For Cambridge students outside of what some see as the ‘cult’ of rowing, weeks seven and eight of lent term tend to be similar to any other. Yet, for those inside the rowing bubble, this period marks a week of races many have been working towards for months – the Lent Bumps. For those lucky enough to avoid the painfully early mornings at the boathouse, and therefore are uneducated in the bumping world, Lent Bumps consists of five days of racing, in which a crew will (normally) race on four of those days. Very much like its name, if you catch up, or ‘bump’ the crew in front of you, you switch places in the division, allowing crews to move up and down the rankings throughout the week. What this means, and what makes bumps so fun, is that since 1887, no crew has known how far they will have to push once the starting cannon sounds. It could be 100 metres, or the full, roughly 2km long course. Ultimately, racing is about dealing with the unknown and pushing through the pain barrier, even when your body is screaming at you to stop.

“This term’s Bumps action proved nothing short of exhilarating”

This term’s Bumps action proved nothing short of exhilarating. Although there seemed to be minimal action with the leaders at the top of the first divisions, there was plenty of carnage elsewhere. Starting in division 1 of the men’s and women’s competitions, Lady Margaret (John’s) and Jesus, maintained headship, topping the men’s and women’s divisions, respectively. For Gwen, in Jesus W1, achieving headship brought immense feelings of happiness and pride, but also “a bit of relief, as there was a lot of pressure throughout the term”. For all crews, but especially top–performing ones, pushing yourself to your limits in training, being in a top boat, and having an intensely close relationship with your crew is a double-edged sword – there is the excitement and anticipation that comes with competing at a high standard, but also the sometimes overwhelming pressure.

Blades and spoons shake up the Bumps table more than any other pattern. Blades is when a crew bumps up all four days of racing, and it’s a coveted position to be in by the end of the week. Even if for some the excitement arises from being able to throw your cox into the Cam, and receiving a flashy ceremonial blade with your name on it, for many, blades is a manifestation of all the effort invested into the sport. This Lent Bumps, the women’s side only saw a small number of blades achieved, with a particularly strong Pembroke W1 blading, a result expected given the strength of their crew. However, it was Selwyn who arguably produced the most successful women’s campaign this term, with their W1 storming into Division 1, earning blades, and their W2 winning the only blades of Division 4.

On the men’s side, both Clare crews mirrored Selwyn’s aforementioned success, with both their M1 and M2 blading. The other two crews to blade in the men’s divisions were Sidney Sussex M2 and Christ’s M2, the Christ’s boat being the first men’s crew from the college to blade since 2012. They didn’t exactly hide their excitement, throwing not only their cox but every crew member into the Cam.

It’s also important to acknowledge the crews that got spoons – when a crew is bumped down at least four times. 7 crews on the men’s side spooned, with Pembroke M2 super-spooning, due to falling victim to the dreaded overbump (when someone three spaces back catches up to you). Catz W2 did the same in Division 3, as part of a group of 5 spooning crews. For some, this is disheartening, especially after putting in so much work, but others take it with good humour; as tradition dictates in most colleges, at least you get a painted wooden spoon for the memories. Some say it’s better (and cheaper) than a blade…

The moments from Bumps that everyone remembers are the crazy stories that come from the week of racing, and this year was no different. The Catz–Sidney W1 bumps not only made a lovely lattice pattern on the bumps chart but was also an intriguing storyline. After Catz bumped up on the first day, their captain fell ill, causing Sidney to bump Catz back on day two. With a revived captain, Catz got the revenge bump on day three, and pulled away from their new rivals to bump Churchill on the last day. Catz W1 rower Rosie said the “revenge–revenge bump” was the best bit, after what she called some “slight Rowbridge tension”. Part of the fun of bumps is having a chance to measure yourself against the crews you have been rowing past all term, and the Catz–Sid bumps are the perfect example of when the margins are incredibly tight.

“One of the biggest headlines of the week was the Queens’ ejector crab”

One of the biggest headlines of the week was the Queens’ ejector crab when the bowman of Queens’ M2’s blade got caught on the bank, pulling him out of his seat and into the water in the dangerously close gap between the boat and the bank. Thanks to the quick action of multiple bank parties, he was quickly retrieved, but watching the video that has been circling rowing social media serves as a reminder of the perils that come hand in hand with the joys of bumps. Unlike other regattas, during Bumps, 17 boats are rowing close together, stopping at different points. Coxes have to act fast for both the safety of their crews and to ultimately succeed in racing.

After drinking bans in the weeks leading up to Bumps, Boat Club Dinner and the ensuing BCD MASH is sometimes what rowers look forward to the most, as a way to unwind after a long week, month, and term. As a social secretary myself, BCD often sets off stressful alarm bells in my head, but to be able to round off bumps and celebrate everyone’s achievements is such a fulfilling role. People often think of the sporting aspect of rowing, but the bonds you form with your boat are unparalleled. These are the people who woke you up for that 6am meet time when you slept through your alarm and cheered you on to get a personal best on the ergs. No wonder it seems like a cult from the outside; the community and strength (both mental and physical) offered by rowing make Lent Bumps such an incredibly unique and rewarding experience.