Rowing with RUMSBC
While, as our name suggests, we are the UCL medical school rowing team, RUMSBC is open to any UCL student who wants to come and give rowing a go! Fear not if you have no rowing experience, our excellent novice captains will be there to guide you from the start. We know that rowing has traditionally been a sport hampered by elitism and open to only a privileged few and at RUMSBC we are committed to being as accessible and inclusive as possible to share our love of this fantastic sport!
Since its formation, the club has gone from strength to strength, achieving much success on the Tideway every year. Rowing from the University of London boat house in Chiswick, we compete in events organised by the United Hospitals (UH), challenging other medical schools in London. Our oarsmen regularly compete in the British University Championships and have competed for both UH and other clubs at Henley Royal Regatta.
Through the efforts of our outstanding captains and the dedication of our rowers to making continual improvements, we hope to secure our place at the top of UH leaderboard for years to come.
Through the efforts of our outstanding captains and the dedication of our rowers to making continual improvements, we hope to secure our place at the top of UH leaderboard for years to come.
Training
As with all things in life, dedication, enthusiasm and practice are required to succeed; regular training is essentially part of excelling within the boat club. All crews have at least two training sessions on the water per week (typically on a Wednesday and Saturday) , with senior crews often having three. However, novice crews eager to gain further experience can have more outings if they want to.
In addition to water outings, RUMSBC encourages everyone to commit to land training to help improve strength and fitness. This can include erging, weights and the weekly circuit training sessions run by the boat club, although people may engage in other forms of exercise if they wish. At the novice level, crews will be given guidance and recommendations by their captains, but training is very much up to the crew and the individual. Senior crews are sent training plans by their captains to ensure individuals are meeting the standards required of them at this level of rowing. This being said, we are very aware of the constraints of studying for a medical degree and are happy to discuss training options with anyone concerned about slipping behind, as well as offering advice and support to ensure that everyone can maintain a good work-life balance.
On top of the weekly training, each year we head off to Marlow for Senior Training Tour, a whole weekend of unadulterated rowing, with a bit of fun and games thrown in. We take our boats away from the tidal Thames and really work to hone our technique for the upcoming races. It is also common to have the odd training weekend at the boathouse in the lead-up to the big races, to ensure we are all in peak condition.
Whilst it may sound like hard work, it must also be remembered that it is terrific fun and extremely satisfying when your efforts are rewarded come race day. It is also a great release from the pressures of work and a wonderful way to bond with the RUMSBC family.
If you have any queries, feel free to contact our captains.
In addition to water outings, RUMSBC encourages everyone to commit to land training to help improve strength and fitness. This can include erging, weights and the weekly circuit training sessions run by the boat club, although people may engage in other forms of exercise if they wish. At the novice level, crews will be given guidance and recommendations by their captains, but training is very much up to the crew and the individual. Senior crews are sent training plans by their captains to ensure individuals are meeting the standards required of them at this level of rowing. This being said, we are very aware of the constraints of studying for a medical degree and are happy to discuss training options with anyone concerned about slipping behind, as well as offering advice and support to ensure that everyone can maintain a good work-life balance.
On top of the weekly training, each year we head off to Marlow for Senior Training Tour, a whole weekend of unadulterated rowing, with a bit of fun and games thrown in. We take our boats away from the tidal Thames and really work to hone our technique for the upcoming races. It is also common to have the odd training weekend at the boathouse in the lead-up to the big races, to ensure we are all in peak condition.
Whilst it may sound like hard work, it must also be remembered that it is terrific fun and extremely satisfying when your efforts are rewarded come race day. It is also a great release from the pressures of work and a wonderful way to bond with the RUMSBC family.
If you have any queries, feel free to contact our captains.
Safety and welfare
It's very important that we stay safe, healthy and happy while we row the Tideway and get our medals. Among other things, this means ensuring that the weather conditions for our outings are right but also that all our members are well-educated on the rules of the river. It includes attendance at appropriate training sessions, safety-checking our equipment as well as fulfilling safety requirements set by UCL Union. In addition, our Safety and Welfare officer is also responsible for running RUMSBC Education, which includes tutorials and education events for our members. Sharing our knowledge this way is just another way in which we can be as much of a team off-water as we are on it. Watch this space for information on upcoming events in safety and welfare.
If this sounds like you, then contact us! You can reach us through Instagram (@rumsbc) and get in touch with our captains. There's no pressure to join at the start of the year, but whenever you're ready, we'll be so happy to see you!