The Presidents who will lead the Oxford and Cambridge University Boat Clubs for the 2013-14 Boat Race season have been announced today. Canadian Double Olympic medallist, Malcolm Howard, will be looking to lead the Dark Blues to consecutive victories in The 2014 BNY Mellon Boat Race, whilst American Double Blue Steve Dudek will take charge of the CUBC as they bounce back from a narrow defeat in 2013.
Malcolm Howard became the first Olympian ever to row The Boat Race having already won two Olympic medals when he competed last year as stroke of the victorious Oxford crew. He grew up five minutes away from the Canadian National Team centre in Victoria so perhaps success in rowing was always meant to be. As well as winning Olympic Gold in Beijing and Silver in London, he is a Senior, U23 and Junior World Champion. Howard is 30 years old and is studying for an M Res in Clinical Medicine at Oriel College, having previously studied at Harvard. He is only the second Canadian to be President of the OUBC (Barney Williams was the first in 2005-06).
On the news of his election as OUBC President, Howard commented, ‘It is an honour and privilege to be elected the OUBC President. Becoming a part of the Oxford University Boat Club and its great legacy and tradition has been a thrill. I admire the work that Alex Davidson accomplished and I am determined to continue Oxford’s success from this season. To repeat as Boat Race winners is a great challenge and I look forward to using my experience and commitment to lead our crews in the 160th Boat Race.’
American Steve Dudek has already competed in The Boat Race twice, both times in the Cambridge six seat. He was part of the victorious Light Blue crew in the dramatic 2012 Race, but lost last year in a tightly fought encounter. Dudek first started rowing by chance while at the University of Wisconsin, having been a star American Football player at high school. The 24 year-old is currently in his year at Cambridge, studying for a BA in Land Economy at St. Edmund’s. He is the ninth American to have been chosen as President of the CUBC.
Speaking after his election, Dudek said, ‘I would like to thank my teammates for giving me the opportunity to lead them for the 2014 season, and I aim to live up to the standard set by George last year, as a rower and as a leader. The CUBC has been an enormously influential part of my rowing career, and the presidency will undoubtedly be its highest point. I hope that my enthusiasm and commitment to my team will define my leadership, and I look forward to another hard-fought race on the sixth of April.’
The 160th Boat Race – sponsored by BNY Mellon – will take place at 18:00 on Sunday, 6 April, 2014.
HTBS editor comment: when the press release mentions ‘last year’s’ race, it actually means the race in April this year, 2013.
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