Aberdeen Dad Vail ® Regatta - Henley Bound! Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta To Send Florida Tech, Purdue To Henley Regattas

PRESS RELEASE	Contact: Brendan F. Quinn
June 13, 2011	brendan.quinn@dadvail.org
For Immediate Release	(610) 322-5415

PHILADELPHIA — The Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta Organizing Committee in conjunction with Aberdeen Asset Management Inc., proudly announce their sponsorship of two crews — the Florida Institute of Technology men's varsity eight and the Purdue University women's varsity eight — to compete in the Henley Royal Regatta and the Women's Henley Regatta on the River Thames in Oxfordshire, England.

"The Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta is pleased to support its champion in the women's heavyweight varsity eight, Purdue University, in its quest for rowing excellence at the Henley Women's Regatta," said DVROC chairman Jack Galloway. "We are also pleased to support Florida Tech's men's heavyweight varsity eight in their racing for the Temple Cup at the Henley Royal Regatta."

The DVROC will provide support for both crews, while Aberdeen will assist with housing and other arrangements. For both the Henley Royal Regatta (June 29-July 3) and the Henley Women's Regatta (June 17-19), FIT and Purdue will stay in a historic rectory on the banks of the River Thames opposite Henley's finish line. The Rectory’s ideal location enables the crews to maximize the time they spend on the river by eliminating travel to and from the Thames.

"We are thrilled to be able to support two 2011 Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta crews once again at the Henley Regatta this summer," said Gary Marshall, the Chief Executive of Aberdeen Asset Management Inc. "Following the success of the same initiative in 2010 and the positive feedback we received then from both the Brock University and St. Joseph's University crews, we didn't have to think twice about helping the teams again this year. For us to be directly involved in the leading regattas on both sides of the Atlantic is a great pleasure and privilege. We wish both crews the very best of luck and hope both repeat their Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta successes at Henley!"

The Henley Royal Regatta is the most widely known regatta in the world and dates back to 1839. Since it came to prominence long before national or international rowing federations were established, it occupies a unique position in the world of rowing and has its own rules. Crews race in head-to-head, single-elimination races (i.e. one-on-one) over a course stretching 1 mile, 550 yards down the iconic River Thames. The course is 112 meters longer than the Aberdeen Dad Vail 2,000-meter course — the standard international distance.

The Florida Tech men's varsity eight finished a close second behind the University of Michigan at the 2011 Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta, but still secured a trip abroad when Michigan was unable to accept the invitation.

Boasting a crew featuring international oarsmen, FIT faced logistical obstacles in accepting the trip to Henley. The date of the regatta's qualifying races fell on the same day as team trials for some of the crew's European members, leaving many question marks in front of head coach Jim Granger.

Thankfully, though, all the pieces fell into place and FIT was ultimately able to secure its visit to the Thames. The team will arrive in England, be joined by those teammates competing internationally and set forth to compete for the coveted Temple Challenge Cup.

"We'll get the band back together when we get to England," Granger quipped. "It will be the same exact boat that raced in Philadelphia. The guys are scattered all around the globe right now with the Europeans being back home, so we'll get to England about a week early to get back together and practice."

According to Granger, the FIT men's varsity eight will be making it first appearance at Henley since 1978.

"Everyone is really looking forward to this," Granger said. "The guys are just focusing on working hard to prepare."

Purdue's women's varsity eight narrowly beat second-place Old Dominion by .33 seconds to capture the 2011 Aberdeen Trophy in thrilling fashion. The victory helped the Boilermakers win the Regatta's overall point trophy and the women's point trophy. As the No. 12 seed at the Aberdeen Dad Vail, Purdue hadn't really considered winning the Vail's varsity eight title — let alone a potential trip to the Henley.

"It caught us by surprise," said Purdue head coach Dave Kucik. "We weren't coming in as a top seed so (women's head coach) Sandy Calfo and myself hadn't thought of Henley at all leading into Vails. The girls were just looking to take care of business and go one race at time."

The Boilermakers won a Saturday morning semifinal by a hair's breadth, coming across the Schuylkill River finish line within a second of Cal State-Sacramento and Drexel. Racing from Lane 1 in the finals, Purdue was far from a favorite to win the Aberdeen Trophy. The crew, however, lunged across the line barely ahead of Old Dominion as chants of "Boiler Up!" rang out on Kelly Drive.

"We really didn't put the next piece together of, 'Oh, we can go to Henley now,'" Kucik said. "The girls were elated about the victory and the opportunity (to go to Henley). They were surprised. They had planned on ending their season at Dad Vail because there were internships and work, but when the Henley opportunity fell out of the tress everyone in the eight rushed to rearrange their schedules."

Now, Purdue will try to follow Drexel University, a fellow Aberdeen Dad Vail participant, as the Sports Council Cup champion at Henley. Purdue's eight will be fully intact as the Boilermakers return to Henley for the first time since 1997. Kucik remembers that trip fondly. His crew was the lone American team at the 10th anniversary Women's Henley and left with a solid second-place finish. In other Aberdeen Dad Vail-Henley related news, Herb Lotman, the chairman of The Gold Challenge Cup Foundation, will be bringing the Philadelphia Gold Cup to the Henley Royal Regatta to be put on display at the famed River and Row Museum in Henley-on-Thames. The Gold Cup was won by Iztok Cop of Slovenia at the 2011 Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta Presented by Coca-Cola, while Mirka Knapkova of the Czech Republic captured the inaugural Women's Gold Cup.

About the Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta, Presented by Coca-Cola®
This is the largest collegiate regatta in North America with over 100 colleges and universities from the United States and Canada participating. Held annually since 1953 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on the Schuylkill River, thousands of student athletes and spectators visit the City of Philadelphia during the weekend of the second Saturday in May.

About Title Sponsor —Aberdeen Asset Management
Aberdeen Asset Management Inc is the wholly-owned U.S. subsidiary of Aberdeen Asset Management PLC, a global investment management group which is headquartered in Aberdeen, Scotland, and manages more than $287 billion of assets for both institutions and private individuals (as of Dec. 31, 2010).

Philadelphia is home to the U.S. equity and fixed income investment management teams, as well as U.S. client servicing, consultant relations, business development and other operational staff: more than 180 employees in total. Aberdeen manages and services approximately $53 billion in total assets on behalf of North American and international clients. For more information, visit www.aberdeen-asset.us

Here in the U.S., Aberdeen is also proud to be one of the supporters of the British Garden at Hanover Square, New York. This New York City park celebrates historic ties of friendship and unity between the U.S. and the UK.

Globally, Aberdeen has a long standing association with university rowing competitions having sponsored the Oxford v Cambridge University Boat Race in the UK from 1999 – 2005. The company also continues to support the Aberdeen Universities Boat Race in Aberdeen, Scotland in their annual event which takes place every February.

About Presenting Sponsor — The Coca-Cola Company

The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is the world’s largest beverage company, refreshing consumers with more than 500 sparkling and still brands. Together with Coca-Cola, recognized as the world’s most valuable brand, the Company’s portfolio includes 14 billion dollar brands, including Diet Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Coca-Cola Zero, vitaminwater, Powerade, Minute Maid, Simply and Georgia Coffee.

Globally, we are the No. 1 provider of sparkling beverages, juices and juice drinks and ready-to-drink teas and coffees. Through the world’s largest beverage distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy the Company’s beverages at a rate of 1.6 billion servings a day. With an enduring commitment to building sustainable communities, our Company is focused on initiatives that protect the environment, conserve resources and enhance the economic development of the communities where we operate. For more information about our Company, please visit our website at www.thecoca-colacompany.com.

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