The Lent Bumps (also Lent Races, Lents) are a set of rowing races held annually on the River Cam in Cambridge. They began in 1887, after separating from the May Bumps, which are bumping races held in mid-June. Prior to the separation there had been a single set of annual bumps dating from its inception in 1827. [1] The races are open to all college boat clubs from the University of Cambridge, the University Medical and Veterinary Schools and Anglia Ruskin Boat Club. The Lent Bumps take place over five days (Tuesday to Saturday) at the end of February / start of March and are run as bumps races.
The most recent in the series was the Lent Bumps 2024, held from 27 February to 2 March 2024.
The races are run in divisions, each containing 17 crews. The number of crews in each bottom division varies yearly depending on new entrants. [2] Each crew consists of eight rowers and one coxswain. Unlike the May Bumps, rowers trialling for places in university crews are not allowed to take part in the Lents. A total of 120 crews took part in 2020, totalling around 1080 participants. There are currently four divisions for men's crews (referred to as M1, M2 ... M4) and four divisions for women's crews (similarly W1 to W4). Both M4 and W4 are "short" divisions which marshall together; W4 goes off 5 minutes separated from M4 whereas other divisions are separated by 40 minutes. The divisions represent an overall race order, with Division 1 at the top. The ultimate aim is to try to finish Head of the River (also said as gaining the 'Headship'), i.e. first position in Division 1.
At the start, signalled by a cannon, each crew is separated by a distance of about 1½ boat lengths (approximately 30 m or 90 ft). Once the race has begun, a crew must attempt to catch up with the crew ahead of it and bump (physically touch or overtake it) before the crew behind does the same to them. A crew which bumps or is bumped must pull to the side of the river to allow other crews to continue racing. A crew which neither bumps the crew ahead nor is bumped by the crew behind before crossing the finishing post is said to have rowed over. Any crew which bumps then swaps places with the crew that it bumped in the following day's racing. A crew which rows over stays in the same position. Crews finishing at the top of a division, the sandwich boat, row at the bottom of the next division to try to move up a division. The process is repeated over four effective days, allowing crews to move up or down in the overall order of boats. The finish order of one year's Lent Bumps is then used as the starting order of the following year's races. Due to the shortness of reliable daylight, the races are actually currently run over five days, with one division level dropped out each day except Saturday: on Tuesday M/W 1, on Wednesday 2, Thursday 3 and Friday 4.
Between 2010 and 2019, the leading men's and women's crews of the Lent Bumps went on to race the leading Oxford Torpids men's and women's crews at the Henley Boat Races around Easter. [3] However, following the move of The Lightweight Boat Races to the Championship Course, this competition ceased to be held.
Lent Bumps were cancelled from 1915 to 1918 due to war, and in 1895 and 1963 due to ice; in 2018 two days were lost to the towpath being too icy for bank parties and umpires; in 2023, the Friday day was lost due to high rainfall and resulting high stream. The Lents in 1888 were not completed due to the death of an oarsman. When the races ceased, Jesus were in 1st position. [1] The Lent Bumps 2001 were not completed due to an outbreak of Foot and Mouth disease in the UK. The outbreak closed the towpath along the river, where all of the umpiring for the bumps takes place. When the races were abandoned on Friday 2 March 2001, Emmanuel were in 1st position. The Lents were also cancelled in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 1919, college 1st VIIIs did not race as it was the first race after World War I. The start order for the 1920 races was the finish order for the 1914 races. [1] Prior to 1946 1st & 3rd Trinity were two separate rowing clubs: 1st Trinity and 3rd Trinity, hence both separate and combined titles. [4]
1976 | New Hall | 1977 | Newnham | 1978 | New Hall | 1979 | Girton | 1980 | New Hall | 1981 | Girton |
1982 | Newnham | 1983 | Newnham | 1984 | Churchill | 1985 | Jesus | 1986 | Jesus | 1987 | Jesus |
1988 | Emmanuel | 1989 | Emmanuel | 1990 | Emmanuel | 1991 | Emmanuel | 1992 | Lady Margaret | 1993 | Lady Margaret |
1994 | Emmanuel | 1995 | Emmanuel | 1996 | Trinity Hall | 1997 | Emmanuel | 1998 | Emmanuel | 1999 | Trinity Hall |
2000 | Emmanuel | 2001 | No result | 2002 | Emmanuel | 2003 | Caius | 2004 | Downing | 2005 | Downing |
2006 | Clare | 2007 | 1st & 3rd Trinity | 2008 | 1st & 3rd Trinity | 2009 | Emmanuel | 2010 | 1st & 3rd Trinity | 2011 | Downing |
2012 | Downing | 2013 | Downing | 2014 | 1st & 3rd Trinity | 2015 | Christ's | 2016 | Jesus | 2017 | Jesus |
2018 | Jesus | 2019 | Newnham | 2020 | Downing | 2022 | Newnham | 2023 | Jesus | 2024 | Jesus |
NB. The Lent Bumps were not completed in 2001 due to an outbreak of Foot and Mouth disease in the UK. When the races were abandoned on Friday 2 March 2001, Jesus were in 1st position. The Lents were also cancelled in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nineteen boats have been head of the river.
Blade | Boat | Head of the River : Men | Head of the River : Women | Head of the River : Total | Winning Years : Men | Winning Years : Women |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jesus | 39 | 8 | 47 | 1905–12, 1914, 1922–24, 1926–27, 1929, 1932, 1934–38, 1940–41, 1944–47, 1952–53, 1955, 1957, 1959–64, 1970, 1972, 1974 | 1985–87, 2016–18, 2023-24 | |
Trinity (Combined) | 25 | 4 | 29 | 1892–96, 1898–1902, 1904, 1913, 1919*, 1921, 1925, 1951, 1958, 1967, 1971, 1998, 2000, 2007–10 | 2007–08, 2010, 2014 | |
Lady Margaret | 24 | 2 | 26 | 1889, 1897, 1903, 1920, 1943, 1949–50, 1954, 1965–66, 1975–81, 1990, 2017–18, 2020–24 | 1992–93 | |
Downing | 10 | 6 | 16 | 1984–88, 1994–97, 2014 | 2004–05, 2011–13, 2020 | |
1st Trinity | 15 | n/a | 15 | 1892–96, 1898–1902, 1904, 1913, 1919*, 1921, 1925 | n/a | |
1st & 3rd Trinity | 10 | 4 | 14 | 1951, 1958, 1967, 1971, 1998, 2000, 2007–10 | 2007–08, 2010, 2014 | |
Caius | 12 | 1 | 13 | 1999, 2002–06, 2011–13, 2015–16, 2019 | 2003 | |
Emmanuel | 1 | 11 | 12 | 1930 | 1988–91, 1994–95, 1997–98, 2000, 2002, 2009 | |
Trinity Hall | 7 | 2 | 9 | 1890, 1948, 1982–83, 1991–93 | 1996, 1999 | |
Newnham | n/a | 5 | 5 | n/a | 1977, 1982–83, 2019, 2022 | |
Pembroke | 4 | - | 4 | 1931, 1933, 1942, 1989 | - | |
Clare | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1939, 1973 | 2006 | |
New Hall | n/a | 3 | 3 | n/a | 1976, 1978, 1980 | |
Corpus Christi | 2 | - | 2 | 1887, 1891 | - | |
Girton | - | 2 | 2 | - | 1979, 1981 | |
Churchill | - | 1 | 1 | - | 1984 | |
Fitzwilliam | 1 | - | 1 | 1969 | - | |
Peterhouse | 1 | - | 1 | 1956 | - | |
Queens’ | 1 | - | 1 | 1968 | - | |
Christ’s | - | 1 | 1 | - | 2015 |
* The head of the river in 1919 was, unusually, 1st Trinity’s second boat. It was the first race after World War I and 1st eights did not race. The start order for the 1920 races was the finish order for the 1914 races. [1]
Prior to 1946 1st & 3rd Trinity were two separate rowing clubs: 1st Trinity and 3rd Trinity, hence both separate and combined titles. [4]
Anglia Ruskin, Clare Hall, Darwin, Homerton, Hughes Hall, King's, Lucy Cavendish, Magdalene, Robinson, St. Catharine's, Selwyn, Sidney Sussex, St Edmund's, Wolfson, Addenbrooke's and the Veterinary School are the regular entrants never to have finished Head of the River in either the men's or women's events.
The First and Third Trinity Boat Club is the rowing club of Trinity College in Cambridge, England. The club formally came into existence in 1946 when the First Trinity Boat Club and the Third Trinity Boat Club merged, although the two clubs had been rowing together for several years before that date. The first boat club associated with Trinity was formed in 1825 and came to be known as First Trinity in 1833 when the Third Trinity Boat Club was formed. Membership of Third Trinity was originally confined to Old Etonians and Old Westminsters. Members of Third Trinity were allowed also to be members of First or Second Trinity and often were.
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.
Torpids is one of two series of bumping races, a type of rowing race, held yearly at Oxford University; the other is Eights Week. Over 130 men's and women's crews race for their colleges in twelve divisions: six each of men's and women's; almost 1,200 participants in total. The racing takes place on the Isis, usually in the 7th week of Hilary Term on four successive days from Wednesday to Saturday.
Trinity Hall Boat Club (THBC) is the rowing club of Trinity Hall, a college of the University of Cambridge. Founded in 1827 it is amongst the oldest college boat clubs in Cambridge, England. Historically, it is the most successful Cambridge college at Henley Royal Regatta with a number of wins, including winning all the events but one in 1887.
The Lady Margaret Boat Club is the rowing club for members of St John's College, Cambridge, England. The club is named after Lady Margaret Beaufort, founder of the College.
The May Bumps are a set of rowing races, held annually on the River Cam in Cambridge, England. They began in 1887 after separating from the Lent Bumps, the equivalent bumping races held at the end of February or start of March. Prior to the separation there had been a single set of annual bumps dating from its inception in 1827. The races are open to all college boat clubs from the University of Cambridge, the University Medical and Veterinary Schools and the Anglia Ruskin Boat Club. The May Bumps takes place over four days in mid-June and is run as a bumps race.
Caius Boat Club is the boat club for members of Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge. The club has rowed on the River Cam since 1827, and like the other college boat clubs its aim is to gain and hold the headship of the Lent Bumps and May Bumps, now held in eight-oared boats, separately for men and women.
Downing College Boat Club is the rowing club for members of Downing College, Cambridge. Downing men have not been below the top 9 boats for over 3 decades, on occasion being the only boat club with a second boat in the first division, and regularly ahead of other college first boats. Downing women also consistently place highly, currently second on the river in the Lents and sixth in the Mays.
Emmanuel Boat Club is the rowing club for members of Emmanuel College, Cambridge. The men's 1st VIII has stayed largely in the first division of the Lent and May Bumps for the last half-century, but fell as low as 21st in the May Bumps in the 1930s, and has been as low as 28th in the Lent Bumps towards the end of the 19th century.
Jesus College Boat Club is the rowing club for members of Jesus College, Cambridge.
Pembroke College Boat Club is the rowing club for members of Pembroke College, Cambridge. Over the 20th century, crews from Pembroke have held the headship of the men's Lent Bumps on four occasions, and the headship of the men's May Bumps ten times. The men's 1st VIII spent their entire history in the 1st division of both events, apart from poor performances in the Lent Bumps 2000 and the May Bumps 2003, and the crew is usually found in the top half of the division. The women's 1st VIII first raced in 1985, and have not yet taken the headship of the Lent Bumps, but took the headship of the May Bumps in 1997, 1998, 2006, 2008, 2009 and 2010.
Fitzwilliam College Boat Club is the rowing club for members of Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge. Prior to the 1960s, Fitzwilliam House occupied a position near the bottom of the 2nd division or top half of the 3rd division of the Lent and May Bumps, even finding itself in the 4th division of the Lent Bumps briefly. Between 1959 and 1969, the 1st men's VIII were not bumped in the Lent Bumps, rising to Head of the River in 1969. Between 1960 and 1971, the 1st men's VIII were bumped only once in the May Bumps, taking the headship for three years between 1969 and 1971. From then until the mid-1980s, the 1st VIII held a position in the top-half of the 1st division and won both the Fairbairn Cup and the Emmanuel Sprints Regatta in the Michaelmas Term of 1982. The 1982 crew completed the traditional (1929–1989) Fairbairn course in 14.34, becoming the second crew ever to post a winning time of under 15 minutes over the original race distance.
Clare Boat Club is the rowing club for members of Clare College, Cambridge, it was founded in 1831.
Newnham College Boat Club is the rowing club for members of Newnham College, Cambridge. The club has a year-round senior squad and invites all members of the college to learn to row by joining the novice squads during Michaelmas or Easter terms.
Churchill College Boat Club is the rowing club for members of Churchill College, Cambridge.
Corpus Christi College Boat Club is the rowing club for members of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. Corpus blade colours are maroon with a vertical white stripe and rowers wear kit of the same colour. The boat club crest features the same mythical pelican as that of the College, often pictured in front of a pair of crossed blades. Corpus is one of the smallest colleges in the University of Cambridge, typically fielding 2-3 men's crews and 2-3 women's crews in the Lent and May Bumps races each year. It shares a boat house with the boat clubs of Sidney Sussex, Girton and Wolfson colleges.
The Lent Bumps 2008 were a series of rowing races at the University of Cambridge held on the River Cam from Tuesday 26 February 2008 until Saturday 1 March 2008. The event was run as a bumps race and was the 121st race in the series of Lent Bumps, which have been held annually in late February or early March on the 7th week of Lent Term in this form since 1887. See Lent Bumps for the format of the races. A total of 121 crews took part, comprising nearly 1100 participants in total.
Anglia Ruskin Boat Club (ARBC) is the rowing club for members of Anglia Ruskin University. It was known as CCAT Boat Club until 2008. The name CCAT derives from a former name for the university, the Cambridgeshire College of Arts and Technology, which is abbreviated to CCAT. The boat club kept the name CCAT much longer than its linked place of education – it was once thought the club would lose its positions in the bumps races if the name were changed, but that is urban legend.
The Lent Bumps 2014 was a series of rowing races at Cambridge University from Tuesday 25 February 2014 to Saturday 1 March 2014. The event was run as a bumps race and was the 127th set of races in the series of Lent Bumps which have been held annually in late February or early March since 1887. See Lent Bumps for the format of the races. 103 crews took part, with nearly 950 participants in total.
The Lent Bumps 2018 was a series of rowing races at Cambridge University from Tuesday 27 February 2018 to Saturday 3 March 2018. The event was run as a bumps race and was the 131st set of races in the series of Lent Bumps which have been held annually in late February or early March since 1887. See Lent Bumps for the format of the races.