The Road to Henley

Henley Royal Regatta is the biggest event of the season for every British rower. Still, one could argue that it plays an even more significant role In the junior rowing world – posing as the grande finale to the year, where schoolboy and girl crews have the opportunity to race alongside local competition as well as seasoned Internationals. It’s this mix and prestige that make this event the one to win. As a result, many of us find our training throughout the year all boils down to that one sunny week in July when the idyllic town of Henley-upon-Thames is transformed into a beautiful battleground. Over the coming months, I hope to document the highs and lows of our season in preparation for the big event.

But first, to set the scene: I row for a tiny school program, where talent is mostly home-grown, and with a small group of 16-18 year-olds in our performance squad, we scarcely have enough athletes to make up three quads! Historically our school has sculled, and it is, for this reason, we continue to follow this discipline; hence our ultimate goal is to be victorious in the Diamond Jubilee Challenge Cup (as well as the Fawley of course!). Although small, we are mighty and have a burning desire to build on our previous victories, which increase in number year-on-year and, in the process, restore our reputation to that of 20 years ago. So, I invite you to join us for the ride, as we rise from the ashes.

March:

At last, we have returned!

Finally, after three long months of home training, on the 8th of March, the team was reunited together back at school. Seeing faces and friends on a screen is incomparable to a real-life hug or conversation, so while we all stayed closely in touch over lockdown, I cannot explain how freeing it feels to be back together again – as I’m sure is the case for schools across the nation.

Throughout lockdown, as previously mentioned, we were kept busy on the Erg, with daily Zoom calls, circuit training or Sunday catch-ups, there was a definite benefit of regular contact besides keeping on top of training. For example, it gave rest to the arduous hours spent at a bedroom desk, learning off a laptop, as well as moralising the group and reminding us of the goals we share. Even when faced with a 5k test in the final weeks of lockdown, the team showed perseverance and completed the test on zoom; with PBs across the board, it felt good to know we weren’t being limited by training in isolation. This also resulted in some exceedingly promising results in the GB junior rankings.

Of course, though, there is nothing quite like being back in a boat. Surprisingly too, the weather seemed to warm for our return, but the cherry on top was the immediate option to row in crew boats, so avoiding the long paddles in singles. As well as getting out on the water, we have also returned to our strength and conditioning programme at the gym – the fact that the accumulation of lead in my legs after conditioning can attest to.

However, since we’ve last had access to these facilities, the season in front of us has changed remarkably. It seems that our Road to Henely may be a little longer than expected. With the event being moved to mid-August, our season has been prolonged, inadvertently allowing for more training, though with the only formal events prior to HRR currently NSR and Henley Women’s. Despite qualifying for greater training time, the move has resulted in a clash with Junior World Rowing Championships, which is a big problem. However, when considering the depth of our squad, hopefully, the conflict should not impact our crew’s performance.

After a concise three weeks at school, we return home for the Easter break. As the same with many other clubs and schools, usually this time of year would be designated for an overseas training camp to top up the pre-regatta season miles (and all-important tan) in preparation for an explosive start to summer. Of course, this is not an option this year, but we will be continuing a demanding training programme from home, which revolves around crew boat seat racing for the first event of the year: National Schools’. The virtual camp will also feature the first free rate 2k test of the season.

While I feel it is far too early and far too risky to say that there is a light at the end of the tunnel, slowly things do feel like they’re returning to normal, and there will be some degree of racing this summer, even if it’s a little upside down and back to front. I’m sure that National School’s and The Scullery will give our crew the opportunity to test themselves against the competition for the first time – and I’m confident we’ll come out on top.

See you there!

January:

So just when things looked like they were going to get better, lockdown #3 happened. Suddenly, without the ability to train on the water, being away from the team, trying to think positively about this season is becoming increasingly challenging. However, this is just the pessimist in me talking. We can be grateful for the tough December training to inspire us through the coming weeks: through adversity comes opportunity.

When the Christmas holidays came around it was a breath of fresh air, after the roughest term of training, it was refreshing not to constantly have sweaty hair or be trapped in my equally as sweaty all-in-one. Initially, as the tier system allowed us to, we could train on the water more regularly with water sessions – momentarily – becoming more frequent. We’d often use this time to lengthen our paddles in bigger boats, before moving those involved in GB trials into their singles, allowing a healthy balance across the whole squad. It was also great to reintegrate with the boys’ squad following our separation during the school term; more company on the water translates to a little more competition. One memory that stands out here is my ‘drag race’ against the Boys A quad during a UT2 paddle; unfortunately, it was me who came off worse after they stole the favourable line around a tight bend. In addition to frequent water sessions, in the weeks before Christmas, we could use the school gym, which certainly helped burn off the Christmas Dinner, and provided means for our Christmas ‘fun’ session – which in true tradition is in no way fun at all!

It was Monday, 4th January, the night before we were to return to normality, when things once more, across the nation, were wholly flipped for the third time. No rowing until February meant, of course, the possible cancellation of Henley Fours and Eights Head, our head and Junior GB trials, therefore leaving us without foreseeable motivation to inspire our at-home training endeavours. Luckily, we were quickly issued with an at-home training plan to follow, taking the stress off deciding how to spend training time. The sessions include erging, running, cycling and circuits to weave between our online lessons, both keeping us active and assisting in our quest to maintain concentration in class. In addition, we have the lunchtime FaceTime circuit session with the girls, where we are lead by our captain in a simple, but challenging, bodyweight workout. Although these are only three times a week, it’s still so lovely to have a chat and catch up with the girls to maintain camaraderie we share. For such a small group who usually spend every day with each other, it’s certainly weird being separated.

We’re constantly reminded of how important this time is to better ourselves and be selfish, so we can ultimately work on ourselves as athletes to become the best we possibly can be. I find working from home rids me from easy distraction, and I have more time in the day to balance prep on top of training.

You know the world must be upside down when the return to school is met with anticipation! When we can get back to school, train and see friends once again, the pessimistic mood will hopefully be lifted, especially with vaccinations now rolling out. So, whilst it’s easy to feel sad and demotivated in these times, our coach always makes sure to remind us tough people come from tough challenges, and with NSR and HRR still on the horizon we can look to the future and work for it in the present.

December:

I think I speak for all rowers when I say the best training is those warm, balmy evening water sessions when the water is glassy, and the Oakleys can be used as sunglasses rather than a statement accessory. But I cannot think of anything more alien right now. Lockdown has proved a massive challenge for all junior rowers across the UK, the squad and I feel very privileged to be able to continue our water sessions in games time. However, they have been limited, short and cold, it certainly provided respite from the erg. 

November has been challenging for the girls. We were pre-warned, by our coach, at the beginning of this month’s training plan, that it would be the most challenging month to face, yet we made it to the other side! The schedule was packed with testing, which should have been for GB trialists only, however thanks to the compassion of our coaches, everyone in the team had to complete them. We started with a 2k rate capped 24, followed only two weeks later by the infamous 30 minutes rate 20, which I find the toughest battle, both mentally and physically. This was followed the week next by a 5k at 26 to top off the hat-trick for the month. All tests produced PBs across the board for the team, which symbolised a strong start to the season, especially so for trialists, who were all put into commanding positions for the first instalment of ranking this season. Moving into December, I’m pleased to announce I no longer get shouted at when playing Christmas music in the gym, but Christmas trap music seems to be the preference of the girls – who knew that even existed! There’s a real sense of accomplishment from finishing November’s training; the girls seem to be building a sense of confidence and strength – hopefully our hard work will justify second helpings on Christmas day. 

Work in the gym has also increased in intensity and weight. There’s nothing like a lower-body loaded session before a hard erg in the afternoon, to make you question if it’s all worth it! Exacerbating this, there’s been an increase in schoolwork as of late, with more tests and prep than ever before; the phrase student-athlete has never been more fitting. I believe one thing all student-athletes must face at some point in their career, is the mammoth juggling task of balancing sport and school, regardless of how tempting it is to prioritise what is most enjoyable. Our Year 13s have felt this most, with their mocks aptly placed alongside our erg testing, I don’t think they’ve been able to pause for breath, thank goodness the holidays are just beyond the horizon. 

As mentioned before, we have been lucky enough to continue water training as part of Games lessons, even if they can only run twice a week. Somehow, mother nature has blessed us with some anticyclonic conditions over the past few weeks, so while we’d usually be faced with wet and windy storms, the calmer conditions have provided the opportunity for continued training in small boats, mainly singles. As there are no events in the foreseeable future, there has been a big focus around technique across the squad, so when we are finally reunited in the quad, it will come together like a jigsaw. Another incredible moment from the past month has been the purchase of the new telemetry system for the girl’s quad. It was fascinating to be able to reflect and compare our water performance as we have previously not been able to do, most significantly regarding wattage and our power curves. Although the new addition puts an added degree of pressure to perform whilst on the water, ultimately, we must remember that the telemetry will help us come together as one and strengthen our work as a crew. 

I can say, however, to raise our profile as individual athletes and to set out a standard in our school’s name, for the first time, the trialists in the girl’s squad competed at the Virtual British Indoor Rowing Championships on the 5th and 6th of December. This meant another test, possibly the worst of all, a 2k free-rate. The sixth form girls arrived at school wherein the gym were our ergs, lined up neatly, were hooked onto the British Rowing system, connecting us to hundreds of other competitors both across England and the rest of Europe. Notably, the atmosphere was tense, going against girls from Sweden, Russia and Poland it was hard to say how we thought we were going to do, it was hard to get in a mindset where we felt calm and collected, but most of all it was hard to concentrate on the seemingly simple task at hand: a 2k. Thanks to a great support system and a strong field of athletes, all our girls achieved PB’s, an accolade in itself, as well as all placing in the top part of a diverse field. We were all immensely proud of the effort we put in, with the only emotion to match being immense relief as we prepared for the relay the following day. Unsurprisingly we were all a lot more excited for the relay; there was a tangible buzz in the room, we were all confident in each other’s abilities, and knew we could push through for the win. After the success of the weekend, it was only fitting for a group takeaway in celebration of our accomplishments. 

With more water sessions on the horizon, the squad feels positive moving into the future with whatever a more competitive season may bring. Reflecting on November, it feels that it was somewhat monotonous and uneventful; however, it’s important to remember that it’s the long hard training, behind closed doors, in the winter months that contribute to the red box at Henley, come July. As the saying goes, ‘ergs don’t float’, but the winter break will allow us to get back to where we need to be on our road to Henley.

November:

We started the season with a lot of excitement. The start of school has meant the return to some form of normality, with regular water sessions and physical company on the erg. We’ve even managed to make the monotony of erg season somewhat enjoyable with trivial changes, such as jazz music in place of drum and bass, or my personal favourite, rowing with the lights off to keep distractions at bay and spirits lifted. I feel this has contributed significantly to our early season improvements; it feels like we’re a team again pushing towards a common goal at a shared pace. On the water, it’s clear that the winter mileage is steadily increasing. We have been training mostly in small boats, with regular competitive pieces against each other, so we all appreciated the move into early selected quads in late October!

October also saw our first taste of competition since February, with privately organised fixtures against local clubs. The first of which only saw training alongside fellow a WJ18 quad, who we shared the longest row of the season so far with. After a long technical session, it was time for the battle paddling, rate capped at 20, in which we prevailed quite substantially – maybe all that steady-state does have its benefits, I just don’t want to admit it! Indeed, it was interesting as well as beneficial to see how other clubs have used their time over lockdown and how this quality of training has shaped their current position, the matchup was an encouraging first ‘event’ of the season, especially with consideration given to who we faced later in the week.

On home water we’ve always been the underdogs to the clubs upstream, we’re all scullers and share an intense rivalry for clubs within 10k of each other, a victory against them would be symbolic of our hard work and set a precedent for how each of our confrontations will go in the future. The local races saw three clubs put forward their selected crews for a 3000m time trial on our shared water, which would then determine the crew we would race alongside in our regatta style pieces. The headwind was still fast, meaning we felt apprehensive; as the ‘A’ crew, we were under pressure, both from our coaches as well as ourselves. 

We were the first crew down the canal, chased by those who we saw as our biggest threat, yet it seems this added stress boosted our performance to a 27-second victory, seeding us against a men’s crew! Racing against the boys was an opportunity to put out a performance we could be proud of rather than one where we could easily dominate. Winning this was a thrilling experience, although, with lots to take away. It was a symbolic victory that helped us see how far we’ve come.

I look forward to our next private battle after lockdown has ended.

As the days get shorter and darker I feel fortunate to be able to train during games lessons despite a second national lockdown, however, I’m sure we’ll be seeing much more of the erg, and I’ll have to retrieve my old running shoes from the back of my wardrobe. 

Every day we are reminded that nothing is set in stone, and the only direction is forward towards HRR, but I feel it is the unanimous belief of the girls that no matter what this season may bring, Henley is our ultimate goal and whatever is decided will be in the best interest of the crew and college.

– RayRows

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