Including specific strength warm ups, stretching , and core & trunk sessions
Cheltenham College Boat Club Director of Rowing
October 2019 – End of Easter training camp 2022. Media available online.
City of Bristol Rowing Club
Watch COBRC vs Maidstone Invicta HRR 2017
Summer 2016, I helped out here with a few corporate rowing sessions and its accompanying competitive event, also taster and ‘learn to row’ course sessions. In December, Club Captain Andrew Osborne took me on to coach and run the senior men’s program.
Results: 2017
HoRR event cancelled (weather)
Wallingford Club 8+11th TT, finals cancelled (weather)
Met Regatta A 4- doubled up finishing 2nd in Tier 3 and 6th in Tier 2. B 4- finished 3rd in Tier 4.
Reading Regatta Runner up Elite 4-
Marlow Regatta: 3rd in Champ 4- B final, 3rd in Tier 2 4- A Final
Henley Royal, Wyfolds. Round 1 COBRC ‘B’ beat Sydney RC. COBRC ‘A’ beat Maidstone Invicta.
Thanks to Oz for working with me on the project and coaching, thanks to the coxes during the 8s and 4+ outings and racing, Thanks to all the rowers for not just putting in the graft but buying in to the program and training with intent day in day out, and all with great humour and spirit, James for putting in some hard hours as captain, and to the club for its support and keeping the launches operating!
We had 16 oarsmen race at our local head, and again two 8s race at Cam Kennedy’s (Bristol University Head of Rowing) fantastic ‘Head of a river race’ BBQ afternoon at Saltford on the cancellation of the tideway event. We had 14 oarsmen put in some big miles and quality pieces at our 3rd big weekend training camp of the season, at Wycliffe – thanks again Greg and Nick for having us. Following injury two oarsman made it back in to the top boats before and after Met regatta. Thanks to Monmouth for having us that winter weekend. We laid down some great training at Henley following Reading. Thanks to Chris and others for towing at various times!
A significant number of the squad managed to get a 2k pb, even with it being far from the primary objective of the training at that time. I don’t think anyone left a stone unturned in the process and so everyone can be satisfied that we achieved our maximum speed potential within the squad last season. I have the utmost respect for all. It was highly competitive internally and everyone played their part in the end results. Naturally, everyone wants more…and knows how tough it is to go faster…But of course it is possible…
Of our 8 oarsman racing at HRR, it was a first qualifying and race win for three of our ‘B 4’, in one of the highlight races of the whole regatta! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oneMKHrujSw&t=273s and a first win for two of our ‘A 4’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnPSAv_uPT0
Men’s captain James Wadsworth explained to me how these have been the best results in many years at the club, particularly at HRR with one crew pre-qualified, and a second crew qualified, and winning Wednesday round 1 races. On the Thursday round 2 races we were beaten by Haberfield (Australia) who made it to the semi finals and Sport Imperial who went on to win the Wyfolds.
Members of the club put in a vast amount of time and energy. BBC local radio interviewed the club. The junior, novice, senior men and women who make up the vibrant and buzzing City of Bristol squads are a seriously impressive and dedicated bunch. If you would like to be a part of fund raising for the new boathouse project please get in touch! Check out some campaign material here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvEFrQZadOU&feature=youtu.be
S&C Coaching
A block of 1-1 training could give you the edge you want and need in such an internally competitive environment within a squad.
If four of you wanted to train in a block together, consider small group personal training.
Cameron (left) featured. Upper body Mike Boyle strength test (max reps) suppine pull.
Various testing at start and end informs strengths and weaknesses and therefore the programming.
Training Camps
If you’re reading this you know what a difference a good training camp makes. I’ve done my fair share as a rower and as a coach in various locations.
Montemor-O-Velho , Figuera da Foz, held the European Rowing Championships in 2010. I worked here with club rowers for 5 days. I also had the pleasure of sitting in on Mike Hill’s sessions with the Portuguese national lighweight double scull.
Case Study
Cameron, City of Bristol senior oarsman (national champion with UWE in 2010).
During 12 weeks of 1 session/week, he increased in both the squats and pulls tests. His jump test score increased dramatically and his work done per stroke on the ergometer tests also increased. Cam’s movement also improved significantly, increasing his range in Thomas tests, ankle range, and shoulder lift off, from having some regions of slight restriction to having excellent ranges. Scapular integrity and Gerber lift-off tests also showed great improvement, along with deep overhead squat and single leg squats. Get in touch if you’d like to see my referenced case study viva, or data and training programming excerpts.