News

Rowers are under starter's orders!

(20 April 2005)

Durham University rowers are preparing to raise the flag on Wednesday 20 April on the countdown to the annual clash of oars on the River Tyne with their oldest established sporting rivals in the region, Newcastle University.

The ninth Northumbrian Water University Boat Race takes place on Sunday 8 May 2005, when once again, thousands of spectators are expected to turn out for the event, which is now firmly established as one of the region's top sporting competitions.

According to Boat Race tradition, Henry Pelly, President of Newcastle University Boat Club, will make the formal challenge to Durham's President, Maggie Paxton, to compete in the race.

To date, Durham have claimed the overall event trophy in each of the previous six events (bad weather forced the cancellation of the 2000 and 2003 races), and last year, they powered to victory in all four of the headline events.

While Newcastle's rowers acknowledge that they will have a tough battle on their hands to overcome Durham's supremacy, they insist that their enthusiasm is not flagging.

'Our training schedule is going very well and we're ready to give Durham a hard fight this year', said Henry. 'Our squad has been working really hard and we've got an excellent team spirit going among the rowers. We're really looking forward to the day of the race.'

Looking forward to accepting the challenge, Maggie Paxton said: 'Our form recently has been excellent, but we are definitely not complacent. We'll be going into the Boat Race on the back of a winning streak, but the Tyne is an unpredictable course, and anything could happen on the day, so we can't afford to rest on our laurels.'

Cara Hall, Northumbrian Water Communications Team Leader, will preside over the 2005 challenge. She said: 'I am really impressed with the dedication and enthusiasm of the rowers who consistently make the Northumbrian Water Boat Race a really great spectacle.

'We are very proud of our continuing association with the event. It provides an excellent opportunity for us to showcase the benefits of our investment in the River Tyne clean-up and its environment, which has been fundamental to the success of the event', she added.

Chairman of the Boat Race organising committee, Graham Rayner, said: 'Once again, the Boat Race promises to be a great sporting spectacle, as well as an entertaining family day out. It is astonishing to think that the event is now in its ninth year and, I think, it is a great testimony to the vision of our sponsors, Northumbrian Water, and Gateshead Council who do so much behind the scenes to make sure that each successive event is more exciting and successful than the last.'

ENDS

For further information, please contact Cara Hall, Northumbrian Water, on 0191 301 6720, Keith Seacroft, Durham University Public Relations Office, on 0191 334 6074, or Melanie Reed, Newcastle University Press Office, on 0191 222 5791. Operational note:

Date & time: Wednesday 20 April, 2005 12.00 noon Location: Baltic Square, Gateshead. Event: Launch of 2005 Northumbrian Water University Boat Race

Photographs of the launch will be available from North News and Pictures. Contact 0191 233 0223