The Great Race (rowing)
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The Great Race is an annual rowing race between the men's eight from the University of Waikato, New Zealand and the men's eight alternating each year between the University of Oxford and University of Cambridge (both of the United Kingdom). The race is held over a five kilometre stretch of the Waikato River in Hamilton, New Zealand and is raced upstream.
The race was the creation of British politician Bryan Gould, who was a former vice-chancellor of the University of Waikato and a graduate of the University of Oxford. The winners receive the right to hold the Harry Mahon memorial trophy. Harry Mahon, who was born in New Zealand, was a highly respected rowing coach for the Cambridge rowing team and the Olympic British rowing eight.
The first race was held on September 1, 2002 where the University of Waikato crew lead from the start and won by many boat lengths over the Cambridge University crew.
For the second race, held on September 7, 2003, the Oxford crew got out to an early lead of two boat lengths by the first bridge. By half way, the Waikato crew had caught up and powered home to win the race by two boat lengths.
[edit] Results
| Year | Winner | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Waikato | Cambridge |
| 2003 | Waikato | Oxford |
| 2004 | Cambridge | Waikato |
| 2005 | Waikato | University of Washington |
| 2006 | Waikato | Cambridge |
