Page:Boating - Woodgate - 1888.pdf/356

 Tn 1825 the boats started in line along the bank, each having its umpire to regulate the distance between it and its neighbours (one length). The boats at starting were Exeter, Christ Church Worcester, Balliol (in this order), Exeter had discarded their old love, and had got a ‘black boat, larger than the old ‘ white boat,’ but not so fast, according to later experiments. However, they clected to row in her at first, and Christ Chureh bumped them, also Worcester on a subsequent night. Later on Exeter rebumped Worcester, and at the close of the racing the order was; Christ Church, Exeter, Worcester, Balliol. Smyth was again streke of Christ Church, and R. Pocklington stroke of Exeter, in which Messrs, Clutterbuck, Parr, JJowglass, Cole, and Wareing rowed again, with Messrs, Harndon and Jay as recruits,

The term ‘Torpid’ seems to have arisen about this date, and to have been applied to the ‘second’ boats of colleges, such as Christ Church, who launched a second boat in 1826. Later on the ‘Torpids’ took to racing among themselves as a separate class, and under distinct qualifications.

In 1826 the following rules were drawn up for the boat-racing, and we give them verbatim —

Rule 186,—Resolved (1) That racing do commence on Monday, May 1.

(2) That the days for racing be Monday and Friday in each week, and that if any hoat does not come out on those days its flag do go to the bottom.

(3) That no out-college crews be allowed to row in any boat except in cases of illness or other unavoidable absence, and then that the cause of such absence be signified to the strokes of the other boats.

{4) That the boats below the one that bumps stop racing, and those ahove continue it.

(5) That there be a distance of fifty feet between each boat at starting.

<6) That the boats start by pistol shot.

(7) That umpires be appointed by each college to see each boat in its proper position before starting, and to decide any acci- dental dispute.

H. Saunders, Ch. Ch. Henry Towers, Ch. Ch. H. Moresby, Ex. Coll. T. North, B. N, Coll. E. A. Hughes, Jes. Coll. H. Roberts, Ball, Coll,