Paul Townshend, boathouse manager and rowing coach, gives us a rundown of all the action on the river from day one of the Lent Bumps.
“A very successful first day for THBC at the 2025 edition of the Lent Bumps. No First Boats meant the way was clear for the Second Boats to shine and our crews did not disappoint.
“First was M2 with four of last term’s novices on board alongside some Bumps veterans. THBC were chasing Lucy Cavendish M1 and were looking to keep a fast-starting Selwyn M2 at bay. And that is how events unfolded with THBC pushing away from Selwyn and onto Lucy Cavendish with the first whistle being heard in The Gut (the first bend in the course), quickly followed by two whistles meaning approximately half a length stood between the two boats. This energised both crews and a titanic battle ensued with neither crew wanting to give any ground to the other. Finally, half way along The Long Reach, THBC managed to overhaul the Lucy Cavendish M1 crew leading to an incredibly hard-fought and well-deserved bump. Well rowed to both boats on a bumps classic! M2 will be aiming to chase down Peterhouse M2 tomorrow.
“Immediately after it was for W2 to attempt to hold off Downing W2 and chase down Queens W2. After a great start from THBC with five bumps debutants on board our crew began to hear whistles in their favour. Likewise, Queens W2 in front of them began getting whistles in their favour as they sought to catch Christs W2 before THBC could get to them. As the crews were in The Gut the boats behind bumped out and agonisingly so did the crews in front as Queens W2 secured their bump on Christ’s W2 just before Grassy Corner meaning THBC had a very comfortable row-over all the way to Top Finish bringing the rate down to 24 after the Railway Bridge. This crew will have learned an enormous amount on their debut and return on Wednesday to hopefully chalk up their first bump of 2025.
“A hugely positive day for THBC particularly for all of the students that had their very first experience of the wonder that is bumps!
“Thank you Mary for coming to support the crews today – we look forward to seeing you again later in the week. All four crews in action on Wednesday. Row Hall!”
“What a day! All four boats in action and absolutely brilliant performances from all.
“M2 kicked off the day again and followed up on yesterday’s bump with a hugely impressive and mature row from a relatively inexperienced crew. The crew found it’s rhythm early and maintained that throughout reeling in Peterhouse M2 just after Ditton Corner to earn their rest day tomorrow – up two for the week. Well done M2.
“Not to be outdone and following their strong row over yesterday W2 blasted out of the start and never let up on their opposition, overwhelming Christ’s W2 just after First Post Corner in a very dominant display, which was all the more impressive given it was over half the boats’ first ever bump in their first ever set of bumps, so congratulations also goes to W2! Enjoy you day off tomorrow and we look forward to seeing you back on the water on Friday. Up one for the week so far.
“M1 were next up starting 6th on the river chasing Jesus M1 and being chased by Clare M1. The often dreaded outflow did not claim another victim today and M1, with four of last term’s novices on board, got off to a good start and into their rhythm. After 20 strokes Jesus stopped moving away and THBC continued to find their bumps feet in a race that for half the crew would have felt like a world away from the pleasantries and relaxed nature of novice term and The Fairbairns. As expected the very fast Clare M1 crew began to move up onto THBC and eventually their experience and power began to take effect as they closed in effecting a clean bump on our crew after what was a very spirited row where the experience gained will be worth its weight in gold for the rest of the week as well as once we move in the Easter Term. A hearty well done to the M1 crew and back again tomorrow!
“This left just W1 to row again starting from Station 6. THBC were chasing Emmanuel W1 in 5th place and were being followed by a fast Newnham College W1 as the cannon fired for the final race of the day, the Women’s First Division. THBC got off to a good start and found their stride well as the fast starting Newnham starting to challenge from behind. It was in The Gut and around Grassy Corner that the maturity of this crew (still with two novices on board including the cox who steered a wonderful race today!) showed as they absorbed absolutely everything that Newnham had thrown at them while at the same time inching onto Emmanuel. Whistles for THBC began along Plough Reach and as the crews approached Ditton Corner THBC moved through three whistles and onto continuous whistles with an impressive turn of speed. Our cox steered a super Ditton Corner and before the crews exited the bend THBC effected a textbook bump on Emmanuel. This takes W1 up to 5th on the river and tomorrow they will lock horns with Downing W1 who rowed over today. Huge congratulations to all of W1 and we look forward to tomorrow. Up one for the week.
“A huge thanks on behalf of everyone at THBC for the support from the bank with shouts of ‘Row Hall’ being heard from alumni of all ages along the course. Also thank you to our current students and alumni that assisted in bank partying the crews today including Kate, Rosa, Charlie and Lola (not an alum yet!). The support of everyone is hugely appreciated by the crews and we look forward to giving you yet more to cheer about over the remining three days.
“Just the First Boats on Day Three – Row Hall!”
“A shorter day with just the two First Boats racing. The weather gave us a bit of everything – sun, cloud, wind, rain ad even a hailstorm just for good measure.
“Undaunted, and building on the experience gained every day, M1 produced their best row of the year and showed the progress made already this week by finding an excellent rhythm and making Emmanuel M1 work exceptionally hard for their eventual bump. Despite this, heads are still high for M1 and they are making their way further down the course with each day and starting to see the results of their sterling efforts in the relatively short time they have been together. Onto day 3 from station 8 where they will seek to chase Emmanuel and push away from Pembroke M1. Well done to all of M1 this far.
“W1 had a great race again absorbing the inevitable initial blast from Emmanuel W1 along First Post Reach and through The Gut. At that point they began pushing away and focussed on the race ahead of the where Downing W1 eventually overhauled Caius W1 approaching Ditton Corner. At this point, the race plan moved to another phase and THBC went about seeking an audacious overbump on LMBC which, if successful, would have moved THBC W1 into 2nd place on the river. A strong rhythm down the Long Reach to past the Railway Bridge meant that our crew ate significantly into the LMBC lead. Sadly for THBC as they approached the P&E it became clear that they were going to run out of river despite having closed three to four lengths since Ditton Corner. There is a reason why overbumps in the top 5 of the Bumps (Lents or Mays) is an extremely rarer occurrence. Our boat should be enormously proud of a great race full of determination that will serve them well for what is to come. Friday THBC return to station 5 and will be chasing Caius W1 with Newnham W1 behind.
“Friday means all four of our boats will be racing and looking to really power on into the final two days of this year’s Lent Bumps.”
“Another amazing day at the river with all four crews racing and superb performances all round!
“As usual, M2 led the charge eventually (and frustratingly) being given a technical row-over after two crashes and a restart involving other crews in their division. However, the crew will be back for the final day tomorrow determined to finish the week up three after their superb bumps earlier in the week.
“W2 continued where they left off on Wednesday and found a fantastic rhythm closing on Queen’s W2 with every stroke from the cannon. Their longest race of the week perhaps, in bumping Queens in the spin zone on The Long Reach when their bow ball was past the five-seat of their opposition, but probably their most satisfying and an illustration of just how far this crew has come with it’s five Bumps debutants on board. Up two for the week and the crews sights are set on more for Saturday. Well done W2!
“M1 yet again raced their best race of the week and once again showed just how much has been learned in such a short time for four of the crew in their very first set of bumps. In a heroic effort they held Pembroke M1 to well past Grassy Corner and were mere metres away from allowing a fast St Catharine’s M1 to bump Pembroke and grant THBC a reprieve. Despite this, M1 should be enormously proud of themselves as we are all of them. They are a credit to themselves, the club and their College for how they are focussing on lessons learned for future bumps encounters and for pushing themselves as hard as they are doing each day. Well done M1 and onto Saturday!
“The finale of what was a wonderful day came from W1. In a reversal of fortunes from the first day when Newnham W1 closed on them quickly from the start, today THBC blasted off the start pulling out around one length at First Post Corner. This had the effect of being on whistles on the Caius W1 boat in front while still in the first minute of the race. More whistles into The Gut and all going to plan. A slight hiccup at the entry to Grassy Corner allowed Newnham to close the gap we had created but it is a measure of the crew that within five strokes they were back together and hunting down Caius W1 again starting on two whistles with Newnham now the same distance behind. There were three W1s line astern along The Plough Reach but as time went on THBC inched back onto Caius and on three whistles by The Plough with Newnham on three whistles chasing. A final push and an incredibly tight line from the THBC cox made the difference. THBC pulled out quarter of a length from Newnham, who could do no more, and with a final wind they bumped Caius five strokes later for one of the tightest and most deserved bumps of the week. All so impressive and testament to the tenacity and ‘never give up’ attitude of this crew. Up two for the week and W1 move to 4th on the river which I think is now the highest THBC W1 have been in the Lent Bumps for 24 years since 2001! I think I am right in saying that two of this crew were not born until 2006! What an achievement and one more day to go! W1 chase Downing W1 tomorrow for a chance to finish an amazing week in the top 3 of the Lents!”
