Maties Rowing is sending 44 athletes to Boat Race 2024, according to Maties Rowing chairperson Dylan Schmidt. He believes that this is great for the competitive nature of the club, but also creates an even bigger financial need. PHOTO: Ubaid Abrahams
Maties Rowing is aiming for a medal at this year’s annual inter-university race.
This was according to Dylan Schmidt, chairperson of Maties Rowing.
In previous years, Maties Rowing had only been able to send one men’s team and one women’s team to Boat Race, an inter-university rowing competition, said Schmidt. This year, due to the club’s growing numbers, they are able to field more teams than ever.
To support the teams attending Boat Race in September, the club recently held an ergathon – a 24 hour-rowing event – to generate funds in aid of this year’s competing teams.
Growing pains
Maties Rowing are planning to send 44 athletes to this year’s Boat Race. The annual intervarsity race will take place on the Kowie River in Port Alfred, during the month of September, said Schmidt.
“Our numbers are now soaring over 70 people [and] everyone is getting involved. We [now] have more people we need funds for,” said Schmidt.
“Our main objective is to reach the A Division finals at Boat Race,” said Lailah Bald, social media manager for Maties Rowing, about the annual interuniversity race which will take place in September. PHOTO: Ubaid Abrahams
Previously, R20 000 was sufficient to fund 16 athletes for Boat Race, but that number won’t be enough to fund the 44 athletes participating from 14 to 17 September, according to Schmidt. According to the Maties Rowing’s page on the website GivenGain they managed to raise R27 276 through this year’s ergathon.
Maties Rowing has gone from being the underdog to competing competitively, said Lailah Bald, social media manager for Maties Rowing.
“We require additional funding to compete on par with dominant institutions such as the University of Cape Town (UCT) and the University of Pretoria (UP),” said Bald.
‘Going for gold’
According to Schmidt, the team has what it takes to go all the way at Boat Race this year.
“We normally aim for around fifth or fourth, but I think this is the first ever year where we have a proper team saying ‘we are going for gold’,” said Schmidt
The president of Western Cape Rowing, Ken Gliddon, believes that Maties Rowing is in a good position leading up to this year’s Boat Race.
“They were dead and buried a few years ago. I believe they will [win] because they can [win] and nothing [has] ever stopped them,” said Gliddon.
Dylan Schmidt, Maties Rowing chairperson, discusses the club’s chances of a medal at Boat Race 2024.