Sidney students in the Boat Race

Rowing at Sidney has been going from strength to strength with both our women’s and men’s crews climbing the charts in the recent Lent Bumps and also racing on the Thames at HoRR. However, rowing at Sidney is not limited to College level.  

Hugo is a first-year economist and he has been selected to row in the 2 seat of CUBC’s Reserve Boat “Goldie”.

Hugo started rowing at the early age of 13 at his school’s rowing club, Winchester College Boat Club. Over the years he has also coached at Fulham Reach Boat Club, and last year, Hugo was awarded the British Rowing Rising Star of the year award. Now at Cambridge, he is balancing trialling for CUBC whilst settling into life at Sidney.

When asked what the most exciting thing about rowing for the university has been, Hugo mentioned the standard of athletes he competes alongside.

“I get to row with the best athletes I’ll probably ever get the opportunity to row with. At Wallingford head the stroke of my crew went to Rio in the single scull and the 7-seat spent 4 years in the Australian National crew. Other notable guys include 2 u23 silver medallists, a few Henley winners, and James Cracknell."

Training has been averaging 5 hours a day since the start of the academic year, all for the 'one race that matters' - the Boat Race.

According to Hugo, “each race we do up to then is more of an opportunity to take away as many lessons as possible, rather than something to lose sleep over if you lose”.

We wish Hugo the best of luck in the upcoming Boat Race and hope he will bring back a victory for the light blues!

Our second successful University rower is Florence, a third-year medic who is in the stroke seat of the Lightweight Women’s Blue Boat.

The Women’s Lightweight Boat Race took place at Henley recently with Cambridge unfortunately losing, but they will continue to compete in big events coming up this Summer.

Florence is a third-year medic who has been selected to row in the stroke seat of the Lightweight Women’s Blue Boat.

Florence learnt to row at Sidney through the College Boat Club’s novice programme and went on to row in our first Women’s VIII and act as our Women’s Captain. After taking part in CUWBC’s development programme, she came back at the start of the year to trial for the University Lightweights, while continuing to be involved with the College rowing programme.

One of the most impressive features of Florence’s progression to Lightweight Women’s stroke is that, unlike many of her colleagues, she had never stepped foot in a boat before coming to Cambridge.

Florence notes, “Rowing at Sidney and with the CUWBC development squad has given me the opportunity to engage in an entirely new sport and even be involved in coaching. It is a privilege to train alongside athletes of such high calibre”.

How to watch Hugo?

Goldie will be racing against Oxford’s Reserve Boat “Isis” at 14:45 on Sunday 7 April. SSBC have a contingent going, and you can join them by checking out the SSBC Facebook page. Live Coverage will be on BBC 1.

Written by Charlie Spicer