[CUCBC Captains] Action required: Statement regarding May Bumps 2021, SBR, Captains meeting

[George Wallace]

Hi Limeng,

Thanks for the email. I’m not adding much to what will be tabled at the Captains’ meeting later this week, but please note the following points just so that you can foresee what the angle will be from the Captains:

A significant number of senior crews at boat clubs are already training as normal, in eights;
The majority of colleges have already allowed (and have indicated that they will continue to allow) students to return to Cambridge at their discretion for any reason (even though term has not yet started);
NB: Senior crews have trained in isolation every day for months, are finally now allowed to go rowing, and will not accept a cancellation of the top divisions of Bumps without bombproof reasoning (i.e. if the crews are training on the Cam already and there is no government or BR guidance preventing the racing from going ahead, we will be boating and racing as a matter of fact);
Discussions should be had around your valid safety concerns (particularly re coxing experience) and it may be sensible to restrict May Bumps 2021 to top divisions and experienced coxes only - for discussion at meetings;
Alternative events for novices and inexperienced crews should be discussed as you set out.

The captains have been putting together an information sheet setting out the number of experienced athletes they expect to have in Cambridge by the start of term. This will be shared (by the Pembroke captains I believe) ahead of the Captains’ meeting.

Cancellation of May Bumps is unprecedented in a time where student rowers are (i) training in eights in Cambridge, and (ii) allowed to race under government and national rowing guidance. It has never happened, for very good reason, and it never will. 

Whilst it may make sense to exclude novice coxes from the races this year, discussions will be had at the Captains’ meeting at the end of this week about the basis on which Bumps will proceed in 2021 for senior crews (subject to any changes to COVID-19 rules in the meantime). We look forward to hearing CUCBC’s views on the Captains’ proposals.

George


> From: Limeng Zhu <limeng at cucbc.org <mailto:limeng at cucbc.org>>
> Date: Mon, 12 Apr 2021 at 21:31
> Subject: [CUCBC Captains] Action required: Statement regarding May Bumps 2021, SBR, Captains meeting
> To: CUCBC Captains <captains at lists.cucbc.org <mailto:captains at lists.cucbc.org>>
> Cc: CUCBC Senior Committee <seniorcommittee at cucbc.org <mailto:seniorcommittee at cucbc.org>>
> 
> 
> Dear Captains,
> Some important information and action required, please bear with the long email.
> 
> Statement regarding May Bumps 2021 and SBR:
> This will be communicated to all of the rowing community in a separate email.
> 
> It is with regret that the CUCBC Committees have taken the hard decision to cancel May Bumps 2021.
> 
> We are aware that most college coxswains have had at most 4 weeks of training on the Cam over the past 12 months, and, given the recent announcement from the Vice-Chancellor that students are unlikely to be allowed to return en masse before Monday 17th May, we feel that it is not possible to safely organise the traditional May Bumps at the end of the academic year. We are also aware that some smaller clubs rely on the availability of "novice" rowers in order to field a bumps crew, and understand that most novices have also had at most 4 weeks of training so far this academic year.
> With this in mind, we would instead like to plan to hold a non-contact rowing event, to take place at the end of term. Such an event would not require a 12-outing rule and could potentially take different formats, or have different divisions, for novice and senior crews, allowing more people to safely take part.
> To gather information about the feasibility of such an event, and to gauge interest in different options, we have circulated a short survey to Captains, which we ask they complete by 2pm Thursday. Apologies for the short timescale, but this is to give us time to collate responses and formulate proposals to take to the Captains meeting this weekend.
> 
> The CUCBC Committees.
> 
> Statement regarding SBR:  
> 
> It is with regret that we have taken the difficult decision to cancel the 2021 Small Boats Regatta. With current restrictions on travel, it would not be fair to run a race with University medals where not all students have the opportunity to compete. It should be noted that non-CUCBC run races are running to which small boats can enter.
> 
> The CUCBC Committees.
> 
> Action required.
> We need your input to organise the most appropriate senior and novice replacement racing, taking into consideration restrictions on activities at least up to 21st June. We'd like to run a novice and senior race at the end of term, and will present a proposed plan at Sunday's Captains meeting for all to vote upon. 
> Please fill the below survey by Thursday 2pm at the latest, with ONE response per club. 
> https://forms.gle/Jh9fRmf3HMP2jWcS7 <https://forms.gle/Jh9fRmf3HMP2jWcS7>
> 
> We appreciate the news regarding May Bumps will be a disappointment to many; it is a major disappointment to many of us on the Committee but we must be guided on safety. Hopefully however, a revised racing schedule will be a suitable alternative and provide a more tailored experience for your novices.
> 
> Captain's Meeting:
> A preliminary agenda will include the following as major topics:
> -CUCBC Committees' proposals of alternative end-of-term racing based upon Captains' survey.
> -Proposal to remove evening hours for this Easter term only.
> 
> 
> With Kind regards,
> The CUCBC Committees
> 
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