Lady Margaret Boat Club
The Lady Margaret Boat Club (often abbreviated to "LMBC", and familiarly known as "Maggie"), is the rowing club for members of St John's College, Cambridge, England.
History
LMBC was founded in 1825 by twelve members of the College. In its original rules, the Club was to "consist of eighteen contributing members, besides honorary ones", and all members had to be able to row.
The greatest influence in the 1860s and 1870s was JHD Goldie, who raised LMBC to the "Headship of the River", won the "Colquhoun Sculls", and stroked Cambridge four times. The Goldie Boathouse, used by the university crews, commemorates his services to Cambridge rowing. Another important name in LMBC history is LHK Bushe-Fox who had a long career with LMBC, becoming President of the Club in 1897. One of the greatest influences of this century was Roy Meldrum who established the "Lady Margaret" style, which he detailed in his rowing books.
The Boathouse was opened in the May term of 1901. It was extended in the 1970s, and was the first boathouse to have a workshop for the boatman. In the early 1980s, when the college began to admit women, further modifications were made upstairs to create the women's changing rooms. The boathouse was extended further in 2000 to create more indoor training space, giving its members, some of the best training facilities on the campus. A shed is now being built to house the club's fours, which are currently racked outside.
The Club's heyday was in the late 1940s and 1950s. LMBC won the "Ladies Plate" in 1949 with a new course record. In 1950, they made 4 bumps to go "Head of the Mays", and stayed "Head" for five years (this run of Headships giving the LMBC the privilege of building a weathervane on the Boathouse). In 1951, Lady Margaret won the Grand at Henley Royal Regatta and had five members of the successful Cambridge crew, which also defeated Harvard and Yale in the United States.
Between 1975 and 1981, Lady Margaret were Head of the Lent Bumps for 26 consecutive days, the longest continuous defence of the Lent Headship.
Current traditions
Members of the Club are well known for their scarlet jackets, which gave rise to the term, blazer. Members with "First May Colours" are entitled to wear trim and gold buttons on their blazer, while "First Lent" or "Second May Colours" are entitled to wear silver buttons on their blazer. [1]
In the 21st century, the Club has moved from strength to strength, in the area of drinking ability, at least. St John's has the best Hall of any in Cambridge. The Club is known for its uproarious hall swaps and boatie love-in sessions (otherwise, known as "Boatie Hall Night"), and the termly "Boat Club Dinner" (often abbreviated to "BCD") is invariably a drunken mess, as well as being the only chance for many rowers to get laid.
The club is traditionally strong in the "Lent" and "May CUCBC Bumps". The "traditional" club cry (since 2003) of "Thunder Lady Margaret!", or more succinctly "Thunder Maggie!" is used to encourage LMBC rowers, as they go for those crucial lengths down the Reach; the traditional club motto (since 1825) of "Si je puis" ("If I can") is used for more formal occasions. The boat club song, Viva laeta, has a chorus that goes as follows:
- Vive laeta, Margareta, Beatorum insulis; Si possimus, Fuerimus, Semper caput fluminis.
Sadly, no-one alive knows the tune to these beautiful lyrics (although the music is printed in the boat club's history), even though the song is sung at every BCD.
Recent Form
Lent Bumps
Men
A table showing the position of the men's 1st VIII since 1980
| Year | Finish position | 1st day | 2nd day | 3rd day | 4th Day | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Head | rowed-over head | rowed-over head | rowed-over head | rowed-over head | |
| 1981 | Head | rowed-over head | rowed-over head | rowed-over head | rowed-over head | |
| 1982 | 4th | bumped by Trinity Hall | bumped by Clare | rowed-over | bumped by Downing | |
| 1983 | 3rd | rowed-over | bumped Clare | rowed-over | rowed-over | |
| 1984 | 7th | bumped by Emmanuel | bumped by Clare | bumped by 1st & 3rd Trinity | bumped by Jesus | |
| 1985 | 8th | rowed-over | bumped by Pembroke | rowed-over | rowed-over | |
| 1986 | 8th | bumped by Caius | rowed-over | bumped Trinity Hall | rowed-over | |
| 1987 | 6th | rowed-over | bumped Clare | rowed-over | bumped Emmanuel | |
| 1988 | 3rd | bumped Jesus | rowed-over | bumped Caius | bumped 1st & 3rd Trinity | |
| 1989 | 2nd | rowed-over | bumped Downing | rowed-over | rowed-over | |
| 1990 | Head | bumped Pembroke | rowed-over head | rowed-over head | rowed-over head | |
| 1991 | 4th | rowed-over head | bumped by Trinity Hall | bumped by Downing | bumped by Jesus | |
| 1992 | 7th | bumped by Pembroke | bumped by Caius | rowed-over | bumped by 1st & 3rd Trinity | |
| 1993 | 4th | bumped 1st & 3rd Trinity | rowed-over | bumped Pembroke | bumped Caius | |
| 1994 | 2nd | bumped Jesus | bumped Trinity Hall | rowed-over | rowed-over | |
| 1995 | 5th | bumped by Trinity Hall | rowed-over | bumped by Queens' | bumped by Christ's | |
| 1996 | 7th | bumped by Caius | rowed-over | rowed-over | bumped by 1st & 3rd Trinity | |
| 1997 | 4th | rowed-over | bumped Queens' | bumped Christ's | bumped Caius | |
| 1998 | 2nd | bumped Trinity Hall | rowed-over | bumped Downing | rowed-over | |
| 1999 | 2nd | rowed-over | bumped by Caius | rowed-over | bumped 1st & 3rd Trinity | |
| 2000 | 4th | bumped by 1st & 3rd Trinity | rowed-over | rowed-over | bumped by Emmanuel | |
| 2001 | 4th | rowed-over | rowed-over | (cancelled) | (cancelled) | |
| 2002 | 2nd | rowed-over | bumped 1st & 3rd Trinity | bumped Emmanuel | rowed-over | |
| 2003 | 4th | rowed-over | bumped by 1st & 3rd Trinity | bumped by Downing | rowed-over | |
| 2004 | 6th | rowed-over | bumped by Trinity Hall | bumped by Emmanuel | rowed-over | |
| 2005 | 4th | rowed-over | bumped Trinity Hall | bumped Emmanuel | rowed-over | |
| 2006 | 5th | bumped by Jesus | rowed-over | bumped Jesus | bumped by Jesus |
Women
A table showing the position of the women's 1st VIII since 1983
| Year | Finish position | 1st day | 2nd day | 3rd day | 4th Day | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 24th | bumped Newnham III | rowed-over | bumped Selwyn II | bumped Robinson | |
| 1984 | 19th | bumped New Hall II | bumped QMABC | bumped Darwin | bumped Queens' | |
| 1985 | 15th | bumped Clare II | bumped Newnham II | bumped St. Catharine's | bumped Selwyn | |
| 1986 | 12th | bumped Christ's | bumped Sidney Sussex | rowed-over | bumped Girton | |
| 1987 | 10th | bumped New Hall | bumped 1st & 3rd Trinity | bumped by 1st & 3rd Trinity | bumped 1st & 3rd Trinity | |
| 1988 | 8th | rowed-over | rowed-over | bumped Girton | bumped Fitzwilliam | |
| 1989 | 7th | bumped Homerton | bumped Newnham | rowed-over | bumped by Trinity Hall | |
| 1990 | 3rd | bumped Trinity Hall | bumped Clare | bumped Churchill | bumped Jesus | |
| 1991 | 2nd | bumped Caius | bumped Emmanuel | rowed-over head | bumped by Emmanuel | |
| 1992 | Head | bumped Emmanuel | rowed-over head | rowed-over head | rowed-over head | |
| 1993 | Head | bumped by Emmanuel | bumped Emmanuel | rowed-over head | rowed-over head | |
| 1994 | 4th | bumped by Jesus | bumped by Emmanuel | rowed-over | bumped by Newnham | |
| 1995 | 6th | bumped by Queens' | rowed-over | rowed-over | bumped by New Hall | |
| 1996 | 5th | rowed-over | rowed-over | bumped Jesus | rowed-over | |
| 1997 | 4th | bumped New Hall | rowed-over | rowed-over | rowed-over | |
| 1998 | 7th | rowed-over | bumped by Jesus | bumped by Pembroke | bumped by Christ's | |
| 1999 | 8th | bumped by Newnham | rowed-over | rowed-over | rowed-over | |
| 2000 | 8th | bumped Christ's | rowed-over | rowed-over | bumped by Caius | |
| 2001 | 4th | overbumped Pembroke | bumped Newnham | (cancelled) | (cancelled) | |
| 2002 | 3rd | rowed-over | bumped Trinity Hall | rowed-over | rowed-over | |
| 2003 | 5th | bumped by Caius | bumped by Downing | rowed-over | rowed-over | |
| 2004 | 6th | bumped by Clare | rowed-over | rowed-over | rowed-over | |
| 2005 | 6th | rowed-over | rowed-over | rowed-over | rowed-over | |
| 2006 | 8th | bumped by 1st & 3rd Trinity | bumped by Newnham | rowed-over | rowed-over |
May Bumps
Men
A table showing the position of the men's 1st VIII since 1980
| Year | Finish position | 1st day | 2nd day | 3rd day | 4th Day | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Head | rowed-over head | rowed-over head | rowed-over head | rowed-over head | |
| 1981 | Head | rowed-over head | rowed-over head | rowed-over head | rowed-over head | |
| 1982 | 2nd | rowed-over head | bumped by Downing | rowed-over | rowed-over | |
| 1983 | Head | rowed-over | rowed-over | rowed-over | bumped Downing | |
| 1984 | 4th | bumped by Downing | rowed-over | bumped by Pembroke | bumped by Emmanuel | |
| 1985 | 4th | rowed-over | rowed-over | rowed-over | rowed-over | |
| 1986 | 4th | bumped by Caius | rowed-over | bumped Emmanuel | rowed-over | |
| 1987 | 2nd | rowed-over | rowed-over | bumped Pembroke | bumped Downing | |
| 1988 | Head | bumped Caius | rowed-over head | rowed-over head | rowed-over head | |
| 1989 | Head | rowed-over head | rowed-over head | rowed-over head | rowed-over head | |
| 1990 | 2nd | bumped by Downing | rowed-over | rowed-over | rowed-over | |
| 1991 | 4th | rowed-over | bumped by Jesus | bumped by Trinity Hall | rowed-over | |
| 1992 | 7th | rowed-over | bumped by Pembroke | bumped by 1st & 3rd Trinity | bumped by Magdalene | |
| 1993 | 4th | bumped Magdalene | bumped 1st & 3rd Trinity | bumped Pembroke | rowed-over | |
| 1994 | 4th | rowed-over | rowed-over | rowed-over | rowed-over | |
| 1995 | 4th | rowed-over | rowed-over | rowed-over | rowed-over | |
| 1996 | 5th | rowed-over | bumped by Magdalene | rowed-over | rowed-over | |
| 1997 | 9th | bumped by Caius | bumped by Queens' | bumped by 1st & 3rd Trinity | bumped by Robinson | |
| 1998 | 5th | bumped Robinson | bumped Magdalene | bumped Trinity Hall | bumped Queens' | |
| 1999 | 4th | rowed-over | bumped Downing | rowed-over | rowed-over | |
| 2000 | 6th | bumped by Emmanuel | bumped by Downing | rowed-over | rowed-over | |
| 2001 | 5th | bumped 1st & 3rd Trinity | rowed-over | rowed-over | rowed-over | |
| 2002 | 3rd | bumped Jesus | rowed-over | bumped Emmanuel | rowed-over | |
| 2003 | 6th | rowed-over | bumped by Trinity Hall | bumped by Robinson | bumped by St. Catharine's | |
| 2004 | 5th | rowed-over | rowed-over | rowed-over | bumped Robinson | |
| 2005 | 2nd | rowed-over | bumped Downing | bumped St. Catharine's | bumped Trinity Hall | |
| 2006 | 3rd | rowed-over | bumped by St. Catharine's | rowed-over | rowed-over |
Women
A table showing the position of the 1st women's IV from 1983 until 1989 and the 1st women's VIII from 1990 until the present day.
Note that a new start order was chosen for the women's May Bumps in 1990, to coincide the change from four-oared to eight-oared boats.
| Year | Finish position | 1st day | 2nd day | 3rd day | 4th Day | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 33rd | bumped Addenbrooke's | bumped Newnham IV | rowed-over | bumped Trinity Hall II | |
| 1984 | 26th | bumped Wolfson | bumped Girton III | bumped Girton II | overbumped CCAT | |
| 1985 | 23rd | bumped New Hall III | rowed-over | bumped Queens' | bumped Newnham III | |
| 1986 | 19th | bumped Downing | bumped QMABC | bumped Clare II | bumped Selwyn | |
| 1987 | 15th | bumped New Hall II | bumped Sidney Sussex | bumped Churchill II | bumped Newnham II | |
| 1988 | 18th | rowed-over | bumped by Queens' | bumped by Downing | bumped by Churchill II | |
| 1989 | 16th | bumped Churchill II | rowed-over | bumped Christ's | rowed-over | |
| 1990 | 3rd | bumped Veterinary School | bumped Jesus | rowed-over | rowed-over | |
| 1991 | Head | bumped Emmanuel | bumped Churchill | rowed-over head | rowed-over head | |
| 1992 | Head | rowed-over head | rowed-over head | rowed-over head | rowed-over head | |
| 1993 | 2nd | rowed-over head | bumped by Jesus | rowed-over | rowed-over | |
| 1994 | 4th | bumped by Newnham | bumped by Emmanuel | rowed-over | rowed-over | |
| 1995 | 5th | rowed-over | rowed-over | bumped by Pembroke | rowed-over | |
| 1996 | 9th | bumped by Clare | bumped by Trinity Hall | bumped by Churchill | bumped by Homerton | |
| 1997 | 7th | bumped Homerton | rowed-over | bumped Newnham | rowed-over | |
| 1998 | 3rd | bumped Churchill | bumped Trinity Hall | bumped Clare | bumped Jesus | |
| 1999 | 5th | rowed-over | bumped by Newnham | bumped by Caius | rowed-over | |
| 2000 | 7th | bumped by Jesus | rowed-over | rowed-over | bumped by Clare | |
| 2001 | 7th | bumped Clare | rowed-over | bumped by Trinity Hall | rowed-over | |
| 2002 | 9th | rowed-over | bumped by Downing | bumped by St. Catharine's | rowed-over | |
| 2003 | 6th | bumped Trinity Hall | bumped St. Catharine's | rowed-over | bumped Jesus | |
| 2004 | 6th | bumped by Jesus | rowed-over | bumped Downing | rowed-over | |
| 2005 | 7th | bumped Newnham | rowed-over | bumped by Clare | bumped by Girton | |
| 2006 | 10th | bumped by Trinity Hall | bumped by Newnham | bumped by Downing | rowed-over |
References
- Durack, John; Gilbert, George; Marks, Dr. John (2000). The Bumps: An Account of the Cambridge University Bumping Races 1827-1999 ISBN 0-9538475-1-9
- CUCBC (various years) - Lent and May Bumps programmes.