LUCKY PUNTERS Posh Cambridge Uni students strip off for a cheeky skinny dip on the hottest day of the year before glamming up for the annual £500-a-ticket May Ball
On the hottest day of the year, many undergraduates decided to bare all while cooling off in the city's iconic River Cam
By Richard Wheatstone
20th June 2017, 9:33 am Updated: 20th June 2017, 11:17 am
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POSH Cambridge University students stripped off for a cheeky skinny dip ahead of the prestigious Trinity May Ball.

Around 1,800 undergraduates attended the lavish event last night – for which tickets cost more than £500 a couple.

Stunned punters watched on as the students went for a pre-ball skinny dip
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Stunned punters watched on as the students went for a pre-ball skinny dip in the shallow water
Undergraduates stripped out of their formal dress on the hottest day of the year
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Undergraduates stripped out of their formal dress to dive into water better known for posh punting trips
The event took place on the hottest day of the year so far
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The event took place on the hottest day of the year so far as temperatures soared to 32C
Undergraduates were blowing off steam after sitting their end of year exams
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Undergraduates were blowing off steam after sitting their end of year exams
But on the hottest day of the year, many decided to bare all while cooling off in the city’s iconic River Cam.

Stunned punters then saw the exhibitionists climb back into their tuxedos and elegant ballgowns to attend the largest event of the Cambridge student social calendar.

Guests were treated to a five-course meal served in Trinity Great Hall, then students could tuck in to oysters, a hog roast and a chocolate fountain, while drinks were served from a floating punt on the river.

Some decided to keep their ball gowns on despite going into the river
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Some decided to keep their ball gowns on despite going into the river
Committed party-goers changed back into their clothes at the side of the river
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Committed party-goers changed back into their clothes at the side of the river
Others stood out among the crowds of around 1,800 students
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Others stood out among the crowds of around 1,800 undergraduates attending the ball
Boats on the River Cam were taken for a ride by partygoers
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Boats on the River Cam were taken for a ride by partygoers as students celebrated the end of exams
Students were later handed free bottles of water as a more low-key way of cooling off
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Students were later handed free bottles of water as a more low-key way of cooling off
They were then treated to entertainment from comedians, as well as a casino and jazz tent before sitting in punts on the historic Backs to watch the fireworks light up the skies around midnight.

Some then continued partying overnight with drunken punt rides on the River Cam and a champagne breakfast in the college gardens.

It website for the post-exam 151st Trinity Mall Ball said: “Following a triumphant 150th anniversary in 2016, the First and Third Trinity May Ball 2017 Committee have been hard at work setting up for what promises to be a night to remember.

Tickets for the posh ball cost more than £500 per couple
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Tickets for the posh ball cost more than £500 per couple and included a five-course dinner
The sold-out ball is the largest event of the Cambridge student calendar
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The sold-out ball is the largest event of the Cambridge student calendar
The historic university city saw raucous scenes as students celebrated the end of the academic year
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The historic university city saw raucous scenes as students celebrated the end of the academic year
Drinks were flowing as crowds were treated to a casino, jazz tent and oysters
GEOFF ROBINSON PHOTOGRAPHY
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Drinks were flowing as crowds were treated to a casino, jazz tent and oysters
Students queued for hours to get into the prestigious ball
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Students queued for hours to get into the prestigious ball
“With the best acts, tastiest food and a very special champagne bar this year promises to be one of the best May Balls to date.”

The first ball took place in 1866 when the First Trinity team was head of the river and it has evolved over the 20th century.

It has continued every year since, apart from 1910 when King Edward VII died and between 1939 and 1945 during the Second World War.
pounced
The lavish ball included a firework display as drinks were served from a floating punt
GEOFF ROBINSON PHOTOGRAPHY
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The lavish ball included a firework display as drinks were served from a floating punt
The event continued long into the night and even included a champagne breakfast
GEOFF ROBINSON PHOTOGRAPHY
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The event continued long into the night and even included a champagne breakfast
The Trinity May Ball is now in its 151st year and was first held in 1866
GEOFF ROBINSON PHOTOGRAPHY
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The Trinity May Ball is now in its 151st year and was first held in 1866
Some students may not have made the champagne breakfast, judging by scenes in the early morning
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Some students may not have made the champagne breakfast, judging by scenes in the early morning
Trinity College was founded in 1546 by Henry VIII and is the largest college in either Oxford or Cambridge.

Trinity May Ball is held on the first Monday of May Week, which always takes place in June after exams.