Lent Bumps 2024

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Written by:

Paul Holland

Posted:

28 Feb 2024

The Lent Bumps are upon us for another year. High water levels have meant many lower-boat crews cannot race. Despite this Trinity Hall Boat Club has four crews taking part this year. Our Men’s and Women’s second boats (M2 and W2) and the First Boats (M1 and W1).

Bumps involve separate divisions of rowing VIIIs racing against each other every day during the week (Tuesday to Saturday). It is, technically, over four days with each crew having a rest day. The race itself sees each crew setting off at the same time but one behind the other: around 17 boats in each division. The rules are complex but the aim is to “bump” (ie touch, overlap or overtake) the boat ahead, while avoiding being caught by the boat behind.

Paul Townshend, Head Rowing Coach and Boathouse Manager for Trinity Hall, describes the outcome of each day’s Lent Bumps racing below.

Day One
Day Two
Day Three
Day Four
Final Day

Smiling rowers and their cox on the River Cam. They are about to set off from Trinity Hall boathouse to race in the Lent Bumps 2024

Day One: A very positive first day all-round for THBC

W2 (a boat with 4 rowers in their first ever set of Bumps) got the day off to a wonderful start from position 8. THBC rowed away from St Catharine’s W2 and closed in on St Edmunds W1 achieving the bump just past Ditton Corner; meaning that W2 are +1 and start Wednesday’s racing under the A14 road bridge in position 7.

M2 (an all first-year boat of people that learned to row in October) showed the progress they had made in the past few days when the weather finally relented, the river finally dropped and the flags were changed from yellow to green, to allow them to get back onto the water after what must have felt like a lifetime. The crew raced an excellent race having a super fight with Fitzwilliam M2 before finally being bumped on Grassy Corner. They will be back for revenge on Wednesday.

Overall today was an enormously encouraging day for the club especially when one considers that today was the first ever Bumps race for 13 out of the 18 students that raced. All should be enormously proud of what they achieved and how they performed today.

Both Second Boats race again on Wednesday when the First Boats get to their 2024 campaigns under way with both of the first crews starting at position 7 in the Top Division.

Row Hall!

Rowing crew with willow in their hair to show they have bumped up in the Lent Bumps 2024.

Day Two: Another great day on the river

W2 continued their upward trajectory in bumping Emmanuel just before Grassy Corner and have a well deserved rest tomorrow. They will return to the river on Friday where they will start from Station 6 and be chasing Clare W2. Well done on a +2 start to the week.

M2 showed their best form of the year so far and were holding station against Fitzwilliam M2 who bumped them yesterday and Peterhouse M2 behind before a crash in front meant a re-row was necessary. Again M2 started well and held Peterhouse until Grassy Corner again before Peterhouse made an excellent move to earn the bump. Again, so many lessons learned by an all-first-year boat and the crew will be raring to go again on Friday after their rest day on Thursday.

W1 had a super start and were onto two whistles over Caius W1 by First Post Corner. Through the Gut, and round Grassy Corner, Caius started to move on Downing W1 in front of them, giving them the necessary lift to bump, leaving W1 to complete a very strong row-over finishing at rate 20 for the final 750m. W1 will be chasing Downing W1 on Thursday.

M1 finished the day in the very best style by overpowering Pembroke M1 in The Gut after a flying start and in doing so moving up to 6^th on the river. A great effort from the crew which should give them confidence for the coming days. Thursday will see M1 chasing Magdalene M1.

Day Three: And the rain kept falling

Day three meant that just the First Boats were racing in what were very damp and cold conditions. Both crews had a great warm up with W1 kicking the day off. After another super start and whistles through The Gut, sadly, luck was not on THBC’s side today with Downing escaping from their grasps and unfortunately the crew were caught from behind by First & Third Trinity, just before the railway bridge. This crew will undoubtedly pick themselves up this evening and will return on Frifay looking for a revenge bump. W1 will start from Station 8.

M1 had an another excellent race and pulled away from Pembroke M1 who they bumped yesterday and set about chasing a fast Magdalene M1 boat which managed to bump Jesus M1 at The Plough, meaning THBC were left to a very strong row over where they kept Pembroke at arm’s length for the rest of the course. This leaves a mouth-watering prospect of chasing Jesus M1 on Friday with M1 starting again from Station 6.

Both Second Boats are back in action on Day 4 and so we are all hoping for improved weather over the final two days! Row Hall!

Day Four: A brace of bumps and great performances across the board

Another super day at the river with all crews building on performances and lessons learned from the previous three days.

W2 continued where they left off on Wednesday by bumping Clare W2 in good time and moving up to Station 5 for the final day tomorrow with a record of +3 for their week so far. Well done to all involved and here’s to a successful final day!

M2 saved their best row of the week for today and it was clear for all to see just how much this all-first-year boat has learned over the past three days in their inaugural bumps. The crew have raced progressively further down the river and did so again today moving back on Peterhouse M2 who bumped them on Wednesday before they were finally overhauled by Christs M2 on the Long Reach. A great experience for the crew and one that will be invaluable tomorrow and in the coming months towards The Mays.

W1 picked themselves up after yesterday’s disappointment in the very best way possible avenging yesterday’s bump by FaT (Trinity) by bumping back in what was an extremely strong and mature row finally making contact 15 strokes past Grassy Corner. The crew was jubilant after the bump and deserved all the credit by coming back today determined to row the race we all knew they could row. The move back to Station 7 in the top division tomorrow and will be aiming to make it one better as they chase Newnham W1 down the course on the final day.

Finally M1. After a very strong row over yesterday, today the crew swiftly pulled away from Pembroke M1 behind them and in doing so moved onto Jesus M1 in front of them to just short of one whistle. The two crews remained locked together for much of the last 2km of the course and raced all the way to Top Finish with honours even being the conclusion. M1 learned a great deal today and will bring that knowledge and experience into their final day when again they will start on Station 6 with the aim of bumping Jesus M1 and moving into the top 5 of the top division.

A super day all-round and congratulations to all our crews on their great performances today. Row Hall!

Trinity Hall W2 rowing eight with in the River Cam with the College flag behind, showing that they have won their blades.

Final Day: Row Hall!

The boat club has had an amazing week – well done to everyone who took part and thank you to all who supported them from the bank.

M1 – another very strong row over to secure their place at station 6 (overall: +1).

W1 – bumped Newnham W1 at the top of the reach to also get to station 6 (overall: +1).

This means that the top five is within reach for both first boats next year!

M2 – unfortunately bumped by a very strong Lucy Cavendish M1 who were on for blades (overall: -4)

Finally: the superstars of the week – W2 bumped Downing W2 to get BLADES (+4) – finishing 4th in Division 3.

Row Hall!

More information

For more on the Lent Bumps see the CUCBC website.

Picture credits

Top image and Day Two: Mary Hockaday, Master of Trinity Hall. Days One, Three & Four: Trinity Hall. Final Day: Rachel Hill.