Crews for the women’s and men’s Blue boats of Cambridge University Boat Club (CUBC) can return to training on the water on Sunday 7 March under the strict Covid guidelines for elite sport agreed with the UK government, British Rowing has ruled.
A limited number of women and men may now train only for The Boat Race as a number of athletes are already included in British Rowing’s exemption for Elite Development Pathway programmes announced on 5 February 2021, British Rowing said on Saturday.
“CUBC athletes and coaches would like to thank everyone at British Rowing, the University and our partner organisations for the fantastic support we have received,” said CUBC women’s President Sophie Paine. Her co-President, Callum Sullivan added, “We’re grateful to be given the honour to compete in this extraordinary national sporting event.”
The Boat Race Company is continuing to plan for the Blue Boat Races to go ahead on Sunday, 4 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 Boat Race is the most watched annual rowing event in the world. The 2020 Race was one of the first major sporting events to be cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic and British Rowing is pleased to be able to support its return in 2021. The event will be covered live on television and the many millions of fans of The Boat Race are encouraged to support the race by staying away and watching it at home on the BBC.
The Boat Race is organised by The Boat Race Company Limited who took a decision in November 2020 to relocate the race to Ely in Cambridgeshire and to run the event as a closed event with no spectators. The Boat Race Company is working with all the relevant local agencies in order to ensure a safe event in accordance with Government guidelines. Allowing the crews to resume on the water training is an important step as part of that.
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Paul Casciato (M) CIPR
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Office of External Affairs and Communications,
University of Cambridge.
M. +44 (0) 7850 070926