On a very cold Monday morning in February, eight student rowers from the Academy travelled to City Hall to attend the team announcement ceremony for The Cancer Research Boat Race.

This year’s race, which takes place on Saturday 24th March, will be the 164th Men’s Boat Race and the 73rd Women’s Boat Race. The teams were announced to the waiting press with an individual weigh in on stage.

Hammersmith Academy students were one of only three schools invited to the announcement event to help launch Fulham Reach Boat Club’s Future (FRBC) Blues initiative. This new programme will see every state school within Hammersmith and Fulham taking part in rowing on the Championship Course and make rowing accessible to all young people   regardless of background. Our rowers stood side-by-side with the Oxford and Cambridge rowers, members of Fulham Reach Boat Club and with students from the borough for a photocall.

PE teacher and rowing coach, Miss Cutting explained, “This was an incredible opportunity for our students to see top class rowers and what it takes to get there and to witness how much attention this level of sport gets. The Academy is proud to help launch FRBC’s Future Blues initiative and look forward to our continued training with them.”