Eights 1981

MEN'S BUMPS WOMEN'S BUMPS

STANDINGS Start Finish Pos College Pts Pts College 1 Keble 188 193 Keble 2 Oriel 183 192 Oriel 3 Christ Church 183 174 Christ Church 4 Wadham 164 145 Wadham 5 S.E.H. 155 144 S.E.H. 6 Balliol 142 135 Lincoln 7 University 128 129 Pembroke 8 Lincoln 124 126 Worcester 9 Pembroke 120 124 Balliol 10 Exeter 118 118 University 11 Worcester 108 112 Magdalen 12 Magdalen 104 109 Exeter 13 St Catherine's 99 107 New College 14 New College 98 103 Merton 15 Merton 96 94 Queen's 16 Queen's 96 90 St Catherine's 17 Jesus 93 87 Jesus 18 St John's 84 84 St John's 19 Brasenose 79 81 Brasenose 20 Hertford 77 77 Trinity 21 Corpus Christi 76 76 Hertford 22 Osler House 71 75 Osler House 23 St Peter's 71 70 Corpus Christi 24 Trinity 67 67 St Peter's 25 Wolfson 65 58 Somerville 26 Somerville 55 55 Wolfson 27 L.M.H. 50 53 St Hugh's 28 St Hugh's 47 51 L.M.H. 29 Linacre 41 43 St Hilda's 30 St Hilda's 34 37 Linacre 31 Mansfield 28 31 Mansfield 32 St Anne's 21 25 St Anne's 33 Regent's Park 5 5 Regent's Park 34 St Benet's Hall 2 2 St Benet's Hall

STATISTICS College All Crews Men's Crews Women's Crews [ ]=ranking Crews Bps Avg Crews Bps Avg Crews Bps Avg Worcester 7[ 3] 11[ 1] 1.57[ 3] 6[ 2] 6[ 3] 1.00[ 6] 1[16] 5[ 1] 5.00[ 1] Trinity 4[18] 9[ 2] 2.25[ 1] 3[17] 7[ 2] 2.33[ 1] 1[16] 2[ 7] 2.00[ 5] Oriel 7[ 3] 8[ 3] 1.14[ 5] 7[ 1] 8[ 1] 1.14[ 5] Keble 6[ 6] 5[ 4] 0.83[ 8] 4[ 7] 0[15] 0.00[15] 2[ 4] 5[ 1] 2.50[ 4] St Hugh's 3[25] 4[ 5] 1.33[ 4] 3[ 1] 4[ 4] 1.33[ 7] Lincoln 4[18] 4[ 5] 1.00[ 6] 4[ 7] 4[ 5] 1.00[ 6] St John's 5[12] 4[ 5] 0.80[ 9] 4[ 7] 4[ 5] 1.00[ 6] 1[16] 0[14] 0.00[14] Merton 3[25] 3[ 8] 1.00[ 6] 3[17] 3[ 8] 1.00[ 6] L.M.H. 5[12] 3[ 8] 0.60[12] 3[17] 4[ 5] 1.33[ 4] 2[ 4] -1[16] -0.50[16] Brasenose 5[12] 3[ 8] 0.60[12] 3[17] 5[ 4] 1.67[ 3] 2[ 4] -2[19] -1.00[17] Mansfield 1[32] 2[11] 2.00[ 2] 1[28] 2[11] 2.00[ 2] Somerville 3[25] 2[11] 0.67[10] 3[ 1] 2[ 7] 0.67[11] St Anne's 3[25] 2[11] 0.67[10] 1[28] 0[15] 0.00[15] 2[ 4] 2[ 7] 1.00[ 8] Osler House 4[18] 2[11] 0.50[14] 3[17] 1[13] 0.33[13] 1[16] 1[11] 1.00[ 8] St Hilda's 2[31] 1[15] 0.50[14] 2[ 4] 1[11] 0.50[12] St Peter's 5[12] 1[15] 0.20[16] 4[ 7] 3[ 8] 0.75[10] 1[16] -2[19] -2.00[20] St Benet's Hall 1[32] 0[17] 0.00[17] 1[28] 0[15] 0.00[15] Regent's Park 1[32] 0[17] 0.00[17] 1[28] 0[15] 0.00[15] Pembroke 5[12] 0[17] 0.00[17] 4[ 7] 3[ 8] 0.75[10] 1[16] -3[21] -3.00[25] Exeter 4[18] 0[17] 0.00[17] 3[17] -3[23] -1.00[25] 1[16] 3[ 6] 3.00[ 3] Magdalen 4[18] 0[17] 0.00[17] 3[17] 1[13] 0.33[13] 1[16] -1[16] -1.00[17] Queen's 6[ 6] -1[22] -0.17[22] 4[ 7] -2[22] -0.50[21] 2[ 4] 1[11] 0.50[12] New College 4[18] -1[22] -0.25[23] 3[17] 0[15] 0.00[15] 1[16] -1[16] -1.00[17] Hertford 6[ 6] -2[24] -0.33[24] 4[ 7] 2[11] 0.50[12] 2[ 4] -4[23] -2.00[20] Corpus Christi 3[25] -2[24] -0.67[26] 2[25] -7[29] -3.50[31] 1[16] 5[ 1] 5.00[ 1] University 8[ 1] -3[26] -0.38[25] 6[ 2] -5[26] -0.83[24] 2[ 4] 2[ 7] 1.00[ 8] Wolfson 3[25] -4[27] -1.33[31] 2[25] -1[21] -0.50[21] 1[16] -3[21] -3.00[25] St Catherine's 8[ 1] -6[28] -0.75[27] 5[ 5] 0[15] 0.00[15] 3[ 1] -6[26] -2.00[20] Balliol 7[ 3] -6[28] -0.86[28] 5[ 5] -10[31] -2.00[30] 2[ 4] 4[ 4] 2.00[ 5] Christ Church 6[ 6] -6[28] -1.00[29] 6[ 2] -6[27] -1.00[25] Jesus 6[ 6] -7[31] -1.17[30] 4[ 7] -3[23] -0.75[23] 2[ 4] -4[23] -2.00[20] S.E.H. 5[12] -7[31] -1.40[32] 4[ 7] -7[29] -1.75[29] 1[16] 0[14] 0.00[14] Linacre 4[18] -7[31] -1.75[33] 2[25] -3[23] -1.50[27] 2[ 4] -4[23] -2.00[20] Wadham 6[ 6] -12[34] -2.00[34] 4[ 7] -6[27] -1.50[27] 2[ 4] -6[26] -3.00[25]

Notes

• Wed 27 – Sat 30 May 1981
• Women's Div IV added, Men's Div X removed
• Due to a high stream, the first 2 days were raced in divisions of 8 boats (plus Sandwich Boat) with the lower divisions (M7,8,9 and W3,4) excluded

• The Times Wed 27 May

  Only a shipwreck can deny Oriel their crown

  It will take a massive shipwreck which indeed almost happened last year, for Oriel to lose their crown in the Oxford summer eights which start today. The head crew have a formidable engine room with an Olympic silver medal winner, Mahoney, at six and the Blues, Conington and Head. Also with the Oriel eight are Pitt, a Goldie oarsman, and Todd, who has rowed for Isis.

  Keble in second place could well be in danger from Christ Church. Keble are without the services of their resident Blues, Moran and Diserens. Christ Church are stroked by a Blue, Richard Emerton. Magdalen, too, will be looking for promotion from their seventh position with Andrews, a Blue, on board together with two Isis oarsmen, Potts and Clay.

  Another ambitious eight this year is Pembroke, but to achieve their ambitions they will have to catch New College before New College overhaul Wadham today. Altogether there are 141 eights entered including 45 women's eights in four divisions. Racing starts at noon and division one complete the day at 6.30 pm.

• The Daily Telegraph, Wed 27 May, by Desmond Hill

  Oriel geared for treble

  Oriel's monopoly of Oxford's domestic rowing events should continue in the Summer Eights starting today. Their three Blues should have minimal difficulty in retaining the Headship for the third successive year.

  Keble, Oriel's immediate pursuers, are without Diserens, Jordan and, for the first time in years Moran, but they have two Isis men and are reported fitter than usual. Their struggle to hold off Christ Church, stroked by Emerton, could be the main interest of the first division.

  Magdalen, with Andrews and two Isis caps in the stern, are tipped to climb, though they contrive to make it look very hard work. New College, with Yonge and the other Isis Clay twin, are also optimistic though they must keep Pembroke at bay.

  Somerville are generally expected to lose their women's title to Wadham, who must then survive attack from St Hilda's or St Hugh's.

  As a safety measure in the flood conditions, divisions today consist of eight crews only and the last three men's and two women's divisions will be excluded.

• The Times Thu 28 May

  High stream on Isis brings cut in Eights

  Summer Eights it is not. The stream of the Isis was so high in Oxford that the organizing committee had to reduce the entry and fifty-six crews were eliminated for safety reasons.

  The Thames Water Authority asked the university boat club to cancel the event, saying that less experienced coxswains could end up with their crews over the weir; but a compromise was reached yesterday by shortening the course and reducing all divisions from 12 crews to eight plus the sandwich boat.

  In division one the top four rowed over, with Oriel well in command at the head and Keble in second place holding their own against Christ Church. Balliol surrendered to Lincoln with the sandwich eight, New College, demoting Exeter after unseating Wadham at the top of division two. Oriel, with a quality line-up, look set to hold their headship for the third successive year.

  A surprise in the women's division one was Linacre overhauling Jesus, whose No 5, the American Blue, Sue Morgan, jammed her seat. Jesus, however, are expected to bump back today.

  St Hugh's were technically bumped by St Hilda's when they stopped, thinking they had overhauled Wolfson; but the Wolfson cox vigorously denied the acknowledgment of a bump. Somerville rowed over as head crew.

  The stream was particularly fast off the start and at least three crews in the lower divisions went out of control, hitting the bank. However, considering the conditions, the organizers and crews bravely made the best of their problems, although, if the river rises any more, the event could be abandoned. [Bumps Chart]

• The Daily Telegraph, Thu 28 May, by Desmond Hill

  Oriel make confident start

  Oriel's, opening a gap of more than four lengths to their immediate pursuers, took the first step towards their fourth consecutive headship when a truncated form of Oxford Summer Eights began yesterday.

  Behind them came Keble, with a comfortable two-length lead over Christ Church, which should guarantee them second place with St Edmund Hall, twice as far behind the House. Balliol fell quickly to Lincoln, as did Exeter to New College.

  The first three women's boats came up widely spaced but St Hugh's, mistaking an errant canoeist's paddle for acknowledgment of a non-existent bump on Wolfson, stopped and were adjudged to have been caught by St Hilda's. [List of Bumps]

• The Times Fri 29 May

  Oriel hold lead again and look unassailable

  Oriel, with a four-length gap over Keble, rowed over for the second successive day as head crew looking unassailable in the Oxford Summer eights. There were two casualties in the top division, St Edmund Hall succumbed to Lincoln and Magdalen moved up at Balliol's expense early on.

  At the top of the women's chart, while Somerville rowed over as head crew, St Hilda's threaten, overhauling Wolfson yesterday, to move into third position and leaving only Wadham now between them and the head crew. Jesus regained their stature with no accidents on board yesterday and overtook Linacre, who bumped them on Wednesday.

  Optimism soared with the news that the Oxford summer eights might revert to their intended form by today. The Isis has dropped and undergraduate officers are hopeful that they will be able to reinstate the 56 crews lopped off the chart on Wednesday when the river was unsafe.

  Crews who have rowed in the past two days will, in this case, retain their places on merit. [Bumps Chart]

• The Daily Telegraph, Fri 29 May, by Desmond Hill

  Oriel four lengths up

  With Oriel again four lengths clear at the top, and two lengths between Keble and Christ Church behind them, the destination of the Oxford Summer Eights is beyond doubt. The excitement comes lower down.

  Magdalen, with a lady Blue at bow, escaped New College by overhauling Balliol, while Lincoln swiftly demolished St Edmund Hall. In Division II Pembroke needed three swipes to catch Wadham at the Pink Post, while University took Merton even further.

  St Hilda's continue to climb in the Women's division, catching Wolfson at the Free Ferry but Somerville at the head built so large a lead over Wadham they may take some catching. Jesus quickly avenged Wednesday's defeat by Wolfson. [List of Bumps].

• The Times Sat 30 May, by a Special Correspondent

  Oriel better than ever

  As the Oxford University summer eights gain momentum so too do Head of the River Oriel who looked better than ever as they retained the headship for the third day running on the Isis yesterday. They pulled away early and although Keble got closer than they did the day before the dark blue blades of Oriel never looked in danger of being pulled back. [Bumps Chart]

• The Daily Telegraph, Sat 30 May, by Desmond Hill

  St Edmund Hall just fail

  With Oriel unassailable and neither Keble nor Christ Church prone to danger, only St Edmund Hall's unavailing challenge to Lincoln threatened to disturb the first six places in the Oxford Summer Eights yesterday.

  St Hilda's caught Wadham women's crew and now only Somerville's formidable strength separates their little-changed crew from the women's headship and a total of eight bumps in two years. [List of Bumps].

• The Times Mon 1 June, by a Special Correspondent

  Oriel faultless in fourth victory

  Oriel treated a large crowd to another faultless exhibition in the Oxford University Summer Eights as they rowed over for the fourth successive year on the Isis yesterday. [Head crews — as below] [Bumps Chart].

• Times bumps chart shows Oriel III bumping both Worcester II and Queen's II on the last day, which seems unlikely and is inconsistent with the following year's starting order. Assume instead that Worcester II bumped Queen's II on the Friday and Oriel III bumped Queen's II on the Saturday.
• The Daily Telegraph, Mon 2 June

  Oriel have no problem

  Oriel and Somerville retained their respective Head positions in the Oxford Summer Eights on Saturday. With Oriel striking at 37, three lengths clear of Keble, themselves a length and a half ahead of Christ Church, the first three places looked no less secure than at any time in the preceding week. [Head Crews: as below except Goatly and Everitt as B and 4 in Somerville] [List of Bumps] [Finishing Order]

  In other news ... [1981]

  Tue May 26

  The Italian government resigns over its links to the fascist Masonic cell Propaganda Due.

  Sat May 30

  Bangladesh President Ziaur Rahman is assassinated in Chittagong.

  Sun May 31

  Burning of Jaffna library, one of the most violent examples of ethnic biblioclasm of the century.

Somerville
B:	M Golly (St Felix Southwald)
2:	A Walsh (Abbey School)
3:	M Knox (Notting Hill)
4:	K Evett (Felixstowe)
5:	C Wardle (Maynard's)
6:	L Baker (Yale)
7:	F Freckleton (Peter Symonds)
S:	G Benson (Friends, Saffron Walden)
C:	K Platts (Notre Dame GS, Leeds)
Coaches: M Andrews, S Morgan,
	S Webb, J Clark

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