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Town bumps
It was relevant before the website went away...
I have a better record in town bumps than CUCBC bumps  5%
I have a worse record in town bumps than CUCBC bumps  30%
I have never raced town bumps but would like to for Black Prince  65%
Town bumps is just a poor quality version of CUCBC bumps  35%
Town bumps is a more polite version of CUCBC bumps  15%
Town what?  0%
Total: 20 members' votes
by BJ - Sun 12th Aug 2007, 10:46pm
Town bumps is a more polite version of CUCBC bumps: 0%
Evidence, if you can be bothered to read the whole thread...
by all bumps are good bumps! - Mon 13th Aug 2007, 8:03pm
CUCBC bumps: up 33 places in 33 races.
Oxford town bumps: up 6 in 5.
Cambridge town bumps: down 2 in 4 (oops).
by Erica - Mon 13th Aug 2007, 8:06pm
I have never raced town bumps but would like to for Black Prince: 67%
Would BPBC be allowed an entry? Unlike in Oxford, it's not normal for college boats to enter and I think they might be pretty strict about college crews getting their foot in the door via alumni. Am definitely keen if it can be wangled, however!
by Simon - Mon 13th Aug 2007, 10:00pm
Erica said: Would BPBC be allowed an entry?
Yeah, if we joined the CRA (who would welcome us, as we are after all based in Cambridgeshire as far as the ARA are concerned). However, it would have to be genuine BPBC - anyone who had also rowed for First and Third would fall foul of the various rules seperating town and gown rowing. Someone who had rowed for another club - e.g. ICBC - would have to be a ringer.
The bigger problem would be the early start time on a weekday!
by Erica - Tue 14th Aug 2007, 7:14pm
Simon said:
The bigger problem would be the early start time on a weekday!
The Vets got put on near the top of the women's first div last year (and then went up) - so the authorities won't necessarily make a new crew start from the bottom division. The higher the crew, the less problem with the start time.
by Simon - Tue 14th Aug 2007, 9:29pm
Erica said: The higher the crew, the less problem with the start time.
True, but I think you need to do the Time Race to get on in a higher than normal slot. Let's assume we get on as head of Div 2 (which is where I would put us in the men's races) or have some sort of disaster and get bumped in div 1 to sandwich boat. A 7:25pm Div 2 race means getting the 5:15pm train from King's Cross and then hoping the taxi queue isn't too long...

For a 5:15pm train someone working in Westminster would be looking at leaving the office at 4:40pm which might be ok if one gets in early on those days(*) - but getting in early when you've been in Cambridge the night before isn't much fun. You definitely need a week off work!

However, if people want to do this, there really is nothing stopping us other than a shed load of admin...

(*) in actual fact it's not ok for me. Frustratingly, if bumps were one week later it would be recess and I'd be able to come up for the week.