The Great Race (rowing)
Encyclopedia
The Great Race is an annual rowing
race between the men's eight from the University of Waikato
, New Zealand
and a prominent university team (or teams) from outside New Zealand. The race is held over a 4.8 kilometre stretch of the Waikato River
in Hamilton, New Zealand
and is raced upstream.
over the Waikato River course in an annual fixture, which was first held in 1989. Known then as the 'Gallagher Boathouse Eights', the event was organised by Waikato University Sport & Recreation Manager Bill Crome and received huge local support from the people of Hamilton. Waikato won the first encounter against Auckland with a crew that contained three former Olympic representatives, Nigel Atherfold, Greg Johnson and Chris White, with the rest of the crew consisting of Waikato Rowing Club oarsmen, Andy Mahon, Nik Posa and Richard Kirke, and Stephen Hatfield and Chris Spanninga from the Hamilton Rowing Club, and coxswain Russell Robson.
The race in its current (international) format was the creation of British politician Bryan Gould
, who was a former vice-chancellor of the University of Waikato and a graduate of the University of Oxford. The winners receive the right to hold the Harry Mahon
memorial trophy. Harry Mahon, who was born in New Zealand, was a highly respected rowing coach for the Cambridge rowing team and the Olympic British rowing eight. He led many crews to World Championship and Olympic Medals. Harry Mahon died of liver cancer in 2001.
The race has been organised by Olympic rower Rob Hamill
since its conception.
The first race was held on September 1, 2002 where the University of Waikato crew led from the start and won by many boat lengths over the Cambridge University crew. For the second race, held on September 7, 2003, the Oxford crew got out to an early lead of two boat lengths by the first bridge. By half way, the Waikato crew had caught up and powered home to win the race by two boat lengths.
In 2011, the tenth anniversary race, the format changed from the two boat competition of previous races, to a three boat competition. The Waikato crew beat out University of Melbourne and Cambridge University, after Cambridge was forced to row without a rudder following a collision with Waikato; the race was restarted following the collision, caused by Cambridge failing to yield to the Waikato boat.
The visiting crew is flown out to New Zealand and entertained for the period of their stay. In the past this has included accommodation and use of the world class rowing facilities at Lake Karapiro. A full itinerary is organized for the crew, which allows them to really get a taste of New Zealand and make their stay in New Zealand a truly memorable one. Past crews have commented that this has really helped strengthen team bonding as well as making the long journey to New Zealand extremely enjoyable. The race is treated very seriously by both crews and visiting coxwains and coaches are given full briefings on the complexities of the Waikato river and the race course. The event has a high profile in the Hamilton community and as such the visiting crews attract a lot of media attention.
Rowing on the river starts at 9 am with corporate crews battling for work place bragging rights. This is followed by the secondary school races, which has the top NZ school crews and girls) racing over a 3 km upstream course. The boys' race is traditionally between King's College
, Hamilton Boys' High School
and various other schools. The day culminates in the two international races - the Bryan Gould
Cup (woman) and the Harry Mahon Trophy (men) - raced over the 4.2 km Great Race course.
The event draws crowds of 20,000 + to the river banks in Hamilton and is covered by National Radio and Television. Spectator entertainment takes on a carnival atmosphere with corporate hosting, street theatre, displays, competitions and markets, and popular NZ and local music acts performing. The day before the race the two teams compete on indoor rowing machines, initially for fun, but now used to determine starting positions for the race. The Waikato River is sacred to the local Tainui Maori tribe, and a ceremonial haka (war dance) is performed on the boat ramp and a waka (traditional Maori canoe) leads off the two crews to the start line.
Previous races were against the Australian National Crew (2005), University of Melbourne (2004), NZ Women Academy Crew (2003) and a Cambridge Invitation (2002). Results for these races are not known.
Rowing (sport)
Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...
race between the men's eight from the University of Waikato
University of Waikato
The University of Waikato is located in Hamilton and Tauranga, New Zealand, and was established in 1964. It has strengths across a broad range of subject areas, particularly its degrees in Computer Science and in Management...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
and a prominent university team (or teams) from outside New Zealand. The race is held over a 4.8 kilometre stretch of the Waikato River
Waikato River
The Waikato River is the longest river in New Zealand. In the North Island, it runs for 425 kilometres from the eastern slopes of Mount Ruapehu, joining the Tongariro River system and emptying into Lake Taupo, New Zealand's largest lake. It drains Taupo at the lake's northeastern edge, creates the...
in Hamilton, New Zealand
Hamilton, New Zealand
Hamilton is the centre of New Zealand's fourth largest urban area, and Hamilton City is the country's fourth largest territorial authority. Hamilton is in the Waikato Region of the North Island, approximately south of Auckland...
and is raced upstream.
History
Previously, the University of Waikato had raced the University of AucklandUniversity of Auckland
The University of Auckland is a university located in Auckland, New Zealand. It is the largest university in the country and the highest ranked in the 2011 QS World University Rankings, having been ranked worldwide...
over the Waikato River course in an annual fixture, which was first held in 1989. Known then as the 'Gallagher Boathouse Eights', the event was organised by Waikato University Sport & Recreation Manager Bill Crome and received huge local support from the people of Hamilton. Waikato won the first encounter against Auckland with a crew that contained three former Olympic representatives, Nigel Atherfold, Greg Johnson and Chris White, with the rest of the crew consisting of Waikato Rowing Club oarsmen, Andy Mahon, Nik Posa and Richard Kirke, and Stephen Hatfield and Chris Spanninga from the Hamilton Rowing Club, and coxswain Russell Robson.
The race in its current (international) format was the creation of British politician Bryan Gould
Bryan Gould
Bryan Charles Gould, CNZM is a former United Kingdom politician. He served as a Member of Parliament from 1974–79, and again from 1983–94...
, who was a former vice-chancellor of the University of Waikato and a graduate of the University of Oxford. The winners receive the right to hold the Harry Mahon
Harry Mahon
Harry Mahon, OBE was a rowing coach. He coached international crews from New Zealand, Switzerland, South Africa and Great Britain to success at World Championships and Olympic Games...
memorial trophy. Harry Mahon, who was born in New Zealand, was a highly respected rowing coach for the Cambridge rowing team and the Olympic British rowing eight. He led many crews to World Championship and Olympic Medals. Harry Mahon died of liver cancer in 2001.
The race has been organised by Olympic rower Rob Hamill
Rob Hamill
Robert Miles Hamill, MNZM, is a New Zealand rower and political candidate. His brother was a victim of the Khmer Rouge in 1978....
since its conception.
The first race was held on September 1, 2002 where the University of Waikato crew led from the start and won by many boat lengths over the Cambridge University crew. For the second race, held on September 7, 2003, the Oxford crew got out to an early lead of two boat lengths by the first bridge. By half way, the Waikato crew had caught up and powered home to win the race by two boat lengths.
In 2011, the tenth anniversary race, the format changed from the two boat competition of previous races, to a three boat competition. The Waikato crew beat out University of Melbourne and Cambridge University, after Cambridge was forced to row without a rudder following a collision with Waikato; the race was restarted following the collision, caused by Cambridge failing to yield to the Waikato boat.
Layout
The boats used for the Great Race are custom built identical Heavyweight Men's 8+s (eights) from KIRS (Kiwi International Rowing Skiffs) in Cambridge, New Zealand, who have a reputation for building medal winning boats at World Championship and Olympic level. The nature of the river creates a highly technical course, with the current frequently switching from side to side of the river over the length of the course. This creates an advantage to the team on the side that the current is not on. The current ranges in speed from 0.64 m/s to 1.30 m/s. The slower water has the potential of slowing down a rowing boat down by 1.5 km/h over the length of the race. The race passes under four bridges along its length.The visiting crew is flown out to New Zealand and entertained for the period of their stay. In the past this has included accommodation and use of the world class rowing facilities at Lake Karapiro. A full itinerary is organized for the crew, which allows them to really get a taste of New Zealand and make their stay in New Zealand a truly memorable one. Past crews have commented that this has really helped strengthen team bonding as well as making the long journey to New Zealand extremely enjoyable. The race is treated very seriously by both crews and visiting coxwains and coaches are given full briefings on the complexities of the Waikato river and the race course. The event has a high profile in the Hamilton community and as such the visiting crews attract a lot of media attention.
Rowing on the river starts at 9 am with corporate crews battling for work place bragging rights. This is followed by the secondary school races, which has the top NZ school crews and girls) racing over a 3 km upstream course. The boys' race is traditionally between King's College
King's College, Auckland
King's College is an independent secondary school in New Zealand. It was originally a boys-only school but now also admits girls in the sixth and seventh forms . The school has strong links to the Anglican church; the Anglican Bishop of Auckland, and the Dean of Auckland are permanent members of...
, Hamilton Boys' High School
Hamilton Boys' High School
Hamilton Boys' High School is a boys' secondary school in Hamilton, New Zealand. The school was established as Hamilton High School in 1903 but was later split into separate boys' and girls' schools. The school crest features a lion, sash and star, and bears the motto "Sapiens Fortunam Fingit Sibi"...
and various other schools. The day culminates in the two international races - the Bryan Gould
Bryan Gould
Bryan Charles Gould, CNZM is a former United Kingdom politician. He served as a Member of Parliament from 1974–79, and again from 1983–94...
Cup (woman) and the Harry Mahon Trophy (men) - raced over the 4.2 km Great Race course.
The event draws crowds of 20,000 + to the river banks in Hamilton and is covered by National Radio and Television. Spectator entertainment takes on a carnival atmosphere with corporate hosting, street theatre, displays, competitions and markets, and popular NZ and local music acts performing. The day before the race the two teams compete on indoor rowing machines, initially for fun, but now used to determine starting positions for the race. The Waikato River is sacred to the local Tainui Maori tribe, and a ceremonial haka (war dance) is performed on the boat ramp and a waka (traditional Maori canoe) leads off the two crews to the start line.
Harry Mahon Trophy Results
| Year | Winner | Runner-up | Second runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | | University of Waikato University of Waikato The University of Waikato is located in Hamilton and Tauranga, New Zealand, and was established in 1964. It has strengths across a broad range of subject areas, particularly its degrees in Computer Science and in Management... |
University of Cambridge University of Cambridge The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally... |
|
| 2003 | | University of Waikato | University of Oxford University of Oxford The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096... |
|
| 2004 | | University of Cambridge | University of Waikato | |
| 2005 | | University of Waikato | University of Washington University of Washington University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University... |
|
| 2006 | | University of Waikato | University of Cambridge | |
| 2007 | | University of Waikato | Harvard University Harvard University Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country... |
|
| 2008 | | University of Cambridge | University of Waikato | |
| 2009 | | University of Waikato | University of Oxford | |
| 2010 | | University of Cambridge | University of Waikato | |
| 2011 | | University of Waikato | University of Melbourne University of Melbourne The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria... |
University of Cambridge |
Bryan Gould Cup Results
| Year | Winner | Runner-up | Second runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | | University of Melbourne University of Melbourne The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria... |
University of Waikato University of Waikato The University of Waikato is located in Hamilton and Tauranga, New Zealand, and was established in 1964. It has strengths across a broad range of subject areas, particularly its degrees in Computer Science and in Management... |
|
| 2007 | | University of Waikato | University of Melbourne | |
| 2008 | | University of Waikato | University of Sydney University of Sydney The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania... |
|
| 2009 | | University of Waikato | University of Sydney University of Sydney The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania... |
|
| 2010 | | University of Sydney | University of Waikato | |
| 2011 | | University of Waikato | University of Melbourne | University of Sydney |
Previous races were against the Australian National Crew (2005), University of Melbourne (2004), NZ Women Academy Crew (2003) and a Cambridge Invitation (2002). Results for these races are not known.