The first two weeks of August saw Shiplake College Boat Club open its doors to young amateur rowers, the second week of which was the College’s first residential rowing camp.
Both weeks started with everyone completing a capsize test before being split into various groups depending on their ability. Each group was coached by current members of the College’s coaching team including Mr Mackworth-Praed, Mrs Satch, Mr Bathe-Taylor and others.
Sessions were planned throughout each week, ensuring experience was gained in a variety of boats from singles through to eights. Everyone completed a skills session that, for some, involved more time in the water then out of it! Half way through the week, a group of more experienced rowers headed downstream to the famous Henley-on-Thames stretch, where they stopped for lunch before heading back up river for a swim in the pool to cool off. The less experienced group made the most of the quiet river and experienced fine singles for the first time after having spent the beginning of the week in crew boats.
Both weeks culminated in a mini-regatta on the Friday afternoon to mark the end of the camp. This saw those who hadn’t even held an oar at the beginning of the week race side by side in quads. For the intermediate and advanced groups, the singles and doubles were the boats of choice to pitch each other against.
Those doing the residential part of the camp took extra sessions, which were incorporated into the day. This included daily yoga and stretching sessions as well as trips to the cinema, The Leander Club and bowling.
All in all, the camps were a great experience held by fantastic weather. A huge thank you and well done to Mr Jenkins and all of the rowing coaches who led the Rowing Camps, and a big well done to everyone who took part. We look forward to welcoming a new cohort of budding rowers next summer.
