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Several weeks ago, the four Oxford University boat clubs (Oxford University Boat Club, Oxford Women’s University Boat Club, Oxford University Lightweight Boat Club and Oxford University Women’s Lightweights Boat Club) released a statement in support of movements for equality across the world. Rowing is, unfortunately, still a sport inaccessible to many people within the UK. It can be expensive to take part in, geographically limiting and is strongly associated with institutions and events with an elitist reputation, especially at a junior level. Since this statement was published, a concerted effort has been made by the Oxford clubs to materialise this pledge into something more tangible. Given the constraints imposed by COVID-19, it was decided that a virtual fundraiser would be the best way to bring people together and help to improve access to rowing.
The Oxford University Boats Clubs have had strong links with Fulham Reach Boat Club in the past, "Knowing the good work they do, we have chosen to partner with FRBC for this initiative. FRBC operates a youth rowing programme designed to bring rowing to those who would otherwise be unable to participate due to financial or cultural barriers. They focus on both introducing young men and women to the sport, through state-school partnerships in physical education, and the development of committed junior athletes. They’re able to offer these through a mix of government and private support, and volunteer work. Membership for junior rowers at FRBC costs £495/yr. This covers all fees for races, some kit, and a few other things here and there. It is still the case that this cost can be too great for some, and that’s where we’d like to help"
The basis of the Oxford fundraiser is: 8 teams of 8 athletes (and a cox) competing to go as far as possible in 48 hours. Members of the four Oxford University boat clubs have been pooled and divided into teams. Starting at 6pm on Friday 7th August, competitors can run, erg, row and cycle (with appropriate distance conversions) to boost their team's total. Each team will be aiming to cover the 100 miles distance on the Thames between Oxford and Fulham Reach Boat Club as many times as possible. The teams have been announced here.
The goal is to raise £4000 to cover the cost of eight athletes (four men and four women) for the next year. The Oxford Bursary, as it will be called, will be awarded by FRBC and the four clubs. The funds will be awarded on a need-basis to BAME junior athletes with the goal of enabling their continued development. Any extra funds will be rolled over to the next year, as we plan for this to continue on an annual basis: the aim is making the initiative a sustainable programme which can continually improve access to the sport.
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We recently were the acting support team for 5 rowers from Henley-on-Thames cycling 300km through Central London in one day, providing media and general support along the journey. We at AllMarkOne are looking to expand the range of sports that we cover and are currently interested in new and different projects that our followers and athletes are taking part in, if you want to discuss your project with us and how we can help please just contact us here. We were recently contacted by Jenny and Elle who are running a marathon along the Thames Path with multiple other rowers for the charity MIND.
Elle Nash and Jenny Bates, rowers from Oxford Brookes and Hartpury University, have used lock down as an opportunity to start up Jellees, a company which sells premium pick and mix sweets nationwide. These products have powered several members of the GB Rowing Team through their Olympic training, including the likes to Will Satch, Karen Bennet, Tom George and Rory Gibbs.
Like many rowers across the country and beyond, Jenny and Elle were meant to be at Henley Royal Regatta this weekend and so thought it would be fitting to run a charity marathon which ends in Henley-on-Thames, to mark the occasion. They are holding a competition on their Instagram page for a chance to win 2kg of sweets and a pair of Mustash Cycling socks through a raffle at £2 per entry, all off the competition rules are in their post below. 50% of money raised will be donated to MIND, a charity supporting people with mental health problems. To donate directly to the cause without entering the raffle the JustGiving page can be found here.
They will be running from Oxford Brookes Boat House in Cholsey, Wallingford, along the Thames Path to Henley, where an afternoon of picnics and sweets awaits. If you’d like to support them on any part of the run, or join in for a social distanced picnic in the afternoon, a rough route guide can be found here or contact ourselves for more information.
Similar to the recent cycling trip, we at AllMarkOne will be supporting Jenny and Elle along the route as well as creating both photo and video content along the way.
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The Death of George Floyd, In Context by Jelani Cobb
Anti Racism Resources by Sarah Sophie Flicker and Alyssa Klein
White Anti Racism: Living the Legacy by Tolerance
How to Make this Moment the Turning Point for Real Change by Barack Obama
Why People of Colour Need Spaces Without White People by Kelsey Blackwell
“Racism Is A Global Issue”: Edward Enninful On The Importance Of Cultivating An Anti-Racist Agenda from Vogue
An Ongoing List of Ways to Join the Anti-Racist Fight by AnOther
Diversity in Rowing by Fulham Reach Boat Club
A Most Beautiful Thing (upcoming film)
Rowing in Colour (podcast)
Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust
How to be an Antiracist by Ibram X Kendi
Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race by Renni Eddo-Lodge
So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluoteh
Freedom is a Constant Struggle by Angela Y Davis
Me and White Supremacy by Layla F Saad
The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration In The Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander
White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo
The Good Immigrant: 21 Writers Explore What It Means To Be Black, Asian, And Minority Ethnic In Britain Today edited by Nikesh Shukla
They Can't Kill Us All: Ferguson, Baltimore, and a New Era in America’s Racial Justice Movement by Wesley Lowery
Inglorious Empire: What The British Did To India by Shashi Tharoor
George Floyd, Minneapolis Protests, Ahmaud Arbery & Amy Cooper from The Daily Social
Houston Police Chief responds to Trump by CNN
50 years of racism -- why silence isn’t the answer by James A. White Sr.
Black Parents Explain How to Deal with the Police by Cut
Barack Obama explains why it's Black Lives Matter not All Lives Matter
Let's get to the root of racial injustice by Megan Ming Francis
Being Black by Jane Elliot
UK Black Pride would like to encourage those who care about Black lives to delete their black squares and post useful, helpful, uplifting and empowering information and images that further the #BlackLivesMatter cause.
— UK BLACK PRIDE (@ukblackpride) June 2, 2020
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Find details of a range of initiatives from within the rowing community we feel are worth supporting.
The mental health campaign- Rowing Together for Healthy Minds- have done a fantastic job informing and educating on mental health over the past two years or so, partnering with over 150 clubs across the UK. They've just released the first edition of their newsletter in which they talk to top athletes, coaches and members of the rowing community and provide practical advice on looking after mental and physical health. This edition features advice from Vicky Thornley, silver medallist for GB at the Rio Olympics.
Sign up to the newsletter here: eepurl.com/gEvtkL
De Montfort University Boat Club have organised a charity BUCS Regatta, lockdown-style. They're raising money for Mind, a mental health charity (associated with the RTHM campaign). Athletes can enter different boat classes with their teammates and will race in remote 2k runs to compete for spots on the virtual podium.
There's still time to enter tomorrow's racing which will be eights and quads. The link to the go fund me page is here: www.gofundme.com/f/charity-bucs-lockdown-regatta-for-mind
Luke Theophilus, an athlete from Thames Rowing Club, works as an intensive care nurse at the Royal Brompton Hospital, a major Covid hospital in London. The masks and PPE healthcare workers are wearing cause serious discomfort and Luke is raising to provide care packages for his 65 colleagues.
Link to his JustGiving page here: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/eicu
Sports Stoic, led by Stephen Feeney, work in mental strength conditioning for athletes. For every new follower on @sports_stoic & @stfeeney they will donate one day of life saving water to Malawi. It's as easy as that!
After the success of the first Rowers for the NHS raffle, Henley Love have teamed up with Legacy 300 for the Sports vs Covid raffle. Tickets are £5 each and you can win prizes from signed kit to VIP experience days.
More information is available here: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/sportvscovid19
Oxford Brookes rower Henry Blois-Brooke and Maidenhead rower Jack Peck have each run 7 marathons in 7 days around their houses to raise money for NHS Charities Together. Their current goal is to reach £10,000.
More information and how to donate here: https://
MAABC's Ais Green is riding 260km in 2.6 days raising money for the Ehlers-Danlos Society. Following a tri-point spinal fracture in 2015 Ais was diagnosed with EDS and was told she would never row again.
More information and how to donate here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/aiss-26-challenge-260k-in-26-days
Universities of York and Leeds Boat Clubs go head to head to rack up the largest distance trained over the month of May.
For more information click here: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/uolbc-may-miles?fbclid=IwAR0HVfwwqyylAlTokZ9GIWiQBvQiiXJHZ5qJRAfxiAasQ_74d5T-h-hzaFA
If you have a cause you'd like to share, please get in touch and we'll try our best to keep this page up to date!
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On the 12th September 2018, Henry Blois-Brooke, of Oxford Brookes University BC, completed an insane feat of an Ultra-Marathon, along the Thames Path, in just over eight hours, after racing in both the U23 Worlds coxed four and the U23 European coxless-pair over the summer. Henry said although it was tough, he felt like he could and would push himself more in the future.
Most rowing athletes would take a break after the season Henry has completed. Since March 2019, Henry has won the Head of The River, Henley Royal Regatta and the World Rowing U23 Championships, however on the 14th August 2019, Henry finished a gruelling 192-mile run from the West to the East coast of the UK, raising over £2,200 for charity. The aim is to reach £3000 over the next few days, to donate to the cause click on the link at the top of the page.
More commonly known as a hill walk, spread out over a period of 12 days, the course he has chosen to tackle was officially created in 1973 by Alfred Wainwright. Starting at St Bees Head in Cumbria, on the west of the UK, the course will take Henry through three separate National Parks (Lake District, Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors), before reaching the finishing point at Robin Hood's Bay in North Yorkshire, on the East coast.
Henry will be running for two separate charities throughout the course, splitting the proceeds 50/50.
The first charity Henry is running for is called Myaware. They support sufferers of Myasthenia Gravis, a disease that Henry's uncle has suffered from for the past ten years. It is a chronic autoimmune neuromuscular disease that causes weakness in the skeletal muscles. The money raised will go towards both researching for a cure, as well as supporting current sufferers and their families.
Help for Heroes is a charity that Henry and his family have supported in the past, most notably on his run last September. With future aims to join the Royal Marines, there is a close link between Henry and the Armed Services. Help for Heroes supports members of the Armed Forces community whose lives are affected by their service.
Rory and the AllMarkOne Team
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This is the first instalment in a series where we are taking a look at some up-and-coming rowing ideas, events and products for showcasing and explaining on our website, and letting you be the first to know about these exciting new ventures into rowing. These articles are not paid or sponsored by the companies mentioned, we simply think they are pretty cool ideas that we want to learn more about.
The most polarising object in a gym is often the rowing machine. Some denounce the machine as “pointlessly tiring” with no real benefit, while others will stand by it until they die, swearing it in as the premier exercise machine. As a rower writing this article for other rowers, I’m inclined to agree with the second opinion. For a performance oarsman off the water there is no greater tool than the rowing machine for general fitness and form. But the rowing machine is branching away from the rowing world – anyone who follows Concept2 on Instagram has seen the impact their machines have had on the CrossFit community. This recent outreach of the rowing machine into the general population and mainstream fitness has now moulded its reputation as the new “in” method to get fit. Go twenty years back and Zumba was what everyone was doing, ten years back and Indoor Cycling reigned supreme. Now though, indoor rowing has taken the fitness world by storm, and a pair of entrepreneurs are riding the waves.
Ask anyone on a rowing machine how they feel and the answer you’ll get (after “it hurts”) will likely be “bored”. It is a monotonous exercise, and seasoned indoor rowers and oarsmen and women immediately go towards the distractions of music or TV/movies. There is one flaw that comes with this distraction however as you often sacrifice coaching or advice on how to improve. Not a big problem with seasoned rowers, but a massive problem for the huge numbers of people who are picking up handles for the first time without having learnt correct technique, pacing or even what to wear.
This is where the app “Rowith” hopes to step in. It’s currently in its crowdfunding stages and being set up by two experts in their fields. On one hand there is Chaymae Samir, a serial entrepreneur and Gen Z/Millennial expert which clearly shows, as she was awarded a grant from Natwest for women-led businesses. Next to her is Morgan Hellen, a former GB Squad member, IRA Varsity 8 winner and Visitors winner with Cal Berkeley. Morgan’s impressive rowing accomplishments have acted as a way to connect the app with performance athletes and not just the average consumer, through his knowledge and understanding of the sport at an elite level.
So, what is the app hoping to become?
In their own words “Rowith aims to make indoor rowing more accessible, enjoyable and beneficial by bringing audio guided workouts from a laundry list of Olympians and athletes like Will Satch, Billy Dib and Ellie Simmonds. Rowith intends to benefit all, from total beginner to expert indoor rower by offering technical guidance, motivation and workout plans to its users. The app will not be limited by your equipment as Rowith will be compatible with any indoor rowing machine, Concept2, Water Rower, RP3, etc.”
Think Nike Run Club, which the creators took inspiration from, on an erg. No need to recycle the same playlists when Cam Buchan is whispering sweet nothings in your ear on YouTube. In fact, as previously mentioned one of the standout features is the number of Olympic and elite rowers and other athletes who have recorded with the app. The list includes: Sir Steve Redgrave (self-explanatory), Will Satch (Olympic champion), Grace Clough (Paralympic champion), Niki van Sprang (world cup medallist), Nareg Guregian (US Rowing Olympian), on top of other elite non-rowing athletes; para-swimming legend Ellie Simmonds, world champion boxer Billy “The Kid” Dib and Olympic marathon runner Zane Robertson cap an impressive list.
It’s not continuous coaching however, as the tracks also contain stories and anecdotes from the speakers. It’s clear that this is an app that has been designed for the masses and accommodates for the athletes rather than the other way around. Although some regular rowers to AllMarkOne may question whether this will be of any use to them, the average gymgoer wouldn’t be all too comfortable with Sir Steve Redgrave screaming encouragement into their ear for an hour. The app has been tailored to fit someone who isn’t an expert rower, and I believe that this is something great for the sport.
Rowing has always struggled with a reputation as a somewhat elitist sport. There are strong veins of history still present in the sport which may stoke this fire; a private school dominated junior scene, expensive dress wear and events such as Henley don’t exactly encourage wider participation. However, the hard work of many groups and individuals such as Fulham Reach’s Steve O’Connor, charities such as B-Row and London Youth Rowing, and initiatives such as Learn to Row courses all champion youth rowing to wider audiences. However, this is mostly missing for adults due to the youth focus of these efforts, and thus exposure to rowing through events such as last year’s Power8 Sprints broadcast on BT Sport 1 and the BBC, and indoor services such as CrossFit and now indoor rowing classes and apps is filling that missing gap. According to British Rowing statistics from 2017, there are 1.3 million indoor rowers in England and 12.5 million with access. By making the rowing machine less intimidating and more accessible, with audio-guided coaching, tracking and community features similar to Strava or Endomondo, Rowith might potentially turn thousands of people who might be put off by their first erg, into seasoned indoor rowers. Indoor rowing itself is largely separate to on-water rowing, many wouldn’t know about the very existence of indoors teams such as MAD Team or Cornish Gig Rowers, and this app could bridge that gap and get more water oarsmen keener for the ergo.
The app itself is currently reaching the end of its crowdfunding run, and just needs a couple more donations to seal the deal. Us at AllMarkOne cannot wait to test out the app further, and maybe come back to it in a few months’ time, but for now if you want to learn more about the project there is a link below.
Many thanks to Morgan Hellen for letting us take a look at the project. If you think we should take a look at your product or idea send us an email at contact@allmarkone.com
The University of Bristol Boat Club and University of Bath Boat Club will be leaving their boats in the boathouse and putting their trainers on instead to challenge the commonly held view that rowers make for terrible runners.
]]>Who says rowers don't run!?
The University of Bristol Boat Club and University of Bath Boat Club will be leaving their boats in the boathouse and putting their trainers on instead to challenge the commonly held view that rowers make for terrible runners. They will be racing each other across a 5km cross-country course between their two boathouses in order to raise some £££. This is the first time the two largest university rowing clubs of the South West will be coming together in an event of this size and it promises to be an exciting day of racing.
They are raising money for Rowing Together for Healthy Minds, set up by ex-club Captain at Bristol, Tommy Nicholson and in order to train up a ‘Welfare Officer’ for the club at Bristol. RTHM aims to raise awareness of mental health issues within the rowing community in partnership with Mind UK. The charity have made a huge impact on the rowing community over the last year Any additional funds raised will go to both boat clubs who rely on fundraising to support equipment purchases and day to day operations.
To donate head to Bristol's just giving page here or Bath's fundraising page here and keep up to date with their facebook page updates.
It comes as a surprise to few that this year’s Henley Royal Regatta has been cancelled due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, the news crashing the HRR website at the time of writing. While the decision is clearly the correct one to make given the UK’s growing number of cases and forecast, and with the recent strict advice given by the government, the confirmation is still a harsh blow for all athletes.
The Regatta stated:
The Regatta states that the three major factors in the decision are from the latest government guidance, the disease modelling evidence which predicts the virus’ growth and forecast in the UK, and the financial and practical implications of altering the operation of the Regatta.
Sir Steve Redgrave, Chairman of the Committee of Management, has said the following:
This announcement comes just one day after a previous statement from the Regatta stating that they were monitoring the outbreak, and that the health and safety of the Regatta staff, contractors, suppliers, members, competitors, coaches, volunteers and spectators were the chief consideration in theses times. There has been pressure on Twitter for a decision to be made from coaches and rowers, as more Summer races are being cancelled daily. Considerations must be made for international crews, who of course must plan any travel much further in advance, so the Regatta cannot make a late decision which other late-Summer events may be trying. With the Olympics postponed and all other major sporting events cancelled, this decision is unfortunately the only logical one at this time. The answer to the ever-present question of "Is it Henley yet?" remains "No." for another year.
For more information, see the following links:
]]>With thanks to the viral #MeToo movement amongst other efforts, there has been long overdue progress in opening up the conversation about the prevalence of sexual misconduct, harassment and assault over the last few years. The movement focused initially on the frequency of cases in the workplace and over time, we have begun to see increasing reports of cases within sport. Larry Nassar was sentenced to upwards of 300 years in prison in 2018 after the ex national team doctor for USA gymnastics was accused of sexually abusing over 250 young women and 1 young man. Allegations against him dated as far back as 1992.
Decades of reports emerged about the entertainment industry, with high-profile cases of the likes of Jimmy Saville and Harvey Weinstein. And it seems that sport is another sector with many cases yet to be uncovered. UK athletics were accused of a sexual abuse allegation cover-up in 2016 and British canoeing investigated sexual assault claims in 2017. The Offside Trust reported at the end of last year that 80 sports coaches had been convicted of child sex abuse. Rowing too has seen its share of cases, with a coach in Pennsylvania accused of multiple counts of sexual misconduct and a mishandled case at Cal rowing in 2013 where a victim was told by her coach she was 'no angel anyway' when she came to him with a report of sexual assault.
Recently it has emerged that there are many cases within rowing in Britain and we must urge that British Rowing include further policies to protect those at risk. Point 10 under Rights of Individuals in British Rowing's Code of Conduct states that:
[Everyone in rowing has the right:] to enjoy an environment free of sexual harassment, sexual abuse and any behaviour that could be construed as abuse
But as of yet, there are no known policies to actively protect victims in cases of misconduct or assault. Clubs should be asked to sign a zero-tolerance policy on sexual misconduct. Cases have come to light where bias has been given in favour of perpetrators because of their rowing ability.
A petition has been made to urge British Rowing to make this change to protect young men and women who have been affected by sexual misconduct or could be at future risk. It is crucial we create a safe environment for athletes.
In an effort to encourage conversation about this subject, there is a comments section below. Submissions can be completely anonymous and will be moderated. We welcome any others that feel comfortable to share their experiences to come forward.
Next week on the 29-30 April the Council of Europe will be hosting a live conference you can watch here covering Sexual Violence against Women and Children in Sports. They've reported that 1 in 5 children in Europe are victims of some form of sexual violence, up to 85% know their abuser and 1/3 of those children will never tell anyone. It is up to adults to ensure the sporting environment we create is safe and to break the silence on sexual abuse. You can read more about why the risk factor for child sex abuse can be high in sport here.
Sport can become an empowering and protective environment for children
It is up to adults to prevent abuse, protect children and help to fight impunity
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We are super excited to announce that our video 'How Rowing Changed Schuyler's Life' has made the shortlist at The Charity Film Awards 2019!
Around 40,000 people voted in the awards this year and our video has been chosen as one of the top ten videos in its category. It now goes into the final round of judging by the official panel. The awards themselves aim to celebrate the impact films have in fundraising efforts whilst increasing exposure to the charities themselves and thus encouraging donations. We are so pleased to see the support of the rowing community in action in recognising the fantastic work at Fulham Reach Boat Club.
Please take a couple of minutes to read more about the making of our video here and check out the other entries in the awards here.
Lucinda Douse and the AllMarkOne Team
]]>In the leadup to this year's Boat Race, squad members visited FRBC, where they met some keen young athletes from Kensington Aldridge Academy. Through a Q&A and exciting ergo challenge, some of the best student-athelets in the country offered an awesome insight into rowing to the next generation.
Lucinda Douse and the AllMarkOne Team
]]>As a rower myself, I'm massively biased towards the sport, however, I have spent years of my life playing and taking part in loads of different sports and moved on from them all, apart from rowing. Here's why.
You learn to be confident out on the water, yes it may take a few sessions but the feeling when you head out in a small boat for the first time and do your first session alone or in a pair is an amazing feeling. Having your hard work pay off has a positive impact on your self-esteem, such as winning a race for the first time. When achieving your goals on the water or land, such as ergos or weights, it allows you to be open about pushing yourself and teaches you about setting yourself realistic goals.
Working as a team to reach common goals helps everyone develop communication and problem-solving skills that will benefit on and off the water. You don’t need to be in a crew of four or eight. Simply being in a single allows you to develop teamwork skills with your coach and other single scullers around you. Sharing advice and tips with other rowers is a great way of developing leadership skills and could put you in a good place for club captain. There will always be a sense of private information in a highly competitive environment such as sport, however, have an open mind and listen to coaches and other athletes on how you can improve boat handling and team management skills which makes every boat you go in faster.
Regular physical activity improves fitness and helps keep us stay in shape. Rowing is a sport that works a very large set of muscle groups at once, allowing you to be pretty free with what exercise you do out of the boat. Chances are, if its increasing muscle mass, cardiovascular strength or others, the boats going to move faster. Nutrition advice is plentiful both here at AllMarkOne as well as in rowing magazines such as Rowing&Regatta and is one of the key parts of all sports. If you have any questions regarding nutrition or recovery, the team at AllMarkOne have lots of links to international level athletes and coaches who can help you out with some tips.
At the end of the day, you shouldn't take part in a sport if you don't enjoy it. There will always be a few exceptions to this rule, however the more you are interested in the sport, the more likely to are to take training seriously, making boats go faster. The memories made when rowing will last a lifetime. You may forget the name of the boy who fell in because he didn’t do his gate up on day one, but the memory of winning a gold medal at a club level, Nationals or International Championships will always stay with you. Take this with a pinch of salt though, December to March is a tough part of the season for even the most 'rowing-mad' of us.
If you want to get into rowing, visit your national rowing website and look for club finder to find your local club to give rowing a go! If you have any questions just ask us here at AllMarkOne by leaving a comment below or messaging us on social media (there's even a button in the bottom right of your page). Our team are incredibly passionate about the sport of rowing and we have members all over the world, so we are sure we can find someone to help you out.
Dan- J16
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On the whole, rowing is not a popular sport amongst people of colour in South Africa. Germiston High School is a secondary school in Johannesburg with a rowing club full of dedicated young athletes who are not discouraged by this lack of familiarity.
Many of the children come from disadvantaged backgrounds and the club itself receives minimal support from parents, sponsors and Rowing South Africa (RowSA). Despite this and the many other challenges they face, a spirit of perseverance runs through the club and this has led to some outstanding results. Athletes from Germiston have been selected for the South African Schools Rowing Union and travelled to the UK to race at regattas here during our summer season. The awesome video below captures a real insight into the club and the difficulties they face.
It is all too easy to take the equipment that we have available to us for granted. Germiston have a handful of race-worthy shells, but the majority of their fleet consists of old, hand-me-down boats that are donated by private schools, and they don’t have the funding to carry out many necessary repairs. Their boat shed is a dilapidated shack from the squatter camps, and their clubhouse is in desperate need of repair. On the 17th January this year, they were hit by a devastating storm which destroyed the shed and all the equipment that it contains.
It has taken many years for the club to build up the equipment that they do have, and just a week before the RMB VLC Sprints Regatta held locally at Victoria Lake, they have lost almost everything. They will need as much support as the rowing community can give to rebuild the club and continue to offer children at Germiston High School the opportunity to row.
Supporters have started a crowdfunding page to raise funds to rebuild the club.
Please share and donate in whatever capacity you can.
Lucinda Douse and the AllMarkOne Team
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We've talked about mental health before here at AllMarkOne and firmly believe that combatting the stigma surrounding this topic is so important, particularly amongst young people. We've shared real life experiences of rowing with mental health issues, discussed dealing with failure in sport, and spoke to GB rower Sam Courty about the highs and lows of sport. Today, we headed down to Imperial College Boat Club because we want to talk about the launch of a not-for-profit campaign: Rowing Together for Healthy Minds.
Rowing Together for Healthy Minds was founded by a group of university students with the goal of changing the way the rowing community thinks about mental health.
This month marks two years since René Zamudio, a cherished friend, brother, and son, tragically took his own life. René was a former member of Bristol University Boat Club and later Imperial College Boat Club. Last year, these clubs raced at Quintin Head in special vests to celebrate the memory of someone who touched so many. This year, RTHM aspires to raise the profile of mental health in rowing, to inform athletes and coaches about the symptoms of depression and other disorders, and ultimately to make it easier for people suffering from these issues to reach out for help in future. Suicide is now the single biggest killer of men under the age of 45 in the UK.
We are RTHM.
We are a mental health campaign for rowers.
We want to turn up the volume discussing mental health.
RTHM aims to do this by:
- Partnering with boat clubs across the UK. Whilst our main target is student rowing clubs, we are open to all.
- Selling our Rival Kit universal charity tech tops. These high-quality tops will be worn by athletes from all clubs at races throughout 2019 including BUCS Head and Regatta, Quintin Head and the Head of the River Races. They’re available now on the Rival Kit website.
- Supplying a free poster to all affiliated clubs that outlines the club’s commitment to prioritising themental health of its athletes.
- Donating all profits to our partner charity, Mind. They offer information about mental health and provide support to anyone affected by these issues.
- Inform and educate others on mental health via our social media accounts @rthm_uk on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
We’ve had a huge response from clubs already affiliated, selling over 500 tech tops in our first order, andnow want to spread our movement further. Do you row for a club that would like to join the campaign? Get in touch via email at rthm.ukmind@gmail.com or via our Instagram & Twitter accounts.
We all need to make small actions to open up the conversation about mental health. This can help us understand what mental health really is, how to spot the symptoms and how to help someone in need. Mental health issues can affect everyone, and sometimes it's the last person you would expect. Please join us in supporting RTHM.
Check out the awesome RivalKit tech tops shown in the images above. Tops are only £13, and all profits are being donated to Mind. We want to see as many young athletes in the next few weeks wearing them with pride. If we snap a photo of you racing in one of the RTHM tech tops, we'll send you the free watermarked digital image. All you have to do is tag @allmarkone & @rthm_uk and use #rowingtogetherforhealthyminds & #allmarkone in the caption.
If you are worried about yourself or someone you might know who might be struggling with mental health issues, we encourage you to talk to those close to you, and head to www.mind.org.uk/ for information and support.
RTHM is not a registered charity but is an official partner with Mind and all profits will be donated to Mind.
Lucinda Douse and the AllMarkOne Team
It’s probably quite unlikely that you have sat yourself on an ergometer (or a ski erg/bike/other machine) for a test with no score in mind.
]]>Usually, at junior level, your coach may give you a rough score that you are likely to achieve.
However, with the wrong mind frame, they can sometimes seem impossible – out of reach even and can end up unachievable.
Goals are your starter point for improvement. Without them, you have a blind sense of direction.
It is very hard to complete a 2k test, probably one of the worst ergo tests that exists, without having a score to strive towards. Without having a time in mind, how can one pace the test right – to ensure they don’t go off too hard, or not go hard enough?
Having a goal can help you in the short or long-term. Within goal-setting, objectives can also help to be your ‘stepping stones’ towards your big project.
They can be likened to being the rungs of a ladder – each step gets you closer to the top. For example, you may come up with a score that you want to achieve in your next 2k, which takes place six weeks from now.
You might want to achieve 7:30, which is an average split of 1:52.5. You are currently four seconds away from this time, so you need to drop one split (at least) in the next few weeks to achieve this.
Your objective could involve doing some more UT1 training, so you are pushing your anaerobic base, whilst increasing your lactic acid capacity and power, which are factors that can help to improve your 2k score.
It could also involve altering your diet or measuring your macro nutrients to ensure you are getting the right proportion of carbohydrates, fats and protein in your diet to aid your body in recovering as well as it can after your training sessions.
Even adding in a half-hour long session of foam rolling and stretching every week on top of your current training can aid you in becoming more robust, so you can participate in harder sessions.
It may seem quite simple and easy to set a goal, but, it needs to be thought out, to make sure it is achievable, or not too easy to achieve. A typical template that many people like to use when goal-setting, is SMART. Many people know it, but don’t use it:
S stands for specific
“I want to be quicker in rowing”
Saying this is pretty unspecific.
Do you mean wanting to be faster on the ergo, when performing tests, or do you mean improving your boat speed on the water?
If it is on an ergo test, how much faster do you want to complete the test?
If you are looking at boat speed, there are many factors needed to increase it, such as finding a good rhythm in the boat, the timing of your catches, or the ratio of power used in the drive.
Establishing a specific objective is the first step in creating a solid goal.
M is for measurable.
Making a goal measurable, means it is a lot easier for you to know when or if you have achieved your goal.
For instance, you have decided that you want to be quicker in the boat. This could be decided that you want to come a certain position at a race.
National Schools Regatta is one of the largest junior races in the United Kingdom, and to make an A final, and especially score a medal, is a common goal for many clubs.
It could be your intention that you want to come in the top 6 at NSR, and through working on your rhythm in the boat, and improving boat speed, could help towards placing in the top end of the competition at NSR.
A = achievable
Say you just started rowing – to try and win a medal at National Schools Regatta in the same year would be quite unlikely.
Not impossible, but to set that as a goal, with different athletes having different sporting abilities, would be extremely difficult to achieve.
Goals should be challenging, but not so much that they are unable to be achieved; this could lead to an athlete being discouraged.
R means relevant
I know some, or many, know the R to stand for ‘realistic’, but I think that it is extremely similar to ‘achievable’.
The goal(s) that you make should be relevant to yourself – potentially also to your team mates, but most importantly to you.
Setting a goal that your team mate has set themselves will most likely result in failure, as they are a different athlete to your individual self.
Your specific goal is your motivator, and so needs to be important to you.
T – time-bound!
Considering all the other factors, set a time limit to work towards!
Do you want to achieve it in the next month or the next year?
A good way of getting an idea of when you want to achieve your goal, is to look at the dates of your most important races – or perhaps individual dates that have been set in your club, such as seat racing.
Having a time frame means that the likelihood of you accomplishing your goal is increased.
An example is “I want to do X by Schools Head in March”.
To finalise, we will quickly analyse a good and a bad goal, to show the difference between both.
“I want to be faster by May”
Firstly, one point is that this does have a sort of time frame. Perhaps adding a date in May would ensure a better time limit.
Again, does the athlete mean gaining a faster time on the ergo, or becoming quicker on the water? Adding to this would make it more specific.
Producing a measurable variable would also ensure that the goal is more likely to be achieved, such as getting a specific time on the ergo, or a certain place in a race.
It would be near-impossible to know if this is achievable with no measuring tool.
“I want to achieve 7:30 in my free rate 2k ergometer test that is in six-weeks’ time”.
This is pretty much an idealistic SMART goal for a rower.
The goal is specific – you know what the rower wants to achieve.
It is measurable: there is a specific time that they want to attain.
Only you will know whether it is achievable, a rower may know this if they have previously completed a 2k with a time not too far from 7:30. It is relevant to them and has a time frame to work within.
Yasmin Ryman-King
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Last summer we worked on a project with Fulham Reach Boat Club’s young talent, Schuyler Audley-Williams . Our video ‘How Rowing Changed Schuyler’s Life’ was eventually shortlisted at the Charity Film Awards, and his story has since been picked up by the likes of The Times and The Telegraph. The heart of the conversation about Schuyler lies in his journey from home-schooling on a White City council estate to pursuing a full scholarship at Eton College, and how rowing provided the vital stepping stone between the two. With two British U12 records on the ergo under his belt, fourteen year old Schuyler is looking ahead to possibilities of further education at institutions like Oxford and Cambridge.
This year’s Boat Races are already just around the corner, and the 19th century tradition has shown no signs of dwindling in popularity in recent years. Despite involving many individual athletes with international rowing experience from across the globe, the race has no actual involvement of the national squad as its own entity and at its core is simply a varsity sporting event. Yet upwards of 250,000 onlookers line the banks of the Tideway in London each year, with a further 7 million staying tuned via the widespread media coverage. Steeped in history, the event draws crowds from both inside and outside the rowing community, and is no doubt a fantastic opportunity to showcase the best of our sport.
The Boat Race demonstrates that with a lot of hard work and dedication, juggling a highly rigorous academic schedule at one of the world’s top universities with the training load of an elite athlete is achievable. But there’s the problem: ‘elite’. The description elite doesn’t only speak to athletic ability here, but in many ways to the reputation of the sport as a whole.
The Harvard-Yale Boat Race is the American equivalent of the Oxford-Cambridge race, and in the same way that university rowing was introduced in the UK at Oxford, college rowing in the states was born out of this Harvard-Yale matchup. The race is in fact the oldest collegiate athletic competition in the US following it’s first edition in 1852. While many more universities have followed suit in introducing rowing over the past century, the schools with the foundations in rowing remain some of the most competitive squads and the sport is still somewhat tied to them, at least from the perspective of those with minimal involvement in rowing.
Oxbridge are constantly wrapped in accusations of elitism and discrimination in their admissions procedures, alongside their Ivy League counterparts from across the pond. Whether there is truth in these accusations is far beyond the scope of what we feel qualified to discuss, but it is undoubtedly a problem that these world-class academic institutions have not yet managed to shake the associations with elitism rooted in their history. To a certain extent, the discussion as to whether they discriminate is neither here nor there if there are people that feel discouraged from applying in the first place. It seems that the real inequality in opportunity starts long before admissions decisions.
It’s been a challenge within the rowing community for some time now to debunk the myth that the culture in the sport is of elitism and exclusivity. People who participate in rowing will tell you that the atmosphere is not of elitism at all. Rowers simply love to train and love the sport. However, issues arise in the relatively limited media coverage in comparison to more popular sports like football or rugby. To many, rowing beyond the Olympics and World Championships is about dress codes stricter than Royal Ascot at Henley Royal Regatta. They perhaps don’t get the glimpse of the hundreds of spectators dipping their feet in the water as they watch for free from the bank. Or more importantly, the hours of everyday training that rowers put in day in and day out, in the gym and on the water. There’s very little glamour in that.
The 2012 Boat Race will long be remembered after Trenton Oldfield swam in front of the crews, bringing the race to a halt. He stated that he had done this as “a protest against inequalities in British society, government cuts, reductions in civil liberties and a culture of elitism.” And while maybe there was truth in these ideas going back many years, the oarsmen in the race he interrupted hailed from all over the world and earned their seats through years of gruelling dedication to the sport. Oldfield’s claims no longer rung true when he devastated the hopes of those athletes, and with consistent progression, they ring even less true today. Take a look at the launch of the Future Blues campaign last year: the Boat Race are completely on board with the view that we should be increasing access to the sport and are making a firm effort to do so.
“I’d never rowed before, but it just seemed rather elite because that’s all the coverage that you receive from the media,” said Schuyler when we interviewed him last summer. “But it turned out to be just a very down-to-earth sport. Rowing for me has become this kind-of… addiction.”
The introduction of the Power8 Sprints by British Rowing is an excellent initiative to bring rowing to a wider audience and expand the view of the sport, but there’s still a long way to go, and it’s not limited to media representation. The fact that Schuyler was able to get on the water and discover the openness of the rowing community was a big step in itself.
Equipment is expensive, and at junior level, many of the big names include the likes of famous public schools Eton and Westminster. Rowing neither feels nor is accessible enough to kids in the state-school sector just yet. This isn’t a criticism of the culture in the community as a whole, and this isn’t to say that it’s impossible to be successful if you don’t come from a privileged background. Some of the national squad’s most successful athletes including Moe Sbihi MBE, Mark Hunter MBE and Sir Steve Redgrave CBE came from comprehensive schools. Young athletes may progress through programmes like GB World Class Start, or simply through rowing at their local club. Ireland's O'Donovon brothers of Skibbereen Rowing Club are a shining example of success on the world stage without state-of-the-art facilities behind them.
There are a huge number of clubs across the UK (and beyond) that provide access to rowing for people from all walks of life. Clubs are successful simply through a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere, combined with the common desire to put in the hours of training required. Not through any kind of internal elitism.
But there’s no denying that rowing facilities remain extremely expensive and much more accessible to young people at private schools- take the facilities now available to Schuyler at Eton College. While it’s true that rowing club membership fees are often much more affordable than a standard gym membership, good quality racing boats and the maintenance of such equipment is a significant financial undertaking for any club. In the same way, we can't assume that club membership is realistically affordable for all. Burlington Danes Academy are a school who now offer rowing thanks to Fulham Reach Boat Club. Around 70% of their students are on free school meals.
This isn’t just a problem exclusive to rowing: more than half of medallists for Team GB at the London 2012 Olympics were privately educated, despite only making up 7% of the population. Encouraging young people to participate in sport of any kind is key, and the ease of access to participation in rowing or otherwise is generally much greater at a school with readily available facilities. Back in 2014, 10% of schools registered with British Rowing were from the state sector, with the remaining 90% from the private school sector. This doesn’t account for all of the fantastic clubs entering junior athletes, but stats like that do indicate a problem, especially in the context of the tiny percentage of schools nationally that are independent. The argument isn't that rowing isn't now available to the majority, it's only that there is still a significant inequality in opportunity, and thus more work to be done.
To quote Schuyler in conversation with The Telegraph: “There wasn’t much diversity in the outreach for rowing. So it never seemed like something I would or could do. I think that’s because, coming from my background, there is not as much of an outreach for it.”
This brings us back to the idea that an outward stigma about the elitist nature of rowing is still present and a crucial initial barrier to participation. There are a variety of excellent programmes worldwide aimed at increasing access to the sport. Close to home, Fulham Reach Boat Club and London Youth Rowing continue to make incredible progress in providing access to rowing for children in London irrespective of background. Organisations like RowUK and B-Row are pursuing the same goal in other parts of the country. Community Rowing, Inc. have been increasing access to rowing in Boston, Massachusetts since 1985, while Row New York have a strong focus on the ties between rowing and academic success. Yale University even have their own Yale Community Rowing Program. Programmes like these and many more we haven't mentioned are crucial in combatting the elitist image that rowing is still shrouded by, alongside the many rowing clubs who offer the sport in their communities.
The head of the river races that start this week follow the same Championship Course as The Boat Race, only raced in the reverse direction. Head of the River entries are capped at 400 crews, bringing up to 3,600 competitors onto the river at once, as each entry races in eights just the same as at the varsity showdown. They’re a celebration of national rowing, and particularly of the many clubs that are continuing to provide rowing in every corner of the country. We don’t expect to see 7 million following our live stream on the day, but we hope that by providing a platform to watch the upcoming races on, we can begin to create a more accessible, no-frills view of the sport at all levels. The Boat Race is no less than a fantastic event, and the heads of the rivers should be recognised in that same level of regard. We believe the level of coverage of these events should reflect that.
]]>Anna Thornton is a student at the University of Washington in Seattle, USA. At the age of just 21, Anna has won five World Championship medals for Great Britain, competing at both junior and U23 level. She had a fantastic summer this season, making it back-to-back gold at the U23 World Championships and taking the Stonor Challenge Trophy at Henley Royal Regatta.
Sadly Anna suffered a traumatic injury to her brain on the 4th November over in the states. The support of her family and friends will be vital in her recovery, and she is due to return home to Nottingham for further treatment.
The huge contributions she has made to our sport are undeniable. This is our opportunity as a community to combine forces and help raise the funds needed to provide the advanced level of care and rehabilitation she needs.
Here at AllMarkOne, we want to help support her in any way that we can.
Every photo sale made for the foreseeable future will be donated to the Pulling for Anna campaign. This will be added to all money raised over the past few weeks after we initially discussed an intention to do this. This covers all galleries of photos on our store linked here, stretching back to Bedford Regatta 2018. We also have collections of photos no longer showing on our website - if there is any interest in these, let us know through the contact form on the site and we can look through our archives. Photos are only £5 for a digital download.
Similarly, 50% of calendar sales will also be donated to the campaign. Our calendars feature some of the standout crews from throughout this year at junior, university and senior level. Each month features a high-quality image taken by our team and lists the major dates of head races & regattas to make life that little bit easier for athletes and family alike.
We want to help however we can and use the platform that we've built for good. Every donation helps to give back to a talented young athlete who has given us and our sport so much.
AllMarkOne Team
]]>This list will hopefully help you in packing for your rowing event and offer a guideline for what to have in your training bag.
Bag- Pretty self explanatory! Preferably take just one bag or backpack that can fit all the items listed here. You'll thank yourself when you have to carry it around later! Maybe try this classy plastic bag as used by Brookes. Not sure where they got it.
Clothing- Racing/ training kit including your all-in-one, splash top, base layers, t-shirts, leggings and tracksuits. It's a good idea to pack layers so you're prepared for a change in weather, or just to allow you to take layers off as you warm up.
Footwear- In the summer, trainers or sliders should be fine. But if you're going to winter head races, the ground is often very boggy and it's a good idea to bring wellies or old trainers to wear in the mud.
Towel- Just in case! Try this microfibre towel, it's light and won't take up much room in your bag, but definitely comes in handy from time to time.
Spare kit- It's always worth having a warm and waterproof change of clothes with you, especially during the winter. A spare pair of socks (or three) is useful to have any time you're out on the water.
Money- For food or event merchandise *stash*
Water bottle- Take at least two bottles to keep hydrated and also consider any sports drinks or recovery shakes that work for you. There should be somewhere to refill your water either at your club or the regatta you're visiting.
Sunglasses/ visor/ cap- Come in handy all year round. Rumour has it you can wear your sunglasses even if the sun hasn't been spotted for days if you're brave enough.
Beanie- For them cold sessions.
Seat grip- If you have one, you’ll know not to go anywhere without it!
Pogies (or gloves)- For cold and wet conditions.
Sun cream- To protect your skin from sunburn, but most importantly to protect your pictures from bad tan lines. Heat stroke is the last you thing you need before a big final.
Rigger jigger- You will be praised for having your own. What do you mean you don't already have a DIY decorated one?
Plasters and/or tape- For them nasty unwanted blisters.
Earphones- To get you hyped up for the race.
Food- Carbohydrates and energy bars, buy some pasta or chicken if you can before or between races. Bringing pre-repared food from home is your best bet, as sometimes the options available at regattas are more aimed at spectators and won't be good to eat before competing.
A pack of tissues/ hand gel- By the end of a regatta, the portaloos usually look like they've seen better days.
Last but not least- your British Rowing membership card. If you are part of a club, your coach will most likely have this, but if you row independently, put your card in your wallet or purse to take down to the event. Over in the USA, most of the logistics are done online so double check you've done everything you need to before you travel.
Hopefully this helps and makes packing a little less stressful!
Dan
J15- North East, UK
]]>Sam may not be fit to race currently, but her ambition maintains unwavering with “an Olympic gold medal” her ultimate end goal- “I never thought about if I ‘could’ be a professional athlete it was more ‘when’ and in what sport”. Her career highlight so far was; “to be selected for my first Senior World Championships last year in Sarasota, especially as two other members of my old training group from Bath were also selected”.
Although she is proud to be a Bath graduate, her favourite stretch of water is Varese- “It can provide a great lightning storm, but the water can be very thick there. If Bath didn’t have so many bends then it would be a harder decision because 99% of the time it is perfectly flat”. When asked if she could pick any international rower to row with she undoubtedly chose Hamish Bond, “because his dedication to the sport is unquestionable and the amount of thought he gave to every small detail is fascinating”.
Something that we can all relate to is the pain endured on the ergo, but Sam recommends that all clubs should install a “PB bell”. “We have recently added one and it’s a great way to acknowledge a teammate’s success. When someone PBs the bell gets rung and it’s just a bit of fun”. The road to a PB is tedious and can sometimes seem ever-lasting but, for anyone currently waiting on a break-through performance, Sam says, “Be patient. Progress is never a straight, upwards line… if it was, we would have achieved everything in a year! Keep working hard and trust your training, your time will come”.
Sam admits her worst ever session was “4x500m flat-out with 1min rest. It’s a good session to test your body’s tolerance to lactate which you need for racing.” Something that often keeps us all going when we’re in the depths of muscle pain is music, Sam would love to have Calvin Harris or Sigala as the resident Caversham DJ but admits that she has “no idea what songs are played when I do a 2k”.
More and more mental preparation techniques are being used in sport. Sam would say, “Pre-race keep it simple. There is nothing you can change technically at this point so go over the racing calls one final time. Personally, I avoid focussing on the overall outcome as that can’t be achieved by getting the process right. Post-race I prefer chats to be later on after the race to allow time to reflect on the outcome and any immediate emotions to have settled. Say what needs to be said in the meeting to avoid you overthinking it later on. This is very important when racing over multiple days as you need to be able to switch off between races and not dwell on what could have happened.”
In the immediate after-math of a disappointing race, Courty explains, “Always remember, your crewmates will be feeling as disappointed as you, acknowledge the effort that everyone put in and analyse what went wrong later. The result is the result and there is nothing you can do about it. Be honest but be respectful”. Sam tells us that before a race there is nothing better to eat than a jaffa cake- “I doubt they offer much nutritional benefit to me but as a last -minute snack this is my go-to. They don’t make me sick and they taste great!” If all of us should be wearing one piece of kit Sam recommends a visor- “It does everything; it keeps the sun off your face, it stops the rain dripping down into your eyes and it helps keep your hair under control”.
Sam knows all-too-well what it’s like to be faced with injury and has even created a whatsapp group for the injured members of team GB to talk to each other, in what can-be the most challenging times of their career. “Injured athletes are very rarely looking for sympathy, so special treatment and over-the-top caring isn’t necessary. Ask if they’re ok and offer your services if they need you but don’t push yourself on them. Most importantly, just try to carry on as normal and be supportive”.
As for the coaches, Courty says, “I think coaches need to be able to see athletes as humans as well as athletes. Remove any pressures of deadlines to be fit again and allow them to fix properly and in their own time. One of the main causes of stress for the injured athletes is the perception that they are worthless and so they try to get back as soon as possible, sometimes too soon. A coach should provide the environment where the athlete can focus purely on their rehabilitation with as little stress as possible.”
Sam is a “very goal driven person” so sets goals for her rehab which helps with motivation and tracking of progress. She says those injured should, “work closely with their coach and physio so they can support you”. In terms of preventing injury, we should all look to, “stretch, warm-up and if something hurts put your hand up. It’s a lot easier and quicker to treat something earlier rather than later. Also remember altering a couple of sessions is better than missing a week of training. Once the injury becomes too painful to train then you’re in trouble.” Possibly the most relatable side-effects of rowing are the somewhat painful blisters, Sam says keep them clean and she keeps her hands soft “by doing the washing up!”.
Read Sam's fantastic article covering mental health in sport with WeRow here. Physical and mental health are both so important at all stages of life but can be particularly sensitive amongst young people. Never be afraid to reach out for help- in its partnership with Sport England, the charity Mind is a fantastic resource.
Many thanks to Sam and our brilliant team member, Emily
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The strongest steel is forged by the fires of hell
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I’ve had depression for quite a while. It was first noticeable to me halfway through secondary school. I had recently taken up rowing and used it as a temporary cure. A strong training schedule kept my mind distracted from the rest of my work and home life. Time away, with friends on the water worked well as a distraction, however as the winter months came, as for all people, training became tougher and less light-hearted.
As the winter training became underway, by 16:00 the sky was dark and the mornings were also mirroring the increasing darkness of the winter season. That’s when it set in again. I continued training, as I was unwilling to stop as my friends were part of the squad and I didn’t want to be left out by not being part of the squad, but it was getting harder to fulfil the training to my best ability. The dark mornings made it hard for me to get out of bed, and the dark afternoons just turned me into a bad mood. In turn, me not producing my best potential was making me feel worse as I knew I could do better but I found it so much harder to push myself and I wasn’t making the top boat. It felt like I was doing the impossible considering I had only started rowing that year and the depression was making it so much harder. I started counselling after my mum started to notice signs and was getting worried. I started to feel better mentally, allowing me to be in better moods at training and at school, and I was doing better with my performance. Before I knew it, I got into the top boat and ended up winning a medal at the National School’s Regatta, which was such an amazing feeling. The high went on for quite a while - the feeling that I could do anything - until I was then in the senior squad.
Of course, being in the senior squad, it would be pretty much impossible (yes, there are probably a few anomalies) to be one of the strongest or best rowers, so it felt like I was right back to the start again. Yet, I still managed to make it to training as I didn’t want to let anyone down as I knew that was frowned upon from my first session as a senior. It was a horrible circle though, as even though I knew I was not going to be the best, my mind still attacked me, torturing me that I was the slowest and there was no point me being there.
I’ve pretty much had to deal with that at the start of every rowing year I’ve started. I had to go to counselling to deal with it again, and when that didn’t work, I turned to self-harm. A lot of people don’t address this, as they think it should be hidden away, but it’s a serious problem that a lot of people with depression have to deal with. I genuinely thought it was somehow going to help with my mental health. I wasn’t doing it for attention, which is a big stigma around self-harm. This was difficult, however, as when training, I couldn’t wear long sleeves all the time with it being too hot occasionally, and it made it a lot harder to hide it. No one said anything in my team though, so to this day, I don’t know whether they knew or not. It got so bad again that I had to have a meeting with my coach and have a break from rowing. At this time I wasn’t sure whether it was intensity of rowing causing me to be feeling like this.After the break, however, I knew I wanted to return to the sport.
I was fixated upon turning the sport into a positive for me when I had a break, and for it to be an escape from my mind. After I returned, knowing that I didn’t want to stop rowing, it was important for me that when I entered the gym or arrived at the boathouse, I stopped the negative voices in my mind, and just focused on what I loved to do: rowing. I even managed to stop self-harming, and I felt like through changing my mindset, I was able to turn rowing back into a positive thing for me. The training got better, and my scores got better - I even got a 2k which I thought was impossible to get, made it into the top boat again and got another National School’s Medal.
It was also important to note that rowing was a positive escape for me, it did not cause me any pain, and the fact that my teammates were the best friends I could have ever asked for helped me through my depression. The bond that you make with your team is such a special one and one that should always be encouraged to keep, as there's nothing better than winning a medal with your best friends.
From then on, I had two more years left at junior level and was determined to do as best I could within those two years. Alongside counselling, in which i was incredibly lucky to find someone who understood rowing and loved the sport, making it a lot easier for me. I was performing at my peak and was getting PB’s better than I ever thought I could get. I loved the sport so much that it was so easy for it to become an escape from everyday life. Granted, there were still some days I found it hard to get out of bed in the mornings, as do many athletes, not wanting to be outside for the day, with a fake smile on my face pretending everything was okay, and I still had the off day every now and then, but compared to how it had been, I was much better.
I then went to university. This was a whole other game in the rowing world, with the squad being of various ages and everyone training together. I couldn’t get my PB’s anymore, my scores got worse, and I felt like I was being judged by every one of the numbers on my ergo screen. I was in a programme at a significantly higher level than my school. I talked to my coach and after being assured that it takes time to be at the top of the squad, I still saw my friends doing positively, and wondered why I was so bad and couldn’t do it. I went back into the negative spiral in my mind, and one day it got so much and my depression got so bad that I ended up trying to overdose to end my life. Now I’m not saying that it was just rowing to cause me to have been like this, the change of my everyday life by moving to university was also a big impact on my health which also made my depression a lot worse.
This is something that pretty much nobody in my life knows about, as I didn’t want them to look at me differently or think of me in another light. Thus, it is so hard for people like me to talk about suicide scenarios as we don’t want to be judged. After trying to end my life, I had to go into serious counselling with private insurance which I was lucky to have, and was also prescribed antidepressants to help deal with my mental health. I felt a bit better, but I knew that the only way to stop myself from this struggle and focus on myself was to stop rowing.
No one to this day really knows the full truth behind me having to stop rowing, as I just blamed it on injury, due to me not wanting them to think of me differently, Now, this isn’t the case or solution for every rower suffering from depression, but for me, I had to take time to concentrate on myself and my wellbeing, as I had such a negative self-image. I don’t know whether I will start rowing again to this day, but I still sometimes go out in my single, and it’s nice to be rowing without any pressures to perform and to enjoy the sport again.
I know I will always be a part of the rowing world, but sadly I know is that my original aims in rowing are far gone. It is important when dealing with depression, to take to see your training in a positive light, and see the sessions as an escape or a cure, and not as a negative cause for your mental health, otherwise you can be stuck in a pessimistic spiral like I was.
Please remember that if you are struggling with depression and rowing, or any sport, you are not alone and it is important to talk to someone. There are hotlines and groups out there trained to help people dealing with depression. There are various numbers or websites that you can call or get onto.
You can find hotline numbers or websites here: https://www.nowmattersnow.org/help-line
Anonymous
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We focus on the power of rowing, using Schuyler as an example of how the amazing charitable work by FRBC can lead to opportunities with the potential to change a young person's life. There wasn't a school that would support Schuyler, and whilst being homeschooled, his father came across a council ad by chance. He found a welcoming community that stood by him at FRBC and this has enabled him to grow in many ways, both in the boat and beyond it. Picking up a few British ergo records along the way, Schuyler has shown us the rewards of hard work and will start this autumn at Eton College on a full scholarship.
"He wants to achieve as much as he can in every area of his life. The problem for me was providing him with an environment in which he could achieve his potential. And that's always been the greatest challenge. For him to have the opportunity to go to Eton- where I am very, very confident he can achieve his potential- is just wonderful. I'm just grateful." -Harry, Schuyler's father
This is about opportunities far beyond rowing. Please read more on the fantastic work at Fulham Reach here. Click here to vote for our video in The Charity Film Awards 2019 and donate to this very worthy cause.
Lucinda and the AllMarkOne Team
]]>Henley RC paddling up to the start
So you have a race coming up. You may be starting to feel that twist in your stomach. You’re nervous... and it’s completely fine to be. Even the most experienced athlete feels a little nervous before a race that's important to them. This article will list some ideas on how to reduce nerves and anxiety on the start line. Try these methods to calm the mind and body and maximise your focus before you race:
Breathe- Stressful situations cause a release of adrenaline, which will elevate your heart rate and lead you to breathe more shallowly. Alternate your breathing. Inhale deeply through your nose and slowly exhale through your mouth. Repeat ten or more times until your heart rate has settled and you are feeling calmer.
Radley College taking some deep breaths before the start of their Henley final
Stretch- Stretching your muscles will relieve them from tension, making them more relaxed and flexible, which will not only help keep anxiety in check but improve your performance on race day too. If you've already boated and are feeling a little tense, go through the major muscle groups of your body and squeeze them for a few seconds before relaxing them again. Cycling through this process a couple of times can help release any tension before you get to the start line. Check out our article with five simple stretches to get started.
Meditate- This will help you focus and stay calm. Find a quiet spot, perhaps around the trailer or on the riverbank, and sit down with your legs crossed. Close your eyes and only focus on your breathing, taking your time. Just doing this for five minutes will set your mind into a more positive one.
Listen to music- Some people prefer listen to music through their headphones and tune everything else out- check out what Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time, listens to before a race here. Whether you want to get pumped up or listen to something more relaxing, find what works for you.
Think Positively- Go into the race with confidence in your training and preparation. Think about your race plan what you’ll do at each stage of the race, rate and technique wise, learn that well and remind yourself that you’re giving every race your 100% best. Everyone has the potential to make the final and win a medal.
Scotch College, winners of the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta 2017
Smile- Remember racing should be a fun and enjoyable experience. Smiling produces endorphins and serotonin in our brain; these are natural painkillers that will keep you relaxed and ready to race. It also shows off them pearly whites on race photos!
Hopefully these six ways of dealing with your nerves on race day can help get you out there and doing your very best. Good Luck!
Dan
J15- North East, UK
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Try these stretches before training or racing to prevent injuries and let your body relax:
1. Runners Lunge
How to do it: Start in an upright kneeling position. Step your right foot forward to a lunge. With your left knee down on the floor, gently start to guide the hips back, straightening your right leg. Use your hands to maintain balance. Hold this stretch for 30-45 seconds, then repeat on the left side.
Targets: Hamstrings, calves & glutes
2. Low Squat/ Sumo Squat
How to do it: Start in a standing position. Have your feet shoulder-width apart. Slowly start to bend the knees as you lower yourself down. Place your hands out in front of your legs at first. If your heels can rest on the ground fairly easily you have the option to place the hands at the center of your chest in a prayer position.
Targets: Low back, Glutes and legs
3. Standing Quad Stretch
How to do it: Start in a standing position. Bend your right knee and reach your right hand for you foot. Lightly pull the foot back towards your glute. Hold for about 30 seconds and then change legs.
Targets: Quadriceps
4. Arm Behind the Head Stretch
How to do it: Start in a standing position. Take your right arm straight up above the head. Bend the elbow and reach your right fingertips to the centre of your back. Keeping your right arm where it is, take your left hand and place it on your right elbow and lightly press down. Hold for about 30-45 seconds and then change sides.
Targets: Triceps and shoulders
5. Seated Twist
How to do it: Start by sitting down on the floor with your legs straight out in front of you. Hug your right knee into your chest. Cross your right ankle over your left thigh. Turn your body over to your right side.
Targets: Lower back and glutes
Dan
J15- North East, UK
]]>Sport can play a fundamental role in improving health, communication skills and relieving stress. This is especially important for children and teenagers, as exercise has been proven to improve physical and emotional health and so is mutually beneficial to their school work as well. Sport encourages learning, dedication, discipline, goal setting and teamwork, all of which have obvious benefits for education. It can also bring together people from different backgrounds, nurturing trust and respect that can lead to lifelong friendships.
In my (quite biased) opinion, rowing is the best of all sports. From a health perspective, every stroke uses every muscle in the body and, being an outdoor sport, it raises vitamin D levels due to exposure to sunshine. Exercising has well known physical benefits, from improving fitness to delay the onset of non-communicable disease like obesity and type 2 diabetes. Regular exercise is proven to improve mood and reduce the risk of depression and anxiety. This importance is recognised by Sport England’s £8.2 million investment in mental health projects, and their partnership with mental health charity, Mind.
As well as the friendship and support network that comes from being part of a team, there is a biological reason for the wellbeing benefits of sport too. Peptide hormones, known as endorphins, are released in response to pain caused by exercising, and their release can trigger a state of happiness, giving rise to a phenomenon known as “runners’ high”. In fact the effect can be so beneficial that GPs now often prescribe exercise for managing mental health conditions.
But rowing is more than simply the health and fitness benefits. Teamwork is crucial, as boat builder and rowing philosopher George Pocock said, ‘It isn’t enough for the muscles of a crew to work in unison; their hearts and minds must also be as one’. Members of a crew need trust and respect for each other to find that elusive, addictive feeling of flying over the water, and this fosters a special bond between rowers that extends even beyond training and racing.
However in rowing, a sport commonly associated with elitism, this opportunity is not available to everyone. Funding is the most obvious problem. Equipment is expensive, coaching costs money, and racing (including travel, kit and race fees) is not cheap either. As a result, well-funded, longstanding rowing clubs (think Leander) and boys’ private schools (think Eton, Radley etc.) have dominated competitive rowing. Schools have the benefit that training time is scheduled into the week (rather than nine different schedules for every member of the boat), that their boathouse and equipment belongs to them and is of an adequate standard, and there is the knowledge that there will always be enough rowers to form crews.
For smaller clubs without these advantages, offering similar facilities can mean high membership fees and over- reliance on volunteers for coaching and management of the club. While volunteers do amazing work in rowing across the country, they will not have the same time, experience and resources as a professional coach. For clubs only working with juniors, there are no adult athletes to lend a hand either, so the problem can become more pronounced, making it harder for their crews to attend competitions at the level they may aspire to.
While rowing may not deserve the ‘elitist’ label it is given, it is not perfect either. While some clubs aim to make it possible for anyone to row, whoever you are and wherever you are, the access of rowing is in reality still very limited. There are so many benefits to rowing, and so it is so important that these are available to as many people as possible.
But this can change. Gender disparity is less of an issue now, with the transition of the women’s Boat Race to the same course as the men’s marking a significant shift, especially in public perception. Girls’ schools such as Headington and Lady Eleanor Holles are leading the way in offering well resourced, successful rowing programs for girls. However, the recent exclusion of WJ15 girls from racing at Schools Head whilst the J15 boys were allowed to race shows there is still a way to go in recognising their participation as equal. And junior rowing is no longer dominated just by private schools, clubs are becoming increasingly successful, shown by Henley RC who this season (and previous seasons too) have led the way in girls’ rowing. All of Team GB’s rowers at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games were from clubs. Yet the most successful clubs are long established with adult and junior squads, who often have long waiting lists and high membership fees.
Progress is being made in widening accessibility, although that change can’t come fast enough. Involvement in rowing, or any sport, has many proven benefits that should be available to everyone.
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As the 2019 season starts, we at AllMarkOne look back on last season as well as forwards to the next 12 months. For a more in-depth look at specific year groups, take a look at our UK Circuit blog.
The past season has been the busiest that I or the rest of the team has ever taken part in. Because of that, I've asked every team member to talk about their favourite moments of this season, as well as what they are most looking forward to next year.
My favourite moment from last season was watching my old school crew, Bedford, retain their 1st 8 win at the Schools' Head of the River, as well as come fourth in the A-Final of Senior 8s at National Schools', taking gold in the non-championship event. Next season I am looking forward to covering larger scale events, such as commercial contracts which we have lined up.
2018 has been an incredible year as the CEO of AllMarkOne for me. From the release of the new website containing the online store and AllMarkHub to watching the team expand around us. With a massive increase in time-pressure for me, the expansion of the team, especially in the photography section, has been key to the successful growth of AMO.
My favourite moment from 2018 was National Schools' Regatta. After only joining AllMarkOne the week before I had no clue who anyone was but within a day I felt like I was a key, integral part of the team. Having the ability to follow races in launches with the AMO passes let me play with my shooting style and was a lot of fun, whilst also creating good content.
In this upcoming season I am looking forward to the challenges of shooting on the Tideway for the first time. The Tideway always has its own special unique challenges for rowers, however as a photographer, the distances between a shooting spot and athletes are significantly larger, requiring longer and sharper lenses to get the normal shots. Bring it on!
One of my favourite moments of the 2018 season was the Head of the River livestreams. With little to no planning, the team put together a "bodge job" of a stream above Imperial College Boathouse. Starting with WEHORR we tried to keep it as simple as possible, in an attempt to reduce the chances of things going wrong, with the difficulty increasing over HORR and SHORR.
Another favourite moment in the calendar is the hype-train in the lead up to Henley Royal Regatta. This year we hired some seriously nice kit to shoot with at the University of London in March, followed by Maidenhead RC and Oxford Brookes Uni BC in June, to whack some montages together. Every rower is very excited in the lead up to HRR so getting good footage is even easier than usual.
This season I am coxing at university, so will have a lot less time on my hands than I had last year. I will be looking forward to seeing how all the new team members take on the challenge of AllMarkOne and how the company can grow with new and creative ideas. I can't wait to move AMO into expansion stage four and onwards!
I wanted to thank all of the team members of AMO who will not be remaining with us for the 2019 season, you will all be missed, as many of them move off to pursue other aspects of academia and sporting success.
I also want to personally thank every member of the team that is part of our recent expansion, from the year group writers for the AllMarkHub, to the photographers, editors, Instagram team and the senior team, without whom, none of this would have ever been possible. Lots of work goes on behind the scenes at AllMarkOne and over the next few months, we aim to show you as much of this as we can. Keep tuned in to our social media pages and tag us in your latest posts.
To another year.
Rory
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