May Bumps

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

The number of crews in each bottom division varies yearly depending on new entrants.

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

At the start, signalled by a cannon, each crew is separated by a distance of about 1+1⁄2 boat lengths (approximately 30 m or 90 ft).

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

[5] Anglia Ruskin, Christ's, Clare Hall, Corpus Christi, Darwin, Girton, Homerton, Hughes Hall, King's, Magdalene, Peterhouse, 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 for either the men's or women's events.

Four boat 'awards' are informally/formally recognised by the individual college boat clubs that take part in the Cambridge May Bumps, these accolades are awarded as follows:[citation needed] The Pegasus Cup is a Cambridge rowing prize first awarded in 2006.

It was donated by Milton Brewery and will be awarded annually to the most successful college boat club competing in the Cambridge May Bumping Races.