Weekday Ladies
The Weekday Ladies’ Squad was started in 2001, with a small but keen group of scullers, to encourage greater use of the club’s facilities at off-peak times. It has since grown into a lively squad of about 30 members, ranging from novices to those competing in national events. There are opportunities both to scull and to row. Most sweep rowing takes place in the spring term, from January until Easter. During the other terms the emphasis tends to be on sculling.
The aim of the squad is to enable its members to combine an enjoyment of sculling, whether for recreation or competition, with the demands of work and family life. There is a strong social element to the sessions and members actively support other sections of the club, particularly the juniors. Many members of the squad are themselves qualified coaches.
Coaching and Training
There are three coached water sessions per week, all starting at 9am. Monday is an extra session for single scullers and those aiming to race. Wednesday is a general session, open to all abilities including novice and recreational scullers. The Friday session is for members of a standard to complete timed pieces in single sculls. It is from this last group that our racing crews are drawn. Crews training to race will often organise additional training sessions.
Those who have the time and the opportunity try to fit in an additional ergo or circuit session in the club gym or elsewehere. Training schedules are available for those wishing to race.
All sessions take place during school term-time only, however those members who are competent to do so are free to use the club facilities independently on weekdays during the holidays.
Races
The squad aims to enter one or two events each term, and generally focuses on veteran events. In the last year crews have entered the Women’s and Veterans’ Head of the River races – reflecting the sweep rowing background of many of our members – as well as the National Veteran Championships, Henley Veteran Regatta, the Veteran Fours Head and the Scullers Head.
Learning to Scull
The group can take on one or two beginners at a time, and prospective members may wish to participate in a few trial sessions first. The club runs the Alec Hodges Sculling Course every summer, which is open to all. We hope that we may also be able to run a midweek beginners' course at the start of each academic year if there is sufficient demand (the water is warmer in September if you go for a swim!) and in the meantime it may be possible to arrange additional private lessons to bring beginners up to speed.
Joining
This is a popular group, and a waiting list is currently in operation. To register, or for furtherinformation, e-mail weekdayladies@tidewayscullers.com