Chronicle January 2021

49 ST EDWARD’S CHRONICLE

Saskia Ward, Isabella Makepeace, Evie Gowen and Alexandra Cantwell

Autumn Term 2020 With no racing in the calendar due to Covid 19, last term allowed us to take a slightly different tactic regarding our training and goals. When conditions allowed, which for most of the term they did, the pupils had the opportunity to row in different boat types with a focus on technique and watermanship. Although a frustrating term for the rugby players, the Boat Club was fortunate to see unusually large numbers of the younger boys rowing last term, allowing them time to learn their craft in conditions far more accommodating than the traditional start in January! In order to create some competition throughout the term there were several internal time trials as well as some extremely distanced racing on the water against Eton, Shrewsbury, Radley and Shiplake. The crews were timed over 4 x 1km each on their own water with an agreed rest period between pieces and an average speed taken across the pieces (two against and two with the stream). Although there were a few variables in this process, there was increased excitement in the training sessions, with rowers acutely aware that their opposition was doing the same

work at the same time and comparing speeds! St Edward’s recorded excellent times, with the Boat Club winning the last two events across our senior boats and with the J15s showing good speed for the time of year. We can be pleased that

our training is going well, and the numbers signed up for rowing show the Boat Club is thriving; fingers crossed we have the opportunity to race properly this term and into the summer.​

Senior pupils take Shells out on the water for their first row – with Edward Bewes, Harry Edis and Rory McDonnell in the foreground