The Great Race set to entertain
The most talked about event on New Zealand's rowing calendar is set to attract more than 20,000 spectators to the banks of the Waikato River in September. The Gallagher Great Race has been set for September 2, with the titanic clash between Cambridge and Waikato universities expected to draw the crowds.The race is expected to be more exciting than ever, with both universities having taken home the coveted Harry Mahon Memorial Trophy in past years. Cambridge is the only challenging university to have won the trophy, with a narrow victory in 2004.
Boathouse Events director Mark Ingle says the Waikato team is vying for the cup under guidance from new coach Ross Tong, who has represented New Zealand in the sport and coached junior crews.
The race will be particularly interesting as Cambridge's coach Duncan Holland is also a New Zealander, Mark says. "The Cambridge crew this year lost against Oxford after being the favourites so the race will be very exciting. Both crews will also have racers coming back from world championships."
Support from key sponsors the Gallagher Group, University of Waikato, Hamilton City Council and other Hamilton businesses make the race possible. "The commitment from these groups to the Waikato community through their partnership with the event has been outstanding and we thank them all."
The Great Race is 4.8km long and takes place between the University of Waikato Senior Men's 8 crew and an international University crew (previously Cambridge, Oxford and Washington Universities) who are invited to NZ to compete. The race is upstream, against the current. Visiting crews compete for the Harry Mahon trophy. Mahon was one of the most influential rowing coaches of the 1980s in New Zealand and the world. He died of cancer in 2001.