Eights Week is the biggest event in the year for keen rowers at all the 30+ colleges of Oxford University. Each is set against the others in a "bumps" racing competition to find the best college rowing team.
The races take place over four raucous days on the Isis (as the River Thames is known locally), when rowers' friends, parents and tutors head down to the river to cheer on their team. The stretch of riverside south of Christ Church Meadows is lined with the rowing houses of the colleges, where boats are stored before and after races. Each rowing house has a platform above the river where students, tutors and parents watch the races and sip endless glasses of Pimms.
Bumps racing is processional and is done in divisions of 18 boats at a time, each separated by one-and-a-half lengths. All the crews are started at the same time, usually by means of a cannon. The object is to catch and touch or "bump" the crew in front, without being bumped by the crew behind. If one crew catches the one in front and bumps, the two crews pull into the side of the river whilst the others continue until they have crossed the finish line, or have been bumped/bump themselves. Getting all the way down the course without getting bumped is termed "rowing-over".
Event details can change. Please check with the organisers that the event is happening before making travel arrangements.
