Rowing Camp April
This year’s Easter Rowing Camp was another fantastic success, offering the perfect blend of hard work, technical development, academic balance and plenty of fun along the way.
Set in the beautiful surroundings of Temple Sur Lot in the south of France, the camp was structured into two parts: senior rowers arrived first for a ten-day programme, with the juniors joining later for a full seven days of training.
In total, 80 girls and 10 staff members participated, supported by an encouraging visit from Mrs Jordan, our Headmistress, who spent a few days with us witnessing the energy, focus and spirit of the full squad first hand.
The primary purpose of the camp was to prepare our crews for the busy summer racing season ahead. However, we carefully balanced the intense training with important academic commitments: a total of 59 hours were set aside for revision and rest, allowing the girls to stay on top of their studies while pushing their physical and technical limits.
Each day featured two to three training sessions, both on the water and in the gym. This year, there was a particular focus on long sessions in small boats, helping all athletes develop sharper technical skills and endurance. Girls in younger years also spent time in singles, completing drills designed to improve their boat handling and confidence.
A highlight of the camp was the successful completion of the annual long row by the Championship Quad — for the first time! Impressively, two of the rowers (shout out to Eva and Jess W) even had to complete the row twice, stepping in as substitutes for the 1st Eight. The long row consists of a 13 km technical row up before stopping off at a landing stage for a break where the coaches kindly buy baked goods. The way back down is a 13 km time trial with only a 30 second break halfway. Overall, it’s a session of 26 km with the last stretch being filled with encouragement from the other rowers cheering them on from land.
Beyond the hard work and training, the camp was filled with fun and memorable moments. One of the most exciting and unique events was our ugly T-Shirt Swap, where rowers had to pick an ugly T-shirt to give to their assigned teammate. The swap brought plenty of laughter and excitement, as rowers proudly displayed their quirky, colorful and nostalgic t-shirts, all while bonding over shared experiences.
Another highlight was the Pink Kit Rowing Session, a special event where all the crews—seniors and juniors—came together for a fun and vibrant rowing session.
All boats rowed side by side pushing each other on regardless of experience or age.
Everyone was encouraged to wear pink for the session, and the result was an amazing sight: a sea of pink shirts, facepaint, and unis as the rowers’ energy filled the water with a brilliant sense of team spirit and determination.
We are excited to continue building on the momentum from this camp and look forward to seeing the growth and success of our crews throughout the racing season. Thank you to all the rowers, staff and supporters who made this camp so special.
