Presentation Rowing Rudder, Pembroke College, Head Of The Lent Races

Presentation Rowing Rudder, Pembroke College, Head Of The Lent Races

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Cambridge University, Pembroke College, Presentation Rowing Rudder.
An original presentation trophy rudder 'Pembroke College, Head Of The Lent Races 1933' with gold calligraphy and two heraldic shields. This is the former property of R.F Dunn of Pembroke College who was their cox. The crests are of Pembroke College and Cambridge University. We also have a second rudder of Dunn's, 'Winners Of The Fairbairn Cup 1932', and would make a great companion.

The calligraphy on the rudder reads:
Pembroke 1, Head Of The Lent Races
Bow. A.D. Kingsford. 11.0,
2. H.L. Paxton. 10.5,
3. F.K. Paul. 12.3,
4. M.G. Pascalis. 12.2,
5. J.H.T. Wilson. 12.2,
6. N.J. Bradley. 14.1,
7. T.R.M. Bristow. 11.3,
Stk M.Hellyer. 11.12,
Cox. R.F. Dunn. 9.2.
Coaches R.A. ?is?et , J.R.F. Best. 1933
Bumped Jesus 1

Any crew which records four consecutive bumps is said to have 'gained their oars'. The prize being a full-size oar decorated with the names of the full crew in gold lettering on the college colours for each rower. The cox is given a decorated rudder and the coach receives a decorated wooden shield with a mock-up of the bow end of a boat.

Both Oxford and Cambridge Universities host two university bumps races yearly, each lasting several days. The races are for eights (i.e. eight rowers and a cox), each representing one of the university's various colleges. One of the races is held in early spring and the other in early summer, in Oxford they are called 'Torpids' in the spring and 'Eights' in the summer, in Cambridge these are called 'Lent Bumps' and 'May Bumps'. The leading crews of the Lent Bumps go on to race the leading Oxford Torpids crews at the Henley Boat Races around Easter.

The first attested bumps race took place in Oxford in 1815 and was between two eights from Brasenose College and Jesus College. Twelve years later Lent Bumps racing commenced at Cambridge University. As the Isis and Cam are long narrow rivers, not ideal for normal side by side racing, Bumps racing evolved. The competing crews line up bow-to-stern in order, one behind the other with gaps of about 1½ boat lengths between them. The start of the race commences with the firing of a cannon, the idea to progress up their division by attempting to catch and Bump (touch) the boat in front whilst simultaneously trying not to be Bumped by the boat behind. The ultimate aim becoming top of the first division and "Head Of The River". When a bump has taken place both of the crews involved in the Bump pull over to the river bank and take no further part in that race, allowing the rest of the division to pass. The only difference is in Torpids where the crew whose boat was Bumped has to continue racing (and is liable to be bumped again). It is possible to "over bump", if the 2 crews involved in the Bump have pulled over and the crew behind them manage to catch the boat that was in front of them, this is an "over bump".

Dimensions:

Height 30 cm / 12"
Width 49 cm / 19 12"
Depth 34 cm / 13 12"
Period

1900-1949

Year

1933

Medium

Wood

Country

England

Condition

Rudder in good condition, calligraphy and crests in good condition. Slight wear to writing on the bottom and small damage to front edge (see photos) and some shrinkage cracks.

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