The Welsh Boat Race[1] , also known as the Welsh University Boat Race and The Welsh Varsity Boat Race, is an annual rowing race in Wales between the Swansea University Rowing Club and the Cardiff University Boat Club, rowed between competing eights each spring on the River Tawe or River Taff in South Wales.
The Welsh Boat Race started in 2006 with just a senior men's and women's event and as popularity grew for the event and particularly the Swansea University Rowing Club grew in numbers (having been recently reinstated), a 'Freshers' event was added for both men and women in their first year of rowing.[2]
The race has been popular with students from both universities and parents of members, and has been held on a Wednesday, to complement the Welsh Varsity event and continued this way until 2009. However, due to increasing popularity from Alumni, parents and the general public, The Welsh Boat Race was later moved to a weekend date to enable more people to attend.
The 2010 Welsh Boat Race was held on the River Tawe, in Swansea on Saturday 24 April. The aim is to alternate the venue between the two university rivers.
Contents |
Men's race
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Women's race
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Fresher Men's race
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Fresher Women's race
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The Cardiff University RC have been established for some years. As such they have a solid club structure and boating facilities and have claimed the majority of the wins. Swansea University RC started only in 2004, and, since then, they have claimed Senior Mens wins for the past two consecutive years, although have not yet dominated the event.
The course has historically been rowed on the lower reaches of the River Taff from Penarth Road bridge to Cardiff Bay over approximately 2 kilometres. In 2010 the venue changed to the River Tawe's slightly straighter course of again approximately 2 km from the old copperworks to the Sail Bridge. The course length is restricted due to the available rivers in the South Wales region, but the training put in by both universities for the Welsh Boat Race can then be transferred to complement the start of the shorter distance regatta season.