Club Committee

2001 - 2002 Manifestos

Ladies' and Overall Captain 2001-02 - Sarah Taylor

I am currently in my second year of a 4-year Chemistry course. I noviced when I started here in Mich term 1999 and rowed in the 2nd Lent and May vIIIs 2000. This year I have rowed in the i~ iv and VIIIs and won the Foster-Fairbairn Trial Pairs with Sally Painter earlier this term. I hope to row in the CUWBC Development Squad in July and have not ruled out the possibility of trialling next term.

The Grand Plan

I have developed a taste for winning races this term and I want others to experience this too. I will therefore follow the very simple plan of making the Ladies’ Boat Club go as fast as possible at all levels.

On the Water

The way to go fast is to get the eight best people in a boat together. This year many senior rowers have chosen not to row for the Club and form Ladies Boats instead. Next year I plan to encourage everyone to compete for the highest possible boat. I understand that people are busy and there is more to life than rowing, but successful crew selection must depend on ability rather than availability. It is possible to combine rowing at the top college level and not fall behind academically, but if time constraints are a problem, I will work hard with the Lower Boats Captains to move away from the traditionally held view that rowing at a low commitment level invariably means rowing with people of a low standard.

I will introduce an element of competition into seats in both the first and second boats, which there has not been for the second boat this year. No one will be assured of a first boat seat and everyone will be trialied fairly. I firmly believe that anyone who wants to make it to the first boat and trains hard enough, can.

I will produce a structured termly training plan for each crew to ensure maximum fitness and technical benefit from each outing and arrange good coaches for all crews and possibly for longer than a week to improve continuity. At weekly meetings with each crew we will review the week’s rowing and use comments and ideas from the previous coach as well views from the crew to decide together on targets for the following week. These meetings are important to allow crews to take responsibility for their own training; this should make them feel that progress is being made and effort rewarded.

I will fully support my Lower Boats Captains and make early contacts with novices in the hope of encouraging them to continue rowing. I plan to run a Lents training camp on the Cam putting out mixed senior/novice boats to help the novices’ progress.

From the outset I plan to increase small boats use and water time acquired this way can substitute for some land training. I shall help people who form pairs and train regularly with a view to entering the Cambridge Small Boats Head and the University Small Boats Regatta by organising coaches. I will also help people learn to scull; sending out mixed quads next term is a great way to integrate seniors and novices.

An additional problem is a lack of coxes. Therefore I plan to provide coaching for them and work with the LBC’s to ensure novice coxes stay on for the Lents and Mays.

Off the Water

Training logs are vital for tracking people’s progress and, along with heart rate monitors, can help ensure that our training is effective for improving strength and fitness.

I will also strongly encourage people to train over the holidays. Having been sent a letter every vacation for the last two years, I finally joined a gym at Easter. It does make a big difference and is important to the long- term strength of the Ladies Boat Club.

Away from the Boat House altogether

I still want people, while being committed and training hard, to enjoy being part of the Boat Club as much as I do. I will encourage participation in club events, but I also want the Ladies Club to bond better, something I feel we have not done particularly this year. This can include the traditional formal halls, as well as swimming and cinema trips.

Over the year I want to help people realise their full potential, whether it be taking on a committee post next year, rowing in Dev Squad, trialling or making the May VIII. I believe anything is possible if you work for it enough. Respect is very important to me, but it is definitely something that has to be earned. By this time next year I hope to have turned the Ladies Boat Club into a competitive unit that people want and feel proud to row for and hence into a Club that is respected for it’s achievements. This is what I would hope to be remembered for.

Overall Captain

My year as Lower Boats Captain, together with time spent with extra curricular groups, has allowed me to improve and test my leadership skills. I also have communication skills that will allow me to meet the different requirements of dealing with groups as diverse as the Black Prince Association, College authorities and a novice 4th boat oarsperson. I firmly believe in teamwork and will always be open to suggestions, comments and criticisms. I plan to make sure the committee work together and are far more involved in decisions that affect the club as a whole.

An overall captain does not deal simply with this year’s crews. I believe that the overall captain must spend the year planning ahead and putting the foundations in place for the next few years to build on. I shall do this through careful selection of purchases that will benefit the whole club. Two new sets of macons to remove the chronic shortage of novice equipment. A pair for both lightweight men and women to share. A second-hand television and video will allow coaches and crews to analysis videos immediately after outings. Additional mirrors, mounted on rollers, will facilitate technical ergs. I shall also encourage the better utilisation of the equipment we do have and ensure that nothing is taken for granted or abused. As the fabric of the boathouse is improved we must work to make sure that this is maintained.

At next year’s AGM I shall bring a copy of this manifesto and outline the success that has been achieved and the reasons for any of my pledges not having been met. I shall be fully accountable to every single member of the club throughout the year.

I want this club to be the strongest College boat club, not just through this year, but always.

Proposed by: Sally Painter
Seconded by: Rosie Chance