As I move on from Monkton, I reflect on what was a really successful year for the Boat Club. With wins and medals won by both the boys and girls crews it struck me that three out of the 1st four had started their rowing outside school, Peter, Paris and myself. In addition our very helpful, cheery and efficient crew services manager (and ex 1st VIII member) Tom also began his rowing life at Bradford on Avon.
I started coxing at the club at the ripe old age of 8. Timid, nervous and very, very small I was put out firstly in a tub pair to cox dad and another oarsman. With a voice resembling a mouse and coxless IVs coming at high speed towards me, I thought a coxing future might be in doubt. Somehow with only a few skirmishes with the bank and the odd scenic route I managed to steer from the boathouse to the weir and back again. They allowed me back again and so I went on from there. About 3 months later at about 8am on the coldest and foggiest January morning my doubts as to the sense of the sport came to the fore. Wrapped in an emergency blanket and armed with numerous handwarmers and a hot water bottle I was bundled in the bows of a veteran IV. Packing was vital to prevent me from disappearing completely into the bow section. By the end I was frozen. Hypothermia is a slight exaggeration but something not far short set in.
Despite this I rapidly improved and enjoyed my coxing career. Many magical summer evenings were enjoyed on the river along with the deluges. I was involved in many wins, well into double figures and I gained experience of many large events such as the Tideway and the Nationals at Holme Pierrepont. In my early races, Dad could be seen struggling with sandbags from the trailer to the landing stage, much to the amusement of spectators and especially the opposition. A minimum weight of 55 kilos had to be met and for a while there was more ballast than me no joke!
After about 3 years of coxing, my appetite for rowing and competing was thoroughly whetted. The play-boat was my first experience of sculling. One of the most vivid memories is the image of Barry, (now Monktons boatman) standing on the landing stage shouting has he got in yet, the boat hasnt gone down in the water! I was coached regularly by Barry, Dad and some of the other veterans. Soon I was whizzing up and down the clubhouse stretch resembling a pond skater. My friends showed interest and Tom, Peter and Paris came along to give rowing a go. Then in what seemed no time, Tom and I were entered into the J12 doubles at Worcester Veteran and Junior Regatta. In all honesty I cant remember the result but I dont think we won. All good experience we were repeatedly told.
From there we trained together and all moved on from the Junior School to the Senior School. We were soon racing for Monkton and in the Schools Head of the River Race in the 3rd form we finished 7th out of 37. We all kept on rowing and Tom, Pete, and Paris all made the 1st crew 2 years ago, as I stroked the 2nd VIII. Tom then left to do greater things such as organising everyone in the boatclub, making cakes for the races and doing any running repairs. With the advantage of a little more height and weight I made it into the top four this year much to my great delight. It was a real honour to represent the School in the 1st boat, and it was tremendous that three of the original Bradford brigade were back in the same boat. The other member of our four, Will, was also a great inspiration as he was trialling for Great Britain. We had a really enjoyable season, as fitness and technique were employed to try to take on the strength of other schools.
I would like to thank everyone who started us off six years ago at Bradford, and especially Barry who had the opportunity to see us race many times this season and notch up some good results. Sarah was also a vital part of the team, in what was only really her first year of coxing. I understood some of the difficulties as it brought back some memories of those first few trips in the bow loaders at Bradford. I would like to thank also Mr Conington once again on behalf of the crew for all of his hard work coaching and motivating us last season. Rowing is the aspect I will probably miss most from Monkton, as not only was it beneficial for discipline and fitness but it was a good escape from the pressures of the classroom and many friendships were made and strengthened.