Torpids 1923

BUMPS CHART

STANDINGS Start Finish Pos College Pts Pts College 1 Magdalen 42 39 Magdalen 2 New College 41 34 Christ Church 3 Worcester 35 30 Worcester 4 Christ Church 34 29 Balliol 5 Balliol 29 28 New College 6 Brasenose 22 26 Brasenose 7 Merton 15 21 University 8 University 14 15 Trinity 9 St John's 13 14 Merton 10 Corpus Christi 12 13 St John's 11 Trinity 9 12 Wadham 12 Wadham 9 8 Corpus Christi 13 Queen's 7 7 Keble 14 Lincoln 5 6 Lincoln 15 Pembroke 5 6 Queen's 16 Keble 5 5 Pembroke 17 Oriel 4 4 Oriel 18 Exeter 3 4 Exeter 19 Hertford 2 3 Hertford 20 Jesus 2 2 Jesus 21 St Catherine's 2 2 St Catherine's 22 St Edmund Hall 1 1 St Edmund Hall

STATISTICS College All Crews [ ]=rank Crews Bps Avg Trinity 1[10] 5[ 1] 5.00[ 1] Keble 1[10] 4[ 2] 4.00[ 2] University 1[10] 4[ 2] 4.00[ 2] Jesus 1[10] 3[ 4] 3.00[ 4] Wadham 2[ 3] 3[ 4] 1.50[ 5] Worcester 2[ 3] 3[ 4] 1.50[ 5] Balliol 2[ 3] 2[ 7] 1.00[ 7] Lincoln 2[ 3] 2[ 7] 1.00[ 7] St Catherine's 1[10] 1[ 9] 1.00[ 7] Oriel 1[10] 1[ 9] 1.00[ 7] Exeter 1[10] 1[ 9] 1.00[ 7] Hertford 1[10] 1[ 9] 1.00[ 7] St Edmund Hall 1[10] 1[ 9] 1.00[ 7] Pembroke 1[10] 0[14] 0.00[14] Brasenose 2[ 3] 0[14] 0.00[14] Merton 1[10] -1[16] -1.00[16] Queen's 1[10] -2[17] -2.00[18] Corpus Christi 1[10] -4[18] -4.00[21] Magdalen 3[ 1] -4[18] -1.33[17] St John's 2[ 3] -5[20] -2.50[20] Christ Church 3[ 1] -7[21] -2.33[19] New College 2[ 3] -8[22] -4.00[21]

• 6 days: Thu 22 – Wed 28 Feb, 1923
• The Times Fri 23 Feb has a photograph captioned:

  Oxford Torpids: Opening day. — Rain and thunderstorms somewhat spoiled the opening day of the Oxford Torpids yesterday. Pembroke is seen bumping Christ Church II.

• The Daily Telegraph reports are essentially identical to those in The Times so not reproduced here.

• The Times Fri 23 Feb

  The University Torpid races were begun at Oxford yesterday between the University Barge and Iffley, and were rowed against a current of exceptional force, the river being almost bank high. The number of crews was the same as last year — 34, but Queen's II has had to be taken off. There were seven bumps in three divisions.

  The order of starting in the Third Division was as follows :— St. John's II, Brasenose II, Hertford, Wadham II, Worcester II, Jesus, St. Catherine's, Christ Church III, St. Edmund Hall, Lincoln II, and Magdalen III. Brasenose II, rowing the quicker stroke, drew on St. John's II from the start and bumped them before reaching the Long Bridges. Worcester II had gained a length on Wadham II at the Freewater Stone. The latter got away for a time, but Worcester II came up, and, after an exciting struggle, made their bump at the Red Post. St. Edmund Hall gained on Christ Church III along Iffley Reach and bumped them near the Boathouse.

  The order of starting in the Second Division was as follows :— St. John's, Trinity, Balliol II, Queen's, Wadham, Christ Church II, Pembroke, Keble, Lincoln, Oriel, Exeter, and Brasenose II. Trinity got to within a length of St. John's, but could not make their bump, and Wadham finished under half a length from Queen's. Pembroke gained rapidly on Christ Church II and bumped them near the Freewatwer Stone. There was no other change in this division.

  The order of starting in the First Division was as follows :— Worcester, Magdalen, Christ Church, New College, Balliol, Brasenose, New College II, Merton, University, Corpus Christi, Magdalen II, and St. John's. Magdalen bumped Worcester opposite the Exeter Barge and took the Headship of the River. New College II were bumped by Merton just beyond the Freewater Stone, and at the Long Bridges Magdalen II were bumped by St. John's.

  The races will be continued to-day.

• The Times Sat 24 Feb

  There was an improvement in the weather at Oxford yesterday when the Torpid Races were continued, but the current was still very strong. In the three divisions there were again seven bumps.

  The order of starting in the Third Division was as follows :— Brasenose II, St. John's II, Hertford, Worcester II, Wadham II, Jesus, St. Catherine's, St. Edmund Hall, Christ Church III, Lincoln II, and Magdalen III. Hertford gained on St. John's II from the start. When being hard pressed by Worcester II, they made their bump before reaching the Freewater Stone. An exciting struggle followed between Wadham II and Jesus and the latter made their bump opposite their own college barge. Christ Church III experienced another downward move, Lincoln bumping them at the Red Post.

  In the Second Division the crews started in the following order :— Magdalen II, Trinity, Balliol II, Queen's, Wadham, Pembroke, Christ Church II, Keble, Lincoln, Oriel, Exeter, and Brasenose II. Magdalen II were bumped by Trinity at the Long Bridges. Queen's were almost overlapped by Wadham, but managed to get to the post with only a quarter of a length to the good. Keble made short work of Christ Church II, bumping them at the Free Ferry. A close race took place between Oriel and Exeter, the former narrowly escaping disaster after passing the Free Ferry.

  The order of starting in the First Division was as follows :— Magdalen, Worcester, Christ Church, New College, Balliol, Brasenose, Merton, New College II, University, Corpus Christi, St. John's, and Trinity. Worcester, who lost the Headship of the River on Thursday, made a splendid race with Magdalen, being within a length of them for some distance. New College II, after an exciting race, were bumped by University before reaching the Long Bridges; and St. John's bumped Corpus Christi near the Freewater Stone.

  The races will be continued to-day.

• The Times Mon 26 Feb

  The third day's racing of the University Torpids at Oxford on Saturday afternoon was carried out in very cheerless weather, rain falling more or less the whole time. Eight bumps were made in the three divisions, and there were some close finishes.

  The Third Division order of starting was :— Brasenose II, Hertford, St. John's II, Worcester II, Jesus, Wadham II, St. Catharine's, St. Edmund Hall, Lincoln II, Christ Church III, Magdalen III. Hertford quickly gained on Brasenose II, and displaced them from the head of the division by catching them at the Long Bridges, and at some short distance before reaching the same spot Worcester II overtook St. John's II. Wadham II escaped by barely a boat's length from St. Catharine's.

  In the Second Division the order of starting was :— Trinity, Magdalen II, Balliol II, Queen's, Wadham, Pembroke, Keble, Christ Church II, Lincoln, Oriel, Exeter, Hertford. Magdalen II were bumped early in the race by Balliol II, and after an exciting struggle for some distance Wadham ran into Queen's opposite the Hertford barge. Keble were within a quarter of a length of Pembroke at the finish. Christ Church II were overtaken by Lincoln near the Free Ferry, after a short struggle.

  The First Division order of starting was :— Magdalen, Worcester, Christ Church, New College, Balliol, Brasenose, Merton, University, New College II, St. John's, Corpus Christi, Trinity. Worcester, who headed the river when the races were begun, very narrowly escaped disaster at the hands of Christ Church, who got to within a quarter of a length. University bumped Merton at the top of the Green Bank. New College II experienced their third downward move, owing to being caught by St. John's at the Boathouse, and Corpus Christi were compelled to give way to Trinity at the Free Ferry.

  The races will be continued to-day.

• The Times Tue 27 Feb

  The Torpid races were continued at Oxford yesterday in fine weather, but a strong westerly wind caused the water in Iffley Reach to be very rough. In the three divisions there were eight bumps.

  In the Third Division the crews started in the following order :— Hertford, Brasenose II, Worcester II, St. John's II, Jesus, Wadham II, St. Catherine's, St. Edmund Hall, Lincoln II, Christ Church III, and Magdalen III. Worcester II bumped Brasenose II at the Long Bridges, and before reaching the Freewater Stone St. John's experienced their fourth downward move through being bumped by Jesus. THe majority of the other boats were their respective distances apart at the finish.

  In the Second Division the crews started in the following order :— Corpus Christi, Balliol II, Magdalen II, Wadham, Queen's, Pembroke, Keble, Lincoln, Christ Church II, Oriel, Exeter, and Hertford. Balliol II secured the headship of the division by bumping Corpus Christi at Talboy's Raft, and thus placed themselves at the bottom of the First Division. Wadham bumped Magdalen II at the Long Bridges. A long an exciting struggle followed before Keble succeeded in bumping Pembroke after the Cherwell had been reached. Oriel had a comparatively easy task, bumping Christ Church II at the Free Ferry.

  In the First Division the crews started in the following order :— Magdalen, Worcester, Christ Church, New College, Balliol, Brasenose, University, Merton, St. John's, New College II, Trinity, and Balliol II. The leading boat rowed up a long distance ahead of Worcester, who narrowly escaped being bumped by Christ Church. Worcester were pressed strongly from the start, and just after passing the Cherwell were within a foot of being bumped, and at the post only a yard separated the crews. Brasenose bumped Balliol at the Cherwell, and New College II made their fourth change downwards at the Free Ferry, where they were bumped by Trinity

  The races will be continued to-day.

• The Times Wed 28 Feb

  The weather was wet and boisterous for the fifth day's racing in the Torpids at Oxford yesterday. The strong current of the swollen stream increased the difficulties of the crews. The racing was very exciting, and no less than ten bumps were made in the three divisions.

  Third Division
  The order of starting was :— Hertford, Worcester II, Brasenose II, Jesus, St. John's II, Wadham II, St. Catherine's, St. Edmund Hall, Lincoln II, Christ Church III, Magdalen III. Worcester II secured the Headship of this division and thereby became the Sandwich Boat in the Second Division by bumping Hertford at the Boat House. Jesus were within half a length of Brasenose II at the finish, but Wadham II bumped St. John's II under the Willows. This was the fifth downward move of St. John's II. Magdalen III placed Christ Church III at the bottom of the river by bumping them at the University College Barge.

  Second Division
  The order of starting was :— Balliol II, Corpus, Wadham, Magdalen II, Queen's, Keble, Pembroke, Lincoln, Oriel, Christ Church II, Exeter, Hertford, Worcester II. Wadham bumped Corpus near the Freewater Stone, and Keble caught Queen's under the Willows, where the latter ran into the bank. Christ Church II were bumped for the fifth time when Exeter rowed into them at the Weirs Bridge. A fine race between Pembroke and Lincoln ended in the latter getting to within half a length.

  First Division
  The order of starting was :— Magdalen, Worcester, Christ Church, New College, Brasenose, Balliol, University, Merton, St. John's, Trinity, New College II, Balliol II. Magdalen retained the Headship of the River without difficulty, but Worcester had again a hard fight with Christ Church, who were within a quarter of a length at the Post. New College II were bumped for the fifth time, Balliol [II] rowing into them near the Freewater Stone. St. John's were bumped by Trinity at the Corpus Barge, and University College overtook Balliol along the Green Bank. Brasenose bumped New College at the Magdalen Barge.

  The races will be concluded to-day.

• The Times Thu 1 March

  The Torpid Races were concluded at Oxford yesterday and afforded plenty of excitement, as there were ten bumps in the three divisions. Details :—

  The order of starting in the Third Division was as follows :— Worcester II, Hertford, Brasenose II, Jesus, Wadham II, St. John's II, St. Catherine's, St. Edmund Hall, Lincoln II, Magdalen III, and Christ Church III. Jesus bumped Brasenose II near the Freewater Stone. St. John's II made their sixth downward move through being bumped by St. Catherine's under the Willows, and Magdalen III descended to their old position at the bottom of the list of boats, being bumped by Christ Church III shortly after the start.

  The order of starting in the Second Division was as follows :— New College II, Wadham, Corpus, Magdalen II, Keble, Queen's, Pembroke, Lincoln, Oriel, Exeter, Christ Church II, and Worcester II. Wadham secured the headship of the division by bumping New College II under the Willows, this making their sixth defeat. Magdalen II were bumped by Keble at the Long Bridges, and Worcester II bumped Christ Church II near the Weirs Bridge. A fine struggle between Pembroke and Lincoln ended in favour of the former by barely half a length.

  The order of starting in the First Division was as follows :— Magdalen, Worcester, Christ Church, Brasenose, New College, University, Balliol, Merton, Trinity, St. John's, Balliol II, and Wadham. Magdalen retained the Headship of the River with ease, but Worcester, who had narrowly escaped disaster on the two previous days, were bumped by Christ Church at the Cherwell, after an exciting struggle. University bumped New College under the Willows. Merton, after a fine race, were bumped by Trinity at Saunders Bridge; and Balliol II bumped St. John's at the end of the Green Bank.

  During the six days' racing Trinity and Worcester II have gone up five places each, University, Balliol II, Wadham, and Keble four places each, and Jesus three places. New College II, Christ Church II, and St. John's II have lost six places each, Magdalen II five places, and Corpus Christi four places.

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