The May Bumps 2020 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 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 ...

scheduled to take place from Wednesday 10 June 2020 to Saturday 13 June 2020.CUCBC: Bumps
- Cambridge University Combined Boat Clubs (CUCBC). Retrieved 13 October 2020. The event was to be 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 would have been the 129th 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 had been held annually in mid-June since 1887. The 2020 races were due to be the first in which the women's divisions were to be held following the respective men's divisions, following a

CUCBC Cambridge University Combined Boat Clubs (CUCBC) is responsible for the day-to-day running of college rowing in Cambridge. It is also responsible for organising May and Lent bumps which are the main races of the Easter and Lent terms respectively. ...

rule change in June 2019 such that the final division should alternate between men's and women's divisions each year.CUCBC: Captains' Meeting Proposed Rule Changes June 2019
- Cambridge University Combined Boat Clubs (CUCBC). Retrieved 13 October 2020.CUCBC: Captains' Meeting Minutes June 2019
- Cambridge University Combined Boat Clubs (CUCBC). Retrieved 13 October 2020. As a result of the

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identif ...

, it was announced that the races were cancelled on 8 April 2020,"May Bumps 2020: University issue update after annual event cancelled".
Cambridge News. 30 April 2020. Retrieved 13 October 2020. and a set of virtual races were held in their place."Rowers take to the roads in first Virtual May Bumps".
Varsity. 20 June 2020. Retrieved 13 October 2020.

Cancellation

On 18 March 2020 the University of Cambridge announced that students would not return to Cambridge after the Easter vacation due to the travel restrictions imposed by the

UK government ga, Rialtas a Shoilse gd, Riaghaltas a Mhòrachd , image = HM Government logo.svg , image_size = 220px , image2 = Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (HM Government).svg , image_size2 = 180px , caption = Royal Arms , date_es ...

as a result of the worsening

."Cambridge moves to ‘red’ phase: All students told to leave unless impossible, libraries shut, Easter term to be online".
Varsity. 18 March 2020. Retrieved 13 October 2020. Although it had been widely anticipated since this announcement from the University, CUCBC issued a statement on 8 April 2020 officially cancelling the May Bumps.CUCBC: News
- Cambridge University Combined Boat Clubs (CUCBC). Retrieved 13 October 2020. This was the first time the May Bumps had been cancelled since 1940 as a result of the Second World War, although the Lent Bumps had experienced a partial cancellation as recently as

2018 File:2018 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: The 2018 Winter Olympics opening ceremony in PyeongChang, South Korea; Protests erupt following the Assassination of Jamal Khashoggi; March for Our Lives protests take place across the United ...

due to adverse weather conditions.

Virtual May Bumps 2020

The Virtual May Bumps 2020 was organised by an intercollegiate group of students independently of CUCBC, the body which usually organises university bumps races in Cambridge, and was held two weeks after the cancelled event from Wednesday 24 June 2020 to Saturday 27 June 2020. Participants recorded and submitted times taken to run 800 metres, which formed the input to a computer simulation which calculated the results of each day of racing based on the speed of each crew. The virtual nature of the competition allowed mixed, alumni and university crews to compete alongside regular student crews, and in total 35 men's crews and 35 women's crews registered to compete, as well as 27 crews in the miscellaneous division. Results were broadcast exclusively on

Cam FM Cam FM (formerly known as Cambridge University Radio and later CUR1350) is a student-run radio station at the University of Cambridge and Anglia Ruskin University. The station broadcasts on an FM frequency of 97.2 MHz and online. It curre ...

, with the men's division preceding the women's division to reflect the planned order of racing in the cancelled event."Virtual May Bumps: Can they replace the real thing?"
Varsity. 25 June 2020. Retrieved 13 October 2020.Virtual May Bumps 2020: About
Retrieved 13 October 2020. The starting order of the men's and women's divisions was based on the finishing order of the

May Bumps 2019 The May Bumps 2019 was a series of rowing races at Cambridge University from Wednesday 12 June 2019 to Saturday 15 June 2019.C ...

, with the start order of the miscellaneous division being randomised. The event saw Downing M1 claim headship of the men's division from Caius M1, while Newnham W1 retained headship of the women's division, and the Pemgibeers of Pembroke College rose from third position to claim the headship of the miscellaneous division."Virtual May Bumps: The Results"
Varsity. 2 July 2020. Retrieved 13 October 2020.Virtual May Bumps 2020: Results
Retrieved 13 October 2020. The event also raised around £6,000 for charitable causes.

Links to races in other years

References

{{reflist

2020 2020 was heavily defined by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to global Social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, social and Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, economic disruption, mass cancellations and postponements of events, COVID- ...

2020 in rowing 2020 in English sport Sports events cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Cancellation

Virtual May Bumps 2020

Links to races in other years

See also

References