Torpids 1898

BUMPS CHART

STANDINGS Start Finish Pos College Pts Pts College 1 New College 38 41 Balliol 2 Balliol 37 38 New College 3 Magdalen 30 34 Brasenose 4 Trinity 27 27 Trinity 5 Brasenose 27 24 Magdalen 6 St John's 19 17 University 7 Hertford 16 17 Christ Church 8 Christ Church 15 16 Hertford 9 University 12 11 Merton 10 Merton 10 10 St John's 11 Exeter 9 8 Pembroke 12 Corpus Christi 9 8 Keble 13 Queen's 8 6 Exeter 14 Keble 6 6 Corpus Christi 15 Pembroke 5 4 Queen's 16 Oriel 4 3 Oriel 17 Jesus 3 2 Lincoln 18 Wadham 2 2 Jesus 19 Lincoln 2 1 Wadham 20 Worcester 1 1 Worcester 21 St Catherine's 1 1 St Catherine's

STATISTICS College All Crews [ ]=rank Crews Bps Avg Brasenose 2[ 2] 6[ 1] 3.00[ 3] Keble 2[ 2] 6[ 1] 3.00[ 3] Balliol 2[ 2] 5[ 3] 2.50[ 6] Pembroke 1[10] 4[ 4] 4.00[ 1] Lincoln 1[10] 4[ 4] 4.00[ 1] University 1[10] 3[ 6] 3.00[ 3] Christ Church 2[ 2] 3[ 6] 1.50[ 7] New College 3[ 1] 1[ 8] 0.33[10] Merton 1[10] 1[ 8] 1.00[ 8] Trinity 2[ 2] 1[ 8] 0.50[ 9] Worcester 1[10] 0[11] 0.00[11] Hertford 1[10] 0[11] 0.00[11] St Catherine's 1[10] 0[11] 0.00[11] Oriel 1[10] -1[14] -1.00[14] Wadham 1[10] -2[15] -2.00[15] Jesus 1[10] -2[15] -2.00[15] Magdalen 2[ 2] -4[17] -2.00[15] Corpus Christi 1[10] -4[17] -4.00[18] Queen's 1[10] -5[19] -5.00[21] St John's 2[ 2] -8[20] -4.00[18] Exeter 2[ 2] -8[20] -4.00[18]

• 6 days: Thu 17 – Wed 23 Feb 1898.

• The Times Fri 18 Feb

  In fine weather and before a large gathering of spectators the Torpids at Oxford began yesterday. No fewer than 31 crews had entered, and the races were consequently rowed in three divisions.

  The third division started in the following order :— Exeter II, Jesus, Trinity II, Magdalen II, New College III, Wadham, Lincoln, St. John's II, Worcester, Keble II, and St. Catherine's. Jesus quickly gained on Exeter, and before entering the gut they effected their bump. New College III, who are a very promising crew, had no difficulty in overtaking Magdalen II, whom they caught at the freewater stone. An exciting struggle took place between Wadham, Lincoln, and St. John's II, and in the result Lincoln lowered the colours of Wadham near the Magdalen barge. Worcester were overtaken by Keble near the Red Post.

  The second division started in the following order :— Merton, Corpus, Queen's, Brasenose II, Exeter, Balliol II, Pembroke, Keble, Christ Church II, Oriel, and Jesus. Merton had no difficulty in maintaing their position. Queen's showed indifferent form and were overtaken by Brasenose II before reaching the gut, and Balliol II secured Exeter under the Willows.

  The first division order was :— Balliol I, Magdalen I, Trinity I, New College I, Brasenose I, St. John's I, Hertford, New College II, University, Christ Church I, and Merton. The supporters of Balliol did not experience the slightest anxiety, as the crew, rowing in capital style, were well away from start to finish, being nearly four lengths in front of Magdalen when they passed the flag. Trinity were close on Magdalen, being themselves hardly pressed by New College. St. John's fell to Hertford opposite the Worcester barge, and New College II gave way to University in the gut.

• The Times Sat 19 Feb

  Snow fell almost the whole time the torpids were in progress at Oxford yesterday.

  The third division started in the following order :— Jesus, Exeter II, Trinity II, New College III, Magdalen II, Lincoln, Wadham, St. John's II, Keble II, Worcester, and St. Catherine's. Exeter II fell to Trinity II at the Willows. New College III were faster than Trinity, and being robbed of their bump made a good but ineffectual effort to secure Jesus. Magdalen II and Lincoln had a good race, and the first-named managed to reach the Cherwell before Lincoln made their bump.

  The second division started in the following order :— Merton, Corpus, Brasenose II, Queen's, Balliol II, Exeter, Pembroke, Keble, Christ Church II, Oriel, and Jesus. Corpus succumbed to Brasenose II under the Willows, and Queen's proved no match for Balliol II, who lowered their colours a little higher up, and Exeter went down another place, Pembroke securing them at the Red Post.

  In the first division the order of starting was :— Balliol, Magdalen, Trinity, New College, Brasenose, Hertford, St. John's, University, New College II, Christ Church, and Merton. Balliol finished six lengths in front of Magdalen. New College caught Trinity opposite the latter's barge. An unfortunate accident befell Trinity, whose coxswain paying too much attention to the stern in his efforts to escape New College, unwittingly drove the bow of his boat hard into the Jesus barge, completely smashing the boat, and she promptly filled, the crew being immersed. St. John's were again on the down line, and fell to University coming through the gut, and after a short struggle New II had to give way to Christ Church I at the Ferry.

• The Times Mon 21 Feb

  The racing proved exciting on Saturday, and there were no fewer than ten bumps. With a marked improvement in the weather a considerable increase in the attendance was noticeable.

  The Third Division started in the following order :— Jesus, Trinity II, Exeter II, New College III, Lincoln, Magdalen II, Wadham, St. John's II, Keble II, Worcester, and St. Catherine's. Although Jesus struggled gamely they proved no match for Trinity II, who overtook them near the red post. New College III, who are a capital crew, succeeded in bumping Exeter II early in the race. St. John's II had to give way to Keble II at the Long Bridges. Worcester finished some distance in front of St. Catherine's.

  The Second Division started as under :— Merton, Brasenose II, Corpus, Balliol II, Queen's, Pembroke, Exeter I, Keble I, Christ Church II, Oriel, and Trinity II. After an exciting race Merton had to lower their colours to Brasenose II near the Christ Church barge, Corpus were bumped by Balliol II under the willows, Queen's were caught by Pembroke at the red post, and Exeter I were displaced by Keble I at the Freewater Stone. Christ Church II finished a length and a half in front of Oriel, and Trinity II were some distance in the rear.

  The First Division order was as follows :— Balliol I, Magdalen I, New College I, Trinity I, Brasenose I, Hertford, University, St. John's I, Christ Church I, New College II, and Brasenose II. Balliol rowed up as they pleased, Magdalen being disposed of by New College before reaching the red post. There was a good race between Brasenose I and Trinity I. Although the latter were very near defeat, they persevered gamely, and maintained their position at the post by a quarter of a length. University pressed Hertford very hard, and almost succeeded in making the bump opposite the barges. St. John's I were compelled to give way to Christ Church I under the willows, and New College II were overtaken by Brasenose II shortly after passing the Long Bridges.

• The Times Tue 22 Feb

  After a short but heavy fall of snow yesterday morning the weather cleared and the sun shone brightly when the third division boats took their places, there being again a good attendance of spectators.

  The third division started in the following order :— Trinity II, Jesus, New College III, Exeter II, Lincoln, Magdalen II, Wadham, Keble II, St. John's II, Worcester, and St. Catherine's. Trinity II had bad luck at the start, No.2 breaking his oar against the bank through erratic steering, but they managed to keep well away from Jesus. The latter were overmatched by New College II, who caught them close by their barge. Between Exeter II and Lincoln there was a very exciting struggle, the last-named overlapping at the Cherwell, but Exeter II got away again, only to be overtaken when but a few yards from the post. Wadham were displaced by Keble II near the Wadham barge.

  In the second division the order was :— New College II, Merton, Balliol II, Corpus, Pembroke, Queen's, Keble I, Exeter I, Christ Church II, Oriel, and Trinity II. Merton recovered the position they lost on Saturday by catching New College II at the Red post. Pembroke were close on to Corpus for some distance, and at the boathouse narrowly missed effecting a bump, but the latter struggled on and passed the post with only about a foot to the good. Queen's from the start lost ground to Keble I, and had to give way to them at the Long-bridges, while Exeter I made another downward move, Christ Church II displacing them at the Freewater Stone.

  The order of the first division was as follows :— Balliol I, New College I, Magdalen I, Trinity I, Brasenose I, Hertford, University, Christ Church I, St. John's I, Brasenose II, and Merton. Balliol maintained the leading position with the greatest ease. There was a close race between Magdalen, Trinity, and Brasenose I for a considerable distance, and at the finish only a few feet separated them. University overlapped Hertford at Saunder's-bridge, but the tactics of the coxswain of the latter enabled them to pull through successfully Brasenose II lowered the colours of St. John's at the Long-bridges.

• The Times Wed 23 Feb

  Much better weather prevailed yesterday at Oxford when the fifth day's racing began, but the bitterly cold north-easterly wind somewhat affected the attendance of spectators.

  In the third division the order of starting was :— Trinity II, New College III, Jesus, Lincoln, Exeter II, Magdalen II, Keble II, Wadham, St. John's II, Worcester, and St. Catherine's. The upward progress of New College III received a check for the first time, but they made such a good fight that Trinity II were only a third of a length ahead at the finish. Lincoln continued their successes by catching Jesus at the New College barge, and in the Gut St. John's II were displaced by Worcester.

  The order of the second division was as follows :— Merton, New College II, Balliol II, Corpus, Pembroke, Keble I, Queen's, Christ Church II, Exeter I, Oriel, and Trinity II. New College II, who have lost a place on each day of the races, had again to suffer defeat, this time at the hands of Balliol II, in coming out of the Gut. Corpus were compelled to give in to Pembroke at the Red Post after a very determined struggle, and at the Longbridges Queen's were displaced by Christ Church II, and Exeter had a very narrow escape from being caught by Oriel, who overlapped them at Saunder's Bridge.

  In the first division boats the order was :— Balliol I, New College I, Magdalen I, Trinity I, Brasenose I, Hertford, University, Christ Church I, Brasenose II, St. John's I, and Merton. Balliol maintained their superiority by finishing at twice their starting distance from New College, who in turn were widely separated from Magdalen. The last named were hardly pressed by Trinity, and on passing the post there was a third of a length only between them. An exciting struggle took place between Hertford and University all the way up, and after passing the Cherwell the latter made a determined effort and effected their bump at the Exeter barge. The closest racing, however, was that between Christ Church and Brasenose II, the former getting past the post by a few inches only to spare. St. John's I were once more unfortunate, Merton running into them at the Freewater stone. The races will be concluded to-day.

• The Times Thu 24 Feb

  Although a keen north-easterly wind prevailed yesterday, there was again a numerous attendance on the college barges and river banks at the final day's racing of the torpids, especially at the third division, the boats in which started in the following order :— Trinity II, New College III, Lincoln, Jesus, Exeter II, Magdalen II, Keble II, Wadham, Worcester, St. John's II, and St. Catherine's. The racing in this division was devoid of excitement, there being but one change affected [sic], and that through an unfortunate mishap. Just after the start the coxswain of the Trinity II boat broke one of the rudder lines, causing the craft to run into the bank, thus placing them, of course, at the mercy of New College III Keble II finished less than a quarter of a length from Magdalen II, and at the winning-post Worcester had got to within half a length of Wadham.

  The order in the second division was as follows :— St. John's I, Balliol II, New College II, Pembroke, Corpus, Keble I, Christ Church II, Queen's, Exeter I, Oriel, and New College III. St. John's, who had lost a place on each day, were again unfortunate, Balliol II overtaking them as they [were] coming out of the Gut. New College II likewise made their sixth downward move, Pembroke overtaking them at the Longbridges. Keble I ran into Corpus opposite Rough's boathouse, and New College III repeated the performance of Brasenose II on Saturday by making two bumps in one afternoon, Oriel having to give way to them at the Freewater stone.

  In the first division the order was Balliol I, New College I, Magdalen I, Trinity I, Brasenose I, University, Hertford, Christ Church I, Brasenose II, Merton, and Balliol II. Balliol again easily maintained their position at the head of the river, finishing fully three lengths clear of New College. A capital race was witnessed between Magdalen and Trinity. The last-named were close at the Willows, but their shot proved fruitless and this enabled Magdalen to draw clear a few feet; but their pursuers made a more determined effort, and efffected their bump opposite the Corpus barge. Brasenose reached home about half a length in front of University, but Christ Church were not so fortunate, Brasenose II overtaking them at the Willows.

  In the six days' racing 47 bumps were made, six of which were credited to Brasenose II, five each to Balliol II and New College III, four each to Pembroke and Lincoln, three each to University, Keble I, and Keble II, two each to New College I, and Christ Church II, and one each to Christ Church I, Merton, and Trinity I. St. John's I and New College II lost six places each; Queen's five, Corpus, Exeter I, and Exeter II, four each; Magdalen I, Jesus, Magdalen II, Wadham, and St. John's II, two each; and Oriel one. [article concludes with start and finish order for the week]

• In other news ... [1898]

  Monarch: Queen Victoria

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

  12 Feb

  The car belonging to Henry Lindfield of Brighton runs away on a hill in Purley, Surrey and hits a tree; thus he becomes the world's first fatality from an automobile accident on the public highway.

  15 Feb

  Spanish-American War: The USS Maine explodes and sinks in Havana Harbor, Cuba, for reasons never fully established, killing 266 men. The event precipitates the United States' declaration of war on Spain, two months later.

  23 Feb

  Emile Zola is imprisoned in France, after writing J'Accuse...!.

  1 March

  Vladimir Lenin creates the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party

Return to Bumps Index