Where there are more crews entering the Bumps than there are places on the River, the lowest crews must compete for places in the Getting-On Race. Crews are removed from the lowest division such that there is one place available in the Bumps for every two crews competing in the Getting-On Race (up to a maximum of 17 places). Crews are timed from the upstream side of the A14 Road Bridge to the upstream side of the Railway Bridge and the fastest will qualify for places in the Bumps.

2026

The Getting-On Race for the May Bumps 2026 took place on the evening of Friday 12th June. 

The following crews raced time only:
Clare O4 10:04
Clare W4 11:24

The following open crews got on (in alphabetical order):
Christ's III
Homerton II
Jesus V
King's IV
Lucy Cavendish III
Pembroke IV
Peterhouse V
Robinson III

The following open crews did not get on (in time order):
Darwin III - 8:46
Corpus O3 - 8:49
Fitzwilliam O4 - 8:51
Queens' O4 - 8:52

The following women's crews got on (in alphabetical order):
Darwin II
Emmanuel IV
First and Third III
Girton III
Jesus V
Jesus VI
King's III
Newnham IV
Peterhouse III
Peterhouse IV
St Edmunds II

The following women's crew did not get on (in all possible orders):
Downing III