4:00pm Thursday 18th March 2010
By Dan Barnes
WILTSHIRE rower Matt Evans is hoping his appearance in next month’s University Boat Race can be the springboard to a career on the international stage.
Evans will be part of the Oxford crew in the 156th race on the Thames on April 3.
The 23-year-old London-born oarsman, whose family home is in Ramsbury, studied at Eton and Princeton in the United States and is reading a masters in Modern Chinese Studies.
He said: “It’s been incredibly exciting. There are few races in rowing that people actually take an interest in and to be involved is great.
“My team has rowers that have competed in the Olympics. My coach and my team mates are just great and rowing alongside them is an experience.
“It’s different to anything that I’ve done before because you just don’t know how fast the Cambridge crew are going to be – it’s a special event.”
Evans will row nearly 30 years after his father Mark also competed in the Dark Blue boat.
Canadian Evans senior, who has lived in Wiltshire for 15 years, was an Oxford Blue in 1983 and 1984, alongside twin brother Mike.
Mark also went on to umpire the race three times in 1991, 1993 and 1999.
Evans junior has represented Canada at the U23 World Championships in both 2007 and 2009, qualifying through his parentage.
“I think that the next stage would be rowing for the senior national team,” said the student. “It’s been great representing Canada so far and it’s something I’d love to carry on doing.
“It’s always in the back of my mind but decisions about that will have to wait until after I’ve finished at Oxford.
“I’m just concentrating on the Boat Race for now.”
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/trade_directory/