Cambridge Town Bumps 10-14th July

31 July 2023

Cambridge Town Bumps 10-14th July

St. Neots Rowing Club entered three boats into the 2023 Cambridge Rowing Association Town Bumps, one women’s and two men’s boats.

There was a great mix of experienced bumps rowers and first-time racers with good weather and racing conditions throughout the week.  Although as expected, it wouldn’t be Bumps if there wasn’t a little drama.

As a result of the success of previous years’ W1 boats, the Women’s 8 started in 7th position in Division 1, directly under the A14 bridge and the closest station to the start cannon. Tuesday allowed the Women’s boats to get their bearings and figure out how they compared to the other crews on the river. The bumps on the subsequent evenings came as a result of a mixture of faster crews starting behind the high 7th position and some challenging pile up situations on the river ahead. However, the reaction and drive from the women’s boat in response to some fast crews chasing them was a positive reflection of their rowing and increasing cohesion as a crew.

M1 started 4th in div 2; two calm evenings of row overs with clear water between them and the chasing crews started their week of racing.  Day two and three delivered the most excitement with big pushes from the start in an attempt to chase down the crew from Xpress in front.  Before getting bumped around Grassy corner on the third evening of racing they caught up to half a length, but the bump eluded the top boat of St. Neots men for the second year running.

M2 started 4th in div 3 and for the majority of the boat this was their first Bumps experience. The first of the three crews to row each night, the eight rowers covered the most kilometres across their four days with some tense row overs which required the crew to dig deep across the 2.6 km course – starting from night one. The only one of the St Neots crews to bump and wear some gorgeous willow crowns; M2 bumped on their penultimate night of racing.

Bumps week was held together by fabulous coxing from Mia Hartwell and Matthew Wigmore; both coxes keeping cool under the pressure of the cannons and the chaotic water. Further consistent support and excellent bank partying from Jacqui Round and Dominic Chapman with wider St Neots club members coming along on various nights to cheer as well as support the event on marshalling duties.

Thanks to Combined Colleges for the use of their landing stage and to CRA for another year of the most peculiar rowing event in the calendar.

 

Results

  Day 1   Day 2   Day 3   Day 4
  W1

😐

😓

😓

😓
  M1

😐

😐

😓

😐
  M2

😐

😐

😃

😐

 

Crews

W1:

  • Mia Hartwell (c)
  • Becky Dixon (s)
  • Nat Yanusauskas
  • Tash Wilson
  • Hannah Towns (Women’s vice captain)
  • Emily Usher
  • Olivia Marsh
  • Clara Zwetsloot
  • Dominie Clark (b)

M1:

  • Mia Hartwell (c)
  • Matt Wigmore
  • Brad Willies
  • Tom Hurrell
  • Dan Grimes
  • Rob Stirling (Men’s vice captain)
  • Mark Cooney
  • Cam Nuttall (b)

M2 (Pictured):

  • Matthew Wigmore (c)
  • Paul Gibson (s)
  • Aleks Putisev (Junior)
  • Ryan Keating
  • Tim Clifford
  • Ian Cunningham
  • Dean Whittington
  • Nigel Etherington
  • Liam Cullen
  • Luke Hancock
  • Brandon Durhan
  • Jason Sparrow (b)