Lucy student Clara Green talks about her journey as a rower from arriving in Cambridge to trialling for the 2024 Boat Race as part of the Cambridge University squad.
I discovered rowing when I arrived in Cambridge in 2020. Unfortunately, because of the pandemic, I wasn’t able to get onto the water until spring 2021. I took my first strokes with Lucy Cavendish Boat Club (LCCBC) on the river Cam. I was immediately hooked and became obsessed with it, quickly finding myself either rowing, or talking about rowing. After another year of rowing with LCCBC, I took on the role of women’s captain with fellow student Emily Moon, under the presidency of Christopher Launchbury. We had a successful year of teaching our new cohort of novices how to row, and supporting our squad through to lent and may bumps. Chris has been instrumental in helping develop the boat club the last couple years - he took over from Hattie Wills, following on from the successful 2022 campaign that culminated in blades for both men and women as well as winning the Pegasus cup for the most successful club in May Bumps.
In February 2023, my training came to halt and I was scheduled for surgery. I was forced to have several weeks off training, and had to put my medical degree on hold in order to recover. I was fortunate enough to have an incredible support network to help me get through this difficult time.
From the moment I could, I started going on walks by the river and increased the distance each day. After several weeks, I was able to run and get back in the gym. I decided I would do everything I could to be in a position to trial for Cambridge University Boat Club (CUBC) come September. To make the technical step up, I decided to join cantabridgian rowing club, which gave me racing experience, including the qualifiers for Henley Women’s.
With the help of my mum, a trained sophrologist, I used sophrology techniques to accompany my recovery and improve my performance. Sophrology combines simple breathing techniques with gentle physical movements and guided visualisations. This helped me develop my self confidence and emphasised the importance of an equilibrium between mind and body.
That summer, I was invited to the CUBC development squad training camp. This camp is an opportunity for college students to experience the training schedule of trialists and get an idea of the standard expected. I left camp feeling motivated and used this momentum to get ready for September.
Trialling began with pre-season at the start of September. We were quickly presented with a series of erg tests and long water sessions, along with a demanding strength and conditioning programme.
With 12 sessions per week fitted around a full time Cambridge degree, organisation is the most important skill to have. I’ve had to learn to prioritise efficiently so I can get everything done in a week. The second most important thing has to be keeping on top of the laundry load generated…
Training with CUBC is a huge step up from college rowing, and it’s been a privilege to have access to incredible resources, including top notch coaching from expert coaches. Whilst the standards are high and the training load is challenging, it is also an incredibly rewarding experience. We have an amazing squad of inspiring women that are all pushing each other to be better each day. CUBC is unique in that it offers both a competitive and supportive environment with a goal of working towards a single event: the Boat Race on 30th of March 2024.
On Thursday 16th of November, a group of us were invited to London’s financial district to attend the Presidents’ Challenge. This marks the kickoff of the countdown to the 2024 Boat Race. Tradition dictates that the president of the losing university challenges the president of the university that won. Oxford’s president Ella Stadler challenged Cambridge’s president Jenna Armstrong to the 78th women’s races.
Cambridge has been a dominating force for the last six years, and the women hold a winning record of 47-30 against Oxford.
Trial eights, where coaches form matched eights from the squad and race them against each, will take place on December 13th. This will be the only opportunity we have to race the full Championship course from Putney to Mortlake, under the gaze of the official race umpires before the Boat Race.
But for now… we dance the dance of Boat Race preparation!
