Torpids 1987

MEN'S BUMPS WOMEN'S BUMPS

STANDINGS Start Finish Pos College Pts Pts College 1 Oriel 191 186 Oriel 2 Keble 128 126 Keble 3 Christ Church 111 120 Worcester 4 Worcester 108 111 Pembroke 5 Pembroke 107 109 Christ Church 6 St Catherine's 105 105 Brasenose 7 Brasenose 102 105 St Catherine's 8 Exeter 100 99 New College 9 Wadham 86 85 Wadham 10 Lincoln 86 83 Hertford 11 New College 83 80 Lincoln 12 University 79 79 University 13 Osler House 77 78 St Hugh's 14 Queen's 74 72 Balliol 15 St Hugh's 71 71 Osler House 16 Balliol 69 69 Exeter 17 S.E.H. 66 69 L.M.H. 18 Hertford 64 65 S.E.H. 19 L.M.H. 61 64 Queen's 20 Jesus 57 60 Jesus 21 Trinity 56 59 Trinity 22 St John's 55 55 Somerville 23 Wolfson 51 52 Wolfson 24 Somerville 45 51 St John's 25 Magdalen 39 44 Magdalen 26 St Hilda's 38 37 St Peter's 27 St Peter's 35 35 St Anne's 28 St Anne's 31 23 Merton 29 Corpus Christi 29 23 Corpus Christi 30 Merton 23 12 St Hilda's 31 Mansfield 12 12 Mansfield 32 Regent's Park 6 6 Regent's Park 33 Linacre 5 6 Linacre

STATISTICS College All Crews Men's Crews Women's Crews [ ]=ranking Crews Bps Avg Crews Bps Avg Crews Bps Avg Hertford 6[ 3] 24[ 1] 4.00[ 1] 4[ 3] 17[ 1] 4.25[ 1] 2[ 2] 7[ 3] 3.50[ 2] New College 6[ 3] 14[ 2] 2.33[ 6] 4[ 3] 6[ 6] 1.50[ 9] 2[ 2] 8[ 2] 4.00[ 1] St Hugh's 5[ 9] 13[ 3] 2.60[ 4] 5[ 1] 13[ 1] 2.60[ 7] Jesus 4[14] 10[ 4] 2.50[ 5] 3[10] 12[ 2] 4.00[ 2] 1[17] -2[22] -2.00[24] Worcester 5[ 9] 10[ 4] 2.00[ 7] 4[ 3] 10[ 3] 2.50[ 6] 1[17] 0[19] 0.00[19] Magdalen 3[22] 9[ 6] 3.00[ 3] 2[19] 8[ 5] 4.00[ 2] 1[17] 1[14] 1.00[11] L.M.H. 5[ 9] 7[ 7] 1.40[ 8] 3[10] 9[ 4] 3.00[ 5] 2[ 2] -2[22] -1.00[21] St Peter's 4[14] 5[ 8] 1.25[ 9] 3[10] 4[ 7] 1.33[10] 1[17] 1[14] 1.00[11] Linacre 1[31] 4[ 9] 4.00[ 1] 1[26] 4[ 7] 4.00[ 2] Wadham 5[ 9] 4[ 9] 0.80[12] 3[10] -2[19] -0.67[21] 2[ 2] 6[ 4] 3.00[ 3] Pembroke 4[14] 3[11] 0.75[13] 2[19] 1[12] 0.50[13] 2[ 2] 2[ 9] 1.00[11] Somerville 2[28] 2[12] 1.00[10] 2[ 2] 2[ 9] 1.00[11] Wolfson 3[22] 2[12] 0.67[14] 2[19] 4[ 7] 2.00[ 7] 1[17] -2[22] -2.00[24] Balliol 3[22] 2[12] 0.67[14] 2[19] 4[ 7] 2.00[ 7] 1[17] -2[22] -2.00[24] University 3[22] 2[12] 0.67[14] 2[19] 0[14] 0.00[14] 1[17] 2[ 9] 2.00[ 8] St Anne's 4[14] 2[12] 0.50[17] 3[10] 0[14] 0.00[14] 1[17] 2[ 9] 2.00[ 8] Regent's Park 1[31] 1[17] 1.00[10] 1[26] 1[12] 1.00[11] Osler House 3[22] 1[17] 0.33[18] 1[26] -2[19] -2.00[26] 2[ 2] 3[ 6] 1.50[10] Mansfield 1[31] 0[19] 0.00[19] 1[26] 0[14] 0.00[14] Christ Church 6[ 3] 0[19] 0.00[19] 4[ 3] -6[25] -1.50[24] 2[ 2] 6[ 4] 3.00[ 3] Queen's 6[ 3] -1[21] -0.17[21] 4[ 3] -2[19] -0.50[18] 2[ 2] 1[14] 0.50[17] Trinity 4[14] -2[22] -0.50[22] 3[10] -1[17] -0.33[17] 1[17] -1[20] -1.00[21] St Catherine's 4[14] -2[22] -0.50[22] 3[10] 2[11] 0.67[12] 1[17] -4[27] -4.00[27] Lincoln 4[14] -2[22] -0.50[22] 2[19] -1[17] -0.50[18] 2[ 2] -1[20] -0.50[20] Brasenose 7[ 1] -4[25] -0.57[25] 5[ 2] -5[24] -1.00[22] 2[ 2] 1[14] 0.50[17] Oriel 7[ 1] -4[25] -0.57[25] 6[ 1] -7[27] -1.17[23] 1[17] 3[ 6] 3.00[ 3] St John's 6[ 3] -6[27] -1.00[27] 4[ 3] -8[28] -2.00[26] 2[ 2] 2[ 9] 1.00[11] Keble 5[ 9] -8[28] -1.60[28] 3[10] -6[25] -2.00[26] 2[ 2] -2[22] -1.00[21] Corpus Christi 2[28] -9[29] -4.50[31] 1[26] -12[29] -12.00[30] 1[17] 3[ 6] 3.00[ 3] Merton 3[22] -12[30] -4.00[30] 2[19] -3[23] -1.50[24] 1[17] -9[28] -9.00[29] S.E.H. 6[ 3] -17[31] -2.83[29] 4[ 3] -2[19] -0.50[18] 2[ 2] -15[29] -7.50[28] Exeter 4[14] -24[32] -6.00[32] 3[10] -25[30] -8.33[29] 1[17] 1[14] 1.00[11] St Hilda's 2[28] -24[32] -12.00[33] 2[ 2] -24[30] -12.00[30]

Notes

• Wed 25 – Sat 28 Feb 1987

• The Times Wed 25 Feb, By Jim Railton

  Oxford include world champion in Torpids crew

  Oxford University Boat Club's loss is at least Oxford College's gain with American Olympic medal winners and world champions involved in either rowing or coaching in the Torpids, which begin today.

  Dan Lyons, of the United States, the world champion in coxless fours, is rowing six in the Oriel crew, and the Olympic silver medal winner in eights, Chris Penny, has been spotted rowing in the St John's fourth eight. It will certainly be the first time a world rowing champion has competed in the Torpids.

  Oriel, the head crew, are seeking their 15th successive Torpids title and with an impressive crew look certain to stay at the top. The Oriel eight has on board three Torpid champions, the stroke Vincent Warner, Mark Emerton and their captain, Geoff Austin. Oriel also has Isis oarsman Mark Machin, an Oxford junior triallist and two experience post-graduates on board.

  Keble and Christ Church in second and third places are threatened by their immediate pursuers Pembroke. Oriel's second boat, starting in fifth place, could also prosper further. Worcester, with Blue Mark Dunstan, are also expected to make progress, as indeed are New College. Osler House are tipped to retain their title at the head of the top women's division. [Starting Order]

• The Daily Telegraph Wed 25 Feb, By Geoffrey Page

  Oriel look unbeatable in Oxford Torpids

  The Oxford Torpids and Cambridge Lent races both begin today, and it is likely that both Head crews will maintain their positions during the four days.

  On the Isis, Oriel have already established a record by holding the Headship for 15 consecutive years, and they will make another by becoming the first college at either university to include a world champion in their crew.

  Oxford's loss though the withdrawal of their Americans has become Oriel's gain, with Dan Lyons, world gold medallist last year, rowing at "six" in what looks to be far and away the best college crew in Torpids... [discussion of Lents]

  In the women's divisions Osler House at Oxford bumped their way up last year to lead by the last night, and though they look smaller than usual could stay in front again. [Starting Order]

• The Times Thu 26 Feb, By Jim Railton

  Champion makes history in Torpids

  Dan Lyons, of the United States, became the first world champion to row in the Oxford Torpids yesterday. Lyons, aged 28, the world champion in the coxless fours, is one of the four Olympic and world medal-winning Americans to rebel against the Oxford University Boat Club's selection for the Boat Race, for which performers of Lyons calibre are usually busy preparing at this time of year.

  A postgraduate reading social studies, Lyons opted to keep in trim for this year's world championship by rowing in the Oriel first eight in the important six-seat. Oriel are set yet again to retain the headship. [List of Bumps]

• In a separate article, by Jim Railton

  Double first for one girl in a boat

  A notable double was recorded in the opening day of the Oxford Torpids yesterday when 28-year-old Alexandra "Za Za" Horne became not only the first woman to row in the men's first division of Torpids but also helped her crew [Pembroke] to rise to third place when they bumped Christ Church (Jim Railton writes).

  Although Miss Horne, seen above [a photo accompanies the article] during yesterday's race, is a postgraduate at St Antony's College, she was given special permission to row for the Pembroke first eight on Tuesday evening by the Oxford University Boat Club committee in charge of the organization of Torpids.

  In the past, members of colleges have been allowed "associate membership" of other colleges in order to row but this is normally in the lower divisions.

  Miss Horne was a member of last year's winning Oxford women's Boat Race crew and is presently a member of the British women's national squad preparing for the world championships in Copenhagen.

  Pembroke's stroke Neil Pratt was ruled unfit with a lung infection, and Miss Horne was invited to row at two. While Oriel as head crew rowed over with lengths to spare yesterday, Pembroke chased Christ Church hard and bumped them just before the finish. Keble lie today between Miss Horne's crew and Oriel. Yesterday's performance was quite an achievement for a woman in what is normally a men's world.

• The Daily Telegraph Thu 26 Feb, By Geoffrey Page

  Zaza steps up and makes her mark

  Oriel extended their record run at the head of the Oxford Torpids by one more night, coming in well ahead of Keble, but close behind another record was being made.

  Because of illness in their crew, Pembroke included a substitute at two, who turned out to be a woman, Zaza Horne. Though at St Antony's, she had been given special dispensation by the OUBC to row for Pembroke.

  Miss Horne, who rowed in the winning Oxford crew in the Women's Boat Race last year, achieved further distinction by recording a bump when Pembroke caught Christ Church near the finish to take over third place.

  Exeter and Queen's both fell two places, but Jesus, who had a sad time last year, began to make amends by catching St Peter's in Division 2. Osler House were hard pressed, but stayed head of the women's division. [List of Bumps]

• The Times Fri 27 Feb

  The top divisions of the Oxford University Torpids produced close racing but few bumps in atrocious conditions on the Isis yesterday.

  Oriel, the leaders, finished five lengths ahead of Keble in the men's first division but although only half a length separated the next five crews they retained their places and rowed over. Exeter went down two places after being caught by New College and Lincoln but the only other bump was by Hertford on St Catherine's [? actually St Edmund Hall] at the bottom of the division. [List of Bumps]

• The Daily Telegraph Fri 27 Feb, By a Special Correspondent
  [It seems as though Oriel and Keble have been mixed up in this article, or possibly just by the headline writer who misinterpreted the first sentence of the article]

  Poor Oriel left behind by buoyant Keble

  Oriel finished out of contact and almost out of sight of Keble at the head of the second day of the Oxford Torpids.

  Pembroke, Christ Church, Oriel 2, Brasenose and Worcester also rowed over, unable to alter the starting sequence of the next five places in the men's divisions.

  Worcester, in seventh place, made sufficient impression on Brasenose's starting margin as to leave hope for an upward move in the remaining two days' races.

  The first four positions at the head of the women's divisions were also unchanged, although Somerville, in third place, frequently showed hints of sufficient power to catch St Hugh's and depose Osler House as head before the end of the week. [List of Bumps]

• The Times Sat 28 Feb, By a Correspondent

  Worcester grateful to an alert umpire

  An alert umpire cost Brasenose a bump in the Oxford University Torpids on the Isis yesterday. It was announced that the first nine crews had rowed over in the men's first division but the official saw Worcester make contact with Brasenose along the Green Bank and the bump was allowed.

  In the women's top division, which produced four bumps, Osler House have few [sic, presumably meant 'new'?] challengers today as their nearest rival, St Hugh's, were caught by Somerville close the the University Boat House. [List of Bumps]

• The Daily Telegraph Sat 28 Feb, By a Special Correspondent

  Oriel storm well clear

  Oriel rowed more than 17 seconds clear of Keble on the third day of the Oxford Torpids yesterday, and Worcester's late bump on Brasenose caused the only change in [the?] first nine places in the top men's division.

  Somerville cruised [closed?] on St Hugh's, who were within reach of taking Osler House at the head of [the?] women's top division. [List of Bumps]

• The Sunday Telegraph Sun 1 March

  Oriel College easily finished ahead in the Oxford Torpids for the 16th year. In the women's divisions, Somerville eclipsed Osler House.

• The Times Mon 2 March, By a Correspondent

  Somerville women complete a double

  Oriel successfully defended the men's headship of the Oxford University Torpids for the sixteenth consecutive year on Saturday.

  In the women's first division, Somerville overhauled Osler House at the end of the Green Bank to go top for the first time. It gave them a unique double as they are also the leaders of the summer eights. [List of Bumps]

• The Daily Telegraph Mon 2 March

  Oriel's display of winning bravado

  With a display of bravado, Oriel dropped to single-stroke rowing as they passed their own boathouse at the Head of the Oxford Torpids for the 16th year.

  Somerville caught Osler House at the end of the Green Bank and went Head of the women's division, a status the college already enjoys in Summer Eights. [List of Bumps] [Finishing Order] [Head Crews — as below]

• The Times Tue 3 March

  Oriel retained their headship for the sixteenth consecutive year in the Oxford University Torpids races which ended on Saturday. Final bumps chart: [...]

• The Times Sat 7 March

  Hard Row

  by Simon Barnes

  Many people spluttered when the delightfully named Za Za Horne (yes, a woman) rowed in the Pembroke College Men's Eight in the Torpids, and rubbed in this triumph by helping them improve from fourth to third by bumping Christ Church. But the most extreme reaction came from Saudi Arabia. A Saudi newspaper, firmly seizing hold of the wrong end of the stick, believed that she was rowing in the Oxford boat in the Boat Race and felt the shame so keenly that it printed a picture of the Pembroke Eight — with Miss Horne's face blacked out.

• Review from the 1987 Eights Programme

  Though the term started off with some amazingly low temperatures, and the Isis was frozen for the first week or so, the weather during Torpids was decidedly less inclement than last year, when the third day of racing was lost due to ice. None of the days was, however, entirely free from rain.

  The headship was held, as expected, by Oriel, with a very fast crew — not perhaps quite as fast as last year's, though — which had lately been reshuffled to accommodate Dan Lyons, the World Champion from America. He declared himself to reporters as 'honoured' to row in the crew. Keble again held on to second place, perhaps more decisively than last year, despite keeping everyone guessing in training by staying in fours for most of the term. The third spot was taken over by Pembroke, who had also reshuffled their crew, due to illness, and had received O.U.B.C. dispensation to included a female member of another college, namely Miss ZaZa Horne of St Antony's, a member of the Women's National Squad.

  Elsewhere in the First Division, Oriel II fell on the last day as Worcester's third victims: the next highest second boat is now eighteen places below. Hertford gained their blades and moved up into the First Division, while Exeter underwent a spectacular drop. Colleges moving up at the top of the Second Division were Balliol (three places), Trinity (two places) and Magdalen, who reversed last year's drop and climbed two. At the bottom of the division, Jesus began their long climb after last year's drop of fourteen places, which was mainly due to their foundering when they struck a submerged lump of ice which split the shell of their boat. This year, they climbed three places.

  The top of the Third Division was impressive this year, especially on the Friday; Christ Church II just managed to stave off Oriel III, who fell on the last day to L.M.H., a first boat which has been climbing steadily ever since the college first admitted men, gaining in most years, as this year, their blades. Another Third Division first boat, Merton, rose three places, as they did last year. Among the new arrivals in the division was Hertford II, whose rise of seven places was commendable.

  A thrilling chase along the Greenbank on the Saturday resulted in Somerville, with two bumps already under their belts, deposing Osler House from the Women's Headship. They then rowed back to their boathouse with their cox at stroke. Lower down in the same division, Brasenose and St Hugh's II won their blades, as did New College, Hertford and Christ Church in the Women's Second Division. An even more unfortunate drop than that of Exeter was undergone by St Hilda's, who fell fifteen places.

• Details of the men's head crew take from the photo caption in the 1987 Eights Programme. Women's head crew from The Daily Telegraph, Mon 2 March.

• In other news ... [1987]

  February 25

  Beginning of the Phosphorite War protest movement in the Estonian SSR.

  February 26

  Iran-Contra affair: The Tower Commission rebukes U.S. President Ronald Reagan for not controlling his National Security Council staff.

  February 26

  Church of England's General Synod votes to allow the ordination of women.

  February 26

  Rosie Barnes wins the Greenwich parliamentary seat for the Social Democratic Party (SDP) from Labour at a by-election.

Somerville
B:	B. Carter
2:	H. Newsam
3:	M. McDermott
4:	G. Grzyb
5:	T. Rogerson
6:	E. Othen
7:	S. Wareing
S:	A. Blythe-Brook
C:	S. Holmes

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