bet of the week should be a maximum for St. Edmund Hall II, who have more Isis caps aboard than the first boats of most of the other colleges. No change is likely to be the keynote of the week though, and no change is the most accurate description of the standard of the lower boats. Order of starting (leading divisions): [...]
Success again for St. Edmund Hall — Headship held without difficulty
Though Keble held them for a minute at the start, St. Edmund Hall had no difficulty in retaining the headship of the river at Oxford last night. They passed the O.U.B.C. at 36 a good three lengths clear of Keble, who were at 34. Keble in turn were some three lengths ahead of Christ Church, who were rating 33 and looking rather short.Oriel closed quickly on Lincoln, and caught them before Donnington Bridge, which must give them at least a chance of catching Christ Church tonight. Queen's closed on Balliol, but not so fast as they lost ground to Merton, who came within six feet in the Gut. However, it took Merton until the O.U.B.C. to make their bump, by which time Balliol had drawn away from Queen's.
St. John's were within six feet of New College at the Gut, and caught them soon afterwards. Magdalen also came within six feet of Exeter in the Gut, but could not finish the job. They were still within striking distance at the O.U.B.C., but by this time University were threatening them. And it was University, not Magdalen, who pulled out the stops and made their bump about a hundred yards short of the finish.
Kindly fates
The fates were kind to St. Edmund Hall II, for Hertford, immediately ahead of them, obligingly caught Brasenose below the Gut, which enabled St. Edmund Hall II to make their overbump on Trinity at the pink post. Trinity were then rating only 33 to St. Edmund Hall's 38, which speaks for itself. St. Edmund Hall II must have a fine chance of making two more bumps tonight.Wadham overlapped Jesus in the Gut, and made repeated abortive shots the while Worcester were closing on them from behind. As far as the pink post it was touch and go, but Jesus just managed to keep away, and Wadham paid the penalty opposite the O.U.B.C., or to be more accurate, they acknowledged defeat at this point. Judging by the state of their rudder, Worcester must have hit them somewhere down the course.
Pembroke were surprisingly little more than their distance ahead of St. Catherine's at the O.U.B.C., but there was a six-length gap back to Balliol II. St. John's II were a length and a half behind Balliol, and there was another huge gap to Magdalen II. [Bumps Chart]
Oxford, WednesdaySt. Edmund Hall Finish Five Lengths Ahead — Oriel overcome Lincoln
The pattern for the week was set before a handful of spectators here to-day when St. Edmund Hall retained the Summer Eights Headship by at least five lengths. The only possible disturbance could be the arrival of Oriel in the top three.The Hall reached the Gut 2½ lengths clear of Keble and though they hit a swan opposite Tims they had added another 1½ lengths at the OUBC and continued to draw away up the Barges.
Christ Church had a three-length deficit on Keble after the Long Bridges and must now be in some danger from Oriel, who scored just above Donnington Bridge.
Merton were within inches of Queen's in the Gut but did not make contact until the OUBC, driving Queen's to within half a length of Balliol. On this form Merton should have a second success to-morrow.
Upset by Collision — University catch up
St. John's caught New College on the Green Bank and though Exeter immediately behind cleared them, Magdalen did not.They were within four feet of Exeter at the time but the collision upset them so much that University made up over a length and caught them at the Cherwell.
There was further excitement, on a lower plane, in the second division. Hertford caught Brasenose early on and St. Edmund Hall II were presented with the chance of the overbump which would put them within range of the First Division.
At the Long Bridges they were 1¾ lengths behind when a protracted spurt up the Green Bank took them into Trinity who could raise only 31 at the Pink Post.
Re-rows to-day
This must be the first recorded instance of a second crew overbumping a first.The dearth of recorded bumps in Div. V and VI is no indication that the crews have already found their levels — rather the opposite.
Both are subject to re-rows at noon to-morrow, in which eight crews will be involved. Results: [...]
Oriel crew keep up challenge — Possible threat to St. Edmund Hall.
Summer Eights were continued at Oxford yesterday, but with a cold wind and the threat of rain summer seemed far away.St. Edmund Hall seem virtually certain to hold their place at the head of the river. Yesterday they rowed through to finish three lengths ahead of Keble, who in most years would themselves be good enough to be at the head of affairs. Two lengths of clear water separated St. Edmund Hall and Keble at the top of the Green Bank with St. Edmund Hall striking 32 to 33 by Keble.
St. Edmund Hall's lower boats are making overbumps a speciality, the second, fourth and sixth crews all having made one. The fourth gained theirs in the re-row yesterday after Wednesday's dispute, but this effort was slightly marred when they were later caught by Hertford II.
The only crew which may give serious chase to St. Edmund Hall is Oriel. Yesterday they caught Christ Church below the Gut to continue a great performance. Starting in Eights Week of 1962 they have now risen 14 places in 14 successive days of racing, and today they may worry Keble.
The other bumps in division one were more or less as expected. Merton catching Balliol at the Long Bridges, St. John's overtaking Queen's along the Green Bank, and University catching Exeter below Weir's Bridge.
For St. Peter's this has been an unfortunate week. They have four boats on the river and for a second day all of them were bumped. Magdalen's three boats are hardly more lucky. For the first time, as far as anyone can trace, their first boat has dropped into the second division [actually 1874–1876]. The second Magdalen boat went down a place yesterday and the third boat, being overbumped by Keble IV, has lost four places. [Bumps Chart]
St. Edmund Hall are in no Danger
St. Edmund Hall were again in no danger when the Summer Eights continued at Oxford last night. They had a poor start and were only their distance clear in the Gut, striking 37 to Keble's 35, but drew away steadily from then on.Oriel very quickly closed on Christ Church and their bump was finally acknowledged at the Stone, though I am assured that contact was made three times before that. They could just conceivably catch Keble, but will not scare the Hall.
Lincoln were in dire straits with Balliol crossing the Gut, but salvation appeared in the shape of Merton, who caught Balliol at Tims.
St. John's bumped Queen's 100 yards on having had a considerable overlap for some time, while University ran into Exeter above the Free Ferry at a point which, from its proximity to the Gut, is now apparently known as the Kidneys.
Quick Bumps — One default
The second division was marked by a series of quick bumps, only four crews reaching the finish. St. Peter's lasted longer than the rest, succumbing to Pembroke at the Stone. St. Edmund Hall II caught Corpus in 19 strokes and should reach Division I to-morrow.The morning's re-rows produced two over-bumps for St. Edmund Hall, one by default as University IV failed to appear. There was another in the afternoon by Keble IV on Magdalen III, which was materially helped by Wadham II's running into the bank when the gun fired. [List of bumps]
Mixed success for Keble's ploy
In an attempt to overtake St. Edmund Hall at the head of the river, or, more likely to avoid Oriel, the Keble first boat altered their rigging to give them an extra three-eighths of an inch outboard when the Summer Eights were continued at Oxford yesterday.This made no difference to St. Edmund Hall, who again had three lengths of clear water at the finish. But Keble succeeded in holding off Oriel and were never in any real danger.
By catching Magdalen at the top of the second division and then bumping Exeter when they raced as sandwich boat, St. Edmund Hall second boat safely established themselves in the first division. It has been a triumphant week for the Boat Club, as, apart from the first boat at the Head of the River, the other seven boats have gained 18 places between them.
For Mansfield, near the bottom of the seventh division, it was an historic day as, for the first time in their history, they made a bump by catching St. John's V. [Bumps Chart]
Oxford, FridayKeble Gamble Pays Off and Foils Oriel
Oriel lost their chance of at least challenging for the Headship here to-night when they failed to catch Keble. St. Edmund Hall, who were two lengths clear by the Gut and able to come home at their leisure, will be worthy winners.Keble increased the outboard length of their oars overnight, which seemed an odd preparation for a duel with an arctic headwind, but it apparently paid off. Oriel came to within half a length in the Bay, but dropped back fast along the Green Bank.
Merton bumped Lincoln below the Pink Post after overlapping for a minute, and St. John's also had a third success just beyond. University were taken on to the Green Bank by New College, but St. Edmund Hall II, newly arrived from Division II, had to work much harder.
Stroke lost threequarters of his blade on the bank at Haystacks Corner and Exeter still had almost a length to play with leaving the Gut. Justice was eventually done and the Hall gained their sixth place at the OUBC.
Create History — Magdalen go down
The Hall second crew entered the first division for the first time in their history when spurting to 40 and catching Magdalen halfway through the Gut. In sad contrast it must be many years since Magdalen last left the elite. [actually 1874–1876].Pembroke made their third bump at the Free Ferry while Corpus, Wadham, St. Peter's and Trinity continued their unchecked descent. Trinity have lost five places in three days.
Keble III, a portly boatload including three Blues, an Isis cap, a senior trialist and a Henley finalist, were called upon to row over for the second day in succession. This should almost bring ex-president, Skailes, down to within two stone of the 13 he claims in the programme.
The sole item of interest in the nether regions was the success of Mansfield, who registered their first bump ever opposite the Barges. Having lost a place on the first night, they have now restored the status quo and might even score again to-morrow. [List of bumps]
St. Edmund Hall stay Head
St. Edmund Hall, with a display of power and precision which gave them a five-length lead over Keble, stayed Head of the River when the Oxford Summer Eights ended on the Isis yesterday.With five Blues and two members of Isis, the Hall rowed over four times without any real threat from Keble.
The most successful crew were St. Edmund Hall II who climbed seven places — including an over-bump — to finish 11th and become the first second crew to reach the top division for 30 years [actually since 1947]. Details: [List of bumps and finish order]
Two Crews in Class of their own — St. Edmund Hall never extended.
Unfortunately there was no crew in the Summer Eights at Oxford capable of extending St. Edmund Hall, and they passed the O.U.B.C. at 35 on Saturday with at least four lengths of clear water behind them. They were smooth, strong, and competent, and my hope is that Henley will prove them also to be fast.Keble, having relegated three Blues and a gaggle of trial caps to the third eight, well deserved to finish second. Although Oriel closed on them a little at the start Keble had a good three lengths in hand at the finish.
Oriel, with the genuine home product — nothing more distinguished than a couple of junior trials men — did well to catch Christ Church and Lincoln, showing what hard work and enthusiasm can achieve. Merton, in the same situation, came within half a length of making their fourth bump, at the expense of Christ Church.
St. John's did not have even one trial eights man to help them, and must be proud of their tally of victims — New College, Queen's, Balliol, and Lincoln. Starting lower, in the key sandwich boat position, University's success was expected, but none the less creditable.
Spectacular advance
The most spectacular advance of all was by St. Edmund Hall II, who made an overbump on Wednesday and two bumps on Friday, to gain a total of seven places. Their list of victims, Hertford, Brasenose, Trinity, Corpus, Magdalen, Exeter, and New College — all, of course, first Eights — reads like a Roll of Honour of the Head of the River crews of the past 100 years.Apart from St. Edmund Hall and Keble, the standard was not high. The concentration of talent in these two colleges in the past few years has set them in a class of their own at Oxford for the time being. But there is, perhaps, a defeatist attitude in some other colleges.
It is too easy to blame failure on a shortage of ready-made oarsmen. The fact is that schools are sending more men to the university with at least some rowing experience than ever before. In all but a handful of colleges woefully little is made of them. [Head crew — as below] [Bumps Chart]
St. Edmund Hall confirm their pre-eminence
On one of the nastiest summer afternoons I can remember a huge crowd saw St. Edmund Hall confirm their pre-eminence in the Oxford Summer Eights on Saturday, finishing many lengths clear of Keble.Keble, pressed by Oriel, held them to two lengths to the Long Bridges, but not even the menace of a renewed Oriel assault on the Green Bank could keep them within hail of the leaders.
St. John's, beautifully steered all week, completed t their maximum by catching Lincoln at Tims, but Merton fell one short when coming no closer than half a length to Christ Church. University were foiled by a bump ahead but had had four successes already.
Henley Outlook — Oxford's representation
With the American Blues committed to their coxed four for Henley and Isis reforming, Oxford's college representation at the Royal Regatta is uncertain, but the Hall hope to send a composite VIII and a Stewards IV, who will contain two British blues and two Isis.Keble and Oriel should win a race or two but the outlook elsewhere is less cheering and, with Schools imminent, the chances of crews continuing unchanged must be minimal.
[Head crew: same as listed in The Times, below] [List of bumps and Finish Order].
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