Lent Bumps

Prior to the separation there had been a single set of annual bumps dating from its inception in 1827.

Unlike the May Bumps, rowers trialling for places in university crews are not allowed to take part in the Lents.

The ultimate aim is to try to finish Head of the River (also said as gaining the 'Headship'), i.e. first position in Division 1.

At the start, signalled by a cannon, each crew is separated by a distance of about 1½ boat lengths (approximately 30 m or 90 ft).

The process is repeated over four effective days, allowing crews to move up or down in the overall order of boats.

[1] The Lent Bumps 2001 were not completed due to an outbreak of Foot and Mouth disease in the UK.

The outbreak closed the towpath along the river, where all of the umpiring for the bumps takes place.

The Lent Bumps were not completed in 2001 due to an outbreak of Foot and Mouth disease in the UK.

[4] Anglia Ruskin, Clare Hall, Darwin, Homerton, Hughes Hall, King's, Lucy Cavendish, Magdalene, 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 in either the men's or women's events.