Rowing excitement at 2010 Torpids

Today was the last day of the 2010 Torpids. It was the first time I saw a rowing race in Oxford so I didn't completely understand it, although I had read the rules for a so called "bumping race" on the Internet. The weather wasn't superb: a bit cloudy, quiet cold and windy at the riverbank but the excitement and atmosphere made you forget about that during some of the races. I wasn't able to watch it all day so I don't know who eventually became "head of the river" but what I do know is that I'm already looking forward to the Summer Eights races in May.

Torpids 2008

Just about to put the boat into the River Isis for the final day of Torpids.  This event which started in Oxford is a bumping race between the colleges of Oxford University, where the river is too narrow to have a race side by side, so the crews line up along the river and try to catch the boat in front without the one behind catching them. 

This is year about 1200 University students participated in the event which is held over four days, with the winners being titled 'Head of the River'  This years Mens Winners Magdelen with the Womens St. Catherines, well done.

More photo's of this afternoon's events here.