Trialling

The trialling season begins in earnest two weeks prior to the start of Michaelmas Term. All rowers and coxes are encouraged to take part in the summer Development Squad if possible, but this is not compulsory. It is also possible for late arrivals to join the squad until early October.

The single most important aim of the squad is to beat Oxford in the races in April. To do this, triallists must be willing to embrace the physical and mental boundaries of what they think is possible - and then push beyond them. Training is intense and commitment essential but can definitely be done (and has been many times in the past) in conjunction with getting a high class degree.

As well as being physically demanding the trialling experience is also very rewarding and you are sure to make many close friends in the squad.

CUWBC encompasses both lightweight and heavyweight women and we all train as one squad. For 2006, each individual lightweight crew member must weigh under 59kg on race day. This is an experiment for this year and will be reviewed after the 2006 races. The weight limit may revert to 57kg average, and 59kg individual maximum for the 2007 race.

Obviously, it is not necessary to start at this weight at the beginning of the season but it has to be attainable by Boat Race Day. Dieting is monitored very closely throughout the season and this year we have had dietry advice from Jacqueline Boorman who deals with nutrition for the GB Rowing squad.

For more details regarding lightweight rowing, please contact the lightweight captain.

“The first thing to strike me when I began trialling was the shear determination and commitment that gripped the rowers, coxes, and coaches I was meeting. There is nothing more satisfying than to strive towards a common goal in one’s sport with the knowledge that each member of the crew is also giving it 110%. 12 weeks, 1500km, 3200kg, and many very good friends later; crew selection is now imminent. If nothing else can be taken from the experience, it will be the memory of those occassions where I have felt both honoured and excited to be involved: watching the sun rise over Ely, casting an orange glow over its cathedral; the breaking of sheet ice with the placement of my blade on a particularly cold morning; the shouts of “Come on Cambridge” as we crossed the start line of a Winter Head Race. Of course, it will be the shouts of hundreds as 3 Cambridge boats cross the finish line in front of Oxford on 1 April, that will live forever in the memories of those involved.”

-Kristina Marshall, Lightweight Triallist , Jesus

“Trialling with CUWBC this term has been a demanding yet rewarding experience. Once initial shocks such as the intensity and sheer volume of the sessions, not to mention the time of the train in the morning (05:59…!) wore off, I began to settle in and actually enjoy the challenge of everything. The enthusiasm and dedication of the coaches and other triallists has been inspiring, all of whose efforts are focused towards producing 3 amazing results come the 1st of April.”

-Gillian McFarland, Caius