A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A CAMBRIDGE ROWER
My alarm goes off at 05:10 (and again at 05:15) most mornings. It never fails to surprise me, even after six months, because you see I'm not really a “morning” person. There's always a little panic and confusion before my brain catches up and I remember that I did indeed set my alarm, and yes I do have to get up. Having struggled into my (shrinking I'm sure) lycra I'm on my bike and wobbling off to the train station.
Cambridge University Women's Boat Club started out as a dressage competition more than 80 years ago. But try suggesting to anyone on the squad that that's still the case! There are 27 exceedingly dedicated women (and one gent) who haul themselves out of bed in the mornings and congregate, bleary-eyed, at Cambridge station to catch the 05:59 train out to Ely. The pressure is high, we invest so much in terms of effort, time and money, that crew selection is a very serious business. We are here to compete at the highest levels, and take our sport very seriously. All twelve training sessions each week are compulsory, and selection is rigorous, culminating in three women's boats - the 1st "Blue" Boat VIII, a lightweight VIII and a reserve ("Blondie") VIII, racing against their Oxford counterparts.
Trialling for the University Squad takes place from October to March each year. This means that we train through all that winter can possibly throw at us. Out of the 120 water sessions I can think of only one that was cancelled on account of weather, when wind and breaking waves made rowing dangerous. Slim-line boats with rudders half the size of credit cards weren't designed for rough waters! Apart from that, we've rowed through rain, hail, snow, sleet, wind; even smashed our way through ice when the Great Ouse freezes over. Commonly through the coldest months, frost forms in our hair and ice on our oars during the outing! You also have to remember that through the depths of winter the sun doesn't rise until we are finishing so the entire outing is done in the dark, then we arrive back in Cambridge in time for 9 o'clock lectures. Balancing the pressures of such a demanding degree with thirty hours or more a week in training is no mean feat but it is definitely all worth it for the opportunity to go head to head with Oxford at Henley!
Five evenings a week bring land training - a mix of heavy weight lifting, circuits and ergs (rowing machines). I've discovered the joys of pushing myself toward my physical limits, bettering my own records, and the satisfaction that comes with it. It's also very enjoyable to work alongside the other girls. We've become very close friends in this time, spending loads of time together, on and off the water.
Racing Oxford:
The week leading up to the Boat Race was filled with excitement and trepidation. This was the final build-up to a race we had spent nine months working towards and anything could happen. During the week each crew lived together in a lovely house in Henley-on-Thames. We would have our normal training during the day and between sessions we would play games, watch videos of previous Boat Races, talk about The Race, and just enjoy the beautiful town of Henley. Race Day was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for me. Rowing on such a famous course with eight friends you have spent countless hours training with would have been exciting by itself but having so many people cheering you on during the race made it unforgettable. It really was one of the most exciting times of my life.
The result, in which Oxford achieved a well-deserved victory has not taken away from what has been a fantastic year and I can’t wait to do it again next year; this time we hope to return victorious. I should like to mark my gratitude to Guild who sponsored me through race week; without their support this experience would not have been possible. It is fantastic that Cheltenham Ladies’ College is supporting women in sport, one sphere of life in which women are drastically under-supported by comparison with their male counterparts.
I hope that this report will encourage other Cheltenham girls past or present to get out on the river and give it a go, you never know where it could lead! If anyone is interested in rowing or Cambridge feel free to contact me at kto20@cam.ac.uk.