The road to the 2011 Boat Race will begin with a meeting at 10am in the OUBC Gym at the University's Iffley Road Sports Complex, on Monday 13th September. This date is now confirmed.  This meeting is for all athletes and coxes who wish to be considered for the 2011 OUBC Squad; this will include first year students, established college oarsmen, Development Squad athletes and existing OUBC members. Athletes should bring kit with them for a light training session.  The afternoon session will be on the water based at the OUBC's Fleming boathouse in Wallingford.  Expect the format of the training in the days before the start of term to be different from that during term time, often spending much of the day down at the Boathouse. 

For those whose College accommodation will not be available until full term starts in October, OUBC may be able to help arrange substitute lodgings in Magdalen College's Wayneflete Building, conveniently situated close to the Gym and near the centre of Oxford.  Please contact Barbara Wilson for more details at (admin.oubc[at]sport.ox.ac.uk)

To be part of the OUBC and to row in the Boat Race requires a great deal of dedication and training. From Tuesday to Friday the squad trains twice a day from 07:00 to 08:45 at the Iffley Road Gym and from 14:15 to 18:00 on the water at Wallingford (time includes travel). On the weekend training comprises two water sessions, often at Wallingford (approx. 07:30 to 13:00) but also on occasions on the Tideway in London on the Boat Race course, or on Caversham Lake 45mins away near Reading.

It is important to be well organised, and to make the best use of the time available so that academic commitments are fully met.  Many Boat Race trialists find that the self-discipline required for them to excel at rowing is valuable as they attempt to juggle their full-time studies alongside Boat Race training and preparations.  In recent years OUBC members have had an above average academic record within the University, with most athletes obtaining first or upper second class degrees.

If you are thinking of trialling this year, please do contact the Head Coach, Sean Bowden for more information.