Race Types

Please note that if you are coming to watch races, most have restrictions on the number of people allowed to cycle (and in some cases run) along the towpath watching the crew. If you do bring your bike you may not be able to follow the crew on it. There are however parts of the towpath where you can get a good view for a reasonable length of time without having to move anywhere.

Head Races

Head races are time trials, with each boat racing against the clock. Often there will be many different catagories for different standards of crew and different boat types. The majority of these races start at about the motorway bridge and finish at either the Pike and Eel or just before the Green Dragon footbridge. There are numerous head races that KCBC will take part in during the year, including the Men's and Women's Head of the River on the Thames in London. These are massive events attracting about 400 crews each from all over the world.

On the Cam however head races are a little more subdued but just as keenly contested. As the races are against the clock, support is always welcome, as with no opposition to eyeball motivation has to come from somewhere! Probably the best place to watch head races is on the long reach between the railway bridge and Ditton corner. The towpath is wider at this point and allows more scope for running along. Also if there is any overtaking of the boat that started ahead in the time trial then it is likely to occur at this point.

Notable exceptions to the usual head race course are as follows. The Fairbairns Races held at the end of Michaelmas term run from Jesus Boathouse to either just before Ditton Corner (novices) or the Motorway Bridge (seniors). In addition there are two "Head to Head" races run each year, one in Lent and one in Easter term. These are double races from the Green Dragon Footbridge to the Motorway Bridge and then back (with a short break in between).

Regattas

Regattas are much like cup competitions in other sports. They are head to head (or possibly with up to 8 boats per race in the Olympics), first across the line, knockout races. Due to the width of the river it is always only 2 boats per race on the Cam. However that doesn't stop the regattas, usually KCBC will enter Clare Novice Regatta in Michaelmas and Pembroke Regatta in Lent. We have also entered races in Bedford and attempted to qualify for Henley Royal Regatta, one fo the world's most prestigious rowing events. Regattas are exciting to watch and easy to follow. The tiniest margin can separate crews as they cross the line, so your support is always welcome and often needed.

On the Cam, regattas are usually run on the stretch between Ditton Corner and the Pike and Eel, with the exception being the University small boats races. While still a knockout, these races are run in a chase format. The crews start about 100m apart and race to separate finishing posts. Whoever reaches their post first is the winner. This is a slightly odd format, but permits regatta racing over a longer distance than would otherwise be possible.

Bumps

Bumps are a type of racing perculiar to Oxford and Cambridge and arise from the desire to hold college competitions over a a long distance on a narrow river. The race format is quite complicated, and somewhat strange, but for the spectator and rower alike it provides a unique and intensely exciting experience.

Bumps is split by gender and then into divisions of 17 boats, all eights. When a division races, the boats line up in procession on the bank by the Motorway bridge, with 1.5 boatlengths between each crew. Each cox has a bung which they must hold, attached to a piece of chain set into the bank, to ensure that before the start no boat can gain an advantage by moving down the course. At the start a cannon is fired, the coxes drop the bung and the aim is to "bump" the boat in front. Bumping takes the form of physical contact between some part of the chasing boat and the boat ahead. After bumping, both crews pull into the side, and their race is over. The rest of the division races on however, the boat behind the two now pulled into the side will try and bump the boat three places ahead, an "overbump". This continues until all boats have either bumped out, or reached the finish post (which varies for the different divisions, depending on rower competance), known as "rowing over". For the following days racing (there are 4 in total) any boats that have bumped or been bumped swap places. The aim for most boats therefore (who are unable to finish totally top of the pile) is to bump on all 4 days, thus earning "blades" and the right to have a painted oar made with the names of crewmates and boats bumped. To allow for movement between divisions the top boat in each division will race as the bottom boat in the division above as well. This boat is then known as the "sandwich boat".

Due to the closeness of the racing, the need to sprint to avoid being caught and the aim of physical contact with the opposition, bumps is great for spectators. May bumps is the biggest event of the Cambridge rowing year, and draws thousands of spectators. There are even programmes printed with crew names and a blade chart to identify the boats that you are watching. So where should you watch from?

The start is generally left for the rowers, it can get a bit crowded and frantic with 150+ people involved in each division. After that people start to gather and watch from First Post Corner. Grassy Corner has grass to sit on, and a good view down two of the sections of the course where many of the bumps occur. It is a very popular spectating spot. The Plough pub has a nice beer garden that runs right up to the river, and has the bonus of serving beer, though the view is maybe not quite so good. The bank on the outside of Ditton corner is also popular, especially with alumni of the various clubs, who will often have tents or marquees for the occaision. While a lot of the action in the lower divisions will have already happened by this point on the course, it offers a good view down towards the railway bridge and the chance to see some of the action at the top of the men's and women's first divisions. If you have never been to watch bumps, then put on something purpel and come and cheer. It is one of those experiences that everyone should have at least once!