The Oxford & Cambridge Rowing Foundation was set up in 1985 with a view to establishing an endowment for preparations for the Boat Race, to ensure that the race continues in its traditional format long into the future. The main aim when the Foundation was started was to make sure that the Boat Race would have sufficient funding to continue, even if a sponsor could not be found. Thankfully, that situation has not yet arisen and so the Foundation, working through its wholly owned subsidiary , The Boat Race Company Limited, has expanded from its initial remit to provide support and guidance on all aspects of the financing of the Boat Race and the Isis/Goldie race. With its behind the scenes management, the Foundation has helped to protect the traditions of the Boat Race while encouraging the use of modern training methods, equipment and professional coaching to keep the Boat Race at the forefront of rowing within the UK and elsewhere.

The Foundation is now in its 21st year, and through The Boat Race Company Limited it oversees the sponsorship and other contracts for the boat clubs of the two universities, particularly the OUBC and the CUBC. In addition, The Boat Race Company Limited manages the day-to-day running of the Boat Race and ensures that the whole event goes smoothly. The Foundation welcomes donations and legacies from the wider Boat Race membership and supervises the management of a number of investments to help to ensure that funding will always be present, even in the event that there is no main sponsor for the race.

The Foundation also plays an active role in maintaining contact with the whole Boat Race constituency. Twice a year, the Friends of the Oxford & Cambridge Boat Race newsletter is published and circulated to a substantial mailing list both in the UK and overseas. In addition, in recent years, the Foundation has produced a video of the race and circulated this to a number of societies overseas in order to maintain contact between them and the race.

There are eight trustees of the Foundation, four from the OUBC and four from the CUBC, who rotate every eight years. The current trustees are as follows:

CUBC John Kinsella (Blue ‘84) Dickie Clarke (Blue ‘72) Stephen Fowler (Blue ‘90/’92) Brad Crombie (Blue 1997/’98/’99)

OUBC Pete Bridge (Blue ‘91/’92), Chairman Paul Wright (Blue ‘77) Andrew Gordon-Brown (Blue ‘94) Robert Mason (Blue ‘75/’76/’77)

Hon Secretary Theo Brun (CUBC ‘97/’98)

Hon Treasurer Mike Williams (CUBC Blue ‘73)

For more information, if you would like to receive the most recent copy of the Friends’ newsletter or if you wish to make a donation or a legacy, please contact Julia Lindsey.