THE University of Pretoria (Tuks) reigned supreme with a double win in this year Rand Merchant Bank-sponsored Universities Boat Race.
For the second consecutive year the event, the biggest and most contested rowing race on the rowing calendar, was hosted by the Halyards Hotel on the East Bank of the Kowie River.
In the Men’s A final, Tuks, a race favourite and winners of the Cambridge Rudder for the previous seven years, fought to the end against a very determined Rhodes University crew. Rhodes took the silver medal last year behind Tuks and entered the water with gold in sight. But history repeated itself and while Rhodes fought rudder and blade until the last moment, Tuks retained their champion status by beating Rhodes by 10seconds.
From the start point, 6.2km up river, both Tuks and Rhodes started off strong rowing oar to oar, but Tuks proved to be too powerful for the Rhodents and pulled away, creating a gap of one boat length between the two teams. Tuks’ advantage grew until Rhodes suddenly caught up at Centenary Corner, 2km into the race.
Navigating tricky corners and avoiding river banks, the two teams kept fighting along the Kowie until Tuks regained their advantage coming into Wreck Corner in the last sprint towards the finish line.
An elated Tuks crew celebrated their win while the Rhodes crew licked their wounds while paddling into the Port Alfred small boat harbour.
The Women’s A final saw Tuks take the Isis Blade from the University of Johannesburg (UJ) team who had dominated for the last two years as the leading ladies’ crew. The women’s A Tuks crew last won the event in 2014 and were determined to take the gold this year.
The men’s race is based on the Oxford v Cambridge University race which dates back to 1829, while the women’s race on the Kowie is also based on the Thames women’s race which was founded in 1927.
Tuks men won the Cambridge Rudder which came from a boat club in Cambridge when the SA varsity men’s race started in 1980. UCT and Wits first competed on the Vaal River, but the rudder inspired the universities boat race to expand and in 1984 it moved to the Kowie.
The Isis Blade was given to the varsity regatta by an Oxford crew member when the women’s race was introduced in 1988.
At the start of the Women’s A final, 4.8km up river near Centenary Corner, Tuks took off with a vengeance and managed to put a boat’s length between the two crews after only two minutes of racing.
By the end of the race the Tuks crew had broken their previous race record by 26 seconds and took the gold.
For the ladies’ 3rd and 4th place Rhodes beat University of Cape Town (UCT) and finished the race with a time of 12:44:03.
In the Men’s 3rd and 4th place race, UCT and UJ were neck and neck rowing against each other for the bronze medal. Oars clashed 11 minutes in the race which worked in favour for UCT who managed to break away from UJ and place two boat lengths between them and the other crew. Ultimately UCT claimed the bronze medal, crossing the finish line with a three boat length advantage.
Speaking from the clock tower, finish line judges Phillip and Velda Barratt said they loved being part of the Universities Boat Race event. This year was a special year for the two judges as their granddaughter, Dina Protopappas, rowed for the Women’s A Tuks team.
Event organisers thanked local rowing stakeholders and the Halyards as well as Ndlambe Municipality for their efforts and contribution for making the Universities Boat Race possible.
Special thanks also went out to Rand Merchant Bank for their sponsorship and support for the event.
Welcome Sidyiyo, coxswain for Rhodes B team, was identified as most strategic cox for the event, Tuks ladies were identified as most improved crew and UCT as most improved men’s crew.