When it comes to learning to row at Edinburgh University, the message is clear: rowing for Edinburgh is a privilege, not a right. With an increasingly competitive beginner squad, amassing notable results including winning the Development 4+ category at the 2024 Henley Women’s Regatta, Edinburgh University Boat Club (EUBC) has earned its reputation as one of the most competitive and well-structured programmes in the UK. The programme sets a standard of hard work, developing students into well-rounded athletes. But what exactly makes the programme so special?
Founded in 1876, EUBC is one of Scotland’s oldest rowing clubs. Producing notable Olympians including Dame Katherine Grainger and Polly Swann, who began her rowing career on Edinburgh’s Union Canal, the club has become a hub for developing elite athletes, and the beginner programme is no exception. In the 2023-24 season, the club not only increased its beginner retention rate but also demonstrated its quality through the increasing number of athletes who successfully transitioned into its senior squad. Edinburgh’s beginner rowers are developed with a clear focus on longevity, with the programme prioritising long term development as a core objective. This philosophy underpins the beginner experience, you are trained and treated with the same rigour and expectations as a senior squad rower from the moment the training cycle begins.
This emphasis on long-term aspirations is paired with the club’s ability to attract talent from other sports. Operating a ‘Talented Athlete’ transfer programme, EUBC appeals to individuals with strong athletic backgrounds and brings them into the world of rowing. The beginner programme provides a home to nurture their capacity; its gruelling combination of cardiovascular endurance and mental strength catering to individuals predisposed to developing a competitive edge.
Mike Hughes, Head Coach of the Beginner Development Programme downplays any notion that Edinburgh’s success is built on something extraordinary, instead suggested that Edinburgh “simply does the right stuff well”. This ‘right stuff’ is supported by access to top-end facilities, a robust strength and conditioning programme and a training structure that maximises water time of Edinburgh’s Union Canal. Not only this, Edinburgh’s beginners also benefit from access to Strathclyde Park, a purpose-built lake less than an hour west of Edinburgh where the university’s main boat fleet is kept.
Unlike some beginner programmes, Edinburgh deliberately delays competitive racing until February. This allows rowers to focus on perfecting their technique, laying a solid foundation for speed and performance consistency when racing season begins. It is this process-orientated approach that Mike ensures, prioritising long-term success over short-term wins.
With all this in mind, what is it really like to be a part of this programme? Having joined the squad in September this year after fifteen years of competitive fencing, I was under no illusion that the beginner programme would provide unique challenge to my sporting career. Now deep into our winter training block, it is fair to say Mike builds truly professional, and committed athletes. Our squad was selected carefully, and you quickly learn to value the structure that the programme brings to your life. Training is discussed, organised and actioned precisely – there is no room to cut corners. This ethos, in my experience, has generated a togetherness in the squad that keeps everyone turning up to dark, early morning sessions at the boathouse, as well as hard set piece work after a long day at university.
The squads’ camaraderie has built quickly; you learn to push yourself, and your teammates push you in return. The depth this has produced in the squad was highlighted in the outcome of the BUCS Indoors 1000m race, where Edinburgh boasted a high calibre of top-end results in comparison to other UK universities.
Demand to maintain these performances remain high, but Edinburgh does consistently well to support its athletes, putting everything in place for you to trust the process, turn up, physically and mentally, and perform at your best. We are supported through consistent communication, team meetings, and individual check-ins, touchpoints which help in navigating the inevitable challenges of an intensive training schedule. Nutritional, psychological and experiential advice have fostered a supportive environment which have made the beginner programme a highly rewarding and enjoyable process to be part of. The privilege of being part of EUBC’s beginner development programme is not lost on me or my teammates, and as we progress towards racing season, it is clear we are in capable hands that will guide us to success on and off the water.
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