Crimson Crew Wins Compton Cup, Breaks Course Mark at Princeton

The Crimson heavyweight varsity set a new record Saturday to beat Princeton, MIT and Rutgers in the Compton Cup race. The varsity win was the climax of a day that saw the Crimson sweep four races at Princeton and five lightweight races at Dartmouth.

Racing under the fast conditions of flat water and an eight-mile tail wind, the varsity sped over the mile and three-quarters Lake Carnegie course in 8:40.6. The previous record of 8:41.4 was set by Cornell in 1956.

In defeating the Tiger eight, which the Princeton coach had termed the best crew he had seen in twenty years, the varsity led from the first quarter of a mile. The Princetonians maintained their start in the high 30's after the Crimson boat had dropped down to its racing stroke of 32 and held a lead of about one seat. But as soon as the Tiger shell came down to racing cadence the varsity's superior power and steadiness became apparent with the Crimson boat pulling out in front by a half-length in the next quarter mile.

Considering that five of the Crimson oarsmen are Sophomores, the win, and especially the excellent time, was not only surprising but increases hopes for the future performances of the heavy-weight crew.

Equally heartening was the powerful Freshman eight's triumph at Princeton. Rowing the course at a low 29 1/2 to 30 1/2 the visitors crushed the much higher stroking Tiger crew by five and one half lengths. Their time of 8:48.4 was actually faster than the Princeton varsity's, but the Freshmen had more help from the wind.

The Crimson junior varsity also came in first as did the 3rd varsity rowing the shorter Henley distance.

At Dartmouth the lightweight varsity defeated the Green by over a length. Rowing the time of 6:21 over the Henley course the Crimson crew also defeated MIT in the Biglin Cup Race. Against a slight head wind but riding swift current the Crimson stroked at 301/2 while Dartmouth rowed 33 and Tech pulled at 37