Torpids 1896

BUMPS CHART

STANDINGS Start Finish Pos College Pts Pts College 1 Brasenose 38 42 New College 2 New College 35 31 Brasenose 3 Balliol 25 29 Balliol 4 Magdalen 23 23 Magdalen 5 Christ Church 20 22 Christ Church 6 St John's 19 19 St John's 7 Hertford 17 16 Trinity 8 Trinity 14 13 Queen's 9 Queen's 12 12 Hertford 10 Exeter 11 11 Exeter 11 Merton 9 8 Merton 12 Pembroke 7 7 Pembroke 13 Corpus Christi 6 5 Keble 14 Keble 6 5 University 15 Jesus 5 5 Jesus 16 University 4 4 Corpus Christi 17 Oriel 3 3 Wadham 18 Wadham 3 3 Oriel 19 Worcester 3 2 Lincoln 20 Lincoln 2 1 Worcester 21 St Catherine's 2 1 St Catherine's

STATISTICS College All Crews [ ]=rank Crews Bps Avg Balliol 2[ 2] 7[ 1] 3.50[ 1] New College 3[ 1] 3[ 2] 1.00[ 4] Exeter 2[ 2] 3[ 2] 1.50[ 3] Christ Church 2[ 2] 2[ 4] 1.00[ 4] University 1[ 9] 2[ 4] 2.00[ 2] Trinity 2[ 2] 2[ 4] 1.00[ 4] Magdalen 2[ 2] 1[ 7] 0.50[ 9] Queen's 1[ 9] 1[ 7] 1.00[ 4] Wadham 1[ 9] 1[ 7] 1.00[ 4] St John's 1[ 9] 0[10] 0.00[10] Lincoln 1[ 9] 0[10] 0.00[10] Jesus 1[ 9] 0[10] 0.00[10] Keble 2[ 2] -1[13] -0.50[13] Oriel 1[ 9] -1[13] -1.00[14] Pembroke 1[ 9] -1[13] -1.00[14] Merton 1[ 9] -1[13] -1.00[14] Corpus Christi 1[ 9] -3[17] -3.00[18] Hertford 1[ 9] -3[17] -3.00[18] Brasenose 2[ 2] -3[17] -1.50[17] St Catherine's 1[ 9] -4[20] -4.00[20] Worcester 1[ 9] -5[21] -5.00[21]

• 6 days: Thu 20 – Wed 26 Feb 1896
• The Times gives division times of 2:30, 3:30 and 4:30.
• [thames.me.uk] web-site includes a couple of photographs (taken from the Balliol archives) of the sinking of Balliol II on the first day, referred to in The Times report from Friday.

• The Times Fri 21 Feb

  There was a large attendance at the Oxford University torpid races, which began yesterday afternoon and were rowed in three divisions.

  The third division started first in the following order :— [Oriel,] Wadham, Worcester, Lincoln, Keble (2), Magdalen (2), St. Catherine's, New College (3), Balliol (2), Trinity (2), Exeter (2). Worcester were unable to keep clear of Lincoln who effected their downfall under the Willows. New College (3) were much slower than Balliol (2), and succumbed just before reaching the Gut, and the latter crew, failing to get out of the way, were run into and sunk by Trinity (2), who were consequently caught by Exeter.

  In the second division the order of starting was :— Exeter, Merton, Brasenose (2), Pembroke, New College (2), Corpus, Christ Church (2), Jesus, University, Keble, Oriel. Pembroke were overtaken by New College (2) in the Gut, where a similar misfortune befel Corpus who succumbed to Christ Church (2).

  The order of starting in the first division was :— Brasenose (1), New College (1), Balliol (1), Magdalen (1), St. John's, Hertford, Christ Church (1), Trinity (1), Queen's, Exeter (1). The greatest interest was evinced in the race for the headship, Brasenose having held that position for nine years in succession. New College, however, proved themselves much the better crew, and, atoning for their disappointment in 1894, they made their bump under the willows. This was the only bump which was made in this division.

• The Times Sat 22 Feb

  The Torpid races at Oxford yesterday afternoon produced some interesting struggles and there was a largely-increased attendance.

  The third division started in the following order :— Oriel, Wadham, Lincoln, Worcester, Keble 2, Magdalen 2, St. Catherine's, Balliol 2, New College 3, Exeter 2, and Trinity 2. Oriel were hard pressed by Wadham from the boathouse, only a yard or two dividing them at the post. Keble 2 were unfortunate as they ran into the bank at starting and were promptly taken by Magdalen 2. St. Catherine's failed to make headway against Balliol 2 and succumbed before reaching the Gut, while New College 3 were bumped by Exeter 2 at the commencement of the wall.

  The second division started as follows :— Exeter 1, Merton, Brasenose 2, New College 2, Pembroke, Christ Church 2, Corpus, Jesus, University, Keble 1, Oriel. New College 2 were within half a length of Brasenose 2 at the long bridges and bumped them at the Willows. Corpus had to give way to Jesus at the new boathouse.

  In the first division the order of starting was :— New College 1, Brasenose 1, Balliol 1, Magdalen 1, St. John's, Hertford, Christ Church 1, Trinity 1, Queen's, Exeter 1. New College maintained their position without difficulty, but this was not the case with Brasenose who, after an exciting race in which they completely rowed themselves out, had to give way to Balliol at the Oriel barge. There was again only one bump in this division.

• The Times Mon 24 Feb

  The attendance at the University Torpid races at Oxford on Saturday was very large.

  The Third Division started at half-past 2 in the following order :— Oriel, Wadham, Lincoln, Worcester, Magdalen 2, Keble 2, Balliol 2, St. Catherine's, Exeter 2, New College 3, and Trinity 2. There was an exciting race between the two leading boats. Wadham went off at a great pace and gained rapidly until they overlapped at Saunders-bridge, but the Oriel coxswain displayed excellent judgment, and, one of the Wadham crew catching a crab just past the Cherwell, Oriel succeeded in getting home by half a length. Lincoln finished within a length of Wadham, but Worcester were no match for Magdalen 2, and succumbed in Iffley Reach. Balliol 2 very quickly pressed Keble 2, and overtook them as they came out of the Gut, whilst St. Catherine's had to give way to Exeter 2 at the Freewater stone, where also New 3 were caught by Trinity 2.

  In the Second Division the order of starting at 3 30 was :— Exeter, Merton, New College 2, Brasenose 2, Pembroke, Christ Church 2, Jesus, Corpus, University, Keble, and Oriel. A splendid race ensued between the three leading boats, Exeter being hard pressed by Merton, who were in turn driven on by New College 2; but no bump resulted. Brasenose 2 followed a long way in the rear, Pembroke causing them no little anxiety, three-quarters of a length dividing them at the finish. Corpus were bumped by University at the Willows.

  In the First Division the order of starting at 4 30 was :— New College 1, Balliol 1, Brasenose 1, Magdalen 1, St. John's, Hertford, Christ Church 1, Trinity 1, Queen's, and Exeter 1. New College easily maintained their position and finished more than a distance ahead, and there was a long gap between Balliol and Brasenose. Magdalen gained steadily on Brasenose, but they never got within striking distance, and there was half a length between them at the finish. There was a fine race between St. John's, Hertford, and Christ Church, and the last-named, amidst much excitement, ran into Hertford about 20 yards from the post. This was the third day in succession on which there had only been one bump in the First Division.

• The Times Tue 25 Feb

  There was again a large attendance at the races today. The Third Division started in the following order :— Oriel, Wadham, Lincoln, Magdalen 2, Worcester, Balliol 2, Keble 2, Exeter 2, St. Catherine's, Trinity 2, New College 3. A magnificent race resulted between the two leading boats. Wadham, gaining steadily from the start, were within a quarter of a length at the Cherwell. From this point they spurted in gallant style, but, although they actually overlapped, they failed to bump, and Oriel got home unscathed. Lincoln lost ground to Magdalen 2, who finished within a quarter of a length. Worcester proved no match for Balliol 2, who caught them at the end of Iffley Reach, while St. Catherine's succumbed to Trinity 2 coming out of the Gut.

  In the Second Division the order of starting was :— Exeter 1, Merton, New College 2, Brasenose 2, Pembroke, Christ Church 2, Jesus, University, Corpus, Keble, Oriel. Merton drew somewhat on to Exeter 1, but themselves lost ground to New College 2, and the latter, coming up very fast from the Red Post, bumped them at the New College barge. Jesus failed to hold their own against University, and, after a tough struggle, gave in just after passing the Cherwell.

  The First Division started as follows :— New College 1, Balliol 1, Brasenose 1, Magdalen 1, St. John's, Christ Church 1, Hertford, Trinity 1, Queen's, Exeter 1. Although there was some good racing there was again only one bump in this division, Trinity 1 overhauling Hertford in the Gut.

• The Times Wed 26 Feb

  In spite of the cold weather there was a large attendance at the Torpids at Oxford yesterday.

  The third division started in the following order :— Oriel, Wadham, Lincoln, Magdalen 2, Balliol 2, Worcester, Keble 2, Exeter 2, Trinity 2, St. Catherine's, New College 3. Oriel and Wadham fought their battle over again, and the result was a great deal more satisfactory to Wadham, who rowed hard from the start, and, getting right on to the leaders at Rough's Boathouse, had the pleasure of bumping them opposite their own barge. Magdalen 2, after a brief struggle, succumbed to Balliol 2 opposite Rough's Boathouse, while Worcester had to give in even earlier in the race, Keble 2 effecting their downfall at the end of Iffley Reach. Trinity 2 finished within a quarter of a length of Exeter 2.

  The second division started as follows :— Exeter 1, New College 2, Merton, Brasenose 2, Pembroke, Christ Church 2, University, Jesus, Corpus, Keble 1, Wadham. A fine race resulted between Exeter 1 and New College 2, the latter gaining faster than on any previous occasion. At the Cherwell the Exeter 1 coxswain took his crew too sharply under the wall, with the result that he had no water to manoeuvre in, and they were caught at the Brasenose barge. Merton were quite their distance in front of Brasenose 2, and Pembroke finished well away from Christ Church 2. The latter had by no means an easy time of it, University running them to within half a length. Keble were a good real faster than Corpus, but in their turn lost ground to Wadham, who at one time got right up to Keble, and but for their exertions in the previous division would probably have made the bump.

  The first division started in the following order :— New College 1, Balliol 1, Brasenose 1, Magdalen 1, St. John's, Christ Church 1, Trinity 1, Hertford, Queen's, New College 2 New College 1 maintained their place without an effort and led home by nearly double their starting distance, Balliol having a similar advantage over Brasenose. The latter, improving on their previous form, fairly held Magdalen, and were a length and a half to the good at the finish. St. John's followed six lengths behind Magdalen and a length in front of Christ Church. Hertford lost ground rapidly in Iffley Reach, and Queen's, were right on to them in the Gut. They got away again, however, and had a quarter of a length to spare at the post. Queen's only just managed to escape New College 2, who came up hand over hand from the Cherwell and made a futile shot at Salter's raft.

• The Times Thu 27 Feb

  The concluding day's Torpid races at Oxford yesterday excited a good deal of interest.

  The Third Division started in the following order Wadham, Oriel, Lincoln, Balliol 2, Magdalen 2, Keble 2, Worcester, Exeter 2, Trinity 2, St. Catherine's, New College 3. Wadham never had to exert themselves to retain their place and paddled in three lengths ahead of Oriel. Lincoln, who followed, however, had a far different experience as Balliol 2, making up a lot of ground coming out of the Gut, secured them under the Willows. Magdalen 2 held their own against Keble 2 without difficulty and finished their distance ahead, the latter having a row over, as Worcester, who followed, could make no show against Exeter 2 and succumbed halfway along Iffley Reach, while New College 3 bumped St. Catherine's at the Gut.

  The Second Division order of starting was :— New College 2, Exeter 1, Merton, Brasenose 2, Pembroke, Christ Church 2, University, Jsus, Corpus, Keble 1, Wadham. New College had a very easy task, Exeter never causing them the slightest anxiety, and a length and a half separated them at the finish. Merton proved themselves faster than Exeter and gained considerably, but from the Cherwell the latter fairly held their own and passed the post a quarter of a length to the good. Brasenose followed a long way in the rear, but well away from Pembroke, who were some distance away from Christ Church, while these were their distance from University. The latter finished some lengths ahead of Jesus. Corpus lost ground to Keble 1, who made a desperate effort at the Cherwell, but to no purpose.

  The First Division order of starting was :— New College 1, Balliol 1, Brasenose 1, Magdalen 1, St. John's, Christ Church 1, Trinity 1, Hertford, Queen's, New College 2. As was the case with their second boat, New College 1 were never extended, and, considerably widening the gap, they led home by quite four lengths. They were undoubtedly a very fast crew, and were ably stroked by Craik. Although they headed the river in summer eights in 1887, it is 14 years since they occupied that position in the Torpids, Brasenose successfully defying every effort to dislodge them for no fewer than nine consecutive years. Balliol 1 were their full distance ahead of Brasenose 1, and their inability to catch New College caused much disappointment to their supporters. St. John's followed several lengths in the rear of Magdalen, but a grand race ensued betweeen Christ Church and Trinity. The latter gained sufficiently to make a shot at the new cut, but the House coxswain proved equal to the occasion. They subsequently drew away again and finished a long length in front. Hertford were not so fortunate, and, losing ground from the start, were bumped by Queen's at the Red Post.

  [lists finish order]

• In other news ... [1896]

  Monarch: Queen Victoria

  Prime Minister: Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury (Conservative)

  Feb 19

  Braamfontein Explosion: A train carrying 56 tons of dynamite explodes at Braamfontein, Johannesburg, killing more than 78 people.

  Feb 20

  Robert W. Paul demonstrates his film projector, the Theatrograph (later known as the Animatograph), at the Alhambra Theatre, London.

  The Lumiere Brothers first project their films in Britain, at the Empire Theatre of Varieties, Leicester Square.

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