DCBC has just returned from our annual January Training Camp, this year held in Soustons, France.  Despite our initial misgivings about the accommodation and food, having been spoilt in previous years by the hostel in Banyoles, once we were on the water we realised that the quality of the lake more than made up for any issues we may have had.  As a result, the Camp was a great success and has bought everyone on to such an extent that Downing dominated the water this morning on our return to the Cam.

Most rowers from the Fairbairns 1st VIIIs attended and with numbers bolstered by the keenest novices and a couple of returns from injury, we regularly put three VIIIs out onto the 4.9km lake and notched up the kind of distance which unfortunately isn’t possible on the windy and traffic infested Cam.  There was also time for some smaller boats work in the sheltered 800m stretch of the lake, during which the less experienced practised their capsize avoidance (too effectively according to those watching!).  Over the week, those making the step from Lower Boats to Seniors improved such as to challenge for seats in both 1st Boats and pushed the ‘more experienced’ amongst us to up our game.

For the Men, all eyes are now on setting the boats over the next couple of days so that crews can build up the training miles and, particularly excitingly, the 1st Boat (currently sitting 2nd) can begin to challenge for the Headship which was missed out on last year by only a canvas.  The 2nd VIII is equally not going to be a slow crew with the number of people competing for 1st Boat seats and they will not be expecting to stay stationary in the Bumps Charts.

On the Women’s side, after a second consecutive year of success at University IVs and a good showing in Fairbairns, sitting 4th places them in a strong position and upward movement is surely on the books. Furthermore, following the Camp it looks as though W2 will this year be a fully fledged Senior VIII (rather than occupying the hazy area between Lower and Senior Boats) and with them sitting in the 3rd Division hopes are high.

Thus, over the week in France, DCBC has made the first steps in building what is going to be a great term.