Club Committee

2006-2007 Manifestos

Pedro Cunha for Men’s and Overall Captain

Men’s Captain

The last year has been very successful for the Men’s club at all levels from Uni IVs and Pembroke Regatta to blades for the 4th VIII in Lents. Building on this success, I would take advice from Rachel and use ideas and methodologies from this year as the foundation for next year. Below is a more detailed outline of what that includes.

Training

As seen over the last year, coaching is a vital to succeeding on the river. Assuring continuity of coaching would be one of my main focuses for the year. I would also like to appoint a head coach who would be in charge of setting up long-term training plans. For this I would look to recruit someone from CUBC who is not trialling next year or someone of similar standard and experience. I would take a long-term view of training, looking for strong performances for all boats throughout the year, culminating in May Bumps and potentially Henley.

Smaller boats:

To make people more aware of how their body position affects the balance of the boat I would like to focus on smaller boats during the first half of Michaelmas with Uni IVs as the transition point from IVs to VIIIs.

Land training:

1-2 compulsory sessions per week for the 1st and the 2nd VIII. These sessions would be a combination of circuits, weights and ergs. I would encourage everybody in the club to do some other sport, e.g. running, cycling or swimming, since cross training is a great way to improve base fitness.

Core sessions:

Weekly core sessions. These sessions would complement the shorter core sessions before outings and would provide rowers of all commitment levels with an opportunity to 'do some core'.

Holiday training/Training camp:

Keeping the level of fitness during the holidays is very important for continued improvement on the water during term time. To achieve this I would use holiday training plans which would encourage but not require the use of ergs. I would also work together with the Women's Captain to organise training camps before the start of each term (if possible).

Psychology

To be the best you not only have to be physically the strongest, you also have to be mentally strongest. Doing well in a race is not only about winning your category but more importantly about the lessons you learn in the process about your own limits and how to push beyond them. This idea of pushing yourself beyond your limits is something I would like to incorporate more into the training at all levels, but most importantly into the races we do.

Lower boats and novices

As Men's Captain I would support and encourage the MLBCs in any way possible. I would work hard together with the MLBCs to integrate the novices into the club, ensuring that as many novices as possible continue to row in Lent and Easter term as they are the foundation of a continued strong boat club. To encourage rowers of all levels of commitment I would look into the possibility of a 'Rec Squad' that would be encouraged to enter races throughout the year.

Personal notes

I started rowing in 2004 with the First Novice VIII, continuing in the 2nd Lent VIII in 2005. Since then I have rowed in the 1st May VIII in 2005 and the Fairbairns VIII and the Lent VIII in 2006. Next year I will be a third year physicist with plenty of time to commit to the club. I was my platoon’s security officer during both of my assignments in Kosovo. My military service has improved my team-work, organisational skills, discipline and the ability to work under stress. I also have previous committee experience with my high school student organisation.

Overall Captain

Currently the relationship between the Women's club and the Men's club is very good. So my aim would be to work together with the Women’s Captain to ensure that the good relationship between the two clubs continues. I would work actively together with the committee to resolve any problems regarding the running of the club and to prolong the existing sponsorship agreement with JP Morgan. In accordance with the proposed spending plans for next year, purchase of a new women's VIII and a new men's VIII would take place. I would also look into acquiring a new leg press.

I think that my commitment to the club so far shows that I would be a dedicated and capable captain able to maintain our position as the best boat club on the river. Rowing with First and Third has been a very enjoyable experience for me and standing for Men's Captain and Overall Captain would provide me with an opportunity to give something back to the club.

Proposed by:
Second by: