Torpids 1904

BUMPS CHART

STANDINGS Start Finish Pos College Pts Pts College 1 New College 37 43 New College 2 Balliol 31 29 University 3 Brasenose 29 29 Balliol 4 University 28 27 Brasenose 5 Magdalen 27 24 Magdalen 6 Pembroke 17 18 Trinity 7 Trinity 16 15 Christ Church 8 Christ Church 15 15 Pembroke 9 Keble 11 9 Lincoln 10 Hertford 10 9 Keble 11 Exeter 9 8 Exeter 12 Corpus Christi 7 7 Merton 13 Oriel 5 6 St John's 14 Lincoln 5 5 Oriel 15 Merton 4 5 Hertford 16 Queen's 3 5 Corpus Christi 17 St John's 3 2 Queen's 18 Worcester 3 2 Worcester 19 Wadham 2 2 St Catherine's 20 St Catherine's 2 1 Jesus 21 Jesus 1 1 Wadham

STATISTICS College All Crews [ ]=rank Crews Bps Avg University 2[ 1] 6[ 1] 3.00[ 4] Lincoln 1[10] 6[ 1] 6.00[ 1] St John's 1[10] 6[ 1] 6.00[ 1] Merton 1[10] 5[ 4] 5.00[ 3] New College 2[ 1] 5[ 4] 2.50[ 5] Christ Church 2[ 1] 4[ 6] 2.00[ 6] Oriel 2[ 1] 3[ 7] 1.50[ 7] Trinity 2[ 1] 0[ 8] 0.00[ 8] St Catherine's 1[10] 0[ 8] 0.00[ 8] Jesus 1[10] 0[ 8] 0.00[ 8] Balliol 2[ 1] -1[11] -0.50[11] Pembroke 1[10] -1[11] -1.00[12] Exeter 1[10] -1[11] -1.00[12] Queen's 1[10] -3[14] -3.00[17] Keble 2[ 1] -3[14] -1.50[14] Corpus Christi 1[10] -3[14] -3.00[17] Worcester 1[10] -3[14] -3.00[17] Wadham 1[10] -4[18] -4.00[20] Magdalen 2[ 1] -5[19] -2.50[15] Brasenose 2[ 1] -5[19] -2.50[15] Hertford 1[10] -6[21] -6.00[21]

• Thu 18 Feb - Wed 24 Feb 1904

• The Times Fri 19 Feb

  At one time it was feared that owing to the high floods at Oxford the torpids would have to be abandoned. During the last few days, however, the water has receded to a considerable extent, and the races began yesteday in pleasant weather. There was a very strong stream, and a westerly wind added to the difficulties of the crews. The entries numbered 30, or two more than last year.

  The third division started in the following order :— Queen's, St. John's, Worcester, Keble II, Christ Church II, Wadham, St. Catherine's, Jesus, University II, Trinity II, and Oriel II. Four bumps took place in the this division. St. John's overtook Queen's before the Long Bridges were reached. Worcester were hard pressed by Keble II, but Christ Church II came up rapidly near the Willows, and Keble II were compelled to acknowledge defeat. Wadham were overtaken by St. Catherine's early in the race. Jesus were bumped by University II opposite the Freewater-stone. A close struggle ensued between Trinity II, and Oriel II, only half a length dividing them when the flag was passed.

  The second division started in the following order :— Hertford, Exeter, Keble, New College II, Corpus, Magdalen II, Brasenose II, Lincoln, Merton, Oriel, and St. John's. Hertford were displaced by Exeter at the Red Post. Keble were bumped by New College II at the Long Bridges. Brasenose II were overtaken by Lincoln at the Ferry, Merton at the time being close to Lincoln. St. John's scored a second success by bumping Oriel.

  In the first division the order of starting was :— New College, University, Brasenose, Magdalen, Balliol, Pembroke, Trinity, Christ Church, Balliol II, and Exeter. New College had no difficulty in maintaining the headship. Magdalen gained on Brasenose, three-quarters of a length dividing them at the finish. Pembroke were bumped by Trinity near the Willows, this being the only bump in the division.

• The Times Sat 20 Feb

  The second day's racing at Oxford yesterday took place in fine weather, although shortly after it had concluded there was a downpour of rain. The floods have subsided to a marked extent.

  The third division started in the following order :— Oriel, Queen's, Worcester, Christ Church II, Keble II, St. Catherine's, Wadham, University II, Jesus, Trinity II, and Oriel II. Christ Church II were bumped by Worcester early in the race, Wadham by University II at the Ferry, and Trinity II by Oriel II soon after passing the Long Bridges.

  The second division started in the following order :— Exeter, Hertford, New College II, Keble, Corpus, Magdalen II, Lincoln, Brasenose II, Merton, St. John's, and Oriel. Hertford proved no match for New College II, who came up rapidly from the Weirs Bridge, and were successful near the Freewater-stone. Lincoln caught Magdalen II just before reaching the Long Bridges, and Merton bumped Brasenose II soon after the start.

  In the first division the order of starting was :— New College, University, Brasenose, Magdalen, Balliol, Trinity, Pembroke, Christ Church, Balliol II, and Exeter. New College kept well away from University, Pembroke were hard pressed by Christ Church, who succeeded in getting within a third of a length, and the latter were in turn driven along by Balliol II, who were at one time only half a length behind. No bump took place in this division.

• The Times Mon 22 Feb

  A heavy westerly gale prevailed at Oxford on Saturday affternoon, causing the river to be very rough in places, and the work of the crews was of an unusually arduous character. Rain, fortunately, held off, but the boisterous weather led to a falling-off in the number of spectators. Owing to the continuous rain on Friday evening there was scarcely any perceptible diminution in the height of the floods. There were in all ten bumps effected in the three divisions.

  The order of starting in the third divsion was :— Oriel, Queen's, Christ Church II, Worcester, Keble II, St. Catherine's, University II, Wadham, Jesus, Oriel II, and Trinity II. Queen's, who were hotly pursued by Christ Church II, gained somewhat on Oriel, but they could not shake off their opponents and were compelled to give in to Christ Church II opposite the Hertford Barge. Worcester were overtaken by Keble II under the Green-bank, St. Catherine's were bumped by University II in going through the Gut, and Jesus, who showed improved form, caught Wadham at the Freewater Stone.

  The second division started in the following order :— Exeter, New College II, Hertford, Keble, Corpus, Lincoln, Magdalen II, Merton, Brasenose II, St. John's, and Oriel. All the boats with the exception of one in this division changed places. Exeter were greatly inconvenienced by the strong wind, and the distance between them and New College II began to diminish rapidly soon after the start, and they were overtaken in the Gut. Hertford made an excellent race with Keble, and it was not until the Red Post was reached that they were bumped. Lincoln caught Corpus without much difficulty at the Willows, and Merton gained an even easier victory over Magdalen II by catching them in going through the Gut. Brasenose were unfortunate, as immediately before the start the wind forced the boat across the stream, and the bottom was stove in through coming in violent contact with some wooden piles, and the crew were thrown into the water. By this accident St. John's gained a place.

  The order of starting in the first division was :— New College, University, Brasenose, Magdalen, Balliol, Trinity, Pembroke, Christ Church, Balliol II, and New College II. There was only one alteration in this divison. New College II making their second success in the afternoon by overtaking Balliol II before reaching the Ferry. The first four boats maintained their distances, but Trinity by a determined effort were very close to Balliol in the Gut. The latter, however, gradually drew ahead, and at the finish were about their distance to the good. Christ Church gained considerably on Pembroke, but the latter were never in danger.

• The Times Tue 23 Feb

  The crews were fortunately not troubled yesterday afternoon with anything like the wind they had previously been called upon to face. The floods, however, are still over the towing-path below the boathouse.

  The third division started in the following order :— Oriel, Christ Church II, Queen's, Keble II, Worcester, University II, St. Catherine's, Jesus, Wadham, Oriel II, and Trinity II. There was a magnificent struggle between Oriel and Christ Church II. Only a very short distance separated the boats as they approached the barges, but Oriel gradually drew away and passed the flag a third of a length to the good. Queen's were hard pressed by Keble II, and but a few feet divided them at the close. Worcester were bumped by University II before the Long Bridges were reached. There was a close race between St. Catherine's and Jesus, the latter failing to accomplish their purpose by half a length. Wadham were bumped by Oriel II early in the race.

  The second division started in the following order :— Balliol II, Exeter, Keble, Hertford, Lincoln, Corpus, Merton, Magdalen II, St. John's, Brasenose II, and Oriel. An exciting race took place between Exeter and Keble, and the latter were within a few feet of their opponents at the finish. Lincoln overtook Hertford in Iffley-reach. Merton bumped Corpus near the Free Water Stone. Magdalen II were caught by St. John's at the Ferry, and Brasenose II gave way to Oriel by the Red Post.

  In the first division the order of starting was as follows :— New College, University, Brasenose, Magdalen, Balliol, Trinity, Pembroke, Christ Church, New College II, and Balliol II. Brasenose gained on University and Magdalen pressed Brasenose as far as the Long Bridges. Pembroke experienced some difficulty in escaping Christ Church II, but were relieved of anxiety by New College II overtaking Christ Church under the willows.

• The Times Wed 24 Feb

  The fifth day's racing at Oxford this [Tuesday] afternoon was favoured with pleasant weather. There were some exciting struggles, and six bumps took place.

  The third division started in the following order :— Brasenose II, Christ Church II, Queen's, Keble II, University II, Worcester, St. Catherine's, Jesus, Oriel II, Wadham, and Trinity II. Christ Church II gained rapidly at the start and overtook Brasenose II at the Red Post. Keble II were overtaken by University II under the Willows. St. Catherine's pressed Worcester almost throughout, only a quarter of a length dividing them at the finish.

  In the second division the starting order was :— Balliol II, Exeter, Keble, Lincoln, Hertford, Merton, Corpus, St. John's, Magdalen II, Oriel, and Christ Church II. Lincoln bumped Keble before the Long Bridges were reached. Merton displaced Hertford at the Ferry. St. John's bumped Corpus early in the race, and Oriel had no difficulty in catching Magdalen II.

  The first division started as follows :— New College, University, Brasenose, Magdalen, Balliol, Trinity, Pembroke, New College II, Christ Church, and Balliol II. A close and determined struggle took place between Pembroke and New College II, the latter having already made five bumps since the races began. At the Red Post only a few feet divided the boats, but from this point Pembroke got away and finished a length to the good. No bumps took place in this division.

• The Times Thu 25 Feb

  The torpids were concluded at Oxford yesterday. The weather was fine and the attendance was larger than on any other day of the races.

  The third division started in the following order :— Christ Church II, Brasenose II, Queen's, University II, Keble II, Worcester, St. Catherine's, Jesus, Oriel II, Wadham, and Trinity II. Queen's gained on Brasenose II, and twice narrowly missed securing the bump. In the meantime University II came up in great form from the Long Bridges, and overtook Queen's at the entrance to the Cherwell.

  The second division order of starting was :— Balliol II, Exeter, Lincoln, Keble, Merton, Hertford, St. John's, Corpus, Oriel, Magdalen II, and Christ Church II. There was a good race between the three leading boats. At one time it looked as if Exeter would overtake Balliol II before Lincoln could get their bump, but eventually Lincoln caught Exeter near Talboy's Barge. Merton had no difficulty in disposing of Keble, who were compelled to give way at the ferry. St. John's gained their sixth bump by defeating Hertford. Oriel got within a quarter of a length of Corpus, and Christ Church II bumped Magdalen II under the Willows.

  The order of starting in the first division was :— New College, University, Brasenose, Magdalen, Balliol, Trinity, Pembroke, New College II, and Christ Church [and Balliol II]. New College retained the headship of the river without having to exert themselves, and they were heartily cheered as they passed the flag, having held the first position for five successive years. Magdalen pressed Brasenose, and New College II succeeded in getting within a third of a length of Pembroke, but no bump took place in this division.

  During the six nights' racing there were 43 bumps, St. John's, Lincoln, and University II making six each, and Merton, New College II, and Christ Church II five each. Hertford dropped six places, Magdalen II and Brasenose II five each, and Wadham four.

  [article concludes with the start and finish orders for the week]

• In other news ... [1904]

  Monarch: Edward VII

  Prime Minister: Arthur Balfour (Conservative)

  17 Feb

  Puccini's opera Madama Butterfly, with a background theme of Japan-United States relations, debuts at La Scala in Milan, to no great acclaim.

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