Despite the best efforts of both Downing M1 and W1, FaT managed to finish Head of the River in both the men’s and women’s divisions in Lent Bumps 2010. In furious hail on Saturday afternoon, Downing M1 ran it close, getting to canvas at Ditton, but just failing to bump. In contrast, the women’s headship was less fiercely contested, though Downing W1 will surely be pleased with their overall progress up the bumps charts. Newnham Boat Club took the most Michell cup points (+36), with Jesus losing the most (-28.8).

In the Men’s First Division, the top three all rowed over comfortably each day, leaving much of the attention on the boats lower in the division. Clare M1 took spoons away with them as they fell to 8th, with Queens’ taking blades and moving up a huge six places. Fitzwilliam M1 managed to avoid spoons by rowing over on the last day with Robinson M1 bumping Churchill M1 behind them. Peterhouse M1 also moved significantly up the division. In the Men’s Second Division, hot tip for blades and the quickest crew in the division, Catz M1 were denied blades by Selwyn bumping Christ’s, leaving them nothing to chase. Sidney M1 earned blades, whilst Downing M2 moved six places upwards in gaining their blades. In the Third and Fourth Divisions many crews earned their blades, whilst an even greater number gained the ignominy of spoons. Emmanuel M4 finished bottom of the Fourth Division, though their M3 fared somewhat better, moving up six places.

In the Women’s First Division, Emma continued their slide down the bumps chart, though avoided spoons, with Christ’s bumping them on Saturday to gain their blades. No crews other than Christ’s bladed, and none spooned, though Newnham, Trinity Hall and Pembroke will be pleased with their upward progress, whilst LMBC will be concerned with their continued slide. The rumours of Jesus W1 staying off-Cam due to fear of embarrassment proved to have some basis in truth as they fell three places. The Women’s Second Division proved a lot more eventful, with Murray Edwards and Corpus earning blades, and Jesus W2, Fitzwilliam and Caius II spooning. In the Women’s Third Division, Downing W2 moved up five places, but a row-over on the Friday cost them blades, with Selwyn W2 spooning. Catz W2 and Emma W3 shared an odd sequence of events, with Emma bumping on Wednesday, both crews rowing over on Thursday, and Catz bumping back on Saturday.

Attention of the top crews will turn to the Head of the River race on the Tideway in one month, whilst the attention of the public will switch to the Boat Race on the Saturday April 3rd.