Eights 1971

BUMPS CHARTS

STANDINGS Start Finish Pos College Pts Pts College 1 Keble 195 195 Christ Church 2 Christ Church 183 188 Keble 3 S.E.H. 183 170 S.E.H. 4 University 155 154 University 5 Oriel 152 154 Oriel 6 Balliol 148 141 Balliol 7 Merton 133 134 St John's 8 St John's 123 125 Queen's 9 New College 115 114 Merton 10 Lincoln 115 108 Wadham 11 Queen's 110 102 Lincoln 12 Brasenose 104 99 Brasenose 13 Pembroke 92 99 St Catherine's 14 Wadham 92 97 New College 15 Jesus 89 90 Jesus 16 Worcester 86 89 Pembroke 17 St Catherine's 86 83 Exeter 18 Exeter 78 82 Worcester 19 Magdalen 74 80 Magdalen 20 Hertford 68 72 St Peter's 21 Trinity 67 68 Trinity 22 St Peter's 63 59 Hertford 23 Corpus Christi 52 56 Corpus Christi 24 Mansfield 8 9 Mansfield 25 Osler House 5 6 Osler House 26 Linacre 2 2 Linacre 27 Wolfson 2 2 Wolfson 28 Regent's Park 2 2 Regent's Park 29 St Hilda's 2 1 St Hilda's 30 Manchester 1 1 Manchester

STATISTICS College All Crews [ ]=ranking Crews Bps Avg St Peter's 4[ 9] 14[ 1] 3.50[ 1] Exeter 4[ 9] 10[ 2] 2.50[ 5] Wadham 4[ 9] 10[ 2] 2.50[ 5] St John's 5[ 5] 9[ 4] 1.80[ 8] Osler House 2[24] 7[ 5] 3.50[ 1] St Catherine's 4[ 9] 7[ 5] 1.75[ 9] Magdalen 3[20] 6[ 7] 2.00[ 7] Jesus 4[ 9] 6[ 7] 1.50[11] Queen's 3[20] 5[ 9] 1.67[10] Pembroke 5[ 5] 5[ 9] 1.00[12] Christ Church 6[ 2] 5[ 9] 0.83[14] Regent's Park 1[26] 3[12] 3.00[ 3] Wolfson 1[26] 3[12] 3.00[ 3] Trinity 3[20] 2[14] 0.67[15] Linacre 1[26] 1[15] 1.00[12] Oriel 5[ 5] -1[16] -0.20[16] Corpus Christi 4[ 9] -1[16] -0.25[17] Mansfield 2[24] -2[18] -1.00[19] Manchester 1[26] -3[19] -3.00[28] S.E.H. 6[ 2] -4[20] -0.67[18] Worcester 4[ 9] -4[20] -1.00[19] St Hilda's 1[26] -4[20] -4.00[30] Brasenose 3[20] -6[23] -2.00[25] New College 4[ 9] -7[24] -1.75[23] Balliol 5[ 5] -8[25] -1.60[22] Hertford 4[ 9] -9[26] -2.25[26] Keble 7[ 1] -10[27] -1.43[21] University 6[ 2] -11[28] -1.83[24] Lincoln 4[ 9] -11[28] -2.75[27] Merton 4[ 9] -12[30] -3.00[28]

Notes

• Wed 26 – Sat 29 May 1971
• First appearance of Manchester College
• Division times: 1:05, 1:40, 2:15, 2:50, 3:25, 4:00, 4:35, 5:15 and 6:00

• The Times Wed 26 May, by Jim Railton

  Title is between Christ Church and Keble

  The start of the Oxford Summer Eights today promises some intense rivalry between Keble, the present holders, and Christ Church. Clearly the title lies between the two, but a victory by Christ Church would mark a much needed revival in Oxford rowing.

  Christ Church are coached by their boatman George Harris and have concentrated on the necessary techniques required to move a boat. The newly-elected Oxford Secretary, Keith Bolshaw, who rows six in the House crew, tells me that the boat is balanced and runs between strokes to give a feeling never acquired in this year's Blue boat. Altogether the Christ Church crew contains five Blues — Parish, Bolshaw, Nevin, Dart, and the Oxford cox Eastman.

  Unlike Christ Church, Keble have made appearances in two Thames Regattas. A few weeks ago, Keble were beaten by a Thames Tradesmen's eight in the final of senior eights at Hammersmith, and were eliminated by the eventual winners, Bewdley, in senior eights at Wallingford just over a week ago. Keble contain four Blues — Lonsdale, Dale, Hall and Hunt — as well as three Isis oarsmen.

  Keble should still be smarting from their defeat by Christ Church in last October's coxless fours event. On that occasion, Keble suffered mainly from an air of complacency and lost by a margin of 1.5sec. This week should see four days of tough competition between the leading two crews, and much depends on Keble's attitude to the event. The lesson learnt last October should be enough to release some adrenalin.

  Oriel, in third place, should hold their position, despite including seven freshmen in their crew. They include Crawley and Thring from this year's inconspicuous Isis crew. Oriel finished fifth in last Saturday's Head of the Cam and were the first Oxford college home, but basically this is a crew with an eye to the future. Other colleges in the first division likely to improve their positions are St. John's, Queen's, and Jesus.

  The order of start is:— [...]

• The Daily Telegraph Wed 26 May, by Desmond Hill

  Keble's Reign may End

  Keble have been head of the river in the Oxford Summer Eights for the past three years. With four Blues and two Isis caps they should scramble home again, but I shall be surprised if they do.

  Immediately behind, Christ Church have four blues and with Dart at stroke have been going exceptionally fast. The battle royal at the top should enliven the otherwise uninspiring four days racing which starts this afternoon.

  Oriel, hardworking as ever, start third, and, if they have little chance of improving their position, are in no danger from behind. One estimate I heard was that the top three were nearly 30 seconds faster than the remainder.

  University, Queen's, Jesus, Wadham and Exeter look good enough for limited gains but for St Edmund Hall and Lincoln it could prove a depressing week.

  Female crew

  In the slapstick belt, two crews, Linacre and Wolfson, have girls rowing, while St Hilda's reappear and are by no means the worst on view. Racing starts at 1.5, continuing at 35 minute intervals. [Start order]

• The Times Thu 27 May, by Jim Railton

  First day bumps for five Keble crews

  Keble's crews sampled the bitter taste of defeat yesterday when their first, second, third, fourth and fifth crews were bumped on the opening day of the Oxford Summer Eights. Keble's first two were bumped by Christ Church crews and their noses rubbed in the dust with the House catching Keble's first boat alongside the O.U.B.C. in full view of both boathouses.

  Christ Church gained ground on Keble's first crew in the first few strokes of the race and clsoed rapidly on the leaders as they raced through the Gut. Keble maintained a high rate in a desperate attempt to hold off the challengers but Christ Church went up to a rate of 39 before applying the final coup de grace.

  Oriel, Queen's and St. John's rowed over in Division One with University, St. Edmund Hall and Jesus all gaining promotion at the expense of Balliol, Merton and Lincoln. [Bumps Chart]

• The Daily Telegraph Thu 27 May, by Desmond Hill

  Christ Church go to Head

  Christ Church ended Keble's three-year reign at the head of the Oxford Summer Eights at the first attempt yesterday, making their bump halfway between the two college boathouses.

  They should retain their position without the slightest trouble.

  As the crews approached the Stone, with half a length between them, both were at 38½, but Keble dropped to 37 and the House, fractionally higher, moved inexorably closer. Keble steered wide towards Oxon at the crossing, but could not prevent the inevitable.

  Oriel were four lengths behind but well clear of Balliol when the latter were caught by University at Tims. The other first division bumps, by St Edmund Hall, Jesus and Wadham, all occurred around Donnington Bridge.

  The first seven boats in the second division all reached the Green Bank, which established something of a record, but BNC and Magdalen were both in extremis at the O U B C and subsided soon afterwards.

  Three over bumps

  Pembroke scored at the Long Bridges, while Christ Church II had a second success, over Keble II, at the Old Cut. Lower down, there were three over-bumps, successes for Linacre and Regent's Park, and defeat for St Hilda's, while Osler House rowed over instead of their customary ascent.

  Appeals in Divsion IV and VII awaited a committee meeting late last night. But not the least remarkable feature of the day was that every umpire's decision appeared to be the immediate basis for furious argument. [List of bumps]

• The Times Fri 28 May, by Jim Railton

  Christ Church ahead as Keble plots fails

  Keble changed their order of rowing yesterday in an unsuccessful attempt to regain their headship, having been deposed by Christ Church on the opening day of the Oxford Summer Eights.

  The Keble captain, Burns, moved back to four allowing the 1970 Blue boat stroke, Lonsdale, to lead the crew. They made a furious attempt to catch Christ Church in the first part of the race, closing to within three-quarters of a length of the House as they came out of the Gut.

  Along the Green Bank, Christ Church almost seemed to change gear, lengthened and smoothly moved away to finish just over two lengths and a half clear of their challengers.

  The final order in Division One could be Christ Church, Keble and Oriel but St. John's still constitute a threat. Yesterday they came to within a canvas of St. Edmund Hall almost to make an outstanding overbump, which would have been the only one of the day.

  There were only two bumps in Division One. Queen's caught Merton by Donnington Bridge and Lincoln succumbed to Wadham before reaching the Gut.

  St. Hilda's, the only women's crew in the event, sadly descended yet again, being caught by Exeter IV and start ahead of Pembroke VI [actually V] today. The two "équipe mixte" Wolfson and Linacre had mixed fortunes. Wolfson, with three oarswomen aboard, bumped St Catherine's IV after having rowed over yesterday.

  Linacre, with the Dutch oarsman, Joost Crouwel, at seven and including two women crew members, were victims of what appeared to be a poor umpiring decision. But the protest was not upheld and their run of success halted momentarily. [Bumps Chart]

• The Daily Telegraph Fri 28 May, by Desmond Hill

  Christ Church Cruise Away

  Keble made a desperate effort to regain the Headship when the Oxford Summer Eights were contiued yesterday, and after a minute had closed within three-quarters of a length of Christ Church.

  But the leaders could not have been less worried. They dropped to an almost contemptuous 34 and drew away to a length, which they had doubled by the O U B C.

  Behind these two the gaps were so great that the first six places are already as good as settled.

  Queen's, who demolished Merton early on, might continue their climb while Jesus, who closed unsuccessfully on St John's, could be bottled up by Wadham, who caught Lincoln below the Gut.

  St Catherine's climb

  St Catherine's got a foot into Division I for the first time for many years [1884] by despatching New College at the Long Bridges. Magdalen avenged Wednesday's defeat by Exeter with a bump just short of the finish, and St Peter's continued to climb.

  In the nether regions, St Hilda's descended again but the mixed crews of Wolfson and Linacre both went up, though the latter's success is disputed. [List of bumps]

• The Times Sat 29 May, By Jim Railton

  Christ Church keep Keble at bay

  Christ Church kept Keble at bay once again in yesterday's Oxford Summer Eights. Keble held the head crew through the Gut but were noticeably short along the Green Bank, allowing a more efficient House crew to cruise home. Altogether there were four bumps in the First Division, all early in the race but the first four places now seem secure.

  Apart from the Head crew, Christ Church, "bump suppers" awarded to first boats gaining four consecutive bumps looked well within the grasp of St. Catherine's, St. Peter's and Wadham. Christ Church appear set for a double celebration with their second crew now placed highest among the second boats.

  Some explanation must be offered over St John's III descent [of 3 places] in Division Five. After being bumped by Jesus II, the St. John's crew obstructed St. Edmund Hall IV, who, as a result, were overtaken by Oriel III. After much deliberation between the four crews involved, it was agreed that St. Edmund Hall and Oriel would move up one place each but the bump between the two crews would be disallowed. St. John's III admitted fault for the incident, agreeing to move down two places and start today as sandwich boat in Division Six. [Bumps Chart]

  [the remainder of the article discusses Ostend Regatta]

• The Daily Telegraph Sat 29 May, by Desmond Hill

  Christ Church in no Danger

  Keble's rearranged order, with W. R. C. Lonsdale for A. G. Burns at stroke, caused Christ Church to go a fraction harder on the third night of the Oxford Summer Eights, but the House were in no sort of danger.

  Keble came within a length at the Stone but were beginning to scratch, and were two lengths down at the Pink Post. There were four bumps at the foot of the First Division, none taking more than two minutes.

  S.E.H. soon fall

  St Edmund Hall, nearly over-bumped by St John's on Thursday, quickly fell to Queen's, while Merton got no further than the Bridge against St John's. Wadham were taken as far as the Stone by Jesus, but Lincoln lasted barely 200 yards.

  In the lower divisions Linacre and Wolfson both scored and show a two-place profit, as Linacre's Thursday bump was disallowed. The first boats on a maximum are St Peter's, St Catherine's and Wadham, and for Wadham this would be their third in succession. Yesterday's bumps: [...]

• The Sunday Telegraph Sun 30 May, by Desmond Hill

  Christ Church head

  Christ Church finished Head of the River in the Oxford Summer Eights bumping races, which ended on the Isis yesterday. They bumped Keble, who have been Head of the River for the past three years, on Wednesday and rowed over at the top of the First Division the next three days.

  Order of finishing in the top divisions was:[...]

• The Times Mon 31 May contains just the bumps chart.
• The Daily Telegraph Mon 31 May, by Desmond Hill

  The House row over as head

  Christ Church, without question the best crew on view, rowed over at the head of the Oxford Summer Eights on Saturday, stretching their lead over Keble to more than two lengths at the finish.

  Their success may well point the way to an Oxford revival, for it was the result of painstaking coaching and I understand the four Blues in the House boat all underwent eight days' tubbing at the start of practice.

  Keble's four Blues, who they displaced, were going through the same motions as at Putney in March.

  Colleges to do well were Wadham, with four bumps, Queen's, St Catherine's an St Peter's with three each. There were altogether 152 bumps in the four days'racing. [List of Bumps] [Order of Finish]. [Head of River crew: as below]

• In other news ... [1971]

  Wed May 26

  Austria and the People's Republic of China establish diplomatic relations.

  Wed May 26

  Qantas agrees to pay $500,000 to bomb hoaxer-extortionist Mr. Brown (Peter Macari), who is later arrested.

  Thu May 27

  Six armed passengers hijack a Romanian passenger plane and force it to fly to Vienna.

  Thu May 27

  Christie's auctions a diamond known as Deepdene; it is later found to be artificially colored.

  Fri May 28

  Portugal resigns from UNESCO.

  Sun May 30

  Mariner program: Mariner 9 is launched toward Mars.

  Mon May 31

  The birth of Bangladesh is declared by the government in exile, in territory formerly part of Pakistan.

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