The Seven Dwarfs
Seven girls were left over after a rather weak start with three colours including the captain giving up. Being an odd number made crew organisation difficult and it was eventually decided that the two best combinations would be a coxed four and a double scull.
The Lent Term saw the four winning at Avon County Head and coming a respectable sixteenth at the Schools Head. During the Easter holidays the girls squad went to Nantes along with the rest of the senior squad. Because there were so many on the training camp, we stayed in a place somewhere between a hotel and a hostel. After our initial 'settling in ' period there all was fine. The training began on arrival, much to our bemusement. The crews were, after careful consideration, arranged so as to be permanent . . . at least that was the idea...
After the training an eventful journey home, and it was back to school. As soon as we returned, the four was never the same. There was great promise in our first outing which showed a marked improvement over the quality of rowing in the Lent Term, but thereafter, crew members became ill and we had to use substitutes to race. For one member, Bridgnorth was her first regatta whilst it was the crews' near last,
The double achieved success at three of their regattas in a row (excuse the pun). The four did not have the good fortune of having straight finals but eventually got their novice win at Bridgnorth. By the noise we made crossing the line first any bystander would have thought we had won the Olympics, and in our thoughts we had.
Our end of season was Thames Valley where both crews realised how attitudes affect performance. We had a bad start to the season with experienced colours deciding that to row with novices was not what they wanted to do. Gradually numbers declined until a 'stable' seven was reached. We are, as the title suggests - lacking vertically - some more than others. This too had a notable effect on our performance against crews which were much bigger than us, in all dimensions. The girls all decided to focus on the task in hand - to get their novice win. Every time we were beginning to see results something went wrong. If it wasn't illness it was exams and as races drew close it was clear that all was not going to be smooth. It hit me at the end of the season that we never raced in the intended crew - to achieve as much as we did was a credit to both the girls and coaches.
Girls‘ rowing at Monkton is quite a minor sport and sadly the club has diminished further in size recently. Commitment is essential and without it, success is very rare. To be committed to a sport and team is a feeling which once found can be impossible to lose. Young blood is needed and perhaps in time rowing for the girls could be introduced from the third form.
Opportunities should be grabbed with both hands and this season shows both taken and wasted ones. Taken ones have resulted in the IV's novice win and a bronze medal at National Schools' Regatta for the double. Wasted ones have been turning up late to games, deciding one's heart isn't fully in it and not competing when given the chance. When the girls decide to commit themselves completely and to make use of the facilities on offer to them maybe then the numbers will increase. They must be seen to be willing and whole-hearted about their chosen sport.
The season has been a hard one but we have all thoroughly enjoyed the competition we have had and have all drawn our own definitions as to what success is. My personal one is that I have captained and coxed some of the most determined girls who are a credit to both the club and school. For the next captain and girls squad, my advice is simply to have fun and enjoy what you have chosen to do. Aim high and work hard but remember that the time spent on the river will include moments you will never forget. Good luck to you and the rest of the club for the coming season.
Faith Harries
Captain of Girls Boats
The Seven Dwarfs
Seven girls were left over after a rather weak start with three colours including the captain giving up. Being an odd number made crew organisation difficult and it was eventually decided that the two best combinations would be a coxed four and a double scull.
The Lent Term saw the four winning at Avon County Head and coming a respectable sixteenth at the Schools Head. During the Easter holidays the girls squad went to Nantes along with the rest of the senior squad. Because there were so many on the training camp, we stayed in a place somewhere between a hotel and a hostel. After our initial 'settling in ' period there all was fine. The training began on arrival, much to our bemusement. The crews were, after careful consideration, arranged so as to be permanent . . . at least that was the idea...
After the training an eventful journey home, and it was back to school. As soon as we returned, the four was never the same. There was great promise in our first outing which showed a marked improvement over the quality of rowing in the Lent Term, but thereafter, crew members became ill and we had to use substitutes to race. For one member, Bridgnorth was her first regatta whilst it was the crews' near last,
The double achieved success at three of their regattas in a row (excuse the pun). The four did not have the good fortune of having straight finals but eventually got their novice win at Bridgnorth. By the noise we made crossing the line first any bystander would have thought we had won the Olympics, and in our thoughts we had.
Our end of season was Thames Valley where both crews realised how attitudes affect performance. We had a bad start to the season with experienced colours deciding that to row with novices was not what they wanted to do. Gradually numbers declined until a 'stable' seven was reached. We are, as the title suggests - lacking vertically - some more than others. This too had a notable effect on our performance against crews which were much bigger than us, in all dimensions. The girls all decided to focus on the task in hand - to get their novice win. Every time we were beginning to see results something went wrong. If it wasn't illness it was exams and as races drew close it was clear that all was not going to be smooth. It hit me at the end of the season that we never raced in the intended crew - to achieve as much as we did was a credit to both the girls and coaches.
Girls‘ rowing at Monkton is quite a minor sport and sadly the club has diminished further in size recently. Commitment is essential and without it, success is very rare. To be committed to a sport and team is a feeling which once found can be impossible to lose. Young blood is needed and perhaps in time rowing for the girls could be introduced from the third form.
Opportunities should be grabbed with both hands and this season shows both taken and wasted ones. Taken ones have resulted in the IV's novice win and a bronze medal at National Schools' Regatta for the double. Wasted ones have been turning up late to games, deciding one's heart isn't fully in it and not competing when given the chance. When the girls decide to commit themselves completely and to make use of the facilities on offer to them maybe then the numbers will increase. They must be seen to be willing and whole-hearted about their chosen sport.
The season has been a hard one but we have all thoroughly enjoyed the competition we have had and have all drawn our own definitions as to what success is. My personal one is that I have captained and coxed some of the most determined girls who are a credit to both the club and school. For the next captain and girls squad, my advice is simply to have fun and enjoy what you have chosen to do. Aim high and work hard but remember that the time spent on the river will include moments you will never forget. Good luck to you and the rest of the club for the coming season.
Faith Harries
Captain of Girls Boats