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Balliol face a hard fight
Balliol, who have been Head of the River in Torpids for the last two years, may be hard pressed to escape the attentions of Christ Church when racing starts today.Balliol are tough, strong and use their legs well, but are not notably fast, while Christ Church are much neater and move their boat well. New College, starting third, should hold their place though Christ Church are likely to thwart any upwards advance.
Keble, near the bottom of the second division, look as good as any of the first boats, but looks alone will not balance any lack of fitness.
In the third division, Brasenose have put in a lot of hard work and have their moment when the boat travels quite fast. Today's order of start: [...]
Balliol go Clear
Conditions were difficult for the first day of the Torpids at Oxford yesterday. With floodwater coming down, there was a strong stream, and crews had to race against a headwind as well.These conditions suited Balliol who, far from being in danger from Christ Church, gained steadily and had a lead of 19sec at the finish.
The only change of position in the first division was that St. Edmund Hall caught Oriel, and near the finish were pressing New College.
Keble look good
It is a pity that Keble, who started eighth in the second division, have no chance to make any serious impression on Div. 1. They rose two [?] places yesterday, and are probably the fastest boat on the river. The order of finish was: [...]
Balliol hit 37 and Keep Lead
Balliol still lead the Torpids at Oxford. Coming through the Gut, the fast-starting Christ Church were almost level but along the Green Bank Balliol struck 37 and at the finish had a lead of more than three lengths.St Edmund Hall rowed past New College, but the place they so gained was disallowed because they had gone the wrong side of a marker buoy. So there was no change in the rowing order in Division I.
With Keble, as expected, catching Lincoln, who started second, Wadham had an easy passage at the top of Division II and today will make their appearance in the top division. They may give University something to think about.
Slippery Slope
For crews on a downward journey it is indeed a slippery slope. In two days' racing Pembroke, Worcester and Christ Church IV have all lost seven places Queen's II have lost six and Keble III five.Yesterday's finishing order was: [...]
Division 1.— Christ Church and St. Edmund Hall relegated for passing wrong side of marker buoy on February 19. Division to rerow at 10:30 this morning.
Division I Re-Row Ordered
St Edmund Hall yesterday appealed to Ashton Calvert, president of the Oxford University Boat Club, against the umpire's decision that they could not be allowed to take the Torpids place they had gained on Thursday.But the appeal did them no good. The president decided St Edmund Hall and Christ Church, who had similarly gone the wrong side of a marker buoy, would both pay the full penalty laid down in the rules.
They thus forfeited three places in yesterday's First Division order of start, which was Balliol, New College, Oriel, Christ Church, St John's, St Edmund Hall, University College and Wadham.
But there was more trouble in that division yesterday with a claim for obstruction in in the lower half. So there was no finishing order and a re-row has been ordered for 10:30 this morning.
Balliol unlucky
This would seem to be a little hard on Balliol, who were many lengths clear at the head of the river, and also to Oriel, who had raced past New College, to take second place.Keble, who began Torpids in 14th place, will today be at the bottom of the First Division. Yesterday, when quite unhurried, their time for the full course was four seconds slower than Balliol, who had an equally easy passage.
Order of finish: [...]
Balliol make it a hat-trick
Balliol finished at the head of the river for the third successive year when the Oxford University Torpid races finished on the Isis yesterday.They were never troubled by their nearest rivals, Oriel. Osler House, newcomers to the races, continued their phenomenal rate of progress. This crew of medical students has moved up a total of 25 places since making its debut three years ago. Order of finish: [...]
Balliol's Triumph
Balliol finished at the Head of the River for the third successive year.There was no real risk that they would be caught on Saturday, though Oriel closed up early on, and in the Gut reduced Balliol's lead to a bare half-length.
After that, though, Balliol pulled away, and at the finish the winning margin was 11 seconds.
Seven members of the Balliol crew had never rowed before arriving at Oxford.
Balliol eight: [as below]. Finishing order: [...]