Foreign influence in Boat Race

Great Britain’s famous University Boat Race, Oxford versus Cambridge, has just announced two overseas students as opposing presidents for next year’s Boat Race.

Cambridge University Boat Club has selected American Deaglan McEachern while the Oxford University Boat Club will be headed by Dutch rower Sjoerd Hamburger. McEachern, 26, and Hamburger, 26, raced against each other in the 2009 Boat Race, when Oxford were victorious.

The 205cm Hamburger is well known on the international scene as a single sculler. He took over as top Dutch sculler in 2005, the same year that he became the under-23 World Champion. Hamburger competed at the Beijing Olympics in the single before moving to study at England’s Oxford University.

Becoming president makes Hamburger the first Dutch rower to take this position. He is also the first non-native English speaker in this role. All former presidents have been British, American or Canadian. Hamburger is only the second Dutch rower to compete in the Boat Race.

McEachern started rowing in 2000 and has raced at the United States national level and competed in 2007 at the Pan-American Games. McEachern trialled for the United States Olympic team in the double and quad in 2008, but was unsuccessful. He is known for his powerful scores on the ergometer and his political bent having been part of American president Barak Obama’s election campaign.

The role of rowing club president includes inviting the coaches to coach the crew and being part of the selection of the final crew.

Those hoping to be in the Boat Race will start the training and long selection process later this month. Next year’s Boat Race will be 3 April 2010.

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