Cancellations hit Roses rowing events

LUSU Vice President for Activities, Marc Handley, has announced that all Roses 2012 rowing events have been cancelled tomorrow.

In a statement on Twitter, Handley said: “Confirmed: All rowing events are called off tomorrow due to adverse weather conditions in Lancaster.”

York Sport President, Sam Asfahani, explained: “Rowing has been cancelled tomorrow due to 22mph winds and the river flooding, meaning the conditions are unsafe.”

To further complicate matters, UYBC have been unable to access their boat equipment because of flooding in York.

Catherine Oliver, UYBC President, said: “The Rive Ouse water levels are over two metres high. We don’t have access to our boats at York as the path to our boathouse gets flooded.”

“Everyone wanted to race but it’s a shame unfortunate circumstances have forced the cancellation.”

Dan Morgan, Club Captain of LUBC, did say that their team were willing to lend York some boats, but the weather situation in Lancaster has meant this is no longer an option.

There is also uncertainty about the 20 points at stake for the rowing events.

Lancaster pulled out of the Women’s Novice IV (2 points) and Women’s Senior VIII (4 points) after April 1st, which, as the Roses Constitution suggests, would result in a points forfeit to York.

However, in light of the cancellations, it is not yet certain if York will still win those 6 points.

Asfahani explained: “All the other points from the cancelled races will be wiped clean, but we don’t know about the other 6 points.” A decision is likely to be made on the issue on Monday.

The cancellation means rowing has not featured at Roses for the second time in three years after York pulled out in 2010.

Rowing was the first event of the Roses weekend between the universities of York and Lancaster, when York’s first Vice Chancellor, Lord James of Rusholme, suggested it back in 1965.