Torpids 1924

BUMPS CHART

STANDINGS Start Finish Pos College Pts Pts College 1 Magdalen 41 37 Christ Church 2 Christ Church 34 32 Brasenose 3 Worcester 31 29 Magdalen 4 Balliol 31 27 University 5 New College 29 27 Balliol 6 Brasenose 27 25 New College 7 University 22 23 Worcester 8 Trinity 16 22 Merton 9 Merton 14 16 Trinity 10 St John's 13 13 Keble 11 Wadham 13 12 Wadham 12 Keble 9 9 Corpus Christi 13 Corpus Christi 8 9 St John's 14 Queen's 7 8 Queen's 15 Lincoln 6 8 Oriel 16 Pembroke 6 8 Pembroke 17 Oriel 5 6 Lincoln 18 Exeter 4 4 Exeter 19 Hertford 3 3 Hertford 20 Jesus 3 2 St Edmund Hall 21 St Catherine's 2 2 Jesus 22 St Edmund Hall 2 1 St Catherine's

STATISTICS College All Crews [ ]=rank Crews Bps Avg Keble 2[ 1] 6[ 1] 3.00[ 3] Oriel 2[ 1] 5[ 2] 2.50[ 5] St Edmund Hall 1[13] 4[ 3] 4.00[ 1] Merton 1[13] 4[ 3] 4.00[ 1] Pembroke 1[13] 3[ 5] 3.00[ 3] University 1[13] 2[ 6] 2.00[ 6] Queen's 2[ 1] 2[ 6] 1.00[ 7] Christ Church 2[ 1] 1[ 8] 0.50[ 9] Corpus Christi 1[13] 1[ 8] 1.00[ 7] Worcester 2[ 1] 0[10] 0.00[10] Brasenose 2[ 1] 0[10] 0.00[10] Trinity 1[13] 0[10] 0.00[10] Hertford 1[13] -1[13] -1.00[14] St John's 2[ 1] -1[13] -0.50[13] Exeter 1[13] -1[13] -1.00[14] Jesus 1[13] -2[16] -2.00[19] Wadham 2[ 1] -2[16] -1.00[14] Balliol 2[ 1] -2[16] -1.00[14] Lincoln 2[ 1] -2[16] -1.00[14] St Catherine's 1[13] -3[20] -3.00[20] New College 2[ 1] -6[21] -3.00[20] Magdalen 2[ 1] -8[22] -4.00[22]

• 6 days: Thu 21 – Wed 27 Feb, 1924

• The Daily Telegraph Thu 21Feb

  The University torpid races, which extend over six days, commence to-day at Oxford over the course between Iffley and Salter's Barge. There is an increase of one boat over last year's number, two colleges having taken off their No.3 crew, while three colleges have put on second crews, the total number of crews being thirty-four. The races will be rowed in three divisions, and the following is the order of starting: [...]

  The subsequent reports in The Daily Telegraph are almost identical to thos in The Times so are not reproduced here.
• The Times Fri 22 Feb

  The University Torpid Races were begun at Oxford yesterday in very favourable weather conditions, and created a great amount of interest.

  The boats, 34 in number, rowed in three divisions and 11 bumps were made. Christ Church succeeded in going to the Head of the River by bumping Magdalen after an exciting race.

  Third Division
  The crews in the Third Division started in the following order :— Christ Church [II], Hertford, Jesus, Brasenose II, Wadham II, St. Catharine's, St. John's II, St. Edmund Hall, Lincoln II, Keble II, Queen's II, and Oriel II. Hertford were some distance away from Jesus until nearing the Green Bank, where two of the crews caught crabs [? exactly same wording in The Daily Telegraph] and Jesus were thus enabled to make their bump. St. John's gained steadily on St. Catharine's from the start and bumped them near the New Cut. Queen's II went to the bottom of the list through being bumped by Oriel II at the Green Bank.

  Second Division
  The crews in the Second Division started in the following order :— Wadham, New College II, Corpus Christi, Keble, Magdalen II, Queen's, Pembroke, Lincoln, Oriel, Exeter, Worcester II, and Christ Church [II]. Corpus Christi began to overtake New College and bumped them at the Red Post. Queen's experienced little difficulty in bumping Magdalen II at the Long Bridges. Oriel bumped Lincoln a short distance from the New Cut, and Worcester II bumped Exeter before reaching the Long Bridges.

  First Division
  The crews in the First Division started in the following order :— Magdalen, Christ Church, Worcester, Brasenose, University, New College, Balliol, Trinity, Merton, Balliol II, St. John's, and Wadham. There was an exciting struggle for the Headship for the greater part of the course, and it was not until Talboys' Barge was reached that Christ Church effected their bump. An equally good race followed between Worcester and Brasenose, the bump taking place near the Hertford barge. Trinity bumped Balliol near the Boathouse, and Merton, who were close on to Trinity at the time, had some difficulty in getting clear, with the result that Balliol II. overlapped them, but failed to make their bump. St. John's were bumped by Wadham at the Freewater Stone.

  The races will be continued to-day.

• The Times Sat 23 Feb

  The Torpids were continued at Oxford yesterday, when nine bumps were made in the three divisions. In the Third Division Lincoln II was absent in consequence of the illness of some of the crew.

  The Third Division
  The order of starting in the Third Division was :— Christ Church II, Jesus, Hertford, Brasenose II, Wadham II, St. John's II, St. Catharine's, St. Edmund Hall, Keble II, Oriel II, and Queen's II. There was a keen struggle between the first three boats for the greater part of the course. Jesus succeeded in getting within half a length of Christ Church II, but at the finish were only two yards away from Hertford. St. John's II, after passing the Free Ferry, began to gain on Wadham II and made their bump before reaching the Long Bridges. St. Catherine's were bumped by St. Edmund Hall along the Green Bank.

  Second Division
  The order of starting in the Second Division was :— Wadham, St. John's, Corpus Christi, New College II, Keble, Queen's, Magdalen II, Pembroke, Oriel, Lincoln, Worcester II, Exeter, and Christ Church II. Corpus early gained on St. John's and bumped them before reaching the Long Bridges. New College II made a fine race with Keble, who, however, bumped them before reaching the New Cut. Magdalen II had to give way very early in the race to Pembroke, who bumped them in Iffley Reach. Worcester II also had an easy win over Lincoln, whom they bumped at the Freewater Stone.

  First Division
  The order of starting in the First Division was :— Christ Church, Magdalen, Brasenose, Worcester, University, New College, Trinity, Balliol, Merton, Balliol II, and Wadham. Magdalen, who started at the Head of the River on Thursday, but lost the position to Christ Church, were bumped by Brasenose after a fine race. University bumped Worcester at the Willows, and Merton soon ran into Balliol, whom they overtook at the Free Ferry.

• The Times Mon 25 Feb

  The Torpid races were continued at Oxford on Saturday, when nine bumps were recorded. An event occurred in the First Division of which no similar circumstance is known, a College second crew bumping the first. This happened to the Balliol crews. The results were :—

  Third Division
  The Third Division order of starting was :— Christ Church II, Jesus, Hertford, Brasenose II, St. John's II, Wadham II, St. Edmund Hall, St. Catharine's, Keble II, Lincoln II, Oriel II, and Queen's II. Hertford gained on Jesus from the start, and after an exciting race succeeded in bumping them near the new boathouse. St. John's II made their thir bump by displacing Brasenose before reaching the Long Bridges, and St. Edmund Hall overtook Wadham II at the boathouse. Lincoln, who were absent on Friday owing to illness in the crew, got home barely half a length in front of Oriel II.

  Second Division
  The Second Division order of starting was :— Corpus Christi, St. John's, Keble, New College II, Queen's, Pembroke, Magdalen II, Oriel, Worcester II, Lincoln, Exeter, and Christ Church II. St. John's went down for the third time when Keble bumped them before reaching the Long Bridges. New College II also lost a third place, Queen's rowing into them opposite the Long Bridges. Magdalen II were bumped by Oriel at the Green Bank.

  First Division
  The First Division order of starting was :— Christ Church, Brasenose, Magdalen, University, Worcester, New College, Trinity, Merton, Balliol, Balliol II, Wadham, and Corpus. The leading boat kept its position without difficulty, finishing two lengths in front of Brasenose. Magdalen lost another place, University bumping them at the Willows. A fine race between Worcester and New College all the way resulted in the former escaping by a bare half-length. Merton bumped Trinity at the Red Post, and the second boat of Balliol easily bumped into the first boat before passing the University Boathouse.

  The races will be continued to-day.

• The Times Tue 26 Feb

  The fourth day's racing in the Torpids attracted a good attendance to the riverside at Oxford yesterday. This, too, in spite of the piercing north-easterly wind. The boats, judging from yesterday's results, appear to be finding their places according to merit, for there were only five bumps recorded. The results were :—

  Third Division
  The order of starting in the Third Division was as follows :— Christ Church II, Hertford, Jesus, St. John's II, Brasenose II, St. Edmund Hall, Wadham II, St. Catharine's, Keble II, Lincoln II, Oriel II, Queen's II. The leading boats maintained their position only with great difficulty. Hertford, at the crossing, missed an attempt at a bump, and on trying to do so the second time one of the crew caught a crab. This enabled Christ Church to get away. A similar struggle ensued between St. John's and Jesus, the former overlapping and missing a bump after passing the Cherwell. St. Edmund Hall caught Brasenose II shortly after passing Freewater Stone, and this was the only bump in the division.

  Second Division
  The order of starting in the Second Division was as follows :— Corpus, Keble, St. John's, Queen's, New College II, Pembroke, Oriel, Magdalen II, Worcester II, Lincoln, Exeter, Christ Church II. Keble got to within half a length of Corpus at the finish. St. John's made their fourth downward move, Queen's overtaking them at the Freewater Stone. Near to the same part of the river Pembroke displaced New College II, and Worcester bumped Magdalen II.

  First Division
  The order of starting in the First Division was as follows :— Christ Church, Brasenose, University, Magdalen, Worcester, New College, Merton, Trinity, Balliol II, Balliol, Wadham [& Corpus?] The four leading boats were their distance apart throughout. The only bump was that made by New College, who caught Worcester near to the Boathouse. The Balliol second boat was well away from the first boat at the finish.

  The races will be continued to-day.

• The Times Wed 27 Feb

  The Torpids were continued at Oxford yesterday in bright but cold weather, and there was only a small attendance of spectators. Six bumps were made in the three divisions, and in the cases of St. John's, New College II, and Magdalen II, each crew had previously sustained four reverses. The races will be concluded to-day. The results were :—

  Third Division
  The order of starting in the Third Division was as follows :— Christ Church II, Hertford, Jesus, St. John's II, St. Edmund Hall, Brasenose II, Wadham II, St. Catharine's, Keble II, Lincoln II, Oriel II, Queen's II. There was an exciting race between Christ Church II and Hertford, the latter getting to within two yards at the finish. St. John's II bumped Jesus at the Willows and, owing to one of the crew of St. Catharine's catching a crab, they were bumped near the Freewater Stone.

  Second Division
  The order of starting in the Second Division was as follows :— Corpus, Keble, Queen's, St. John's, Pembroke, New College II, Oriel, Worcester II, Magdalen II, Lincoln, Exeter, Christ Church II. Queen's finished within half a length of Keble at the post. St. John's were bumped by Pembroke on nearing the Willows, Oriel caught New College at the New Cut, and Lincoln bumped Magdalen II at the Red Post.

  First Division
  The order of starting in the First Division was as follows :— Christ Church, Brasenose, University, Magdalen, New College, Worcester, Merton, Trinity, Balliol II, [Balliol,] Wadham, Corpus. There were long gaps between the first four boats, but Magdalen had to row very hard, for New College at one time were within half a length. Worcester, after a good race, were overtaken by Merton on nearing the Willows, and the remaining boats came up at wide intervals.

• The Times Thu 28 Feb

  The Torpids were concluded at Oxford yesterday, when there were again some close finishes. The number of bumps made was seven, making a total in the six days' racing of 48. Details :—

  The Third Division
  The order of starting in the Third Division was :— Christ Church II, Hertford, St. John's II, Jesus, St. Edmund Hall, Brasenose II, Wadham II, Keble II, St. Catharine's, Lincoln II, Oriel II, Queen's II. Hertford, after a fine struggle, were overtaken under the Willows by St. John's II, and near the same place Jesus were displaced by St. Edmund Hall. There were again some exciting struggles, and most of the other boats came up at their distance apart.

  The Second Division
  The order of starting in the Second Division was :— Corpus, Keble, Queen's, Pembroke, St. John's, Oriel, New College II, Worcester II, Lincoln, Magdalen II, Exeter, Christ Church II. Keble gained on Corpus from the start and caught them at the New Cut. St. John's suffered their sixth reverse, being bumped by Oriel. Shortly after passing the Freewater Stone New College II, after a like number of defeats, were dispalced by Worcester II at the Long Bridges. Magdalen II had a narrow escape from being caught by Exeter, who missed their bump at the Brasenose Barge.

  The First Division
  The order of starting in the First Division was :— Christ Church, Brasenose, University, Magdalen, New College, Merton, Worcester, Trinity, Balliol II, Balliol, Wadham, Corpus. The first four boats rowed up at their respective starting distances apart. New College were overtaken by Merton before reaching the Willows; Worcester managed to reach the post with a bare quarter of a length to the good, after a very close race for fully half the course; Balliol could not get nearer than within a length of Balliol II. During the racing St. John's and New College lost six places, Magdalen II five, Worcester four, and Magdalen, Balliol, and St. Catherine's II [sic] lost three each. The most successful boat was St. John's II, who scored five bumps. After them came Merton, Oriel, Worcester II, and St. Edmund Hall, with four each. Queen's and Pembroke were credited with three each. Christ Church II kept its position throughout, unaltered.

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