Torpids 1897

BUMPS CHART

STANDINGS Start Finish Pos College Pts Pts College 1 New College 42 36 New College 2 Brasenose 31 35 Balliol 3 Balliol 29 29 Magdalen 4 Magdalen 23 26 Trinity 5 Christ Church 22 25 Brasenose 6 St John's 20 18 St John's 7 Trinity 16 15 Hertford 8 Queen's 13 14 Christ Church 9 Hertford 12 12 University 10 Exeter 11 9 Merton 11 Merton 8 9 Exeter 12 Pembroke 7 8 Corpus Christi 13 Keble 5 7 Queen's 14 University 5 5 Keble 15 Jesus 5 5 Pembroke 16 Corpus Christi 4 3 Oriel 17 Wadham 3 3 Jesus 18 Oriel 3 2 Wadham 19 Lincoln 2 1 Lincoln 20 Worcester 1 1 Worcester

STATISTICS College All Crews [ ]=rank Crews Bps Avg Trinity 2[ 2] 9[ 1] 4.50[ 3] Balliol 2[ 2] 7[ 2] 3.50[ 4] University 1[10] 7[ 2] 7.00[ 1] Corpus Christi 1[10] 6[ 4] 6.00[ 2] New College 3[ 1] 3[ 5] 1.00[ 6] Hertford 1[10] 2[ 6] 2.00[ 5] Magdalen 2[ 2] 2[ 6] 1.00[ 6] St John's 2[ 2] 1[ 8] 0.50[10] Merton 1[10] 1[ 8] 1.00[ 6] Exeter 2[ 2] 1[ 8] 0.50[10] Oriel 1[10] 1[ 8] 1.00[ 6] Worcester 1[10] -2[12] -2.00[13] Brasenose 2[ 2] -3[13] -1.50[12] Pembroke 1[10] -3[13] -3.00[15] Keble 2[ 2] -4[15] -2.00[13] Lincoln 1[10] -4[15] -4.00[16] Queen's 1[10] -5[17] -5.00[18] Jesus 1[10] -5[17] -5.00[18] Wadham 1[10] -6[19] -6.00[20] Christ Church 2[ 2] -8[20] -4.00[16]

• 6 days: Thu 18 – Wed 24 Feb 1897

• Notes from Sherwood

  Frost followed by floods

• The Times Thu 18 Feb

  The Torpid Races, which commence at Oxford this afternoon, are exciting considerable interest. In consequence of the numerous entries, the races will, as last year, again be rowed in three divisions. Several of the colleges are reported to be strongly represented. The Balliol men have shown some smart form during practice, and there is certain to be an exciting struggle for the headship. [start order]

• The Times Fri 19 Feb

  The University Torpids races began at Oxford yesterday, and, as had been anticipated, produced some exciting struggles. The weather was beautifully fine, and a large company assembled on the barges and along the towpath. The strong wind which prevailed made the work of the crews unusually arduous.

  The third division, with which the races began, started in the following order :— Wadham, Oriel, Balliol 2, Lincoln, Magdalen 2, Keble 2, Exeter 2, Worcester, Trinity 2, New College 3, and St. John's 2. There was a splendid race between the three first boats up Iffley Reach. Ultimately Wadham had to give in at the Long Bridges, Balliol 2 being close to Oriel at the time. Another grand struggle was fought between Lincoln and Magdalen 2, the former lasting out to the Cherwell, where they had to succumb. Keble 2 proved no match for Exeter 2, who gained rapidly up Iffley Reach and made their bump at the Freewater Stone, where Worcester also fell victims to Trinity 2.

  The second division started in the following order :— New College 2, Exeter 1, Merton, Brasenose 2, Pembroke, Christ Church 2, University, Jesus, Corpus, Keble 1, and Oriel. Exeter 1 steadily lost ground to Merton, who effected their bump on coming through the Gut. Christ Church 2 had their colours lowered by University before the Weir's Bridge was reached. Jesus struggled hard to escape Corpus, but to no purpose, and the latter secured them before reaching the Freewater Stone.

  In the first division the order of starting was :— New College 1, Balliol 1, Brasenose 1, Magdalen 1, St. John's 1, Christ Church 1, Trinity 1, Queen's, Hertford, and New College 2. Great interest was evinced in the race for the headship, opinions being much divided as to the relative merits of the two crews. Balliol went off at much the faster stroke, but they did not make much headway until nearing the Ferry, when New College began to go to pieces, and Balliol, coming up hand over hand from this point, made their bump before the boats were clear of the Gut. Brasenose, who are the lightest crew on, struggled hard to escape Magdalen, but luck was against them, and they gave in at the first willow. Christ Church proved no match for Trinity, who secured them at the Weir's Bridge, and Queen's were collared by Hertford before reaching the Long Bridges.

• The Times Sat 20 Feb

  A drizzling and at times heavy rain fell yesterday afternoon during the two hours over which the second day's racing extended, but there was a good attendance of spectators on the barges and the banks.

  The third division boats started in the following order :— Oriel, Wadham, Balliol 2, Magdalen 2, Lincoln, Exeter 2, Keble 2, Trinity 2, Worcester, New College 3, and St. John's 2. Wadham began to lag behind from the start, and before arriving at the Gut they were caught by Balliol 2. Keble 2 made but a poor show against Trinity 2, who effected their downfall before Weir's Bridge was reached, while New College 3, after a good struggle, overhauled Worcester just at the entrance to the Gut.

  In the second division the order of starting was :— New College 2, Merton, Exeter 1, Brasenose 2, Pembroke, University, Christ Church 2, Corpus, Jesus, Keble 1, and Oriel. Corpus did not experience much difficulty in securing Christ Church 2, whom they caught at the Freewater Stone, and after an exciting struggle Keble 1 lowered the colours of Jesus at the boathouse.

  The first division boats were sent off in the following order :— Balliol 1, New College 1, Magdalen 1, Brasenose 1, St. John's 1, Trinity 1, Christ Church 1, Hertford, Queen's, and New College 2. New College 1 maintained their position only with some difficulty to Weir's-bridge, where they were displaced by Magdalen, and at the entrance to the Gut St. John's were compelled to give way to Trinity. Hertford drew gradually on to Christ Church and secured them before the Long Bridges were reached. New College 2 were successful in overtaking Queen's shortly after passing the Freewater Stone.

• The Times Mon 22 Feb

  The third day of the Torpids, at Oxford, on Saturday, again produced some exciting struggles, and the weather being beautifully fine there was a large attendance on the college barges and the banks of the river.

  The third division started at half-past 2 in the following order :— Oriel, Balliol 2, Wadham, Magdalen 2, Lincoln, Exeter 2, Trinity 2, Keble 2, New College 3, Worcester, and St. John's 2. Balliol 2, who were right on to Oriel the first night when the latter bumped Wadham, made no mistake on the present occasion, and, gaining rapidly on them from the start, they ran into them at the entrance to the Gut. Wadham and Magdalen 2 treated the spectators on the boathouse to a splendid race, and after a game struggle Magdalen 2 made their bump close to the college barge. Lincoln could never make much headway against Exeter 2, who compelled them to give way before reaching the Gut, and at the end of it New College 3 compelled Keble 2 to acknowledge defeat. The most exciting race so far was between the two last boats, Worcester and St. John's 2. St. John's effected their bump not more than half-a-dozen yards from the winning post.

  The following was the order of starting in the second division at half-past 3 :— Queen's, Merton, Exeter 1, Brasenose 2, University, Pembroke, Corpus, Christ Church 2, Keble 1, Jesus, and Balliol 2. Queen's were again on the down line as Merton going off with plenty of dash rapidly overhauled them and made their bump in the Gut. After a brief struggle Brasenose 2 had to give in to University at the Freewater stone, but Pembroke gave Corpus a hard task and did not succumb until within hail of their college barge. Christ Church 2 had to lower their flag to Keble 1 at the Freewater stone, and Jesus losing rapidly to Balliol 2 were secured by them before leaving Iffley Reach.

  In the first division the order of starting was :— Balliol 1, Magdalen 1, New College 1, Brasenose 1, Trinity 1, St. John's 1, Hertford, Christ Church 1, New College 2, and Merton. Balliol 1 displayed splendid form, and, increasing the gap, ultimately finished nearly twice their starting distance ahead of Magdalen. New College 1 kept well away from Brasenose, who made a plucky effort to escape Trinity; they, however, had to strike their colours under the Willows, and Christ Church fell victims to New College 2 at the Long Bridges, Merton having gained considerably on the latter at the time.

• The Times Tue 23 Feb

  Beautifully fine spring-like weather prevailed at Oxford yesterday, and when the races commenced there was a very large concourse of people present.

  The third division were despatched in the following order :— Jesus, Oriel, Magdalen 2, Wadham, Exeter 2, Lincoln, Trinity 2, New College 3, Keble 2, St. John's 2, and Worcester. Oriel, who had to give way to Balliol 2 on Saturday, retrieved their position by capturing Jesus just before reaching the boathouse. Wadham were unable to keep away from Exeter 2, being caught at the ferry, Trinity 2 overtook Lincoln in the Gut, and Keble 2 had to lower their colours to St. John's 2 after passing the boathouse.

  In the second division the order was :— Merton, Queen's, Exeter 1, University, Brasenose 2, Corpus, Pembroke, Keble 1, Christ Church 2, Balliol 2, Oriel. University caught Exeter on emerging from the Gut. Brasenose, who were handicapped through losing their No.4 through illness, after a game struggle, had to give way to Corpus opposite the barge of the victors, and Balliol 2 effected the downfall of Christ Church 2 at Weir's-bridge.

  The first division started in the following order :— Balliol 1, Magdalen 1, New College 1, Trinity 1, Brasenose 1, St. John's 1, Hertford, New College 2, Christ Church, and Merton. New College 1 were overtaken by Trinity 1 at the boathouse, and this was the only change effected in this division, although St. John's 1 towards the finish were but a quarter of a length clear of Hertford.

• The Times Wed 24 Feb

  The high wind which prevailed yesterday afternoon interfered considerably with some of the crews, who showed signs of distress long before the barges were reached.

  The third division started in the following order :— Oriel, Jesus, Magdalen 2, Exeter 2, Wadham, Trinity 2, Lincoln, New College 3, St. John's 2, Keble 2, and Worcester. Magdalen 2 gave way to Exeter coming through the Gut. Trinity 2 drew rapidly on to Wadham, and, after a short struggle, the latter had to give way at the ferry. The next two boats, Lincoln and New College 3, showed good sport as far as the Freewater Stone, where New College came up and made their bumps at Long Bridges.

  In the second division the order of starting was :— Merton, Queen's, University, Exeter, Corpus, Brasenose 2, Pembroke, Keble, Balliol 2, Christ Church 2, and Oriel. University made their fifth bump by catching Queen's in the Gut. Corpus, too, continued their victorious career, and coming up hand-over-hand from the Freewater Stone, they also made their fifth bump by catching Exeter near Long Bridges. Keble made a poor display against Balliol 2, and had to give way to them soon after passing the ferry. A grand race followed between Oriel and Christ Church 2, but no bump was made.

  In the first division the order of starting was :— Balliol 1, Magdalen 1, Trinity 1, New College 1, Brasenose 1, St. John's 1, Hertford, New College 2, Christ Church 1, and Merton. There was a fine race between New College and Brasenose, but the positions remained unchanged. Three lengths separated Brasenose from St. John's, who were pressed by Hertford; while Hertford had a hard struggle to escape New College 2.

• The Times Thu 25 Feb

  A rough south-westerly wind prevailed yesterday afternoon, the last day of the Torpids. There was, however, a large attendance.

  In the third division the order of starting was — Oriel, Jesus, Exeter 2, Magdalen 2, Trinity 2, Wadham, New College 3, Lincoln, St. John's 2, Keble 2, and Worcester. Jesus were again unfortunate, as they were overtaken by Exeter 2 in coming out of the Gut. Magdalen 2 were caught by Trinity 2 just after passing the Freewater Stone. Wadham had to give way to New College 3 at the Red Post, and Worcester relegated Keble 2 to the last position by running into them almost on the post.

  The order of the second division was — Merton, University, Queen's, Corpus, Exeter, Brasenose 2, Pembroke, Balliol 2, Keble, Christ Church 2, and Oriel. University, after a hard chase, succeeded in lowering the colours of Merton opposite New College barge, this making their sixth bump, and Corpus followed their example by running into Queen's as they emerged from the Gut. Exeter could not keep away from Brasenose 2 who secured them at the Red Post, and Balliol 2 scored their sixth success by overtaking Pembroke at the Freewater Stone.

  There was but one change in the first division, the order in which was Balliol 1, Magdalen 1, Trinity 1, New College 1, Brasenose 1, St. John's 1, Hertford, New College 2, Christ Church, and University. There was an exciting struggle between New College and Brasenose, only a few inches separating them at one time, but no change was made. University, who by bumping Merton in the second division became the last boat in the first division, easily captured Christ Church before the Freewater Stone was reached, thereby making seven bumps in the six days.

  Article ends with a list of start and finish order for the week.

• In other news ... [1897]

  Monarch: Queen Victoria

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

  Feb 18

  Benin is put to the torch by the British Army's Benin Expedition. Ovonramwen, Oba of Benin, is exiled from his kingdom and the Benin Bronzes are carried off to London.

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