Aah - you see I should have made more effort yesterday when the sun was shining... Instead it was a grizzly, mizzly day and I have grey pics. Anyway - it was the fourth and last day of the Lent Bumps today and 23 years (aarghh) since I successfully coxed the LMBC Vth Lent boat to their oars (before you get too impressed for Vth read 'last'). Because the river is narrow the boats can't race side by side so they line up one behind another with one and a half boat lengths of clear water between them and when the starting gun goes (it's a small cannon) you row like mad to try to catch the boat in front and hit it before the one behind hits you. The races take all day with the slowest crews racing first in the 'fifth division' of about ten boats. The boat that finishes at the front then joins the back of the next division and rows again and the one that finishes last in that race drops down for the following day. The races are repeated over four days with boats bumping up, being bumped down or 'rowing over'. The college crew that finishes at the front of the first division on the last day is crowned Head of the River. They are exciting but tricky as you have to go off at full pelt and if you bump you have to slow down quickly and pull over so that the boat behind can go for an over-bump or just avoid being bumped from behind. I like watching the less good crews as there are boats bumping out all over the place and chaos reigns. Of course it isn't without risk - it's intimidating having a fast crew roaring up behind you and even more intimidating facing a boatman if you've broken his boat. In addition you get supporters accidentally cycling into the river and a young man opposite us was stripping off having suffered an 'ejector crab' - his oar had stuck in the water and catapulted him out of the boat - quite a violent event especially as their feet are tied in. All looks fairly serene in this pic (the cycle path on the other side of the river is not a place to wander with a dog during the races) but the three boats are heading towards the finish which is just beyond the railway bridge in the top right hand corner. Boat three managed to bump boat two just after the bridge which is very unusual but our boat did the same thing all those years ago. If you bump you get to wear branches of trees in your hair (they are willows and can cope with a bit of coppicing) and if you bump four days in a row you win your oar (or rudder in my case) and (if you fork out the money) have a lovely souvenir with the names of your crew painted on.
When I was a St John's the Ist boat went Head of the River which means they had a boat burning ceremony in the College. It's like a pagan ritual and I'm sure the College Fellows dread it as testoterone, alcohol, the joy of victory and burning boats are a heady combination.
Oh my...the things that I don't know....haha! This looks like a fun time! The picture is really telling a story....maybe not the one you wrote though...hahah!
I really enjoy this picture and your information. What an interesting sport. When I go to England I see crews on the River Avon in Stratford. Great fun.
Thx for the comments on my son's portrait. Few, fee, it is all so true. I don't mind buying him a handsome suit but believe I do not often give the guy cash!
@wac My son's already planning a 5 year college course which means he'll be at least 23 before I can say 'you're on your own son'!!!! It's lovely for you to be reaping the benefits of all those music lessons though!
@bpaquette@kathyd@bill_d Thanks for the comments - it's better still to watch them from the pub garden round the corner - preferably on a sunny day in June when they have the May Bumps :0)
I have shouted myself hoarse cycling alongside and supporting colleagues in the bumps and also participated myself with the Cantabridgian team...many years ago. This brings back many a good memory.
March 11th, 2011
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Thx for the comments on my son's portrait. Few, fee, it is all so true. I don't mind buying him a handsome suit but believe I do not often give the guy cash!