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Universities at Medway Boat Race

Students are getting ready to renew their sporting rivalry as they prepare for the third annual Universities at Medway Boat Race, and once again the event is being sponsored by The Rochester Bridge Trust.

The race – now a firm fixture in Medway’s sporting calendar – will take place on Saturday, 23 May. Student rowers from the three universities which share the campus at Chatham Maritime – Kent, Canterbury Christ Church and Greenwich – will battle it out for the right to call themselves rulers of the River Medway.

Both women’s and men’s races will take place, with rowers once more tackling a course of approximately 2.6 kilometres, between Cuxton and the Esplanade in Rochester. People can watch the races from the open area on the Rochester Esplanade near to Hathaway Court. The action starts at approximately 1pm on 23 May.

Last year the women’s crew from the University of Greenwich and Kent’s men’s crew took top honours.

The event has been organised by Universities at Medway Students’ Association (UMSA), which represents all students at the shared Medway campus. UMSA’s Activities Co-ordinator, Claire Dicker, said that Medway Boat Race day is fast becoming a popular campus tradition. “It’s a fantastic day for everyone involved and we expect the competition between the three universities to be as keen as ever,” she added. “Students have been working throughout the winter months on their fitness and rowing techniques, in readiness for the race. They’re all desperate to win, as they know how special it is to go and collect the trophies in front of the spectators.”

Student rowers are being trained by coaches at Medway Towns Rowing Club. The trophies and medals have been created by renowned Medway artist Paula Groves.

The event is being sponsored by The Rochester Bridge Trust. Rodney Chambers, Senior Warden of The Rochester Bridge Trust, said, “The Rochester Bridge Trust is proud to sponsor this year’s boat race. We hope all the people of Medway enjoy what promises to be an exciting event and an enjoyable day out.”

Information Notes:

The Rochester Bridge Trust is a charitable trust that exists to maintain the bridges and serve the local people of Medway. The Rochester Bridge Trust has served the people of Kent for centuries by providing crossings over the River Medway and more recently by also making charitable and educational grants. Regulated by the Charity Commission, the Trust must use its income “for the passage over, under, or across the River Medway,” for the “maintenance of the banks and channels of the River Medway” and for “other charitable purposes primarily in the County of Kent.”

The Trust’s wardens, who are not paid, include members of all three local Councils in the area to ensure fair representation. Since 1999 a new Charity Commission scheme has provided for twelve wardens and assistants: three nominated by the Medway Council, two by the Kent County Council, one by the Maidstone Borough Council, and six assistants drawn from the local community and appointed by the Trust.

The Medway Students’ Association (UMSA), represents all students at the shared Medway campus. For full details, visit the UMSA website.

For further information contact:

Mrs. Sue Threader, Bridge Clerk, The Rochester Bridge Trust
bridgeclerk@www.rbt.org.uk
or
Claire Dicker, UMSA’s Activities Co-ordinator
claire@umsa.org.uk

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