Torpids

Torpids 2005: Men's division one, places 2 to 5

Torpids is one of two series of bumping races held yearly at Oxford University, the other being Eights. Over 130 men's and women's crews race for their colleges in six men's divisions and five women's; almost 1200 participants in total. The racing takes place on the Isis (part of the River Thames) usually in the 7th week of Hilary term on four successive days from Wednesday to Saturday (around the start of March).

Bumping races evolved in Oxford as the river is too narrow for normal side by side racing.

Competing crews start the race lined up in order, one behind another, with their coxes holding ropes attached to the bank, with gaps of about 1.5 boat lengths between the bow of one boat and the stern of the one in front. Racing is started by the firing of a cannon.

Crews attempt to progress up their division by hitting ('bumping') the boat in front without being hit by the boat behind, with the ultimate aim of becoming "Head Of The River" i.e. top of the first division. The Head of the River is awarded the Torpids Challenge Cup, presented to the OUBC by President T.C. Edwards-Moss of Brasenose College Boat Club. Once a bump has taken place, the crew whose boat was hit has to continue racing (and is liable to be bumped again) whilst the bumping crew moves to the side. This can lead to a crew moving down several places during a day's racing. This is the principal difference in the rules between Torpids and Summer Eights, where both crews stop racing.

The first day's starting order is based on the previous year's finishing positions, and each subsequent day's starting order is based on the previous day's finishing positions. A crew that bumps on every day without being bumped itself or that finishes at the Head of the River is awarded 'blades' - the right to get trophy oars painted up in their college colours with the names and weights of the successful crew emblazoned on them. Less sought after is the possibility of getting 'spoons', where the crew has been bumped on every single day. However, the most unusual possibility is 'spades', where the crew is bumped off the start, and then proceeds to bump the crew it is chasing, thus being both the bumper and the bumped in the same race. Only two boats have ever managed this feat on every day of the event.^{[citation needed]}

The name 'Torpids' derives from the event's origins as a race for the second boats of the colleges, which were of course slower than the first boats. Nowadays there is no limit on the number of boats a college may enter, although crews in the last two divisions and crews without a position have to qualify to race by competing in a timed race the preceding Friday, known as 'rowing on'.

Rowers competing in that year's Boat Race or any of the Henley Boat Races against Cambridge may not compete in Torpids, but may compete in Summer Eights.

Men's Head of Torpids

1838	Worcester	1839	Oriel	1840	Wadham	1841	Trinity
1842	Brasenose	1843	University	1844	Oriel	1845	Brasenose
1846	Exeter	1847	Exeter	1848	Brasenose	1849	Wadham
1850	Brasenose	1851	Brasenose	1852	Brasenose	1853	Brasenose
1854	Exeter	1855	Exeter	1856	Exeter	1857	Exeter
1858	Pembroke	1859	Exeter	1860	Exeter	1861	Brasenose
1862	Brasenose	1863	Exeter	1864	Exeter	1865	Exeter
1866	Brasenose	1867	Exeter	1868	Exeter	1869	University
1870	University	1871	University	1872	University	1873	University
1874	Brasenose	1875	Brasenose	1876	Trinity	1877	Pembroke
1878	Pembroke	1879	Pembroke	1880	Trinity	1881	Brasenose
1882	New College	1883	Corpus	1884	Corpus	1885	Corpus
1886	Brasenose	1887	Brasenose	1888	Brasenose	1889	Brasenose
1890	Brasenose	1891	Brasenose	1892	Brasenose	1893	Brasenose
1894	Brasenose	1895	No races	1896	New College	1897	Balliol
1898	Balliol	1899	Balliol	1900	New College	1901-1959	???
1960	St. Edmund Hall	1961	St. John's	1962	St. Edmund Hall	1963	No Racing
1964	St. Edmund Hall	1965	St. Edmund Hall	1966	St. Edmund Hall	1967	St. John's
1968	Balliol	1969	Balliol	1970	Balliol	1971	Balliol
1972	Oriel	1973	Oriel	1974	Oriel	1975	Oriel
1976	Oriel	1977	No Racing	1978	Oriel	1979	Oriel
1980	Oriel	1981	Oriel	1982	Oriel	1983	Oriel
1984	Oriel	1985	Oriel	1986	Oriel	1987	Oriel
1988	Oriel	1989	Oriel	1990	Oriel	1991	Christ Church
1992	Oriel	1993	Oriel	1994	Oriel	1995	Oriel
1996	Oriel	1997	Oriel	1998	Oriel	1999	Pembroke
2000	No Racing	2001	Oriel	2002	No Racing	2003	Oriel
2004	Oriel	2005	Oriel	2006	Oriel	2007	No Racing
2008	Magdalen	2009	Christ Church	2010	Christ Church	2011	Christ Church

• In 1986, 1990, 1994, 1995, 1998 and 2003, racing was held on fewer than four days

• In 1991, Oriel were penalty bumped four places for training while the river was in flood.

Women's Head of Torpids from 1992

1992	Somerville	1993	Somerville	1994	Somerville	1995	Osler-Green
1996	Osler-Green	1997	Osler-Green	1998	Osler-Green	1999	Osler-Green
2000	No Racing	2001	St. Catherine's	2002	No Racing	2003	Merton
2004	Merton	2005	New College	2006	Oriel	2007	No Racing
2008	St. Catherine's	2009	St. Catherine's	2010	Magdalen	2011	Magdalen

Double Headship

The double headship winning Oriel Men's and Women's Eights crews.

The 'Double Headship' is an accolade awarded to any college finishing with both their men's and women's crews at the 'Head of the River'. Oriel College is the only college to have achieved a Double Headship in Torpids, having both men's and women's crews at the Head of the River in 2006.

See also

• Eights Week
• Rowing

External links

• Oxford University Rowing Clubs
• Oxford Bumps Charts