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CAPTAIN OF BOATS
Rowing is an art. A complex mixture of finesse and pure grit that brings joy or heartbreak. The commitment and passion needed to sculpt the victorious dream requires a devotion, a dedication unrivalled by any other GPS sport. But even with this otherworldly determination, it will always come down to mental toughness. - ‘How much do you want it?’ becomes ‘How much do you need it?’. Every crew has had the same time to gain the same fitness and technique; every crew will sit in silence at the start line; every crew will remember the sacrifices they made just to be here. Belief and trust in your brothers are never needed more than in a race. To win, you MUST do something that the other boats aren’t willing to do, you MUST do it for the man in front. Whilst the battle is fought across the 2000m course, a bond of brotherhood is formed that will last forever and if you’re looking for the conviction needed to win, look no further than the boys in the boat. Strong friendships which begin at the shed are created as a part of a great culture and stay intact long after school life. Together with racing, the memories made at training are cherished by every boy who rows.
Along with the rich culture, this regatta is an opportunity to prove your worth to the shed, to the man in front, to your mates, to the old boys, to your school and most importantly, to yourself. Opportunities like this are rare and are something that all the boys will remember, no matter the result, no matter the crew.
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No one is ever really ready to push their mind, body and spirit to the absolute limit but there are only two types of pain: physical and regret. Physical may last seconds, minutes or days, but regret will last with you for as long as you breathe. So as you enter the final 500m, out of breath and with tunnel vision, I challenge you to give all you have. Stick your ’Hand in the fire’, embrace the pain, dig deep and leave nothing in the tank. Leave the course with no regrets.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all the marshals, parents, coaches, the BBC Rowing Support Group and my fellow rowers for their efforts in putting on this regatta. Good luck, and may you have fair racing.
