It has been six years and a total of thirty five individual races since Caius Men last suffered the ignominy of conceding a bump. Such has been the dominance of Caius over college rowing in recent years that not one of their current crew has any experience of anything other than rowing over at head. Possession of the headship lends any crew a natural advantage; in turn, it can often flatter to deceive.

As the gun fires, the crews explode into a frantic wind in a desperate bid to take vital inches out of the crew in front or to get away from the chasing boat. Within seconds the entire river has become a churning, swirling, turbulent mass as the combined exertions of some 112 oarsmen are deposited into the Cam. For the head crew, this is all academic; the water they row into is calm, balance is easy, catches are quick and finishes are strong. The standard distance between crews at the start of a bumps race is one and a half lengths. It is estimated that the clear water of the headship adds an extra half to a full length’s advantage. Last year, it was whispered that these were not the Caius crews of old, that a change was afoot, that First and Third were looking strong. As the first day approached, the air of anticipation was palpable. In spite of all the build up, as the sun set on the final day Caius remained Head and the First and Third stroke-man was in hospital with exhaustion with Downing having closed to within a canvas of the bump. It seemed with the advantage of clear water Caius merely had to put out a crew to retain the headship.

It was then with stunned disbelief that word spread along the river bank shortly after 4.50pm last Wednesday that the unimaginable had happened. Caius after a reasonable start had lost ground to a hungry First and Third crew. As the two crews rounded Grassy Corner into the Plough Reach the FaT cox called an ‘up two’, the crew responded and were within seconds approaching to within half a length’s distance. Caius took Ditton slightly wide and FaT made them pay; hearing three whistles just before the corner FaT knew they were only a short distance away from the headship. Sensing victory FaT worked hard not to lose pace around the bend, Caius conceded just as both crews were coming out of Ditton corner. Caius rallied on day two, managing to hold off a strong Jesus crew fresh from bumping an underpowered and inexperienced Downing on the first day. Unfortunately, for Caius they could not marshal the same effort for another day succumbing to Jesus on Friday afternoon. Jesus made a spirited but ultimately fruitless attempt at the headship on Saturday, as Caius succeeded in holding off a determined Lady Margaret crew to finish third. Caius has enjoyed a long and seeming indomitable reign at the pinnacle of the mountain of college rowing. However, it does now seem at last that times are changing. Caius should be lauded for their achievements in recent years; it is a truly remarkable record that will surely go down in Bumps history. But change is necessary and increased competition can only be a good thing for both the bumps races, and Cambridge rowing in general.

Frequent competition for the headship is no rarity in the top women’s division. Since Caius took the headship for the men in 2002, Emmanuel, Caius, Downing, Clare and now First and Third, have held the Women’s Headship. In contrast to their men, First and Third’s women performed the impressive feet of bumping Emmanuel, Caius and Clare in order to take pole position on day four. Further down in the women’s first division, Jesus women earned their blades by bumping four days in a row to finish second. Solid gains were made by Churchill and Fitzwilliam. St Catharine’s secured a secure place at the foot of the first division bumping up from third in the second division.

The usual carnage ensued in the lower divisions, allowing for some impressive overbumps. Notably on the first day Girton men’s 2nd VIII managed to jump from sixteenth to thirteenth by dislodging St Catharine’s II, after Peterhouse and St Edmund’s bumped out, before going on to bump each remaining day to finish in tenth position in the third division. In the women’s second division CCAT, Peterhouse, Emmanuel II and Pembroke II, all earned their blades. In contrast New Hall, New Hall II and Downing II all received spoons.

There is no questioning however that this was First and Third’s Bumps. Not only did they manage the impressive feat of securing both the men and women’s Headships simultaneously, but both of the club’s second crews won their blades; bumping on every time they rowed. For First and Third this is the product of a number of years hard work and success, particularly for the women’s crews who have climbed twelve places in three years. This year’s Lent Bumps have, if nothing else breathed new life and competition into the age old tradition. Caius can no longer cruise on their aura of infallibility, and with that will emerge all sorts of challengers. One thing is for sure; the Mays will be very interesting indeed.

Tom Marriott