American Economics student Derek Rasmussen has been appointed President of Cambridge University Boat Club for the 2010/2011 season and will lead the Light Blues into the 2011 Xchanging Boat Race against Oxford next March.

Derek, 24, who was born in San Francisco but now hails from Maryland, rowed in the 7 seat of the winning Cambridge boat this year in his first Boat Race. He won the Eastern Sprint and IRA National Championships in 2008 and the U23 World Championship title in the American eight that same year.

As the new CUBC President, he is following in the footsteps of fellow American and Hughes Hall College student Deaglan McEachern, who came back from defeat in 2009 to win in one of the most exciting Races of recent times this year.

“I’m really flattered that the guys have elected me to be President and excited at the prospect of leading them during this Boat Race campaign,”
said Derek. “I intend to pick up where Deaglan left off.

“I think the key to victory in 2010 was that we never thought of ourselves as underdogs. We had self-confidence and concentrated on staying focused and maximising our speed,” he added.

Derek, who became interested in the Race after seeing it on the internet four years ago, is passionate about extending its profile, especially overseas. “I want to continue to build on the great tradition of the Race and help to get it out there to a wider public. It was great that there was so much exposure of the event in America this year and this is so important for the future of the Race and the Club,” he said.

“English members of the crew have grown up with the Race and know all about it, but many of those from overseas only became aware of it once we began rowing. This is something I’d like to help to change.”

Meanwhile, Chris Nilsson, Chief Coach of the winning Cambridge boat in this year’s Xchanging Boat Race, is returning home to New Zealand for ‘lifestyle reasons’ and will not be coaching the Light Blues for the 157th Race next March.

In a statement issued today by Cambridge University Boat Club, Chris, who was appointed by the Club two years ago, said: “I hope the last two seasons will act as a springboard for future success for the Light Blues. I was very pleased with how the Blue Boat achieved the victory this year and seeing the quality of the bladework was particularly satisfying. I wish the Club every success and will follow their future campaigns with interest.”

His arrival at CUBC in 2008 was delayed until mid-December due to Visa entry problems and he saw both the Blue Boat and Goldie lose to Oxford and Isis in 2009, with the Dark Blues extending the number of wins to four in the last five Races. After a full year of coaching during the 2009/2010 campaign, he then witnessed both the Blue Boat and Goldie come from behind to achieve victory over Oxford in two of the most exciting races of recent times.

CUBC Honorary Treasurer, Robin Waterer, commented: “We are very grateful for Chris’s contribution to the Club during these last two seasons and were delighted with this year’s successes. We wish him and his family well.”

A former Olympic medallist who has been coaching international teams for the past 15 years, Chris also worked as assistant coach at Oxford between
1997-1999 with Sean Bowden, Chief Coach of the Dark Blues.

Edouard Blanc, the assistant coach from Switzerland, will coach the CUBC crews at the Henley Royal Regatta later this month.

The 2011 Xchanging Boat Race will take place at 17:00 on Saturday 26 March.
 

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