Torpeights 2021 Summary
After the cancellation of both Torpids and Summer Eights in 2020 and Torpids in 2021, Summer Eights 2021 was replaced by a hybrid ‘Summer Torpids’ competition, in which Torpids rules and rankings were followed.
W1
After solid performances at the Isis Spring League, we took on the top women's division of Summer Torpids 2021, which closed out each day of racing for the first time ever. On Day 1, we bumped Balliol; on Day 2, we rowed over; and on Day 3, we were bumped by Univ, although we maintained a strong perfomance through the end of the course. The final race of the regatta was unfortunately klaxoned before we reached the gut, but we were cheered on as we did a race start past the boathouse. At the end of the competition we maintained our position in Div 1, and would like to especially congratulate Alice Caddock, Grace Baghdadi, Mirjam Hazenbosch, Victoire Dejean, Veerle Brans, and Women's Captain Grace Day for a stellar final season with the club.
W2
Although W2 had a rocky start with a number of last-minute crew-changes, the crew were excited and ready for their first ever bumps racing. W2’s performance was fantastic, bumping Oriel II, Regent’s Park and Somerville II all before the gut on the first three days of racing. Blades were in sight on the final day, and we pushed hard to over-bump Worcester entering the gut. Although a penalty bump was given for (allegedly) a wrong coxing decision in a pile-up on the last day, the committee voted for discretionary blades. Our W2 are now the highest ranked undergraduate second boat in the Torpids ranking, and we couldn’t be prouder of what our crew achieved.
M1
After some practice-pieces with other crews, we were quietly confident of making it into Div 1 from the top of Div 2 by the end of bumps. On day 1, we sped away from Merton who were chasing us and caught up to Magdalen in the gut whose cox “gestured” at us to concede. We interpreted this as a bump and cleared the line to a tree which previous M1 coxes know all too well. It turned out that Magdalen had already bumped Johns and were clearing the line when we caught up to them. Despite our best efforts to get a technical row over from OURCs we unfortunately ended up at the bottom of Div 2 after dropping three spaces. We bumped before the gut on all of the next 3 days. Blades will have to wait until this year!
M2
Just as any good M2 crew should, we commenced bumps in a state of extreme chaos. Soon after our start, Ollie Turnbull was putting too many watts down, even for a 6-seat, and broke the rigger off the boat. Nonetheless, we managed to hold off Merton II and successfully achieve a 7-man bump on Regent's Park I. On day 2 we unfortunately had to concede to St. Benet's I, but bumped Balliol II very soon after. On day 3 the commentators described us as “looking a bit scrappy but they're really putting their legs down, you can see the effort going in”, and we proved them right by over-bumping Brasenose II with blade-on-blade contact. On the final day we managed to make up the four lengths necessary to over-bump Lincoln II (overtaking St. Benet’s again) - their cox's rainbow umbrella hat couldn't give them enough free speed to evade us. Overall, we were +3 for the week, along with a bump each day, so blades were narrowly missed. We are so proud of our crew, and all look forward to taking this momentum into future bumps campaigns.
M3
New College M3 had a bumpy ride to racing in Torpeights, with repeatedly changing crews, an all-novice boat and only narrowly qualifying in the rowing on selection race. This faulty start was compounded by being bumped twice on the first day, by Christchurch before Donnington Bridge and, at the last second, by Mansfield. But our performance only went up from there, bumping Mansfield under Donnington bridge on the second day, rowing over on the third and bumping again (Lincoln) on the fourth and final day, reclaiming the two positions lost. All in all, we fought a valiant campaign for such an inexperienced boat and had much to celebrate in the victories we did enjoy.
