How one Nova Scotian ended up competing in historic Oxford-Cambridge boat races

Dartmouth's Sierra Sparks had never rowed before crossing the pond to study at Oxford University.

But less than three years after touching down in England, she helped the Oxford women's spare fours crew defeat Cambridge University to kick off Boat Race week in London on Wednesday.

"I had no prior exposure, but I just kind of very quickly got swept up in the rowing culture here," she told Information Morning Nova Scotiaearlier this week. 

In 2021, Sparks began studying at Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar. After two years rowing with a smaller team at her college, she's now a member of the Oxford University Boat Club.

She said she decided to try out for the university team this year, but wasn't really expecting much to come of it. She said some of the rowers on the team have competed internationally.

"It's been a really cool experience," said Sparks.

Boat Race week builds to its peak on Saturday, and Saturday's races are a big deal in England.

Oxford and Cambridge have competed against each other in the event since 1829. Thousands line the River Thames in London each year to cheer on the crews, while thousands more watch and listen to coverage online and on the BBC. 

Sparks is working toward a PhD in biomedical engineering with a focus on Alzheimer's disease and finding ways to predict a person's risk based on lifestyle and genetic factors. She has to make time for her rowing.

She estimates she practises about a dozen times per week. That could be on machines, on land or on the water.

But she said her strict rowing schedule has only served to augment her research, offering structure and providing further motivation to get her academic work done. 

She'll be cheering on the rest of her teammates in the top race from the riverbank