During the Summer holidays rowing camps took place at Shiplake College, held by Director of Rowing Mr David Currie. 90 rowers took part across the two weeks of the camps, aged between 13 and 18. With the camps being open to all levels of experience, there was a good balance between novice and intermediate rowers. This made for a fun and challenging week of training and rowing games. The focus of the week was to improve small boat skills, and general confidence in the water. At the conclusion of the camps, every single rower had been in a single scull, impressing the coaching staff with their eagerness, and ability to quickly grasp the skills needed.
During the week, crew boat sessions were also run, taking advantage of the College’s well-equipped Boathouse! Participants rowed in eights, octuples, quad sculls, double sculls and pairs. After the week of intense training, a mixed ability Regatta was held, in which all of the rowers took part and showed great competency.
Alongside the rowing training, a variety of other activities were held. Camp participants enjoyed swimming in the College pool, canoeing, running and ergo competitions in the gym. The second week of the camps saw Great Britain rower and double Olympic medallist Matthew Langridge drop in for a visit. Matthew spent time hearing about the training that had been taking place across the camps, and spoke of his own rowing journey. He was happy to talk to the groups, and show his Silver and Bronze Olympic medal from 2008 and 2012, providing motivation for the groups. Perhaps a future Olympian was found!