Training at Clare College and Clio in WHORR, 2011

On Saturday 19 March over 20 DRC members enjoyed a training day hosted by Clare College, Cambridge. After a short welcome by Clare Boat Club President, Nigel Woodcock, DRC started the first outing of the day in a men's VIII, a women's IV (featuring Jane Gotts on her return from long-term injury - welcome back, Jane!) and a veteran men's IV. Those DRC members who had not done sweepoar rowing before were coached by CBC personnel on the bank and in tub pairs. After a light lunch, at which Nigel talked to our junior members about the attractions of Oxbridge rowing (including no subscriptions or race entry fees!), the training started again. The men's VIII personified two of the key qualities of rowing - "quick and slick" with Messrs Morel, Pidd, Higbee and Swain adding the "long and strong". The veteran mens IV adopted the maxim of "mileage makes champions" but actually the mileage in second outing merely made the crew tired! A mixed VIII, which included the novices in the party and was coxed by Nigel, looked amazingly composed - a real triumph!

The sessions gave our two home-grown coxes, Sue Stockton and Catherine Larner, opportunities to hone their skills as their previous outings on the Cam in the Cambridge Winter Leagues had featured all river traffic going in the same direction. But, both steered excellently and Clare's beautifully maintained equipment was all returned in one piece.

The day concluded with a presentation to Nigel and the Clare boatman, Anton Wright, by DRC's Nick Redman. Nick rowed at Clare over 30 years ago but he still recalls the Clare motto, "Cave Adsum". With a weakening grasp of Latin, he translates this as "Watch Out - I've Arrived!" - pretty appropriate for DRC's growing sweepoar squad!

On the same day, Clio Aubergeau-Williams swapped the tasteful red and yellow colours of DRC for the University of London's bright purple having been invited to row for the University in the Womens' Head of the River Race in London - another test against the best for Clio.

Thanks also to Nick Redman for organising the day at Clare and for contributing the report above.