Learn to Row

Meeting me on this beautiful spring day is Phil Simmons, a former Olympic rower now employed by the Amateur Rowing Association (ARA), the sport’s governing body. Joining Phil is Jessica Essex, one of the Twickenham club’s coaches. Jessica explains that she will join me out on the water, while Phil will shout instructions from a small motorboat travelling alongside us.

Before we head out on the water, we begin with a brief training session on the indoor rowing machines in the club’s gym. This quickly helps me grow accustomed to the basic movements involved. Jessica asks me which muscles I think are used the most in rowing, to which I reply, ‘The arms.’ My response is off course – if I were doing the Serpentine type of rowing, I would be correct, but in ‘real’ rowing, I’m told, the thighs and bum do the hard work.

On the rowing machine, we begin with the seat at the front of the central bar. I hold on to the handle and propel myself backwards with my legs, while bringing my hands in to my abdominal area. Phil, noticing the slouch that I have honed over years spent sat at my office desk, keeps reminding me to maintain a straight back. Eventually I get to grips with it, at which point Jessica then leads me outside for the main event.

Our boat is a double scull: a two-person racing boat, with two seats and four oars. Jessica and I pull on our wellies, pick up either end of the surprisingly light boat and carry it down the launch area to the edge of the river. We place the boat on the water and bolt the oars into the oarlocks. We then very carefully get into the boat – I’m not planning on falling in, and while the weather is gorgeous, the idea of getting a dunking in the Thames isn’t very appealing. Finally, we take off our wellies and put our feet into the shoes that are fitted in the boat, and we’re finally ready to go.

Continued...