The Cambridge University Women’s Boat Club (CUWBC) is looking for people to trial in the next academic year in order to row in, and win, the Henley Boat Races against Oxford in March 2006.
If you enjoy rowing or coxing, are enthusiastic and willing to train hard to improve and would like to represent the University in a major sport, then you have already met the initial criteria for trialling.
Trialling begins in the second half of September 2005 and in order to race you must be in statu pupillari in March 2006. Before trialling, CUWBC runs a development squad for a month in the summer. Details and an application form are now available.
Development Squad
Dates – 25 June to 23 July 06 Cost – £25 to cover race entries, travel costs and some kit costs.
Place – here in Cambridge, with races off the Cam.
Training layout – this will be adapted, where ever possible, to fit in with other commitments but the general layout is one session in the morning and another in the evening.
Info – Dev Squad is the ideal opportunity for people to find out what trialling with CUWBC involves and to improve rowing/coxing ready for September. We will be entering a number of Regattas to give people experience of racing off the Cam. I would strongly advise people to attend for the full month so as to get the most out of it. However, you may already have other commitments, in which case let me know and we will see if we can work around them. Even if you don’t think you want to trial but still want four weeks of excellent coaching then come along to dev squad.
Trialling
CUWBC encompasses both lightweight and heavyweight women and we all train as one squad. As it stands, the average weight of the lightweight crew, on race day, is 57kg. Obviously, it is not necessary to start at this weight at the beginning of the season but it has to be attainable by Boat Race Day. Dieting is monitored very closely throughout the season with input from professional nutritionists who ensure that no-one is made to go beyond their limits.
Training will begin two weeks before the start of next Michaelmas Term but late arrivals can be accepted until early October. The single most important aim of the squad is to beat Oxford in the races in March and to do this triallists must be willing to push themselves harder than they may think is possible. Training is fairly intense but can definitely be done (and has been many times in the past) in conjunction with getting a high class degree. As well as being physically demanding it is also very rewarding and you are sure to make many close friends in the squad.
I will be sending forms out to get everybody’s details but in the meantime, if you are interested in doing dev squad please contact me ([email protected]). If you are unable to do dev squad but would still like to trial, again, please email so I can give you suggestions for training over the summer in order to best prepare you for the season ahead.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Lorna Collins
President CUWBC
Girton College