Press Releases

Back-up crews do fine job for Uni Boat Club

Release Date : 06 December 2007

The University of Reading Boat Club (RUBC) continued its outstanding start to the season by picking up four silver medals at the recent British Universities Sports Association (BUSA) Small Boats Head competition in Nottingham.

On a lovely winter's day, 135 boats took to the water. With RUBC's current and future international rowers away at a special camp preparing for the upcoming international trials, it was left to some of the club's other top rowers to help warm-up the hands of the spectators lining the banks of the River Trent.

In the Coxless Fours, the University claimed silver in both the Championship Men's Heavyweight and Lightweight divisions. The heavyweight crew finished just eight seconds behind the winners, a very strong team from Imperial College, London.

The lightweight crew ended up just 0.8 seconds behind a Durham crew containing three Great Britain Under 23 international rowers, a terrific effort. Unfortunately RUBC were held up when passing other boats, otherwise they may have claimed an unlikely victory.

In another fantastic finish, the club were second in the Men's Heavyweight Double Scull. This result was made even more special as Reading were forced to enter a crew from the lightweight division. To win silver when competing against much bigger and stronger opposition was truly a remarkable effort.

RUBC's final silver medal came courtesy of fresher Laura Lelivre in the Lightweight Women's Sculls. This was another outstanding performance from such an inexperienced race rower. The crew competing in the Women's Coxless Fours were unfortunately denied a bronze medal when a team from Durham crashed into them, the tangle costing them about 30 seconds.

"I'm extremely proud of the club's start to the season," said RUBC Director of Rowing Will Rand. "With our top rowers away, this was a real opportunity for others to gain valuable racing experience and their performances were simply astonishing. These results also earned Reading valuable BUSA points, so these athletes are a credit to the club and the University as a whole."

For information about the University of Reading Boat Club contact Will Rand, Director of Rowing on 07989 972 594 or email w.rand@reading.ac.uk

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