Adelaide rowing team wins for Australia

Sport plays an important role in life on campus - and off campus too.

The Adelaide University Boat Club, representing Australia, recently won the Trans Tasman Trophy against New Zealand on Otago Harbour, Dunedin.

The men's rowing eight from the University of Adelaide was representing all Australian universities at the event, up against representatives from all New Zealand universities.

During a week of intensive racing, the Adelaide team won one of its 2000-metre races on Lake Hayes near Queenstown, followed by a clear victory in the 5000-metre race at Dunedin.

The successful team was captained by Patrick Maddern, with Lucy Hyde as coxswain, and was coached by Boat Club President Mike Jeffries.

Meanwhile on campus, another trophy is about to be hotly contested.

The annual Vice-Chancellor's Cup footrace will be run at the North Terrace Campus on Friday 10 September as part of this year's Inter-Faculty Active Recreation Week.

"The week aims to promote fitness, health and recreation for the University community," said Mike Daws, Executive Officer of the Adelaide University Sports Association.

"There will be a range of new initiatives for the 2010 event, including new games and activities on the Barr Smith Lawns.

"Activities include frisbee, badminton, bocce, Giant Jenga, table tennis, mini golf, dodge ball, darts, and a bouncing castle, among others. Obviously, we're going to keep the darts well away from the bouncing castle!"

The race for the Vice-Chancellor's Cup will also see some changes this year. Teams of staff and students representing each of the University's five Faculties will again take part, but this year the race will include a sixth team - from the Division of Services and Resources.

"The addition of the sixth team will make it that much harder for the Faculty of Engineering, Computer and Mathematical Sciences to retain the trophy," Mr Daws said.

In another change for this year, the format of the VC Cup will be a relay. The start and finish of the race will again be the Barr Smith Lawns, with competitors racing on foot around the campus.

The recreation week, which starts on Tuesday 4 September, will conclude on Sunday 12 September with an Inter-Faculty Basketball Tournament hosted by the Adelaide University Basketball Club.

For more information about any of the events and activities during the Inter-Faculty Active Recreation Week, visit: www.adelaide.edu.au/sports

Story by David Ellis