Who are the Development Women?

Our squad was formed in May 2004, initially with only 5 members: 3 girls who had completed the first 2004 Learn to Row course in April, and 2 who were returning members, back after a few years break. The squad then expanded at a storming rate throughout 2004, being joined by other Learn to Row girls who had also showed promise on their course. This rapid expansion demonstrates rowing’s growing presence as a high profile women’s sport.

We now have 20 regular, novice squad members who are brilliantly organised by our Squad Captain, Louise Perry. We have a committed coach, Paul Gerrard, who turns out in all weathers to coach ‘his girls’ and has turned us from wimpy, giggling girls into disciplined, strong rowers. With 20 of us, he’s got his work cut out. We also have two fantastic coxes, Lizzie Gerrard and Emma Sanerkin, who do a great job at steering us down the river, getting us from A to B and giving us the necessary commands.

Our view on rowing life
For most of us in the squad, we have joined a competitive crew because we want to compete at regattas and head races and are committed to our training. We have a winning attitude and have worked hard to improve in our first year.

However, despite our hard training schedule, we all also took up rowing because want to have fun and meet new people. So we always aim to have a good time, wherever our rowing takes us.

Once we have won some ‘pots’ and developed from novice level to Senior 4, there may be the opportunity to progress from the Development Women’s squad to the Women’s Squad, providing us with good rowing career progression!

Training

Our focus is on developing basic rowing and sculling skills, working at improving technique and fitness levels.

We train at least 4 times per week, usually Tuesday and Wednesday evenings and Saturday and Sunday mornings. During the winter this involves 2 land training sessions in the club ergo room, with two sessions on the water at the weekend.

During the summer, we train at least 4 times per week on the water, and since the evenings are lighter, there is greater emphasis on water work rather than land training. However, these sessions are usually supported by further land-based sessions such as ergos, running and weight training to maintain our fitness and strength.

When on the water, we train in a variety of boats including coxed fours, eights, quad sculls and 'small boats' (single and double sculls). We regularly enter crews at local regattas and head races with the aim of winning novice 'pots'.

Progression to the women's senior squad is either by achieving Senior 4 status or above through winning races at regattas or by demonstrable improvement in technique and fitness (at the discretion of squad coaches).

What have we achieved so far?
We have already competed in 6 head races and 1 Regatta and enjoyed emerging success!

Cambridge Head - November 2004 Women’s Novice 8+, 2,000m
Although we were entered as a Womens Novice 8+, there were no other novice ARA entries, so the crew raced in the Senior 4 category. We came 3rd out of 4 crews and were the 17th fastest women’s crew out of 42 (excluding the beginner crews).

Thames Valley Trial Head – January 2005 Women’s Novice 8+, 1,900m
In our first race at Dorney Lake, again we were the only Women’s Novice 8+, so as we didn’t have any competition we came 1st!

Burway Head  – February 2005, Women’s Novice 8+, 2,000m
Six other Women’s Novice 8+ competed and we came 4th.

Women’s Head of the River Race – March 2005, Women’s Novice 8+, 4.25 miles
A real turning point in the history of the squad. All the winter training paid off at one of the biggest events of the year. The eight came 201st out of 249 crews in a time of 24 mins 22 secs. So we beat 48 other crews!
“The 3rd eight included a plucky Development Women's team who only started rowing in 2004, but who have squeezed lots of race experience into that time. They started at number 246, and finished 201 with a commendable time of 24 min 22 secs, which was an astonishing mere 19 secs behind the senior women’s 2nd eight.” (Maidenhead Advertiser, 11 March 2005)

Bedford Small Boats Head – April 2005, Women’s Novice 4+, 2,000m
We narrowly missed out on our first win by 4 secs. A great first entry in the WN4+ event finishing 2nd out of 10 crews in a time of 8.18 secs.

Abingdon Head – May 2000, Women’s Novice 4+ and 8+, 2000m
Building on our success at Bedford, we turned out not just one but our first two winning crews winning the WN4+ in 8.54 minutes and the WN8+ in 8.41 minutes. A fantastic day out!

Wallingford Regatta – May 2005, Women's Novice 8+, 1500m
In a nail-biting thriller, joining forces with 4 members of the Women’s Squad, we turned out our first two WN8+ crews. Maidenhead A were narrowly pipped at the post to finish in 2nd place and Maidenhead B finished in 6th place.

Want to Join Us?
If you'd like to join us, or just have a chat about what we're doing please come down to the club one evening, or contact the club Captain, Phil Munslow, whose details are on the contacts page.