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A 'bump' during Torpids at the University of Oxford, 1999: Jesus College Men's 1st VIII catch Hertford College

A bumps race is a form of rowing race in which a number of boats chase each other in single file, each crew attempting to catch and 'bump' the boat in front without being caught by the boat behind.

The form is mainly used in intercollegiate competitions at the University of Oxford since 1815, and at the University of Cambridge since 1827.[1]

Bumps racing in eights is also found in the United Hospitals Boat Club in London between the five London medical schools and Royal Veterinary College.

Bumps racing in fours is also the format of inter-house rowing at Eton College and Shrewsbury School. It is particularly suitable where the stretch of water available is long but narrow, precluding side-by-side racing. Bumps racing gives a sharper feel of immediate competition than a head race, where boats are simply timed over a fixed course. Few[quantify] rowers worldwide use rivers as narrow as the Cam or the Isis,[citation needed] but bumps races are also contested elsewhere.

Origins and history

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The first attested bumps race, and the first attested race between two clubs anywhere in the world, took place in Oxford in 1815. This was between two eights from Brasenose College and Jesus College.[2] The fact that the racing was conducted in eight-oared boats gave rise to the event being known as Eights.[3] The practice began with the two colleges racing upstream from Iffley Lock to a finishing line just short of Folly Bridge. The crews began one behind the other in the lock, each having to push their way out of the lock before being able to commence racing. This created an inevitable gap between boats, with the one behind trying to bump the one in front to claim victory. The boat in front could claim to be "Head of the River" if they avoided being bumped. As the number of crews contesting races increased, races no longer started in the lock, and instead were started from the bank upstream of the lock. This first occurred in 1825 or 1826.[4]

Twelve years after bumps racing began in Oxford, Lent Bumps racing commenced at Cambridge University in 1827.[citation needed]

At Oxford, an additional bumping regatta, known as Torpids, was begun in 1838. This regatta was originally for men who had not rowed in Eights, nor in a university crew.[5]

Racing practice and procedures

[edit]
The starting gun. There are three gun signals: Five (or four in Cambridge) minute gun; 1 minute gun; and the starting gun.

Bumps races are typically raced in a series over several days. The starting order of each day's race is based on the previous day's results; the first day's starting order each year is determined by the results on the last day of the previous year. Each day the boats line up bow-to-stern, usually along the bank of the river, with a set distance between each boat and the next (usually about one and a half boat-lengths of clear water).[6] The starting positions are usually marked by a rope or chain attached to the bank, the other end of which is held by each boat's cox.

Poling off: LMBC in the 2009 May Bumps

Boats wait along the bank, and may be poled out just in time for the start, to avoid drifting. At the start signal the cox lets go of the rope and the crew starts to row, attempting to catch and bump the boat in front while simultaneously being chased by the one behind.

Corpus III bumps Girton III at the 2005 May Bumps in Cambridge

A bump is made when any form of contact is made with the boat in front; however, outright collisions are neither necessary nor encouraged. Alternatively, if possible, an overtaking-bump occurs when the stern of the chasing boat completely passes the bow of the boat in front. This is relatively rare simply because it is easier to make contact with a rival boat than it is to overtake it. A bump of this kind usually only occurs when a boat crashes. Under the current Cambridge rules, to overtake merely requires the pursuing boat to draw alongside the other boat's bow ball; side by side is good enough, and in the early part of the course a bump is deemed to occur when the bowball of the chasing crew passes the cox of the crew being chased.[7]

Generally, and at Oxford during Eights Week, once a bump has occurred both crews pull over to the river bank and take no further part in that race. At Oxford during Torpids a bumping crew pulls over but the bumped crew must continue racing over the entire course and can be bumped by more than one crew per day. As bumps racing usually takes place on narrow stretches of water, when contact occurs, two or more boats can become tangled up or not clear the river quickly enough, causing the racing line to be blocked. This can be very dangerous and the chance of boats getting damaged is high. To avoid this, the cox of the boat being bumped can concede as soon as slight physical contact occurs or even once it is inevitable. Nonetheless, collisions involving several boats are common. Crews in Torpids tend to concede bumps early to avoid being entangled with the crew that caught them: should they be unable to continue, other boats may row past, overtake and 'bump' the stationary crew. Any crew that has been bumped starts the next race behind the boat or boats that caught it; they switch places. A boat which reaches the finish line without either bumping or being bumped is said to have 'rowed over' and stays in the same position.

Organisation

[edit]

As the length of the racing course is limited, large regattas are organised into divisions of 12 to 20 boats.[8] Each division races separately, but they are ranked to achieve an overall order of crews: e.g. the top crew in the second division is considered to be one place behind the last crew in the first division. The first day's starting position is based on the final positions from the previous year, though in the bottom divisions the boats may be placed according to qualifying getting/rowing on races held before the event.[9] This allows boat clubs to introduce new crews. On each day of a bumps regatta the division races are rowed in reverse order, i.e. the lowest division first. A crew finishing at the top of a division race goes on to compete in the next-higher division later that day (starting last). Alternatively, a crew finishing last in a division must race in the next-lower division the following day (starting first). This is referred to as a sandwich boat and allows crews to move between divisions.

General view
Overlap, no bump yet
Cox raises hand, acknowledging the bump.
Trinity Hall II and Clare II, Lent bumps 2011

The crew of a boat (hereinafter "crew A") may find that the boat in front of them ("boat B") has caught the boat ("boat C") ahead of boat B. Since (except at Oxford during Torpids) these boats both then drop out, crew A must now try to catch the next boat ahead of them still racing (most often the one which started three places ahead). If crew A succeed, this is called an overbump and, in exchanging places with the boat that they bumped, they move three places up the start order. Further still, it is possible, though very rare, to double-overbump (move up five places) or triple-overbump (seven places).[10] Only two occasions of a quadruple-overbump (9 places at once) have been recorded at the Cambridge May Bumps, by Peterhouse W1 in 1986 and by Magdalene M4 in 2018. A quintuple-overbump occurred in the 1984 Cambridge May Bumps in Men's Division 6 when Downing V caught Corpus IV after the 10 sandwich boats originally between them had all bumped out.[11] Overbumps, and variants thereof, are most common in the lower divisions where the quality of the crews varies greatly year-on-year.

The ultimate achievement in such a competition is to finish first in the overall order; that crew is said to be 'Head of the River'. This is only realistically possible for crews starting a bump race in the top few places. A more attainable goal for most crews, apart from moving up towards the headship, is to bump up a place (or more) on each of the four days. The crew is said to have "won its blades", or achieved blades.[12] Traditionally, members of such a crew can purchase a rowing oar in the crew colours and inscribed with the crews' names and the boats they bumped to hang on their wall. Conversely, crews that go down four places win a wooden spoon, achieving spoons. The bottom crew at the bottom of the last division is known as the 'Tail of the River'. A bumps chart is a graphical representation of the week's results; each boat's fortunes can be traced as its line on the chart rises and falls.[13]

At Cambridge, the most successful college boat club over the four days of the May Bumps is awarded the Pegasus Cup, sponsored by Milton Brewery.

First and Third Trinity Boat Club celebrate the double headship of the Lent Bumps 2007 by burning a boat, the Fair Maid of Kent.

Races

[edit]

Both Oxford and Cambridge Universities host two sets of university bumps races per year, one in early spring and one in early summer, each lasting four days. At Cambridge these are called "Lent Bumps" and "May Bumps" respectively, while at Oxford they are "Torpids" and "Summer Eights". The races are for eights (i.e., eight rowers with a cox steering), each representing one of the university's various colleges. Most colleges enter several crews.

In both Oxford and Cambridge, there are also separate Town Bumps races in which local clubs compete. Oxford's races, run by the City of Oxford Rowing Club (CORC), are open to all comers and are raced in fours, all races taking place on the same day.[14] Cambridge's races are run under the auspices of the Cambridgeshire Rowing Association (CRA) and are run exclusively in eights and take place over 5 consecutive days in July; though each division is only raced four times; one division is skipped, due to time constraints, on Monday to Thursday; on Friday all divisions race[15]. There are typically four men's divisions with 17 boats (plus a sandwich boat; a sandwich boat being the top boat from each division) in each division, and three women's divisions.[16] The bumps are fiercely contested, and the ideal that the races are for local rowers can lead to disputes over whether crews are 'legal'.[17]

The United Hospitals boat club holds a bumps race over three days each May after exams on the River Thames, racing from upstream of Kew Bridge adjacent to the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew ending at the UL Boathouse at Chiswick. Traditionally involving only medical school crews, in recent years alumni and non-medical crews have been allowed to enter as invitational crews.[18] King’s College London Boat Club (KCLBC) are the current holders of headship.[19]

The start of a bumps race at Oxford, June 2014

At Eton and Shrewsbury, both schools still have an annual bumping race.[20] At Eton, it takes place over four evenings, in early May. There is usually one boat entered per house (including one boat entered by College). Because of the dangerous nature of the sport, only fours are used, and only the second and third years may row. On the fourth evening there are prizes for the leaders of the chart and also a 'Bumping Cup' for the boat who has made the most bumps over the four nights. The event is marshalled by senior rowers and rowing prefects called The Monarch. The crew training is mainly pupil driven. Previously races were run every day until there were no more bumps (i.e., until they were nominally in speed order). This historical set-up could lead to weeks of racing and was therefore abandoned in favour of a four-day version more than 100 years ago.

See also

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References

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Bumps race

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
A bumps race is a distinctive form of competition, primarily associated with clubs in the , in which multiple crews line up in a single file on a narrow river, spaced approximately one and a half lengths apart, and simultaneously pursue the objective of catching and making physical contact—known as a "bump"—with the boat ahead while evading the crew behind. Upon achieving a bump, the chasing crew concedes by raising an arm, both involved boats pull to the riverbank to allow others to pass, and their positions are swapped for the following day's race, with the event typically spanning four to five consecutive days to allow cumulative progression. This format, necessitated by the constrained widths of rivers like the Cam in and in , contrasts with side-by-side sprint racing by emphasizing sustained pursuit over a variable distance, often around 1,800 meters, rather than a fixed course. The origins of bumps racing trace back to 1815 in , when crews from Brasenose and Colleges initiated the practice as a means to determine supremacy on the narrow without the feasibility of parallel starts, a model that adopted in 1827 on the similarly winding . Over time, the event evolved into structured annual regattas, such as the Lent Bumps and May Bumps in —held in late February or early March and mid-June, respectively—and their counterparts, Torpids and Summer Eights, which together involve dozens of college crews divided into men's and women's categories across multiple divisions of about 17 boats each. Races commence with cannon signals providing timed warnings, and crews are pushed off from stationary positions marked by chains, fostering intense, tactical efforts where faster teams may achieve "overbumps" by progressing multiple positions in a single day if intervening crews are eliminated early. Key outcomes include ascending the overall order toward the prestigious "Head of the River" title for the leading crew in the top division, while consistent bumpers earn "blades"—decorative oars inscribed with the achievement—and those repeatedly bumped receive "spoons" as a humorous consolation. The format promotes strategic racing, with crews balancing aggressive starts against endurance to avoid exhaustion, and it remains a of British university culture, drawing spectators to the banks for the dramatic chases and celebrations, such as donning branches for victorious bumps. New or lower-ranked crews qualify via time trials, ensuring broad participation while maintaining competitive integrity across the divisions.

History

Origins

The bumps race format originated in in 1815, with the first recorded contest between the eights of Brasenose College and Jesus College on River. This event, raced upstream from Iffley Lock toward Christ Church Meadow, marked the earliest documented inter-club worldwide and established the core principle of one attempting to make physical contact with the boat ahead. Bumps racing was introduced to twelve years later, in 1827, through the inaugural Bumps organized on the River Cam. This adaptation followed the model, initiated by a local boatman named Bowtell, and quickly became a fixture in the university's rowing calendar, with races held over multiple days during term. The format's development was driven by the geographical constraints of and Cam, both narrow and winding waterways that precluded traditional side-by-side parallel . Instead, crews started in a single-file at fixed intervals—typically determined by a signal—and pursued the objective of "bumping" the boat immediately ahead through deliberate contact, thereby claiming its position in the order. This innovative approach allowed competitive on restricted rivers while emphasizing speed, strategy, and endurance. Over time, these initial single-race encounters evolved into structured multi-day events, solidifying bumps as a cornerstone of collegiate .

Development and traditions

The Oxford Torpids were introduced in as a second annual bumps racing event specifically for non-varsity crews, providing an opportunity for less experienced to participate in the format. This event marked the first adoption of a "processional" style in bumps racing, where bumped crews were required to continue paddling downstream rather than stopping entirely, allowing the race to flow continuously for all divisions. Initially held in the summer alongside the Eights, the Torpids shifted to the by 1852 to align with the university calendar and avoid overlap with other competitions. Bumps racing expanded beyond universities into secondary schools during the , particularly at and , where it became a staple of inter-house competitions. At , the format originated around 1800 as informal races among houses and evolved into an official four-day event using coxed fours, held annually in early May and recognized as a cornerstone of the school's tradition for over two centuries. Shrewsbury School adopted bumps in 1854 for similar inter-house rivalries, formalizing it as a four-day coxed fours competition by 1867, with three divisions competing on the River Severn. Several enduring traditions have shaped the cultural significance of bumps races. Crews achieving four bumps over the course of a week's racing—advancing one position each day—are awarded decorated "blades," which are oars painted in the club's colors and inscribed with the crew members' names, the year, and the boats bumped, serving as lasting trophies displayed in boathouses. Boat-decorating processions, where crews and supporters parade along the riverbanks with flags, banners, and illuminated oars, add to the festive atmosphere, often drawing thousands of spectators who follow races on foot or by . Celebrations for securing headship, the top position, occasionally include boat-burning rituals; for instance, in 2007, First and Third Boat Club marked their double headship in the Bumps by burning an old boat named the Fair Maid of on the riverbanks. Women's participation in bumps racing emerged in the mid-20th century as part of broader co-educational expansions. In , the first women's crew, from the Cambridge University Women's Boat Club, raced in the men's divisions of the bumps in 1962; dedicated women's divisions were established in the following decades. In , women's divisions were introduced in Summer Eights in 1976 and in Torpids in 1978, significantly increasing overall participation. Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, bumps racing grew in scale and structure, with the four-day format becoming standardized across major events to fit university term schedules and accommodate increasing participation. By the mid-1800s, 's Eights and Torpids had settled into multi-day runs, expanding from four colleges in 1826 to over 20 by 1900, while separated its and May Bumps in 1887 for similar logistical reasons. This period saw integration into academic calendars, such as aligning Torpids with the and Eights with at , ensuring races coincided with peak student availability and fostering broader collegiate involvement.

Racing format

Mechanics of a bump

In a bumps race, crews are aligned in a single file formation along a narrow river, with approximately 90 feet (about 1.5 lengths) of clear water between each, corresponding to starting positions spaced about 150 feet apart. This staggered start, secured by chains to the riverbank, ensures a clear chase sequence upon the starting signal, typically a shot, with all divisions racing simultaneously but separately. A bump is achieved when the chasing crew makes physical contact with the boat ahead, most commonly the bow of the pursuer touching the of the crew in front, though any contact—such as blade on or blade on —qualifies. If contact is avoided but the chasing crew clearly overtakes, or if the cox of the boat ahead raises a hand to concede an imminent collision, the bump is still awarded to prevent unsafe racing. Upon a bump, both crews immediately stop and pull to the riverbank, allowing the race to continue for unaffected boats. An overbump occurs when a advances by catching the boat two or more positions ahead in a single race, often after the intervening crew has already been bumped and cleared the course. This can result in multiple position gains, such as advancing three, five, or even seven places, and is a notable achievement requiring exceptional speed and timing. Unlike head races, which emphasize individual timed performances over a fixed , bumps races prioritize strategic pursuit and sustained pressure on the crew ahead, with pacing crucial to conserve for potential extended chases while defending against overtakers from behind. Crews must balance aggressive starts to close the initial gap quickly against maintaining form to avoid early fatigue, as the race ends for a crew only upon bumping or being bumped, rather than reaching a set finish line.

Race procedures and terminology

A bumps race campaign typically spans four consecutive days, during which crews in each division start in the finishing order from the previous day. The race begins with a series of cannon shots signaling the start: warning blasts at four and one minute prior, followed by the final shot that launches all crews simultaneously from staggered positions. Each crew aims to catch and bump the immediately ahead while defending against the pursuit from behind, with the entire division's race concluding once all crews have either completed a bump, been bumped, or rowed the full course to the finish line—usually lasting 6 to 10 minutes for crews that row the full course, depending on speed and conditions. Rules for handling bumps vary across major events, influencing tactics and the possibility of advanced maneuvers like overbumps. In Oxford's Summer , both the bumping crew and the bumped crew immediately cease upon contact and move aside to clear the for continuing crews. By contrast, in Oxford's Torpids, the bumping crew stops and clears the line, but the bumped crew must continue to the finish unless it concedes or encounters another bump, which facilitates potential overbumps by keeping the channel open. Similarly, in Cambridge's and May Bumps, the bumping crew halts immediately after the bump, while the bumped crew is required to row at least three additional strokes before acknowledging the bump and both crews drawing to the bank, allowing pursuing crews to overtake without obstruction. These procedural differences, while subtle, enable overbumps in all formats by removing bumped boats from active contention promptly. Central to bumps racing is a specialized terminology that describes daily outcomes and positional changes. A "bump" is achieved when the bow ball, bow, or blades of the chasing make contact with the , , or blades of the crew ahead, prompting an immediate position swap for the following day's start. An "overbump" occurs when a crew catches the boat two positions ahead, often after the intervening crew has been bumped and cleared the line, resulting in a net gain of two spots. Further advances, such as a double-overbump (gains of five positions), occur when multiple consecutive clearances allow catching boats further ahead. If a crew neither achieves nor receives a bump, it has "rowed over," preserving its starting position unchanged. Crews that successfully bump advance in the order and are described as going "up" (e.g., "up two" for two bumps over the campaign), whereas those that are bumped fall back and go "down" accordingly. Following each race day, the full division is reordered based on the accumulated results to set the starting positions for the next day. Bumping crews move up one position per bump, bumped crews drop one per instance, and result in no change; overbumps and rarer double-overbumps adjust the order more dramatically when multiple consecutive clearances occur. This daily recalibration ensures a dynamic progression across the four days, with the campaign's overall standings reflecting the net "ups" and "downs" for each crew.

Organization

Divisions and rankings

In bumps racing, crews are organized into multiple divisions, typically comprising 12 to 20 boats each, with the divisions forming a single continuous "river order" that ranks all participating crews from the strongest at the top to the weakest at the bottom. This overall hierarchy ensures that the starting positions reflect relative strength, based on the previous year's results or a qualifying race for new entrants, allowing for progression across division boundaries over the course of the event. In , divisions alternate between men's and women's categories, with races starting from the lowest division and proceeding upward to allow sandwich boats sufficient recovery time. The top in the first division at the event's conclusion is awarded the title of "Head of the River," signifying overall supremacy, while the bottom in the final division is known as the "Tail of the River," marking the lowest position in the rankings. Progression within and between divisions occurs through successful bumps, where a overtakes the boat immediately ahead (a "bump"), the one three positions ahead (an "overbump"), or further in rare cases (such as a double overbump), effectively allowing crews to advance multiple places in a single race and potentially shift divisions for the next day's start. Sandwich boats—the crews finishing at the head of each lower division (except the first)—row twice the next day, first in their own division and then in the division above, to allow further progression. Final weekly positions determine individual crew honors: crews achieving four or more "ups" (net position gains) over the event's duration are awarded "blades," often in the form of decorated oars, while those suffering four or more "downs" (net losses) receive "spoons" as a humorous distinction for their decline. Divisions are generally separated by gender into men's and women's categories to ensure fair competition.

Governing bodies and awards

The Cambridge University Combined Boat Clubs (CUCBC) serves as the primary governing body for bumps races on the River Cam, organizing the annual Bumps and May Bumps while regulating affiliated college boat clubs' use of the river. In , the University Rowing Clubs (OURCs), a of the Oxford University Boat Club and 36 college boat clubs, oversees inter-collegiate bumps events such as the Torpids and Summer Eights, managing entries, scheduling, and competition rules. College-specific committees, often led by captains from participating boat clubs, assist in crew selection and coordination under these bodies. Administrative oversight during races involves designated officials to ensure orderly starts and fair . Stewards or safety umpires initiate each division's race by firing a , with warning shots at four and one minute prior to the final signal, allowing crews to align in their starting positions. Umpires, typically alongside the racing boats, monitor for safety violations, award bumps upon contact or concession, and enforce rules to prevent dangerous maneuvering. Executive committees from the CUCBC and OURCs handle pre-race entries, verify crew eligibility, and implement safety protocols, including equipment checks and weather assessments. Awards recognize outstanding performances across the four days of racing, emphasizing progression through the divisions. Crews that achieve four bumps—advancing one position daily—are awarded blades, consisting of oars painted in the club's colors and inscribed with the crew members' names and the year of achievement. Conversely, crews that are bumped four times, descending one position each day, receive spoons, a ceremonial oar denoting the setback. The Pegasus Cup, specific to Cambridge's May Bumps, is presented to the boat club accumulating the most points based on positions gained by its crews across all divisions, with one point per place advanced. Safety and eligibility rules standardize participation to minimize risks on the narrow rivers. Each must consist of eight rowers and one in coxed eights, with all members required to complete a minimum of twelve supervised outings prior to . restrictions limit Lent Bumps crews to no more than two novices—defined as first-year rowers without prior competitive experience—while the executive committee approves substitutes to ensure competence and . Similar protocols apply in , enforced by OURCs to maintain fair and secure racing conditions.

Major events

Oxford bumps races

The Oxford bumps races consist of two major annual events organized by the Oxford University Rowing Clubs (OURCs): Torpids and Summer Eights, both held on the Isis stretch of the River Thames and involving inter-college crews in coxed eights. These races emphasize collegiate competition among non-varsity rowers, with divisions structured to allow progression through bumping mechanics where a crew advances by catching the boat immediately ahead. Torpids, typically scheduled in late February or early March during , adopts a processional format in which the crew achieving a bump stops rowing, while the bumped crew continues, potentially enabling overbumps or multiple position gains in a single race over four days. Summer Eights, known as and held in late May or early June during , follows a stopping format where both the bumping and bumped crews halt upon contact, limiting further interactions within the race and focusing on strategic positioning over four days. This event serves as the flagship of Oxford's calendar, drawing large crowds along the riverbanks and fostering vibrant social traditions such as garden parties, formal dinners, and celebrations for crews earning "blades" by achieving multiple bumps. Unlike Torpids, which primarily features eights for seconds and lower boats, Summer Eights highlights top crews in eights, with additional divisions for recreational participants. Historically, Summer Eights traces its origins to 1815, when initial races between Jesus College and Brasenose College evolved into formalized bumping events by 1826, establishing it as a of Oxford's sporting heritage shortly before the . Torpids began in 1838 as a competition for second boats, shifting to its current Lent Term timing in 1852 and becoming a key preparatory series for Summer Eights. These events underscore Oxford's culture, with over 1,200 participants across men's and women's divisions annually, promoting skill development and inter-college rivalry. Notable achievements in Oxford bumps include rare quadruple overbumps, particularly feasible in Torpids' processional style, where a crew might advance four positions if intervening boats bump out sequentially—such feats, though infrequent, highlight the format's dynamic potential for dramatic shifts. Overall, these races not only test rowing prowess but also embody enduring traditions that integrate athletic competition with communal festivities.

Cambridge bumps races

The Cambridge bumps races consist of two major annual events organized by the Cambridge University Combined Boat Clubs (CUCBC): the Lent Bumps and the May Bumps. These competitions take place on the River Cam, a narrow and winding waterway that necessitates the unique processional format of bumps racing, where crews start in a staggered line and pursue the boat ahead without side-by-side lanes. Unlike broader rivers used elsewhere, the Cam's tight bends—such as those at Grassy Corner and the Railway Bridge—demand precise steering and rapid acceleration, amplifying the intensity and risk of collisions. The Bumps occur over four consecutive days in late winter, typically or , involving men's and women's eights from university colleges. Crews race in divisions, starting at intervals of about 150 feet (46 meters), with the goal of "bumping" the crew ahead to swap positions for the next day's start; a successful bump halts both boats, allowing the pursuer to advance. This event, held since , emphasizes endurance in colder conditions and serves as an early-season test for , with results determining divisional order for the year. In contrast, the May Bumps are conducted over four days in early summer, usually late May or June, fostering intense club rivalries among the colleges as crews vie for overall dominance. Like the Lents, it features processional racing for eights, but the warmer weather and post-exam timing draw larger crowds and heighten the celebratory atmosphere. The Pegasus Cup, introduced in and donated to CUCBC, is awarded to the leading college boat club based on points for positions gained across all crews: one point per place risen, with bonuses for blades (over four bumps). This trophy underscores the inter-collegiate competition central to rowing culture. A distinctive in both events is the awarding of branches to crews that achieve bumps, which rowers wear in their s or hats as they return to boathouses, symbolizing and warding off bad —a custom rooted in 19th-century . Head of the River crews, who maintain the lead without being bumped, often receive similar honors alongside oar blades painted with colors. The races have produced rare feats, including the only quadruple overbumps in modern : the women's in 1986, when Peterhouse W1 surged four positions in one day, and the men's M4 division in 2018, achieved by Magdalene , highlighting exceptional speed differentials on the Cam.

Other bumps races

The United Hospitals Bumps is an annual bumps racing event held over two days in late May on the River Thames between Syon Pavilion and Chiswick Bridge, featuring crews from London medical schools such as Barts and The , , , , , and Medical School. Organized by the United Hospitals Boat Club, founded in 1885, the races follow a traditional bumps format in coxed eights, with multiple starts each day to allow progression through divisions based on successful bumps. Participants navigate tidal waters with specific safety rules, including bow balls and life jackets for coxes, emphasizing inter-school rivalry among medical students. Beyond university competitions, bumps racing occurs in school settings to foster youth development and house spirit. At Eton College, inter-house bumping races in coxed fours take place over four consecutive days in mid-May, with crews starting in a staggered line and aiming to bump the boat ahead to advance positions. These events, involving all 25 boarding houses, highlight intensive training—such as 14 sessions per week for top crews—and teamwork, culminating in awards like Head of the River for the leading house. Similarly, Shrewsbury School hosts annual house bumping races, or "Bumpers," in the style of Oxbridge events during the summer term's climax, engaging over 200 pupils in competitive yet accessible rowing to build skills and participation across ability levels. Regional and club-level adaptations of bumps racing occur outside university contexts in the UK, often with scaled-down structures to suit local resources. The City of Oxford Rowing Club organizes non-contact bumps for coxed eights open to all affiliated clubs, schools, and universities, featuring four divisions separated by seniority and , with each crew racing four times in a single day and starting 1.5 lengths apart. Likewise, the Cambridgeshire Rowing Association's Town Bumps, held over four nights for non-university rowers from affiliated clubs, uses up to four divisions per in eights, seeding entries via a preliminary time trial and enforcing strict eligibility for local participants aged 15 or older. These events promote community rivalry while adhering to British Rowing safety standards, such as bank parties and fines for violations. In recent years, some bumps-style events have incorporated mixed and adaptive categories to enhance inclusivity and participation. For instance, the City of Rowing Club's broader regatta program, which includes bumps racing, offers mixed eights requiring at least 50% female rowers and adaptive events coordinated for athletes with impairments, entered via classification notes to ensure fair divisions. These extensions reflect growing trends in rowing toward diverse crew compositions, aligning with British Rowing's framework for adaptive classifications and mixed-gender rules.

References

  1. https://www.cucbc.org/bumps
  2. https://www.firstandthird.org/rowing/bumpworkings.shtml
  3. https://www.cambridgebumps.com/about
  4. https://jrn.news/an-introduction-to-bumps-racing/
  5. https://www.bncbc.co.uk/history/
  6. https://www.pem.cam.ac.uk/kit-smarts-blog/short-history-bumps-part-1
  7. https://eodg.atm.ox.ac.uk/user/dudhia/rowing/history.html
  8. https://therowingclub.wordpress.com/2015/03/20/200-years-of-bumps-racing-by-howard-aiken/
  9. https://www.etoncollege.com/news-and-diary/school-news/back-on-the-river-bumps/
  10. https://crossedblades.com/articles/200-years-of-bumps-racing-by-howard-aiken/
  11. https://www.firstandthird.org/rowing/bumpsformat.shtml
  12. https://www.cucbc.org/bumps/how_bumps_work
  13. https://www.firstandthird.org/results/show.phtml?view=rep&page=termid.8029:eventid.556
  14. https://www.oxfordbumps.com/about
  15. https://www.cucbc.org/handbook/racing/bumps
  16. https://ourcs.co.uk/media/filer_public/c5/55/c5556605-7c06-4b25-a2b0-5c20e7a92515/summer_eights_event_plan_2025.pdf
  17. https://ourcs.co.uk/media/filer_public/cf/38/cf38c6d6-74fe-438e-b646-f58f0262d9b2/2024_torpids_event_plan.pdf
  18. https://www.cambridgebumps.com/vocabulary
  19. https://eodg.atm.ox.ac.uk/user/dudhia/rowing/bumps/glossary.html
  20. https://www.cucbc.org/
  21. https://ourcs.co.uk/
  22. https://ourcs.co.uk/organisation/structure/
  23. https://www.cucbc.org/lents/umpires
  24. https://www.cucbc.org/pegasus_cup
  25. https://www.cucbc.org/book/export/html/56
  26. https://ourcs.co.uk/coxing/coxing-competencies/
  27. http://www.sthughsboatclub.co.uk/glossary.html
  28. https://heartheboatsing.com/2024/05/31/eights-week-200-years-of-snakes-and-ladders/
  29. https://oxfordvisit.com/places-to-see/things-to-do/sports-and-events/the-torpids-rowing-races/
  30. https://www.caths.cam.ac.uk/lent-bumps-2025
  31. https://www.cucbc.org/lents
  32. https://www.firstandthird.org/rowing/bumpsintro.shtml
  33. https://www.cucbc.org/mays
  34. https://www.cucbc.org/handbook/pegasus_cup
  35. https://www.reuters.com/article/world/us/wear-the-willow-or-catch-a-crab-at-cambridge-bumps-idUSL241034408/
  36. https://www.varsity.co.uk/sport/15860
  37. https://www.uhboatclub.co.uk/bumps
  38. https://www.uhboatclub.co.uk/
  39. https://www.uhboatclub.co.uk/_files/ugd/847c4b_26a7826f2a4747b59c961610391b16f1.pdf
  40. https://www.etoncollege.com/news-and-diary/school-news/highlights-of-the-bumping-races/
  41. https://www.etoncollege.com/news-and-diary/school-news/bumps-part-two-college-retains-the-head-of-the-river/
  42. https://www.shrewsbury.org.uk/co-curricular/sport/rowing-rssbc-
  43. https://www.oxfordcityroyalregatta.co.uk/bumps
  44. https://www.crarowing.co.uk/town-bumps/about-the-cra-town-bumps/bumps-rules
  45. https://www.oxfordcityroyalregatta.co.uk/regatta
  46. https://www.britishrowing.org/events/competition-framework/
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