I’ve just finished two weeks of London Youth Rowing summer courses. The first was an intermediate course at Thames, and the second a week volunteer coaching at the Lea. Fresh from a weekend of racing at St Neots Regatta, with no time to break, I, and many other Lea rowers, arrived ready and raring to attack the tide of the Thames – but also a little apprehensive about rowing at such an important club. But we were very warmly welcomed and quickly realized that we were all just members of the same LYR team. After some initial difficulties getting into the boats, the new J18 Lea girls quad were away, and owning the waters of the Thames. Our technique dramatically improved throughout the week, predominantly because the only way to stay dry was to start tapping down (a part of the stroke often lost at the Lea owing to its serene, almost stagnant waterway). By the end of the week we had cemented our roles within the quad, and become a proper racing unit – all with the help from the coaches putting us right in at the deep-end (literally) with extreme taps, 100s of metres of square-blade rowing and Paddy taking the risky decision to put me in singles to race on the last day…..unfortunately I think the only prize I’d get is for the loudest, and most unnecessary screams 
. The intermediate course was great for building on our pre-existing knowledge, and challenging us to surpass the coaches’ expectations. And for us, the experience on other waters was invaluable for future racing.
Then for me a quick role reversal: after a week of intense training, I was now in the position of volunteer coach and ready to work with all the prospective rowers down at Lea. I was on the Lea Summer course last year, and I would not hesitate to use myself as testament to how successful and worthwhile the courses actually are. Within a year, I have gone from never-rowed-before-in-her-life, to Lea performance squad. After the course, I caught the bug, and with professional coaching from the Lea team have continued rowing to get where I am today, racing and hungry for wins next season. Last week was one of the most fulfilling I think I’ve ever had. The amount of pride you feel when a crew takes the perfect stroke, or just feels confident enough to attempt one is indescribable. When the younger crew quad I was working with at the time begged me to let them row up again past a group of the oldest boys to ‘show off’ their near perfect technique, I was spilling over with pride. Hearing and reading on the wall now, that so many kids we worked with want to join clubs, or at the least want to come back next year for another round is great, and really makes me feel like time well spent. So good luck for the last week to all, and hopefully we’ll see a few of your fresh new faces at the start of training in September!!!
Rosie, Lea RC Junior