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Oriel face renewed challenge
Oriel's reign at the top of the men's first division could be threatened by Magdalen, Pembroke and New College during the four-day Oxford University Summer Eights, which start on the Isis today.With several rowers returning from the university crews, Osler-Green look safe in the women's top division and their second boat is very strong. Wolfson, in the women, and Lincoln, in the men, are expected to move up. [Starting Order]
Oriel head for gloryNo further coverage in the Telegraph apart from listing of results.Such is the regularity with which Oriel row head of the River at Oxford that no one expects them to be deposed this week in Summer Eights, which begin today, while Osler-Green are also tipped to remain head of the women's division, writes Geoffrey Page.
Osler-Green were supreme last year, but Oriel had to fight hard to resist Magdalen. Magdalen start second today but some fancy New College's chances of deposing the leaders. They will have to bump Pembroke and Magdalen before they can make their challenge. One of the faster eights are Lincoln but, despite making three bumps last year, they are still only in the second division, starting 14th.
St Anne's go down but still row over
St Anne's men's first eight sank on the opening day of the Oxford University Summer Eights on the Isis yesterday, but they were awarded a technical row-over despite the incident. St Anne's, rowing in the third division, came to grief as a result of New College steering across the river after being bumped by Wolfson; the St Anne's cox was unable to avoid a collision and the boat quickly sank.St Catherine's had a successful day in the men's races. The first eight bumped Trinity in the second division, the second crew was one of three boats to make an overbump in the fourth division and the third eight caught Christ Church III in the sixth division.
In the women's top division, Osler-Green rowed over four lengths clear of New College, serenely unchallenged, as so often in recent years. Somerville, once so strong in the division, bumped Lady Margaret Hall to move themselves back up to eighth, while St Edmund Hall did well to catch Pembroke. In the men's first division, Oriel were unchallenged after the two crews directly behind them bumped out. Pembroke will be out to catch Oriel today after their success over Magdalen. [Bumps Chart]
Oriel hold off strong Pembroke challenge
Oriel were close to losing the headship of the men's first division on the second day of the Oxford University Summer Eights on the Isis yesterday.Pembroke, who caught Magdalen on Wednesday to move up to second place, closed to within half a length of the leaders at the University Boathouse and Oriel only escaped by steering wide in the final stages of the race. There must be a serious danger of Pembroke catching their quarry today or tomorrow.
In the women's top division, Osler-Green had no such worries. They finished 2½ lengths clear of New College, and with St Catherine's a similar distance behind in third place, no changes are expected today. The women's first eights of St Edmund Hall, Somerville and Brasenose all bumped up again, to add to their profitable first day.
St Catherine's emerged as one of the more successful colleges yesterday. Their three men's crews all made progress and in the women's third division, their second eight, which rowed over on Wednesday, bumped Lady Margaret Hall's second crew. [Bumps Chart]
Wadham cause Oxford re-row
An obstruction in the Gut, caused by Wadham, who were late in acknowledging a bump by Pembroke, resulted in the women's first division being stopped and re-rowed on the third day of the Oxford University Summer Eights on the Isis yesterday. In the second race, Osler-Green confirmed their superiority by finishing four lengths clear of New College, while Brasenose moved closer to winning their Blades by bumping St Hilda's. In the men's first division, Oriel again escaped defeat, narrowly beating Pembroke, though opinion on the towpath is that Pembroke will make the bump today. [Bumps Chart]
Having been under considerable pressure from Magdalen in Eights Week 1997, it was thought by many that Oriel might lose the Headship to the men in black and white. Matters were, in the event, rather different. A rapid Pembroke crew showed its form on Wednesday by bumping Magdalen in the Gut, leaving Oriel to cross the line rating 22 under no threat from New College. The Thursday saw Pembroke with a foot or two of overlap at the finish, on Friday this became eight feet, with only inspired coxing preventing Oriel's broken rudder strings causing disaster. On the Saturday it became clear that Pembroke had spent themselves, and Oriel finished Eights Week two lengths clear and Head of the River.Elsewhere in the men's divisions, S.E.H. bumped B.N.C., only to be bumped back two days later. Jesus won blades, moving to ninth in the first division in the process; another crew with a fine result was Catz II, moving up five places. New College II, the second highest second boat starting behind Oriel II, got spoons, as did St Anne's IV, the crew which ended at the foot of the river.
In the women's divisions, Osler, as is becoming usual, rowed over Head in impressive style. There was no change in the top three positions in the first women's division, promising interest this year [1999]. Somerville, B.N.C. and Univ all moved up three places, but there were no blades winners at the top end. Hertford, Worcester and Queen's, in contrast, all gained spoons. Magdalen III rowed over every day to maintain their position at the foot of the river.
Osler-Green
B: | Lisa Walker
| 2: | Claire Lloyd
| 3: | Helen Matthews
| 4: | Katie Ozanne
| 5: | Rebecca Groocock
| 6: | Alexa Homan
| 7: | Catherine Farrow
| S: | Katie Stone
| C: | Sarah Jones
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| Coach: | Pete Sudbury
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