After the disappointment of last year, in which Torpids was rained off,
Oriel defended the Headship with style and elegance,
demonstrating their dominance over lesser college crews. As for
Pembroke, an unfortunate incident with a rudder wire
led to a technical drop to the second division and a broken Empacher.
It was then left to
Exeter to strive for the headship, although despite
a valiant challenge, they lacked
Oriel's finesse, remaining the second crew on the
river.
Other developments in Men's Division One were
Christ Church, bumped by
New,
Magdalen, and
Worcester.
Brasenose managed to bump
Wadham and
St Catz, while
Queen's rose three places from the second division,
bumping
L.M.H. and
Wadham.
In the women's division,
Merton gained the Headship over
St Catz,
L.M.H. fell three places and
New fell two. As for
Oriel women, they managed to bump
L.M.H. but were narrowly denied victory over
Pembroke due to their bow's theatrical antics on the
final day.