Torpids 1964

BUMPS CHART

STANDINGS Start Finish Pos College Pts Pts College 1 St Edmund Hall 50 51 St Edmund Hall 2 Christ Church 45 47 Christ Church 3 Balliol 43 41 Balliol 4 St John's 37 38 St John's 5 Lincoln 31 32 Magdalen 6 Oriel 31 31 Lincoln 7 Magdalen 30 29 Keble 8 Queen's 26 26 Oriel 9 Keble 26 25 New College 10 New College 23 24 Worcester 11 Worcester 21 23 University 12 University 20 19 Exeter 13 Hertford 17 15 Queen's 14 St Peter's 17 15 Merton 15 Exeter 16 14 St Peter's 16 Brasenose 14 14 Hertford 17 Pembroke 12 13 Brasenose 18 Merton 12 13 Wadham 19 St Catherine's 10 12 Pembroke 20 Wadham 8 8 Trinity 21 Trinity 8 8 Jesus 22 Jesus 7 7 St Catherine's 23 Corpus Christi 6 6 Corpus Christi

STATISTICS College All Crews [ ]=rank Crews Bps Avg Worcester 3[ 2] 8[ 1] 2.67[ 3] University 2[ 4] 5[ 2] 2.50[ 4] Wadham 1[18] 5[ 2] 5.00[ 1] St Edmund Hall 3[ 2] 4[ 4] 1.33[ 8] Christ Church 2[ 4] 4[ 4] 2.00[ 5] Merton 1[18] 3[ 6] 3.00[ 2] St John's 2[ 4] 3[ 6] 1.50[ 6] Keble 2[ 4] 3[ 6] 1.50[ 6] Pembroke 2[ 4] 2[ 9] 1.00[ 9] New College 2[ 4] 2[ 9] 1.00[ 9] Exeter 2[ 4] 1[11] 0.50[13] Jesus 1[18] 1[11] 1.00[ 9] Trinity 1[18] 1[11] 1.00[ 9] Corpus Christi 1[18] 0[14] 0.00[14] Brasenose 4[ 1] -2[15] -0.50[15] Oriel 1[18] -2[15] -2.00[19] Balliol 2[ 4] -3[17] -1.50[16] Magdalen 2[ 4] -3[17] -1.50[16] Hertford 2[ 4] -3[17] -1.50[16] St Peter's 2[ 4] -4[20] -2.00[19] St Catherine's 2[ 4] -4[20] -2.00[19] Lincoln 2[ 4] -7[22] -3.50[22] Queen's 2[ 4] -14[23] -7.00[23]

• Wed 19 – Sat 23 Feb 1964
• Multilane racing
• Divisions at 30 min intervals from 2:00 (Div VI) to 4:30 (Div I)

• The Times Wed 19 Feb

  Three crews above average

  The Oxford University Torpids will be begun this afternoon. Instead of the usual bumping races there will be a reversion to the 1961 plan, when crews raced in three lanes and progress was by overtaking.

  From the start to Tim's Boathouse crews will be in two lanes, even numbers being on the towpath side. From Tim's to the finish the crews will split into three lanes, with the second, sixth and eighth crews on the Green Bank side, first, fourth and ninth in the centre, and the third, fifth and seventh on the towpath side. [For Div I the stations changed each day]

  In a year of rather low standard, three crews which are above average are St. Edmund Hall, at the head of the river, Keble, starting ninth, and University twelfth. St. Edmund Hall are almost certainly the fastest.

  The order of start will be:—[...]

• The Daily Telegraph Wed 19 Feb, by Desmond Hill

  St. Edmund Hall should stay Head of the River

  The "Overtaking Torpids," or, more popularly, the "Dodgems," start at Oxford to-day. Since there were no races last spring, and work on the Donnington Road Bridge necessitated a return to "normal" in 1962, this particular competition will be new to all the participants.

  The OUBC have issued three pages of Rules and Regulations, couched in admirably legal language, but it must be doubtful whether even a handful of spectators will have any clear picture of the proceedings on the first night.

  Briefly, each crew starts three-quarters of a length ahead of its pursuer (as against the usual 1¼ lengths), and when the gun is fired peels off immediately into a buoyed lane, with even numbered boats on the towpath side.

  As the crews emerge from the Gut, the race becomes three-abreast with the first, fourth and ninth boats taking the centre, the second, sixth and eighth on the Berkshire [towpath] side, and the third, fifth and seventh on Oxon. "The finishing order shall be that in which rudders pass the post."

  No.1 Crew Promoted — No sandwich boats

  This means that to make a bump (which is in any case forbidden until after the Gut) a crew must make up at least two, and in some cases four places. It can gain places by finishing ahead of any boats it is alongside on the Green Bank.

  There are no sandwich boats, but the leading crew in each division is automatically promoted, so that Division I, which contains six boats to-day, will have nine on Saturday.

  The effect of this is that, in theory, any boat starting within 15 places of the top could, by winning all its races, finish Head of the River. If there were one really fast boat there might be some point in pursuing this line of thought.

  The truth is that no one can remember a time when the standard has been lower. There are only 45 entries, and never has the hair been longer or the stroke shorter.

  In Oxford sport to-day one looks first to St. Edmund Hall or Keble for the eventual winner. Keble (ninth) are described as the best looking, and the Hall (Head), as the fastest on the river. I hazard the sneaking suspicion that University (12th) could qualify for both epithets.

  Christ Church (second) are not without merit, and Magdalen (sixth) could climb, but it will be surprising if the Hall do not stay Head.

• The Times Thu 20 Feb

  Order unchanged in Torpids

  The first day of the Torpids at Oxford must have dispelled any doubts about St. Edmund Hall holding their place at the head of the river. The six crews in the first division rowed through in unchanged order and there is no reason that there should be any variation in that form.

  St. Edmund Hall, striking 29, were nearly two lengths ahead of Christ Church, whose rate was 33 at the University Boathouse. St. John's, as expected, were going well and had gained on Balliol. Keble's lack of racing power has ruined any hope they had of getting in a position to challenge St. Edmund Hall. They caught Queen's as also did New College, but were never within striking distance of Lincoln.

  On yesterday's racing New College are probably faster than Keble. University had a disappointing row and, surprisingly, made little impression on Worcester. Corpus Christi, starting yesterday at the head of Division IV and last of the first boats, are obviously fast and, now going into Division III, should have a happy three days ahead of them.

  With the racing in lanes and some distance between the crews actual bumps are not much expected, but there were three. In Division III, Trinity bumped St. Catherine's; in Division IV, Keble II bumped Lincoln II and in Division V Exeter II bumped Queen's II. [Bumps Chart]

• The Daily Telegraph Thu 20 Feb, by Desmond Hill

  Track-Suited St. Edmund H. Paddle Home

  There was never any danger of a change in the order in the first division of Torpids at Oxford yesterday and St. Edmund Hall will assuredly retain the headship, writes Desmond Hill. With three men in track suits they were down to a paddle for the last two minutes.

  Balliol appear to have gained a little on Christ Church by the Gut, but the right-angle turn on to the Green Bank finished them and they were later in some danger from St. John's. Oriel and Magdalen came up well spaced.

  Happenings in the second division made it practically certain that the upper strata will remain undisturbed. Queen's lost two places, while Keble made a brave effort to gain two, failing by about a length to catch the head boat, Lincoln.

  New College Surprise — Gained on Keble

  Behind them New College surprised even their most partisan supporters by gaining on Keble. University closed on Worcester but had not the horse power to go through with it. Exeter made short work of a very syncopated Hertford. [Start and Finish order]

• The Times Fri 21 Feb

  Easy passage for St. Edmund Hall — higher striking rate in Torpids

  The second day of Torpids at Oxford again brought no change in the first division and, as all crews were rowing on different stations from those on which they had raced on the first day, this should refute any ideas that any station has an advantage over another.

  St. Edmund Hall had an easy passage at the head of the river. At a higher rate of striking than on Wednesday they had gained at least a length and a half on Christ Church and, barring accidents, there is not a chance that they will be displaced. Oriel chased St. John's hard and Magdalen had to fight to keep away from Lincoln.

  This gave plenty of excitement, but for the real value of these races one must take a long term, or perhaps it would be truer to say a next term, view. For these crews to race for four consecutive days over the full-distance must be a benefit when it comes to Eights Week.

  The racing at the top of Division II was most interesting. New College confirmed that they are faster than Keble. Keble started with the advantage of a length of clear water, but it was only by a quarter of a length that they kept their place, which meant that New College gained a length and three-quarters. For Queen's it has been an unfortunate two days. Their first boat was actually bumped by University and has now lost five places. Queen's II in Division V have fared even worse and have gone down six places.

  The biggest change of places came in Division IV in which the only crew to be unaffected was Christ Church II at the top. Four bumps were made. In Division III Corpus bumped St. Catherine's; in Division IV St. John's II bumped St. Peter's II; and in Division V Worcester II bumped Exeter II, and Pembroke II bumped Queen's II. [Bumps Chart]

• The Daily Telegraph Fri 21 Feb, By Desmond Hill

  Christ Church Hit Buoy: St. John's Fight All Way

  The addition of the promoted Lincoln to the First Division changed the stations in the Oxford Torpids yesterday and produced much closer racing, so that the placing of the buoys is not perhaps so fair as was at first believed. Nevertheless there were no changes in the order and St. Edmund Hall remain unassailable.

  Christ Church had not lost much by the Gut but belted a buoy turning on to the Green Bank and the Hall immediately went through clear. Their track suits were still in evidence, despite the sunshine, yet they kept the rating up between 31 and 32 as far as the OUBC.

  Balliol plodded up behind but Oriel, resplendent with new boat and esoteric paddles, were level with St. John's by the time the latter had negotiated the Tims bend.

  St. John's make up for their other shortcomings by considerable toughness and grit and with the Station now in their favour struggled home by one-third length. Magdalen hit the bank under the bridge and were nearly passed by Lincoln but a spurt at the OUBC took them away safely.

  Great Effort — Nearly level with Keble

  New College made a great effort to reach the First Division and were nearly level with Keble at the Stone. The corner cost them a length and through they regained threequarters of this, they were striking so high that they could not muster a final decisive spurt.

  Behind Queen's continued to decline, losing three more places, and their descent is only outdone by their second boat, which has now fallen six rungs. St. Catherine's I have gone down four places, but the maximum gain to date is only three.

  Worcester III, who with only seven men still survived on Wednesday, raised a full complement and climbed twice.

  The details [Start and Finish orders]

• The Times Sat 22 Feb

  Wadham revival in Torpids

  The Torpid crews at Oxford are beginning to find their level and only in the fourth division did yesterday's racing bring any sweeping changes.

  St. Edmund Hall again had an easy journey at the head of the river and though their rate at the top of the Green Bank was only 29 they were comfortably ahead of Christ Church. Oriel were victims of misfortune which allowed Lincoln to bump them at the lower end of the Green Bank. At the start Oriel became entangled with their bung line, so they were towing several yards of rope behind them. With this handicap it was not surprising that Lincoln caught them.

  A happy feature of this year's racing is the revival in the fortunes of Wadham. For so long descent has been their lot in both Eights and Torpids but now the process is reversed. By passing Pembroke yesterday they have taken themselves out of division three and today will be able to chase and have a fair chance of catching St. Peter's at the bottom of division two. The two Queen's boats slid further down the ladder. [Bumps Chart]

• The Daily Telegraph Sat 22 Feb, By Desmond Hill

  50 Feet of Rope Increases Oriel's Problems

  St. Edmund Hall again came home alone at the head of the Oxford Torpids yesterday and all the excitement was concentrated at the bottom of the division. The Hall were several lengths ahead at the Stone and even the bend at Tims could not bring them back.

  The next three boats were widely spaced but Oriel entangled their bungline in the cross-trees of the rudder and rowed the full course towing 50ft of rope. It was only with difficulty that they avoided Magdalen, close behind, making their way to the far lane.

  Oriel succumbed to Lincoln at the first permissible moment and then had to row on to the finish. Keble, newly arrived from below, came hammering after them and were only 4ft behind at the finish. But for hitting the last buoy they must have succeeded.

  New College made rather heavy weather of rowing over at the head of Division II and were overlapped by Worcester, who were themselves driven on by a University challenge. At the Pink Post, University were level but their effort died away.

  Wadham may be a problem

  Queen's only lost one place and might even escape Hertford and St. Peter's to-day, though Wadham, who have now escaped from Division III, could prove troublesome.

  Trinity and Corpus Christi, the latter in a new ultra-light clinker boat, failed by a matter of feet to overhaul BNC and Jesus respectively. Christ Church II, the leading second boat, overtook the lowest first, St. Catherine's.

  Worcester and University second boats are the only crews to have gained four places in three days racing. On the debit side, Queen's II are out on their own, with a net loss of seven places.

  The details [Start and Finish orders]

• The Sunday Telegraph Sun 23 Feb

  St. Edmund Hall keep the Trophy

  St. Edmund Hall retained the Torpids Trophy on the Isis yesterday at Oxford. They rowed over for the fourth successive day in Division I, where there were no other changes in the order.

  Order of finish: [...]

• The Times Mon 24 Feb, from Our Rowing Correspondent

  First four crews row over — new system reflects true merit

  As expected, St. Edmund Hall finished head of the river in the Oxford Torpids with no trouble at all. In fact, the first four crews rowed over every day, and the first 14 crews rowed over on Saturday. This, of course, led some disappointed supporters to complain that it was too difficult to make bumps — the old phrase sticks, although, under the new system, there is more passing than bumping.

  Memories are short. In 1961, when this system of racing was introduced, there were, during the four days' racing, 18 bumps in the first 18 places, that is, the top two divisions as at the end of the races. In 1962, when Torpids reverted to straightforward bumping because of the bridge building at Donnington, there were only 12 bumps in the same divisions, and this year there were 13. Anyway, a glance at the chart as a whole conclusively indicates that there was no danger of stagnation.

  What was probably true among the leading crews was that whereas, under the old system, there might have been a number of quick bumps in the Gut, under the new system the final order came much nearer to reflecting true merit. The obvious advantages of the new system are that no crew can make a bump before Tim's Boathouse; practically all have to row the full distance; they get experience of side by side racing, and the spectators see nearly all the crews.

  It is too early yet to judge whether there will be any serious disadvantages, particularly in a year when the stream runs faster. But it is quite evidently worth persevering. St. Edmund Hall were certainly the best crew last week, and the general standard seemed to be a little higher than usual, which might have been due to the exceptionally favourable weather. Apart from St. Edmund Hall, Wadham were the only first crew to gain their oars. [Bumps Chart]

• The Daily Telegraph Mon 24 Feb, By Desmond Hill

  St. Edmund H, in Class of their Own — Unlucky mistake upsets Corpus

  Even with the First Division of the Oxford Torpids swollen to its full complement of nine crews on Saturday, there was no change in the order. The only alteration throughout the week was Oriel's self-inflicted wound on Friday, which promoted Lincoln and Magdalen one place.

  It must be doubtful whether this particular version of what is at the best of times pretty complicated contest is suitable for Summer Eights.

  Certainly the crews, forced to row the full distance every day, improved as the week progressed, but, to be honest, this was not difficult. A second argument in favour was that the races provided more of a spectacle for the sparse audience at the Boathouses.

  But as admission is free, the OUBC are not morally bound to put on a crowd-pleasing Saturday spectacular, and it must be doubtful whether their main aim, the improvement of college rowing, is any more noticeably achieved by the overtaking system.

  Act of Lunacy — More dire effects

  Before, an error or act of lunacy cost one place. The first sent Oriel down twice on Friday and the second had even direr effects on Corpus on the last night.

  Having already passed Jesus they were within a quarter-length of Trinity's rudder approaching the Cherwell. A misguided supporter shouted "you've got a bump" and Corpus stopped. Trinity escaped, Jesus rowed past again and Christ Church II, lengths behind, also scraped by. A certain profit of two places became a loss of one.

  The St. Edmund Hall crew, in a class of their own this year but by no means extraordinary, were: [as below].

  Final Results [Start and Finish orders]

• In other news ... [1964]

  Monarch: Elizabeth II

  Prime Minister: Alec Douglas-Home (Conservative)

  Mon 17 Feb

  Gabonese president Leon M'ba is toppled by a military coup and his arch-rival, Jean-Hilaire Aubame, is installed in his place. However, French intervention restores M'ba's government the next day.

  Wed 19 Feb

  Actor Peter Sellers marries actress Britt Ekland.

  Fri 21 Feb

  £10 banknotes are issued for the first time since the Second World War.

  Sat 22 Feb

  The Beatles land at London's Heathrow Airport, returning from their brief tour in North America. The band would return again in their much bigger North American tour nearly eight months later.

  Tue 25 Feb

  Cassius Clay (later Muhammad Ali) beats Sonny Liston in Miami Beach, Florida, and is crowned the heavyweight champion of the world.

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