Rowing

A-Squad Training Camp to Amsterdam

A Squad on training camp

Over the Easter holidays a total of 36 boys travelled out to Amsterdam for the boat club’s annual A-Squad training camp. Arriving at the Hotel Schipol some eight hours later, those new to the luxuries of buffet meals three times a day and marble bathrooms soon found themselves at home. The more arduous part of the week began in haste on Monday morning when the coaches forgot to change their clocks and had to organise the imminent seat-racing without breakfast. The 1st VIII was decisively chosen at the end of the first day to reveal that James Brown, a 5th Year, had won his way into the boat alongside Ed Snaith (cox), James Manfield, Aidan Packer, Francis Highton, Nick Fulton, Alex Owen, Harvey Prince and Max Thomas.

Over the following days a rank order unfolded as the boys raced in pairs and fours, dividing them into separate eights accordingly. It soon emerged that there was enormous depth within the squad, but a pocket of J16 boys were producing times just slightly faster than their rivals in the years above; leading to a J16 A Eight being formed to rank as the second fastest Hampton eight. Although unsurprisingly disgruntled those boys in the sixth form soon settled into their new eight, which will race in the 2nd VIII category, finding consistent speed and fighting spirit to beat the J16 A Eight on a number of occasions.

Lining up for racing

By the time Thursday afternoon came around all the boys were in need of some time away from their eights and to rest their tired legs. Much to everyone’s delight a trip into the centre of Amsterdam was arranged for the afternoon, with their imaginations wandering to the fun that could be had in the Dutch capital. Unfortunately however the coaches escorted us from the minibuses straight to the doors of the Amsterdam dungeon for an afternoon under their watchful eyes. That being said, it was a welcome retreat from the monotony of paddling laps of the 2km lake in the damp, dull weather.

Taking over the lake

Knuckling back down to three sessions a day the following morning there was an uplifted spirit within the squad and some crucial technical changes were made, along with some unconventional rigging patterns but fast times nevertheless. The latter part of the week flew past as the boys counted down the sessions, with water time only ever being compromised to allow for time to refuel with food and water, injury, an invasion by a Dutch power boating club and a freak hail storm. Soon enough the last day came around, the trailers were loaded with all the boats apart from the four racing eights to allow for a final 2k time-trial in which the boats were set off in a staggered fashion with the best intentions for a tightly fought race to the line. Inevitably the gaps weren’t as predictable as first thought and the finishing order meant that the J16 B Eight crossed the line first, followed by the 2nd VIII, the 1st VIII and then finally the J16 A Eight.

The training lake

The week was a fantastic success and a total of 230km was covered by each of the eights, making vital groundwork in preparation for a winning regatta season to come in the next few months.