Blog: Ace

Men's Rowing at www.sonsrowing.org.uk

Men's Squad

The 2007 season promises to be an exciting and successful one for the Sons of the Thames men’s squad.

The club is looking to continue the progress and development made during last year, which started with a very new and inexperienced squad, many of them novices or people returning to the sport after a long break. By the end of June 2005, we were in a position to enter two VIIIs into the Henley Qualifiers for the Thames Cup, one of those crews missing out by only a few seconds. With many of that squad remaining at the club for the forthcoming season and several S3 level oarsmen already keen to join during the autumn, the prospects for the club look very positive.

There will be 2 distinct groups of rowers training at Sons next year – though the social interaction between the two will continue to be very strong. The relaxed and welcoming atmosphere of a smaller club means that new members are quickly integrated into the existing squads.

One group will be committed to a rigorous performance training programme, with the aim of a Thursday/Friday row at Henley in 2006. The second unit, containing equally talented oarsmen, is comprised of those who for one reason or another cannot make the commitment levels required for the performance group. To this end, the units are largely self-selecting, though there should be the flexibility for people to switch if circumstances change. Both units will receive coaching / training programmes appropriate for their level of commitment.

For the performance group, a standard 10 session week would be the norm: consisting of double outings on Saturdays and Sundays, 2 water sessions during the week, 2 ergos during the week and 2 weights sessions during the week.

For the other group, the majority of the water training would take place on the week-end double outings, though ideally one mid-week water session should also be a realistic aim. This is complemented by 2 ergo and 2 weights sessions during the week which can be done at a gym of your own convenience rather than at the club.

Rowers at Sons have an excellent range of facilities for their sport, which are more than sufficient for the size of the membership. The men’s squad has 3 VIIIs (including one Stampfli), 6 coxed/coxless IVs (including one Stampfli and one Lola) plus a variety of club sculls and pairs. We have our own gym on site with weights stations and 5 ergos. We are also fortunate in being able to use the bar upstairs in Linden House. Rowing club nights is on Thursdays, though significant developments during the summer have made this a popular place on other nights of the week too.

Sons, therefore, aims to cater for the dedicated rower, while recognising that there are many other people who wish to row, but have to set themselves realistic training targets based upon their work and family commitments. The social side of the club is equally important to the athletes from the club regardless of their training / rowing aims.

We welcome novices and complete beginners to the sport, who will receive supervision from their own coach.

If you would like to know more about Sons of the Thames or come down and have a look at the facilities, then please email isumter@bentleyreid.co.uk.

Ian Sumter
Men’s Captain
Sons of the Thames Rowing Club

www.sonsrowing.org.uk

by Ace on 17:12 on 1st May 2007