Olympians to celebrate 10 years of the Australian Boat Race
Last year marked the in the 10-year history of the race, winning the women鈥檚 and men鈥檚 events on Melbourne鈥檚 Yarra River.
Crews from the University of Sydney and University of Melbourne will go head-to-head on a 4.3 kilometre stretch of Sydney鈥檚 stunning Darling Harbour this October.
This year will mark 10 years of the Australian Boat Race where the historic rivalry between Melbourne and Sydney is put to the test.
The University of Sydney and University of Melbourne women's crews on Sydney Harbour during the 2016 Australian Boat Race.
Based on the famed Oxford and Cambridge University Boat Race, the Australian competition is an annual event featuring current and alumni rowers from Australia鈥檚 two oldest universities.
Alexander 鈥楽asha鈥� Belonogoff, University of Sydney alumnus and member of the Australian听men's quadruple sculls who took silver at the听2016 Rio Olympics, will join the men鈥檚 team.
鈥淚 always put my hand up for the Australian Boat Race because it鈥檚 rowing in its traditional form 鈥� a head race between two boats following the course of a natural waterway,鈥� he said.
鈥淭he rivalry between Sydney University Boat Club and Melbourne University Boat Club is another reason why I love this event. There鈥檚 a lot of pride on the line each time we come head to head. It鈥檚 going to be a tough and tight race.鈥�
University of Sydney student Devlin Walsh was part of the Australian Boat Race for the first time last year and said, 鈥淚t was a great experience not only rowing alongside some Olympians but also your best mates.鈥�
While Sydney has secured seven wins to Melbourne鈥檚 two in the men鈥檚 eight, Melbourne have dominated in the women鈥檚 race, winning eight to Sydney鈥檚 one.
The University of Sydney men's eight crew surge to victory in 2016.
听
A key member in four of those victories for the University of Melbourne was Doctor of Physiotherapy student Jennifer Cleary. Having graduated from a Bachelor of Science in 2015, Cleary went on to compete in the Australian听women's quadruple sculls at the听2016 Rio Olympics and is excited to be a part of the Australian Boat Race once again.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a great event to be a part of that not only showcases the sport of rowing but the talent at each University and two amazing cities,鈥� she said.
The meets began in 1860 and were revived in 2009 as part of a time trial involving both clubs along the Yarra. Following this display, University of Sydney Vice-Chancellor Dr Michael Spence and Melbourne Vice-Chancellor Professor Glyn Davis committed to continuing the annual 鈥榤atch race鈥� between each university鈥檚 rowing clubs.
鈥淭he 2018 Australian Boat Race marks the next chapter in a 150-year old rivalry between our two great universities, where technique and passion will be put to the test,鈥� said Sydney Vice-Chancellor Dr Michael Spence.
鈥淭his is an opportunity to celebrate the rowing traditions and talents of both universities with spectacular views against the backdrop of the global city of Sydney.鈥�
Full crews and captains will be posted on the Australian Boat Race website soon:
