May Bumps - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

The May Bumps are a set of rowing

Sport rowing

Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...

races, held annually on the River Cam

River Cam

The River Cam is a tributary of the River Great Ouse in the east of England. The two rivers join to the south of Ely at Pope's Corner. The Great Ouse connects the Cam to England's canal system and to the North Sea at King's Lynn...

in Cambridge

Cambridge

The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...

. They began in 1887 after separating from the Lent Bumps

Lent Bumps

The Lent Bumps are a set of rowing races held annually on the River Cam in Cambridge. They began in 1887, after separating from the May Bumps, the equivalent 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...

, 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

University of Cambridge

The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...

, the University Medical and Veterinary Schools and Anglia Ruskin Boat Club

Anglia Ruskin Boat Club

Anglia Ruskin Boat Club 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 May Bumps takes place over four days (Wed-Sat) in mid-June and is run as a bumps race

Bumps race

A bumps race is a form of rowing race in which a number of boats chase each other in single file, each boat attempting to catch and "bump" the boat in front without being caught by the boat behind....

.

The most recent in the series was the May Bumps 2011

May Bumps 2011

The May Bumps 2011 were a series of rowing races held in Cambridge with crews from the boat clubs of all Cambridge University Colleges, the University Medical and Veterinary Schools and Anglia Ruskin University from Wednesday 15 June 2011 until Saturday 18 June 2011. The races were run as a bumps...

, which ran from 15 June 2011 until 18 June 2011.

Structure of the May Bumps

The races are run in divisions, each containing 17 crews. The number of crews in each bottom division varies yearly depending on new entrants. Each crew contains 8 rowers and one coxswain. A total of 171 crews took part in 2011, totalling around 1500 participants. There are currently 6 divisions for men's crews (referred to as M1, M2....M6) and 4 divisions for women's crews (similarly W1-W4). The divisions represent a total race order with Division 1 at the top. The ultimate aim is to try and finish Head of the River (also said as gaining the 'Headship'), i.e. 1st position in division 1.

At the start, signalled by a cannon, each crew is separated by a distance of about 1½ boat lengths (approximately 30m or 90'). 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 all the other crews to continue racing. If a crew is able to catch and bump the boat which started 3 places in front of it, after the two in front have already bumped out, the crew is said to have overbumped. A crew which neither bumps a crew ahead nor is bumped by a crew behind before crossing the finishing post is said to have rowed over.

After the race, any crew which bumps or overbumps swaps places with the crew that it has bumped for the following day's racing. A crew which rows over stays in the same position. Crews finishing at the top of a division also row at the bottom of the next division, as the sandwich boat, in an attempt to try to move up into the next division. The process is repeated over four days, allowing crews to move up or down several places in the overall order of boats. The finishing order of one year's May Bumps are then used as the starting order of the following year's races.

The Pegasus Cup

The Pegasus Cup is a Cambridge

Cambridge

rowing

Sport rowing

prize first awarded in 2006. It was donated by Milton Brewery

Milton Brewery

Milton Brewery is a brewery in the village of Milton, on the outskirts of the city of Cambridge, England.It was established in 1999. Its first beer, named Pegasus, has won several awards including runner-up for the CAMRA Champion Beer of Britain...

and will be awarded annually to the most successful college boat club competing in the Cambridge May Bumping Races. The winner is decided by means of a points system, which is described in the Cambridge University Combined Boat Club

Cambridge University Combined Boat Club

Cambridge University Combined Boat Clubs is responsible for the day to day running of college rowing in Cambridge. It is also responsible for organising May and Lent bumps which are the main races of the Easter and Lent terms respectively....

handbook as follows:

To be eligible a club must have at least one men's and one women's boat (except in the case of single sex colleges where two boats of the same sex may be permitted).

Winners

Year	Winner
2006 May Bumps 2006 The May Bumps 2006 was a set of rowing races held at Cambridge University from Wednesday June 14, 2006 until Saturday June 17, 2006. The event was run as a bumps race and have been held annually in mid-June since 1887. See May Bumps for the format of the races...	Newnham Newnham College Boat Club Newnham College Boat Club is the rowing club for members of Newnham College, Cambridge. Newnham is a college for women only. Members of Newnham have been rowing for a considerable time before the first women's bumps races. The first bumps for women started in 1974...
2007 May Bumps 2007 The May Bumps 2007 were a series of rowing races held at Cambridge University from Wednesday 13 June 2007 until Saturday 16 June 2007. The races were run as a bumps race in the series of May Bumps which have been held annually in mid-June in this form since 1887. See May Bumps for the format of the...	Hughes Hall Hughes Hall, Cambridge Hughes Hall, is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England. It is often informally called Hughes, and is the oldest of the four Cambridge colleges which admit only mature students...
2008 May Bumps 2008 The May Bumps 2008 were a series of rowing races held at Cambridge University from Wednesday 11 June 2008 until Saturday 14 June 2008. The races were run as a bumps race and have been held annually in mid-June in this form since 1887. See May Bumps for the format of the races...	St Edmund's St Edmund's College, Cambridge Saint Edmund's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. It is the second oldest of the four Cambridge colleges oriented to mature students, which only accept students reading for either Masters or Doctorate degrees, or undergraduate degrees if they are aged 21 or older, the...
2009 May Bumps 2009 The May Bumps 2009 were a series of rowing races held in Cambridge with crews from all Cambridge University Colleges and Anglia Ruskin University from Wednesday 10 June 2009 until Saturday 13 June 2009. The races are to be run as a bumps race, which have been held annually in mid-June in this form...	Hughes Hall Hughes Hall, Cambridge Hughes Hall, is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England. It is often informally called Hughes, and is the oldest of the four Cambridge colleges which admit only mature students...
2010 May Bumps 2010 The May Bumps 2010 were a series of rowing races held in Cambridge with crews from the boat clubs of all Cambridge University Colleges, the University Medical and Veterinary Schools and Anglia Ruskin University from Wednesday 9 June 2010 until Saturday 12 June 2010. The races were run as a bumps...	Clare Hall Clare Hall, Cambridge Clare Hall is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. It is a college for advanced study, admitting only postgraduate students.Informality is a defining value at Clare Hall and this contributes to its unique character...
2011 May Bumps 2011 The May Bumps 2011 were a series of rowing races held in Cambridge with crews from the boat clubs of all Cambridge University Colleges, the University Medical and Veterinary Schools and Anglia Ruskin University from Wednesday 15 June 2011 until Saturday 18 June 2011. The races were run as a bumps...

2011 Finishing positions (2012 Starting positions)

Men's 1st Division

[Bumped: Pembroke, First and Third]
[Bumped: Jesus, Pembroke, First and Third]
[Blades; bumped: Lady Margaret, Jesus, Pembroke, First and Third]
[Bumped: Emmanuel, Trinity Hall]
[Bumped; First and Third II, Kings]
[Bumped: First and Third II]

Women's 1st Division

Men's May Bumps (1887 - 2011)

1887	1888	1889	1890
1891	1892	1893	1894
1895	1896	1897	1898
1899	1900	1901	1902
1903	1904	1905	1906
1907	1908	1909	1910
1911	1912	1913	1914	\|
1919	1920	1921	1922	\|
1923	1924	1925	1926	\|
1927	1928	1929	1930	\|
1931	1932	1933	1934	\|
1935	1936	1937	1938	\|
1939	1941	1942	1943	\|
1944	1945	1946	1947	\|
1948	1949	1950	1951	\|
1952	1953	1954	1955	\|
1956	1957	1958	1959	\|
1960	1961	1962	1963 May Bumps 1963 The May Bumps 1963 were a set of rowing races held at Cambridge University in June 1963. The event was run as a bumps race and is one of a series of May Bumps which have been held annually in mid-June since 1887. 129 boats competed in 8 men's divisions. The women's competition commenced in 1974. ...	\|
1964	1965	1966	1967	\|
1968	1969	1970	1971	\|
1972	1973	1974	1975	\|
1976	1977	1978	1979	\|
1980	1981	1982	1983	\|
1984	1985	1986	1987	\|
1988	1989	1990	1991	\|
1992	1993	1994	1995	\|
1996	1997 May Bumps 1997 The May Bumps 1997 were a set of rowing races held at Cambridge University from Wednesday June 11, 1997 until Saturday June 14, 1997. The event was run as a bumps race and is one of a series of May Bumps which have been held annually in mid-June since 1887. See May Bumps for the format of the races...	1998 May Bumps 1998 The May Bumps 1998 were a set of rowing races held at Cambridge University from Wednesday June 10, 1998 until Saturday June 13, 1998. The event was run as a bumps race and is one of a series of that have been held annually in mid-June since 1887. See May Bumps for the format of the races...	1999 May Bumps 1999 The May Bumps 1999 were a set of rowing races held at Cambridge University from Wednesday June 9, 1999 until Saturday June 12, 1999. The event was run as a bumps race and is one of a series of May Bumps that have been held annually in mid-June since 1887. See May Bumps for the format of the races...	\|
2000 May Bumps 2000 The May Bumps 2000 were a set of rowing races held at Cambridge University from Wednesday June 14, 2000 until Saturday June 17, 2000. The event was run as a bumps race and is one of a series of May Bumps which have been held annually in mid-June since 1887. See May Bumps for the format of the races...	2001 May Bumps 2001 The May Bumps 2001 were a set of rowing races held at Cambridge University from Wednesday 13 June 2001 until Saturday 16 June 2001. The event was run as a bumps race and has been held annually in mid-June since 1887. See May Bumps for the format of the races...	2002 May Bumps 2002 The May Bumps 2002 were a set of rowing races held at Cambridge University from Wednesday June 12, 2002 until Saturday June 15, 2002. The event was run as a bumps race and is one of a series that have been held annually in mid-June in this form since 1887. See May Bumps for the format of the races...	2003 May Bumps 2003 The May Bumps 2003 were a set of rowing races held at Cambridge University from Wednesday June 11, 2003 until Saturday June 14, 2003. The event was run as a bumps race and have been held annually in mid-June since 1887. See May Bumps for the format of the races...	\|
2004 May Bumps 2004 The May Bumps 2004 were a set of rowing races held at Cambridge University from Wednesday June 9, 2004 until Saturday June 12, 2004. The event was run as a bumps race and is one of a series of May Bumps which have been held annually in mid-June since 1887. See May Bumps for the format of the races...	2005 May Bumps 2005 The May Bumps 2005 were a series of rowing races held at Cambridge University from Wednesday 15 June 2005 until Saturday 18 June 2005. The event was run as a bumps race and have been held annually in mid-June since 1887. See May Bumps for the format of the races...	2006 May Bumps 2006 The May Bumps 2006 was a set of rowing races held at Cambridge University from Wednesday June 14, 2006 until Saturday June 17, 2006. The event was run as a bumps race and have been held annually in mid-June since 1887. See May Bumps for the format of the races...	2007 May Bumps 2007 The May Bumps 2007 were a series of rowing races held at Cambridge University from Wednesday 13 June 2007 until Saturday 16 June 2007. The races were run as a bumps race in the series of May Bumps which have been held annually in mid-June in this form since 1887. See May Bumps for the format of the...	\|
2008 May Bumps 2008 The May Bumps 2008 were a series of rowing races held at Cambridge University from Wednesday 11 June 2008 until Saturday 14 June 2008. The races were run as a bumps race and have been held annually in mid-June in this form since 1887. See May Bumps for the format of the races...	2009 May Bumps 2009 The May Bumps 2009 were a series of rowing races held in Cambridge with crews from all Cambridge University Colleges and Anglia Ruskin University from Wednesday 10 June 2009 until Saturday 13 June 2009. The races are to be run as a bumps race, which have been held annually in mid-June in this form...	2010 May Bumps 2010 The May Bumps 2010 were a series of rowing races held in Cambridge with crews from the boat clubs of all Cambridge University Colleges, the University Medical and Veterinary Schools and Anglia Ruskin University from Wednesday 9 June 2010 until Saturday 12 June 2010. The races were run as a bumps...	2011 May Bumps 2011 The May Bumps 2011 were a series of rowing races held in Cambridge with crews from the boat clubs of all Cambridge University Colleges, the University Medical and Veterinary Schools and Anglia Ruskin University from Wednesday 15 June 2011 until Saturday 18 June 2011. The races were run as a bumps...

NB. May Bumps were cancelled between 1915 and 1918, and in 1940 due to war. Prior to 1946 were two separate rowing clubs: 1st Trinity and 3rd Trinity, hence both separate and combined titles.

Women's May Bumps (1974 - 2011)

1974	1975	1976	1977	\|
1978	1979	1980	1981	\|
1982	1983	1984	1985	\|
1986	1987	1988	1989	\|
1990	1991	1992	1993	\|
1994	1995	1996	1997 May Bumps 1997 The May Bumps 1997 were a set of rowing races held at Cambridge University from Wednesday June 11, 1997 until Saturday June 14, 1997. The event was run as a bumps race and is one of a series of May Bumps which have been held annually in mid-June since 1887. See May Bumps for the format of the races...	\|
1998 May Bumps 1998 The May Bumps 1998 were a set of rowing races held at Cambridge University from Wednesday June 10, 1998 until Saturday June 13, 1998. The event was run as a bumps race and is one of a series of that have been held annually in mid-June since 1887. See May Bumps for the format of the races...	1999 May Bumps 1999 The May Bumps 1999 were a set of rowing races held at Cambridge University from Wednesday June 9, 1999 until Saturday June 12, 1999. The event was run as a bumps race and is one of a series of May Bumps that have been held annually in mid-June since 1887. See May Bumps for the format of the races...	2000 May Bumps 2000 The May Bumps 2000 were a set of rowing races held at Cambridge University from Wednesday June 14, 2000 until Saturday June 17, 2000. The event was run as a bumps race and is one of a series of May Bumps which have been held annually in mid-June since 1887. See May Bumps for the format of the races...	2001 May Bumps 2001 The May Bumps 2001 were a set of rowing races held at Cambridge University from Wednesday 13 June 2001 until Saturday 16 June 2001. The event was run as a bumps race and has been held annually in mid-June since 1887. See May Bumps for the format of the races...	\|
2002 May Bumps 2002 The May Bumps 2002 were a set of rowing races held at Cambridge University from Wednesday June 12, 2002 until Saturday June 15, 2002. The event was run as a bumps race and is one of a series that have been held annually in mid-June in this form since 1887. See May Bumps for the format of the races...	2003 May Bumps 2003 The May Bumps 2003 were a set of rowing races held at Cambridge University from Wednesday June 11, 2003 until Saturday June 14, 2003. The event was run as a bumps race and have been held annually in mid-June since 1887. See May Bumps for the format of the races...	2004 May Bumps 2004 The May Bumps 2004 were a set of rowing races held at Cambridge University from Wednesday June 9, 2004 until Saturday June 12, 2004. The event was run as a bumps race and is one of a series of May Bumps which have been held annually in mid-June since 1887. See May Bumps for the format of the races...	2005 May Bumps 2005 The May Bumps 2005 were a series of rowing races held at Cambridge University from Wednesday 15 June 2005 until Saturday 18 June 2005. The event was run as a bumps race and have been held annually in mid-June since 1887. See May Bumps for the format of the races...	\|
2006 May Bumps 2006 The May Bumps 2006 was a set of rowing races held at Cambridge University from Wednesday June 14, 2006 until Saturday June 17, 2006. The event was run as a bumps race and have been held annually in mid-June since 1887. See May Bumps for the format of the races...	2007 May Bumps 2007 The May Bumps 2007 were a series of rowing races held at Cambridge University from Wednesday 13 June 2007 until Saturday 16 June 2007. The races were run as a bumps race in the series of May Bumps which have been held annually in mid-June in this form since 1887. See May Bumps for the format of the...	2008 May Bumps 2008 The May Bumps 2008 were a series of rowing races held at Cambridge University from Wednesday 11 June 2008 until Saturday 14 June 2008. The races were run as a bumps race and have been held annually in mid-June in this form since 1887. See May Bumps for the format of the races...	2009 May Bumps 2009 The May Bumps 2009 were a series of rowing races held in Cambridge with crews from all Cambridge University Colleges and Anglia Ruskin University from Wednesday 10 June 2009 until Saturday 13 June 2009. The races are to be run as a bumps race, which have been held annually in mid-June in this form...	\|
2010 May Bumps 2010 The May Bumps 2010 were a series of rowing races held in Cambridge with crews from the boat clubs of all Cambridge University Colleges, the University Medical and Veterinary Schools and Anglia Ruskin University from Wednesday 9 June 2010 until Saturday 12 June 2010. The races were run as a bumps...	2011 May Bumps 2011 The May Bumps 2011 were a series of rowing races held in Cambridge with crews from the boat clubs of all Cambridge University Colleges, the University Medical and Veterinary Schools and Anglia Ruskin University from Wednesday 15 June 2011 until Saturday 18 June 2011. The races were run as a bumps...

NB. The Women's May Bumps were rowed in coxed-fours between 1974 and 1989, changing to coxed-eights from 1990 onwards. A new start order was used for the women's 1990 races.

Table of Winning Boats (1887-2011)

Sixteen boats have been head of the river.

Boat	Head of the River : Men	Head of the River : Women	Head of the River : Total	Winning Years : Men	Winning Years : Women
Jesus Jesus College Boat Club (Cambridge) Jesus College Boat Club is the rowing club for members of Jesus College, Cambridge. Over the years, it has been consistently successful, with the 1st Men's VIII never having dropped below 12th place in the May Bumps and 11th position in the Lent Bumps...	23	5	28	1909, 1910, 1912–14, 1920–22, 1924–25, 1927, 1930, 1935–39, 1947–48, 1955–58, 1972	1988, 1993–94, 2005, 2007
Trinity (Combined) First and Third Trinity Boat Club 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 2 clubs had been rowing together for several years before that date...	25	-	25	1889, 1893, 1897–1906, 1911, 1919, 1928–29, 1945, 1964–67, 1973, 2008–10	-
Lady Margaret Lady Margaret Boat Club 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, foundress of the College.- History :...	17	2	19	1926, 1950–54, 1959–61, 1974–75, 1979–81, 1983, 1988–89	1991–92
Trinity Hall Trinity Hall Boat Club Trinity Hall Boat Club 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....	15	2	17	1887–88, 1890–92, 1894–96, 1907–08, 1946, 1992–95	1982–83
Pembroke Pembroke College Boat Club (Cambridge) Pembroke College Boat Club is the rowing club for members of Pembroke College, Cambridge. Over the last 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...	10	6	16	1923, 1931–34, 1976–78, 1985–86	1997–98, 2006, 2008–10
Caius Caius Boat Club Caius Boat Club is the boat club for members of Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge.The Club rows on the river Cam, and like the other college boat clubs its prime constitutional aim is to gain and hold the headship of the Lent Bumps and May Bumps, now held in eight-oared boats, separately for...	11	3	14	1987, 1998–2000, 2002–07, 2011	2000–02
3rd Trinity	11	n/a	11	1889, 1893, 1901–06, 1929	n/a
Clare Clare Boat Club Clare Boat Club is the rowing club for members of Clare College, Cambridge. Prior to about 1930, the Clare 1st VIII spent most of its time near the boundary of the 1st and 2nd divisions of the Lent and May Bumps. It rose to take the headship of the Lent Bumps in 1939...	5	3	8	1941–44, 1949	1974, 1979–1980
1st & 3rd Trinity First and Third Trinity Boat Club 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 2 clubs had been rowing together for several years before that date...	9	-	9	1945, 1964–67, 1973, 2008–10	-
Churchill Churchill College Boat Club Churchill College Boat Club is the rowing club for members of Churchill College, Cambridge.The club colours are pink and brown, chosen as they are Sir Winston Churchill's racing colours. In recent years, the club has become famous for its lurid pink shells. The men's 1st VIII started the trend in...	-	6	6	-	1978, 1985–87, 1989–90
Downing Downing College Boat Club Downing College Boat Club is the rowing club for members of Downing College, Cambridge. Despite the college admitting undergraduates in 1821, Downing's boat club did not form until 1863, with their first race being in the spring of 1864...	6	1	7	1982, 1984, 1990–91, 1996–97	2011
Emmanuel Emmanuel Boat Club 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...	1	4	5	2001	1995–96, 1999, 2004
1st Trinity	5	n/a	5	1898–1900, 1911, 1928	n/a
Fitzwilliam Fitzwilliam College Boat Club 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...	3	-	3	1969–71	-
New Hall New Hall Boat Club Murray Edwards College Boat Club is the rowing club for members of Murray Edwards College, Cambridge, up to 2008 known as New Hall. Murray Edwards is a college for women only. New Hall's early progress was good, taking the headship of the Lent Bumps in 1976, 1978 and 1980...	n/a	3	3	n/a	1977, 1981, 1984
Newnham Newnham College Boat Club Newnham College Boat Club is the rowing club for members of Newnham College, Cambridge. Newnham is a college for women only. Members of Newnham have been rowing for a considerable time before the first women's bumps races. The first bumps for women started in 1974...	n/a	3	3	n/a	1975–76, 2003
Queens’	3	-	3	1962–63, 1968	-

NB. Prior to 1946 were two separate rowing clubs: 1st Trinity and 3rd Trinity, hence both separate and combined titles.

CCAT, Christ's, Clare Hall, Corpus Christi, Darwin, Girton, Homerton, Hughes Hall, King's, Magdalene, Peterhouse, 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 for either the men's or women's events.

External links

CUR1350 - live commentary, instant results, downloadable MP3s of race commentary
Cambridge bumps charts — archive of results 1992-2005
Pegasus Cup Standings from Milton Brewery
Milton Brewery
Milton Brewery is a brewery in the village of Milton, on the outskirts of the city of Cambridge, England.It was established in 1999. Its first beer, named Pegasus, has won several awards including runner-up for the CAMRA Champion Beer of Britain...

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