The Student Room Group

Lightweight rowing

Hi everyone, I've got a few questions about OULRC. Firstly, is it possible for freshers (i.e. people beginning at Oxford in October 2006) to trial for the lightweight boats? According to the OULRC website it is, but I was just wondering if in reality this ever actually happens, or if it is normally for 2nd years and above. Secondly, what sort of 2K erg score would you need? (Again, the OULRC site says anything under 6:50, but I was wondering if in reality people are much faster than this.) Lastly, would a mere year and a half's experience of rowing on water be enough? At the trialling stage is more importance placed on your erg times or your on-water performance? What exactly happens at trials?

Sorry to ask questions which the official website answers, but I'd like a bit of "inside info" because I'm considering trialling, but I wouldn't want to embarrass myself if I'm not really good enough yet!

Thanks in advance for your answers!
Reply 1
hey there, (this is not elles btw)

i have not actually trialled, but i am going to next year so i have gone and found some stuff out.

"is it possible for freshers (i.e. people beginning at Oxford in October 2006) to trial for the lightweight boats?"

yes it is possible, it would be advisable to get in contact with the club and possibly also your college as the training starts before term does officially, so you'll need somewhere to stay.

Secondly, what sort of 2K erg score would you need? (Again, the OULRC site says anything under 6:50, but I was wondering if in reality people are much faster than this.)
obviously below 6:50 is good, but really they dont care what your erg score is as long as it is ok. The training will make you a lot fitter and stronger so dont worry on this score. I know someone who trialled and had never got below 7:00, he stroked nephthys last year.

Lastly, would a mere year and a half's experience of rowing on water be enough? At the trialling stage is more importance placed on your erg times or your on-water performance?

AFAIK on the water performance is the only thing that matters, OULRC race cambridge in boats not in the gym. Only a year's worth of experience is fine, plenty of people trial with only a year of college rowing behind them. In some ways it is an advantage as you wont have learnt any bad habits yet.

What exactly happens at trials?

Cant really answer this one, but 12 training sessions per week i think is the norm, and be prepared for it to be very tough.
Reply 2
You can definitely get in if you're a fresher. My mate trialled in his first year with OURLC and made the reserve boat :smile: If you have any more questions I could ask him if I could pass on his email address to you.
My main advice is get in touch with the squad early. Training starts about a fortnight before Freshers' Week, so if you're not up in time, already at laest vaguely fit, it could be very difficult to get into the swing of things later.
Reply 4
i dont think it's true that if you dont get there at the start of the trialling period they wont consider you (that would be foolish on their part). If it's feasible for you to arrive early for the start of the season then all the better, but I'm sure they wont mind you turning up as soon as you get there - they'll probably make you do a 2k and throw you in a boat a couple of times, and then make their mind up whether to keep you or not. So I honestly wouldnt stress too much about making it to oxford in time for the very start.

(This isn't my attempt to sabbotage OULRC in any way btw :p: )
Reply 5
Get in contact with the president of OULRC to find out what summer training that would help you get stronger and fitter. There's three or four from my college boatclub that are trialling and they've only had one year of water experience under them. They started as complete novices when they came to Oxford. A couple of them aren't technically the best but even if they don't make it, it will benefit the college boatclub because they will have had coaching from a higher level.
Also don't worry about your erg score. Some go from the worst to the best within a few months.
Reply 6
Thanks for the replies, they were useful.

I was a bit ambiguous in my original post, I implied I was particularly worried about erg scores. I'm not actually that worried about this, I was just checking that the website wasn't really understating the requirements. No, I was more concerned about my on-water ability (I'm alright in an eight or a four, but as for single sculling...)! Anyway, you've set my mind at rest, so thanks.