Torpids 1954

BUMPS CHARTS

STANDINGS Start Finish Pos College Pts Pts College 1 New College 53 54 Balliol 2 Merton 51 47 Worcester 3 Magdalen 45 45 New College 4 Worcester 42 44 Magdalen 5 S.E.H. 38 37 Oriel 6 Balliol 36 37 Queen's 7 Christ Church 33 34 Merton 8 Oriel 31 31 Brasenose 9 University 26 27 S.E.H. 10 Queen's 25 27 Trinity 11 Lincoln 25 23 St Peter's 12 Brasenose 22 21 Hertford 13 Trinity 20 21 Christ Church 14 St Peter's 18 17 Exeter 15 St Catherine's 17 16 University 16 Hertford 16 16 Pembroke 17 Jesus 14 16 Lincoln 18 Pembroke 12 13 Jesus 19 Exeter 12 12 Corpus Christi 20 St John's 11 11 St Catherine's 21 Keble 11 11 Keble 22 Wadham 7 8 Wadham 23 Corpus Christi 7 7 St John's

STATISTICS College All Crews [ ]=ranking Crews Bps Avg Balliol 3[ 1] 14[ 1] 4.67[ 1] Corpus Christi 2[ 4] 7[ 2] 3.50[ 2] Queen's 2[ 4] 6[ 3] 3.00[ 3] Trinity 2[ 4] 5[ 4] 2.50[ 4] Worcester 2[ 4] 5[ 4] 2.50[ 4] Brasenose 2[ 4] 4[ 6] 2.00[ 6] Oriel 2[ 4] 4[ 6] 2.00[ 6] Pembroke 2[ 4] 3[ 8] 1.50[ 8] Exeter 2[ 4] 2[ 9] 1.00[ 9] St Peter's 3[ 1] 2[ 9] 0.67[11] Magdalen 3[ 1] 2[ 9] 0.67[11] Wadham 1[22] 1[12] 1.00[ 9] Keble 2[ 4] 0[13] 0.00[13] Hertford 2[ 4] 0[13] 0.00[13] Jesus 2[ 4] -2[15] -1.00[15] St Catherine's 2[ 4] -5[16] -2.50[16] S.E.H. 2[ 4] -5[16] -2.50[16] New College 2[ 4] -5[16] -2.50[16] St John's 1[22] -6[19] -6.00[23] Merton 2[ 4] -7[20] -3.50[19] University 2[ 4] -8[21] -4.00[20] Christ Church 2[ 4] -8[21] -4.00[20] Lincoln 2[ 4] -9[23] -4.50[22]

Notes

• 6 days: Thu 18 Feb – Wed 24 Feb 1954
• Divisions at 2, 3, 4 and 5pm.
• The Times Tue 23 Feb reproduces an old photo with the caption

  The Oxford Torpids could not be rowed in 1895 because of the frozen Thames. To mak the occasion Corpus Christi took an improvised eight on to the ice.

• The Times Thu 18 Feb, by a Special Correspondent

  Racing for the Oxford University Torpids begins to-day and lasts for a week. For two days during the frost [at the start of February], when the river was completely frozen, the crews could not launch their boats. Then a dredger was brought into use and active training continued without further interruption. There are 47 crews competing, one fewer than last year. New College, Oriel, and Exeter have taken off their third crews and Wadham their second crew. New entries are Corpus II, Balliol III, and St. Peter's III. [Start Order]

• The Daily Telegraph Thu 18 Feb
  

  The order of starting in the Oxford Torpids to-day is: [...]

• The Times Fri 19 Feb, from Our Special Correspondent

  There were 15 bumps, rather less than usual for a first day, in the racing for the Oxford University Torpids yesterday. With one exception, they were all below the boathouse.

  There is every indication of an exciting contest for the Headship of the River, at present held by New College. Corpus were the most successful crew, with two bumps, and are now established in Division II. The weather was unfavourable, rain falling heavily for the first two races, and there was a fairly strong stream. [Bumps Chart]

• The Daily Telegraph Fri 19 Feb

  There were 15 bumps on the first day of the Oxford University Torpid races, made by: [...]

• The Times Sat 20 Feb, from Our Special Correspondent

  Worcester go Head

  Conditions could hardly have been worse for the second day of the Oxford University Torpids. Rain fell incessantly and because of the strong head stream the course was slightly reduced, the stake boats being brought forward to avoid the rush of water at Iffley Lock. After the Division III race the Magdalen second boat was holed by Lincoln II, and some members of the crew had to swim to the bank.

  The headship passed into the possession of Worcester, who caught New College coming out of the Gut. Magdalen and Balliol are still regarded as strong challengers. Bumps during the day were 15, making 31 for the two days. [Bumps Chart].

• The Daily Telegraph Sat 20 Feb

  Boat Holed in Torpids

  Bumping New College, Worcester went to the Head of the River on the second day of the Oxford torpid races yesterday. There was an accident at the close of the Div. III race when Magdalen II were holed by Lincoln and some of the crew had to swim to the bank. Sixteen bumps were made by: [...]

• The Times Mon 22 Feb, from Our Special Correspondent

  Worcester hold their position

  Conditions for the third day's racing of the Oxford University Torpids were in striking contrast with those of Friday. There was little wind and much sunshine, but for the crews the fairly strong stream was a disadvantage.

  Worcester, who gained the headship on Friday, easily retained it, New College failing to make any impression on them. Worcester's danger now seems to be from Balliol, said to be a very fast crew. So far the three Balliol crews have registered seven bumps.

  By bumping Lincoln II at the head of Division II. Hertford go into Division I for the first time for many years [1903]. Corpus continued their run of successes, and have so far made four bumps, two of which were on the first day.

  There were on Saturday 15 bumps, bringing the number for the three days to 46. [Bumps Chart].

• The Daily Telegraph Mon 22 Feb

  Worcester, who gained the headship of the river in the Oxford Torpid races on Friday, retained it on Saturday. The fast Balliol crew have time, if they make a bump in the remaining three days, to deprive them of the honour. There were 15 bumps on Saturday, made by: [...]

• The Times Tue 23 Feb, from Our Special Correspondent

  Triple re-row gives same results

  Apart from a strong stream, conditions were again favourable yesterday for the fourth day of the Oxford University Torpid races.

  In the morning three Division I crews, Oriel, St. Edmund Hall, and Queen's, were ordered to re-row but the result was the same as on Saturday, Queen's again bumping Trinity Hall [sic, presumably St. Edmund Hall]. Later, also in Divison I, Merton and Oriel were ordered to re-row this morning as Merton had been stopped when they collided with the successful Balliol crew.

  In Division IV Magdalen III, who had bumped University College II on Saturday, were themselves bumped by the latter crew after fouling the bank. There will be a re-row this morning in division III between the second boats of Trinity and Pembroke because of an obstruction. Bumps during the day were 14. [Bumps Chart]

• The Daily Telegraph Tue 23 Feb

  14 Oxford Bumps

  Fourteen bumps were made in the Oxford Torpids yesterday by: [...]

• The Times Wed 24 Feb, from Our Special Correspodent

  Balliol challenging

  While conditions overhead were suggestive of early spring the crews again had to contend against a strong stream in the Oxford Torpids yesterday.

  It had been stated overnight that there would be two re-rows, one in Division III and the other in Division I. Actually there was only one, between Merton and Oriel, in which the latter made a bump.

  To-day's racing will settle the question whether Worcester or Balliol finish head. Balliol caught New College yesterday and so are in the position of challengers. All their bumps have been made either just before the Gut or just coming out of it.

  Counting the re-row, there were 15 bumps yesterday, bringing the total for the five days to 75. [Bumps Chart]

• The Daily Telegraph Wed 24 Feb

  Balliol now second in Oxford Torpids

  The Oxford Torpids finish to-day and it looks like being a keen contest for the headship between Worcester and Balliol. Balliol reached the position of challengers by catching New College. There was a re-row in the morning in Division I when Oriel caught Merton. 16 bumps were made by: [...]

• The Times Thu 25 Feb, from Our Rowing Correspondent

  Balliol finish head — Unhealthy signs in Torpids

  Balliol made their fifth bump to finish head of the river in the Oxford Torpids yesterday. At the O.U.B.C. boathouse there was three-quarters of a length between the leading boats, but Balliol spurted well, and made their bump halfway up the barges.

  Balliol were last head in 1929, and were displaced by Worcester in 1930. Worcester went head last Saturday and had been head for three days. Recently Balliol have had a chequered career; in 1951 they finished fourteenth, but in 1949 they were fifth. Magdalen looked as though they might perhaps catch New College yesterday, but they faded after the O.U.B.C.. Queen's finished a successful week by catching Oriel.

  Practice for this year's Torpids was, of course, interrupted by ice earlier this month and some allowance must be made for coaching difficulties. But the standard could not be called anything but disappointing. In the top two divisions, 24 crews, with a possibility of 12 bumps per night, there were never less than eight bumps recorded. Such prolific bumping is an unhealthy sign, as it indicates an uneven standard from year to year, with the quality of the crew depending to a large extent on the material that happens to be available.

  The unhappy inference is that nearly half the crews go down no matter who may be behind them. And if this seems an unduly harsh verdict, it is supported by the fact that in the first and second divisions this year no fewer than six crews went down every night, and one other went down on five nights. The Balliol crew was:— [as below]

• The Daily Telegraph Thu 25 Feb

  Balliol finish Head of River

  For the first time for over 30 years Balliol finished at the head of the Oxford University Torpids yesterday. They caught Worcester along the Barges.

  This has been a memorable rowing year for Balliol, whose three crews registered 14 bumps. Corpus made the highest number, seven. Bumps during the six days aggregated 88. Yesterday 13 bumps were made by: [...]

• In other news ... [1954]

  February 19

  1954 transfer of Crimea: The Soviet Politburo of the Soviet Union orders the transfer the Crimean Oblast from the Russian SFSR to the Ukrainian SSR.

  February 23

  The first mass vaccination of children against polio begins in Pittsburgh, United States.

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