Torpids 1989

MEN'S BUMPS WOMEN'S BUMPS

STANDINGS Start Finish Pos College Pts Pts College 1 Oriel 241 222 Oriel 2 New College 154 178 New College 3 Christ Church 150 150 St Catherine's 4 Keble 146 144 Brasenose 5 Brasenose 136 142 Christ Church 6 St Catherine's 133 138 University 7 University 122 133 Hertford 8 Pembroke 117 125 Wadham 9 Hertford 116 121 Keble 10 L.M.H. 109 106 L.M.H. 11 Wadham 107 103 Worcester 12 Worcester 104 101 Balliol 13 Balliol 101 100 Pembroke 14 St Hugh's 99 94 Wolfson 15 Lincoln 95 92 Osler House 16 St Edmund Hall 88 89 Trinity 17 Wolfson 86 88 Lincoln 18 Trinity 85 84 St Edmund Hall 19 Osler House 85 82 Magdalen 20 Jesus 79 80 Somerville 21 Magdalen 78 69 St Anne's 22 Somerville 74 67 Jesus 23 St John's 72 67 Queen's 24 Exeter 68 66 St John's 25 Queen's 68 66 St Hugh's 26 St Anne's 60 65 Exeter 27 St Peter's 45 51 St Peter's 28 Merton 36 37 Merton 29 Corpus Christi 35 34 Corpus Christi 30 St Hilda's 31 30 St Hilda's 31 Mansfield 25 23 Mansfield 32 Linacre 16 16 Linacre 33 Regent's Park 9 7 Regent's Park 34 Templeton 2 3 Templeton

STATISTICS College All Crews Men's Crews Women's Crews [ ]=rank Crews Bps Avg Crews Bps Avg Crews Bps Avg New College 6[ 6] 20[ 1] 3.33[ 1] 1[ 1] 3[ 5] 3.00[ 5] 1[ 1] 2[10] 2.00[10] Hertford 6[ 6] 19[ 2] 3.17[ 2] 1[ 1] 3[ 5] 3.00[ 5] 1[ 1] 1[15] 1.00[15] Wadham 6[ 6] 10[ 3] 1.67[ 8] 1[ 1] -2[23] -2.00[21] 1[ 1] 0[20] 0.00[20] St Anne's 7[ 3] 10[ 3] 1.43[10] 1[ 1] -4[29] -4.00[27] 1[ 1] -2[28] -2.00[26] Osler House 3[26] 9[ 5] 3.00[ 3] 1[ 1] 5[ 1] 5.00[ 1] 1[ 1] 4[ 5] 4.00[ 5] University 5[13] 9[ 5] 1.80[ 7] 1[ 1] -3[26] -3.00[24] 1[ 1] -1[25] -1.00[23] Wolfson 4[20] 8[ 7] 2.00[ 6] 1[ 1] 2[10] 2.00[10] 1[ 1] 2[10] 2.00[10] St Catherine's 6[ 6] 7[ 8] 1.17[11] 1[ 1] 1[15] 1.00[15] 1[ 1] 1[15] 1.00[15] Magdalen 7[ 3] 7[ 8] 1.00[12] 1[ 1] 0[17] 0.00[17] 1[ 1] 2[10] 2.00[10] Somerville 3[26] 7[ 8] 2.33[ 5] 1[ 1] 3[ 6] 3.00[ 6] Corpus Christi 4[20] 4[11] 1.00[12] 1[ 1] 2[10] 2.00[10] 1[ 1] -5[32] -5.00[30] Merton 2[30] 3[12] 1.50[ 9] 1[ 1] 0[17] 0.00[17] 1[ 1] 3[ 6] 3.00[ 6] St Edmund Hall 3[26] 3[12] 1.00[12] 1[ 1] 1[15] 1.00[15] 1[ 1] 5[ 1] 5.00[ 1] Templeton 1[33] 3[12] 3.00[ 3] 1[ 1] 3[ 5] 3.00[ 5] Queen's 5[13] 1[15] 0.20[15] 1[ 1] 3[ 5] 3.00[ 5] 1[ 1] 1[15] 1.00[15] Pembroke 5[13] 0[16] 0.00[16] 1[ 1] 2[10] 2.00[10] 1[ 1] 0[20] 0.00[20] Lincoln 4[20] 0[16] 0.00[16] 1[ 1] 4[ 2] 4.00[ 2] 1[ 1] 3[ 6] 3.00[ 6] Linacre 2[30] 0[16] 0.00[16] 1[ 1] -2[23] -2.00[21] 1[ 1] 2[10] 2.00[10] St Peter's 4[20] -1[19] -0.25[19] 1[ 1] -8[32] -8.00[30] 1[ 1] 3[ 6] 3.00[ 6] Balliol 6[ 6] -2[20] -0.33[20] 1[ 1] 4[ 2] 4.00[ 2] 1[ 1] 5[ 1] 5.00[ 1] St Hilda's 3[26] -2[20] -0.67[22] 1[ 1] 5[ 1] 5.00[ 1] Mansfield 2[30] -2[20] -1.00[25] 1[ 1] -1[21] -1.00[19] 1[ 1] -1[25] -1.00[23] L.M.H. 7[ 3] -3[23] -0.43[21] 1[ 1] 2[10] 2.00[10] 1[ 1] -1[25] -1.00[23] Christ Church 5[13] -4[24] -0.80[24] 1[ 1] -3[26] -3.00[24] 1[ 1] 2[10] 2.00[10] Worcester 6[ 6] -4[24] -0.67[22] 1[ 1] 2[10] 2.00[10] 1[ 1] -3[30] -3.00[28] Brasenose 4[20] -4[24] -1.00[25] 1[ 1] -6[30] -6.00[28] 1[ 1] 1[15] 1.00[15] Regent's Park 1[33] -6[27] -6.00[34] 1[ 1] -6[30] -6.00[28] St John's 4[20] -6[27] -1.50[28] 1[ 1] -8[32] -8.00[30] 1[ 1] 5[ 1] 5.00[ 1] Trinity 6[ 6] -10[29] -1.67[29] 1[ 1] -3[26] -3.00[24] 1[ 1] -3[30] -3.00[28] Exeter 8[ 1] -10[29] -1.25[27] 1[ 1] -1[21] -1.00[19] 1[ 1] 1[15] 1.00[15] Keble 5[13] -14[31] -2.80[31] 1[ 1] 3[ 5] 3.00[ 5] 1[ 1] -2[28] -2.00[26] St Hugh's 5[13] -16[32] -3.20[32] 1[ 1] 4[ 2] 4.00[ 2] 1[ 1] -5[32] -5.00[30] Oriel 8[ 1] -18[33] -2.25[30] 1[ 1] -10[34] -10.00[32] 1[ 1] 0[20] 0.00[20] Jesus 5[13] -18[33] -3.60[33] 1[ 1] -2[23] -2.00[21] 1[ 1] -5[32] -5.00[30]

• Wed 22 – Sat 25 Feb 1989
• Men's 8th Division and Women's 5th Division added
• Divisions every half hour from 11:00–5:30 (W5, M8, W4, M7, M6, W3, M5, M4, W2, M3, M2, W1, M1)
• First appearance of Templeton in Torpids.

• The Times Wed 22 Feb, By a Special Correspondent

  Oriel deny Torpids title is in jeopardy

  Oriel College again start favourites to win this year's Torpids, which start on the Isis today, but their position as head of the river is under threat for the first time in many years.

  This season Oriel have lost both the Autumn Fours and the Christ Church Regatta, and both Christ Church and New College believe that they can catch them in Torpids as well.

  Nick Watkins, the New College captain, says his crew is faster than Oriel this year, but, starting in fifth place, they have a lot to do. " We would have to bump every day to win and that's difficult," Watkins said.

  However, Oriel train far more than any other college and are in no mood to surrender. Their captain, John Witting [Whitting], is convinced that they will win Torpids for the eighteenth year in succession. " There's no chance of us losing. I don't think there's any serious opposition, " he said.

  The starting order in Torpids is the finishing order from the previous year and Oriel at the top are followed by Christ Church, Oriel II, Keble, New College and Brasenose.

  The main contenders in the women's race are Osler House, who are head of the river, and Somerville, in second place. [Starting Order]

• The Daily Telegraph Wed 22 Feb, By Geoffrey Page

  Heady days for Oriel

  Oriel College will be attempting to extend their record run as Head of the River in to 18 years in the Oxford Torpids which begin today.

  Hertford, who have enjoyed an impressive run in both Torpids and the Summer Eights in recent years, made four bumps last year but starting seventh puts them out of contention for the Headship.

  Oriel's overall strength is underlined by their second boat which starts in third place — a record for a second boat. Christ Church are second but New College, starting fifth, could provide the main challenge. [Starting Order]

• The Times Thu 23 Feb, By a Special Correspondent

  Oriel row over with ease

  Oriel comfortably rowed over at the Head of the Oxford University Torpids on the Isis yesterday. They pulled away from Christ Church, their closest rivals at the start, and at the University Boathouse four lengths separated the two crews.

  Lower down the division, New College made a quick bump on Keble and the only other movement was by St Edmund Hall who caught Pembroke. St Catherine's got to within a quarter of a length of Pembroke at the finish but they in turn just held off Balliol who had an overlap.

  There were no changes at the top of the women's first division. Osler House moved away from Somerville, who narrowed the gap early on and they finished well clear of Lady Margaret Hall, the third crew. [List of Bumps] [Starting Order]

• The Daily Telegraph Thu 24 Feb, By a Special Correspondent

  Oriel remain in control

  Oriel, Christ Church and the Oriel second crew headed the men's divisions, well separated and with the leading starting order undisturbed, at the end of the first day's racing in the Oxford University Torpids.

  New College caught Keble coming out of The Gut and there was a flurry of excitement at the bottom of the division where Balliol St Catherine's and Pembroke all overlapped without making contact.

  The Osler House, Somerville, Lady Margaret Hall sequence in the women's divisions remained unaltered by virtue of Claire Hartnet's adroit navigation of the LMH eight. The Hall never conceded despite being overlapped by St Hugh's over the final third of the course. St Hugh's in turn were bumped by Wadham. [List of Bumps]

• The Times Fri 24 Feb, By a Special Correspondent

  New gain ground on leaders

  New College made their second bump on the second day of Oxford University Torpids on the Isis yesterday. They caught Oriel's second eight approaching the Gut to move into third place behind Christ Church. Christ Church could have difficulties in holding off New College today, if New can overhaul the House to move up behind Oriel it could set up an interesting curtain-raiser tomorrow.

  In the women's first division, Osler House just held off Somerville. The distance was down to a canvas at the University Boat House but Osler were stronger over the final stretch. [List of Bumps] [Starting Order]

  The newspaper also contains a photo of the foot of M.Div IV racing on the Thursday, captioned

  Oxford rowers take to the water

  
  In combat: men's fourth division crews in a strenuous battle for supremacy on the Isis yesterday in the traditional Hilary Term fixture, Torpids.

• The Daily Telegraph Fri 24 Feb

  Osler fend off challenge

  Oriel improved on their starting distance to finish an unassailable six lengths clear of Christ Church on the second day of the Oxford University Torpids. New College closed rapidly on the Oriel second boat to make a bump on the Green Bank, showing the form that could thake them to third place today.

  Osler House narrowly survived Somerville's sustained assault at the head of the women's division. Wadham quickly caught Lady Margaret Hall, but despite widespread protests, none of the overlaps involving St Catherine's, University and St Hugh's was allowed as a bump. Pembroke's crab in front of the boathouses made for the only other change in Division One. [List of Bumps] [Starting Order]

• The Times Sat 25 Feb, By a Special Correspondent

  Oriel hold lead as challenges subside

  Oriel look likely to retain the Headship of Oxford University Torpids for the eighteenth consecutive year on the Isis today. New College were confident of challenging them yesterday, but failed to make any impression on Christ Church, the second-placed boat, and stay in third place.

  The House never got within striking distance of the leaders, but there was plenty of movement lower down the division. St Edmund Hall rowed into a bank after being bumped by St Catherine's and before they could extricate themselves, Balliol, Magdalen and University rowed past them. As a result they dropped down to the second division.

  In the women's first division, Somerville, who got within a canvas of Osler House, the leaders, on Thursday, found themselves in trouble from Wadham. The gap was down to half a length along the Green Bank, but Somerville pulled away and finished a length clear of Wadham and a similar distance behind Osler. [List of Bumps] [Starting Order]

• The Daily Telegraph Sat 25 Feb, By Geoffrey Page

  [Other rowing reporting] Oriel and Osler House remain at the head of the men's and women's divisions respectively after the third day of Oxford University Torpids yesterday. [List of Bumps] [Starting Order]

• The Daily Telegraph Mon 27 Feb, By Geoffrey Page

  [Other rowing reporting]

  Oriel remained at the head of the men's divisions when the Oxford Torpids ended on Saturday, but the downward pattern of their boats was broken only by the college's fifth crew.

  New College climbed into second place, the second and third crews earned their blades and the fourth eight moved up three places, while Osler House retained the women's headship. [List of Bumps] [Finishing Order]

• The Times Tue 28 Feb

  Oriel and Osler remain in command

  Oriel finished head of the river in Oxford University Torpids for the eighteenth year in succession after rowing over on the final day. Osler House remained at the top of the women's section, although they were hard pressed by Somerville. [List of Bumps] [Bumps Chart]

• Review from the 1989 Eights Programme

  The poor weather could not dampen this year's racing, especially on the Saturday when unabated rain did not deter a healthy crowd from watching the rowing.

  The headship was held with ease by Oriel for the eighteenth consecutive year. There was speculation that New College were faster than the Head crew but Christ Church held them off on the Friday only falling prey to them going up the Greenbank on Saturday after a long struggle. Both Brasenose and Hertford climbed up the First Division whilst Keble, Oriel II and Pembroke fell (the latter into the Second Division). The result of these changes was that the finishing order on the final day was an accurate reflection of the relative speeds of the top crews.

  University blasted their way up and out of the Second Division past the plummeting Pembroke, with five impressive bumps. In the same division Wadham gained their blades. It must be said that the general standard of oarsmanship was high and undoubtedly New College weighed in with the best overall performance, with several of their crews gaining blades.

  Once again the top of the Women's Divisions was dominated by Osler House and Somerville. The latter proving to be strong challengers on all four days. However Osler held them off successfully and rowed over to finish Head. Further down, Wadham's bid for the Headship faltered when they narrowly missed Somerville on the third day.

  Certain crews — for example St Hugh's II — suffered spectacular drops which made the progress of crews in all divisions a fascinating affair.This year, with two rowing-on divisions, saw more women's crews than ever on the Isis; one hopes that the extended programme will encourage even more to participate in future.

• In other news ... [1989]

  February 23

  After protracted testimony, the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee rejects, 11-9, President Bush's nomination of John Tower for Secretary of Defense.

  February 23

  27-year-old William Hague wins the Richmond (North Yorskshire) by-election for the Conservative Party following the departure of Leon Brittan to the European Commission.

  February 23

  Den Watts, the hugely popular character played by Leslie Grantham in the BBC's soap opera EastEnders, departs from the series (which he joined at its inception four years ago) as the character is presumably killed in an episode watched by over 20 million viewers.

  February 24

  The funeral of Hirohito is attended by representatives of 160 nations.

  February 24

  The Satanic Verses controversy: Iran places a $3,000,000 bounty on the head of The Satanic Verses author Salman Rushdie.

  February 24

  Singing Revolution: After 44 years, the Estonian flag is raised at the Pikk Hermann tower in Tallinn.

  February 24

  United Airlines Flight 811, a Boeing 747, suffers uncontrolled decompression after leaving Honolulu International Airport; nine passengers are blown out of the cabin to their deaths.

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