Eights 1978

MEN'S BUMPS WOMEN'S BUMPS

STANDINGS Start Finish Pos College Pts Pts College 1 Christ Church 212 215 Oriel 2 Oriel 206 201 Keble 3 Keble 198 199 Christ Church 4 S.E.H. 190 197 S.E.H. 5 Balliol 177 166 Balliol 6 University 169 154 University 7 Wadham 157 146 Wadham 8 New College 139 146 New College 9 Exeter 132 144 Exeter 10 Lincoln 130 143 Merton 11 Merton 122 132 Lincoln 12 Pembroke 117 126 Pembroke 13 St John's 112 116 Queen's 14 Queen's 112 108 Worcester 15 Magdalen 110 105 St John's 16 St Catherine's 107 103 Magdalen 17 Worcester 105 102 St Catherine's 18 Corpus Christi 94 95 Corpus Christi 19 Brasenose 89 91 Jesus 20 Jesus 89 88 St Peter's 21 St Peter's 88 78 Brasenose 22 Trinity 82 78 Trinity 23 Hertford 69 76 Hertford 24 Osler House 59 59 Osler House 25 Wolfson 50 45 Wolfson 26 L.M.H. 32 29 Mansfield 27 Mansfield 24 26 L.M.H. 28 St Hugh's 18 23 St Hugh's 29 Somerville 17 17 Somerville 30 Linacre 16 17 Linacre 31 St Hilda's 14 9 St Hilda's 32 St Anne's 10 8 St Anne's 33 Regent's Park 6 7 Regent's Park 34 St Benet's Hall 4 3 St Benet's Hall 35 Manchester 2 2 Manchester

STATISTICS College All Crews Men's Crews Women's Crews [ ]=ranking Crews Bps Avg Crews Bps Avg Crews Bps Avg Queen's 8[ 1] 12[ 1] 1.50[ 5] 8[ 1] 12[ 1] 1.50[ 5] Linacre 5[11] 11[ 2] 2.20[ 4] 3[18] 9[ 3] 3.00[ 3] 2[ 4] 2[ 3] 1.00[ 4] Merton 3[24] 10[ 3] 3.33[ 2] 3[18] 10[ 2] 3.33[ 2] Oriel 7[ 2] 9[ 4] 1.29[ 6] 7[ 2] 9[ 3] 1.29[ 6] Keble 6[ 4] 7[ 5] 1.17[ 7] 6[ 4] 7[ 5] 1.17[ 7] Mansfield 2[29] 6[ 6] 3.00[ 3] 2[27] 6[ 6] 3.00[ 3] Exeter 6[ 4] 6[ 6] 1.00[ 8] 6[ 4] 6[ 6] 1.00[ 8] Corpus Christi 5[11] 5[ 8] 1.00[ 8] 4[10] 0[12] 0.00[12] 1[ 9] 5[ 1] 5.00[ 1] Regent's Park 1[33] 4[ 9] 4.00[ 1] 1[28] 4[ 8] 4.00[ 1] St Hugh's 2[29] 2[10] 1.00[ 8] 2[ 4] 2[ 3] 1.00[ 4] Somerville 3[24] 2[10] 0.67[11] 3[ 2] 2[ 3] 0.67[ 6] St Catherine's 6[ 4] 2[10] 0.33[12] 4[10] 3[ 9] 0.75[ 9] 2[ 4] -1[ 7] -0.50[ 7] Pembroke 6[ 4] 1[13] 0.17[13] 6[ 4] 1[10] 0.17[11] Osler House 4[15] 0[14] 0.00[14] 4[10] 0[12] 0.00[12] St Peter's 3[24] 0[14] 0.00[14] 3[18] 0[12] 0.00[12] Christ Church 7[ 2] 0[14] 0.00[14] 7[ 2] 0[12] 0.00[12] Hertford 5[11] -1[17] -0.20[17] 4[10] -4[23] -1.00[21] 1[ 9] 3[ 2] 3.00[ 2] Lincoln 4[15] -1[17] -0.25[18] 4[10] -1[16] -0.25[16] New College 3[24] -1[17] -0.33[19] 3[18] -1[16] -0.33[17] St Anne's 2[29] -1[17] -0.50[21] 2[ 4] -1[ 7] -0.50[ 7] Worcester 6[ 4] -2[21] -0.33[19] 6[ 4] -2[18] -0.33[17] L.M.H. 4[15] -2[21] -0.50[21] 4[ 1] -2[ 9] -0.50[ 7] Wolfson 4[15] -2[21] -0.50[21] 3[18] 1[10] 0.33[10] 1[ 9] -3[12] -3.00[13] Manchester 1[33] -2[21] -2.00[30] 1[28] -2[18] -2.00[24] St Benet's Hall 1[33] -2[21] -2.00[30] 1[28] -2[18] -2.00[24] University 5[11] -3[26] -0.60[24] 5[ 9] -3[21] -0.60[19] St John's 4[15] -3[26] -0.75[25] 4[10] -3[21] -0.75[20] Jesus 4[15] -4[28] -1.00[26] 3[18] -6[24] -2.00[24] 1[ 9] 2[ 3] 2.00[ 3] St Hilda's 2[29] -5[29] -2.50[35] 2[ 4] -5[13] -2.50[12] Trinity 3[24] -6[30] -2.00[30] 3[18] -6[24] -2.00[24] Balliol 4[15] -7[31] -1.75[29] 4[10] -7[27] -1.75[23] Brasenose 4[15] -8[32] -2.00[30] 3[18] -6[24] -2.00[24] 1[ 9] -2[ 9] -2.00[11] Magdalen 4[15] -8[32] -2.00[30] 4[10] -8[28] -2.00[24] S.E.H. 6[ 4] -9[34] -1.50[27] 6[ 4] -9[30] -1.50[22] Wadham 6[ 4] -10[35] -1.67[28] 3[18] -8[28] -2.67[30] 3[ 2] -2[ 9] -0.67[10]

Notes

• Wed 24 – Sat 27 May 1978
• 2nd women's division added
• Division times: W2 12:10, M10 12:45, M9 1:20, M8 1:55, M7 2:30, M6 3:05, W1 3:40, M5 4:15, M4 4:50, M3 5:25, M2 6:00, M1 6:35.

• The Times Wed 24 May, by Jim Railton

  Title may lie between Keble and Oriel

  The head title in the Oxford University Boat Club summer eights which start today seems to lie between the holders, Keble, and last year's runners-up, Oriel. Keble have two Blues on board, Wiggins and Moran, while Oriel boasts a stern four powered by four Isis oarsmen. There is no form guide on either crew and the outcome of today's opening race between the two may well provide the key to Saturday's title.

  Talent this year seems to be either well spread out or thinly disguised. St Edmund Hall, also with four Isis oarsmen on board, look set to climb the ladder to third place. New College, with the Australian Blue, Michelmore, are also expected to make progress. Pembroke, poised in the middle of division II with the Blues Wood and Crawford, must surely have strong ambitions for a place in the top league. [Starting order]

• The Daily Telegraph Wed 24 May, by Desmond Hill

  Keble expected to hold on to Headship

  With as many Blues rowing in the second division as in the first, the jam is pretty thinly spread in the Oxford Summer Eights, starting today, and no crew stands out. Though it seems generally agreed the title rests between two.

  Keble have newly-bearded president John Wiggins at No.6 and Mike Moran at No.7, but no other "names," and it says much for college coaching that many still expect them to retain the Headship.

  The one apparent threat comes from Oriel, whose only Blue is their cox, John Fail.

  They do have four Isis men and are reputedly swift off the start, whereas Keble go faster over the second half. It should be interesting between the Gut and the Pink Post. Behind these, Christ Church may be due for a fall.

  Balliol and St Edmund Hall are both neat enough to profit from any House mistakes without disturbing the top two, while New College, with former president Andy Michelmore, should continue last year's climb. Corpus and Pembroke, with two Blues apiece, are far too good for the second division.

  Lower down still, St Peter's have a new Carbocraft, which looks an expensive piece of equipment when bumps are the name of the game. They may have to hurry to protect their stern from a speedy Osler House.

  A second girls' division has been added and such is the local enthusiasm that a further 60 boats, of both genders, entered by failed to qualify.

• The Times Thu 25 May, by Jim Railton

  Oriel's fast finish gives them sweet revenge

  Oriel gained sweet revenge in the opening day of the Oxford University Boat Club summer eights yesterday, overhauling the head crew, Keble, just 200 yards from the finish. Last year, Keble went ahead [sic] at Oriel's expense on the first day. Keble were just holding their distance coming out of the Gut, but a sustained, powerful attack by Oriel provided the dividend of the day.

  Oriel are now well established as favourites for the Head on Saturday. Christ Church, in third place, were the only crew in division one to row over, with every other eight in the first division including the sandwich boat, Exeter, making a capture or surrendering a place.

  It was a surprisingly civilized day for the first day of the summer eights. There was hardly a complaint lodged all day, and just one overbump in division five. Women gained access to the Oxford summer eights for the first time last year, and were represented in one division. This year, there are 25 enthusiastic crews on the river in two divisions, and the Head crew, Lady Margaret Hall, could be under threat today, having just held off Wadham by a quarter of a length on the first day. [Bumps Chart]

• The Daily Telegraph Thu 25 May, by Desmond Hill

  Oriel catch Keble to go Head

  Oriel returned to the head of the Oxford Summer Eights yesterday, catching Keble with a sustained assault that carried them to success at the mouth of the Cherwell, 200 yards from the finish.

  As the crews emerged from the Gut at 36 Oriel were within threequarters of a length, and though Keble's counter-attack gave them a full length it was not enough.

  Christ Church, six lengths behind at the time, were the only First Division crew to complete the course.

  The other bumps all occurred below the Long Bridges, St Edmund Hall being taken furthest by Balliol. New College dumped University at Donnington Bridge, where Lincoln overhauled Wadham and Merton caught Magdalen.

  Little further alteration can be expected in Division II as most boats came up at ever increasing intervals. Pembroke as expected caught Christ Church II early on, while St Peter's foiled Osler's continuing success story by catching B N C on the Green Bank.

  The one overbump of the day came in Division V, where Keble III sweetened their seniors' pill somewhat by catching Jesus II.

  Though overlapped for the last two minutes Lady Margaret Hall survived at the head of the women. If they fall today they could succumb to St Hugh's as well, Corpus made some sort of history by becoming the first women's sandwich boat to score, handing that unenviable position to B N C. [List of Bumps]

• The Times Fri 26 May, by Jim Railton

  St Edmund Hall now challenging Keble

  Oriel consolidated on Wednesday's advance on Keble to take head position when the proved their superiority again with over two lengths gain on their opposition yesterday. Keble today face a new threat with St Edmund Hall advancing to third position at the expense of Christ Church. Other first division gains were New College, Lincoln and Merton, over Balliol, University College and Wadham.

  At the top of the women's division, Wadham went head at Lady Margaret Hall's expense, catching their opponents at the bottom of the Green Bank. On Wednesday St Hilda's [II] were late at the start, and as a consequence wre disqualified losing a place to St Anne's [II]. Yesterday, St Anne's, no doubt feeling guilty at their easy gain, failed to turn up so St Hilda's are back to where they started. [Bumps Chart]

• The Daily Telegraph Fri 26 May, by Desmond Hill

  Oriel Still in Command

  Oriel cruised comfortably over at the Head on the second day of the Oxford Summer Eights and only St Edmund Hall can now depose them. The Keble threat was so slight that Oriel were down to 34 after a minute.

  There were three lengths of clear water at the Green Bank, by which time the Hall had caught Christ Church and bumps multiplied behind them. New College, Lincoln and Merton all had second successes before reaching halfway.

  In Division II, Pembroke made quick work of Trinity, St John's and Christ Church II had hairsbreadth escapes and Osler House subsided for the first time ever. Mansfield overbumped B N C II in Division IV, which welcomed Wednesday's overbumpers Keble III, after two more successes.

  Wadham this time made no mistake, robbing Lady Margaret Hall of the women's headship at the Long Bridges. On Wednesday, St Anne's II gained a place as St Hilda's II were late at the start. Yesterday the status quo was restored as St Anne's II failed to appear at all. [List of Bumps]

• The Times Sat 27 May, by Jim Railton

  Oriel hold Keble at bay to stay at top

  While Oriel rowed over at the head of Division I yesterday, Keble easily survived the threat posed by St Edmund Hall. So Oriel, having dethroned Keble on the first day and held them at bay for two more, must win this year's Head title. Only New College, Merton and Exeter made progress in the top league yesterday.

  There was chaos in Division III when Balliol II and St Edmund Hall II interlocked and blocked the river. In consequence it will be early or no breakfast for six crews facing a rerow this morning.

  At the top of the women's division, the head crew, Wadham, face a final threat from St Hugh's, who advanced to second place at the expense of Lady Margaret Hall. St Anne's graced the occasion with their presence yesterday, and their second eight officially registered a hit on St Hilda's II. Previous to that, the chart hopping between the two has been a result of a disqualification and failure to appear. [Bumps Chart]

• The Daily Telegraph Sat 27 May, by Desmond Hill

  Threat to Oriel vanishes

  The last possible threat to Oriel's Summer Eights headship disappeared at Oxford yesterday when St Edmund Hall came up even further behind Keble than Keble trailed Oriel, at least four lengths.

  New College had a third victory when overhauling Christ Church to go fourth and could well be the sole bumpers in the top half today. Merton also scored for the third time and Exeter for the second.

  The Second Division finally came to life with the top and bottom boats racing up in two tightly-packed heaps and bumps being scored by Worcester, Pembroke, St Peter's and Oriel II.

  A Division III pile-up involves six boats in a re-row at 11.30 today. The daily overbump came one division earlier, when Thursday's victims, B N C II, suffered a similar indignity at the hands of Christ Church III.

  L M H, deposed from the women's headship on Thursday, fell again and St Hugh's, who caught them, might end Wadham's 48-hour reign today. Corpus, stroked by a Cambridge graduate doubling as a senior umpire [probably Sharpston], are on course for an unprecedented five bumps. [List of Bumps]

• The Sunday Telegraph Sun 28 May

  Oriel were able to coast over at 34 and still hold their place at the Head of Oxford's summer eights yesterday. They finished three lengths clear of Keble, who they deposed on Wednesday.

  New College, in fourth place, were two-thirds of a length behind St Edmund Hall and just missed their eighth bump in two years. But in the bottom half of the first division, where Balliol bumped Christ Church, Wadham overlapped University College at O.U.B.C. and still failed to record a bump before Exeter had closed the gap and hit Wadham close to the finishing line.

• The Times Mon 29 May, by Jim Railton

  Brave Keble have no answer to Oriel

  Oriel, who went to head of division one on the opening day of the Oxford Summer Eights predictably held on to the title on Saturday. Oriel's overall power with four Isis oarsmen on board and the Oxford cox, Fail, proved too much for last year's head crew, Keble, although they had two Blues, Wiggins and Moran, on board. On Saturday, Oriel opened up their station distance again over a valiant Keble, who could provide now answer.

  St Edmund Hall and New College predictably finished in third and fourth positions, followed by Balliol. Christ Church went down to sixth place while brave Merton conquered every day of the competition to finish seventh. Wadham won the ladies' head title. [Bumps Chart]

• The Daily Telegraph Mon 29 May, by Desmond Hill

  Oriel keep supremacy in Eights

  Once they had dislodged Keble, Oriel's supremacy in the Oxford Summer Eights was never in question. Less certain was the identity of the next fastest, for New College on Saturday failed by over half a length to catch St Edmund Hall.

  They can dispute the runners-up berth with Keble, who finished three lengths clear of the Hall and Pembroke, who were never troubled in their Second Division maximum. Merton took some time to complete theirs in the First.

  Exeter had a good week with three successes but St Peter's ran their Carbocraft aground after 20 strokes and were bmped back by St Catherine's. [Men's Head Crew: as below] [List of Bumps] [Finishing Order]

• In other news ... [1978]

  Thu May 25

  First Unabomber attack: A bomb explodes in the security section of Northwestern University, wounding a security guard.

  Thu May 25

  In a rematch of the previous season, the Montreal Canadiens again defeat the Boston Bruins, this time four games to two, to win the Stanley Cup.

  Fri May 26

  In Atlantic City, New Jersey, Resorts International, the first legal casino in the eastern United States, opens.

Return to Bumps Index