Rowing at Vesta
The rowing at Vesta is organised into four main squads. Whilst the arrangements are still being finalised for the coming season 2009/10, it is expected that the squads will be as follows:
- We want our 1st 8 to finish in the top 30 at the Head of the River and our 2nd 8 to finish in the top 60.
- To consistently finish in the top 3 at Senior level in the summer multi-lane regattas.
- We aim to have 3 boats prequalified for Henley Royal Regatta with 2 of those genuinely looking to compete on the Saturday and Sunday
Vesta's Men's Senior Squad will be led by Karl Henderson and Allan Manning. A number of GB squad level guest and finishing coaches will also be present throughout the season to help with crew and athlete development.
Next season we are aiming to build upon our narrow loss in the Britannia Challenge Cup final at Henley Royal Regatta along with our strong performances in the summer Multi lane races.
Our specific aims are as follows:
Our fleet of boats will shortly be enhanced by an additional top-class eight to complement our current 1 year old Filippi eight, Filippi coxless four/ERBi coxless four, brand new Stampfli coxed four and numerous small boats.
Not only are we looking for athletes who have the ambition and commitment to realise these high aims, we are looking for individuals who have the drive and focus to push forward and develop what is widely regarded as a rapidly growing and successful club.
There will be a pre-season meeting on Thursday 3rd September in the Vesta Bar at 7.30pm. Feel free to ask us any questions in the meantime.
If you have any further queries please contact Karl Henderson.
The Vesta Women's Senior Squad will once again be administered by Matt Gilliver and Paul Fitzwilliam.
The aim of the 2009-2010 season will be to build on an extremely strong performance in the 2008-2009 season (wins at Dorney multi-lane regattas, a Ghent Gold medal, two finals at Henley WomenÕs regatta) by challenging for victory at the very highest levels of club rowing in the UK.
We are seeking to recruit athletes who share these ambitions. Commitment, attitude and drive are equally as important as skill and experience.
There will be a kick off squad meeting in the Front Room at Vesta Rowing Club on Thursday 10th September at 7.00pm.
If you have any further queries please contact Matt Gilliver.
Vesta's Men's Novice squad will be coached by Alex Brown - alex@vrc.org.uk with a talented guest coaching team. The squad will be split into two groups, racing and leisure.
The aim of the racing group is to take you from a raw novice to someone capable of moving into the bottom of the senior squad in one year. This will require a serious commitment of time and energy, both on and off the water.
The leisure group is for those who simply wish to learn to row, but currently have no aspirations beyond that. There will be no compulsory training for this squad or mandatory time commitment, with members not expected to row as often as the racing squad. Initially both squads will row together, but will be split apart in the new year.
Those with no aspirations to progress must understand that both coaching and boat resource will be focused primarily on those seeking to further their rowing.
The beginning of season meeting is on Thursday 30th of July at 1930, with physiological testing on the weekend of the 1st and 2nd of August.
Vesta's Women's Novice Squad
The women's novice squad will be taking up to 20 keen and enthusiastic non rowers this August. The aim of the novice programme is not just to teach the fundamentals of rowing, but to develop those involved into rowers capable of progressing through the squad system at Vesta. For that reason, our programme is not a short sharp "learn to row" course, but is more a development programme lasting the entirety of the rowing year and encompassing head races during the winter and regattas during the summer months of 2010. This approach has yielded results in the past and some of the novices from last year could be seen next year as part of the senior squad at the club. ItÕs worth noting that one of the 2008 novices rowed in a Henley WomenÕs Regatta final this year and also won a gold medal at Ghent!
Our pre season meeting will be held on 12th August at 730pm in the front room at Vesta (enter the club via the metal staircase on Rotherwood Road). At this meeting we will outline what the year will entail should you choose to join us, the fees that will be involved and the kind of commitment we will be looking for. It will also be an opportunity for you to ask any questions you might have and have a look around the club. If you can't make the meeting then please email one of us in advance to indicate your interest and we will attempt to arrange an alternative time to meet you.
NB: if you are reading this and realise the meeting date has come and gone, please do still get in touch, it probably isn't too late. We can arrange to meet you some time at the club and show you what we're all about!
Jane Osborne (jane@vrc.org.uk) and Paul Lorenzato (paull@vrc.org.uk)