Torpids 1968

BUMPS CHARTS

STANDINGS Start Finish Pos College Pts Pts College 1 St John's 63 59 St John's 2 Oriel 55 59 Balliol 3 Balliol 51 51 Oriel 4 Christ Church 46 47 Christ Church 5 S.E.H. 44 44 Worcester 6 Worcester 39 40 University 7 Lincoln 37 39 Lincoln 8 New College 35 39 New College 9 Keble 35 37 S.E.H. 10 University 31 29 Pembroke 11 Pembroke 28 26 Keble 12 Queen's 27 25 Queen's 13 Merton 23 23 Wadham 14 Wadham 20 20 Merton 15 Corpus Christi 18 17 Trinity 16 Exeter 18 17 Exeter 17 Magdalen 17 16 Hertford 18 Trinity 14 15 St Catherine's 19 St Peter's 14 15 Corpus Christi 20 St Catherine's 13 13 St Peter's 21 Hertford 12 11 Jesus 22 Jesus 12 11 Brasenose 23 Brasenose 8 9 Magdalen 24 Mansfield 3 2 Mansfield

STATISTICS College All Crews [ ]=ranking Crews Bps Avg Christ Church 3[ 2] 11[ 1] 3.67[ 4] Queen's 2[ 7] 9[ 2] 4.50[ 1] St Catherine's 2[ 7] 8[ 3] 4.00[ 2] University 3[ 2] 8[ 3] 2.67[ 7] Worcester 2[ 7] 7[ 5] 3.50[ 5] Brasenose 1[21] 4[ 6] 4.00[ 2] Wadham 2[ 7] 4[ 6] 2.00[ 8] New College 2[ 7] 4[ 6] 2.00[ 8] Hertford 1[21] 3[ 9] 3.00[ 6] Balliol 2[ 7] 3[ 9] 1.50[11] Trinity 1[21] 2[11] 2.00[ 8] Corpus Christi 2[ 7] 0[12] 0.00[12] Mansfield 1[21] -1[13] -1.00[15] St John's 3[ 2] -2[14] -0.67[13] Jesus 2[ 7] -2[14] -1.00[15] Exeter 2[ 7] -2[14] -1.00[15] Merton 2[ 7] -2[14] -1.00[15] Lincoln 4[ 1] -3[18] -0.75[14] Pembroke 2[ 7] -3[18] -1.50[19] Oriel 3[ 2] -5[20] -1.67[20] S.E.H. 2[ 7] -6[21] -3.00[21] St Peter's 3[ 2] -9[22] -3.00[21] Keble 2[ 7] -10[23] -5.00[23] Magdalen 2[ 7] -18[24] -9.00[24]

Notes

• Wed 21 Feb – Sat 24 Feb 1968
• Multilane racing
• Divisions at 30min intervals from 2pm (Div VI) until 4:30pm (Div I)

• The Times Wed 21 Feb, by Douglas Calder

  St. John's could keep Headship

  This afternoon St. John's begin a four-day defence of their place at the head of the river in the Oxford University Torpids. Last year St. Edmund Hall lost the headship and since this year's Hall crew is weak, at least by their standards, they are unlikely to present a serious threat.

  St. John's have been coached by Mike Davis, the former Oxford and Olympic stroke, and given good fortune, should be strong enough to withhold the best of whatever weak challenges can be thrown at them. Their most serious rivals will be Balliol, Christ Church, and Worcester, who start third, fourth and sixth respectively. However, Torpids being what they are, a good deal of luck is involved, which should ensure some exciting racing, even if the rowing is not of a particularly high standard.

  The drawbacks

  Once again the races will be run on the "lanes system". This ostensibly gives a better opportunity for the fastest crew on the river to finish head than does the usual straightforward bumping race, when only one of the first five starters can ever finish head. This system is peculiar to the Torpids and is the result of a cross-fertilization of the traditional former bumping race with the more familiar side-by-side race.

  Although it overcomes some of the drawbacks of bumping races the system is not absolutely satisfactory. Crews race two abreast until the Gut, up to which point no bumping is permitted. Although unlikely, it is conceivably possible that a crew which is outstandingly faster than its neighbours might be balked by this rule.

  After the Gut, when the river widens, the crews peel off by numbers into a line of three abreast and race like that to the finish. Bumping is now permitted, but only the crew which scores a bump can stop. Since overtaking is also permitted the bumped crew must race on to the finish and its final finishing position determines also the new position of the crew which bumps it. A moment's thought will confirm that such a system calls for a good deal of gamesmanship.

  Whether all the spectators or even all the competitors will entirely understand what is going on is a moot point. At least it ensures that most of the crews have to cover the whole course which does them good and can provide some thrilling finishes.

  It had been hoped that Giles Chichester, son of the intrepid Sir Francis, would make the Torpids his swansong as an oarsman. Sadly his Christ Church "scholars" eight failed to qualify in the preliminary races, so like the swans he will have to be content as a spectator [although, according to the Daily Telegraph on 26 Feb, he ended up rowing as stroke of Christ Church III]

  Order of starting:— [...]

• The Daily Telegraph , Wed 21 Feb, by Desmond Hill

  St. John's Set to Keep Title

  Oxford's annual Torpids start this afternoon, and will be as unintelligible as ever for 90 per cent. of those on the bank, who will be mercifully unaware of the additional imponderables posed by the stream and the placing of the buoys.

  St. John's, with five of last year's crew, have worked hard in defence of their newly won title, and will take some dislodging. Towpath opinion is that Balliol and Christ Church, who start third and fourth, represent the greatest threats.

  Christ Church have some junior triallists aboard and did best of the Oxford entrants at the recent Tideway Colleges Regatta. Worcester, who have been practising at Radley, are reputedly the dark horses. St. Edmund Hall nosedived last year, and can raise only two boats, neither of which inspired much confidence.

  Nine failures

  New College lost a man with 'flu on Monday, while Keble would have benefited from longer practice. Lower down, Merton, Wadham and Hertford look rather better than of late.

  The 51 crews race in six divisions at 30-minute intervals, from 2 p.m. Another nine failed to qualify, so that there were 18 more entrants than the all-time low in 1965. One can but hope that no hair styles became entangled in the slides. [Order of Starting]

• The Times Thu 22 Feb, by Douglas Calder

  St. John's hold lead

  St. John's survived unscathed at the head of the river in the Oxford Torpids yesterday, but it is by no means certain that they will do so today. There were no changes of order in the first division, but the crews will be on different stations today, which could make all the difference.

  St. John's started at 44 and then dropped to 38, which rate of striking they maintained until the Gut. At this stage it looked as though no one would get near them for neither Oriel, Balliol nor Christ Church could manage more than 34.

  But as the crews parted into three lanes at the bottom of the Green Bank, St. John's, now in the centre lane, began to look tired and their rate of striking declined. Oriel, on the far side, were still ploddng along at 34 and began to close up. So too did Balliol on the towpath station, and a race which had looked all over became alive again.

  St. John's hung on to their lead past the boathouses and got home safely, but Oriel were only half a length behind them.

  St. Edmund Hall were never in the picture, but at least kept Worcester at bay which must have pleased and perhaps surprised them. Magdalen had a bad afternoon with their two crews descending a total of eight places. Worcester II, on the other hand, having risen 11 places last year, made a good start, gaining another four yesterday. [Bumps Chart]

• The Daily Telegraph , Thu 22 Feb, by Desmond Hill

  Oxford, Wednesday

  Oriel offer no threat to St. John's

  The First Division rowed over unchanged when the Torpids started here this afternoon, but there is no certainty that this will be the pattern for the week, as all crews change stations daily. Even so, St. John's must now be firmer favourites to retain the Headship.

  Starting at 44, and crossing the Gut at 37, they were in no danger from Oriel, but the latter were given a real fright by Balliol, who were overlapping at the Stone.

  Balliol then had to negotiate the Tims Buoys and fell right back. This brought Christ Church level and a desperate race home ensued, Balliol surviving by a quarter-length, the pair having closed on Oriel.

  New College's Menace — Lincoln pass Keble

  St. Edmund Hall were many lengths back and they and Worcester will now be menaced by New College, who were well away at the head of Division II, where Keble were passed by Lincoln. University caught Pembroke as the latter closed on Queen's.

  It was Bedlam as usual for the lower divisions. Magdalen decided to stop when bumped by St. Catherine's and restarted so late that they lost five places.

  Two Division II boats were so slow that their pursuers had to paddle light until reaching the earliest permissible bumping-point. [Start and Finish Orders].

• The Times Fri 23 Feb, by Douglas Calder

  St John's survive

  On the strength of yesterday's racing in the Oxford Torpids St. John's again survived at the head of the river but only with the skin of their teeth. Moreover they may face the agony of an extra race today if an objection by Oriel, lodged after racing had finished, is upheld.

  The argument arose because the marker buoy opposite the Long Bridges had drifted downstream. This is a crucial point in the race, for as the crews take this corner they diverge into three lanes and are permitted to bump or overtake. Oriel maintain that they were physically obstructed at this crossing.

  However, no umpire saw the Oriel cox raise his hand and it seems likely that Peter Miller, the O.U.B.C. Secretary, will overrule the objection [he did]. If he does not, St. John's, Oriel and Balliol will have to rerow soon after lunch today.

  At any event Oriel were yesterday determined to knock St. John's off their perch. They started at 44 and continued at a high rate of striking. St. John's for some reason could only manage 41 and Oriel closed on them. Indirectly it proved to be Oriel's undoing, for Balliol, who started third, were forging along at 38 and suddenly closed fast on the other two halfway up the Green Bank.

  At the University Boat House, Balliol, on the far station, made contact with Oriel on the centre station. Clearly Oriel had shot their bolt and it only remained to be seen if Balliol could bump St. John's, who were also on the far station. St. John's scrambled over the line like scalded cats with about 10ft. of daylight to spare. [Bumps Chart]

• The Daily Telegraph , Fri 23 Feb, by Desmond Hill

  Oxford, Thursday

  St. John's at Head after Close Call

  After looking as safe as houses on the Green Bank, St. John's retained their position at the head by just a canvas when the Torpids continued here today. Oriel, though stroke broke his seat, were overlapping at the Stone but were undone by the Tims Corner.

  As Oriel fell back Balliol raced up, passed them at the OUBC and were snapping at the leaders' heels as the semaphore fell. Christ Church were never in the hunt and farther back Worcester, pressed earlied by New College, failed by six feet to pass St. Edmund Hall.

  Division III featured a three abreast struggle between Keble, Queen's and University. For a moment it seemed that University would pass them both but the stream beat them, though they and Queen's both overhauled a spiritless Keble.

  Exeter fell again in Division III but St. Catherine's, who were quite a popular tip, were surprisingly passed by Jesus. Magdalen, who lost nine places last year and four yesterday, continued their headlong descent by dropping two more today when caught by St. John's II.

  Peculiar Display — Rammed the pack

  St. John's III were demoted three places after a peculiar display of petulance. Finding themselves unable to overtake the crew alongside, they changed lanes and struck them instead. This so took their fancy that they then rammed the pack of boats beyond the finish as well.

  Lincoln IV, who ran aground and lost six places yesterday to become the last boat of all, today scratched in disgust. [Start and Finish Orders]

• The Times Sat 24 Feb, by Douglas Calder

  St. John's put on spurt

  For the first time this week St. John's showed what they were really worth yesterday when the came home safely in front at the head in the Oxford Torpids. But even though there was clear water between them and Balliol at the finish, it did not tell the whole story, for Balliol had been dangerously near to overtaking past the University Boathouse.

  Oriel's objection of the previous day had not been upheld and consequently Balliol started second. St. John's went off at 43 to Balliol's 44, and as they passed Donnington Bridge the crews were down to 38 and 36 respectively. Along the Green Bank St. John's, on the towpath station, kept safely away from Balliol on the far station, and all seemed calm.

  However, Balliol were at all times striking two strokes a minute fewer than St. John's who, even so, could not draw away. Suddenly, at the top of the Green Bank, Balliol, now striking 34, began to gain fast.

  To everyone's surprise St. John's found they had a finishing spurt up their sleeves. They pulled themselves together, held Balliol and then began to draw away.

  It was left to Corpus to provide most of the fireworks in the tail of the second division. After only four strokes they caught a huge crab and stopped dead. Trinity, behind them, could not get past properly and everything was reduced to chaos. The umpire's verdict, after much discussion, was to penalize Corpus three places, which meant relegation to the third division. [Bumps Chart]

• The Daily Telegraph , Sat 24 Feb, by Desmond Hill

  Oxford, Friday

  St. John's hold off Balliol

  Showing far more determination than before, St. John's resisted the Balliol challenge for the Headship of the Torpids here today. St. John's now have to survive but one more race, though they will have the worst of the stream tomorrow.

  Balliol made up half a length along the Green Bank, but they could not match the St. John's rating and began to fall back at the Oxford University Boat Club. Oriel were never in the argument, and Christ Church finished their starting distance away.

  New College ran into St. Edmund Hall opposite their boathouse and, as Worcester also finished ahead of the Hall, the latter drop two places.

  Argument Arises — Corpus come to grief

  An unusually uneventful afternoon was enlivened by a titanic argument arising out of a Corpus Christi shipwreck at the start of Division II. A complete re-row was narrowly averted when Corpus forfeited two places under Rule 21.

  Though they had to contend with the full weight of the stream, Pembroke rode [sic] down Keble from the Long Bridges. Wadham came within a canvas of overtaking Merton.

  In Division III, Jesus made no mistake against St. Catherine's, who helped materially by hitting the bank at Tims and catching a crab opposite the boathouses. [Start & Finish Orders]

• The Sunday Telegraph , Sun 25 Feb

  Balliol go Head

  Balliol beat St. John's, the favourites and holders, in an exciting finish to go Head of the River on the last day of the Oxford University torpids yesterday. Order of finishing: [...]

• The Times Mon 26 Feb, by Douglas Calder

  Benefits of towpath station

  After four days' racing in the Oxford Torpids last week, a clear pattern emerged. Crews on the centre station after the Long Bridges were at a big disadvantage; those on the towpath station had the softest option of all, with much less stream flowing against them. Balliol's process of gaining two places during the racing to go ahead [sic] of the river on Saturday proved this point nicely.

  On Thursday Oriel found themselves on the centre station and went down to Balliol. On Saturday St. John's not only had the centre station themselves, but were challenged by Balliol whose turn it now was to enjoy the benefit of the towpath station.

  As on Friday, the two crews were level at the University Boathouse, but this time St. John's, with the odds all against them, could not hold off Balliol, who made their big effort at the Pink Post, found themselves level with St. John's at the O.U.B.C., and won by three quarters of a length.

  The winning crew was:— [as below] [Bumps Chart]

• The Daily Telegraph , Mon 26 Feb, by Desmond Hill

  Balliol Head of the River

  If any further evidence were needed of the inequality of the stations in the Oxford Torpids, Balliol's deposition of St. John's from the Head on the last day provided it in full measure.

  St. John's had come home a length ahead of the same opponents the day before. On Saturday, however, they had the centre lane with the full stream against them. Balliol's, who could hug the Berkshire [towpath] bank, rowed straight past them along the Barges.

  Apart from St. Edmund Hall's descents, Balliol made the only first division "bumps" of the week.

  Disaster for Magdalen

  Queen's and Jesus both forfeited three places for straying from their correct lanes, but the races were an even greater disaster for Magdalen, whose two boats dropped 18 rungs.

  Christ Church II [presumably III] (stroked by Giles Chichester) and Queen's II gained 11 and 12 places respectively. [Head Crew — as below except J. F. Gledhill and C. W. F. Baden-Fuller]

• The Times Wed 28 Feb, by Douglas Calder

  [Main article concerns Cambridge Lents]

  As a postscript to the Oxford Torpids of last week, a meeting is being held today to decide whether or not penalties meted out to errant crews should be modified.

  According to the Brasenose minute book (courtesy of William O'Chee) the result was that Jesus were penalised just one place rather than the three shown for the Saturday in the charts. This is reflected in the start order for the following year.

• In other news ... [1968]

  February 24

  Vietnam War: The Tet Offensive is halted; South Vietnam recaptures Hue.

  February 24

  Announcement of the first discovery (last year) of a pulsar by astronomer Jocelyn Bell Burnell working with Antony Hewish at the University of Cambridge.

  February 25

  Vietnam War: Ha My massacre.

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