While the majority of UCD students spent most of their Christmas break wrapped up in layers of clothing and risking being frozen, blown or washed away anytime they stepped outside; UCD Boat Club?s Intermediate & Senior squads spent 8 days on an intensive training camp in near perfect conditions on the Guadalquivir River in Seville.
With temperatures in the mid-teens and in perfect rowing conditions, the group consisting of 35 guys, 13 girls and 5 coaches undertook 24 training sessions over the 8 days varied between technical & intensive waterwork, weight-lifting and pilates sessions.
The UCD group was joined by a pair from Neptune Rowing Club of Paddy Quinn and 2008 Beijing Lightweight 4- Olympian, Cathal Moynihan, in addition to sharing the World Championship facility with international squads from Spain, the Netherlands and the Czech Republic. This gave an added dimension to the training camp as the group attempted to learn from the professionals? no-nonsense attitudes and emulate how they rowed their boats with maximum efficiency.
The club would like to thank all coaches, committees and alumni that helped organise and plan the trip. UCD Boat Club is now in prime position to put in a strong performance at the upcoming St. Michael?s Head of the River timetrial at the end of the month in Limerick, where there will be over 80 Boat Club members all racing at least twice in various combinations.