Club Committee

2010-2011 Manifestos

Alexey Morgunov - Men's Lower Boats Captain

My name is Alexey Morgunov and I am a 1st year BioNatSci. Last October I signed up for a tubbing session to “give this rowing thing a try”. Now it would be hard to imagine my life lacking the regular early morning outings, long erging sessions and many other fun activities we all can't live without. I rowed in NM1 in Michaelmas term, M2 in Lent term and Head of the River, and I am currently rowing in M3 for May Bumps.

The Boat Club has given me a lot and has had a strong positive impact on my life. I would like to return the favour by contributing to making sure that First and Third remains the top club on the Cam. As a MLBC, my primary focus would be to see to it that the Lower Boats' training is properly organised ensuring great results in competitions; as well as recruiting and developing a new generation of novices. I plan to achieve this by doing the following:

Novice Recruitment and Training:

• Publicising the Boat Club amongst the novices to ensure that many of them sign up to try rowing:
• strong impact at the Chaplain's Squash (making our stand truly outstanding, think flag, pictures, oars, trophies, lycras etc.);
• continuing the “tradition” of Boatie Cocktails;
• including a couple of pages on rowing in the Freshers' Handbook;
• a presentation in the Winstanley with videos, stories etc.
• Running tubbing sessions and then switching into a squad system of outings in VIIIs after a week or two; organising (traditional) coaching by members of the Upper Squad; according to a focused training plan like this year – developing both technique and fitness.
• Making sure that all levels of commitment and ability are catered for by providing a flexible training plan with both water and land based sessions; treating every novice individually and encouraging the development of those showing promise and/or keenness early on.
• Focusing on forming a strong set of crews to win Clare Novices and Fairbairn's.
• Making sure that novices enjoy rowing (and the social side of it!) and encouraging them to return in Lent term.

Lower Squad Training:

• In case there are many people wishing to row in Michaelmas, organising training sessions for returning Lower Squad members in Michaelmas term to enter (and, obviously, do well in) Fairbairn's.
• Focusing on early but efficient crew selection according to a wide range of criteria in Lent and Easter terms to provide as much as possible time to train in set crews in preparation for Bumps.
• Entering (and winning!) most on-Cam races and, if people are keen, an occasional off-Cam race to show a strong presence of First and Third.
• Promoting contact between Upper and Lower Squads in terms of coaching and also encouraging Lower Squad members to trial into Upper Boats and providing them with coaching and support to maximise their success.
• Coordinating coaching and availabilities efficiently to maximise the time spent on useful things and minimise time lost.
• Introducing people to sculling and providing coached sessions for those interested.
• Having fun and doing PRETTY DAMN WELL in Bumps!

Proposed by: Gonzalo Garcia
Seconded by: Emma Leadbetter