Students mix it for Aberdeen's version of Boat Race

BRIG O’DEE to Torry may not have quite the cachet that Mortlake to Putney enjoys, but Aberdeen’s own Boat Race is rapidly gaining fame in the world of rowing.

Today on the River Dee from 3pm, eight-strong crews plus coxes from Robert Gordon University and Aberdeen University will battle it out along a course from the noted bridge to the Aberdeen Boat Club’s head- quarters.

Aberdeen University are unbeaten in the Dee boat race now in its ninth year, but it is fast becoming recognised as Scotland’s equivalent of the traditional race on the Thames - and both events are sponsored by the local financial group, Aberdeen Asset Management.

Each year since 1996 the race has grown in popularity, reflecting a boom in rowing in the city. The numbers of adult rowing members at Aberdeen BC, the city’s largest rowing club, have more than doubled in the last six years, and it is estimated that nearly 700 local people and students row full-time or seasonally.

Aberdeen BC doubled the size of their clubhouse in 1995, and the Aberdeen Schools Rowing Association opened a new clubhouse in 2001. The city’s rowers now lay claim to the best facilities in Scotland beyond the Scottish Rowing Academy at Strathclyde Park, which boasts an Olympic and world championship-standard, six-lane rowing course.

Aberdonian rowers have recently dominated the Scottish scene, with junior members making up half the team who represented Scotland in the home international match at Nottingham last July.

At senior level, women rowers from Aberdeen University won the lightweight coxless fours at last year’s Henley women’s regatta; two years ago, the men’s heavyweight four from Aberdeen BC became Scotland’s first crew to win an event in the 147-year history of Henley royal regatta, lifting the Wyfold Challenge Cup for coxless fours.

Today, however, the focus is on the universities’ boat race, which differs from the Thames version in that the crews consist of men and women. This year, for the first time, both captains are women.

"We are a strong and focused team, and are aiming to make this nine victories in a row," said Fiona Hunter, president of Aberdeen University Boat Club.

"On paper we are the stronger crew, but my worry is that we have not had enough time to work together as a crew. We have only had three outings, so it is really just a case of getting out on the river and rowing our best. We know it’s going to be a tough race, but we’re just hoping that our experience will bring us through."

Heather MacDonald, president of Robert Gordon University Boat Club, said: "Aberdeen may have been the better team in previous years, but we have been training hard and are confident we can bring the trophy to RGU for the first time.

"One of our crew, Emma Fisher, will be celebrating her birthday on the day of the race, so we are hoping this will give us a small advantage."