Eights 1967

BUMPS CHARTS

STANDINGS Start Finish Pos College Pts Pts College 1 S.E.H. 228 236 S.E.H. 2 Keble 172 187 Keble 3 Christ Church 164 155 Christ Church 4 Oriel 156 142 Merton 5 St John's 141 141 Oriel 6 Lincoln 132 136 St John's 7 University 131 130 Balliol 8 Merton 131 120 Lincoln 9 Balliol 125 119 University 10 New College 117 113 New College 11 Queen's 103 109 Queen's 12 Worcester 102 104 Worcester 13 Magdalen 97 98 Brasenose 14 Exeter 95 96 Exeter 15 Brasenose 88 88 Pembroke 16 Pembroke 78 85 Magdalen 17 Hertford 67 71 Trinity 18 Jesus 67 69 St Catherine's 19 St Catherine's 64 64 Hertford 20 Trinity 63 62 Jesus 21 Corpus Christi 60 57 Wadham 22 St Peter's 57 55 St Peter's 23 Wadham 54 54 Corpus Christi 24 Mansfield 8 9 Mansfield

STATISTICS College All Crews [ ]=ranking Crews Bps Avg S.E.H. 9[ 1] 12[ 1] 1.33[ 5] Pembroke 4[11] 9[ 2] 2.25[ 2] Mansfield 3[19] 7[ 3] 2.33[ 1] Hertford 3[19] 6[ 4] 2.00[ 3] Brasenose 3[19] 5[ 5] 1.67[ 4] St Peter's 4[11] 5[ 5] 1.25[ 6] Merton 4[11] 5[ 5] 1.25[ 6] Christ Church 4[11] 5[ 5] 1.25[ 6] Keble 7[ 2] 3[ 9] 0.43[11] Trinity 3[19] 2[10] 0.67[ 9] New College 3[19] 2[10] 0.67[ 9] Wadham 3[19] 1[12] 0.33[12] St John's 5[ 5] 1[12] 0.20[13] Balliol 5[ 5] 0[14] 0.00[14] Jesus 5[ 5] -2[15] -0.40[15] Lincoln 5[ 5] -3[16] -0.60[16] St Catherine's 4[11] -4[17] -1.00[18] Oriel 6[ 3] -5[18] -0.83[17] Corpus Christi 4[11] -6[19] -1.50[19] Magdalen 4[11] -7[20] -1.75[22] Worcester 5[ 5] -8[21] -1.60[20] Queen's 5[ 5] -8[21] -1.60[20] Exeter 4[11] -9[23] -2.25[24] University 6[ 3] -11[24] -1.83[23]

Notes

• Wed 24 – Sat 27 May 1967
• Ninth Division added
• First appearance of a ninth boat (St. Edmund Hall IX)
• Division times: 12:45, 1:25, 2:05, 2:45, 3:15, 4:05, 4:45, 5:30 and 6:15

• The Times Wed 24 May, by Richard Burnell

  Oriel not expected to remain head

  Although they have four of last year's successful crew Oriel are not expected to remain head of the summer eights at Oxford, which start today, writes Richard Burnell. They may not succumb as easily as some of their critics suggest, but it will be a remarkable achievement if they survive.

  The situation at the top of the first division promises some interesting racing. Possibly, but not necessarily probably Christ Church can catch Oriel. Probably St. Edmund Hall can catch Christ Church. Possibly Keble are faster than St. Edmund Hall, but it is improbable that they can make up a length and a quarter to bump them.

  Element of luck

  This means that there can be an element of luck, and certainly of tactics, in the next four days before a final order is reached. Merton, starting fifth, are also useful. But they can hardly hope to improve their position unless everything goes wrong for Oriel.

  There is little promise lower down the first division, and St. Edmund Hall II may well secure their position at the tail-end. Worcester, Corpus Christi, and Wadham all have some merit in the second division. But with a strong stream running (if the present blustery wind continues) almost anything can happen. [Start Order]

• The Daily Telegraph Wed 24 May, by Desmond Hill

  Keble Call Out the Big Guns

  The Oxford Summer Eights start this afternoon and after last year's skirmishes, when two upstarts "toppled" the professionals, St. Edmund Hall and Keble have summoned all available reinforcements, writes Desmond Hill. Their heavy batteries may well outgun the irregulars.

  St. Edmund Hall are almost entirely Isis-manned and have R. D. Clegg, the 1965 President, at No.7. They look the part and are widely tipped to repair last year's disaster, but may not find it as easy as is forecast.

  Oriel are robust and hard-working and retain 75% of last year's Head crew. They will certainly race all the way and could take their pursuers further than they expect.

  Christ Church, starting second, are as well drilled as ever but with Giles Chichester at No.6 they must be watching the approach of Gipsy Moth IV with some trepidation [see below, under 'In Other News', Sun 28th. Giles was the son of Sir Francis Chichester] Keble have winkled the Blue, F. C. Carr, from retirement but were well beaten by London University at Wallingford.

  Limited gains

  There is not the least possibility of any other crew being involved in the struggle for the Headship, but limited gains may be registered by Balliol, New College and Pembroke, to say nothing of St. Edmund Hall II. Order of racing and starting times are: [...]

• The Times Thu 25 May, from Richard Burnell, Rowing Correspondent

  Keble close gap

  St. Edmund Hall took the first step towards regaining their place at the head of the river at Oxford yesterday bumping Christ Church well below the O.U.B.C. Barring some unforeseeable disaster, they must surely take a second step tonight. But it still remains to be seen whether, having reached the top, they will be able to stay there.

  Last night, in conditions which would have shamed Torpids, Keble came up the barges most impressively, at 39 having closed the two-crew gap between themselves and Oriel to about two lengths of clear water.

  Blood lust

  Oriel were not pressed, of course, but at 37 they were not dawdling. Keble could reach St. Edmund Hall on Saturday night, which promises an exciting climax to the week.

  The only excitement in the first division was St. Edmund Hall II's escape from Exeter, by little more than the varnish on their rudder. The credit was entirely due to P. S. B. Brennan, the St. Edmund Hall cox. [Bumps Chart]

• The Daily Telegraph Thu 25 May, by Desmond Hill

  St. Edmund Hall in Strong Position: Keble Boat Holed

  St. Edmund Hall took the first step towards regaining the Headship when the euphemistically named Summer Eights opened in thundersqualls at Oxford yesterday. But even if they succeed, they must be in the gravest danger from Keble on Saturday evening.

  Oriel were at 39 at the Free Ferry and their distance away rom Christ Church. The Hall, who had a swan astride stroke's oar at Donnington Bridge, were within feet of The House. But Keble were gaining fast and only a quarter-length behind.

  The Hall finally ran into Christ Church at the Long Bridges, though their bow raised his hand well before the defeated cox and a Hall blade was broken in the melee. Merton and St. John's followed Keble at respectful distances.

  New College scored their ninth bump in nine days by catching Lincoln at Tims but Balliol made far shorter work of University. Exeter, newly arrived from the Second Division, were within feet of Hall II, but could not clinch it.

  The bumps in Division II all occurred between the Freshwater Stone and Tims. Pembroke's success came only just in time, as their victims [Hertford] were within feet of Jesus. Trinity with the most eccentric of eccentric rigs, had not all that much to spare rom Wadham.

  Division III, on which the sun shone briefly, was further enlivened by St. Peter's Hall returning empty-handed from the finish after overlapping St. John's II for nearly half the course. They ran straight into Keble III, whose back was broken, depositing the entire crew in the river. Yesterday's Bumps: [...]

• The Times Fri 26 May, From Richard Burnell, Rowing Correspondent

  Oriel fail at boat house

  St. Edmund Hall bumped Oriel at the University Boat House yesterday, and so dispelled the rumour that they might hold off their challenge for the headship in the Oxford summer eights until tonight, in order to deprive Keble of an opportunity of displacing them on Saturday.

  This would have been a perfectly legitimate tactic, though I cannot recall it ever being tried at the Head of the River. But it would have involved the risk that they might have failed to catch Oriel in time today. Last night's result suggests that this was a real risk, for Oriel fought doggedly, and were almost within sight of home when they succumbed.

  Keble caught Christ Church at the bottom of the green bank, not far from the point at which St. Edmund Hall hit them on Wednesday. Perhaps there is some evidence here that, with the advantage of a virtual lay day today, and rowing in undisturbed water at the head of the procession, St. Edmund Hall ought to be able to hold their own.

  St. Edmund Hall II, who so narrowly escaped Exeter on Wednesday were quite safe yesterday, finishing outside their distance. In the second division a pile up was narrowly averted after Brasenose bumped Magdalen at Tim's boat house.

  Three other bumps followed in close order, and Wadham and Christ Church II finally emerged, the former on Berkshire [towpath] and the latter on the Oxfordshire station, apparently rowing side by side. Christ Church then laid what their cox doubtless calculated to be a collision course, for a point halfway up the green bank.

  Had he consulted Giles Chichester, who rowed in the Christ Church first boat, he might perhaps have been in less of a hurry to "turn the corner" and might perchance have made his land, or rather boat-fall. As it was he slid behind Wadham's stern like an abortive torpedo, and got not second chance.

  In division eight, Oriel V, Balliol IV and University VI will re-row today. [Bumps Chart]

• The Daily Telegraph Fri 26 May, by Desmond Hill

  Oxford, Thursday

  St. Edmund Hall Return to Head of the River

  On a day rather more remarkable for four overbumps, St. Edmund Hall bumped Oriel, as expected, to return to the head of Summer Eights here this evening. The Keble threat loomed as large as ever, for they caught Christ Church at the Freshwater Stone.

  The Hall had seriously considered holding off tonight to thwart Keble on Saturday, but had evidently thought better of it. Oriel, at 40, led by almost half a length crossing the Gut where Christ Church looked to have lost no distance from the Hall.

  As the two leaders went up to 38 the gap diminished, but Oriel battled on and did not succumb until the OUBC crossing. Keble have yet to go more than two minutes but they are probably quicker from the start, which could prove decisive.

  St. John's came within feet of Merton at the Long Bridges but had then shot their bolt. Balliol scored a second success at the Free Ferry while University, for the second day running, failed to reach Donnington Bridge before disaster — in this case Queen's, struck.

  Drop to a paddle

  All the Second Division bumps were again before the Long Bridges, resulting in a traffic jam of Bank Holiday proportions. Exeter at the head dropped to a paddle in preparation for further exertions, though this was not necessary.

  Wadham were forced into so great a detour that they were in real danger from Christ Church II, whom they outdistanced by a good four lengths on Wednesday. To the relief of the Chief Umpire they escaped, for the defeat must have led to yet another re-row. [List of bumps]

• The Times Sat 27 May [article not in issue currently on-line - Sep23]

  Struggle for head of river

  The stage is set for a great struggle today between St. Edmund Hall and Keble for the head of the river in the Oxford Summer Eights.

  Coming into the Gut yesterday, Keble were nearly two lengths behind Oriel and humming along the green bank they streaked up and made their bump at the pink post.

  But, before then, between Donnington Bridge and the Gut, St. Edmund Hall, at 41, had been hard pushed to keep away from Oriel and the distance between the boats at that point was less than a canvas. But the effort was too much for Oriel, who faded away to fall to Keble.

• The Daily Telegraph Sat 27 May, by Desmond Hill

  Oxford, Friday

  'Giants' battle through to final stages

  The Summer Eights stage is now set for tomorrow's battle of the giants, for Keble tonight bumped Oriel to move into second place. But how close Oriel came to regaining the Headship! They were within four feet of St. Edmund Hall at the Freshwater Stone.

  The Hall were still at a desperate 41 when the Oriel effort faltered at the Long Bridges and Keble made up 1½ lengths to score at the Pink Post. Their form tonight makes them rather less than the certainties they appeared on Thursday.

  A dispirited Christ Church fell to Merton at Tims, but Balliol were taken as far as the Pink Post by New College, who had closed on St. John's. Lincoln fell yet again in the early stages and Brasenose, newly arrived, hit Hall II at the Barges.

  Brasenose had got one foot into the first division by catching Exeter opposite the Boat Houses. Worcester overhauled Magdalen at the Stone, thereby robbing Pembroke of a possible maximum, and immediately afterwards St. Catherine's bumped Jesus in the Gut, obstructing Hertford and Trinity.

  Pile-Up — River littered

  The river was now littered with stationary crews and Corpus, who had wriggled through, were struck amidships by Wadham, just before the latter were in turn hit by Christ Church II. St. Peter's rowed past the wreckage to stake an optimistic claim to a technical bump.

  In the 7 p.m. re-row, involving the last six boats, the bumps were repeated, Trinity catching Hertford at the bottom of the Green Bank and Wadham catching Corpus at the OUBC. Christ Church II held off St. Peter's without too much difficulty, though they were never outside their distance.

  Oriel V, having failed to put in an appearance at all for Thursday's Division VIII re-row, forfeited two places but immediately repaired the damage today by scoring an overbump. Two of yesterday's overbumpers, however, Merton IV and Hall IV, went downwards instead. [List of bumps]

• The Sunday Telegraph Sun 28 May

  Keble regain top position

  With one Blue and five members of Isis, Keble regained the Head of the River position they last held in 1964, when they bumped the new leaders of Div. 1, St. Edmund Hall, at the top of the Green Bank in the Oxford Summer Eights.

  Keble were still a length down at the half-way mark, but then sprinted over the tree-sheltered stretch of the course to catch the Hall, who took the leadership from Oriel on Thursday, as they crossed over to the Oxford shore.

  Merton finished in third place by catching Oriel, while Christ Church, captained by Giles Chichester, sone of the lone yachtsman, rowed over to stay in fifth place. [Order of finish].

• The Times Mon 29 May

  Keble catch St. Edmund Hall

  After closing steadily from the start, Keble got within a quarter of a length of St. Edmund Hall in the Gut in the Oxford summer eights on Saturday. And, although the Hall went desperately to 40 up the Green Bank, Keble caught them at the Oxford University Boat Club. This may seem a rather inadequate description, but with no access to the Green Bank, no trees lopped, and no bicycling permitted, or indeed possible, the Oxford eights can scarcely be seen these days.

  Both Keble and St. Edmund Hall were strong with Blues and Isis men, though the present university crew were not rowing. Neither crew were outstanding, but well up to standard. There were no other crews with any pretension to class, but several, if not pleasing to the eye, were fit and effective.

  In many ways the high spot of the week was Oriel's gallant bid to regain the headship on Friday. Knowing that they must otherwise be caught by Keble, Oriel's gambled on a blitzkrieg start, and got within feet of catching St. Edmund Hall. Whatever the disadvantages of bumping races, this possibility of David unseating Goliath is always an attraction.

  Having failed on Friday, Oriel fell again to Merton, at the O.U.B.C., on Saturday. Brasenose provided one of the surprises of the first division for, frankly, they did not look capable of catching anybody, but in fact made four creditable places. Lastly, but sadly, it must be recorded that Magdalen, so long the bulwark of Oxford rowing, descended another four places, to finish 17th. [Head Crew — as below] [Bumps Chart].

• The Daily Telegraph Mon 29 May, by Desmond Hill

  Keble regain Headship at Oxford

  Keble regained the Headship they lost in 1964 when the Oxford Summer Eights ended on Saturday, St. Edmund Hall's tenure lasting just two days. The all-important bump was made opposite the New Cut after a tremendous race up the Green Bank.

  Oriel again set out to do or die and were snapping at Keble's rudder at the Stone, where the Hall led by a quarter length. The Oriel effort subsided in a cloud of steam at Long Bridges and Keble turned from hunted to hunters.

  Both crews went up to the Green Bank at 39 and after a spurt to 41 and one hair's breadth miss, the pressure finally told. Oriel, now firing on the minimum cylinders, surrendered to Merton at the Boathouses and the next six boats rowed over.

  Cutting it fine

  Brasenose became the only first boat to make four bumps by catching University at Tims, but could not have cut it finer, for their victims were overlapping Lincoln at the time. Lincoln thus escaped joining Magdalen in a maximum descent. [Head Crew: as below] [Saturday Bumps and Finishing Order].

• In other news ... [1967]

  Tue May 23

  A significant worldwide geomagnetic flare unfolded. Radio emissions coming from the Sun jammed military surveillance radars.

  Tue May 23

  Egypt closes the Straits of Tiran to Israeli shipping, blockading Israel's southern port of Eilat, and Israel's entire Red Sea coastline.

  Thu May 25

  Celtic F.C. becomes the first Northern European football club to win the European Cup (now Champions League).

  Fri May 26

  The Beatles release Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, nicknamed "The Soundtrack of the Summer of Love"; it will be number one on the albums charts throughout the summer of 1967.

  Sat May 27

  Naxalite Guerrilla War: Beginning with a peasant uprising in the town of Naxalbari, this Marxist/Maoist rebellion sputters on in the Indian countryside. The guerrillas operate among the impoverished peasants, fighting both the government security forces and private paramilitary groups funded by wealthy landowners. Most fighting takes place in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha and Madhya Pradesh.

  Sat May 27

  The Australian referendum, 1967 passes with an overwhelming 90% support, removing, from the Australian Constitution, 2 discriminatory sentences referring to Indigenous Australians. It signifies Australia's first step in recognising Indigenous rights.

  Sat May 27

  The folk rock band Fairport Convention plays their first gig in Golders Green, North London.

  Sun May 28

  Sailing in his 54-foot yacht, Gipsy Moth IV, 65-year old Sir Francis Chichester completed his round-the-world voyage, sailed into England's Plymouth Harbour, where he was greeted with cheers from 250,000 spectators. After docking, he "set a firm foot on dry land for the first time in four months". Chichester had departed Plymouth on August 27 and stopped only at Sydney, Australia.

Return to Bumps Index