Oxford City Bumping Races
Bumps racing is a famously sensible, very safe and rational way to test athletic prowess* – but the four-day time commitment does limit practicality and accessibility. City of Oxford Rowing Club has landed on the perfect solution, and hosts a one-day bumps event open to both town and gown. It’s no limited-overs format: crews race the full-length bumps course four times in one day. Though the Oxford City event has existed for some time, this year for the first time it was raced in eights. Christian Schosland put together two competitive Isle of Ely crews, who travelled to Oxford for a brilliant day of racing on 23rd April.
Ely ‘A’ crew looking fearsome
Ely ‘B’ crew, scaring the shirts off the crew ahead
Neither Ely crew had an easy bump – it was four tough races, each one building on from the previous. M1 proved they had the speed to confidently take on any young challengers, and ended the day holding their position (after conceding one bump, two row-overs, and winning one bump). The mixed eight outdid expectations by also holding their position in men’s division 2 (again, conceding one a bump, rowing over twice, and winning one). The trust and commitment in this scratch crew – who kept pushing for a full kilometre after the first “bumps 10” call – was truly heartening. Huge credit goes to Lily Spencer (Isle of Ely RC and now Corpus Christi College BC) whose confident and calm voice carried us through. The day felt like a true squad effort, but several people have to be singled out for particular thanks. Thanks go to Christian for his relentless enthusiasm, and dedication to organising the expedition. Thanks go to Sam, Freddie, Saffron and Cathy for bank party-ing (and pole-wielding): these are crucial roles and no-one could have raced without you.
Jason Harre
