BGS Win Silver at Indoor Championships
Mr Wells (Director of Rowing)
Racing on the rowing machines is not one of the most exciting prospects for rowers. However, the British Rowing Indoor Championships (BRIC17) on Saturday 9th December was energetic, loud and the most exciting racing we have seen this term.
Along with the main rowing stars from the GB Rowing team from previous Olympic cycles and those who are aiming at competing at the Tokyo Olympics. Another star causing ripples was Sir Bradley Wiggins who after retiring from cycling has taken up indoor rowing. Coached by James Cracknell (Olympic Gold Medalist 2000, 2004) Bradley is seeing how far he can go in rowing. This was a fantastic opportunity to witness how a Tour de France winner, 18 Olympic medalist and world hour record holder winner tackles the machine we all love to hate. Another lesson was learnt for all the girls today that a superstar such as Sir Wiggo with all the experience he has sometimes falls below his expectations. It is therefore normal to try and fail, to try and stretch yourself.
BGS had three girls who wanted to compete as individuals at the event, Ellie Simester and Erin Knight (Year 11) competed in the WJ16 category over 6mins. They had to get as far as they can in six minutes. Erin dealt with the sense of occasion well and although being slightly below what she is capable of put in a very solid performance finishing 15th from 47 girls.
Ellie finished 34th but came off the machine with some excellent views on what she had learnt and how she would progress. Emily Baker (Lower Sixth) competed in the Junior Girls category where she had to race over 2000m and therefore looking for the shortest time. In terms of the physiology needed to perform for this type of distance it is a phenomenal test of anaerobic capacity, aerobic endurance and mental toughness. Emily finished 12th overall and considering this was a slightly below par performance it was a very solid result. All three girls learnt valuable lessons from their racing which will set them up for the racing this summer.
The main group of girls were competing in teams of four over eight minutes on the same machine. This means it is not only a test of anaerobic power, as each time the girls were on the machine they were going flat out for around 12 strokes, they were also swapping. Anyone who has ever tried to get off a rowing machine after having rowed flat out will realise that this needs the coordination and skills of a Lego Ninja Warrior. However, much more important than the movement skills are the skills of teamwork under pressure - a great life skill. Each time one of the girls was on the machine the other two in the team were holding her feet whilst fourth was getting ready to row.
For the first time this season we have selected the girls based on their six minute ergo performance into seeded teams of four. When the ten BGS teams hit the race floor at the London 2012 Velodrome there was a sea of Damsen. The #DamsenArmy had arrived. What I was really impressed with was the way the girls tackled this event and really showed strength in depth. Considering the Years 9, 10 and 11 were racing in the under 18 category and performed excellently. For this reason, the Junior Girls of the Match goes to the BGS15 1 team who were excellent really pushing to the top of the event finishing 10th overall (from 43 teams). Senior Girls of the Match goes to our silver medalists BGS18 1 for their outstanding performance.
It must however be remembered that this is a team sport and sometimes we make the cut to be in the first team sometimes we don’t. Five years split the girls teams but only 423m, between Year groups there was a matter of 10m. However, the sense of whole school as a team is starting to filter through and after some very gutsy performances by individuals, each of the teams regardless of age or position talked enthusiastically to each other; of who rowed well and how they will all do in the summer racing. This type of event is excellent for the junior girls as they can be around the BGS senior girls and the British Rowing Team who are their role models. This is not just about looking at their performances but the way they act and carry themselves, with respect and encouragement.
This is the last race of 2017 and there is much to look forward to from this #DamsenArmy #2017MakeTheDifference
