From the 11th to 15th of March, Clare Hall Boat Club raced in the annual Lent Bumps, a thrilling tradition that started in the 1820s and has become a core part of life for Cambridge students. It was a highly eventful week for both our M1 and W1 crews, presenting an opportunity to get used to the unique style of bumps racing and set a strong foundation for the May Bumps. Read more about the week through the eyes of our Women’s Captains, Isabel Conze and Annabelle Schmidt, and our Men’s Captain, Cory Aitchison.

The women’s side started this year’s Lent Bumps nestled between Clare’s and Downing’s W2. As most of the crew heard the bumps cannon for the first time in their lives, adrenaline kicked in—could we hold off Clare long enough to catch Downing?

A strong start saw us quickly gain on Downing, securing the bump just after First Post Corner.

Day 2 was our toughest—make or break for blades. Trinity Hall’s W2 caught Christ’s W2 before we could catch them, forcing us to chase Queen’s W2 for an overbump. Narrowing a four-boat-length gap in one of our most satisfying rows, we ultimately ran out of river before catching them.

Day 3 brought one of the fastest bumps on the women’s side—just 42 strokes to take Christ’s W2!

On the final day, we were out for revenge, determined to prove we could catch Queen’s W2 after Day 2’s near miss. They put up a fight, but we got them just after The Plough, ending our campaign on a high and setting the stage for an incredible Boat Club Dinner.

We are so proud of everyone in this year’s Clare Hall Boat Club women’s squad. Whether racing or training, every member is putting in an incredible amount of time and effort, improving with every outing and erg. Not only are we getting stronger, but we’re also growing together as one big crew—building team spirit, friendships, and making every moment on the river even more enjoyable!

-Isabel Conze and Annabelle Schmidt, CHBC Women’s Captains 2024/25

M1’s Lent Bumps campaign went off to a flying start, with a strong showing from the rowers and great steering from our cox leading to a decisive bump against Selwyn M2! On day two, Selwyn came back with a taste for vengeance. As we pushed to chase down Lucy Cavendish M1, Selwyn quickly closed the gap between us and regained their position in the table. The beautiful weather nevertheless helped keep our spirits high as we set our sights on a third rematch on day three. A rematch, which, initially, seemed near-perfect. A beautiful start—our best this year—soon saw us flying down the river, gaining on Selwyn while leaving St Catharine’s M2 far behind us. Nearing the gut, however, we heard the marshalls calling for a stop. The race was to be restarted. Another smooth start saw us once again gaining on Selwyn, until, unfortunately, the race was called off once more and a technical row-over awarded. Our final race on Saturday was our hardest-fought yet. A rough start with the high winds meant that St Catz quickly gained, leading to a gruelling and exhilarating race as they kept within a few metres of us all the way until finally bumping us before the railway bridge. Exhausted, we knew that we had given it our all. 

I am very proud of our M1 crew for the efforts they put in during bumps and over the entire year so far. I am also extremely impressed by our M2 crew, who were a couple members shy of being able to compete in Lent bumps this year, despite a fantastic showing at the getting-on-race. Both our crews have a bright future ahead, and I am so excited to see what we can achieve in May Bumps and beyond!

-Cory Aitchison, CHBC Men’s Captain 2024/25