Osiris took the first women's race on The Thames Friday ( April 10th)beating Blondie. Blondie led from the start but the Oxford squad pulled ahead and won for the fourth year in a row.
The RNLI Alternative Boat Race took place on the River Thames on Friday, along the same stretch of river as the Oxford and Cambridge teams. The 'John Hicks' mini boat was crowned winner of the race.
250 mini lifeboats were launched at 5.30pm on the course starting at Barnes Bridge and ending at University Stone just before Chiswick Bridge to raise awareness of the RNLI’s lifesaving service on the River Thames
The race was started by sailor and broadcaster Hannah White, and the mini lifeboats were accompanied by London RNLI crews from Tower, Teddington and Chiswick lifeboat stations. Each lifeboat has been sponsored by an RNLI supporter and every penny raised will help fund the charity’s lifesaving work. “The John Hicks” was crowned winner of the race and so won the right to name an operational RNLI D class lifeboat. The boat’s sponsor John Hicks has since doubled his £250 donation after his fantastic win.
Wayne Bellamy, RNLI Chiswick Lifeboat Station Manager said: “It was a great spectacle to see the group of miniature lifeboats race down the river we spend so much time on. We’re so grateful for the support from everyone who came along today and those who sponsored the boats and made this event possible. We depend on the generosity of the public to maintain our 24-hour lifesaving service in London. We hope the supporters and spectators had as much fun as we did!”
April 10, 2015