Skip to main content

Boat race sponsors Newton turn tide for women rowers Laura Williamson column

/li> 0 shares 0

comments

Helena Morrissey is the chief executive officer of Newton Asset Management and one of the founders of the 30 Per Cent Club, which is committed to bringing more women on to UK corporate boards.

She also has nine children — yes, nine — so clearly has all the time in the world for entering into new waters, so to speak.

Newton sponsored yesterday’s women’s boat race, won by Oxford, which took place on the Olympic rowing lake at Eton Dorney owing to adverse conditions in Henley.

The women’s race between the Light and Dark Blues will have one more year in Oxfordshire, where it has been held since 1927, before heading east along the Thames to join the men on the famous four-mile, 374-yard course between Putney and Mortlake — irritating protestors notwithstanding, of course.

Jubilation: Oxford rowers celebrate winning the women's boat race at Eton Dorney, sponsored by Newton

The women have been receiving equal funding since September and, in two years’ time, will enjoy prominent billing live on the BBC and on race day itself, some 186 years after old school chums masterminded the first boat race in Henley in 1829.

‘When we first sponsored it I couldn’t believe there was no money in the women’s boat race at all,’ said Morrissey. ‘If you wanted to row for the university it actually cost you money; you had to pay to do it.

‘They had no coach. They could only go on the river when the men weren’t there.

‘It was a real indictment on the lack of opportunity in women’s sport which has been, in many ways, a poor relation to men’s in terms of funding.

Level pegging: The women's race has received the same funding to its male counterpart since September

‘There’s still a long, long way to go but women can now have sporting aspirations, too.’

Morrissey’s argument was very black and white: if we’re going to sponsor the men’s race, we’re going to sponsor the women’s one as well. She sounds indignant at the mere suggestion it would be any other way. Morrissey does not divulge the costs involved, but one assumes the decision made financial sense, too.

      More from Laura Williamson...   LAURA WILLIAMSON: Dingley won her battle but the war on bigotry is not over 02/06/13   LAURA WILLIAMSON: How Miss Moneylegs is battling back from adversity after missing London 2012 through injury 26/05/13   Last 12 months have been a 'whirlwind' for Houghton as Arsenal Ladies look to add another FA Cup to packed trophy cabinet 25/05/13   LAURA WILLIAMSON: Peacock hopes to cut a dash and avoid blade row 19/05/13   Laura Williamson: Save me from the swirling madness as Fergie goes viral 12/05/13   Laura Williamson: The battle against doping should also include arrogant ball sports 05/05/13   Laura Williamson: British Athletics needs to seize the moment and cash in... just like Jess, Mo and Co 22/04/13   LAURA WILLIAMSON: Arsenal struggle to keep Wolf from the door as Germans earn first-leg advantage 14/04/13   Laura Williamson: Looking for some exposure? Maybe try exposing yourself 07/04/13   VIEW FULL ARCHIVE

As the BBC and now BT Sport seem to have noted, you get a lot more action and access for your money when it comes to buying the television, sponsorship and commercial rights for women’s disciplines.

The Boat Race, an event that exudes privilege, pomp and circumstance like no other, might seem an unlikely cause to champion a step forward for sportswomen, but it is the tradition and rigmarole that makes this a particularly important development.

When Katherine Grainger returned from the Sydney Olympics in 2000 after winning Great Britain’s first medal in women’s rowing, a  silver in the quad, she said someone came up to her and said: ‘We didn’t even know women rowed.’

You can understand why few — men or women — would want to, given the demands of a sport that has little time for finesse or creativity and commands absolute teamwork to succeed at the highest level.

Anna Watkins (left), with whom Grainger won gold so memorably in London in the double sculls, has said a family member tried to put her off rowing in case ‘she got big arms’. It’s all in the legs, of course, but sweeping generalisations have no time for small technicalities like that.

Watkins ploughed on regardless and, 12 years after Grainger came back from Australia with that silver medal, Britain’s women won their first Olympic gold medals since the sport was added to the programme in 1976 — three of them, in fact.

If the wheels of Oxford and Cambridge can creak slowly into action with regard to a sport as brutal and punishing as rowing, it feels like anything could happen.

 

WHAT THEY SAID

British athlete Lisa Dobriskey said she did not believe she was ‘competing on a level playing field’ in the Olympic 1500metres final in London and was roundly accused of sour grapes.

The gold medal-winner, Turkey’s Cakir Alptekin, is now facing a lifetime ban after ‘big abnormalities’ were found in her biological passport. Some might just owe Dobriskey an apology.

Accused: Lisa Dobriskey's opponent is facing a lifetime ban for 'big abnormalities' in her biological passport

 

WHAT I'VE BEEN DOING THIS WEEK

Watched Wrexham win the FA Trophy with a 4-1 penalty shootout win over Grimsby.

On Saturday, Grimsby fans congregated in Trafalgar Square for a photo. ‘Which team is this?’ said a steward. ‘So are they in the Champions League, then?’ I wish.

Glory: Ecstatic Wrexham player-manager Andy Morrell celebrates with the FA Trophy

Got exasperated at the persistent use of the phrase ‘pre-planned’ to describe Rio Ferdinand’s fitness programme. It is either planned or it is not, just like the defender’s ill-advised little jaunt to Doha.

Attended my first Women in Football meeting at Stamford Bridge on Friday after being, I admit, very dubious about the whole idea. I just want to be ‘in football’ rather than a ‘WiF’. I can’t tell you anything else owing to Chatham House rules, but it was certainly very, very interesting.

 

PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK

Arsenal Ladies beat ASD Torres 3-1 in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final at Boreham Wood.

Glad to see there’s still one English team fighting for the cause in Europe — and the women’s final is at Stamford Bridge this year, too. The second leg takes place in Sardinia on Wednesday.

  More... £150m investment in primary school sport is arriving too late to inspire a generation Just one day after an England legend retires... another decides to hang up the boots Wrexham lift FA Trophy after toppling Grimsby in Wembley thriller 'Don't even go there': Boat Race director warns against following lead of Trenton Oldfield




Popular posts from this blog

Study Abroad USA, College of Charleston, Popular Courses, Alumni

Thinking for Study Abroad USA. School of Charleston, the wonderful grounds is situated in the actual middle of a verifiable city - Charleston. Get snatched up by the wonderful and customary engineering, beautiful pathways, or look at the advanced steel and glass building which houses the School of Business. The grounds additionally gives students simple admittance to a few major tech organizations like Amazon's CreateSpace, Google, TwitPic, and so on. The school offers students nearby as well as off-grounds convenience going from completely outfitted home lobbies to memorable homes. It is prepared to offer different types of assistance and facilities like clubs, associations, sporting exercises, support administrations, etc. To put it plainly, the school grounds is rising with energy and there will never be a dull second for students at the College of Charleston. Concentrate on Abroad USA is improving and remunerating for your future. The energetic grounds likewise houses various

Best MBA Online Colleges in the USA

“Opportunities never open, instead we create them for us”. Beginning with this amazing saying, let’s unbox today’s knowledge. Love Business and marketing? Want to make a high-paid career in business administration? Well, if yes, then mate, we have got you something amazing to do!   We all imagine an effortless future with a cozy house and a laptop. Well, well! You can make this happen. Today, with this guide, we will be exploring some of the top-notch online MBA universities and institutes in the USA. Let’s get started! Why learn Online MBA from the USA? Access to More Options This online era has given a second chance to children who want to reflect on their careers while managing their hectic schedules. In this, the internet has played a very crucial in rejuvenating schools, institutes, and colleges to give the best education to students across the globe. Graduating with Less Debt Regular classes from high reputed institutes often charge heavy tuition fees. However onl

Sickening moment maskless 'Karen' COUGHS in the face of grocery store customer, then claims she doesn't have to wear a mask because she 'isn't sick'

A woman was captured on camera following a customer through a supermarket as she coughs on her after claiming she does not need a mask because she is not sick.  Video of the incident, which has garnered hundreds of thousands of views on Twitter alone, allegedly took place in a Su per Saver in Lincoln, Nebraska according to Twitter user @davenewworld_2. In it, an unidentified woman was captured dramatically coughing as she smiles saying 'Excuse me! I'm coming through' in the direction of the customer recording her. Scroll down for video An unidentified woman was captured dramatically coughing as she smiles saying 'Excuse me! I'm coming through' in the direction of a woman recording her A woman was captured on camera following a customer as she coughs on her in a supermarket without a mask on claiming she does not need one because she is not sick @chaiteabugz #karen #covid #karens #karensgonewild #karensalert #masks we were just wearing a mask at the store. ¿ o