Joint men’s Captain Eryk Sokolowski gives a brief update on this term’s plans:
The season essentially started last week when we had our pre-term training camp here on the Cam. Around 16 men and women were there for both days, so we had some good introductory paddles in eights, and the pub trip afterwards was a success in breaking the ice between the two sides of the club. Novice taster sessions have been running this week with the improved format from last year where we train the rowers up on the ergs, then put them in the bank tub before finally taking them on the water in the wooden tub. We’ve had about 60 attendees, slightly more men than women if my estimates are correct, and I’ll also be taking out five others tomorrow who have shown an interest in novice coxing.
On the senior men’s side of the club things are looking a lot more positive than they have in previous years. We’ve had interest from 20 senior men, numbers which I haven’t heard of even from before my time. The plan is to have two men’s eights this term, erg tests have been happening this week and crew selection will be out shortly. The only issue we have is scarcity of senior coxes because the women also have two eights and we only have three coxes in total.
We’re planning on entering our first whole crew race next week at Autumn head, and then one or more of Bedford Head and Peterborough Head, followed by Uni Fours in November and finishing off with Fairbairns. Like I said, we have an exceptionally strong squad this Michaelmas and I’m looking forward to some good results this term.
After the Billygoats allocated us some extra coaching budget we’ve been on the hunt for some extra help with training – we’ll need it if we can maintain the size of the squad. We should be having a meeting this Thursday with a potential coach who sounds promising, a contact of Tony Moule’s.