As the nights get shorter, the river becomes more crowded with punts, tourists in row-boats, and the hundreds of rowers cramming in as many hours as they can on the river in an attempt to take part in the glorious Pimms-quaffing tradition that is Oxford Summer Eights, kicking off with Rowing- On taking place on Friday of 4th week. All eyes will not, however, be on the rowing-on divisions in Eights, but instead on both Headships. After Pembroke Men’s disasterous Torpids crash, they’ll be looking for revenge on the water, and have a stronger returning contingent of University rowers than Oriel that could lead to a close battle. Merton women, having come so agonisingly close to the Eights Headship last year, look to be on course to take victory this year following good results at the Bedford Regatta and their acquisition of the Torpids Headship earlier in the year. Further down the Men’s 1st Division, Magdalen look to be fielding a very strong Eight – stacked with no fewer than 5 oarsmen who represented Oxford over the Easter Vacation. In the Women’s 1st Division, St Hilda’s will also be looking to build on their Torpids success, chasing the Univ crew which bumped them back in 2001. Taking a look at the 2nd Divisions, Wadham men will be eagerly trying to bump up into Division One after their agonising 8 consecutive row-overs last year. Hot on their heels will, no doubt, be Univ, who chase a Brasenose crew losing several key oarsmen to Finals on the first day. Trinity looked strong at City Bumps and in Torpids, and surely crews ahead will be watching anxiously as they look to make amends after their relatively poor performance last year. Keble women should be upward movers, encouraged after their win at Bedford Regatta. A few final mentions; Corpus Christi should be closely watched, as despite languishing in the Men’s 3rd Division, they seem to have managed to find themselves the 3-man of the Blue Boat and a home-grown OUBC triallist to row for them in Eights. Also, the antics of the heavily-loaded Brasenose and Wadham Schools VIIIs should prove quite amusing to anyone up early enough to watch them race.
ARCHIVE: 4th week TT 2003

Sailing across the University has blossomed over the last few months, with the Oxford 1st team coming second over the Easter vacation in the BUSA team racing finals, and last Saturday and impressive number took part in the inter college cuppers competition. Nine teams entered from a total of seven colleges (Catz and New entering 2 teams) giving a total of 36 competitors of all abilities. A breeze that picked up during the morning was responsible for several capsizes but did help to produce some exciting racing. A rapid succession of races were at first dominated by teams with OU squad members, but soon other teams found their sea legs to put in some credible performances. In the semis Teddy Hall met Lincoln in a reincarnation of last years final, and Pembroke took on Queens. After being finalists for the last four years but only managing to win once, in 2000, this was to be Teddy Hall’s year, and having defeated Lincoln in the semi-final went on to beat Pembroke in the final in a best of 3 races showdown. All in all, Teddy Hall were deserving winners but with sailing at all levels of the University alive and kicking, they’ll have to fight to keep the cup next year.
ARCHIVE: 4th week TT 2003

The Oxford Kings threw away an early and commanding lead to lose narrowly to the Richmond Flames. After a win against the Enfield Sidewinders their chances of a playoff spot, the top spot in their division, was in jeopardy after this disappointing defeat. Baseball consists of nine innings; good fielding and pitching typified the first four of those. In each inning both teams bat, until three of the batters are declared out by either three strikes delivered by the pitcher, or a catch by a fielder. Only 30 minutes had elapsed in these opening innings, and a mere two points scored, points achieved by batters passing the four bases of the diamond shaped field. Both of these points were scored by the Kings, and in the fifth innings their advantage was increased. Richmond were dispatched easily from the batting, and Oxford doubled their lead when Masaharu blasted over the first Home Run of the game. However, in the seventh innings the Richmond Flames started their fightback. A home run brought the scores back to 4-2, and excellent fielding gave them renewed hope of completing the comeback. Possibly a pivotal moment in the game was when a Kings player Williams tried to be too clever. A desperate lunge back to first base was not enough to stop him being declared out, after the pitcher noticed him running to the next base before he had thrown the ball. In a sport which is complicated by terminology and statistics, Williams had been ‘picked’. During that innings the two other Oxford batters were caught . At the beginning of the eighth innings Masaharu, again displaying his superb abilities, made a great diving catch. However, the rest of the fielding during this inning was very sloppy indeed. Richmond capitalised on poor fielding to get two men ‘home’, and then the Flames took the lead. It was only good pitching by Williams which saved yet more damage. In the ninth innings Williams pitched a man out, but could not prevent conceding another run. A time out was called by the Oxford coach, and the duty of pitching was delegated to the gifted allrounder Masaharu. He successfully struck out the two Flames batsmen, leaving Oxford 6-4 behind with one last batting chance. It started well when Schauer’s hit let Frasher run home to decrease the deficit to one. However, Williams could not tie the scores and force the game into another inning, as his shot was weak and he was beaten to first base. This defeat was a setback for the Kings, a team of both university and non-university players. There is the Varsity match to look forward to though, and an opportunity to seek revenge after missing out on the playoff spot to the Cambridge Monarchs last year. On this fixture, to be held later this term, the Kings university president Joon-Jae Bahk said, “with a full strength side we should easily walk all over them.”
ARCHIVE: 4th week TT 2003

With lots of fast-paced games and plenty of showboating to view, 5-a-side cuppers is the perfect spectator’s antidote to the windswept and rain-drenched 11- a-side football on view for the other two terms. The favourites should be New College, who will feel they have a strong chance as league holders. Throughout the season they demonstrated strength in depth and possess dangerous forwards. Wadham will of course be having a ball this summer. As cuppers champions and a respected college around the university everyone will be wishing them well in this campaign. Watch out for June (27), dependable center-half Guiler (6) and talented striker Smith (10). When it comes to college football only a fool would write off Magdalen’s chances, despite their relegation from the Premiership this season. With a plethora of good players, great team spirit and a fantastic pedigree no one would fancy meeting them in the draw. There’s a dark horse around that might well kick up a storm this year in the shape of Hertford. Frustrated by a disappointing league campaign, their lads will have plenty of incentive to forget the frowns and sighs. Hertford are a quality outfit where their tidy build up is better suited to the five-a-side format. Impressive captain Sam Evans, with his good first touch and quick thinking, typifies their squad. However surely the favourites this year have to be the nearly men of college football, Catz. Having come so close in both cuppers and league everyone in Manor Road craves that first ever piece of silverware. With the class of Durnford, Elliott, Johnson and Hughes allied with the emergent excellence of Brown and Bargate, there is considerable talent in their stable. Perhaps player of the tournament will be Redmond, who may well prove a revelation between the sticks. Without the first choice goalies Catz may have suffered but the suspicion is that former captain Redmond may be the best keeper in cuppers this summer. So there you have it: a comprehensive look into the potential of some of the leading names in the tournament. Having read this you should be inspired to get on down to Iffley to support your college. Bring a picnic (Kit Kat anyone?), a clever chant and maybe your stereo player and bask in the spectacle.
ARCHIVE: 4th week TT 2003

Corpus Christi 24 all out St Peters 28-1 One would not have been wrong to think that a match in the second round of cuppers between last year’s runners up and a third division side would be no contest, but a dazzling display by Blues captain Jamie Dalrymple turned this tie on its head. The late appearance of much of the Peters team all but confirmed the belief in the Corpus camp that they would be giving the villagers a lesson in cricket. However, ten minutes later, Peter’s star man Mr. Dalrymple arrived. St. Peter’s elected to field first, despite having only nine players ready and only one of their usual opening bowlers. Alexis White bowled consistently on the spot at a difficult length for the batsmen letting the wicket throw up its many surprises. Unfortunately for the Corpus batsmen, the late arrival of the other opening bowler allowed Dalrymple to have some fun with the wicket as well and a rapid succession of magic tricks ensued. Despite some brave batting from the lower order who were eager to get at least double figures on the board, Corpus were bowled out for 24 with Dalrymple finishing his spell with 7 wickets for 4 runs. Corpus were eager to utilise the lively wicket and the teams switched round without a break. However, with the confidence now in the Peter’s camp, the opening batsmen dealt with decent bowling and an unpredictable wicket marvellously well considering the lower standard of bowling in their division. Alan Eddington played some good looking shots with great technical ability and Jules Neave seemed eager to go and finish his essay as he scored every single run of his with a boundary. Neave’s failed attempt to finish the match with a six fittingly brought on Dalrymple who won the match with two fours in two balls. Everyone learnt from Dalrymple’s example in tactical thinking and athleticism. St. Peter’s were lucky to profit not only from his undoubted physical ability but also his ability to read the game and intelligent field management, as those who were not clean bowled were caught by a purposely placed fielder. The game had indeed been a lesson in cricket.
ARCHIVE: 4th week TT 2003

Men’s Blues 113:99 Women’s Blues 90:100 Men’s Seconds 96:114 Women’s Seconds 69:119 The many spectators that braved the variable weather conditions to watch the 129th Varsity Athletics Match witnessed a day of intense, passion fuelled competition as the Men’s Blues extended their sequence of victories to 6 and the Women’s Blues narrowly failed to repeat last year’s victory. Although both Oxford 2nd teams lost, the performances were gutsy and the pride of representing Oxford in this historic occasion shone through. Many stalwarts of OUAC closed the chapters on their Varsity careers with exceptional performances. Jenny Duff repeated her triple victory of 2002 in the hammer, shot put and discus and was deservedly awarded the Susan Dennler trophy for best female performance. Oxford indeed dominated the heavy throws with C. Kapande placing 2nd in both the hammer and discus and O. Reade 2nd in the shot. Chris Sleeman won the 400m hurdles by 0.1s in 52.8s, overhauling his nemesis, S. Green, with a determined surge off the last hurdle. He also easily won the 400m. Nick Talbot extended his unprecedented sequence of 3,000m steeplechase victories to 5 in his final appearance in dark blue. Women’s captain Helen Edmundson blitzed the opposition with a new personal best of 12.2s in the 100m and a 25.9s 200m victory, ably supported by S. Burns who placed 2nd in the 100m and 3rd in the 200m. Finlay Wright was cruelly denied victory in the 100m when his hamstring pulled with 7m remaining. Despite the immense pain he still finished 2nd in 10.9, the same time given to 1st place. Sam Watts, who has fought injury this year, ran exceptionally well in the 400m hurdles to take 2nd place in a blues standard time, behind a meeting record by K. Taylor of Cambridge. There were fine performances from OUAC’s Varsity Match debutants. Fraser Thompson was majestic and indestructible in the 1500 and 5,000, leading Oxford to 1-2s in both events with N. Talbot and J. Brooks securing the 2nd places. Steven McCauley’s roars echoed across the track as he launched the shot put and discus to secure 1st place in both events. Sean Gourley got the crowds urging him on as he leapt to long jump victory in an impressive 7.01m. He also won the pole vault in 4.20m. Kathryn Hesketh recovered from injury to achieve a 11.13m leap and Hannah Barnes soared to a meeting best performance of 2.20m in the pole vault. The performances of the veterans were no less impressive. Dave and Pete Harding could not quite manage a 1-2 in the javelin but Dave did finally secure his 1st victory with 53.11m. Sarah Lane was 20cm away from victory in the long jump. Helen Zenner and Emily Crowley performed well to take 2nd and 3rd in both the 800m and 1500m behind Cambridge’s class athlete E. Leggate. Highlights from the 2nd team matches included victories for L. Bromilow in the 800m, S. Lowery in the high jump, G.Davies in the 5,000 and 1-2s in the 110mh by O. Odudu and J. Crawshaw.
ARCHIVE: 4th Week TT 2003

The City Council, an Oxford Mail front page and the suspended Labour “MP for Baghdad” caused confusion for students on both sides of the political spectrum this week. An Oxford Students Stop the War Coalition meeting to be addressed by George Galloway MP was due to be held at the Town Hall today, before being controversially cancelled and then rescheduled at the last minute. The farce was complicated by the prospect of the Oxford University Conservative Association’s “first ever protest,” over Galloway’s close links with Saddam Hussein. Managers at the Town Hall cancelled today’s meeting because of fears over the numbers expected to attend. However, OUCA trumpeted the cancellation as a moral victory and the headline on the Oxford Mail’s front page on Wednesday declared, “City council bans ‘traitor’ Galloway”. City Councillor Rick Muir, one of the organisers of the meeting, said that the details of the piece in the Oxford Mail were, “simply untrue” while an email circulated on the Oxford Stop the War mailing list early on Thursday morning accepted that the meeting had been moved from the Town Hall but affirmed, “This is not due to banning of George Galloway by anyone.” John Townsend, the OUCA President who had organised protest to bring attention to the Glasgow MPs support of Saddam’s Ba’athist regime told Cherwell, “I see this as a victory for freedom of speech. Galloway needs to be challenged.” Organisers are now hurriedly seeking an alternative venue so that the meeting can go ahead as planned on Friday evening. Townsend insisted that if meeting was moved the planned protest would follow it saying, George Galloway is not a whose views should be given free airing in an uncritical environment.” Joe Silk, of the Oxford Students Stop the War coalition, said, “George Galloway and other speakers all have interesting views about this and they all have right to speak out in public”. The cancellation and threatened protest comes as another blow Galloway, the disgraced MP Glasgow Kelvin, who has been suspended by the Labour party pending the outcome of Government inquiry into dealings with former Iraqi leaders. At the time of press Galloway’s office confirmed to Cherwell the MP will be coming to Oxford today, but the venue is still open question.
ARCHIVE: 3rd Week TT 2003