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Brown Cup a spring rowing tradition on Gorge Waterway

In a spring tradition on the Gorge Waterway, the University of Victoria Vikes and UBC Thunderbirds will cross oars today in the 23rd edition of the Brown Cup. Racing begins at 11:30 a.m.

In a spring tradition on the Gorge Waterway, the University of Victoria Vikes and UBC Thunderbirds will cross oars today in the 23rd edition of the Brown Cup.

Racing begins at 11:30 a.m. with the men’s alumni race, followed by the reserve crew race at 12:45 p.m. The main race for the men’s eight sets off at 1:35 p.m., with the women’s eight wrapping up the event.

In the main races, the Vikes men’s crew, which has a Brown Cup record of 17-5, is looking to unseat the Thunderbirds, who have won the last two, while the Vikes women, 20-1, are going for their fifth straight.

“It’s the highlight of the spring for us,” Vikes men’s coach Aalbert Van Schothorst said, noting some of the athletes had to compete on the ergometer and go through time trials to earn seats in the boat. “To be in the Brown Cup boat is a badge of honour.”

If the Vikes men win, it’ll be the first time the name of longtime coach Howie Campbell won’t be on the trophy, as Campbell took a job with the national team earlier this year.

“Howie’s program was one of the most respected programs in the country,” Van Schothorst said. “It’s going to be some work to come up to that level.”

The men are coming off a successful spring campaign featuring wins in both the Elk Lake Spring Regatta and the Oregon State University Dual. Van Schothorst said the results have instilled confidence in the team, as they go up against their arch rivals.

“It’s a healthy rivalry Howie spent years building.”

For the women, continuing their streak could be a daunting task. The team lost a boat load of rowers to graduation last year and a young crew has taken over the boat.

The veterans of the team are in just their third year, but coach Rick Crawley still thinks they have a shot.

“UBC has had our number this year, but not by much,” Crawley said. “I told them they have to be relentless.”

Crawley’s message to the crew was: If they’re in front, they can’t sit on it but have to keep it moving; if they’re neck and neck, they need to get ready for a dogfight all the way to the end; and if they’re down, they have to try to claw their way back. And above all, don’t lose heart.

sepp@timescolonist.com