NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH FINANCIAL LEADER FOR OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE OARSWOMEN
The openweight women’s clubs of Cambridge and Oxford Universities have announced a new partnership with Newton Investment Management Ltd, which is part of BNY Mellon Asset Management. Newton have taken title sponsorship of the Women’s Boat Race and reserves race, and will be supporting the two clubs’ training during the summer of 2011. The substantial sponsorship is aimed at improving the standard and development of the two women’s clubs.
Newton Investment Management is led by CEO Helena Morrisey, who was named ‘Most Influential Woman in Asset Management’ last October. In November 2010 Morrissey set up the 30% Club, which aims at increasing the proportion of women in the boardrooms of the FTSE 100 to 30% within the next five years, but without using quotas.
Helena comments – “Newton Investment Management is proud to sponsor the Newton Women’s Boat Race and to support the Women’s Boat Clubs at Oxford and Cambridge. We believe that with the right support the Women’s Clubs have the potential to build sustainable high-performance programmes equal in magnitude to their male counterparts. We hope that this funding starts to make a difference to university and women’s rowing – areas that have historically been very underfunded. The Clubs and Newton share the values of performance, perspective, teamwork and consistency and we trust that this is the beginning of a long and strong partnership.”
CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY TRY TO TURN THE TIDE IN NEWTON WOMEN’S BOAT RACE
Oxford and Cambridge eights are in the final stages of preparation for the Henley Boat Races which take place on the famous Royal Regatta course in Henley-on-Thames on Sunday 27 March. All eyes will be on the blue riband event, the Newton Women’s Boat Race, just before the grand finale of the lightweight men’s race.
It has been an exciting year for both universities. Natalie Redgrave, daughter of the illustrious Sir Steve, is expected to row for the Oxford Women’s Blue Boat, while at Cambridge a change in the coaching team has produced the best results the light blues have seen in recent years.
In a further twist, the new Cambridge women’s coach, Martyn Rooney, will be up against his own son, Jon Rooney, who is an assistant coach with the Oxford University women. For once there is more than student pride at stake.
The Cambridge women have had the upper hand all season, with wins over Oxford at Fuller’s Fours Head of the River Race and the recent Henley Head. However, with 7 wins in the last decade the dark blues will be sure to fight hard.
The Newton Women’s Boat Race is part of a four-race programme which also includes Boat Races for lightweight men and lightweight women, as well as the Newton reserves race between Osiris (for Oxford) and Blondie (for Cambridge).
TUESDAY 22 MARCH – CHALLENGE AND WEIGH-IN – HENLEY-ON-THAMES
The Challenge and Weigh-In to be held at the River and Rowing Museum in Henley at 11am on Tuesday 22 March marks the first opportunity for the crews to meet face to face.
The Presidents of each crew will introduce their athletes before last year’s losing President issues a formal challenge to race.
Following the Challenge there is the opportunity for media photographs and interviews.
SUNDAY 27 MARCH – RACE DAY – HENLEY-ON-THAMES
The race programme starts at 1.15pm, to include the Newton Women’s Boat Race at 3pm, and full details are available on the event website
www.henleyboatraces.com
Facebook: Henley Boat Races
Twitter: @HenleyBoatRaces / #hbr2011
1.15pm Intercollegiate women’s race
1.30pm Intercollegiate men’s race
2.00pm Newton Women’s Reserves Race – Osiris v. Blondie
2.30pm Lightweight Women’s Boat Race – OUWLRC v. CUWBC Lightweights
3.00pm Newton Women’s Boat Race – OUWBC v. CUWBC
3.30pm Lightweight Men’s Boat Race – OULRC v. CULRC
4.30pm Trophies presented at Remenham Farm by Anna Watkins (nee Bebington), Olympic Medallist 2008 and current World Champion in the Women’s Double Sculls.
CONTACT DETAILS
For all media enquiries about the Henley Boat Races please contact:
Chiara Ferrara
Communications Officer, HBR Organising Committee
M: 07816 194126
E: hbrcomms@gmail.com
