Club Committee

2015-2016 Manifestos

Rachel Grewcock - Women's & Overall Captain

First and Third is a part of my life. Joining as soon as I arrived, I have taken every opportunity to involve myself in the club, and have watched Lydia excel as Captain of the Women's Side. In what promised to be a difficult campaign, her example and enthusiasm inspired me to consider the role myself. I would like to support and advance a club which is unique in the dedication and cohesion of its members. I feel that I could best do this as Women's Captain.

Since learning to row in 2010, I have rowed, sculled and coxed in all types of boat, participating in various races around the country. I have rowed a full year in W1, and have coached a number of boats. This gives me a base of experience and understanding from which to co-ordinate outings, rowers, coxes and coaches for the coming year. Although currently only in my first year, my background at Loughborough Boat Club allows me to look beyond the Cam, and to potentially inject some new ideas into the running of the Women's Side.

Michaelmas Term

I would approach Michaelmas term with a squad format, and by employing the early introduction of a weights programme, to incorporate the whole of the Women's Side. Weights would take the form of predominantly circuit training, which would allow individuals to tailor sessions to their own level and progress. There has been a suggestion that fixed dumbbells could be used and stored in the boathouse; I would see this happen, so that circuits could be a more inclusive and sociable affair.

Prior to the start of term, I would like to run a training week to set the senior squad off on the right track. The main focus of this would be small boats, with a view to extending our use of sculling, in conjunction with small sweep-oar boats, throughout Michaelmas term and onwards. I believe that sculling makes for better rowers, and has an essential role to play in securing the purposefulness and focus of this term, and in ensuring the continued development of the top end of the squad, who could otherwise be neglected in a non-set-boat format. Practically, small-boat outings would enable those with ill-timed commitments to continue training as much as possible during daylight hours. I would like to encourage all who are keen, of both the novice and senior squads, to learn to scull, and I would commit to being on-hand to coach and bank-party on a regular basis.

Coaching

I plan to ask our current coaches to continue next year, as well as increasing efforts to encourage members of Black Prince to guest-coach. In particular, I have spoken to Chris Owen to try to keep him onboard for next term. Iain could be a valuable resource for the Women's Side. I would try to arrange for him to coach some outings, although I am aware that his ongoing commitment could be uncertain. Further options include encouraging the men, particularly those not rowing during Michaelmas term, to coach.

Novice Integration

I would like to see greater integration between the novice and senior elements of the club. Novice integration is of crucial importance for the retention of new members, and should be encouraged in all areas of the women's programme: at the boathouse, at weights and, most importantly, at breakfast after outings. This would allow us to exploit our incredibly friendly and welcoming atmosphere for the future success of the the club. To this end, I would ensure the early invitation of novice members to land training sessions and social events, and encourage the Women's Side to attend numerous swaps and events.

I enjoy running, and, as with Michaelmas term this year, I would endeavour to bank-party as many novice races as I am able, and combine my land sessions with something exciting to watch. I would encourage the mutual support of the squads, wherever possible; it's always great to hear some shouting. Presence is something which I value highly, and I would operate an open-door policy to help to foster a supportive environment for all rowers and coxes. It would also be a priority to identify the keenest members of the novice squad, and to really push for high attendance on training camp in January. By acting early, we are more likely to avoid the loss of potential upper boats rowers.

Moving on from integration to the subject of differentiation; crew selection would happen as early into Lent and May terms as possible, and be based, as with this term, upon 1k r24, 30 minute and 2k tests.

Communication between the Women's Captain and the WLBCs is paramount. A minimum of one weekly meeting would be held to discuss the week ahead. As I did not novice with First and Third, I would prioritize the recruitment of an experienced, past LBC to attend these meetings, at least in the first few weeks, to ensure that communication is maximized and effective. This would avoid such difficulties as could arise if the WLBCs were to be scheduled into outings which clash with their organization of novice sessions. Pre-emptive measures seem to be the optimal way to avoid this. If necessary, the appointment of a crew captain for W2 is an option which I would consider, as this proved effective in Lent term.