The Blue Boat Crew

Kristopher (Kip) McDaniel

Kristopher (Kip) McDaniel

Date of Birth: 27/01/1982
College: St Edmund’s
Height: 6’1”/1.86m
Weight: 87kg/13st 6lbs
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Birth Place: Duncan, BC, Canada
Home Town: Cobble Hill, BC
Living: Cambridge
Nationality: Canadian
Year Enrolled: 2005
Course: BA Land Economy
Course Length: 2 yrs
School: Shawnigan Lake School
Previous University / College: Harvard

Currently studying land economy after a year in New York during which he worked as a financial journalist. Already has a BA in Government from Harvard. Took up rowing at school and because his father (Brian) rowed for Canada and his brother (Kelsey) also rowed. Won 2005 World Championships bronze in Japan with Canada in the men’s four. He rowed at stroke in that boat – the seat previously held by 2006 Oxford President Barney Williams who was McDaniel’s team-mate in Japan but who rowed in the Canadian eight there. McDaniel was also part of the Canadian eight at the 2006 World Championships. Also a good friend of Wayne Pommen, the 2004 Cambridge President. Would like to use his degrees to gain a role in investment banking or consulting but also has an eye on the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
Dan O'Shaughnessy

Dan O'Shaughnessy

Date of Birth: 29/04/1982
College: St Edmund's
Height: 6'2"/188cm
Weight: 210lb/95kg
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Birth Place: Brockville, Canada
Home Town: Brockville, Canada
Living: Cambridge
Nationality: Canadian
Year Enrolled: 2006
Course: Economics
Course Length: 2 years
School: Collegiate Institute
Previous University / College: Syracuse

Has history and political sciences degrees from Syracuse and is now studying as an Affiliated student for a BA in Economics. Dan is the fourth generation of the family to row at Brockville RC. His father, Michael, was a talented football player who was All-Canadian drafted but who gave it up to go to Law School. Dan is a friend and rowing colleague of Kip McDaniel (Cambridge Blue Boat, 2006). He has been a Canadian High School rowing champion and has five Canadian Henley titles: junior men’s pair (twice), U23 men’s eight, men’s four and men’s pair. He has a younger brother, Ben, who is at University in Canada.
Peter Champion

Peter Champion

Date of Birth: 19/09/1982
College: St Edmund's
Height: 6'6"/201cm
Weight: 207lb/94kg
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Birth Place: Derby
Home Town: Derby
Living: Cambridge
Nationality: British
Year Enrolled: 2005
Course: SPS Psychology
Course Length: 2 years
School: Ecclesbourne School
Previous University / College: Kings College, London

Pete is in the second year of a degree in psychology at Cambridge. He graduated with a degree in Dentistry at King’s College, London in 2005 and decided to study for a further degree before pursuing a career in dentistry. He is writing a thesis on dental phobias and anxiety levels. Pete played rugby for his school, but suffered a broken leg trialling for Derbyshire County, which kept him out of the sport for some time. While attending a function at Derby Rowing Club he was talked into trying out rowing. He was a member of the University of London eight that won the British Universities Championships in 2003 and of the victorious pair in 2004. Rowed in the number two seat for the GB four that finished fourth at the 2006 World University Championships in Lithuania. His elder brother, Rob, rowed at St Catharine’s while studying at Cambridge.
Jacob (Jake) Cornelius

Jacob (Jake) Cornelius

Date of Birth: 02/10/1984
College: Emmanuel
Height: 6'6"/201cm
Weight: 205lb/93.3kg
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Birth Place: Arkansas, US
Home Town: Brooktondale, NY, US
Living: Cambridge
Nationality: American
Year Enrolled: 2000
Course: MPhil Engineering
Course Length: 1 year
School: Ithaca High, NY
Previous University / College: Stanford Uni

Already has a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford and is now studying for an MPhil in Cambridge. This involves looking at renewable energy in the developing world and he was recently in El Salvador with a Non-Governmental Organisation to install solar panels. Jake took up rowing at Cascadilla Boat Club in Ithaca, New York, because in his words he “wasn’t any good at other sports”. His aunt, who rowed at Notre Dame, suggested that he take up the sport. Was part of the Pac-10 All-Conference Team from 2004-2006 with Stanford. Jake is the oldest of five children. Previously played the guitar in a band.
Tom James

Tom James

Date of Birth: 11/03/1984
College: Trinity Hall
Height: 6'3"/1.92m
Weight: 87kg/13st 6lbs
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Birth Place: Cardiff
Home Town: Wrexham
Living: Cambridge
Nationality: British
Year Enrolled: 2002
Course: Engineering
Course Length: 4 years
School: King's School, Chester
Previous University / College: None

Stroked the GB eight to a World Championships bronze medal in 2003 and was selected for the Olympic Games in Athens in 2004 after being a regular part of the eight in 2003 and 2004. Was unfortunate to fall ill at the Games and missed out on one phase of the competition before returning to the boat. Took a year out from the Boat Race in 2004 and was part of the Cambridge Blue Boat in 2005 and 2006. Was the youngest Blue, aged 19, in the 2003 Boat Race during his freshman year at Cambridge. Previously a bronze and silver medallist at the World Junior Champs in 2001 and 2002 respectively. In 2006, he switched to race in a pair with Oxford Blue, Colin Smith – the duo went on to win a World Cup silver at the Lucerne World Cup, beaten only by the world champions.
Kieran West MBE

Kieran West MBE

Date of Birth: 18/09/1977
College: Pembroke
Height: 6'8"/2.07m
Weight: 99kg/15st 6lbs
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Birth Place: Kingston upon Thames
Home Town: West Byfleet, Surrey
Living: Cambridge
Nationality: British
Year Enrolled: 2005
Course: PhD First World War Strategy & Military Intelligence
Course Length: 3 years
School: Dulwich College
Previous University / College: Christ's, Cambridge (95-01), King's College, London (04-05)

A PhD student who became Olympic Champion in the men’s eight at the Sydney 2000 Games. Rowed in the Olympic Games of 2004. Returned to Cambridge in 2005/6 to study for a PhD at Pembroke College after stroking the GB eight to fourth place at the 2005 World Champs in Japan. Was in the 2006 Cambridge Blue Boat and was a finalist with GB in the men’s eight at the 2006 World Championships. Previously graduated with both a BA in Economics and Land Economy and a PGCE in Maths from Cambridge. Then studied for an MA in War Studies at King’s College, London. Was World Champion (coxed four, 2002), twice a World Champs silver medallist (eight, 1999 and coxed four, 2003). Injured in the 2001 season and joined the coxed four on his return in 2002, coached by Tim Foster. Rowing career began, aged 10, as a cox at Kingston RC. Quickly turned to sculling but a 1994 back injury kept him out for three years. Kieran began rowing again at Cambridge, was in the winning Blue Boat in 1999, and was President in 2001 when he also rowed in the winning Blue Boat. Represented GB at U23, senior and student level. Taught maths at King’s College School, Wimbledon, from 2001-3. Supports charities such as SPARKS, the Harry Mahon Fund and the Bobby Moore Fund and the Cleft Lip & Palate Association. Older brother, Damian, represented GB and rowed in the Boat Race for Oxford in 1996. Awarded the MBE for services to rowing in the New Year’s Honours list in 2001.
Sebastian Schulte

Sebastian Schulte

Date of Birth: 13/12/1978
College: Gonville & Caius
Height: 6'4"/1.96m
Weight: 92kg/14st 5lbs
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Birth Place: Wiesbaden, Germany
Home Town: Wiesbaden, Germany
Living: Cambridge
Nationality: German
Year Enrolled: 2004
Course: PhD Finance
Course Length: 3 years
School: Dilthey-Schule, Wiesbaden
Previous University / College: Ruhr Universitat, Bochum, Germany

Rowed in the 2005 and 2006 Cambridge Blue Boats. Chose to come to Cambridge because of the chance to study at an academically well-renowned institution with the “added benefit” of a rowing programme. Competed for Germany in the Olympic Games of 2004 (4th in the eight) and says he would have “enjoyed the experience more” if he had won a medal. His German eight were world bronze medallists in 2001 and 2005 and silver medallists at the World Championships of 2002 before becoming World Champion at Eton in 2006. Also Henley Grand winners in 2005. In Gifu, Japan, in the 2005 World Championships final competed against Mike Blomquist and Tom Parker of the 2005/6 Oxford squad. In 2000, was a world U23 gold medal winner beating the USA crew of the day which contained his 2005 and 2006 Cambridge crew-mate, Luke Walton. Schulte had previously lost the same event in 1999 to Walton’s US crew. Has been athlete representative on the German national federation for some years. Began rowing in 1992 at Wiesbaden Rowing Club. Competed at the 1996 world junior championships in Strathclyde and made his senior debut in 2001.
Thorsten Engelmann

Thorsten Engelmann

Date of Birth: 20/07/1981
College: St Edmund's
Height: 6'5"/1.97m
Weight: 100kg/15st 7lbs
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Birth Place: Berlin
Home Town: Berlin
Living: Cambridge
Nationality: German
Year Enrolled: 2005
Course: BA Economics
Course Length: 3 years
School: Humbold-Gymnasium, Berlin
Previous University / College: Uni of Bochum

Competed in the Cambridge Blue Boat in 2006 and became world champion in the men’s eight in August 2006. Attended the same University in Germany as Sebastian Schulte, of the current Cambridge squad, and Bernd Heidieker, of the 2005 Cambridge Blue Boat. Already has his pre-diploma in economics. Started rowing, aged 9. His father was the President of a rowing club in Berlin. He continued training whilst at school and has recently been part of the German national squad. Won World Championships silver (eight, 2002), and two bronzes (eight, 2001 and 2005). Was fourth in the eight at the Olympic Games in 2004. Former World U23 champion (eight, 2000). From 2001 – 3 and 2005 was overall world cup winner in the eight. In 2005 he was the winner of the Henley Grand Challenge Cup.
Rebecca Dowbiggin

Rebecca Dowbiggin

Date of Birth: 11/04/1983
College: Emmanuel
Height: 5'6"/170cm
Weight: 110lb/50kg
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Birth Place: St Albans
Home Town: Cambridge
Living: Cambridge
Nationality: British
Year Enrolled: 2005 (PH.d) (2001 for BA)
Course: PhD – Economics in the Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms in the 8th and 9th Centuries
Course Length: 3 years
School: Impington International 6th Form College
Previous University / College: Emmanuel, Cambridge

Graduated with a BA in Anglo-Saxon, Norse & Celtic from Cambridge. Now studying a for PhD. Has lived in Cambridge for most of her life having attended Chesterton City College which is just a few hundred metres from the Goldie Boat House before going onto Impington Village College. Never played any sport at all before coming to University. Became a novice cox at Cambridge, she coxed the Cambridge Lightweight Blue Boat in 2004 and the 2006 Cambridge University women’s Boat Race crew. Began rowing because she felt it was a good way to meet people. Competed in the Remenham Cup at Henley Royal Regatta. Coxed the Furnival SC women’s first eight who won the National Championships and coxed the England women’s eight to a gold medal at the Commonwealth Rowing Championships. Has an identical twin sister.