How did you get into rowing in the first place?
Well, I was lured into it in Freshers Week like everybody else thinking it was the thing to do. Unsuccessful at the rowing part, a number of the crew suggested I try coxing instead as I’m of quite a small, light build. I was reluctant at first – it always seemed like quite an intimidating position that required lots of shouting and aggression, and I didn’t think it would be for me. I gave it a go though and soon found that it actually came quite naturally.
And what’s your rowing record so far?
I started in my first term at Oxford and have been coxing for about one and a half years now. My first appearance was for the M3s in Torpids, followed by W2s in Summer Eights. This year I worked with W2s for Torpids and have been training with W1s since then, and I’ll be rowing with them in the coming week. Having got headship in Torpids last term the team have good potential even if we don’t have any Blues to boost the team.
How would you describe your role as a cox?
In training, the important thing is to just be really patient with the boat. On race day it’s a completely different matter though. I find that it’s not so much about being aggressive as trying to motivate the team. You’ve just got to get yourself and the team involved. When i first started as a novice I found it awkward yelling at people who knew so much more about rowing than I did but you’ve got to get used to it. Now I feel totally comfortable and the team are some of my closest friends.
Do you feel you’re an equal part of the team compared to the others?
Coxes don’t keep the same hours as the rowers, so we’re a bit cut off in a way. I do a maximum of 5 outings a week whereas some of them do close on 8, so the intensity of training isn’t quite the same. Nor do we do all the erg and fitness sessions, or the carb-loading dinner sittings. Having said that, when we’re all sitting in the boat there’s definitely a sense that we’re all in it together. One unit.
Would you count coxing as being a real sport?
In terms of physical exertion, obviously it can’t be judged on the same scale as rowing itself. Even without pulling an oar however, I still feel exhausted and shaky from all the shouting and nervous energy used up. The sense of competitive sportsmanship is there in full strength, perhaps even more so for the cox, who directs most of the tactical manoeuvring of the race. The pressure of sitting in the boat in silence at the beginning of the race waiting for the signal is terrible for everyone, rower and cox alike.
And what would you say has been your worst coxing experience ever so far?
Torpids this year had a memorable moment when we caught a crab in the middle of a race and the boat behind slammed into us with all four blades. Even more galling for me, though, was last year’s Summer Eights: having bumped on each of the first 3 days, on the final day the boat ahead managed to bump out moments before we caught them in the final stretch, meaning that we just missed out on getting blades. It’s always gutting not to get the final result when you’ve worked so hard!
