Cambridge Lay Down Challenges to Open Landmark Season

23rd October 2014 saw the official opening of The 2015 BNY Mellon Boat Races season.

Although training has been underway for six weeks now, the Autumn Reception hosted the challenges for the Races this April. As Oxford were victors in both The BNY Mellon Boat Race and The Newton Women’s Boat Race in 2014, it was the Cambridge Presidents Caroline Reid and Alexander Leichter who challenged Oxford on behalf of their clubs. Anastasia Chitty and Constantine Louloudis, Oxford Presidents, both accepted.

All four Presidents attended, along with a selection of the athletes who are part of the squads for The 2015 BNY Mellon Boat Race and The Newton Women’s Boat Race. This will be the first year that both Races share the same date and location, taking place on the Championship Course, the River Thames between Putney and Mortlake.

The Autumn Reception was hosted by BNY Mellon and Newton Investment Management at their London headquarters and supported by Official Race partners, Champagne Bollinger, Hackett, Hunter and JeanRichard. Guests this year included BNY Mellon Boat Races Ambassador, 2012 Olympic Champion, Anna Watkins and four-time Olympic Gold medallist Sir Matthew Pinsent.

Robert Gillespie, Chairman of The Boat Race Company Ltd, described 2015 as ‘a special year for The Boat Race’, before going on to thank the title partners BNY Mellon and Newton Investment Management ‘for helping make this possible and giving all our athletes an equal opportunity to develop and showcase their talents.’ Gillespie highlighted the re-launch of theboatraces.org and welcomed the return of Crewroom as official technical kit supplier to The BNY Mellon Boat Race and The Newton Women’s Boat Race.

Helena Morrissey, Chief Executive Officer at Newton Investment Management, described how when they first became involved with The Boat Races five years ago a combined event on the Tideway (now also including the Osiris Blondie Race) ‘all seemed a pipe-dream. The monumental progress achieved is testament to the hard work of a large number of people from a variety of sectors and we [BNY Mellon and Newton Investment Management] are delighted to have played our role too.’ Morrissey also announced the upcoming launch of their new campaign, Brilliant: ‘next week we will launch our new web hub Brilliant – it is a celebration of the teamwork, dedication, skill and hard work that makes The BNY Mellon Boat Races one of the most extraordinary sporting contests in the world.’

The BNY Mellon Boat Race and The Newton Women’s Boat Race will take place on Saturday 11th April 2015 at 5.50pm and 4.50pm respectively.