STRATFORD Boat Club’s senior men’s squad could not have picked a better week to head off to a week-long training camp in the south of France in preparation for the forthcoming regatta season.
Whilst the rain poured steadily down in Warwickshire and their colleagues scurried around readying the boathouse for the Avon flood, the squad was able to get in three training sessions a day on the beautiful River Lot at Le Temple-sur-Lot – 70 miles inland from Bordeaux.
The La Base centre at Temple-sur-Lot plays host to a number of rowing and canoeing squads from around the world and Stratford rubbed shoulders with the German and Danish canoeing teams as well as some UK squads from Bristol University and Wallingford.
Senior men’s coach Bill Sullivan said: “With miles and miles of wide-flowing river to row on, the 12 athletes and two coaches covered nearly 200km over the week’s training, slowly but surely building a common technique and rowing style ready for the upcoming regatta season.”
Captain of Boats Oliver Smith said: “Although the athletes put in major effort over the week, our coaches Bill Sullivan and Colin Bell did all the work arranging our training programme and schedule and spent weeks planning our stay.”
Dr Ben Twiney, senior men’s vice-captain, added: “It is so good to be part a squad with so much dedication and determination.
“We’re also most grateful to Oli for towing our huge trailer to and back from our training camp. Our special thanks also go to our cox El Willets who put up with 14 blokes for more than a week!”
