|
| SCULLING & ROWING TIMETABLE |
Each Rowing Course lasts for 6 days, starting
on Sunday afternoon and finishing on Saturday morning. The first course
usually starts in mid July and the last course finishes in early August.
|
|
| At the start of each course, all students
are placed in a group of 9 or 10 others of similar ability (based on previous
rowing/sculling experience), under the supervision of a qualified Coach
and Course Assistant. Everyone starts the week in single sculling boats,
and a Time Trial on the second day is used to reorganize the groups based
on ability. Later in the week students move from sculling to rowing, and
from smaller to larger boats. Coaching includes both water-based and land-based
instruction, the latter making use of rowing ergometers and video footage
captured during the outings. Whatever type of activity is being undertaken,
the emphasis is always on having fun, and the environment at Eton is ideal
for this purpose. All rowing takes place either on the Lake up at Dorney
or on the Thames nearer to the College, and everyone will have the chance
to row on both stretches of water during the week. |
|
A typical day is as follows (please note times are
only approximate)
8.15-8.45 Breakfast (Bekynton Dining Hall)
9.15-Lunch 2 outings (river/lake) with half
hour break in between
2pm Land-based instruction/videos (with coach)
3-4pm Tours,
Talks, Stretching, games, sports (organized)
4-6pm Free time (swimming, tennis, shopping
etc)
6.15pm Supper
7pm Final Outing (river/lake)
9-10.20 Social Room
10.30 Back in Houses for Bed
|
The timetable may change regularly
based on weather conditions, average group ages
etc. However, the format shown is designed to minimize the rowing that takes
place in the heat of the day, freeing up afternoon time for other activities.
|
|
|
HIGHLIGHTS
The following highlights are also included in the weekly timetable.
|
|
| SWIM
TEST (Sunday) |
|
The swimming ability of all
students has to be assessed before any water activities can take place,
so a straightforward test is always staged on the first (Sunday) afternoon.
The exact format may vary, but usually includes 3 minutes of treading water”
followed by a swim of 175m (7 lengths of Eton’s indoor pool) in swimming
kit. |
|
| CAPSIZE
DRILL FOR BEGINNERS (Sunday) |
This drill is intended for complete beginners or those
who have never done any single sculling prior to their arrival at Eton.
Students should not be scared of capsizing on the courses - it is part
and parcel of the learning experience! The drill outlines exactly what
to do in the event of a capsize, how to get out of the boat and how to
swim with it to the bank safely. Students may rest assured that their
coach will always demonstrate the drill first of all, so they won't be
the only ones getting wet!
|
|
| COXING
TALK (Monday) |
In recent years this has been given by
a member of staff who has experience of coxing at an advanced level - recent examples have been Abbie Chapman or Kenelm Richardson, both of whom have coxed in the Oxford
and Cambridge University Boat Race. The talk outlines the roles and responsibilities
for coxes, and offers them many tips on how to get the best out of their
crews.
|
|
SCULLING
TIME TRIAL (Monday) |
This Time Trial is staged
up at Dorney Lake, with all scullers (except beginners) taking part at 30
second intervals and racing as fast as they can over a distance of 1000m.
The results are used to reorganize the groups for the rest of the week.
In recent years some of the (courageous!) beginners have even had a go and
many have completed the distance without falling in - a great achievement!
|
|
VISIT
TO ROWING MUSEUM (Tues PM - Henley)
50 students can join this trip to the newly refurbished
Rowing Museum at Henley on Thames (location of the world famous regatta).
The tour takes the visitor from the 170 oar Athenian trireme of 400BC
to the Sydney 2004 Olympic Games. The Hall of Fame and variety of hands-on
displays are particular favourites. Further info can be found at the River
& Rowing Museum site. |
|
VISIT
TO LEANDER CLUB (Tues PM - Henley)
|
This visit takes our students right inside
Leander Club, recognized throughout the rowing world as a true centre
of excellence. Members include the best of British rowers, not least Sirs
Steve Redgrave and Matthew Pinsent who were based here in their pursuit
of countless Olympic gold medals. Students are given a guided tour of
Leander's facilities which are second to none, including the boathouse
and gym where they might even see their idols hard at work on the ergo!
|
|
| TRIP
TO QUEENS EYOT ISLAND (Wednesday) |
For many students this is
the best day of the week. Everyone sets off from Rafts Boathouse by Windsor
Bridge and paddles 5 miles upstream in a mixture of Dragon Boats and rowing
boats, destined for the Eton-owned island called Queens Eyot, complete with
its impressive Clubhouse. The boats travel up through the lock and arrive
at the island in time for a delicious barbecue lunch. The afternoon includes
a variety of games and activities (including the legendary tug-of-war tournament!),
and all students depart from the island back to Eton in the mid-afternoon.
|
|
|
| INTRODUCTION
TO KAYAKING |
Although distinct from "rowing/sculling"
activities, students in recent years have expressed a keen desire to experience
other watersports during their week at Eton. Using Eton's indoor pool, they now have the chance to learn how to kayak under the supervision
of a qualified instructor. This is a popular feature of the week for those that have the chance to participate. |
|
|
| EXTREME SCULLING |
A perennial favourite for ERC participants! This is an ideal opportunity for students to learn some truly incredible sculling tricks and skills under the watchful eye of the coaching team, ranging from getting back into a capsized single out on the water, to swapping sculls over from left to right, to standing up in the single with blades in/out and paddling, to headstands and handstands (see photo) and much more!
Rest assured that these skills have a place in the rowing/sculling curriculum too, teaching balance and control amongst other things. |
|
GUEST
SPEAKERS (Thursday) |
The performance of the Great
Britain National Rowing Squad in recent years has been the envy of much
of the international rowing world. Of the 28 British rowers who have won
Olympic medals since the Sydney games of 2000, more than half (a total of
15 medalists) have now visited Eton (along with their medals!) to tell their
inspiring stories to students on the Rowing Courses. Amongst them are household
names such as Matthew Pinsent and Tim Foster, but the list also includes
Debbie Flood (silver medallist in the 2004 quad) and Elise Laverick (bronze
medallist in the 2004 double), both of whom began their rowing careers on
the Eton Courses in the 1990s!
|
|
Recent visitors
include the following:
 Sir Matthew
Pinsent (4 times Olympic Champion)
Tim Foster MBE (2000
Olympics Gold Medallist, GB IV-
Ed Coode MBE (2004
Olympics Gold Medallist, GB IV-)
Jonny Searle MBE
(1992 Olympics, Gold Medallist, GB2+)
Greg Searle MBE
(1992 Olympics, Gold Medallist, GB2+)
Martin Cross MBE
(1984 Olympics, Gold Medallist, GB4+)
Steve Trapmore
MBE (2000 Olympics Gold Medallist, GB VIII)
Andrew Lindsay MBE
(2000 Olympics Gold Medallist, GB VIII)
Kieran West
MBE (2000 Olympics Gold Medallist, GB VIII)
Ben Hunt-Davis MBE
(2000 Olympics Gold Medallist, GB VIII)
Katherine Grainger
(2004 Olympics Silver Medallist, GBW2-)
Alison Mowbray (2004
Olympics Silver Medallist, GBW4x)
Guin Batten (2000
Olympics Silver Medallist, GBW4x)
Gillian Lindsay (2000
Olympics Bronze Medallist, GBW4x)
|
|
| RELAY
RACE (Friday) |
The final rowing outing of
the week (excluding the Procession of Boats on Saturday morning) takes the
form of a Relay Race up at the Lake. All students are split into their 4
"Group Olympics" teams and race against each other in a relay
format (over 2000m) using a variety of boats - it's an event to be much
enjoyed and not taken too seriously! The evening finishes with the much
anticipated prize-giving event in which awards are made to students and
groups who have most impressed during the week (and not just for their rowing
skills!).
|
|
| DISCO
(Friday) |
| On the final (Friday) evening
of each week, a proper disco is laid on for those that want to come along.
It's always alot of fun and is very well attended! |
|
|
| PROCESSION
OF BOATS (Saturday) |
| The Procession
of Boats takes place on the final (Saturday) morning of the Courses, and
serves as a fitting climax to the week's activities. It's an excellent occasion
for parents and friends to come along (with cameras, don't forget!) and
witness something unique in the rowing world - with every member of an eight-oared
crew raising their oars and standing up under complete control, as part
of a ceremonial row-past along the Thames. The event is based on the traditional
"Procession of Boats" that has been a regular feature of the summer
celebrations at Eton since the end of the 18th Century. The crews paddle
down one at a time and after completing the procession successfully, they
paddle into the bank to receive their medals for a job well done! Refreshments
are available to all spectators on the bank and there is also the opportunity
to purchase ERC kit (clothing) for those that are interested. Once the boats
have been taken back to the boathouse everyone is then free to go.
For directions to the Procession, please click here.
|
The Procession as demonstrated on Eton's 4th
June day celebrations (clad in full regalia!) |
.......and as demonstrated with great finesse
by students on the Rowing Courses!
|
} 
