The Head of the Charles and the role of the Rival

In October 19th I raced the Men’s Grand Master Singles (50+ division) in the 2019 Head of the Charles regatta in Boston. This is said to be the largest rowing event in the world, with more than 350,000 spectators and about 11,000 rowers taking part in 71 events over the weekend.
It was the first time I had raced a single on this famously difficult course, so expectations couldn’t be set too high. I had two objectives which I thought were realistic…

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Masters / Rowing

From Budapest – some thoughts on Masters Rowing

I’ve only just recovered from my trip to Budapest for the World Masters. It was much harder work than Sarasota 2018, which I did the easy way (flew to Florida, had a top-spec boat delivered by my helpful suppliers, and took part in one event). Budapest was a different story. For a start, there was…

The Sit Bones Correction

Last September a well-known coach in the Thames Tideway rowing world, came to Bergerac for a week’s training. This included an introduction to rowing-oriented yoga plus individual sessions on the river and the RP3.
In the Yoga studio, we zoned in on the subject of Sit Bones. These are often discussed in relation to Yoga, and in cycling also, but are often overlooked in a rowing context…

Rowing / Yoga

Why rowers need Yoga

Yoga postures are not “how far back can I get my leg?” but rather “where’s the end of the range I can effectively USE my leg, and how can I extend that?”

Yoga breath work and mindfulness practices are there to help you regain your ability to regulate yourself when performance conditions (race day or simply morning practice when you were up all night writing a paper) hijack your nervous system….

Fitness / Rowing / Yoga

Record broken three times in one second. What’s going on?

On 15th March, Shiplake College did something incredible. They won the Schools Head of The River race, over the Championship course from Chiswick to Putney (roughly 7km with the stream) in a new record time. Not only did they set a new record: they were one of a group of three who finished within a…

Back in action at the Masters

I’ve just raced in two big events, the World Masters in Florida and the Pairs Head in London. Here’s a brief account of how I got on in these two very different Masters environments, plus some thoughts about Masters racing generally. What is it that makes it so interesting, and so different to mainstream competitive…

The Boston Red Arrows

What are these red arrows we keep seeing on your blades? I’m often asked this, and now is a good moment to explain. Because the answer lies in Boston, Mass., and that is where I am now heading.

Mindfulness with Oars

A short course with Leonard de Mol van Otterloo Leonard de Mol van Otterloo is a leading Amsterdam-based Mind-training coach who has been bringing his own concept of Mindfulness to bear on sports training, particularly for rowers. During the summer, Leonard visited Bergerac twice, and we had some interesting discussions about how his particular approach to…

A boost for the scullers at RUBC

Charlotte Taylor Booth’s input has clearly been making an impact at Reading University Boat Club, where she has been assistant to head coach Chris Bartley since September 2017. The task they had set her was to develop the hitherto dormant sculling side of the club’s racing programme. Following good results on home waters at the…

An end-of-year rowing roundup

The latter part of 2017 certainly had its ups and downs in my own rowing calendar. An unnecessary and highly frustrating organisational mishap was followed by a narrow and highly satisfying win; and then, to wrap up the year, a result which was just about OK but should have been better. There were lessons…

How does Charlotte move so fast?

Exciting news: Charlotte Taylor Booth is coming to Bergerac for six weeks from 22nd July to be lead coach for the ChezB training programme. Charlotte is a rowing phenomenon. Now one of the fastest lightweight scullers in the world, she rose through the ranks in a remarkably short time…

The Circus Comes to Town

On July 10th the Tour de France headed for Bergerac for the third time in four years, and the town went into high-octane municipal welcoming mode – a festive activity it does very well. A brass band and a pop group were deployed down at the town dock (sometimes playing simultaneously), and the processional floats,…

Chez Boileau

Rowing, cycling and yoga in & around Bergerac