Gloucester Rowing Club have big aspirations as the club has it sights set on the prestigious Thames Competition of Henley Royal Regatta, with 30 events and five categories on the historic water that’s been raced on since 1839.
Izaak Jones, a Gloucester Rowing Club member has high hopes of qualifying for the competition. “The ultimate aim is to qualify for Henley in the Thames Competition, which is an eight (8+). Our squad missed out by a couple of seconds last year in qualifiers, so it’s a bit of a sore point.”
“However, that’s the ultimate goal, as well as to put in strong performances in the other big races, like Eights Head and Thames.” shared Jones.
Jones shared a deeper insight to the preparation at the club. “We’re in the competitive performance squads, so we’re training for the bigger races that are raced more nationally, like Fours Head, Eights Head, and hopefully Penley and Bournemouth Regatta later down the line.”
With a later start to rowing than others, Jones was open to sharing his pathway. “I started in my last year at university. I had a lot of friends that were rowers, and it looked like quite good fun and they seemed to be having a good time. So, I joined in the novice programme, and fell in love with it from there.”
The committee member continued, “I then moved home and carried on doing it more competitively and more seriously, and it’s been fantastic.”
Rowing is a unique endurance sport as it is a team sport as well, and this is something Jones appreciates about the sport. “You have a lot of long hours, like with cycling or running, but then you’re still around friends and you’re working together with people, so it builds that sort of collaborative nature, I guess. You’re all trying to fight for the same goal, but you can still have a lot of time in your own head. Sat in a rowing machine, it’s a good place to think. It sort of gets you moving, gets you off scrolling and being sat on your phone.”
Jones spoke about people thinking about trying the sport of rowing. “Personally, it’s been the making of me. It’s really changed how I view myself. It’s made me more disciplined, it’s made me a lot more sociable. I’m now on the committee for the rowing club here which, before I started rowing three years ago, I wouldn’t have dreamed of. It forces you to meet lots of different people and gives you a really good sport to get involved with.”
“From everyone I’ve met so far, it’s a lovely community, so yeah, I would definitely recommend getting into it if there’s anyone teetering on the edge”, said Jones with a smile.
