It is always interesting to join the Boat Club at a school and compare things with previous experiences. No two schools are ever the same, but there are always enough similarities to be able to make comparisons.

My impression this season has been that there is a growing awareness of what is required to be competitive with other schools and to win tankards and medals. In order to do this it is certainly necessary to train more seriously on the land and to train in smaller units on the water as part of an overall plan. To this end we hope to build up our fleet of sculls, pairs and fours.

There is good morale in the club, largely as a result of the untiring efforts of J.M.B. who always seems to make time for the vast number of tasks. As someone whohas run a large boat club, I am only too aware of the multiplicity of details involved. B.S.M. makes up the other half of a useful 'double-act', always prepared to tow the trailer or to coach at all levels. With I.S., B.G.N. and all the other coaches running their crews, the future looks assured provided the hard work is applied. Rowing is a very exacting sport because crews only get results if they are prepared to put a lot into the training. As the 2nd VIII discovered this season once the training slackens, so the results begin to slip.

With the right policies and commitment, the name of Monkton Combe will become, once again, to be feared by other schools.