Novice Programme

NUBC has particular strength in developing new rowers, and has taken a number of members from never having rowed before to international standard athletes and Boat Race crew. The Novice Programme is coached by a small team of assistant coaches operating under the supervision of our Head Coach and aims to develop ensure that these new rowers enjoy their time while realising their potential in this new sport. Following the BUSA Regatta the novices join our senior squads to encourage them to continue their development in future years. The broad outline of the Novice Programme is shown below:

Selection period

Four weeks of fitness training and learning the basic rowing technique to enable a high quality squad to be selected. Once selected the squad take a a trip to Strathclyde to learn to row in a indoor tank, and have their first experience of rowing in a boat.

North-East Regional Indoor Rowing Championships

This is the first major test for the squad. The time taken to do a 2km race on an ergo is a good indication of how the training is progressing. These events also allows comparative times against our biggest rivals.

Christmas Training Camp, Chester

A week of training to on a calm, non tidal stretch of water with high quality facilities alongside local clubs, for first simulated race situations. A good opportunity to be coached by a wide selection of coaches enabling a variety of training methods.

Doncaster Head

First long race of the season, used as a training race in build up to the British University Sports Association (BUSA) 5km ‘head’ race in the upcoming weeks.

BUSA Head, Nottingham

The first major head race of the season. Raced on the River Trent in Nottingham this is the first time to race against the season’s rivals. This is the first Universities-only race of the season so will be a good indication of how you are doing against other students.

North of England Head

Undertaken on the river Dee in Chester: A familiar stretch of water as the Christmas training camp is held here. Race is not only open to universities, so competition is high.

London Training Week

An intense week of fine-tuning of squad boats in preparation for the main head race of the season. Training is undertaken on the actual 4 1/4-mile race with input from top local coaches course, enabling good familiarisation of this difficult course.

Head of The River Race

A high placing here is the main aim of the winter head season. This is the biggest head race of the year with over 400 crews entering, and is undertaken over the reverse of the Oxford-Cambridge boat race.

Training Camp, Eton

An intense week of training on one of the best regatta lakes in the UK, training for the next two major races of the season. Training changes focus from 5km time-trialling to head-to-head races over a 2km distance. . Dorney Lake is also perfectly situated within walking distance of the river Thames where training also takes place. Training includes racing against other clubs for competition practice.

Nottingham City Regatta

First experience of a 2km regatta race at the National Water Sports Centre Nottingham. Against not only universities but also clubs. A long day of racing, including a number of heats on the multi-lane course.

BUSA Regatta

This is the biggest regatta of the year, raced at the now familiar National Water Sports Centre in Nottingham. Almost every university on the country competes here which makes it the main regatta focus of the year. Undertaken over 3 days of different categories including some fun 500m sprint races.