Sporting success

May Bumps 2022

Only the two World Wars and the Covid pandemic have interrupted the annual cycle of bumps rowing races on the Cam since they began in 1827. So it was after a two-year gap that Clare Boat Club resumed competition in the May Bumps 2022.

Successive Boat Club captains have worked hard with Head Coach Andy Watson to maintain enthusiasm for rowing during the 2019-21 lockdowns, even if some activity was off the water. As a result, CBC were able to enter four men’s boats and four women’s boats in the Mays. This entry involved over 10% of the student members of Clare, a participation rate bettered by only four other colleges.

The long-established format of May Bumps racing sees 18 boats lined up, one-and-a-half boat lengths apart, above Baitsbite Lock. On the start cannon, boats race to overlap or bump the boat ahead and avoid being bumped by the boat behind. After a bump, the two boats swap places in the start order for the next day…. and so on for four successive days. This formula, over ten daily divisions, results in about 300 discrete contests each day, ensuring excitement for every participant, be they rower, cox, bank party or spectator.

This year’s excitement was muted only slightly by our CBC boats being bumped down (13 places) more than up (6 places). Highlights were the women’s 2nd and 3rd boats both moving up one place and particularly the men's second boat bumping up four times to win Blades and move up from the third to the second division for next year. Most importantly, the club introduced about 50 Clare students to May bumps racing this year, people who will return next year enthused to compete again in this extraordinary sporting event.

Dr Nigel Woodcock | Boat Club President and Fellow

Photo Credit: Qing Lu

Photo credit: Giorgio Divitini

College Cricket Match 2022: Staff & Fellows v. Students

Amazingly, the match wasn’t a drubbing. At times, it was even quite close. The Staff & Fellows XI still lost, of course, but it was a glorious defeat. Compared to the 2021 fixture, our batting, bowling and banter all showed considerable improvement.

I attribute much of this progress to the fact that, owing to a marvellous outpouring of interest this year, we ended up fielding 15 players, rather than the usual (legal) 11. There had been plenty of pre-match preparation, too: weekly nets sessions to hone our skills and to benefit from the wisdom of Simon ‘Silky’ Franklin and the ‘mystery’ leg-spin of Cameron Witheridge-Pearce. Plus there was special Clare stash for the occasion: 15 beautiful blue cricket caps, adorned with our new team crest. We arrived at the College ground on 23rd June, then, meaning business – and our bowlers soon set about their work with uncharacteristic accuracy. Jaideep Prabdu and Phil Ward dealt in line and length, slowing the openers’ scoring. Jay Carroll snaffled a sharp caught-and-bowled chance, and ‘Chesty’ Chesters served up an absolute jaffa to dismiss the handy Gregg. Feest, Foster and Patel were all (as the scorebook relates) ‘Deaned’ in quick succession, missing straight ones. Crafty Joe Stephen and our talismanic all-rounder Kate Hargreaves took a wicket apiece, and a delightful assortment of deliveries from Sophie King, ‘Buzza’ Burrows and ‘Corky’ Corke kept the batsmen (and fielders) guessing.

The students finished their innings on 141: eminently chaseable. Sadly, despite our extraordinarily long batting line-up, we couldn’t quite muster it. Harris and Carroll kicked things off with aggressive intent, but our middle order didn’t quite fire. Joe, Corky, Kate, Jo Costin and Andrew Friend bagged an ‘Olympic Rings’ of ducks. Chesty, Jaideep, Phil, Chris Parsons and Paula Yardy raged against the dying of the light, but alas in vain – we finished 42 runs short. As last year, we owe huge thanks to the Catering Department for a delicious tea between innings, and to John Robertson for his superb umpiring. It was an absolutely marvellous afternoon, and a wonderful College occasion. Here’s to 2023 – victory is surely in sight!

Rev'd Dr Mark Smith | Dean and Captain of the Staff and Fellows Team