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A bumps race is a form of rowing race in which a number of boats chase each other in single file; each boat attempts to catch the boat in front without being caught by the boat behind. Image File history File links A Corpus Christi boat bumps a Girton College boat in the fifth division of the 2005 May Bumps races. ...
Image File history File links A Corpus Christi boat bumps a Girton College boat in the fifth division of the 2005 May Bumps races. ...
Full name The College of Corpus Christi and the Blessed Virgin Mary in Cambridge Motto There is a toast, Floreat antiqua domus (May the old house flourish), from which the colleges nickname, Old House, is derived Named after The citys Guilds of Corpus Christi and the Blessed Virgin...
Full name Girton College Motto Super Girton - No one likes us, we dont care Better is wisdom than weapons of war (Alumni) Named after Girton Village Previous names The College for Women (1869), Girton College (1872) Established 1869 Sister College(s) Somerville College Mistress Professor Dame Marilyn Strathern Location...
A coxless pair which is a sweep-oar boat. ...
The form is mainly used intramurally at the University of Cambridge and the University of Oxford. It is particularly suited to rowing courses where a long but narrow stretch of water is available, 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. In the United States and Canada intramural sports (informally, Intramurals, and more commonly Intramural recreation) refers to games and recreational activities organized within the walls of a school that build upon the skills learned in physical education classes. ...
The University of Cambridge (often called Cambridge University), located in Cambridge, England, is the second-oldest university in the English-speaking world. ...
The University of Oxford, located in the city of Oxford, England, is the oldest university in the English-speaking world. ...
A head race is a type of rowing race. ...
Racing practice and procedures Bumps races are typically raced over several days. Each day the boats line up bow to stern, usually along the bank of the river, with a set distance between each boat (usually about one and a half boat lengths). At the start signal each crew starts to row, attempting to catch the boat in front while simultaneously being chased by the one behind. A crew catching the boat ahead of it is said to "bump" it. Although damage to boats and equipment is indeed common during bumps racing, the cox of the boat being bumped should concede as soon as physical contact occurs (some races organised outside the Universities do not require physical contact, and encourange coxes to concede early to avoid such damage). In Cambridge, and at Oxford during Eights Week, once a bump has occurred both crews pull over to the riverbank and take no further part in that race. In Oxford during Torpids, a bumping crew pulls over but a bumped crew must continue racing over the entire course and can be bumped by more than one crew per day. At Oxford University, Eights Week constitutes the main intercollegiate rowing event of the year, and happens in May. ...
At Oxford University, Torpids is one of two bumping races held in the year, the other being Eights. ...
The starting order of each day's competition is based on the previous day's results. Any boat that was bumped (the one caught) and the boat that got the bump (the one doing the catching) exchange places in the start order. A boat which reaches the finish line without either bumping or being bumped (called 'rowing over') stays in the same position. The objective is to gradually progress up the start order by bumping each day. Typically the first day's starting position is based on the final positions from the previous year.
Since all boats row at the same time, it is possible that the boat in front of yours may catch the boat ahead of it before you catch them. At Cambridge, where those boats both then drop out, your boat must attempt to catch the boat that started three places ahead of you. If you succeed this is referred to as an overbump. You exchange places with the bumped boat, meaning that you move three places up the start order. In rare circumstances boats are able to bump the boat five places ahead — a double overbump.
The ultimate achievement in these competitions is to bump up four (or more) places over the four days, bumping up on each day; a crew achieving this is said to have won its blades. Traditionally members of the crew purchase a rowing oar in the crew colours and inscribed with the crew names to hang on their wall. For reasons of practicality some purchase a miniature replica. Crews that go down four places are awarded the wooden spoon. 'Blades' are also awarded to a crew that bumps up to become first in the start order, called 'Head of the River'. As an additional perk, the boat club that is Head of the River traditionally burns one of its older boats in celebration.
Organization Both Oxford and Cambridge host two sets of bumps racing a year, one in early spring and one in early summer. Each lasts four days; at Cambridge these are called "Lent Bumps" and "May Bumps" 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. Since most colleges enter several crews, the racing involves hundreds of boats; since only so many crews can race at once (typically eighteen at Cambridge and thirteen at Oxford), it is necessary to group the crews into divisions. Just as a college's first boat might hope to become head of the river, its second and third crews (as well as the first crews from less successful colleges) enter a bumps week hoping for promotion to a higher division. The boat finishing first in any division except the highest (whether it started first and rowed over or lower down and bumped its way up) is called the sandwich boat and rows again the same day in the higher division, starting in the last spot. If it bumps there, it is promoted (and the boat it bumps is correspondingly demoted); if not, it returns again to its spot atop the lower division the next day. A crew which continually rows over at the head of a division but never succeeds in bumping at the foot of the next one may find itself racing eight times in the week — when most of its competitors are only rowing four times. 1st & 3rd Trinity 1st Women about to overbump Girton in the womens 1st division on day 3 of the 2005 Lent Bumps The Lent Bumps (also Lent Races, Lents) are a set of rowing races held on the River Cam in Cambridge. ...
1st & 3rd Trinity II about to bump Caius II to go top of the 2nd division on day 2 of the 2005 May Bumps The May Bumps (also May Races, Mays) is a rowing race held on the River Cam in Cambridge. ...
At Oxford University, Torpids is one of two bumping races held in the year, the other being Eights. ...
At Oxford University, Eights Week constitutes the main intercollegiate rowing event of the year, and happens in May. ...
The term college (Latin collegium) is most often used today to denote an educational institution. ...
In both Oxford and Cambridge there are also separate Town Bumps races in which local clubs compete. Oxford's races are now open to all-comers and are raced in fours, all races taking place on the same day. Cambridge's races are run under the auspices of the Cambridgeshire Rowing Association and are run exclusively in eights. Although few rowers worldwide frequent rivers as narrow as the Cam or the Isis, bumps races are sometimes contested elsewhere. The University of London college boat clubs hold a bumps race each year on the River Thames. The Cambridgeshire Rowing Association is based in Cambridge, UK. It is the umbrella body for rowing in Cambridge and since 1868 has organisesd races such as the CRA Bumps as well as looking after the interests of local rowing by providing facilities and regular meetings to discuss issues. ...
The River Cam is a tributary of the River Great Ouse in the east of England. ...
Length 346 km Elevation of the source 110 m Average discharge ? m³/s Area watershed 12935 km² Origin Kemble Mouth North Sea Basin countries England This article is about the River Thames in southern England. ...
Senate House, designed by Charles Holden, home to the universitys central administrative offices and its library The University of London is a federation of colleges and institutes which together constitute one of the worlds largest universities. ...
The Thames (pronounced //) is a river flowing through southern England and connecting London with the sea. ...
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.
See also 1st & 3rd Trinity 1st Women about to overbump Girton in the womens 1st division on day 3 of the 2005 Lent Bumps The Lent Bumps (also Lent Races, Lents) are a set of rowing races held on the River Cam in Cambridge. ...
1st & 3rd Trinity II about to bump Caius II to go top of the 2nd division on day 2 of the 2005 May Bumps The May Bumps (also May Races, Mays) is a rowing race held on the River Cam in Cambridge. ...
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