Autumn Term 2017
Boat Club Bulletin
PUTNEY ROWING SUPPORTERS’ NEWSLETTER
PUTNEY ROWING GOES FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH The rowers enjoyed a compact and fantastic summer regatta season and have started the Autumn term with a positive attitude. Senior Rowing The senior rowers have produced some of the best results the club has seen in recent years with strong performances at all the races and regattas so far this season. After their win at Henley, the WJ16 crew (Imogen Bantick, Jasmine Moore, Annabel Zedda-James, Lucy Miles minus cox Anna Brehony) were selected to race for Great Britain in the WJ16 Match against France in July, and won by two lengths. Alongside their regular training, Lucy Miles and Jasmine Moore were invited to attend the GB trial in Lincolnshire in November. Both girls rowed valiantly against the top WJ18 rowing talent in the country. Lucy finished sixth out of the 85 girls attending, and both produced very positive results for the remaining trials process throughout the year. Lucy Miles also won the WJ17 at Scullers’ Head in December.
With the addition of a new Year 11 squad joining the seniors, the athletes have put in some brilliant performances both on and off the water. We have had wins at Bedford Head and Pairs Head of the River, where Lucia Wickham and Alice Bridges won the highly competitive WJ16 doubles club event. The crews also finished a respectable 9th and 14th place at Fours Head of the River in November.
promising for the year ahead. Highlights from this term include small boats wins at Cambridge Regatta and close finishes in Octuples and Quads at Kingston Small Boats Head and Teddington Head. The Year 10 athletes have continued to improve their fitness and consistency this term under the guidance of coach, Rachel Saunders. As a talented group of athletes, they have produced wins and strong results early on in the season at Cambridge Regatta, Bedford Head, Kingston Small Boats Head and Teddington Head. Just after half term, Year 10 athletes had the opportunity to participate in the Junior Girls’ sweep rowing training day, part of a pilot project run by GB Rowing to promote sweep rowing (with one oar).
The squad trained hard for their first big test at Hampton Small Boats Head in A particular highlight of the year so far was November which is where many of the big a successful and amazing trip to the Head of rowing schools all race together for the the Charles Regatta in Boston, USA, during first time that season. half term. Nine girls got to experience one of the most prestigious races in the rowing Thank you so much for your continued world. support of the club, I look forward to reporting back on many more successes Junior Rowing across the club! The strong numbers in the Year 9 squad have provided a great atmosphere during Ashley Carter, Head of Rowing training this term and early results prove
PARENTS’ ROWING IS BACK! Ever wondered what it’s like to row on the Tideway? PHS Rowing Club is running rowing courses for parents from January at Barn Elms for £300. Sessions run on a Sunday afternoon from 3.00pm to 4.30pm. The course is designed to suit all levels of experience and fitness. Just be prepared to work your socks off! Email Peter Brewer at p.brewer@put.gdst.net if you’d like to have a go. All profits will be donated to the Putney High School Boat Club. Putney High School 35 Putney Hill Putney SW15 6BH ● phone: 020 8788 4886 ● email: putneyhigh@put.gdst.net ● www.putneyhigh.gdst.net
ROWING AT PUTNEY, THEN AND NOW
FROM A SQUIRREL TO A PANTHER
Since the new boathouse opened in February 2016, Putney has been moving up the school rowing rankings. With more than 150 students making use of our new boat house every year, rowing at Putney is now more popular than ever. Putney rowers even made history this year at Women’s Henley, not only winning an event for the first time and also breaking the course record.
I started rowing at the start of Year 11. I tried it out during the summer at one of the school’s summer rowing courses and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Despite our riverside location, rowing hasn’t always been so central to life at Putney. Indeed, women’s rowing as a sport has lagged behind men’s for many years, and now at Putney we are rebalancing the sport.
I began with the squirrels group, which meant training twice a week. I was unsure about joining as everyone else had rowed before.
We spoke to alumna Angela Cameron (neé Twyford) about which sports were on offer whilst she was a student at the school from 1944-54, and how she caught the rowing bug.
Starting with the squirrels I was able to gain confidence without the pressure of doing it competitively.
“When I was at Putney High School we took part in netball and hockey in the winter and tennis and rounders in the summer, with a term of swimming and a couple of periods of gym every week. No rowing of course, although after the War when the Boat Race resumed in 1946, we supported Oxford or Cambridge in the spring term, wearing favours - little crossed oars tied with light or dark blue ribbon. I supported Oxford.”
I wanted to continue sport throughout my GCSEs and Coach Pete Brewer offered to mentor me, I am so
Angela started rowing as a student at Cambridge University. “Despite supporting Oxford, I ended up going to Cambridge. Not many of us went to university or had an opportunity to row but I had a go and enjoyed it. The Cambridge Women’s Boat Club was small, only Newnham and Girton Colleges and the new New Hall took women. We wore white aertex shirts, thick grey school shorts, white socks and gym shoes to row.” Angela’s experience is totally opposite to that of her granddaughter, current Year 10 student and rower, Polly Cameron. Polly said, “I started learning to row in Year 7. My father rowed at Nottingham University and my grannie at Cambridge so I was keen to give it a go. Also, I had not really found a sport that suited me so thought: why not try my luck at rowing and see if I am any good at it?” Initially Polly rowed to get fit but now in Year 10 she has chosen to train competitively. ”Panthers who want to race are expected to do seven sessions a week, five on the water and two on land. Getting up at 5am on Tuesday, 5.45am on Fridays, and another early start on Sunday, is getting easier. Once you are on the river and the sun rises, the atmosphere in the boat lightens both physically and metaphorically. We all encourage each other. I intend to keep rowing, to keep turning up for those early morning sessions and to keep competing hopefully through my university years too, like my father and my grannie before me.”
YEAR 8 DEBUT AT BURWAY HEAD Four Year 8 crews made their first outing at Burway Head on a cold December morning, racing as WJ14s. Supported by coach Olly Jack, all finished the course and enjoyed the experience. Coach Pete Brewer said: “The Year 8s are showing the fun enthusiasm and spirit that will hold them in good stead in the future, from mighty oaks from little acorns grow. We are excited about the what the future holds for them and look forward to welcoming anyone else that wishes to join the ranks.”
grateful to for that opportunity.
Pete encouraged me to train and improve my rowing. He suggested I apply to the Head of Charles River rowing trip. So I did, even though it was a little daunting! I worked with Pete during the summer and went to another Putney summer rowing course to improve. I enjoyed rowing that year, and I wanted to increase my time on the water ,so at the start of my A levels I decided to join the senior squad. Even though I had only been rowing for one year, I blended well with the senior squad, they were all very encouraging including coaches Ashley Carter and Jessica Eddie. There have been days where I have struggled and my relative inexperience sometimes showed but with commitment and effort I have really noticed my improvement. I am so happy I started rowing and look forward to the season to come. by Julieta Gonzalez
Year 10 training
Year 10 training
Year 10 training at Caversham
Year 9 at Burway Head Year 8 at Burway Head Year 9 win at Cambridge regatta Seniors in Boston, USA
Se
Christmas pudding races
Captain’s COLUMN
Rowing Association Update Just like the rowers, the supporters have started the new season at a pace. Many year groups have already had their own ‘social’ and there has been a weekend of cake sales at Barn Elms, where the tables groaned under the weight of cakes and with Nicola Goodwin’s amazing sausage rolls! The groans continued at the recent FOPHS Christmas fair, where girls of all ages took on the ergo challenge run by the senior girls. Mince pies and mulled wine were enjoyed by all at the recent Christmas pudding races. These events have raised over £1,200, allowing the club to complete the purchase of another boat. Yet again, thanks must be given to Peter Brewer who raised much of the cost himself by volunteering his time. This is just another great example of rowing staff’s dedication and successful partnership with the PHSRSA.
I’ve loved rowing ever since my first summer course with Pete in Year six:the camaraderie, the fun, and the fact that it’s the ultimate team sport. You are in a boat which is less than a meter wide, with seven other people lined up directly in front or behind you, all listening to the cox, and all trying to coordinate the same pace, power, and energy. There are few sports where balance, synchronicity, and coordination are so critical to achieving speed and therefore success. And when everything syncs up just right, the outcome is truly magical. Rowing has given me some phenomenal memories – competing at Henley, Head of the Charles in Boston, and the National Schools Regatta. I cannot wait to wear my Putney blazer at Henley in the future, and will be so proud of the legacy I am part of. While an Olympic medal may not be on the near horizon, what rowing has given me is a number of skills which I will be able to utilise in the future - discipline, communication, and organisation. The things I’ve learnt, and the memories I’ve made will stay with me throughout university, my career, and my lifetime.
As the new Chairman, my goal is to build on the amazing foundation created by my predecessor, Irene Ho-Moore, and to promote the Association’s fundraising and social activities as well as providing support to the rowing coaches. A key aim is to increase the number of parents that actively support the Association’s activities and, by doing so, further increase the social element. This is a unique aspect of the Boat Club and one that is becoming more recognised throughout the school. I know everyone leads busy lives and juggles many commitments, not least getting the girls to the Tideway at 6.15 am! But, I would like to ask parents to consider how they might best support the club, whether their daughter is currently rowing competitively or socially. It might be attending one of the key events such as the Quiz night or the Summer Party. Perhaps, you may have a good idea for, or access to, a suitable sponsor. Whatever it is, the offer of help is never too small. Every act of support helps build a stronger club and you can never tell when such support might directly help our athletes. From the funding of large items such as new boats, to the provision of gym equipment and heart rate monitors that have enhanced the girls’ conditioning and performance, every contribution is gratefully received. Finally, a huge thank you to all the parents, coaches and athletes that turned out for the Christmas pudding race, a good time was had by all. Have a great Christmas and I look forward to seeing you soon. Neal Scambler Chair, PHSRSA
Alex Butterworth Boat Club Captain
“Once you are on the river and the sun rises, the atmosphere in the boat lightens both physically and metaphorically.“ Follow us on Twitter @putneyhighsport