Yesterday (Wednesday 11 June) marked the start of the May Bumps, a traditional four day rowing competition between the college boat clubs of the University of Cambridge.

The Bumps date back to the 1820s and take place in the Lent term and at the end of the May Term. The May Bumps in particular attract a huge number of rowers - 172 crews divided into 10 divisions; over 1500 people.

Divisions of 17 or 18 crews line up along the River Cam, with just one and a half boat lengths between them (about 90 feet). At the firing of a small cannon the boats race off and try to catch up with and collide, or ‘bump’ the crew in front before the crew behind does the same to them.

The races are held over four days and by ‘bumping’ on any given day, a crew moves up a place for the following day’s race. The aim for the crews is to go up four places on the river during the course of the ‘bumps’ racing. The starting order for the first day’s race is the finishing order for the previous year.

For each club, the aim is to perform consistently well over the years to develop and maintain high positions for the crews. The ultimate aim is to finish at the very top of the first division when they are named ‘Head of the river’.

A crew which ‘goes up’ four or more, or finished Head of the River wins their oars, or ‘blades’, and may have an oar decorated with the names of the crew and the boats that they bumped.

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