The tide has turned ahead of the 19th Aberdeen Asset Management Universities’ Boat Race on March 1.
The University of Aber- deen had been the event’s dominant force, having won 14 of the previous 18 events.
But Robert Gordon University have gone from being the perennial underdogs to the team with the current bragging rights having won the previous two races.
They will bid for a hat-trick when the varsities lock horns along the River Dee in Aberdeen’s annual boat race next month.
And RGU team president Gillian Paterson reckons her crew can cope with the pressure of going for three in a row.
The 21-year-old forensic and analytical science student said: “I am really excited, but I am also nervous as we want to maintain the high standards RGU has set over the last two years.
“I was captain last year and this is my first year as president. I’m hoping the step up will lead to a step up in performance from the team.
“Our training has gone really well and the whole team has put in so much effort.
“They know we are under pressure following two wins in a row but the team has worked extremely hard to keep standards as high as possible.”
RGU made the breakthrough with their first victory in the event in 2006 and since then the score is tied at four wins apiece.
Paterson expects there to be little to choose between the teams on March 1.
She said: “Because RGU is a relatively new university in comparison to Aberdeen, they had a good starting block to develop their team, whereas RGU have had to build themselves up over the past few years.
“Now we have got a strong foundation it is easier to expand and get better rowers and reach the high standard Aberdeen University have been at for many years.”
The RGU side will come up against an Aberdeen University team eager to get back to winning ways and team president Lauren Cammaert, 23, believes her charges can wrestle the title back from their city rivals.
The medicine student said: “RGU have won two in a row but before that we had a long winning streak. There is only so long they can keep this winning run going for and I feel this is the year we are going to get them back. I would say we are still the favourites, but RGU have done very well recently. They have had some very good rowers in their team in the last few years, including some Great Britain rowers.
“They have been fortunate in that regard as we are generally the stronger club with more rowers.
“We are looking forward to the race and it promises to be an exciting contest.”
The 3.5km race takes place on Saturday, March 1, from 1.45pm, running from the Bridge of Dee to Aber- deen Boat Club.