"Mannheim vorn": Clear Success for the MBS in First German MBA Rowing Race

MBS foursomes win clear against the WHU team on the Neckar in the contest between the leading German business schools

Cambridge against Oxford - Since 1829, the 'Boat Race' has been an event for the two traditional universities that has cast a spell over the whole of Great Britain. About 250,000 spectators gather along the edge of the racecourse on London's Thames every year. More than eight million Brits watch the action live on television. Admittedly, the Mannheim Business School (MBS) and the WHU - Otto Beisheim School of Management in Koblenz/Vallendar could only dream of such a response, when they met for the first time for the "First German MBA Rowing Race" on the Neckar River. However, the atmosphere was as brilliant among the participants as the supporters. And one thing applied on the Neckar as it does on the Thames: victory was a question of honour. Therefore, from the Mannheim side, it is noted without excessive ambition, but rather with joy, that the host's boat clearly dominated both of the fours races over 1000 metres.

The idea for the event came from three participants on the one-year Mannheim full-time course "The European MBA" during the MBA Career Fair in April this year in Hanover. "We thought about how we could get involved together with students from other schools," explains Dr. Emmanuel Sissimatos, the head coordinator of the event. "We liked the idea of a race based on the British 'Boat Race' best of all. Ultimately, you need lots of things to row that are also important for the later career: endurance, concentration and team spirit," says Sissimatos. At the WHU, the MBS students were immediately enthused by the suggestion. The Mannheim rowing club Amicitia and the Mannheim Business School supported the event with the same amount of passion. The best evidence for the success of the event: as far as was overheard at the concluding barbecue celebrations, revenge is already planned for summer 2007 in Koblenz. But a glance at Great Britain shows that the Mannheim teams should not rest on their laurels. The first "boat race" was won by Oxford but to date, Cambridge has the most victories under its belt ...