1. What inspired you to go to your first rowing practice; was there anything memorable about it?
My first practice really happened by accident, I injured myself playing another sport so was stuck swimming in the pool when a school mate suggested I come down to the river as I was quite short and very loud and bossy! I was also promised that the local girls school also hung out around the river!! I think the only memorable thing was that there weren't any girls!!
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?
I think I fell in love with the sport immediately. I absolutely loved the fact that as a team you are all working towards a common single goal and you need everybody working in harmony to achieve it, unlike other sports you can't always rely on a single superstar to save you - everyone needs to be strong, on the same page, and working towards the same goal.
To be honest I never thought of getting in the national team, I simply always thought of just testing myself at every level and being the best I could be... My way of testing and pushing myself meant putting myself in the firing line of squad selection and then before I quite realised what had happened I was in!! It's been totally amazing ever since!
3. Best race/practice, worst race/practice?
Wow! It's difficult to think of a single best race but I have a few in mind... Winning the Thames Cup in 2006 at Henley was special as it was the first time I really felt that I could positively contribute to a winning crew and see my fingerprints on the win....
Winning the 2007 Amsterdam World Cup was pretty special as it was my first senior vest and I won gold! My other race I always remember was the final of 2010 World Champs in Karapiro, we won Silver, it was my first senior worlds medal and was a great example of a crew being greater than the sum of its parts - we had a special bond that summer.
Ha ha, my worst race/practice is easy!! I'd just recently come out of juniors and had had quite a bit of success, I joined London Rowing Club, one of the big UK clubs and within a short time I had become the 1st VIII cox... I was still young and way too cocky - we were racing Kingston Head and because I thought I knew it all I didn't bother reading the race instructions. We set off first and halfway down the course I steered round the wrong side of the island, which was not actually permitted, we were disqualified and I remember Colin our stroke man going crazy at me! The funny thing was because we went off first 3 or 4 other crews followed and were also disqualified.
Anyway I learnt my lesson and I make sure I always prepare, prepare, prepare now, whatever the race!!
4. Best/Anything you've done in the sport no one knows about?
I'm always one for trying to do firsts and test myself with challenges so last year I made it my aim to win every head race on the tideway. I'm the first cox to win Men's Head of the River, Women's Head of the River and Fours Head all in a single year.
5. Any/Most important advice for young rowers?
I'd say the most important thing is to enjoy it and have fun!! You'll never get any better if you don't like it... If you want to keep improving always keep testing yourself, set interim milestones / goals and periodically review. Keeping looking for those 1%'s!!
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