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Oriel aim to keep crown
Oriel will be seeking to extend their record run as Head crew to a 15th year when the Oxford Torpids begin today. They went head in 1972 and have since rowed more than 50 times, the 1977 Torpids having been cancelled.Last year they not only held off some spirited challenges, but also saw their second boat rise four places to finish in fourth position. If Oriel can reproduce that sort of form, they should stay on top [omitting discussion on Cambridge Lents]
In the women's divisions, form is harder to predict. At Oxford St Hugh's made an impressive four bumps to go ahead [sic] last year on the last day. [Lents]
Assisted by a wind seemingly straight from the Arctic Oriel coasted home more than five lengths clear of Keble at the head of the Oxford University Torpids. Pembroke closed to half a length on Keble while Oriel II escaped being deposed by Christ Church into fifth place by the narrowest of margins.In the women's divisions St Hugh's finished three lengths clear of St Catherine's but Osler House moved up into third place with a bump on Lady Margaret Hall.
Oriel maintained their supremacy in the Oxford Torpids yesterday by finishing more than five lengths ahead of Keble. Pembroke were half a length back in third place. [List of Bumps]
Oriel rowed over at the head of Oxford University Torpids yesterday. Keble trailed so far behind as not to offer the remotest threat. Pembroke, in third place, were well out of touch with Keble, but could be challenged by Christ Church today.Christ Church bumped Oriel II in front of Oxford University Boat Club with such vigour as to provoke a host of complaints.
In the women's divisions Osler House made an early bump on St Catherine's which took the medical students into second place behind St Hugh's. [Wednesday's Bumps]
Oriel head Torpids
Oriel rowed over at the head of the Oxford University Torpids once more yesterday.Keble are utterly out of touch behind them while Pembroke, in third place, had barely maintained their starting interval as the three passed Oxford University Boat Club.
Osler House moved up into second place behind St Hugh's in the women's division by making an early bump on St Catherine's. Somerville caught Lady Margaret Hall in fourth place, on the Green Bank. [List of Bumps]
Weather wins again
Competition on the third day of Oxford University Torpids was cancelled yesterday morning. A notice on the locked boathouse door at the deserted waterfront summoned college captains to a late-night meeting to consider their options for the completion of two more days of racing.One college waterman forecast unrowable conditions until after the weekend, but Barney Ainslie, president of the local Falcon Rowing Club, thought it within the power of his members and oarsmen from Oxford Polytechnic to clear any ice and salvage the Inter-Polytechnic Regatta, projected for tomorrow. [Thursday's Bumps]
Ice Halts Torpids
Ice, half-an-inch thick from one bank of the Isis to the other led to the cancellation of the Oxford University Torpids races yesterday, the third day. Floods have upset the races in recent years, but a frozen river has not prevented racing since 1963.Captains of college boat clubs decided last night, by a vote of 19 to 15, to try to row off the third day of the Torpid races today. If necessary, all available small craft will be used to clear the river of ice before 11:30 am.
Osler House take over
With a spectacular bump in front of the Boathouses, Osler House deposed St Hugh's at the head of the women's divisions in the Oxford University Torpids on Saturday.Oriel had at least five lengths in hand as they rowed over again at the head of the men's divisions, while Christ Church caught Pembroke and moved into fourth place. [List of Bumps] [Finishing Order]