Waikato convincing winners of Gallagher Boat Race

by Rowing-World on 2 Sep 2006 The Waikato University Rowing team today beat Cambridge University in the Gallagher Great Boat Race.

Cambridge won the toss and elected to start on the East side of the river with Waikato on the West or City side.

Waikato started rating at 45spm about five stroke higher than the English crew and drew out to a lead of a boatlength after the first 200 metres. On the way to the first bridge at Fairfield, Waikato continued to rate a couple of strokes higher and continued to extend on Cambridge.

Halfway to Fairfield Waikato led by two boatlengths and continued to hold a higher rating

At the halfway point of the race, Waikato had extended to a four boatlength lead with their rating having dropped to 34 strokes per minute. They continued to extend on Cambridge.

As Cambridge shifted sides to the West bank, Waikato followed but the move cost them a boatlength.

Waikato responded by upping their rating to 35spm and about 1000 metres from the finish led by three to four boatlengths as the crews rowed past banks crowded with cheering spectators.

Cambridge managed to split with Waikato with the English University choosing to row on the left or eastern side with Waikato staying on the west or City side. The move paid for the English as they started erode Waikato’s lead still further.

However it was no enough and Waikato hung on for a well deserved win – their fourth of the five races held to date.