Paul Townshend, boathouse manager and rowing coach, gives us a rundown of all the action on the river from Lent Bumps.
Lent Bumps 2026: Roundup
Posted:
04 Mar 2026
M1 post bumps on day 2 of the Lent Bumps 2026.
Day 5 - Saturday
In the blink of an eye the 2026 Lent Bumps has been and gone! Saturday represented yet another extremely positive day for THBC, with all five qualifying crews racing for the final time in this year’s edition.
M3 showed just how much progress they had made over the week by leaving it until Saturday to have their best, and most mature, row of the campaign. An extremely good start led to a strong rhythm which proved too much for Robinson M2 in front, who fought valiantly but inevitably the THBC boat rowed their opponents down and executed a textbook bump full of control. Ending the week +3, M3 should be hugely proud of what they have achieved and should now begin training to ensure that they qualify for the May Bumps. Well rowed M3!
W2 also had a fabulous day in rowing over extremely strongly versus Clare Hall W1 as they had done on the first day. This crew made up entirely of rowers in their first year of rowing rowed an extremely disciplined race and were pushed all the way to Top Finish. Their race, while the same result, was executed in a way that illustrated the progress the crew has made over their first four days of Bumps racing. All members of the boat should take confidence and pride from what they achieved this week and again should now knuckle down to their training with the May Bumps in mind. Super week W2 – well done!
M2 had a rematch against Fitzwilliam M2 lined up having let the same crew slip away from them on the first day of this year’s Lents. Like M3 and W2, the THBC M2 crew showed the value of the lessons learned this week and rowed an extremely disciplined race and absorbed every effort that Fitzwilliam made to get away before finally reeling their opponents along the Long Reach with a superbly executed Bump. A fabulous week (+2) to add to a fabulous term for M2 and they should be encouraged by their achievements. Well rowed M2 and now it’s time to get back to training with June in mind when there are potentially many more Bumps to be had.
W1 arrived hoping to take everything they had learned from their close race with Jesus W1 on Friday into their final shot at the Headship for 2026. The THBC 1996 Women’s Headship crew were there to greet W1 at the P&E in an incredibly wholesome moment that showed the very best of Cambridge, Trinity Hall and especially THBC! At that moment the current students realised that they are part of something ‘bigger’; that they are part of the history of THBC and that they are the custodians of something that has been ongoing for 199 years.
With that, the crew set about their warm up and paddle to the start. At the cannon, the crew made their best start of the week and held Jesus W1 to station past Grassy Corner when they pushed on yet again and closed a little on their next door neighbours. Coming past The Plough, the whistles began and all along the Long Reach THBC could hear two whistles in their favour. Both crews dug incredibly deep from that point on and the gap remained at that for much of the final 750m of the race. Almost every single M1 boat were cheering for THBC, hoping to witness the Headship changing hands. Ultimately, the Jesus W1 managed to hold on with THBC only a matter of feet away from pulling off a historic achievement. Credit must go to Jesus for doing what was necessary to get to the Top Finish first and both crews (and coaches!) should be congratulated on the sportsmanship shown at the end of what was a titanic battle over the whole course. The crews will meet one another on Day One of the May Bumps as the top two crews in the top division. The fact that W1 achieved a +2 week when starting from 4th on the river should not be lost or underestimated – it is a superb achievement whether a Headship was achieved or not. The crew ended the week in the highest finishing position since 2000. An amazing effort from W1 which was five crew members different to the crew that raced in the 2025 Lent Bumps and with the crew containing five second year rowers. Hopes are high for another crack at the Lents Headship in 2027.
M1 brought the curtain down in the very best way possible by rowing away from an incredibly fast starting Magdalene M1 and chasing a fast Pembroke M1 boat. By the Plough Reach, First and Third (Trinity College) had managed to reel in Magdalene after their ‘fly and die’ race plan had expired, while Pembroke had caught Clare M1 in front. This gave THBC the opportunity to find their best rhythm of the week along the Long Reach as they committed to a having a crack at an over bump on Emmanuel M1, who had started in 5th place. The boat speed that our M1 managed to find and hold onto after a long week of racing bodes well for the Easter Term and the May Bumps and, irrespective of the fact they didn’t manage to catch Emmanuel, the crew must take enormous confidence from their term and their Lent Bumps campaign. With a third of the boat experiencing Bumps for the first time, the lessons learned will be absorbed over the coming weeks and will stand the crew in good stead when they sit on the start line in three months time. Well rowed M1 on a great week (+2). Enjoy a well deserved few days of rest and then noses back to the grindstone. You should be enormously proud.
THBC had an absolutely fabulous week with the club +8 in terms of bumps ‘for’ THBC (9) less bumps ‘against’ (1), which represents a stellar achievement from a club that was relatively inexperienced in terms of Bumps racing.
THBC ranked 3rd among all the Cambridge colleges in the Marconi Cup which ranks all colleges on their performances from all boats across the board. Again a fabulous achievement from the club and one that every single member of the club contributed to.
On so many levels, the 2026 Lent Bumps reiterated yet again just what a wonderful club THBC is. Whether that be our students that participate in the racing itself, our amazing supporters who turn up every day to encourage (in very loud voices!) our crews, our Master who regularly attends multiple days of racing every year, our alumni who come and support the current generation of THBC rowers, our students who commentate on the racing via Cam FM, our coaches and bank parties who freely give up their time, and the Captains who do so much more work than I think most people reailse. A huge congratulations to absolutely everyone involved in such a successful week. In his speech at the Lents Dinner on Saturday evening, Club Captain Daniel mentioned the fact that no other Boat Club has a bad word to say about THBC (I apologise for paraphrasing your fabulous speech Daniel), which says it all.
For the last time from the Lents 2026….Row Hall!
Day 4 – Friday
Under heavy skies, four THBC boats gathered for Day Four of the 2026 Lent Bumps. The weather was not able to foil another stellar day for our Boat Club, with yet more Bumps setting up a wonderful final day of this year’s event on Saturday.
With the charging M3 boat enjoying a well-earned rest, it was left to W2 to open the day and enormous credit should go to the boat for producing their best row of the week so far when faced with most likely to be their strongest competition of the week. Our crew, comprised exclusively of first-year students, put together an aggressive, punchy row that defied their relative lack of experience, and the fight they showed in holding off St Edmund’s W1 for as long as they did will have given the crew enormous confidence to take forward into the rest of their time with THBC. For their final day, they will aim to row away from another W1 crew, this time from Clare Hall and cap off a great week of learning for many who represent the future of women’s rowing at Trinity Hall.
M2 arrived in station to be told that their opponents from Magdalene had pulled out of racing and so completed the simplest of bumps by completing 15 strokes of their start sequence, rowing past where Magdalene ought to have started and then pulling safely into the side of the river. More technical than physical bump but nonetheless sets up our crew who have enjoyed a fabulous term so far for their final day as they start from Station 5 with the M2s from Fitzwilliam, Queens’ and Clare firmly in their sights.
Next up was Round One of the THBC vs Jesus battle for the Women’s Headship in 2026. Both crews made a fabulous start with THBC holding station for much of the first 1km. Our crew began to move onto one whistle as the crews passed The Plough and the immense THBC support stationed there. A battle Royale ensued along the Long Reach with THBC inching closer as the arm wrestle between these two great crews continued with neither boat willing to concede any water to the other. Through the Railway Bridge and past the waiting M1 crews THBC closed again on Jesus just about getting to two whistles before the course ran out and Jesus held on. So close but in all honesty congratulations has to be offered to both crews who displayed the very best of Cambridge college rowing. Both crews will return again on Saturday for a final ding dong before they meet again on Day One of the May Bumps as the top two crews yet again. Fabulous effort, Hall, and well rowed to both crews.
M1 finished the day with another fabulous bump completed on Magdalene M1. That description, while factually correct, does not quite give the full picture of what actually happened or does the race between THBC and Magdalene in front and First and Third (Trinity College aka FaT) behind justice. Could THBC bump Magdalene before FaT could catch THBC? In the end, that is exactly what ensued with the bump being made by THBC on the apex of First Post Corner as the crews entered The Gut. What followed also represented the very best of College rowing in Cambridge. All three crews cleared the river incredibly efficiently and avoided possible carnage, given the three boats were effectively overlapping one another at the moment the bump was captured by THBC. Coxes should be commended on their execution and FaT congratulated on the sporting way that they accepted the result, which may have prevented them winning their blades. Three cheers have never been more appropriate for all concerned. M1 will now line up on the final day from Station 8, chasing Pembroke again.
The rain and cold could not dampen what was another fantastic day for THBC as a club in the 2026 Lent Bumps, and has set up a great finale for Saturday.
THBC currently sits 4th out of all of the University Colleges in the Marconi Cup standings, which recognizes the College with the best overall performance, often determined by the highest net change in positions across all their crews. This is an incredible result so far from our club, which as I mentioned at the beginning of the week, had so many students experiencing Bumps for the very first time.
Support on the bank on Friday was immense and we would love to see as many people down for Saturday as possible. The weather forecast is much more pleasant than it was today (I promise!).
Please do respect the rules on the towpath, including trying not to bike or run alongside the racing in order to keep everyone safe.
We are looking forward to seeing (and importantly hearing) you giving our crews the very best encouragement on the river!
One last charge…….
Row Hall!
Day 3 - Thursday
Sunny skies returned on Thursday and greeted the three crews racing with wonderful conditions in which to perform. With both second boats enjoying a rest day it was left to M3 and our First Boats to continue what has been a fabulous week so far. And that is exactly what all three boats delivered.
M3 (pictured back at THBC after racing) made their best start of the week by far and were able to take advantage of an unfortunate steering issue suffered by Sidney Sussex M3 in front of them to make the bump in double quick time. Commiserations to our opponents and congratulations to the THBC boat for keeping their heads and completing the bump in clinical fashion. Friday is a rest day for M3 so they will return for their final day of racing on Saturday where they will start from station 3 in their division and will be chasing Robinson M2. Well rowed this week so far and one more day……!
After a very strong bump of Downing yesterday, W1 arrived on station 3 with Lady Margaret W1 in their sights for their second race of this year’s Lent Bumps. LMBC had rowed over on day one and so it was all to play for. Both crews made a very quick start. However, once the crews found rhythm the THBC crew moved closer with every stroke and began whistles in The Gut. Close to bumping around Grassy Corner, the job was completed in an extremely efficient order 100m later after under 800m of rowing. A fabulous bump from our W1 has now set them up at 2nd place on the river and they will now have two days to attempt to catch Jesus W1, who have been relatively unchallenged so far this week. THBC W1 will be aiming to change that narrative on Friday and I know all will be wishing them well for a strong row!
Once again it was left to M1 to complete what had been a great day of bumps for THBC and the crew did just that with an extremely strong row over after Pembroke M1 managed to bump Magdalene M1 in front. THBC raced the majority of the course and closed on the Emmanuel M1 who had started three places ahead. The crew has had a great term so far and is maturing by the day so hopes are high on Friday as they will start from station 9 again and be chasing Magdalene M1. Fingers crossed for the crew – more of the same please!
I must remind spectators that numbers of bank parties/people on bikes or running alongside the racing is strictly enforced and numbers are very limited for good reason. Hand-held filming is also prohibited. I would ask that all of our wonderful supporters congregate to make as much noise as possible ‘en masse’ while at the same time abiding by the rules on the towpath which ultimately are there to keep everybody safe in what can be a very chaotic environment as we all know. That said, as always, THBC enjoys enormous support and goodwill from the banks. It is noticed and much appreciated more than you will know by everyone at THBC. Thank you.
Here’s to another great day for THBC at the 2026 Lents!
Row Hall!
Day 2 – Wednesday
Bump, Bump & Bump! Day two of the 2026 Lent Bumps!
After the sun and warmth of yesterday, all five THBC boats gathered under more grey skies and much cooler temperatures ready to see what the second day of the 2026 Lent Bumps would bring. We could barely have wished for more on what was a fabulous day for Trinity Hall and all involved with the Boat Club.
M3 (pictured) kicked off the day in wonderful fashion with a very controlled and well executed race to haul in Lucy Cavendish M2 before reaching First Post Corner. In doing so, five rowers experienced donning celebratory foliage for the first time. Huge congratulations to the crew for a very mature display and hopes are high for a strong end to their week on Thursday and Saturday.
W2 were next up chasing Lady Margaret W2 and it was clear for all to see just how much the crew had learned from their strong row over on day one. The crew held their nerve holding off Clare Hall W1 once again and moved up on LMBC before completing another very strong row over and reducing the stroke rate to 20 for the final 500m of the race. Thursday is a day off for the crew and they will be back on Friday with the aim of gaining more experience of bumps and further building on the huge progress made already this week.
M2 followed and were unfortunate in that the Fitzwilliam M2 crew they were chasing bumped the Magdalene M2 boat in very quick time meaning that there was a huge gap to Queens M2 in front. The focus turned towards an opportunity for an over bump on Queens and the crew stuck to their task the whole way to the Top Finish, ending up on a whistle having made up many lengths over the second half of the course. Although ultimately they fell just short of completing what would have been a very rare feat, the crew had a much improved row from the first day and will take that confidence into their rest day on Thursday. No doubt the crew will be back fully refreshed on Friday and gunning to chase down Magdalene M2 and ending their already strong week in the best possible fashion.
W1 began their 2026 Lent Bumps campaign in the strongest terms possible, starting from Station 4 in the top division. A solid start lead to a strong rhythm through The Gut and once around Grassy Corner, the THBC W1 overhauled Downing W1 before The Plough. In doing so, they moved up to 3rd on the river. This crew contains five new faces compared to last years successful W1 Lents boats and each and every member of the crew should be enormously proud of the progress they have made already this year. On Thursday THBC will be chasing Lady Margaret W1, who rowed over in 2nd place behind Jesus W1 on head station on day one.
The finale of what was a wonderful day for THBC was supplied in the finest fashion by M1, who went off the start very hard and imposed themselves on a valiant M1 crew from St Catharine’s. By Grassy Corner, THBC were beginning to hear whistles informing them of their progress. The rhythm stayed strong past The Plough and eventually Catz were overhauled just on the apex of Ditton Corner. Three of the rowers plus our fabulous cox were experiencing bumps for the very first time and to do that inside the top 10 of the top division makes the achievement of the crew all the more impressive. Well fought to our opponents from Catz and for racing with the very best sportsmanship as is always the case between our two Colleges. M1 move onto day two where they will be seeking to track down the Pembroke M1 crew who managed to escape and have a row over on the opening day.
A fantastic day for THBC and one that all crews will hope to build upon as we approach the second half of the race week. Thank you to all of our support on the bank including a large number of current students as well as TH alums who never stop giving our crews their backing. The sounds of ‘Row Hall’ once again reverberated around the River Cam and it’s enormously appreciated by everyone at the club.
Row Hall!
Day 1 - Tuesday
This year, Trinity Hall Boat Club entered a total of seven crews into the Lent Bumps. M2 and M3 (Men’s second and third boats) qualified very strongly from the Getting on Race* to join M1, W1 and W2 (Men’s fist, women’s second and third crews) into the racing week proper. Sadly for M4 and W3 they narrowly missed qualification. However, both crews rowed a fantastic race and should be enormously encouraged. They now have qualification for the May Bumps as their goal for the coming months.
Under sunny skies, the 2026 edition of the Lent Bumps began with THBC fielding a total of five boats that will row over the coming five days. What seemed like a long and very wet winter was quickly forgotten and talk of sunscreen being applied was heard around the boat bays of THBC. What a turnaround!
The First Boats (M1 and W1) rested up on the opening day meaning first up were M3 who rowed a great race to row-over very strongly after the two crews in front bumped out. Hopes of an audacious overbump were held as the crew continued to race on, making enormous inroads into the gap to Robinson M2. On this occasion the shortened finish line of the division saved Robinson and thwarted our M3 who will be back for more on day two when they will be chasing Lucy Cavendish M2. This was a great start to their campaign and a first ever bumps experience for five of the crew and one that left them hungry for more over the coming days.
Next up were W2 (pictured) with all eight rowers experiencing their first ever bumps race. After a blistering start, THBC got to one whistle on Caius W2 at First Post Corner and in doing so held the initial push from Clare Hall W1 behind them. Caius W2 managed to inch away along Plough Reach and, in easily their best row of the year so far, our W2 absorbed every push from the W1 chasing them and by the time they had reached Top Finish, THBC had pulled away and increased the gap to beyond that at the start. Caius W2 managed to bump up into Division Two as sandwich boat, meaning that on day two THBC W2 will be chasing Lady Margaret Boat Club W2. A great race from W2 and so much more to come. Well rowed!
The finale for THBC on day one was M2 (pictured) who have had a great term so far. Like the other two crews on the day, this would be the first ever bumps race for five members of this crew and station 6 meant they had a very up-close and personal first interaction with the starting cannon. Anyone that has been at a bumps start and close to the cannon will know just how unexpected the noise and the sensation is and just how much of a rite of passage it is. That done, M2 had a good race rowing strongly away from Peterhouse M2 behind them and moving onto whistles in The Gut as they chased Fitzwilliam M2 who, it has to be said, rowed a fabulous race to withhold everything THBC could throw at them. So, ultimately a strong row over for M2 and a few things to focus on for day two and the rest of the week. Well rowed Fitz M2 and the THBC M2 are already looking forward to a rematch on Wednesday!
Overall, day one was a very positive day for THBC indeed. Eighteen out of the twenty four rowers that lined up on the day were experiencing the bumps for the first time and to have three very strong row overs was a great effort from all concerned including the more experienced rowers and especially the coxes managing the crews as they found their bumping legs! Onto day two, when we will be having both First Boats join the fray with W1 starting 4th in Division One and chasing Downing W1 while M1 will line up 10th chasing St Catharine’s M1.
Lots to look forward to.
Row Hall!
*The Getting On Race is held when there are too many crews for the bumps races. Lower crews must therefore compete before the main event to qualify for the limited spaces available.