Princeton Varsity Defeats Heavies, Excursion Boat Cancels Yard Upset

Princeton's varsity heavies held off a late Crimson sprint in the Charles Basin Saturday to regain the Compton Cup and hand Harvey Love's crew its first defeat of the year.

A wayward charter boat prevented Bill Leavitt's freshman heavies from pulling the biggest upset of the last two years earlier in the rainy, windy afternoon. The Crimson junior varsity rowed to an easy victory over Princeton and M.I.T. jayvees in the second race.

It was a tough defeat for the varsity, which trailed Princeton almost all the way. Stroked by John Humphreys, the Tigers grabbed a small lead after 400 yards which they widened to almost a length at the Mass. Ave. bridge, Princeton understroked the Crimson at 31 to the varsity's 32 almost all the way. With about half a mile to go, Crimson stroke Ned Bliss gradually increased the pace as the varsity closed on the Tigers. But Princeton jumped the stroke to about 36 as it held off the Crimson's bid.

The Tigers were clocked in 9:16.2 to the Crimson's 9:18.2. M.I.T. was four lengths behind in 9:36.6. All times were much better than last week, as the crows took advantage of the strong 12 mile wind be hind them.

But the afternoon's--and what will probably be the season's--biggest disappointment belonged to the freshman crew. The Yardlings had worked hard all week for the race with the Tiger shell, considered the best in the East. Princeton trounced Navy, Penn and Columbia in earlier races.

Both boats were about even for the first part of the race, with the Orange and Black oarsmen slightly ahead at the Mass. Ave. bridge. The Crimson, stroked by Ed Mathews, rowed between 32 and 33 most of the way, dropping to 29 when the shell hit very rough water. Princeton took a small lead, but the Crimson closed again, and with a quarter of a mile to go, trailed by a few seats. Then, with both boats right at the finish, a huge charter boat--belonging to the Pi Eta Club-- swung out from under the Cottage Farm Bridge. And as Harvard--a third of a length ahead with ten strokes to go-- crossed the finish line, the charter boat swung between the two shells. Just missing the Orange and Black starboard oars, it forced the Princeton shell to veer to the shore. The Crimson, clearly a winner before the mishap, was at first awarded the race, but reversing the decision, the judges declared the race no contest. The Crimson was clocked in 9:23 to Princeton's 9:25.

The jayvees, rowing smoothly from the start, bolted to a half length lead after 300 yards, and held a four length advantage at the bridge. The shell, with Larry Brownell as stroke and including four other newcomers, finished five lengths ahead of Princeton in 9:23.4.The varsity heavy crew closes fast on Princeton at the end of the shells' mile and three quarter race. Crimson stroke NED BLISS raised the count at the end but the Tigers were able to withstand the challenge, and won by half a length.