The Harry Mahon Cup
The Men’s crew compete for the Harry Mahon Cup. This cup is named after rowing coach Harry Mahon OBE (1942-2001) one of New Zealand’s best rowing coaches. Born in Wanganui, rowing was in his blood and throughout his life he developed strong links to both New Zealand and British rowing.
After graduating in geography from Victoria University in Wellington, Mahon began teaching at Melville High School in Hamilton and joined the Waikato Rowing Club. His success as a rowing coach led him to coach the New Zealand national team eight to two world victories in 1982 and 1983.
Described as inspirational, Mahon coached crews from Switzerland, South Africa and Great Britain to victory at World Championships and Olympic Games. With Mahon as coach, the University of Cambridge won repeatedly from 1993 to 1999 and again in 2001 in the Boat Race between Oxford and Cambridge.
Despite being diagnosed with liver cancer in 1997, Mahon continued to coach for another four years and ran the London marathon twice. He died in 2001 aged 59.
For more information on Mahon’s contribution visit these websites:
- Harry Mahon in The Guardian Obituary
- Harry Mahon in The Telegraph Obituary
- Harry Mahon in The Independent Obituary
- Rowing Service Tribute
The Bryan Gould Cup
The Women's crew compete for the Bryan Gould Cup. This cup is named after the politician and previous Vice Chancellor of the University of Waikato from 1994 – 2004 when he retired. Brian Charles Gould, who was born in New Zealand, played a major role in developing the Gallagher Great Race Festival.
A former British politician, Gould served as a Member of Parliament (1974-79 and 1983-94). Prior to a career in politics, Gould was a 1962 New Zealand Rhodes Scholar at Balliol College, Oxford, England, where he completed a law degree with first-class honours. He joined the British Diplomatic Service in 1964 after which he returned to Oxford as a tutorial Fellow in Law at Worcester College.
After his service to British politics, Gould returned to New Zealand in 1994 when he became Vice-Chancellor of the University of Waikato. In 2003 he was awarded Companionship of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to education and in 2006 he was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University.
Coaches Trophies
The Gallagher Group, sponsors of the Great Race since the start in 2002, are celebrating the 10th Anniversary with two new trophies – this time for the winning crew’s coach. The Sir William Gallagher Trophy – Winning Men’s Coach and the Lady Judy Gallagher Trophy – Winning Women’s Coach are beautiful lead crystal ‘his’ and ‘hers’ trophies based on the koru shape.
For more detail and to see these great new trophies Click Here.
