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Men will suffer most from a start at noon
Oxford University's summer eights starts today with eight men's divisions instead of the usual nine. The reduction has been caused by the proctors persisting with the rule imposed for Torpids in February that no racing will be permitted before noon, and to even matters out the men are the sufferers this time.The race committee has made a big change involving Oriel's leading women's crew, which made four bumps in the third division last year. It is a fast crew and, to avoid the process of bumping its way up, the organisers have speeded it up by moving it up a complete division.
The crew, which performed well at Wallingford, start fourth in the women's second division and have every possibility of reaching the top division by Saturday. [Starting Order]
(No further coverage in the Telegraph, apart from results, until Monday)Oriel challenge University status
University College, who went Head of the River in 1990 and retained their position last year, will be challenged by second-placed Oriel once again when the Oxford Summer Eights start today.Oriel, for many years Oxford's top rowing college, were deposed by University in 1990, but are always powerful opponents.
Pembroke, starting fourth, are on an upward surge at the moment, making a bump every day last year, to place themselves in a position to challenge for the Headship. They rose three places in Torpids and if they can catch Christ Church today, they could well be serious contenders.
Somerville deposed Osler House as head of the women's divisions and are likely to stay there, having been by far the best women's crew in Torpids. Immediately behind them are Brasenose, who rose two places last year.
On the last day, Saturday, the Chancellor of the University, Lord Jenkins, will open the first phase of the new OUBC rowing centre, which consists of a rowing tank, gymnasium and offices.
To mark the opening, the stroke of this year's winning Boat Race crew, Ian Gardiner, and his Cambridge opposite number, Dirk Bangert, will race on rowing ergometers over 500 metres. [Starting Order]
Oriel move back to head of river
Oriel returned to the top of the men's first division on the opening day of the Oxford University summer eights yesterday. [List of Bumps] [Starting Order]
Pembroke made further progress in the men's and women's first divisions on the second day of the Oxford University summer eights.In the men's race yesterday, Pembroke caught University, and the women also made a second bump, catching Osler House. [List of Bumps] [Starting Order]
All of Magdalen's men's boats moved up yesterday in the Oxford University Eights week and the first eight made its fourth bump in three nights.Philip Ingram, rowing at No.3 in the Linacre crew, had moved his wedding forward six hours to avoid clashing with his race. His eight was replete with "just married" signs. [List of Bumps] [Starting Order]
Oriel finished head of the four-day Oxford University summer eights which attracted a huge crowd on both sides of the river on Saturday (a Special Correspondent writes).Deposed by University two years ago, Oriel had to overcome a determined challenge by Pembroke, who moved up to second place after bumping Christ Church and University on Wednesday and Thursday.
Pembroke closed to within half a length along the Green Bank, but Oriel pulled away as the crews approached the University boathouse and were one-and-a-half lengths clear at the finish.
In the women's top division, Somerville were never challenged. If they can show the same determination off the river in not allowing men to gain admission to the college, the supremacy could be maintained long into the Nineties. [List of Bumps & Finishing Order]
Although Pembroke changed to big blades in their attempt to wrest the Headship of the Oxford Summer Eights from Oriel — cutting the lead to half a length in the Gut and even less at Tims — they failed in the end by a length. [List of Bumps] [Finishing Order]
Somerville and Oriel in charge
Oriel and Somerville finished as head crews in the men's and women's divisions of Oxford University summer eights.Knocked off the top two years ago by University, Oriel bumped them on the opening day and then held off a determined challenge from Pembroke. [Bumps Chart]
Having regained the Headship in Torpids, Eights Week 1992 saw Oriel continue their dominance of the Isis. On the first day they bumped University between Univ's own barge and the O.U.B.C., thus becoming Head in both Torpids and Eights. Pembroke appeared to be the only possible challengers, having bumped Christ Church on Wednesday and University on Thursday, giving them two days to mount their attack. However Friday saw Oriel row over three lengths clear, and Pembroke made the decision to switch to the new 'hatchet' style blades for Saturday, which were hurriedly sent down from Nottingham. In the event they closed to within half a length out of the gut but the challenge rapidly faded along the green bank and once again Oriel finished three lengths ahead.Magdalen had a very impressive crew, deservedly winning blades and moving into the first division. Exeter also gained blades and moved into Division II.
Somerville never looked seriously threatened in the women's division, always rowing about thee and a half lengths clear of Brasenose. Oriel women finally reached the first division. With arguments in Cherwell as to whether they were in fact the fastest women's crew on the river, they could well be one to look out for. Perhaps to compensate for their men's fall Univ women rose from 6th to 3rd on the river.
At the foot of the river, the Oriel VII Eight were the slowest crew to take part in rowing on. Regent's Park rowed over every day at the foot of the women's divisions and St Antony's were bumped on the last day so giving them that dubious place in the men's divisions.
Somerville
B: |
Sam Knights
| 2: |
Julia Simpson
| 3: |
Liz Ayling
| 4: |
Emma Rich
| 5: |
Fiona Love
| 6: |
Catherine Mercer
| 7: |
Michelle Houldsworth
| S: |
Vanessa Patini
| C: |
Pippa Gibson
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| Coach: |
Phil Halliday
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