A former Canford School pupil will be making history in tomorrow’s (Saturday 11 April) landmark Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race.
The women’s crews are competing on the Tideway for the first time on the same day as the men’s event. Captaining the Oxford crew is Old Canfordian Anastasia Chitty, who is also President of the Oxford University Women’s Boat Club. This will be the third time Anastasia has represented Oxford in the race. She is studying medicine at Pembroke College and as a first year undergraduate was the youngest member in the 2013 Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race female boat. Historically membership of this boat is hardly ever given to first year undergraduates.
Anastasia joined Canford from The Dragon Prep in Oxford, where she started her rowing career. Her successes while at Canford included a gold medal and a new course record at the National Schools’ Regatta in the JW4x Championship in June 2012, silver medal as part of the girls’ quads at Henley in July 2012, two silver medals representing GB – in the Junior World Rowing championships at Eton in 2011 in the W4- boat, losing by just half a length to the US; and in the women’s coxless pair in the Munich junior international regatta in May 2011 and gold in the Women’s Junior U18 Quads at Wallingford in May 2012, winning The Yeatman Challenge Cup.
Anastasia is modest about her achievements: “Canford gave me the opportunity to further develop my passion for rowing, while also ensuring that I had a balance and made time for my studies. Representing my country and also getting into Oxford meant I achieved more than I had ever dreamt possible, but I was always encouraged by my teachers, coaches and fellow pupils. I hope that in some way I have inspired other young women to strive for excellence and really go for those goals. Never get disheartened, work hard, and follow your dream.”
Good luck to Anastasia for Saturday’s race.
