Torpids 1920

BUMPS CHART

STANDINGS Start Finish Pos College Pts Pts College 1 Magdalen 59 60 Christ Church 2 Christ Church 55 48 Magdalen 3 New College 33 41 New College 4 Balliol 33 36 Balliol 5 St John's 32 26 University 6 University 21 19 Worcester 7 Trinity 16 19 Brasenose 8 Worcester 16 19 St John's 9 Brasenose 15 12 Oriel 10 Keble 12 11 Corpus Christi 11 Oriel 11 11 Keble 12 Corpus Christi 10 10 Trinity 13 Pembroke 8 10 Merton 14 Wadham 7 8 Queen's 15 Exeter 6 6 Wadham 16 Queen's 6 6 Pembroke 17 Merton 6 5 Exeter 18 Jesus 4 5 Lincoln 19 Lincoln 4 4 Hertford 20 Hertford 3 3 Jesus 21 St Catherine's 3 2 St Catherine's 22 St Edmund Hall 2 1 St Edmund Hall

STATISTICS College All Crews [ ]=rank Crews Bps Avg Christ Church 3[ 1] 6[ 1] 2.00[ 4] Lincoln 2[ 3] 6[ 1] 3.00[ 2] Merton 1[13] 5[ 3] 5.00[ 1] Balliol 2[ 3] 5[ 3] 2.50[ 3] Queen's 2[ 3] 4[ 5] 2.00[ 4] New College 2[ 3] 4[ 5] 2.00[ 4] University 2[ 3] 3[ 7] 1.50[ 8] Worcester 1[13] 2[ 8] 2.00[ 4] Wadham 2[ 3] 2[ 8] 1.00[ 9] Oriel 1[13] 1[10] 1.00[ 9] Corpus Christi 1[13] 1[10] 1.00[ 9] Brasenose 2[ 3] 1[10] 0.50[13] Hertford 1[13] 1[10] 1.00[ 9] St Catherine's 1[13] -2[14] -2.00[15] Exeter 1[13] -2[14] -2.00[15] Keble 2[ 3] -2[14] -1.00[14] Jesus 1[13] -3[17] -3.00[18] St Edmund Hall 1[13] -3[17] -3.00[18] Pembroke 1[13] -3[17] -3.00[18] Magdalen 2[ 3] -5[20] -2.50[17] St John's 3[ 1] -10[21] -3.33[21] Trinity 2[ 3] -11[22] -5.50[22]

• 6 days: Thu 19 – Wed 25 Feb, 1920
• Resume from 1914 finish order.
• Coverage in The Daily Telegraph just paraphrases that from The Times so is not reproduced here apart from the final paragraph on Thu 26 Feb.

• The Times Thu 19 Feb

  After a lapse of six years the Oxford University Torpid Races will be begun to-day and extend over six days. There are as many as 36 entries. Christ Church are at the head of the river, and there seems every probability of their maintaining the position. The order of starting is as follows :— [...]

• The Times Fri 20 Feb

  There was a large number of spectators on the river banks at Oxford yesterday to witness the opening day of the Torpids. Altogether, there were seven bumps in the three divisions of the races.

  The Third Division was started in the following order :— Hertford, Keble II, St. Catherine's, Lincoln, Brasenose II, Trinity II, St. Edmund Hall, Christ Church III, University II, Wadham II, Queen's II, Lincoln II, St. John's III.

  Trinity II were displaced by St. Edmund's Hall in coming out of Iffley Reach, and a very exciting struggle ensued between Queen's II and Lincoln II from the start. The last-named succeeded in making their bump within a few yards of the winning post.

  In the Second Division, the order was :— New College II, Oriel, Corpus, Keble, Pembroke, St. John's II, Exeter, Merton, Wadham, Queen's, Jesus, Balliol II, Hertford.

  A close race between New College II and Oriel ended in the former escaping disaster by three yards. Merton caught Exeter shortly after passing the Weirs Bridge, and Queen's overtook Wadham in front of their college barge. Jesus were bumped by Balliol II near to the Long Bridges.

  The order in the First Division was :— Christ Church, Magdalen, Balliol, Magdalen II, St. John's, New College, University, Christ Church II, Worcester, Trinity, Brasenose, New College II.

  St. John's were overtaken by New College before reaching the Long Bridges, and Trinity were run into by Brasenose at the free water stone.

  The races will be continued to-morrow.

• The Times Sat 21 Feb

  The Torpid races were begun at Oxford yesterday in very wintry weather. Snow fell nearly the whole of the morning and was succeeded by a cold north-easterly wind and showers of sleet. The wind and stream made the work rather hard for the crews. There was some exicting racing in three or four instances over the entire course, and in the three divisions eight bumps were made.

  The crews in the third division were started in the following order :— Hertford, Keble II, St. Catherine's, Lincoln, Brasenose II, St. Edmund Hall, Trinity II, Christ Church III, University II, Wadham II, Lincoln II, Queen's II, St. John's III. Christ Church III quickly disposed of Trinity II, overtaking them at the Free Ferry. These two boats caused a temporary obstruction, and before University II could get clear, Wadham II dashed into them, smashing a couple of oars, and causing University to lose a place.

  The crews in the second division were started in the following order :— New College II, Oriel, Corpus Christi, Keble, Pembroke, St. John's II, Merton, Exeter, Queen's, Wadham, Balliol II, Jesus, Hertford. A close race between New College II and Oriel resulted in the former escaping defeat by three yards. St. John's II were displaced by Merton at the Long Bridges; Queen's ran into Exeter at the Boathouse; Balliol II caught Wadham at the Free Water Stone, and Hertford bumped Jesus at the Long Bridges.

  The crews in the first division were started in the following order :— Christ Church, Magdalen, Balliol, Magdalen II, New College, St. John's, University, Christ Church II, Worcester, Brasenose, Trinity, New College II. Christ Church easily maintained their position as leading boat. New College bumped Magdalen II at the Red Post, and St. John's had to give way to University near the Free Water Stone. At the finish Christ Church II were only about five feet in front of Worcester.

  The races will be continued to-day.

• The Times Mon 23 Feb

  The University Torpid races were continued at Oxford on Saturday. The crews had to contend not only with an adverse wind, but also with a strong stream. There were eight bumps in the three divisions.

  Third Division.— The order at the start was :— Jesus, Keble II, St. Catherine's, Lincoln, Brasenose II, St. Edmund Hall, Christ Church III, Trinity II, Wadham II, University II, Lincoln II, Queen's II, St. John's III.

  St. Catherine's were bumped by Lincoln at the Long Bridges, and before clearing Iffley Reach St. Edmund Hall were compelled to give way to Christ Church III. Trinity II were bumped by Wadham II near the Free Ferry.

  Second Division.— The order at the start was :— New College II, Oriel, Corpus, Keble, Pembroke, Merton, St. John's II, Queen's, Exeter, Balliol II, Wadham, Hertford, Jesus.

  For a considerable distance New College II were hard pressed by Oriel, but at the finish a third of a length divided the boats. Pembroke were overtaken by Merton near the Boathouse, this making the latter's third success. Balliol II overtook Exeter at the Freewater Stone.

  First Division.— The order at the start was :— Christ Church, Magdalen, Balliol, New College, Magdalen II, University, St. John's, Christ Church II, Worcester, Brasenose, Trinity, New College II.

  The leading boat maintained position with ease, finishing three lengths to the good. Magdalen II were bumped by University at the New Cut, St. John's by Christ Church II before reaching the Free Ferry, and Trinity by New College II at the Crossing.

  The races will be continued to-day.

• The Times Tue 24 Feb

  The fourth day's racing in the Torpids at Oxford took place in fine weather. The heavy fog of the morning had almost disappeared, and there was a large number of spectators. There were some interesting contests, and the total number of bumps made in the three divisions — 9 — was the largest yet made in these races.

  The order of starting in the Third Division was as follows :— Jesus, Keble II, Lincoln, St. Catherine's, Brasenose II, Christ Church III, St. Edmund Hall, Wadham II, Trinity II, University II, Lincoln II, Queen's II [no mention of St. John's III].

  Keble II were displaced by Lincoln near the Long Bridges, and at the same spot Christ Church III ran into Brasenose II. St. Edmund Hall were overtaken by Wadham II at the Freewater Stone, and Trinity II experienced their fourth defeat by being bumped by University II at the Weirs Bridge.

  In the Second Division the order of starting was :— Trinity, Oriel, Corpus, Keble, Merton, Pembroke, St. John's II, Queen's, Balliol II, Exeter, Wadham, Hertford, Jesus.

  Trinity were caught by Oriel at the Freewater Stone. Merton scored their fourth success by displacing Keble along the Green Bank, and St. John's were run into by Queen's when approaching the Long Bridges.

  The First Division boats started in the following order :— Christ Church, Magdalen, Balliol, New College, University, Magdalen II, Christ Church II, St. John's, Worcester, Brasenose, New College II, Trinity.

  Christ Church maintained their position with ease, finishing more than their distance to the good. New College escaped disaster by only a third of a length. Christ Church II were successful against Magdalen II under the Green Bank, and Worcester ran into St. John's near the Freewater Stone.

  The races will be continued to-day.

• The Times Wed 25 Feb

  The weather was again favourable at Oxford yesterday, when the Torpids were continued. There were several exciting races, and nine bumps were made in the three divisions.

  In the third division the crews were started in the following order :— Hertford, Jesus, Lincoln, Keble II, St. Catharine's, Christ Church III, Brasenose II, Wadham II, St. Edmund Hall, University II, Trinity II, Lincoln II, and Queen's II. [If this is accurate it implies the bottom two boats from yesterday's Div 2 returned to race in Div 3, possibly a re-adjustment related to St John's III scratching]. After a long chase Lincoln bumped Jesus, but it was not until they reached the Cherwell that they attained their object. St. Catharine's were within a third of a length of Keble II, when they were caught by Christ Church III under the Willows. University II ran into St. Edmund Hall along the Green Bank, and Trinity II experienced their fifth defeat by being bumped by Lincoln II at the Weirs Bridge.

  The order of starting in the second division was :— Oriel, Trinity, Corpus Christi, Merton, Keble, Pembroke, Queen's, St. John's II, Balliol II, Exeter, Wadham, and Hertford. Trinity were caught by Corpus Christi just after passing the Long Bridges; Pembroke were overtaken by Queen's along the Green Bank; and Balliol II bumped St. John's II in Iffley Reach.

  The first division crews were started in the following order :— Christ Church, Magdalen, Balliol, New College, University, Christ Church II, Magdalen II, Worcester, St. John's, Brasenose, New College II, and Oriel. The leading boat kept well away from Magdalen, and towards the finish increased the distance between them. New College were barely a quarter of a length in front of University at the post; Worcester ran into Magdalen II before reaching the Free Ferry; and just after passing the Long Bridges St. John's were compelled to give way to Brasenose.

  The races will be concluded to-day.

• The Times Thu 26 Feb

  The Torpids were brought to a close at Oxford yesterday in very favourable weather conditions. There were eight bumps in the three divisions.

  In the third division the order of starting was :— Hertford, Lincoln, Jesus, Keble II, Christ Church III, St. Catharine's, Brasenose II, Wadham II, University II, St. Edmund Hall, Lincoln II, Trinity II, and Queen's II. Hertford reached the post about half a length in front of Lincoln, and Keble II had only three yards to spare from Christ Church III at the finish. Brasenose II were caught by Wadham II at Saunder's Bridge; Lincoln II bumped St. Edmund Hall on reaching the wall, and Queen's II bumped Trinity II near the Freewater Stone.

  The order in the second division was :— Oriel, Corpus, Trinity, Merton, Keble, Queen's, Pembroke, Balliol II, St. John's II, Exeter, Wadham, and Hertford. Trinity were bumped by Merton after passing the Freewater Stone; Balliol II ran into Pembroke at the Willows, and St. John's were overtaken by Exeter before reaching the Long Bridges.

  The first division boats were started in the following order :— Christ Church, Magdalen, Balliol, New College, University, Christ Church II, Worcester, Magdalen II, Brasenose, St. John's, New College II, and Oriel. The position of Head of the River was again easily held by Christ Church. Christ Church II escaped being caught by Worcester by barely three yards; Brasenose bumped Magdalen II at the Boathouse, and St. John's were overtaken by New College II at the Long Bridges. The names and weights of the Christ Church crew were :— [as below]

• The Daily Telegraph Thu 26 Feb. Largely as in The Times with the additional paragraph:

  In the six days' racing the total number of bumps made was forty-nine. Merton and Balliol II were successful on five occasions. Queen's, Christ Church III, and Wadham four each, and both the Lincoln boats three each. St. John's and Trinity each lost six places, Magdalen II and Trinity five each, St. John's four, and Pembroke, Jesus and St. Edmund Hall three each. The crew of the leading boat were [as in The Times, but without the weights, and listing G. W. Paton and E. Majoribanks]

• In other news ... [1920]

  Monarch: George V

  Prime Minister: David Lloyd George (Liberal)

  Thu 19 Feb

  1920 Gori earthquake: An earthquake hits Gori in the Democratic Republic of Georgia, killing 114.

  Mon 23 Feb

  War Secretary Winston Churchill announces that conscripts will be replaced by a volunteer army of 220,000 men.

  Tue 24 Feb

  Adolf Hitler presents his National Socialist Program in Munich to the German Workers' Party, which renames itself as the Nazi Party

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