Caius Boat Club
Encyclopedia
Caius Boat Club (Caius is pronounced 'keys') is the boat club for members of Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge
.
The Club rows on the river Cam, and like the other college boat clubs its prime constitutional aim is to gain and hold the headship of the Lent Bumps
and May Bumps
, now held in eight-oared boats, separately for men and women. From its inception in 1827 as "Caius Wherry Club" the club has been active on the river, and became properly established by the construction of its own boat house. The Club saw some prominence in its early years, holding the headship in 1840, 1841 and 1844 (when only a singular bumps order existed, and there were no women at the university), but this was followed by a long drought. In 1987 The Men regained the Mays Headship but lost it the following year.
The Club had a golden era from 1998 to 2007, finding itself in the top echelons of college rowing on both the mens' and womens' sides. From the May Bumps 1998
until the May Bumps 2007
Caius took 19 headships, 15 of these from the men. During this period Caius took 5 consecutive Lent Headships (19 days at the top) and so claim to have earned the right to erect a clock tower on their boathouse, a popular myth on the River Cam, that may be made reality by the plans for the college's new boathouse.
After another brief period in the doldrums, the Men's crew of 2010/2011 achieved the unlikely feat of remaining unbeaten on the river Cam in eights for an entire year. This run saw them bump up 4 times to the headship of the Lent Bumps(The first time this had been achieved in either bumps since 1960, and in the Lents since before WW2), and up 2 times to the headship of the May Bumps. They also represented the Cambridge Colleges against Christ Church
, Oxford in a collegiate varsity race at the Henley Boat Races
, becoming the only Cambridge men's crew to be successful against their dark blue opponents that year. Elsewhere in the club the 1st women's VIII lie in 7th place in the Lent Bumps
and 3rd in the May Bumps
, with the 2nd men's and women's VIIIs lying in the 2nd division in both sets of races.
It is also of note that during the May bumps of 1998, the top 3 men's crews, and the top 3 women's crews all secured the awarding of "Blades" by bumping up on all available opportunities - the men's first VIII finished Head of the River.
There exists a club for members who have left the college called Gonville Boat Club. Although GBC is primarily a recreational club, it occasionally enters regattas, and sometimes races the current CBC 1st men's VIII. in 2008 a GBC crew took to the water with a total of 28 Cambridge headships between them.
Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge
Gonville and Caius College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England. The college is often referred to simply as "Caius" , after its second founder, John Keys, who fashionably latinised the spelling of his name after studying in Italy.- Outline :Gonville and...
.
The Club rows on the river Cam, and like the other college boat clubs its prime constitutional aim is to gain and hold the headship of the Lent Bumps
Lent Bumps
The Lent Bumps are a set of rowing races held annually on the River Cam in Cambridge. They began in 1887, after separating from the May Bumps, the equivalent bumping races held in mid-June. Prior to the separation there had been a single set of annual bumps dating from its inception in 1827...
and May Bumps
May Bumps
The May Bumps are a set of rowing races, held annually on the River Cam in Cambridge. They began in 1887 after separating from the Lent Bumps, the equivalent bumping races held at the end of February or start of March. Prior to the separation there had been a single set of annual bumps dating from...
, now held in eight-oared boats, separately for men and women. From its inception in 1827 as "Caius Wherry Club" the club has been active on the river, and became properly established by the construction of its own boat house. The Club saw some prominence in its early years, holding the headship in 1840, 1841 and 1844 (when only a singular bumps order existed, and there were no women at the university), but this was followed by a long drought. In 1987 The Men regained the Mays Headship but lost it the following year.
The Club had a golden era from 1998 to 2007, finding itself in the top echelons of college rowing on both the mens' and womens' sides. From the May Bumps 1998
May Bumps 1998
The May Bumps 1998 were a set of rowing races held at Cambridge University from Wednesday June 10, 1998 until Saturday June 13, 1998. The event was run as a bumps race and is one of a series of that have been held annually in mid-June since 1887. See May Bumps for the format of the races...
until the May Bumps 2007
May Bumps 2007
The May Bumps 2007 were a series of rowing races held at Cambridge University from Wednesday 13 June 2007 until Saturday 16 June 2007. The races were run as a bumps race in the series of May Bumps which have been held annually in mid-June in this form since 1887. See May Bumps for the format of the...
Caius took 19 headships, 15 of these from the men. During this period Caius took 5 consecutive Lent Headships (19 days at the top) and so claim to have earned the right to erect a clock tower on their boathouse, a popular myth on the River Cam, that may be made reality by the plans for the college's new boathouse.
After another brief period in the doldrums, the Men's crew of 2010/2011 achieved the unlikely feat of remaining unbeaten on the river Cam in eights for an entire year. This run saw them bump up 4 times to the headship of the Lent Bumps(The first time this had been achieved in either bumps since 1960, and in the Lents since before WW2), and up 2 times to the headship of the May Bumps. They also represented the Cambridge Colleges against Christ Church
Christ Church
-Churches in Australia:* Christ Church, Lavender Bay, Sydney* Christ Church, Rouse Hill, Sydney* Christ Church St Laurence, Sydney-England:* Christ Church, Alsager, Cheshire* Christ Church, Ashford, Kent* Christ Church, Bacup, Lancashire...
, Oxford in a collegiate varsity race at the Henley Boat Races
Henley Boat Races
The Henley Boat Races are a number of rowing races between the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge. Taking place on the River Thames at Henley, they are for crews that do not compete in the main University Boat Race on the 6,779m Championship Course in London:* Women's Boat Race *...
, becoming the only Cambridge men's crew to be successful against their dark blue opponents that year. Elsewhere in the club the 1st women's VIII lie in 7th place in the Lent Bumps
Lent Bumps
The Lent Bumps are a set of rowing races held annually on the River Cam in Cambridge. They began in 1887, after separating from the May Bumps, the equivalent bumping races held in mid-June. Prior to the separation there had been a single set of annual bumps dating from its inception in 1827...
and 3rd in the May Bumps
May Bumps
The May Bumps are a set of rowing races, held annually on the River Cam in Cambridge. They began in 1887 after separating from the Lent Bumps, the equivalent bumping races held at the end of February or start of March. Prior to the separation there had been a single set of annual bumps dating from...
, with the 2nd men's and women's VIIIs lying in the 2nd division in both sets of races.
It is also of note that during the May bumps of 1998, the top 3 men's crews, and the top 3 women's crews all secured the awarding of "Blades" by bumping up on all available opportunities - the men's first VIII finished Head of the River.
There exists a club for members who have left the college called Gonville Boat Club. Although GBC is primarily a recreational club, it occasionally enters regattas, and sometimes races the current CBC 1st men's VIII. in 2008 a GBC crew took to the water with a total of 28 Cambridge headships between them.
Other references
- CUCBCCambridge University Combined Boat ClubCambridge University Combined Boat Clubs is responsible for the day to day running of college rowing in Cambridge. It is also responsible for organising May and Lent bumps which are the main races of the Easter and Lent terms respectively....
(various years) - Lent and May Bumps programmes.