What the Future Holds
One year ago, as I took over the running of the Boat Club I was full of promise and excitement. A year later I come to you with the same excitement and more promise but with more Zeal!
The new Principal opened his account with the school talking about Zeal. He asked the question about whether or not the staff and pupils were prepared to fight with Zeal and push through the tough times to make it to the other side unscathed and on top. I feel that the Boat Club has to rise to the challenge that the Principal has set us. Can we as a Club fight with Zeal through the tough times to come out on top? I think we can and we have already shown in the past year that we have real Zeal.
It has been a tough year in terms of performances with only a handful of results to show for all the hard work that the crews and coaches put in. However, performances take time to achieve and it will also take time for the new structures to take real affect. Rome was not built in a day!
The new structures that were put in place last year take time to be understood, both by coaches and athletes, and the benefits will not be seen until we get to grips with them. We have moved on massively since last year and the Boat Club, in my mind, has a great future ahead of it.
We have put into place a new coaching structure which gives the athletes a clear and positive pathway through the age groups which will help them to fulfil their potential as rowers. New safety regulations are in place so that every athlete and coach is protected at all times in all environments. Facilities have been updated and refurbished, including the Boat House, Rowing Tank, Trailers and Gym. New equipment has been purchased most notably two new eights donated by The Bluefriars Charitable Trust, two new launches, new pontoons and new ergometers. The Boat Club now has an identity with the introduction of a new logo. This logo is not to take away from the Bluefriar but to complement it and sit side by side with it. This new logo will become synonymous with rowing excellence at Monkton and will take us into the next decade as a force to be reckoned with. Along with a host of new documents, a coaches and athletes handbook has been developed to ensure that as a Club we are sending out one clear message to each of its members, rather than a series of different ones. The profile of the Boat Club in the school has been pushed and participation has risen due to this effort with over 100 members, the largest group being the new 3rd form with over 30. If we can continue to recruit and retain these members we have a bright future ahead.
The next year will see phase two of the development plan take place and I hope that it will be as successful as phase one has been. Results will comeŚ.if we keep to our plans. I look forward to working with the rest of the coaching team and the athletes to ensure that their potential is fulfilled. When the chips are down and we need to pull through to come out on top we will continue to fight with Zeal and with a bit of luck succeed.