1. What inspired you to go to your first rowing practice; was there anything memorable about it?
My friends suggested I should, though i think they were motivated by my waist line as I spent the first year of university pretending to play rugby and it was apparently taking its toll on me. I guess it was easier than saying I was fat!
The first session was a boat full of brand new novices, with the coach in the cox's seat. He was a heavy weight and I've never seen him so terrified! Also, he showed his colors when his anger rose as one of the 'new' members asked when he could have a break for a cigarette. Needless to say that kid didn't last long!
2. Was there a practice, race or other event when you fell in love with the sport, or when you knew you might not be too bad at rowing? When you thought you could make the national team?
The day I fell in love with the sport was during an early morning session one cold January day. We boated in the dark, the stars were out, and the air perfectly still. As we boated (we didn't have a coach, so there was only the sound of the water against the hull) we picked our way through the moored boats and into the body of the lake. While my body began to warm up and relax into the rowing, the pristine water beneath us gave way to a single arching wave that began it's gentle journey across the lake. The sun began to have it's influence on the sky, and the heavy frost that was laid across the woods on the lake shore picked up the faintest hints of light and reflected them back one crystal at a time. As light flooded the valley it revealed a hanging layer of mist shrouding the lake, not a foot off the lake and not a foot thick, we'd been rowing through it all along.
This memory underpins my enjoyment of the sport. The serenity is one side of the coin of what I try to find in training, while getting the most from my body is the flip side. The feeling of pushing the body, getting the reward, and getting stronger is hugely invigorating.
I never really dreamed about making the national team, it always seemed too far off until I made it. Then the Olympics were never attainable for me, until I got there too. Rowing is a constant challenge, but equally rewarding.
3. Best race/practice, worst race/practice?
The Best race so far would be GB Trials this year, and worst would be the U23 Pair I did in Essen Regatta in 2001. The water was terrible, and I might as well have boated holding onto the spoon and trying to grip the water with the handle, it was the absolute pits!
Another race I have good memories of are both of my E-on Hanse Cup Races, in Rensburg, Germany. A race for international eights, held over 12.5km. Five or six eights start side by side and race on the Keel Canal. We sent scratch boats both times. The first was a mix of development athletes with Pete and myself. In this race we had no expectations against the German world champions and a tasty American crew. This mix of wide eyed optimism, produced a great attitude. We held our ground against the Germans for 8km while the US made early headway taking the lead and keeping it. Our fight with the germans was above all our ideas for the race, and we came off the water buzzing.
The second race, 2010, had a stronger crew, with the GB M4- and M2-, plus two spares. This time we were up against a now dominate German world champion crew, and the GB Eight was also in the mix, who weren't going to lie down. An epic race developed. The same crew spirit had developed, and as we prepared for the race we knew something pretty cool was about to happen.
With a sprint start to a 12km side by side race, water was flying everywhere, but no inch could be given as once in boat wash, you're done! In the early stages the lead was always fought for between the GB eight (not my crew) and the US, with my crew sitting half a length down. As they threw in burst after burst to keep their noses in front, we seemed to be holding our own, waiting for the right moment. About 15 minutes into the race, the GB eight paid for their efforts and began to break, leaving us and the Germans, home pride weighing on their shoulders while thoughts of the previous race were bearing down on ours. With the race deciding turn fast approaching at 10km into the race, it was time to act. The crew sat up, eager to put these germans to bed. Henry, our cox, called a rise in pace, and a squeeze through the backs. The rate lifted and we were moving. The German cox was going nuts, he needed more but they were already at their limit just holding us. With each stroke the boat moved through the world champions, each crushing stroke we got taller, and fresher, nothing was going to slow this boat down.
With the precision expected from a rally driver, Henry lined up for the corner after taking the lead and we moved across into their water and I could now look down their boat. The last time I could do this was in the '05 Boat Race and it's a great feeling. The Germans only option was to move wide out of our wash, but it was too late as the bend swung in our favor, and they lost more and more ground. We took the race, but never let up as the Germans never took the pressure off. This race was a perfect example of crew harmony; compromise for the crew rhythm, taking the bull by the horns, and with perfectly executed tactics. It also felt like someone had taken a blender to my kidneys or liver or something in there! I've never experienced pain like that. Needless to say fun and games!
4. Best/Anything you've done in the sport no one knows about?
My Captaincy over the last four years at Molesey Boat Club is one of the proudest things i've done.
5. Any/Most important advice for young rowers?
Enjoy getting better, enjoy making steps. The best enjoyment comes from the sense of achievement whether from large or small goals.
Birthplace: Aylesbury, GBR
Hometown: Hebden, GBR
Current Residence: Oxford, GBR
Club Affiliation: Molesey Boat Club
Date of Birth: 3/3/79
Height: 6'4"
Weight: 214
Undergraduate Education: Staffordshire University, Oxford University
Current Coaches: Jürgen Grobler
Years on National Team: Twelve - 2001, Under 23; 2002-12, Senior
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07/17/2012 10:24:27 AM