The Boat Race: Cambridge Lightweight club will be making history
History will be made by Cambridge University Lightweight Rowing Club when they race Oxford on the Championship course on the Tideway on Saturday (March 23).
The Lightweight Boat Race has historically been part of Henley Boat Races, often the week before the televised event for the openweight event from Putney to Mortlake.
Bruce Perry, vice chairman of CULRC, said : "We are thrilled our crew will race the annual Lightweight Boat Race on the Putney to Mortlake section of the Thames.
“This is the culmination of many years of wins and also hard work to make CULRC part of the bigger picture.
“The boathouse and now the move to the Tideway are all part of the growth of Cambridge rowing.
“I would like to thank the many people behind the scenes at both universities who have supported the move from Henley to London, we look forward to a new era in lightweight rowing at Cambridge."
CULRC have been working in closer collaboration with Cambridge University Women’s Boat Club, with Robert Weber appointed chief coach to oversee both squads.
Astrid Cohnen is the dedicated lightweights’ coach, and she said: “Working on a day-to-day basis with our Cambridge lightweights is an honour.
“I believe we have been building a forceful squad, realizing every day how successful the last year has been for Cambridge lightweight rowing.
“The collaboration with our openweight women has proven to be very useful and wholesome in many ways – on and off the water.”
The women’s lightweight boat race remains part of Henley Boat Races, and will take place on Saturday, March 30, along with the alumnae race, intercollegiate men’s race and women’s lightweight reserves’ race.
Weber added: "I'm eager to see the lightweights race! They've been working very hard and I know the men are excited about racing on The Tideway.
It's been a challenge preparing for two races in different locations on different day, but the athletes have proven to be resilient and Astrid has done a great job juggling the training and logistics."
Lightweight men: Bow Peter Taylor, Teague Smith, Jonathon Markanday, Sam Armstrong, Daumantas Kavolis, Tom Roe, Jonathan Vibhishanan, stroke Michael Diggin, cox Jack Mason.
Lightweight women: Bow Laura Stewart (Pembroke), Victoria Walker (Gonville & Caius), Chiara Avancini (Newnham), Jessica Godden (Emmanuel), Catherine King (Gonville & Caius), Gemma King (St John’s), Louise Brett (Fitzwilliam), stroke Florence Alexander (Sidney Sussex), cox Dylan Whittaker (King’s).
