Torpids Totally Explained

Everything about Torpids totally explained

Torpids is one of two bumping races held at Oxford University yearly, 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 from Wednesday to Saturday (around the start of March).
   Bumps racing evolved in Oxford as the river is too narrow for normal side by side racing. This led to racing in which competing crews start lined up 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" for example top of the first division. Once a bump has taken place in Torpids, the crew that was hit has to continue racing whilst the bumping crew moves to the side. This can lead to a crew moving down many places during a day's racing. This is the principal difference between Torpids and Summer Eights, where both crews stop racing.
   Each day's starting order is based on the previous day's finishing position, the same being true from year to year. 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's 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.
The name 'Torpids' derives from the event's origins as a race for the second boats of the colleges, which were naturally slower than the first boats. Now, as many boats as a college can put out 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'. In 2008, Pembroke College Boat Club had more boats on the river than any other, with four men's and three women's boats qualifying for the event.(External Link

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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 from 1960

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

In 1986, 1990, 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

Double Headship

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' in their respective divisions. 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.

Further Information

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