Cambridge University Lightweight Rowing Club 2013-14
Invitations are open to rowers and coxes who wish to trial for the Cambridge University Lightweight Rowing Club for the 2013-4 season.
The primary aim of the Club is to defeat Oxford in the Lightweight Boat Race in March each year.
Since it started in 1975, the race has taken place in Henley-on-Thames over 2000m. The race is open to crews from each University with an average weight of the crew is 70kg or less, and an individual maximum of 72.5kg. Cambridge has won 3 out of the last 5 races.
The season begins in July each year with a 2-week development camp in Cambridge. Training boats depend on group size, but include all types of boat class depending on the needs of the group and the individual athlete. There is a strong emphasis on individual development, with talented beginners often racing alongside former junior internationals in our final crew.
The coaching team includes former international rowers and coaches, past club members, and other support coaches, and is headed by a full-time professional coach.
The group is cut to 20 for Michaelmas Term, where training is mainly based in Cambridge, before moving to Ely after Christmas. As well as water and ergometer sessions, the programme includes yoga, psychology and visualisation.
Selection is ongoing, with a group of around 40 at the start of the season, reducing to around 16 for the Trial 8s race in December. The group is normally cut to 12 for the January training camp in South-West France, and the final crew is selected in early February.
For the selected crew, side-by-side fixtures against other clubs are used to help prepare for the race at the end of March. In addition, the Club often competes in the GB trials process, Eights Head, Henley Royal Regatta. Recent successes have
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ncluded the Halladay Trophy in 2011, and silver in the coxless four at the European University Championships in 2010. Past members have also competed at the last 4 Olympic Games.
Applications are encouraged from people who:
- Weigh under 80kg
- Have a personal goal to represent the University against Oxford
- Are team players
- Have a strong background in sport, preferably with an aerobic background.
For those with up to 3 years’ rowing experience, attendance is strongly encouraged at the development squad camp from 1-13 July (inclusive), where the emphasis is on developing boats skills, and regatta racing is included at Kingston and Molesey Regattas.
For others, the season starts in mid-September, although there are other opportunities for coaching and development throughout the summer, details of which can be provided on application.
Those interested in signing up can do so here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/156JTc7 … g/viewform
Yours sincerely
John Thicknes
Head Coach, CULRC