LENT BUMPS 2007 REPORT
Much has happened in the last months, including my Lent Bumps triumphs. Here is an account of the four days which were filled with much intrigue, bravery, and excitement.
DAY 1
Starting behind St. Edmunds 1st VIII on what was, for most of the crew, their first Bumps, was a daunting prospect. Our fears were misplaced, however, as we learned at our starting position that St. Edmunds had been disqualified for that day’s racing for attempting to put a CULRC university rower in what did look like a suspiciously ’stacked’ boat. Expecting a long and hard row to get Eddies, it was quite a shock for the crew to learn we would have to row little more than a few strokes to secure a technical bump. After we had barely finished what was a solid and promising start sequence, the order to pull in was given and so ended our first day’s ‘racing.’ Whilst we were all elated about the bump, we did feel a little cheated out of a day’s rowing and valuable experience.
DAY 2
We were optimistic about our chances of catching Girton II on the second day but a little worried by a somewhat piqued – and now legal - Eddies chasing our stern. The start was a little more frantic after bow pair mistook the remark “that’s it bow pair” for the instruction “bow pair” to take another stroke to position us two seconds before the start gun. We recovered well, however, and even managed to put some distance between Eddies and us. Girton II (who would eventually win blades) bumped Trinity FaT IV just after first post corner leaving the over bump on Clare II for us. After four mins, we had pulled away four lengths from St. Ed’s cheat boat chasing us, and were on for an overbump on Clare. Then our bow man got the hugest crab ever, started screaming, and the oar went under the boat, wedged, and the boat came to a standstill, only for us to watch Ed’s cruising along from behind to catch us after ten seconds, like some awful nightmare in slow motion
DAY 3
Disappointed by the previous day, we were keen to regain our position. Despite a solid row on our part, Eddies were able to bump FaT IV quickly and Girton in front of them also bumped out. Undeterred, we pushed on for the double over-bump on Caius III and managed to put over two lengths between Magdalene II and us, holding them off comfortably. After a strong and determined row we managed to take over four lengths off Caius but we ran out of river before we could row them down. This was a brave and warrior-like performance, however. Magdalene II had been arrogantly proclaiming their hopes for blades. They were, indeed, a strong boat who had bumped twice previously and moved up into our division. They had boasted at a dinner the night before that we would be mincemeat in their hands. Thus, the row over, denying them all the way, and making them cry, was more satisfying than a bump. We had stolen their blades from them because we were a better, fitter, and more gutsy crew.
DAY 4
Resolved to win a bump on the final day, we put in a good start and managed to close the distance on FaT IV to three-quarters of a length quite quickly. Gaining on them on first post reach, we rowed them down and WON THE BUMP -BANG- on grassy corner after a convincing performance on our part. We thus went up overall during Lent Bumps 2007. I covered myself in victorious greenery, and went on my way rejoicing.