1 mins
Mark Fangen-Hall
Well, that went quickly. With the main event in or around Easter, Boat Race campaigns are always compressed, but even so this past season has flown by; packed full of intense training, camps in the UK and abroad, and as is now “the norm” a flood or two to remind us we are not always in charge. Oxford University Boat Club and all its members have been purposeful and deliberate in their work, and the resilience to “Keep Calm and Carry On” has been a cornerstone of both squads’ approach to the 2025 campaign.
I want to register my admiration and fullest respect for my predecessor, Sean Bowden. Twentyseven years at OUBC is truly remarkable, and I am sure his crews will be thinking of him and their races during this year’s event.
Our new coaching team has come together very well, and I am super excited for the years ahead. There is still much to do building the new programme, but all the coaches on both the men’s and women’s squads are supportive and inspiring in equal measure. I also want to extend my thanks to Robin Bourne-Taylor who has done so much to help bring about the new coaching team and galvanise the changes to fully merge the clubs. I am very hopeful that more passionate alumni will make themselves known, so we can build the club together and dominate world university rowing.
This year’s squad has benefited tremendously from Tom Mackintosh’s exemplary leadership. His support for both athletes and the new coaching group has been invaluable. Vice-Presidents Tassilo von Mueller and James Doran have been perfect partners during this transitional year, helping to create a collaborative atmosphere where everyone contributed to make the experience both enjoyable and rewarding. This positive approach will guide us into next season and beyond. While fully focused on present challenges, I’m genuinely excited about our future prospects.