The Bumps: Lent and May Bumps

What it is

The Bumps are the college rowing races held on the River Cam. The river is too narrow and winding for boats to race side by side over a long distance, so crews line up one behind another, a boat-length and a half apart, and chase. A cannon starts the race. If a crew touches the boat ahead of it, a bump, both boats pull over, and on the next day the two crews swap places. A crew that neither bumps nor is bumped has rowed over.

A common aim for a crew is to rise up the order. The crew at the top of the first division is Head of the River, and a crew that bumps up on every day of racing wins its blades, an oar in the crew's colours that its members can traditionally buy. Division boundaries are linked by a sandwich boat: the top crew of each lower division also races at the bottom of the division above, so the whole field forms one continuous order that is carried over to the following year.

History

Bumping races began at Cambridge in 1827, twelve years after the first at Oxford. A single set of races was held each year until 1887, when the Lent Bumps and the May Bumps separated. The May balls of May Week are thought to have grown out of celebrations of success in the May Bumps.

Where to watch

The course runs downstream along the Cam towpath from its start at Chesterton. The towpath is on the northern side of the river, and many bumps happen around Grassy Corner and Ditton Corner, which can also be watched from the Plough pub on the opposite bank at Fen Ditton. Cycling with the races is prohibited apart from umpires and designated bank parties, and Cam FM provides live commentary.

When it happens

The Lent Bumps are held in late February or early March, and the May Bumps in June. The Lent Bumps run over five days and the May Bumps over four. Dates, start orders and results are published by Cambridge University Combined Boat Clubs.