The Boatclub & Getting Involved
If you are interested in getting involved in Churchill College Boat Club, there
are many opportunities. Whether you would like to row, cox or coach, and whether
you are experienced rower or a total novice, CCBC has a crew at your level of
ability and interest for you to be a part of. This page will give you the
answers to some common questions...
"Who is eligible?"
The Churchill College Boat Club is open to all members of Churchill College -
undergraduate students, postgraduate students, and fellows.
"How is the Club organised?"
Although the Club President and Senior Treasurer are College fellows, the
day-to-day running of the Boat Club is managed by a committee of students. There
are men's and women's crews in the Churchill College Boat Club, and so there are
corresponding men's and women's captains and vice-captains. (Either the men's or
women's captain is also the overall captain of the Club.) Broadly speaking, the
captains are responsible for the senior boats (1st and 2nd), and the
vice-captains are responsible for the lower boats and for the novice crews in
Michaelmas term. The club has built up links with a wide range of coaches who
kindly give up their time for us throughout the year.
"Why would I want to row?"
- It's a great way to get fit
- The racing is thrilling
- It's a fun, safe sport
- Rowing in the Bumps on the Cam is a fantastic Cambridge tradition
- You get the chance to compete in major international events like the
Head of the River Race and the Henley Royal Regatta
- So many people in Cambridge are involved in rowing that it has a
bustling social scene all of its own - it's a great way to make friends
- And I forgot to mention, rowing is highly addictive
"What types of races do Churchill crews compete in?"
- Head races - These are time trials against the clock. The
premier race of Michaelmas term for both seniors and novices is a head race
called the Fairbairn Cup. Churchill crews also compete in the Head of the River
Race on the Tideway in London. This is the premier head race in Europe.
- Regattas - These are side-by-side races which involve
between two and six crews. The Clare Novices Regatta and the Emma Sprints are
two prominent College regattas on the Cam. Churchill crews also compete in
regattas outside Cambridge, including the Henley Royal Regatta, the world's
premier rowing contest.
- Bumps races - The Bumps races are the highlight of the
Cambridge rowing calendar. In these thrilling races, seventeen boats per
division start in a long line a length and a half apart, and the aim is to try
to crash into the boat in front before being hit by the pursuing crew.
- Other races - All the above races are for eights. There are
also head races and regattas for fours, pairs, single sculls and double sculls
throughout the year.
"I've never rowed before but I would like to give it a
try. How can I get involved?"
If you have never rowed before, the best way to get involved is to sign up to
join a novice crew in Michaelmas term. In fact, most Cambridge senior rowers,
and the vast majority of senior rowers at Churchill, learned to row as novices
in Cambridge. There are usually between three and four novice crews for men and
for women. The number of crews depends on the number of people interested, so
everyone can get involved.
Early in the term, you will be taught the basics of rowing so that you get a
good feel for the correct technique and rhythm required. Halfway through the
term, you will get your first chance to test your skills in your first race, the
Cam Winter Head. Later in the term is your first side-by-side race, the Clare
Novice Sprints, and the highlight of the term is the prestigious Fairbairn Cup
race.
You will also be introduced to the social side of rowing, through the Boat Club
Cocktails, crew meals, and the Boat Club Dinner at the end of term.
Novice crews are a major focus of CCBC's Michaelmas rowing program, and a great
deal of effort goes into teaching novices how to row well and how to enjoy the
sport. After all, we want people to enjoy rowing so they will carry on as
seniors!
"What can CCBC offer the more experienced rower?"
The top crews in the Churchill College Boat Club take their rowing seriously, so
if you're into rowing, you will be able to find similarly competitive people to
train and race with. CCBC gives experienced rowers the opportunity to compete
against other top College crews in the Bumps and in all the College races
throughout the year on the Cam, as well as in major events around England
including Henley and the Head of the River Race.
Best of all, it's all included in your College fees! CCBC will even pay your ARA
Membership. You can use Churchill's ergometers and weights free of charge for
land training. The College even has a range of small boats available for
students' use, including single sculls and a double/pair.
The very best rowers have the opportunity to trial for the University's varsity
crews - CUBC, CUWBC and CULRC.
"I want to row, but mainly for fun."
If you can't commit the time necessary to be in a top crew, or if you haven't
rowed before and didn't join a novice crew in Michaelmas term, you can still be
involved by rowing in one of the lower boats. These crews take rowing a little
less seriously, and have fewer outings and fewer land training sessions.
However, you're still out on the water enough to keep fit, row well and enjoy
yourself, and you still get the thrill of competing in all the races on the Cam
throughout the year. So if you're keen to row just for fun, rowing in one of the
lower boats is ideal... although I defy anyone to row "just for fun" when the
gun goes off to start a Bumps race!
"How are crews selected?"
The trials for the higher boats are usually quite competitive. Crews are
selected each term by coaches and senior club members. Crews are selected on the
basis of technique, fitness and coachability. Potential crew members are
evaluated on their performance during outings and on their times for 2000 metres
on the ergometer. In rowing, good technique and rhythm are as important as brute
strength.
"How much time will rowing take up?"
Rowing is a physically and technically demanding sport, and it is necessary to
train frequently to stay sharp and fit.
Novice crews typically have three outings per week. Each outing lasts around two
hours, and novice outings are held in the mornings before lectures. Senior crews
in Michaelmas term typically have three or four outings per week.
Rowing in Lent term becomes more intensive and competitive as crews prepare for
the Lent bumps. Senior crews in Lent term typically have four or five outings
and one or two circuit training sessions per week. For lower crews, it's up to
crew members to decide how much time they want to commit, but two or three
outings and perhaps one circuit training session per week would be typical.
Outings may be held in the morning or in the middle of the day... it's up to the
crew members to agree on the best time.
May term is the highlight of the rowing year, and senior crews typically have
five or six outings and two circuit training sessions per week. For lower crews,
again it's up to crew members to decide how much time they want to commit, but
three outings and one circuit training session per week would be typical. Senior
crews row in the early evening, and lower boats row in the morning or
afternoon.
Aside from water and land training, there are usually between two and four races
each term (usually held on the weekend), and at the end of Lent and May terms,
the four-day Bumps races from Wednesday to Saturday.
Rowing only takes place in term time, so basically the rowing year is made up of
three intensive eight-week periods. Crews training for major events outside of
Cambridge (for example the Head of the River Race or Henley) train for a few
weeks extra after Lent and May terms, as these events are in the Cambridge
vacations. CCBC typically holds a four day training camp (that also serves as a
selection camp for the May term senior crews) in York at Easter time.
Any more questions?
If you have any more questions, why not send a message to the Churchill College
Boat Club e-mail list at chu-boatclub@lists.cam.ac.uk.