Mark Goddard (Captain, Isle of Ely RC): Two years ago, the City of Ely hosted a 60th anniversary recreation of a wartime Boat Race, originally rowed on the Great Ouse in February 1944. This Diamond 44 celebration of the race was the catalyst for the creation of a new rowing club, Isle of Ely RC, with colours of Oxford Blue and Cambridge Blue telling of its origin. Now in its third year, Isle of Ely has racing, recreational and junior members, and is a vibrant and confident club despite currently living out of a couple of large containers. Ely has had a rowing club before, but it became defunct in the 1950s. However, Ely has had a long connection with rowing though the Cambridge crews (CUBC) that have trained there. To celebrate this connection, Isle of Ely RC's links with the Boat Race, and to raise money for the club's recreational rowing plans in conjunction with the ARA, the club is holding a Boat Race Bash on April 2nd, Boat Race day. A sponsored ergo from Ely to Putney (130km) is planned with as many members as possible taking part, starting at an ungodly hour in Ely's Jubilee Gardens across the river from the CUBC boathouse. We also have a relay of the Boat Race television coverage on large plasma screens, a raffle with prizes including a CUBC lycra all-in-one (thankfully un-worn) signed by the 2006 Cambridge Blue Boat crew (and a certain James Cracknell), and a bar and other refreshments. Whichever shade of blue is your particular hue, we invite you to come along, support our club and watch some top crews in action in a great rowing atmosphere.