Universities prepare for an epic title race

May 10 2008 by Sam Wood, The Journal

TOMORROW’s 12th University Boat Race on the Tyne promises to be a classic. As rowers from Newcastle and Durham Universities prepare for their annual battle for supremacy, confidence in both camps is high following outstanding performances by rowers at the recent national British Universities Sports Association (BUSA) championship.

Newcastle’s senior men’s eight will be out to avenge their defeat by Durham at the national event at Strathclyde Park, when Durham were six seconds faster over the 2 km course.

The outcome of the race will have added significance for Newcastle’s senior men’s captain, Fred Gill, 22, who so far has never been on the losing side in the University Boat Race.

Fred, who only learned to row at Newcastle University, where he is studying for a degree in Politics and Economics, was in the winning freshmen’s eight in 2006, and last year rowed in the men’s senior eight race, which Newcastle narrowly won by two lengths.

He said: ‘I love rowing against Durham, especially in the University Boat Race. There is definitely a ‘David versus Goliath’ feel to the event, with Newcastle’s smaller, hungrier squad pitched against the might of Durham’s much larger club.

“The pressure is all on Durham to win comfortably, but we’ll be going all out to ensure that will not be the case.”

President of Durham University Boat Club, Rob Stark, is equally upbeat.

He said: “At Durham, we have been working hard all winter, and we are reaping the rewards of hard training, organisation and focus.

“We were incredibly successful at BUSA, and would like to follow our successes with a win on the Tyne.”

The prospect of a classic contest is good news for the event organisers and sponsors. Northumbrian Water have supported the event since it began in 1997, and are now Associate Sponsors, along with Port of Tyne.

John Cuthbert, Managing Director of Northumbrian Water, said: “This event, and the standard of rowing in the two universities, have gone from strength to strength and have really put the North East on the map.”

Keith Wilson, Managing Director at the Port of Tyne said: “As custodians of the river it is with enormous satisfaction that the port is sponsoring the University Boat Race.”

Colin Blackburn, Chairman of the Boat Race Executive Committee, said: “The University Boat Race has helped to raise the profile of both rowing and the North East.”

There are more attractions than ever this year, starting at midday, with dragon boats on the River and Quayside-based activities including a rowing machine challenge, an Army display with a climbing wall and university cheerleaders.