The May Bumps 2008 were a set of

rowing Rowing is the act of propelling a human-powered watercraft using the sweeping motions of oars to displace water and generate reactional propulsion. Rowing is functionally similar to paddling, but rowing requires oars to be mechanically atta ...

races held at

Cambridge University , mottoeng = Literal: From here, light and sacred draughts. Non literal: From this place, we gain enlightenment and precious knowledge. , established = , other_name = The Chancellor, Masters and Schola ...

from Wednesday 11 June 2008 to Saturday 14 June 2008. The event was run as a

bumps race A bumps race is a form of rowing race in which a number of boats chase each other in single file, each crew attempting to catch and ‘bump’ the boat in front without being caught by the boat behind. The form is mainly used in intercollegiat ...

and was the 117th set of races in the series of

May Bumps The May Bumps (also May Races, Mays) are a set of rowing races, held annually on the River Cam in Cambridge, England. They began in 1887 after separating from the Lent Bumps, the equivalent bumping races held at the end of February or start of M ...

which have been held annually in mid-June in this form since 1887. In 2008, a total of 171 crews took part (94 men's crews and 77 women's crews), with over 1500 participants in total.

Head of the River crews

men bumped on the first day to take the headship for the first time since 1973; the first change in men's headship since 2002. Pembroke College Cambridge Rowing Blade

women bumped on the first day to take back the headship they lost in 2007.

Highest 2nd VIIIs

were the highest men's 2nd VIII at the end of the week, holding 14th position. Jesus College Cambridge Rowing Blade

were the highest women's 2nd VIII at the end of the week at 15th position, having started 16th.

Links to races in other years

Bumps Charts

Below are the bumps charts all 6 men's and all 5 women's divisions, with the men's event on the left and women's event on the right. The bumps chart represents the progress of every crew over all four days of the racing. To follow the progress of any particular crew, simply find the crew's name on the left side of the chart and follow the line to the end-of-the-week finishing position on the right of the chart. Note that this chart may not be displayed correctly if you are using a large font size on your browser. A simple way to check is to see that the first horizontal bold line, marking the boundary between divisions, lies between positions 17 and 18. The combined Hughes Hall/ Lucy Cavendish women's crews are listed as Lucy Cavendish only.

The Getting-on Race

The Getting-on Race (GoR) allows a number of crews which did not already have a place from last year's races to compete for the right to race this year. Up to ten crews are removed from the bottom of last year's finishing order, who must then race alongside new entrants to decide which crews gain a place (with one bumps place per 3 crews competing, subject to the maximum of 10 available places). The 2008 May Bumps Getting-on Race took place on 6 June 2008.

Competing crews

Men

7 men's crews raced for 3 available spaces at the bottom of the 6th division. The following were successful and rowed in the bumps. * * * * The following were unsuccessful. * * *

Women

10 women's crews raced for 3 available spaces at the bottom of the 5th division, but subsequently 2 further places became available. The following were successful and rowed in the bumps. * * * * * The following were unsuccessful. * * * * The following did not race. * {{Camb, LM, 4

References

CUCBC - the organisation that runs the bumps

1st & 3rd Trinity Boat Club - instant results service

Cambridge University Radio (CUR1350) - live commentary, instant results, downloadable MP3s of race commentary
May Bumps results