• Pezza Brings Home the Pots (July 2009)
• 2008/09 Rowing Report

A lot goes on behind the scenes at Welbeck and Rowing is one of them with team training in the student’s free time, afternoons and the early morning Sunday session when the rest of the college is still asleep. Last year the hard work paid off with some great wins at Head Races and Regattas. The best athletes also have the opportunity to train with the Combined Services squad and last year one of our rowers George Perry came away with three pots at the Services Championship

Rowing at Welbeck can be a games option or a general activity which means that the rowers train on Monday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday throughout the year. All levels are welcome and many of the members of the 1st team only started rowing during their second term, those who have rowed or sculled before will find that Welbeck offers you a lot to advance your rowing ability. Welbeck has a range of boats from singles to an eight for the 1st squad and also has a deal with other clubs to allow us to use their racing boats and train with athletes on the World Class Start programme.

For the 1st team the training is done all throughout the year and can be more than 6 sessions a week as well as your own personal training, some of which are circuits and weight training and some of which are on the water. Training takes place at Loughborough boat club and at the impressive National Water Sports centre in Nottingham. There is also an overseas training camp during Easter to prepare for the Regatta season, this year the camp will take place in the south of France at Soustons.

The 1st squad comprising of both boys and girls of 2009 competed at a range of regattas and heads; these include the Ball Cup in which they won the Men’s Blue Ribbon event (4+), Girls sculls as well as winning at Shrewsbury and Nottingham Regattas. Other notable events in which we competed were Cambridge Head (wins for the girls) and Nottingham City Regatta, The National Schools Championships. Later in the year the 1st eight narrowly missed out on a qualifying time for Henley Royal Regatta. The boys have every intention of qualifying for 2010 while the girls hope to race at Women’s Henley.

The squad last year were honoured to host the old Welbexian and Olympian Alan Campbell, an old school friend of Coach Ed Grey at the college’s annual dinner. He was a true inspiration to many and hopefully will be able to spend more time with the squad this year.

If your up for the challenge…

Nathan Collins – Men’s Vice Captain

Michelle Sangan – Ladies Captain of Boats