1 mins
Amelia Standing
Anticipation and excitement for this year’s Boat Race has been building for the team since the cancellation in 2020. We feel very fortunate to have been able to race last year, however nothing compares to rowing down the Championship Course on race day. On a personal level, having stroked the 2019 Blue Boat and been in the crew the year of the cancellation, I am looking forward to the opportunity to race Cambridge on the Tideway again. Each year I’ve been in OUWBC the team has built on the work of the previous athletes, culminating in very strong crews this year. It has been a real privilege to be surrounded by such likeminded, determined women – and the occasional male cox!
Although at times very challenging, training this year has been great fun. After miles on the erg last year everyone has come to appreciate training as a group with their team around them. We have come out of the lockdowns more resilient than ever, and have taken that back into group training, making our boats go as fast as possible.
The ability of the athletes in the team to balance their academic commitments and rowing twice a day has been impressive; often they even manage to be high achievers in class as well as on the water. I am incredibly proud of all the work the team has put in and what we have achieved this year. It has been an amazing experience leading this team and I’m sure we have all found friends for life.