Super Blades at Lent bumps for w1!

Day 1: Queens W2

The most anticipated first day of bumps arrived and we were feeling confident, but also a little nervous. For our four crew members who hadn’t seen or raced bumps before, it was finally time for them to see what all the hype (and stress) was about. We had a nice row up and practised some rolling race starts, which gave us the much appreciated confidence boost we needed to settle before the race. Following our win in Pembroke Regatta we knew that it was within our capabilities to bump all the boats in our division. The cannon went and we had a mildly frantic start (good in the context of previous years and the nerves of the first day of bumps). We gained boat speed at the “stride” call which set us into a good rhythm. We gained on Queens quickly, and, with the final call for “legs, hips” we surged, bumping them just before First Post corner. Day one, done and dusted!

Day 2: Clare Hall W1

Following the momentum we had gained from our bump the previous day we were confident that we would be able to replicate it again. We had a calm rolling start on the row up, although the previous division had run over again so we weren’t able to do our race start on the plough. This time we had a much more relaxed start and settled into a long rhythm. Yet again, we surged at the stride call and proceeded to bump at First Post again!

Day 3: Trinity Hall W2

After an arguable unnecessary rest day - we hadn’t raced for more than 500m on either day so far! We finally had an opportunity to practise a standing start by the plough! It was a strong and calm start which fortified our confidence that we could bump again. Just before the race, Matt debriefed us that we needed to row long and its safe to say we delivered! We surged again at the final “long, hips” call and bumped Trinity Hall W2 at first post. What was supposed to be one of our hardest races proved to be beaten by our long rhythm. Spirits were high going into the final day.

Day 4: Caius W2 and LMBC W2

Our toughest opponent of the week, Caius W2, had been "bumped" by LMBC (Caius had an unfortunate incident with the bank...) the previous day, meaning we would be racing them first in Division 3. We knew this was gonna be the toughest day. Sophie Lewis-Williams, our beloved stroke seat, said en route to the boathouse “ I want a fight”. And what a fight it was. We were powerful off the start and settled into a strong rhythm around First Post and Grassy. Coming into the Plough we were on three whistles- and that is where we sat for the next 500m. We could hear the roar of the crowd and Matt’s screaming was lost in the noise. We called for “long, hips”, “legs, hips”  and Matt’s call to “stop using the rudder”, but to no avail Caius wouldn’t break. Approaching Ditton, we started to question how much energy was left in the tank. We were on the reach, the noise quietened and we finally found our rhythm together again! One last “long, hips” and the cox’s hand was up and we’d bumped. In retrospect,  it was an exciting race, at the time it could only be described as “traumatic”. We were at the top of division 3 and it was our opportunity to make it to division 2.

After some much needed refueling and resting, we rowed all the way up to the lock for our last race (it felt far after we had just been at the top of the previous div). Caius W2 had bumped LMBC earlier in the week so we knew we could catch-them. The cannon went and we were strong off the start. With technical calls implemented under the motorway bridge, we gained quickly on LMBC. It was a calm row, and after the final “long, hips” we bumped them. We had achieved superblades! We got our greenery and, of course, the flag and began to row home. Rowing as a crew of friends past the Plough, flag held high with the roar of Eddie’s supporters from the bank is a lifelong memory we’ll never forget. ​