Development Squad
Are you interested in trialling for OUWBC next year? There is still an opportunity to row with us this summer in Molesey Amateur Regatta (18th July). For more information please contact President Sonia Bracegirdle.
What is it?
Every year OUWBC run a development squad for those interested in rowing or coxing for Oxford. The club sees it as an opportunity to develop talent and potential within the university and to encourage people to get involved with university rowing as well as college rowing. The development squad offers a taste of university rowing and is usually the starting point for the majority of people coming through OUWBC each year. Eight out of the nine athletes in the 2009 Blue Boat went through the development squad system. Every year in the Blue Boat there is normally at least one person who only started rowing at Oxford with their college the year before, then went on to do the development squad that summer and decided to trial, before finding themselves in the Blue Boat the following March! Many people do not realize just how much they can achieve.
When is it?
The development squad runs in Trinity Term each year, often with a couple of meetings beforehand at the end of Hilary Term around the time of Torpids. It runs in two phases: one before Summer Eights and one after. The aim is to put together boats to do Wallingford or BUCS regatta early on in Trinity Term, and then regattas such as Reading Amateur and Henley Women's, which usually fall at the very end of term.
Where is it?
OUWBC train out at Radley, 10km north of Oxford. The development squad trains alongside the senior squad at Radley.
Who does it?
We look for potential in people more than anything else and are not expecting ready made Olympians! We want people who enjoy rowing or coxing and want to improve. Each year we get a good mix of people from different colleges, both undergraduates and postgraduates, all doing a variety of subjects. Many have only been rowing for two terms with their colleges, others may have rowed for a couple of years or more.
What is involved?
Training sessions are all water based and usually involve two weekday evenings plus double sessions on Saturday and Sunday mornings. We cycle out to Radley so you need a roadworthy bicycle, helmet and lights. The regattas take place at weekends. See below for this year's racing dates.
Why get involved?
The development squad is a great opportunity to to get some good coaching and racing experience to take back to your college. It also offers a taste of university rowing and is usually the starting point for the majority of people coming through OUWBC each year. Anyone interested in trialling should definitely give it a go. Even if you are unsure about trialling the development squad is an awesome chance to see what it's all about so is always worth a shot. You will probably surprise yourself when you do!
Regatta dates 2009:
Wallingford Regatta - 3rd May
Reading Amateur Regatta - 13-14th May
Henley Women's Regatta - 19-21st May
(Henley Royal Regatta - 1-5th July)
(Molesey Regatta - 18th July)
I haven't done the development squad: can I still trial?
Yes, there is absolutely no requirement to have participated in the development squad beforehand. For more information about trialling, please contact Sonia Bracegirdle (President) or any of the other committee members.
