As the World's finest oarsmen and women fly out of Korea for a well earned break the oarsmen and women of UCC are about to kick off their 2013/14 campaign, my third season with the club. The season start-up meeting is tomorrow evening, I am looking forward to getting going again. We are starting a month earlier than last season and I expect the standard to be slightly higher than last season too. We have secured an additional session in the squad gym and no longer need to wheel ergos around the Arena. We have also acquired the use of the indoor track space for a weekly circuit. All of this progress is due to the consistently impressive nature of the squad's training in the last 24 months, the approach of the rowers enthuses the Arena staff as it has enthused myself. We also have an additional coach in position to help with Senior rowing, another vital step towards ensuring potential is realised, not just this season but over each athlete's time at UCC.
On the water we start the season with two more doubles and two more quad/coxless fours than we had twelve months ago and I will be pushing hard for further investment. This means that our training options are moving towards the optimum model that I have been drawing up over the last 24 months in the job.
There is a long way to go but I can see progress, two pieces of evidence are sitting behind the reception area of the Mardyke Arena. Those pieces of silverware are a pleasant reminder of the successes of the Summer of 2013, they should also serve to remind the squad and coaches that at UCCRC we train to win. We do not train because rowing requires many sessions, we do not train because we know rowers push themselves, we train to win. This mindset must be in place from before the first session until the bow ball has crossed the finish line of the last race of the season.
My aims are to make every session relevant and consistent with the objectives of the squad and to continue to build the standing of this club within Ireland and further afield. At times it will be necessary to be very hard on the athletes but no harder than this sport can be to them. At other times I am certain there will be delight at races won and challenges overcome.
On the water we start the season with two more doubles and two more quad/coxless fours than we had twelve months ago and I will be pushing hard for further investment. This means that our training options are moving towards the optimum model that I have been drawing up over the last 24 months in the job.
There is a long way to go but I can see progress, two pieces of evidence are sitting behind the reception area of the Mardyke Arena. Those pieces of silverware are a pleasant reminder of the successes of the Summer of 2013, they should also serve to remind the squad and coaches that at UCCRC we train to win. We do not train because rowing requires many sessions, we do not train because we know rowers push themselves, we train to win. This mindset must be in place from before the first session until the bow ball has crossed the finish line of the last race of the season.
My aims are to make every session relevant and consistent with the objectives of the squad and to continue to build the standing of this club within Ireland and further afield. At times it will be necessary to be very hard on the athletes but no harder than this sport can be to them. At other times I am certain there will be delight at races won and challenges overcome.
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