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Who can head Oriel?
Oriel, the last male bastion at Oxford university, make an attempt to underline their supremacy in the Oxford Torpids which begin today. Oriel's main threats appear to be their immediate pursuers Keble and Worcester. Oriel have had an unsettled term with their plastic boat breaking up and training in a borrowed shell while waiting for their eight to be repaired. They are considered not to be in the class of many fine Oriel head crews over the last decade. However, the question remains whether, vulnerable as they might appear, they can be toppled.Keble have come on recently, but many fancy the heavyweight Worcester crew, who have not been head for over 50 years [1930 was the last year Worcester finished head, although they were the head crew temporarily during 1954]. In the women's competition Lady Margaret Hall are favourites to become head crew. Osler House are likely to be the fastest women's eight with heavy promotion promised, but starting in 12th position today rules out the remotest thought of headship. [Starting Order]
Keble threaten to end Oriel's reign
A change is expected at the top of the four-day Oxford University Torpids which start at noon on the Isis today. Oriel, who took over the headship 10 years ago, could well suffer their first bump and be deposed.The crews most likely to end Oriel's monopoly are Keble, their nearest challengers, and Worcester.
Jesus, the top women's team, and also in danger of slipping down the table, could be overtaken by Lady Margaret Hall. [Starting Order]
[the remainder of the article deals with the Cambridge Lents]
One mistake dashes Keble hopes
Keble's chance of toppling the 10-year rule of Oriel on the opening day of Oxford Torpids came to grief when their bow caught a crab in the closing stages of the race. Keble had reduced Oriel's lead to less than half a length, but that one mistake ended their hopes yesterday and leaves them three more days to achieve their ambition.Worcester were disappointingly left in the wake of the two lead crews, and on yesterday's showing their headship hopes look dead.
There were no changes at the top of the women's divison with Jesus, Somerville and Lady Margaret Hall all rowing over. Osler House climbed off the bottom of the division, rapidly overhauling Wadham. [Bumps Chart]
Bow Crab Disaster for Keble
A disastrous crab by the Keble bow cost them the headship of the Oxford University Torpids which started on the Isis yesterday.Keble, rating 35, relentlessly closed on Oriel, the top crew for the last 10 years, and only a canvas separated them opposite the University boat house when the crab occurred and Oriel escaped.
The leading seven crews rowed over and New were the only boat to lose ground. They were bumped by Lincoln, St Edmund Hall and Pembroke, and dropped three places. St Catherine's bumped Osler House in the second division, despite losing a blade early in the race.
There was no change in the Torpid women's division where Jesus, Somerville and Lady Margaret Hall comfortably rowed over. [List of Bumps]
Oriel keep their heads in front
Oriel, stroked on bow-side, kept off Keble's challenge for the second successive day to stay head crew in Oxford Torpids yesterday. On Wednesday, Keble closed to within half a length before catching a crab; yesterday Oriel appeared to have found something extra, with a length to spare approaching the boathouses and just under that at the finish. In division three St Edmund Hall II collided with the bank and sank.There was no change at the top in the women's competition either, Jesus, Somerville and Lady Margaret Hall rowing over for the second successive day. [Bumps Chart]
Oriel regain composure
Oriel comfortably held off Keble on the second day of the Oxford University Torpids on the Isis yesterday and appear good enough to stay at the head of Division I.They looked a different crew from the one that escaped being bumped by the skin of their teeth on Wednesday, and behind them Worcester and Exeter rowed over and are in no danger of losing their third and fourth positions.
There was again no change at the top of the women's Division I, where Lady Margaret Hall gained a quick overlap on Somerville but failed to make a bump. [List of Bumps]
Top seven crews row over
The head crew, Oriel, who were nearly caught by Keble on the opening day of the Oxford Torpids, appeared to move into overdrive yesterday and look set to win their eleventh headship. Rowing with far more zest and aggression, they had opened up a lead of almost three quarters of a length on Keble at the finish.Once again the two leading crews were way out in front of their pursuers, the next five of whom also rowed over. The chart suggests a fair degree of turbulence in the lower divisions. [Bumps Chart]
Oriel clear of Keble
There was again no change at the top of the First Division on the third day of the Oxford University Torpids on the Isis yesterday.It was a one-horse race, with Oriel rating 34 two lengths clear of Keble (33) opposite the University boat house.
The leading seven crews rowed over and St Edmund Hall and University were the only successful crews with bumps over Queen's and New respectively in the bottom half of the division.
Jesus look as invincible as Oriel at the top of the women's division where the next three crews rowed over. The only notable change in this division was provided by Hertford, who were bumped by St Anne's, St Hilda's, Wolfson and Osler House, and dropped four places.
There was embarrassment for Queen's in Division V. Their third eight suffered the indignity of being bumped by the fourth crew, described by college officials before the Torpids started as "no hopers". [List of Bumps]
Oriel College won the Oxford University Torpid races for the 11th consecutive year on the Isis yesterday. They were within feet of being bumped by Keble, their closest challengers, on Wednesday, but finished well clear of them on the other three days.
Oriel keep headship in Torpids
For the 11th year in succession Oriel are head crew in the Oxford Torpids. On Saturday they rowed with power, untroubled by a fast Keble crew. Worcester, the third crew, came within half a length of Keble, but were unable to close the gap. Oriel II displaced New College at the bottom of the first division and are now a position [division?] higher than any other college second crew. [Bumps Chart]
Oriel still on top
The four-day Oxford University Torpids, which ended on the Isis on Saturday, were again dominated by Oriel and Jesus.Oriel, after a scare on Wednesday when they were within a canvas of being bumped by Keble, finished at the Head for the 11th consecutive year and Jesus retained top place in the women's first division.
The leading five crews in the men's top division were so evenly balanced that none made bumps or were bumped, and Worcester emerged emerged as the fastest crew.
They always cut Keble's lead but could not make up the 1¼ lengths separating the boats at the start, and Keble held on to finish runners-up.
Jesus, Somerville and Lady Margaret Hall were never challenged in the women's division. [List of Bumps] [Finishing Order]