The new addition comprises women’s changing facilities as well as additional office space and training space for both CUWBC and CUBC.
The current CUWBC and CUBC squads were joined at the opening by Heads of House, academics, donors to the project and alumni as well as representatives from the town boat clubs.
Robin Waterer, Senior Treasurer of CUBC, spoke about the development of the plans for this historic build and paid tribute to the hard work of Jerry Bailey (Goldie 78 and 80), the Architect and his commitment to not only this latest build, but the new Ely Boathouse project, which will see all three University Clubs have a permanent training base on the River Great Ouse.
Sarah Winckless, who the previous evening, been announced as the winner of the Helen Rollason Award for Inspiration, at the prestigious Sportswomen of the Year Awards, spoke on behalf of CUWBC. Sarah, who was President of CUWBC in 1997 and went on to win Bronze in the double sculls at the 2004 Olympic Games, spoke of how important it was for the women to have this facility and how it will prove transformational in their preparation for their Boat races.
Guest of honour was the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sir Leszek Borysiewicz. In his speech to the assembled guests he said: “We all know how important sport and extracurricular activities are for students to help give them a balance to their academic life and to provide much needed confidence and life skills for after university.
“The Goldie extension is a long overdue investment that focuses on giving the female students at Cambridge the same opportunity as the men and provides the women's boat club with a home for the first time in over 70 years.
“It will allow the men and women's teams to combine excellence in their studies with excellence in their sport and transform the way both train and work together. All those who have supported this project have shown real vision in helping to transform the way women's sport at Cambridge is viewed and I cannot thank them enough for their support."
In addition to officially opening the new extension, the historic Coaches’ Office was also officially named after Robin Williams MBE, the Cambridge Coach who won 7 out of the 11 Boat Races he coached and who, last year, coached Heather Stanning and Helen Glover to Gold in the coxless pair at London 2012.
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Image: Cambridge University Women's Boat Club B, Womens Head of The River 2012
Credit: Steve Selwood via Flickr
Reproduced courtesy of the University of Cambridge