Latest news with #EricaPopplewell
The Independent
10-04-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
E.coli fears, selection spat and Cambridge dominance: What to know about the storied Boat Race
Rowers from British universities Oxford and Cambridge will compete on Sunday in the men's and women's Boat Race, one of the oldest sporting events in the world that typically attracts more than 200,000 spectators along the River Thames in London. The men's race first took place in 1829. The women's crews have been racing along the same course between Putney and Mortlake since 2015, and before that in other locations from 1927. Here's what to know about the races: They come with a health warning again A year on, the races are back on the Thames and so are concerns about the quality of the water on the 4.2-mile (6.8-kilometer) course. Testing, starting in March 10, by the River Action campaign group along the racing section of the river found that 29.5% of samples exceeded safe limits of for entering the water. The group says that is almost three times the threshold for bathing waters rated 'poor.' Health fears were also raised ahead of last year's race. bacteria normally live in the intestines of healthy people and animals. Most strains are harmless, cause relatively brief diarrhea and most people recover without much incident, according to the Mayo clinic. But small doses of some strains — including just a mouthful of contaminated water — can cause a range of conditions, including urinary tract infection, cystitis, intestinal infection and vomiting, with the worst cases leading to life-threatening blood poisoning. As a result, Erica Popplewell, River Action's head of communities, said 'we strongly suggest that the winning team on Sunday think twice before throwing their cox in the Thames' — a nod to the customary celebration by members of the winning crew. Organizers accepted that the testing 'shows there is more work to be done to get our waterways where we all want them to be." They recommend competitors follow directives in British Rowing's 'Poor Water Quality Guidance," which includes covering up open wounds, regular handwashing, taking a shower as soon as possible after the race, and 'highlighting the risks of entering the water.' Steve Redgrave, a five-time Olympic gold medalist in rowing for Britain, said: 'It's a real worry that in 2025 unsafe water quality in the Thames is still a concern." Eligibility row fans the flames Oxford and Cambridge have long been rivals on and off the water, but rarely has there been as much hostility between the universities heading into a Boat Race. Sparks flew a few weeks ago when three Cambridge rowers were banned from taking part because they are undertaking a postgraduate teaching course — a PGCE — which Oxford argued is a certificate as opposed to a degree. The Boat Race has an independent panel ruling on the eligibility of students in the race and it sided with Oxford. Cambridge didn't take it well, with one of its former rowers — Olympic gold medalist Imogen Grant — describing Oxford's complaint as 'slimy' and another — former world champion rower Cath Bishop — saying it was 'utter madness" and a 'new low in relations' between the university boat clubs. Former PGCE students from Cambridge and Oxford previously had been allowed to race, but revised criteria has been jointly agreed to by the two clubs. The decision has weakened the Cambridge crews, depriving them of Matt Heywood (men's) and Molly Foxell and Kate Cowley (women's). Can the Light Blues dominance continue? Cambridge is enjoying a strong run in the Boat Race, on both the men's and women's side. Its women have won seven races in a row and its men are seeking a sixth win in the last seven races. Overall, Cambridge is leading Oxford 87-81 in the men's event — there was one dead heat, in 1877 — while Cambridge leads 48-30 in the women's event. There will be a US flavor Two Americans who rowed at the Paris Olympics last year are among the crews. In the men's race, Nick Rusher — a bronze medalist in the men's eight in Paris — will be in the No. 7 seat for Oxford. Claire Collins, who also raced at the Tokyo Games in 2021 and was a world championship medalist in 2022, will row for Cambridge at No. 6. ___
Associated Press
10-04-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
E.coli fears, selection spat and Cambridge dominance: What to know about the storied Boat Race
Rowers from British universities Oxford and Cambridge will compete on Sunday in the men's and women's Boat Race, one of the oldest sporting events in the world that typically attracts more than 200,000 spectators along the River Thames in London. The men's race first took place in 1829. The women's crews have been racing along the same course between Putney and Mortlake since 2015, and before that in other locations from 1927. Here's what to know about the races: They come with a health warning again A year on, the races are back on the Thames and so are concerns about the quality of the water on the 4.2-mile (6.8-kilometer) course. Testing, starting in March 10, by the River Action campaign group along the racing section of the river found that 29.5% of samples exceeded safe limits of for entering the water. The group says that is almost three times the threshold for bathing waters rated 'poor.' Health fears were also raised ahead of last year's race. bacteria normally live in the intestines of healthy people and animals. Most strains are harmless, cause relatively brief diarrhea and most people recover without much incident, according to the Mayo clinic. But small doses of some strains — including just a mouthful of contaminated water — can cause a range of conditions, including urinary tract infection, cystitis, intestinal infection and vomiting, with the worst cases leading to life-threatening blood poisoning. As a result, Erica Popplewell, River Action's head of communities, said 'we strongly suggest that the winning team on Sunday think twice before throwing their cox in the Thames' — a nod to the customary celebration by members of the winning crew. Organizers accepted that the testing 'shows there is more work to be done to get our waterways where we all want them to be.' They recommend competitors follow directives in British Rowing's 'Poor Water Quality Guidance,' which includes covering up open wounds, regular handwashing, taking a shower as soon as possible after the race, and 'highlighting the risks of entering the water.' Steve Redgrave, a five-time Olympic gold medalist in rowing for Britain, said: 'It's a real worry that in 2025 unsafe water quality in the Thames is still a concern.' Eligibility row fans the flames Oxford and Cambridge have long been rivals on and off the water, but rarely has there been as much hostility between the universities heading into a Boat Race. Sparks flew a few weeks ago when three Cambridge rowers were banned from taking part because they are undertaking a postgraduate teaching course — a PGCE — which Oxford argued is a certificate as opposed to a degree. The Boat Race has an independent panel ruling on the eligibility of students in the race and it sided with Oxford. Cambridge didn't take it well, with one of its former rowers — Olympic gold medalist Imogen Grant — describing Oxford's complaint as 'slimy' and another — former world champion rower Cath Bishop — saying it was 'utter madness' and a 'new low in relations' between the university boat clubs. Former PGCE students from Cambridge and Oxford previously had been allowed to race, but revised criteria has been jointly agreed to by the two clubs. The decision has weakened the Cambridge crews, depriving them of Matt Heywood (men's) and Molly Foxell and Kate Cowley (women's). Can the Light Blues dominance continue? Cambridge is enjoying a strong run in the Boat Race, on both the men's and women's side. Its women have won seven races in a row and its men are seeking a sixth win in the last seven races. Overall, Cambridge is leading Oxford 87-81 in the men's event — there was one dead heat, in 1877 — while Cambridge leads 48-30 in the women's event. There will be a US flavor Two Americans who rowed at the Paris Olympics last year are among the crews. In the men's race, Nick Rusher — a bronze medalist in the men's eight in Paris — will be in the No. 7 seat for Oxford. Claire Collins, who also raced at the Tokyo Games in 2021 and was a world championship medalist in 2022, will row for Cambridge at No. 6.
Sky News
09-04-2025
- Sport
- Sky News
'Concerning' levels of E.coli found in River Thames before Boat Race, campaigners say
has been traced in multiple water samples from the stretch of the River Thames that will host the famous Boat Race on Sunday, campaigners say. Campaign group River Action, which started testing for the bacteria in the Thames on 10 March, said almost a third of samples (29.5%) exceeded safe limits for entering the water. Water quality would be classed "poor" by official standards if it were a bathing water site, according to the campaigners. In response, Thames Water said rivers were "very dynamic environments" and recent tests on carried out by Fulham Reach Boat Club had shown results "within the 'excellent' threshold since the start of March". The Boat Race between Oxford and Cambridge Universities in London traditionally culminates in the winning team throwing their cox in the water, but last year they were warned to avoid the water after "alarmingly high" levels of were found. 8:00 Five-time Olympic gold medal-winning rower Sir Steve Redgrave said rowers and others who enjoy the water "deserve better". "It's a real worry that in 2025, unsafe water quality in the Thames is still a concern," he added. Last year, an Oxford rower said he had fallen sick from after training on the Thames and spotting "poo in the water". Thames Water said the boat race route was not technically bathing water, meaning it is not funded to routinely disinfect or sterilise the water in the same way. Britain's biggest water supplier has been battling against financial collapse since last year, narrowly avoiding being taken into government ownership last month. How was the testing carried out? The stretch of water on the boat race route is not classed as a bathing water site by the Environment Agency, but the campaigners said they measured it in the same way in a bid to highlight the levels of water pollution. River Action said it sampled water 44 times between 10 March and 7 April, from three different locations along the race route. The group said the percentage of samples which exceeded safe limits for entering the water was almost three times the threshold for bathing waters rated "poor". River Action's Erica Popplewell branded it "a scandal" and called for Thames Water to be put into government hands. "We strongly suggest that the winning team on Sunday think twice before throwing their cox in the Thames," she added. The levels of were found in spite of the recent dry weather, the group said. Untreated sewage is only supposed to be released from emergency overflow valves during exceptionally wet conditions, to avoid sewage backing up into people's homes. A Thames Water spokesperson said: "Rivers are very dynamic environments, and samples can vary hugely within a short period of time. Paradoxically, recent tests on carried out by Fulham Reach Boat Club have results within the 'excellent' threshold since the start of March." The spokesperson added: "We have and continue to deliver a record amount of investment to address our ageing infrastructure and the health of rivers. This includes £1.8bn to improve river health in London over the next five years.
The Guardian
08-04-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Campaigners find sewage pollution and E coli in Boat Race water
Water quality along the stretch of the River Thames which will host the iconic Oxford v Cambridge Boat Race has been classified as poor by clean water campaigners, as a result of E coli from sewage pollution. Testing carried out along the four-mile route, which the university rowing teams will tackle on Sunday, has revealed E coli levels which are three times above the threshold for poor bathing water status. When a site is classified as 'poor', the Environment Agency advises against bathing due to the risk to human health. The Boat Race is a longstanding tradition going back to 1829. Last year's event was also plagued by anxieties about sewage in the river, and, after Cambridge had won, the Oxford team revealed that some of their number had been ill in the lead-up. Other river-based sporting events have also been affected; in May a Thames swimming race which has been held for more than 120 years was cancelled over sickness fears. Sir Steve Redgrave, the Olympic gold medallist, said rowers needed to be protected from polluted water. 'It's a real worry that in 2025, unsafe water quality in the Thames is still a concern. Rowers, river users, and the public deserve better.' The testing, carried out every weekday between 10 March and 7 April at the beginning, middle and end of the race route between Putney and Mortlake, revealed that 29.5% of samples exceeded safe limits for entering the water, and were almost three times the threshold for bathing waters rated 'poor'. It was also a particularly dry spell of weather. Raw sewage discharges from storm overflows are only supposed to take place during exceptional weather, like extreme rainfall or intense storms. Spills of raw sewage during dry weather could be illegal. The route does not have bathing water status but campaigners for River Action, who carried out the testing, used the threshold as a benchmark to indicate the threat to public health. River Action said the monitor on a sewage outflow at Kew – upstream of the race's finishing post – went offline in January, and remained out of operation during the entire testing window. As well as raw sewage, Thames Water treatment plants discharge treated sewage into the river on a daily basis. River Action believes the pollution from sewage treatment plants – which have no legal limits imposed on them for E coli – are a major but overlooked factor in the unsafe water quality. Erica Popplewell, River Action's head of communities, said the victorious Boat Race crew should think twice about throwing their cox in the water after the race, as is the custom. She said systematic reform of the water industry and its regulators was needed. 'The public demands Thames Water and regulators act now to improve sewage treatment infrastructure,' she said. 'Thames Water has profited from pollution for years whilst the government has failed to enforce the law. It's time to refinance the company without burdening bill payers and end pollution-for-profit.' Sign up to Down to Earth The planet's most important stories. Get all the week's environment news - the good, the bad and the essential after newsletter promotion She called for Thames Water to be put into government hands and operated for public benefit. But attempts to take the struggling water company into a special administration regime – which would put it temporarily into government hands – failed last month after the court of appeal allowed Thames Water to go ahead with a £3bn bailout loan at an interest rate of 9.75%, which was described as 'eye-watering' by a high court judge. Average bills rose this month from £436 to £588 a year, but the company wants to increase them further. Rachel Dulai, sustainability lead at British Rowing said: 'Our 'guidance for rowing when water quality is poor' covers the precautions rowers can take to remain healthy when doing the sport they love - the Boat Race and the competing clubs have issued this guidance to their athletes. 'There are over 30 rowing clubs that row along the Boat Race's championship course on the Thames every day and we're constantly working with clean water partners to push for cleaner water, as well as carrying out regular testing to keep our community as informed as possible.' A Thames Water spokesperson said: 'Rivers are very dynamic environments, and samples can vary hugely within a short period of time. The Boat Race route is not a bathing water area and so we are not funded to routinely disinfect or sterilise final effluent. 'In addition, the Thames Tideway tunnel has prevented 6,376,450 cubic metres of sewage from entering the tidal Thames since it was connected earlier this year and will reduce the volume of discharges entering the tidal Thames in a typical year by 95%. 'We have and continue to deliver a record amount of investment to address our ageing infrastructure and the health of rivers.'
