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Oriel seek another Head title
Oriel, going for their eighth successive Head title in Oxford summer eights, once again face fierce opposition from their immediate pursuers. Many think they are faster than Oriel. The question is whether they are one and a half lengths faster to catch Oriel from behind. [Start Order]
Oriel defend Headship
Oriel, with no Blues rowing but led by their successful Isis stroke, Christopher Bourne, begin their defence of the Headship of the River today at the start of the Oxford summer eights on the Isis.Winners for the past sevent years, Oriel will be chased by Christ Church with the retiring Oxford president Lynton Richmond, rowing No.7, but Oriel's power should hold them off, and the main excitement may occur lower down in the order.
New College, starting fourth, and containing the powerful Australian Blue and former president, Graham Jones, could conceivably challenge Oriel, but the various dark hopes further down will have to content themselves with climbing sufficiently this year to get within range next year. [Starting Order]
Oriel are dethroned
Oriel, after a seven years' reign, were dethroned by Christ Church on the opening day of the Oxford summer eights. The bump came as planned just before University Boathouse and Oriel's furtive attempts to evade almost left Christ Church spreadeagled across the river, hindering third-placed New College, but disaster was averted.Other gains made in the men's top division were by University, Lincoln and the sandwich boat, Trinity.
In the women's first division, Osler House post-graduate medical students went head of the river, hunting down St Hugh's 50 yards from the finish. Other gains were made by the sandwich boat Wadham, St Anne's, Somerville and St Hilda's. [List fof Bumps]
Oriel's reign is ended
Christ Church last night ended Oriel's seven-year reign at the head of the Oxford Summer Eights.There was barely half a length between the crews as they came through the Gut, then The House missed Oriel at the first assault. But Oriel finally fell at the end of the Green Bank.
St Hugh's, at the head of the Women's Divisions, were also deposed. In a well-managed strategy, Osler House caught St Hugh's, fading fast, just before the line.
The Osler women redeemed their men's crew's fatal error in hitting the bank within 30 seconds, thereby succumbing to Jesus and giving that college its only bump of the day. [List of Bumps]
Oriel lose second place
Oriel, who after a seven year reign lost their headship to Christ Church on Wednesday, slipped a rung further yesterday when they surrendered second place to New College (Jim Railton writes).Today, the first round of the headship takes place with Christ Church defending their top position. They have this year's Oxford University Boat Club president, Lynton Richmond, on board; New College have last year's president, the Australian Graham Jones, not forgetting the Blue, Gavin Cartledge. [List of Bumps]
New College bump Oriel's
New College, in third place, caught Oriel two-thirds of the way down the Green Bank in the Oxford summer eights last night.The prospect of Christ Church, with their newly-won headship, being challenged by New College promises and enthralling third evening's racing.
St Hugh's threw their all into retrieving the women's headship lost on Wednesday, and closed to a quarter-length behind Osler House before the Gut. But the strain was too much and Osler pulled away to row past the boathouses four lengths clear. [List of Bumps]
Scare for Christ Church
Christ Church came perilously close to relinquishing their newly gained headship in the Oxford Summer Eights.Graham Jones heroically stroked New College to a three-quarter length margin behind Christ Church at OUBC, and the gap continued to close to an overlap. But the House survived as New College's cox missed her bump.
Oriel survived in third place only because of a navigational error by St Edmund Hall. The Hall closed rapidly and thought they had made contact with Oriel, and stopped rowing.
Repeated attacks
Osler House rowed over at the Head of the Women's Divisions, where they look unassailable. St Hugh's repeated attacks brought them up to a length off Osler's stern as the left the Green Bank, but they fell back. [List of Bumps]
How Christ Church took title
Christ Church went ahead [sic] on Wednesday in the Oxford Summer Eights. They held off two strong challenges from New College. The greatest threat to them came on Friday when New College rowed them down but failed to make contact. On Saturday, New College were again too close for comfort, but there was no overlap. New College will remember Friday with regret.Oriel, who held the head title for seven years, dropped to third place. [List of Bumps]
Christ Church are Head of River
Christ Church and Osler House rowed over at the Head of the men's and women's divisions respectively when the Oxford Summer Eights ended on Saturday.New College mobilised their superior horsepower to press Christ Church all the way, but the marging between the two eights never fell below a third-of-a-length and the House escaped to enjoy again the Headship they conceded to Oriel 10 years ago [actually 1976]
The further decline of that unfortunate college was averted when St Edmund Hall were caught by University only moments before the Hall would surely have taken Oriel.
University's bump won the college first eight their oars, a distinction shared with Linacre, St Anne's, St Benet's and Regent's Park who are still making their way up.
Brasenose, Hertford and St Peter's first eights also won their oars. [List of Bumps] [Finishing Order] [Head Crews — as below]
Christ Church
B: |
D. S. Joyner
| 2: |
C. P. Eastwood
| 3: |
D. G. Gentle
| 4: |
T. J. Adams
| 5: |
W. T. Pattison
| 6: |
T. J. Jenkinson
| 7: |
C. L. Richmond
| S: |
R. J. B. Jakeman
| C: |
A. S. Green
| Coach: |
M. Rosewell
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