“As big a collegiate rowing race you will find this year….”
It will be an “across the pond” men’s collegiate rowing event that will rival any in the world this season: Oxford-Brookes (2017 British National Champion and 2017 Henley Champion) vs. Washington vs. UBC. “This is as big of a collegiate rowing race you will find this year, anywhere,” stated UW men’s head coach Michael Callahan. A perennial Henley champion, Oxford-Brookes is a collegiate program that excels at a level similar to or higher than the best in the U.S. Already lighting up social media in collegiate rowing circles, the race promises to be special. “I expect it to be one for the ages,” said Callahan.
On the women’s side, the Dutch National team—an Olympic-level squad—will challenge the defending National Champion Huskies for the women’s Windermere Cup. “The level of competition Windermere brings here continues to amaze me,” said Yaz Farooq, UW women’s head coach. The Dutch team finished 6th at the 2016 Olympics, with the same A-Final finish at the 2017 Worlds. “This will be as tough a race as we will face this season, and it is right here on our home course. The entire team is looking forward to this challenge, made even better that it is in front of our hometown fans,” Yaz said.