SUBC Novice Squads
Novice rowing is at the heart of SUBC, the nurturing of new talent has always formed the basis of Southampton crews. This ethos has ensured that the club has never had to rely solely on an intake of experienced rowers. Many oarsmen and women who have started their careers at the University have gone onto compete on the international stage (please see Alumni success stories).
Each year sees an intake of at least four VIIIs worth of novices. The novice captains are extremely dedicated, and spend many hours helping them reach their potential. Their main aims are success at the VIII Head of the River Races and BUSA regatta. Our commitment to novice rowing was made clear in 2008 when a Men's Novice VIII won BUSA Gold.
Novice Men's Squad
The year begins with the new intake being taught the basics of both technique and fitness training. Time on the water is maximised as practice makes perfect! The land training follows closely that of the senior squad, with ergos, running and weights training. The novice squad also attend the clubs two training camps, one in the UK at the end of the first term and the second in Europe during the Easter vacation. Both of these are excellent chance to improve the standard of the rowing. At Southampton the male novices receive coaching from the novice men's captain as well as the senior squad coaches.
The novice squad also add a large part to the social side of the club with many of the party animals coming from there ranks. The men's squad social (held just after Christmas) is very much a highlight.
The novice men's squad has gone from strength to strength in the last few years with a four from the 2005 squad winning a bronze at the BUSA Championships. During the year we intend to better the results of last years novice squad at two important races Men's Head of the River and the BUSA regatta.
-George Clarkson, Novice Men's Captain
Novice Women's Squad
As a University club we rely on the intake of novices as well as seasoned rowers in order to maintain our large membership and competitive quality. Each year girls join the club and learn to row completely from scratch, many reaching a high standard by the end of the academic year. During the year, as well as experiencing technical and physical development, many close friendships are formed due to the time spent together. This joined with the girl's enjoyment of rowing and the thrill of success has lead to many of the Novice Women's squad members continuing throughout the year, and often onto later years with the club.
In previous years girls who have started rowing with the club have progressed to senior standard within the year, many winning at events such as BUSA and Reading regattas. Girls who joined the club as novices have, in later years, managed to produce impressive results at international events such as Women's Head of the River Race in London and Women's Henley, coupled with indoor rowing successes at events such as the British Indoors Rowing Championships. This is incredibly impressive given the difficult tidal water that we encounter during training. However, through supplementary land training SUBC has become one of the fittest sports clubs at the university.
Joining SUBC Novice Women's Squad has proved to be a rewarding experience for many girls and helps to build friendships that often last longer that the time spent at university. The training helps to keep the club physically fit while the socials mean that we manage to both work and play hard, with annual events such as pub crawls to the Isle of Wight and formal balls coupled with weekly socials.
-Sophie Woodroffe, Novice Women's Captain