Sport at the Universities.
So far Cambridge leads in the great fight for all-round sporting
supremacy this year. Twelve Inter-’Varsity competitions have been
already decided, Cambridge boasting seven victories, and Oxford five.
Ten contests were brought off during Lent Term, just past, and during
that period honours were “easy.” Both Universities won five events. The
Light Blues started well by winning the Association football and hockey
matches during February. Oxford, however, were unfortunate in losing
several of their best men either at the eleventh hour or during the
actual fray. But for bad mishaps to O. T. Norris (the Oxford captain)
and other Dark Blues, Cambridge would hardly have won the “Soccer” match
by 3 goals to 1. They would probably have won the hockey match in any
case, yet the enforced absence of Messrs. Round and Butterworth made all
the difference to Oxford’s play. At boxing and fencing and billiards
Oxford asserted superiority early in March. In the first-named
competition their victory was most pronounced (7 events to 1), and some
really fine science was shown both with the gloves and the foils.
Although played at Cambridge, the Dark Blues repeated their 1905
billiards triumph by 2 games to 1, but shortly afterwards Cambridge beat
their rivals somewhat easily at lacrosse by 10 goals to 3.
The Inter-’Varsity “Grind” was again won by Oxford (56 points to 45),
Mr. H. W. Aston’s Aughamore (owner up) beating Mr. Fred Cripp’s
Ballycraigy by a neck for first place. Mr. Atkinson’s Dandy Dan (the
Hon. B. B. Ponsonby up) finished third for Cambridge. A course between
Aylesbury and Leighton Buzzard was utilised this year, and a very large
and fashionable crowd was _en evidence_. Lord Orkney was judge, and Mr.
Leopold de Rothschild and Mr. W. Selby Lowndes, M.F.H. Stewards. Oxford
also retained the Chambers Shield by winning the Inter-’Varsity sports
by the big margin of 7 events to 3. The Cantabs only accounted for the
100 yards, one mile, and weight items. The salient features of the
meeting were the running of President Cornwallis (Oxford), who won the
“Quarter” in 51 secs., and the “Half” in 1 min. 56⅖ secs., and the mile
running of Mr. A. R. Welsh (Cambridge), who completed the distance in 4
min. 21⅕ secs. On the sodden track and under most wretched conditions
all these performances were remarkable. Other notable feats were the
hammer-throwing of Mr. A. H. Fyffe (Oxford), who created a fresh
Inter-’Varsity record by hurling 136 ft. 3 ins., the jumping of Mr. P.
M. Young (Oxford), who won the long jump at 22 ft. 3 ins., and the high
jump at 5 ft. 7¼ ins., the weight-putting of President G. W. Lyttelton
(Cambridge), 38 ft. 3¾ ins., and the hurdling of Mr. E. R. J. Hussey
(Oxford), who beat Mr. F. H. Teall (Cambridge), the 1904–05 winner, in
the fine time of 16½ secs.
Cambridge again won the golf competition at Hoylake by the excellent
margin of 30 holes to 7. The play on the whole was somewhat
disappointing, nor did Mr. A. G. Barry (amateur champion) do all that
was expected for the Light Blues. “As a team,” however, the Cantabs were
overwhelmingly superior, the best form for Oxford being shown by the
captain (Mr. Grundy) and Mr. H. J. Ross. The annual chess match produced
some sound all-round play, and, in the result, Oxford repeated their
last year’s victory by exactly the same margin (4½ games to 2½). Shortly
before this, the combined Oxford and Cambridge teams had drawn with the
American Universities in their periodical contests for the Rice trophy.
The play was per cable telegraph, and, in the main, was worthy the
occasion. The trophy still remains on this side of the Atlantic. So far
Oxford had drawn nearly level with Cambridge, and the Boat Race excited
exceptional interest. How Cambridge won a very one-sided race, leading
from start to finish, in the fine time of 19 min. 26 secs., is now a
matter of history. They finished comparatively fresh, while four, at
least, of the Oxonians were much distressed.
I quite agree with a distinguished Old Blue that the history of the 1906
practice, culminating in the race of April 7th, will ever stand as the
most paradoxical on record. Before the crews left home waters Oxford
were vastly superior “as a crew.” They could have given the Cantabs a
dozen lengths over the championship course. Upon the crews’ arrival at
Henley and Bourne End respectively, Cambridge improved out of all
knowledge. In a flash, as it were, they became a crew, and subsequently
beat all records over the Cookham course and every part of it. Nor were
the Oxonians idle. They, too, advanced in appreciable fashion, greatly
pleasing such sound judges as Sir John Edwards-Moss, Messrs. Fletcher,
Harcourt Gold, Dr. Bourne, &c. Then followed the crews’ advent at
Putney. Cambridge went on improving, and were visibly fit enough to row
the race a week before the eventful day. Oxford were clearly in the
rough, yet showed the longest and steadiest swing of any Oxford eight
since 1897. Most experts expected a repetition of last year’s procedure,
when the Dark Blues trained on and were fit to row for their lives on
the morning of battle. But something was lacking during the last week.
And that something never came. The spectacle was afforded on April 7th
of this fine crew being outpaced and out-rowed from pillar to post. To
most it was a perfect enigma. Some blame the boat, others their lack of
fitness, and others again their over-doing matters. In any case the fact
remains that one of the most powerful crews of modern years were
pulverised by a Cambridge eight, whose great merit was uniformity and
speed. Theirs was a sculling style pure and simple, while that of Oxford
at their best was that of a first-rate oarsmanship. Does this mean a new
theory in the matter of future make-up, training, and coaching?
Several other Inter-’Varsity contests have to be decided during the
Summer Term, now in full swing. These include the polo match (June 25th)
and the cricket match (July 5th, 6th, and 7th). Cricket prospects are
rosy enough both ways. Mr. W. S. Bird (Malvern and New College) is the
new Oxford captain, and Mr. E. L. Wright (Winchester and New College)
hon. sec. Other old blues available are Messrs. G. N. Foster, E. G.
Martin, N. R. Udal, G. T. Branston, and O. T. Norris, while many
well-known senior men will be again in residence. These include Messrs.
A. O. Snowden, P. T. Lewis, H. H. Worsley, H. M. Butterworth, B.
Cozens-Hardy, E. Cripps, C. A. L. Payne, and the Hon. C. N. Bruce. Mr.
C. H. Eyre (Harrow and Pembroke) is the Cambridge captain, and Mr. M. W.
Payne (Wellington and Trinity) hon. sec. No fewer than eight old blues
are available, viz.: Messrs. R. A. Young, C. C. Page, F. J. V. Hopley,
K. P. Keigwin, L. G. Colbeck, G. C. Napier, P. R. May, and A. F. Morcom.
With only one vacancy to fill up, competition for places will be
exceptionally severe this year. The best known senior men available
include Messrs. W. P. Harrison, C. Palmer, R. E. H. Baily (all county
players), C. B. W. Magnay, R. S. Preeston, A. P. Scott, E. A. Smythies,
G. C. Humphreys, C. S. Rattigan, and G. Belcher.
[Illustration:
MR. C. HENRY RIDGWAY,
Master of the Pau Hunt.
_Photo by F. P. Subercaze._]
]
The best of the Oxford freshmen appear to be Messrs. J. H. Gordon and A.
C. L. Clarke (Winchester), Lord Somers and H. E. L. Porter
(Charterhouse), H. K. Gould and V. Eberle (Clifton), C. Hurst
(Uppingham), G. C. Barnardo (Repton), O. H. C. Dunell (Eton), R. O.
Morris (Harrow), E. B. Carpenter (Winchester), and H. A. Gilbert
(Charterhouse). One or two above-average bowlers are included. Of the
Cambridge “freshers,” Messrs. J. N. Buchanan (Charterhouse), K. G.
Macleod (Fettes), N. S. Cornelius (Malvern), H. Hosken (Leys), and J.
Reunert (Harrow), boast splendid public school credentials. For the
rest, about the best appear to be Messrs. J. H. Wakefield (Repton), E.
Hoffmeister (Brighton), H. W. Priestley (Uppingham), and H. P. Webb (of
the same school). The trial matches commence simultaneously with this
month’s issue of BAILY, and the outcome means a good deal to Oxford. On
paper form at least the Light Blues have a decided pull this year.
Capital fixture lists have been arranged both ways. Oxford play home
matches against the Gentlemen of England, Lancashire, Yorkshire, the
M.C.C., and the Free Foresters, and foreign matches against Sussex, the
M.C.C., Worcestershire, and Surrey. The Cantab’s home fixtures are _v._
Yorkshire, Northamptonshire, Surrey, the Gentlemen of England,
Middlesex, Gloucestershire, and their foreign fixtures _v._ the
Gentlemen of England, Sussex, Surrey, the M.C.C., and Liverpool and
District (after the Inter-’Varsity match). Another period of all-round,
fast and furious, is thus assured at the Sister Universities. Later on I
shall have something to say of the results.