Great test for Waikato rowers

Three boat racing formats have been retained for this weekend's Gallagher Great Race on the Waikato River.

Sydney and Queensland University men's and women's crews will face the University of Waikato men's and women's crews.

In the past crews from Cambridge University have challenged for the Harry Mahon Memorial Trophy.

Now in its 11th year, The Great Race is on Sunday.

This will be the first year a Sydney men's crew will compete at the Great Race - the Sydney women's crew has competed every year since 2008, coming third in 2011 in the three boat race.

For Queensland University, competing is a first for the men's and women's crews.

The men's crews will compete for the coveted Harry Mahon Memorial Trophy. The women's crew will compete for the Bryan Gould Cup, also in the three boat racing format. Crews will be competing in the three boat race format introduced in 2011 as a tactical element that sets it apart from any other rowing event.

Boathouse chairman Sharyn Cawood says to secure the Great Race as an iconic event , they are implementing a strategy whereby alternate years see competition between Waikato and Australian university crews.

"In the years in between there will be competition between Waikato and other international university crews."

While this year will be the first time Queensland takes part, the opportunity has been eyed by the crews from afar. The Brisbane River gets some big tides but the flow of the Waikato is twice what they normally encounter.

Captain of the Queensland crew Richard Powell jokes, his crew should have done some practice during the floods last year!

Commenting on the three boat race format, Richard believes it will test the skill and endurance of the athletes as well as the skill of the cox.

"With three boats it's far more complex than a simple match race. Racing lines will be critical and getting into a right-of-way position will be advantageous. We know we are going to have to hold our nerve, not get distracted and trust the skill of the cox."

SCHOOL CREWS BATTLE

Top secondary schools compete in the Head of the Waikato rowing challenge on Sunday. Head of the Waikato will see crews battle over 2.7km upstream.

The boys crews this year are Hamilton Boys' High, St Paul's Collegiate, St John's College, Macleans College, Auckland, Auckland Grammar and St Peter's Cambridge who will also have a crew competing in the girls' division with Waikato Diocesan, Hillcrest High, Sacred Heart (Hamilton) and Craighead Diocesan, Timaru.