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Students square up for boat race challenge

University students are getting ready to renew their sporting rivalry as they prepare for the second annual Universities at Medway Boat Race.

The date for the race - now an annual fixture in Medway's sporting calendar - has been set for Saturday, 3 May. Student rowers from three universities - Kent, Canterbury Christ Church and Greenwich - will battle it out for the right to call themselves heads of the river in Medway.

Following the success of last year's inaugural race, rowers will again tackle a course of approximately 2.6 kilometres, between Cuxton and the Esplanade in Rochester.

Last year the spectacular silverware, created especially for the race by Medway artist Paula Groves, was won by Kent's women's crew, who defeated their rivals at Canterbury Christ Church, and by Greenwich's men's crew, who chalked up a victory over Kent's men.

All students taking part rowed themselves into the history books as the first crews to compete in a university boat race on the River Medway, while several hundred spectators - from the public, as well as from the universities - turned out to cheer them on.

The race is being organised by Universities at Medway Students' Association (UMSA), which represents all students at the shared campus at Chatham Maritime, while Medway Council is officially backing the event.

UMSA's Activities Co-ordinator Sophie Bruschan said the contest had caught students' imaginations. 'Students have been working throughout the winter months on their fitness and rowing techniques, in readiness for the race, and are just about to start their actual training on the water,' she said.

'The inaugural race last year was a fantastic day, and we expect the competition between the three universities to be even keener this year. The students know how special it is to go and collect the trophies in front of the crowds,' Ms Bruschan added.

Student rowers are being trained by coaches at Medway Towns Rowing Club.

Universities at Medway Students' Association is putting together a special website all about the event, which can be viewed at www.medwayboatrace.co.uk

Contact: N.J.Ellwood@kent.ac.uk

Story published at 1:13pm 10 January 2008