Torpids
Torpids is one of two series of bumping races, a type of rowing race, held yearly at Oxford University; the other is Eights Week.[2] Over 130 men's and women's crews race for their colleges in six men's divisions and five women's; almost 1,200 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).
Torpids | |
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Head of the River | |
Oriel Men[1] | Wadham Women[1] |
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Highest 2nd Torpid (Men) | Pembroke (Division III)[1] |
Highest 2nd Torpid (Women) | Wolfson (Division II)[1] |
Course | Isis (upstream) |
Course length | c. 1800m |
Current sponsor | Neptune Investment Management |
Note: Last Torpids 27th February – 2nd March 2019[1] | |
OURCs - Torpids |
Overview
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 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. The status of the event - still adjudged below that of Summer Eights on account of the absence of varsity oarsmen and women - only began to rise at the very end of the nineteenth century, when colleges began to form first boats to compete. 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'.
Athletes competing in that year's Boat Race, Women's Boat Race or any of the Lightweight University crews at Henley Boat Races may not compete in Torpids, but may compete in Summer Eights.
- Men's Division I, places 2 to 5, 2005
- New College with a broken rudder and bow oar on Saturday, 2008
- Balliol bump St Catherine's, 2010
- Worcester College, 2012
Double Headship
![](../I/m/Headship_Crews.jpg)
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 both 2006 and 2018. Despite the double headship, only one boat was burnt.
Trophies
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. Spoons are awarded in case the crew was bumped on every single day. A third, somewhat unusual possibility is the award of spades. The crew is both bumped and then proceeds to bump a crew in front of it before the end of the race. Thus being both the bumper and the bumped on the same day. Due to the differences in rules between Torpids and Lent Bumps at the University of Cambridge this achievement is only possible at Oxford.
Tug of Warpids
In 2020 owing to the heavy rainfall across the UK, the Isis was too dangerous to row for much of Michaelmas and Hilary term. After the cancellation of Torpids, Pembroke College Boat Club (Oxford) organised an alternative tug of war event named “Tug of Warpids”. The event took place on what would have been the Saturday of racing. 38 teams of eight (four men and four women) competed in the inaugural event. Oriel College won the knock out competition in a close final against Christ Church. In doing so they became the first holders of the “Ropeship”. The winning crew won the right to represent Oxford University against Oxford Brookes University in the inaugural “Oxford Tug Derby”. Oxford Brookes won The tug in an exceptionally close contest. Although as its creators Pembroke can never hold the ropeship, it was decided if the winning college can use the rope to drag Pembroke to their respective boathouse (with no limit on participants) then Pembroke would award them the position until the event is next contested.
Head of the River - Summary Table
Blade | College | Men | Women | Headships | Longest time held - Men | Longest time held - Women | Last Headship – Men | Last Headship - Women |
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Oriel | 34 | 3 | 37 | 1972–90 | 2017–18 | 2019 | 2018 |
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Brasenose | 22 | - | 22 | 1886–94 | - | 1894 | - |
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New College | 15 | 1 | 16 | 1949–53 | 2005 | 1904 | 2005 |
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Balliol | 14 | - | 14 | 1968–71 | - | 1971 | - |
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Christ Church | 14 | - | 14 | 1907–10 | - | 2011 | - |
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Magdalen | 9 | 5 | 14 | 1932–34 | 2010–13 | 2008 | 2016 |
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Exeter | 13 | - | 13 | 1854–57 | - | 1868 | - |
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Pembroke | 10 | - | 10 | 2012–17 | - | 2017 | - |
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University | 9 | - | 9 | 1869–73 | - | 1926 | - |
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St Edmund Hall | 6 | - | 6 | 1962–66 | - | 1966 | - |
Osler-Greena | - | 5 | 5 | - | 1995–99 | - | 1999 | |
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Somerville | - | 5 | 5 | - | 1991–94 | - | 1994 |
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Wadham | 2 | 3 | 5 | - | - | 1849 | 2019 |
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Corpus | 4 | - | 4 | 1883–85 | - | 1931 | - |
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Jesus | - | 4 | 4 | - | 1980–83 | - | 1983 |
Osler Houseb | - | 4 | 4 | - | 1988–89 | - | 1989 | |
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Merton | 1 | 2 | 3 | - | 2003–04 | 1927 | 2004 |
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St Catherine's | - | 3 | 3 | - | 2008–09 | - | 2009 |
St John's | 3 | - | 3 | - | - | 1967 | - | |
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Trinity | 3 | - | 3 | - | - | 1880 | - |
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Worcester | 3 | - | 3 | - | - | 1930 | - |
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Queen's | 2 | - | 2 | - | - | 1958 | - |
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St Hugh's | - | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | 1985 |
a Since 2008 this crew composition does not exist anymore. Prior to the foundation of Green Templeton College members of Green College raced with Osler House whereas members of Templeton College raced with Hertford College. |
b Prior to the composite crew with Green College and after the foundation of Green Templeton Boat Club Osler has raced as an independent crew formed of clinical medical students. |
Men's Head of Torpids
Torpids has been held since 1838. The following gives the colleges that were Head of the River (Head of Torpids) in these years.[3]
Year | College | Year | College | Year | College | Year | College | Year | College |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 racing | 1896 | New College | 1897 | Balliol |
1898 | Balliol | 1899 | Balliol | 1900 | New College | 1901 | New College | 1902 | New College |
1903 | New College | 1904 | New College | 1905 | University | 1906 | University | 1907 | Christ Church |
1908 | Christ Church | 1909 | Christ Church | 1910 | Christ Church | 1911 | Balliol | 1912 | Magdalen |
1913 | Magdalen | 1914 | Christ Church | 1915* | - | 1916* | - | 1917* | - |
1918* | - | 1919* | - | 1920 | Christ Church | 1921 | Christ Church | 1922 | Worcester |
1923 | Magdalen | 1924 | Christ Church | 1925 | Christ Church | 1926 | University | 1927 | Merton |
1928 | Balliol | 1929 | Balliol | 1930 | Worcester | 1931 | Corpus Christi | 1932 | Magdalen |
1933 | Magdalen | 1934 | Magdalen | 1935 | New College | 1936 | Magdalen | 1937 | Magdalen |
1938 | New College | 1939 | St Edmund Hall | 1940 | Trinity & Balliol | 1941* | - | 1942* | - |
1943* | - | 1944* | - | 1945* | - | 1946 | St John's | 1947 | New College |
1948 | Christ Church | 1949 | New College | 1950 | New College | 1951 | New College | 1952 | New College |
1953 | New College | 1954 | Balliol | 1955 | Balliol | 1956 | Balliol | 1957 | Queen's |
1958 | Queen's | 1959 | Balliol | 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 | 2012 | Pembroke |
2013 | Pembroke | 2014* | no racing | 2015 | Pembroke | 2016 | Pembroke | 2017 | Pembroke |
2018* | Oriel | 2019 | Oriel | 2020* | no racing | 2021 | 2022 |
- In 1915-19 no races were conducted due to World War I
- In 1941-45 limited races were conducted due to World War II
- 1895, 1963 - No racing due to ice on the river
- In 1986, 1990, 1994, 1995, 1998, 2003, and 2018 racing was held on fewer than four days
- In 1991, Oriel were penalty bumped four places for training while the river was in flood.
- 2000, 2002, 2007, 2014, and 2020 - No racing due to high stream
Women's Head of Torpids
Women's division in Torpids have existed since 1978. This was delayed from 1977 when the river was flooded and Torpids was cancelled.[4][5]
Year | College | Year | College | Year | College | Year | College | Year | College |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1978 | Hertford | 1979 | Wadham | 1980 | Jesus | 1981 | Jesus | 1982 | Jesus |
1983 | Jesus | 1984 | Osler House | 1985 | St Hugh's | 1986* | Osler House | 1987 | Somerville |
1988 | Osler House | 1989 | Osler House | 1990* | no racing | 1991 | Somerville | 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 | 2012 | Magdalen |
2013 | Magdalen | 2014* | no racing | 2015 | Wadham | 2016 | Magdalen | 2017 | Oriel |
2018* | Oriel | 2019 | Wadham | 2020* | no racing | 2021 | 2022 |
- 1977, 2000, 2002, 2007, 2014, and 2020 - No racing due to high stream
- 1986, 1994, 1995, 1998, 2003, and 2018 - racing was held on fewer than four days
- 1990 - A fast stream meant that only informal racing was held.
See also
- Eights Week, a similar event in summer
- Lent Bumps, the equivalent event in Cambridge
References
- Oxford University Rowing Clubs, Torpids 2019, retrieved 4 March 2019
- Sherwood, W. E. (1900). "The Torpids". Oxford Rowing: A History of Boat-Racing at Oxford from the Earliest Times. Oxford and London: Henry Frowde, Archive.org. pp. 43–49. Retrieved 11 April 2012.
- Sherwood, W. E. (1900). "The Torpids (results)". Oxford Rowing: A History of Boat-Racing at Oxford from the Earliest Times. Oxford and London: Henry Frowde, Archive.org. pp. 147–170. Retrieved 11 April 2012.
- http://www.atm.ox.ac.uk/rowing/history.html#women
- http://www.atm.ox.ac.uk/rowing/bumps/