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A head race for eights and fours on the "bumps" courseNext Race June 2027
Important links and information:
Important links and information:
Entry form 2026 - The race will be held on the second Saturday before May Bumps (entries open until race day) - Saturday 6 June 2026
We proudly host the annual X-Press Head Race, a highly anticipated event in the Cambridge rowing calendar! Held one week before the CUCBC May Bumps, our head race gives crews a valuable last opportunity to race over the full bumps course:
2,100 meters from upstream of A14 (chain three) to the Pike & Eel.
Medals for category winners and best line around Grassy Corner.
Champagne prize for the winners of the John Dent Trophy.
College, Town, Masters and Junior categories (College and Town split by bumps divisions).
Crews have the option to make a standing start from around the A14 bridge, with the start line and timing starting from chain three.
Entry fee £88 for eights; £44 for fours and quads.
Contact us for enquiries: xpresshead@xpressbc.org.uk
John Dent Trophy
John Dent Trophy
A club which enters at least one Men’s and one Women’s crew will be eligible to compete for the John Dent Trophy, awarded to the club with the best two-boat combined time.
Previous winners:
2018 Caius
2019 Caius
2021 Lady Margaret
2022 Wolfson
2023 Peterhouse
2024 Peterhouse
2025 Caius
2026 St Catherine's
Race report 2026 & links to photos
Race report 2026 & links to photos
This year's X-Press Head Race delivered some excellent racing, along with weather that couldn't quite decide what it wanted to do.
St Catherine's won the overall event with the best combined open and ladies time - winning by 38 seconds.
There were wild scenes when Queens' M3 were awarded the best line around Grassy Corner prize.
Some winning competitors were invited to do a jumping medal acceptance photo, with Masters E and over rowers politely excluded on insurance grounds.
This rower has finally won a medal at the X-Press Head Race. When interviewed he said that he was "literally chuffed to bits".
Links to event photos:
The Plough/Reach both divisions
A huge thank you to all the volunteers, marshals, timers, photographers, and supporters who helped make the X-Press Head Race possible. See you next year.
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