1860: The rivalry begins

The race is gruelling and physically demanding. Only the best make the cut. Only those who prove themselves up to the challenge are selected to be part of the crew in the Australian Boat Race.

Typically, the race comprises a long-distance one-on-one race between University of Melbourne and University of Sydney eight-man rowing crews and eight-woman rowing crews. Competitors must be physically fit in order to be able to take on the 4.2 kilometre long course. Strength and endurance are also paramount.

But it is not just the physical aspect of the race that matters. In addition, this historic competition is designed to test a rivalry that has endured between the Sydney and Melbourne Universities for over 100 years, and as such the rowers bear the weight of their fellow student communities’ and teammates’ expectations, with the pride of their respective institution on the line.

Yet there are other rules regarding the selection of athletes to participate. In 2011, both the male and female teams from each university must consist of at least six full-time current students as rowers, and no more than two alumni as rowers. Another full-time current student must also be selected as coxswain. Current Youth, World and Olympic champions are able to be selected if they meet the other selection criteria, allowing each club to seek the edge that will win them this year’s historic title.

The 2011 race will feature world class rowers all aiming for the Australian Olympic team for London 2012.

They include from Melbourne James Marburg who along with Cameron McKenzie-McHarg, took silver at Beijing in 2008; Alice McNamara, a member of the crew that won the World Cup at Lucerne in 2010, and also winner of the Empire State Building Run Up 2011; and Kim Crow, silver medalist at the 2010 and 2011 World Championships.

In 2010, 150 years after the first race on the Yarra River, Melbourne competitors made the trek to Sydney to race one-on-one against their counterparts across Sydney Harbour. The course was 7.3 kilometres long, and this, the inaugural “Australian Boat Race”, has set the future format of a long-distance, one-on-one match between the best teams from each state. On this occasion, Sydney took out the men’s title while Melbourne was victorious in the women’s race.

This year will see the tradition continued on Melbourne’s Yarra River. The 2011 course is over 4.2 kilometres long, beginning at Victoria Dock and snaking along the iconic watercourse to conclude at the Melbourne University Boat Club’s Boathouse. Once again, the race will be run as one-on-one matches between male and female teams, with enthusiasts able to watch from the comfort of a waterfront restaurant or from any of the viewing spots lining the north and south banks of the Yarra.

A highly anticipated annual event, this historic battle for supremacy on the water between the country’s oldest rowing clubs is sure to once again draw a crowd, with the outcome certain to keep this friendly interstate competition alive.

The Australian Boat Race is now an annual stand alone event, held year about, within each of these two world cities. It is set to become a showcase event on each of the cities’ iconic watercourses.

The Australian Boat Race epitomises the long-standing rivalry between two great cities, two great states and two great universities and is the beginning of a brand new tradition.

Tradition revived

What began as a one-off opportunity to showcase the rivalry between Australia’s two oldest universities has been revived as a feature event on the annual water sport calendar, involving the University of Melbourne and its interstate counterpart, the University of Sydney. Danielle Kutchel reports.

Now run annually, the Australian Boat Race involves a one-on-one race along either the Yarra River or Sydney Harbour, between the best male and female rowing eights of each university. The first race took place in 1860 on Melbourne’s Yarra River. The University of Melbourne came away victorious, setting the stage for a continuance of the rivalry, which is now in its 151st year.

The tradition was revived in 2009 after Vice-Chancellor Professor Glynn Davis, of the University of Melbourne, and the University of Sydney’s Vice-Chancellor Dr Michael Spence, issued a call for each university to present their best male and female eight oar rowing crews for a new challenge to coincide with 150 year celebrations of both university boat clubs.

“The Universities of Melbourne and Sydney share a proud sporting history,” says Melbourne’s Professor Glyn Davis. “The first race began soon after both institutions were founded, and the annual boat race was revived in 2009 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the establishment of the Melbourne University Boat Club. In an exciting race along the Yarra, the Melbourne female and male teams triumphed.”

“In 2010 Sydney Harbour proved a spectacular setting for the second race, this time commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Sydney University Boat Club.  Once again the Melbourne University Boat Club female squad won their race, but the Sydney men secured a victory.”

“In 2011 these fine teams meet again, once more on the Yarra and once more part of a sporting tradition between two great universities.”

Looking forward to the 2011 clash on the Yarra on 30 October, Dr Spence says, “this is a wonderful event which epitomises the pride, passion and rivalry of our two great universities.

“We have some of the finest male and female rowers in Australia competing for the glory of winning and for their place in history. Our Sydney crews look forward to taking on Melbourne on their home stretch of water. May the best teams win.”

http://www.australianboatrace.com/