Welcome to the rowing world’s only regular news briefing. On this page you’ll find the latest rowing news from both the UK, as well as the rest of the globe. To receive an audio briefing with these stories and more at the start of each week, sign up to Updates. If you have a story to share, contact our news desk – juniorrowingnews@gmail.com.
Domestic Rowing:
“A limited number of named athletes from Cambridge University Boat Club, Oxford University Boat Club and Oxford University Women’s Boat Club may now train only for The Boat Race…”
British Rowing Press Release
It’s Monday the 8th March, and as school-aged rowers in the UK begin to resume their standard training patterns, the easing of restrictions seems unable to come soon enough for the remainder of the population. Today is also International Women’s Day – check out our latest Instagram posts for more.
Following much speculation on Twitter, British Rowing and The Boat Race Company have confirmed in a joint statement that the Blue Boat races will go ahead as previously planned on the 4th April 2021. The Reserve races, which generally run on the same day, will be delayed until British Rowing guidance re-permits inter-club competition.
In a press release, British Rowing and The Boat Race Company announced, “This agreement allows these named athletes to train on the water at designated locations following the appropriate COVID mitigations and safeguards. As a result of this agreement, The Boat Race Company is continuing to plan for the Blue Boat Races to go head on Sunday, 4th April. The Reserve Races, which normally take place alongside, have been postponed and will take place at Ely at a later date when inter-club competition is allowed in line with British Rowing competition guidance.”
The decision has come under fire by some for promoting elitism is rowing, whilst the responsible bodies have reaffirmed that the Boat Race is one of the world’s most significant sporting events.
Fergus Mainland, Host of The End of The Island Podcast and member of the JRN Editorial Team, has been confirmed as Newcastle University Student Union’s Athletic Union Officer elect. The role will see him work with colleagues to restart sport at Newcastle. You can find out more about NUSU’s elections here.
British Rowing has launched a survey to inform its new national strategy to promote diversity and inclusion in rowing. In a release, British Rowing wrote, “British Rowing is committed to making rowing an inclusive and diverse sport that welcomes and has an offer for everyone. This commitment will be at the heart of our updated national strategy and detailed in our Committed to Inclusion plan both of which are due to be announced in the coming weeks.”
Women’s Head of the River will be delivered in a virtual format this year, with Hammersmith Bridge’s closure and ongoing covid-mitigations making a traditional race impossible. Organiser Guin Batten told British Rowing, “We want people to come together to journey down the course. Head races are the lighthouses of the training landscape. That landscape is still there for each person, and this is a chance of putting it back for the community.”
International Rowing:
“The Executive Committee has been informed of rumours about a possible change in status from “World Champion” of the World Rowing Junior and World Rowing Under 23 Championships.”
World Rowing Press Release
In the wake of the first virtual World Rowing Indoor Championships, the unique format has been hailed a success across the board. You can catch-up on everything WRICH-related in our special podcast episode.
Meanwhile, World Rowing has confirmed that World Cup III in Sabaudia will go ahead as previously suggested from the 4th to the 6th June 2021.
In an attempt to suppress rumours, World Rowing also released the following statement pertaining to rumours that certain WR events could lose their ‘Championship’ status:
“The Executive Committee has been informed of rumours about a possible change in status from “World Champion” of the World Rowing Junior and World Rowing Under 23 Championships. The Executive Committee would like it to be clear to member federations, rowers and coaches that there is absolutely no intention to change the status of these World Championship events. These two events will be evaluated approximately three months before their staging dates (12th April and 10th May) and will be confirmed when all World Rowing requirements for 2021 regattas have been have been appropriately addressed.”
This article supplements our Weekly Briefing that you can have delivered to your WhatsApp inbox at the start of each week. To find out more and sign up, head over to Updates.
If you’re hungry for more, check out any of our other pieces from The Catch, listen to our latest podcast episode, or flick through our race previews.
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Cover image by Fergus Mainland
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