UBBC reopened its shutters on the 6th September 2021 to begin the 21/22 season. After a hugely successful Henley campaign, and with an influx of talented rowers into our Senior Squad, we are keen to keep our momentum going and build on the strong results we set last year. Training for the Senior Squad over pre-season and the first few weeks of term has gone well, with up to four Men’s and Women’s VIIIs and further athletes in small boats all training at Saltford and Coombe Dingle together.
We recently welcomed another Vice-Chancellor’s Scholar at the Boat Club, Ben Knowles (1st Year Economics). Ben becomes the fourth current Vice-Chancellor’s Scholar at UBBC and represents both the growing strength of our performance and also the on-going support of our sport by the University.
I am pleased to welcome Thomas Selby to the UBBC coaching team, appointed for our third coach position entitled ‘Novice Co-ordinator’. Tom previously coached at Hartpury College and will be overseeing the development of our novice squad when he arrives over the coming weeks. We are hugely grateful to The Fernside Trust and the SEH for funding this project, and we are excited to see the results Tom will bring in the future.
On the 25th September, UBBC took to Cleveland Lakes to row at the Open Day, showing our support for British Rowing to develop an 8-Lane 1500m Lake in the area. The day was hugely successful and provided a great experience of side-by-side training and racing, something which our stretch of the Avon isn’t particularly suited to. We’re hoping that the site will be developed over the coming year, and UBBC can make use of the lake on a regular basis.
All in all, a promising start to the season for UBBC. On behalf of the club I want to say a huge thank you to the UBBC Alumni & Friends. It means so much to have the generous support of such a large and welcoming community. It’s been amazing to see the growth of our equipment and facilities over the last few years, all down to the incredible generosity of our supporters, and I’m very excited for what’s to come!
Arnav Jain, UBBC Club Captain 2021/22
3rd Year Mechanical Engineering