6 Months to go!

Read what she is up to on and off the water in this blog.

Prospects, achievements, analysis and a personal view of the sporting scene

28th January 2012

.. and the milestones just keep coming! Yesterday was 6 months to go to the opening ceremony, and I had several different experiences of how people were reacting to the day. In the LOCOG Athletes Commission on Tuesday it felt we were acutely aware of it, yes it coincided with the handing over of the athletes’ village, but there was a real sense of the clock and that it was ticking down. I think they feel that they are in a good place, physically the park, the facilities and the village are looking fantastic, but now the detail is beginning to unfold and in the third cluster of test events, not just the sports and the field of play will be tested, but the park and how it will work at Games Time. The reality of any project of this size is there will be snagging to do between now and 27th July, right now they just don't know what they don't know and that will only change with testing. In the BOA on Friday I got a different sense, lots of work being done, but it felt that it was much more a business as usual, reviewing the successful Youth Olympic Games in Innsbrooke, scenario planning for Games Time and looking what the athletes might want and need post games and going into 2013. Then my third group were the press, both on Olympic Dreams with BBC Berkshire and at The Party in the Sky, an event in reading with Dame Kelly Holmes, it felt that this was something to celebrate, and get excited about on the journey forward.

For me I was able to look at it with a very different emotion than I felt when I was going into Beijing. Six months still feels like a good amount of time, yes unlike in previous cycles when I couldn't think further than the next ergo test or selection race, I can really look forward to the Games and feel very lucky to be where I am, and have the opportunities to be involved. As I took to the water this morning, despite the wind against stream and choppy Henley reach it felt good to be working hard to getting the balance between my new corporate life and my old athletic one.

I am now sitting at T5 of Heathrow waiting for my flight to Edinburg - next stop the Bonnyrigg Duck Race which will raise money for Scottish Huntingdon's Association - I'm not sure if they are rubber or still quacking, but I will let you know on the next blog!

2nd January 2012

Happy New Year 2012 here it is! It was strange at the clock turned midnight of an Olympic Year and for the first time for twenty years it was a leap year when I didn't have a dream or even a realistic ambition of competing for my country at an Olympic Games. I felt sad for myself, amazingly excited (and slightly jealous) for those who will make it to the start line and proud that I am in a new chapter of my life and will be involved in the Games in a different way - all at once!

December has a heady and busy mix of Christmas parties - good fun, great to catch up with friends; Work - really busy, lots of exciting projects; Readings at Carol services - A lovely service at Reading Minster for BBC Berks, and the Lord Mayors' Carol service in St Paul's Cathedral where I was a late replacement for Tom Aggar; Canoeing - I am getting better, more canoeing, less swimming; A lingering sore throat and glands up - annoying, but if I will burn the candle at both ends. ..; Rowing - victory in the Henley Rowing Club Boxing Day Regatta; And Shopping, must make sure that Santa remembers everyone! I have to say although it was great fun, I managed to run myself ragged, so have taken full advantage of the Christmas break and have planned to do only two-thirds of what I think is possible each day, rather than run trying to fit everything in.

This leads me to January and New Year’s Resolutions, well I'm not one to wait, so I have already started, but they are about balance for me, to keep training and getting out of the water, which I love and is where my body knows what to do and my head goes quiet. To keep challenging myself with new things and pushing my boundaries, both in sport and in business, the Devizes Westminster will give me a big tick in this box in the first quarter of 2012, and I am also hoping to do the London to Paris cycle in September - fantastic. Business wise I was to keep learning and growing my reputation with my various clients, to challenge them and myself to better performance to their workplaces. Also to keep reading, listening and learning from other people’s views and experiences. I am currently reading Dr Steve Peters' The Chimp Paradox and will be recommending to clients, rowers and friends.

30th November 2011

On the eve of my first Christmas dinner, I feel forced to consider the year, my goals and what is next. I have had a great 11 months, perhaps witnessed our greatest Rowing World Championships to date and had many great new experiences. In just the last month I have stood at the Menin gate and looked back on the 93 years since the first World War and wondered can sport succeed where politics has struggled, I have been part of selecting the One to Watch for the Sports Aid Ball and been impressed at the next generation of talent coming up, rowers Jess Leyden and Pamela Relph were on the short list, but piped by fantastic young Paralympian sprinter, Sally Brown. I have also been over to Adidas in Germany to work with the BOA on both the final decisions on the London kit, but also looking to the future, making sure that every team that is fortunate enough to represent GB is properly provided for, and that includes dealing with the various climates that Sochi, the venue for the Olympic Games will throw up. Finally closer to home I had a great evening at the Henley Rowing Club dinner, were single sculling legend Peter Haining entertained a good crowd and it was brilliant to see club coach Chris Boothroyd  receive British Rowing Medal of Merit for his extraordinary contribution to supporting and developing young athletes over the last 15 years. It has been busy!

So what is next? Well there are a couple of things in the next few month that I feel passionate about, I am going to make more time to master going forward in a canoe, it is essential if I am going to succeed in the Devizes Westminster Canoe Race next year, I got out once this month and fell out twice! A definite could do better!

Also I am watching with interest the debate on the legitimacy of the BOA's selection policy or bye-law. Since 1992 there has been a policy that athletes who have deliberated cheated by using drugs are not eligible for selection for the Olympic Team. For me, with a vision of a drug free future in sport, it is something I have been very proud to compete under, I see it as a deterrent for any potential competitor who is thinking of straying from the path, and it has an appeals process, so a genuine mistake is mitigated for. However for a real drug free future in sport, we need to see all countries take this path, the drug testing to be efficient and effective globally and a simply clear

7th November 2011

Another busy time - but I am loving it. It is November so the month to renew my sculling boat insurance. I noticed that Chris Moon asked me to check the value of my boat, and I've realised with the Euro going up, my three year old Empacher is worth more than I paid for it - I'll let them know before I renew.

Last month was all about corporate work and travel, this one is all about the Olympics and the athletes; I spoke at the European Olympic Committees Conference on Friday which was in Italy on Lake Como. Flying into Milan and travelling to the hotel I was transported back to my training camps on Lake Varese, it is a beautiful area of the world, and with vast expanses of water and brilliant rowing venue. It made me really nostalgic! Once again I realised how active rowers are in the international community, with Femke Dekke of the Netherlands and Iztok Cop of Slovenia plus two Danish lightweights also attending. We were looking at rights, duties and potential of Athletes' Commissions and it is fascinating to see the similarities and differences across different cultures and countries. Today I am off to LOCOG to continue adding the athlete perspective to many aspects of planning for next year in London and on Thursday and Friday this week I will be representing the athletes in commemorating fallen Olympians during the wars at the Menin Gates.

Having spent two weeks in the high desert of Albuquerque New Mexico and had a brilliant experience at the Grand Canyon in Arizona, I have been keen to get back to the wet stuff and onto the water. I watched eagerly for the Fours Head results, and the dominance of Leander was an impressive performance by a club. However when they refuse to let their athletes do composites and with the realisation that some good athletes who wanted to race were left on the bank, how good it is for 'club scene' as a whole might be questioned. I really missed not racing, but landed too late from Italy, and have done too little training - however with the good weather and a bit of inspiration I am back to it, it was great to settle into my single on Sunday and let my body take over - I had a good ding dong with a Henley Junior quad - little did they know that I was NOT going to let them overtake, but it certainly kept me honest!

9th October 2011

What a month! I have had a ball! I have stretched my comfort zone and come out the other side, whole and smiling. I have worked in three continents, travelling to Singapore and Atlanta for just one day each to lead workshops for Beyond the Barriers, talking to corporate athletes about their Energy Management and Emotional Resilience. It is amazing - I never stop learning and always wish I'd had the time and foresight to learn these things earlier, but life doesn't work like that. I hugely enjoyed my golf day and didn't make too big a fool of myself, I even managed one hole in par, somewhat of a fluke I'll readily admit, but a happy, happy moment.

My experience of 'BBC South does Strictly.' wasn't at all dampened by a wet day at Newbury show; in fact I was quite pleased that the umbrellas would hide some of my modesty as I was wearing a rather little red dress. I have to thank my partner Jason Hudson and Ginger Jive who organised everything, I would do it again in a heartbeat, just fantastic fun and the judges were nice!

The one disappointment I've had this month is watching our England team represent our country in New Zealand at the Rugby World Cup. Now I know a number of rowers who have worked hard and played hard, but they all wait to let their hair down after the competition is over. For me I can only equate the World Cup to our Olympics, it is once every four years and rugby players like rowers have short careers. So how can the England team be looking themselves in the mirror after their defeat yesterday, dwarfs, bungee jumping, chamber maid and nights out; to use Ben Hunt-Davis' words, did it make the boat go faster? I was happy to step away from my television yesterday and see many boats flocking towards the tideway to compete in the pairs head, an event I still have never done, but always watch with interest, some family interest, Katie Greeves and her sister Caroline winning the women's double, and Beth Rodford racing with her brother Ben coming second to Hester Goodsall and Robin Williams in the mixed doubles. It was fantastic to see such talent and recent World Championship medallists mixing it with the club athletes with no airs or graces, just some hard honest work and good racing.

5th September 2011

And breathe ... what a World Championships! Great Britain finished top of the medal table, with a brilliant team performance here at the picturesque lake Bled, with 13 out of 14 GB crews qualifying for London 2012. In the adaptive squad the team can look forward to the Paralympics with two golds and three boat qualifications. All in all 7 golds, 3 silvers and 4 bronzes are in the bags team members as they go their separate ways today, ready to enjoy a much deserved three week holiday.

For me it was a great experience, working for BBC Berkshire Tim Dellor and I got into a strange routine, walking the course in the morning to our commentary point, setting up long before any other journalist to do our breakfast bulletin. The crews would be out doing their pre-race outings, the stands empty and usually the cleaners still working around us. We would cut in and out of the studio as the stands filled, the fans decked in their countries colours and wait for the GB races. As more and more athletes finished we had them come up and visit, offering insight into the racing and their own performance. It was great, a week talking about rowing, surrounded by friends.

Tonight I will fly back to the UK and back to business as usual. I have a really busy couple of weeks, this week I do a charity question of sport and golf day with Tony Hadley of Spandau Ballet and next week the Great River Race on 17th September in a skiff and far the most terrifying, a turn in a 'strictly come dancing' charity competition on 18th September at Newbury Show.

2nd September 2011

Two years away from the international regatta course and it amazing how little has changed. The players are pretty much the same, the races as tight, Olympic Qualification so crucial and it feels perfectly natural to be talking about it. Getting here on Wednesday night the big news was that the Women's Quad were in the B final and with only seven boats to qualify for London from this regatta, only winning it would do the job. I was immediately transported back to 1999, the venue St Catherine's Canada, the GB quad in the B final and, Katherine Grainger, Lisa Eyre, Guin Batten and I the women with the job to do. It was as it was the only race I'd ever rowed and the only one that really mattered. If I'm honest it could have been, if we hadn't found our way past the Belarusians that day to qualify for Sydney who knows what would have happened next for us and British Rowing, certainly the success of the quad wouldn't have followed and Beth Rodford, Debbie Flood, Annie Vernon and Mel Wilson wouldn't be in the situation they were. Thankfully they put a disappointing regatta behind them and finished ahead of a spirited Poland, the boat is London bound and the legacy will continue.

Now two days later, most of the crews have qualified to go to the games, we've seen and commentated on magnificent Gold from Kieran Emery and Pete Chambers in the lightweight pair and from Tom Aggar in the adaptive single scull. Silvers for the men’s' eights and women’s' pair, and bronzes for the lightweight men's four and brilliantly the women's eights. Will the new timetable and more finals to come I am looking forward to what the weekend brings.

Destination Dorney is an hour long tonight; listen in at BBC Berkshire from 6 to 7.

30th August 2011

Last weekend was one of contrasts, the climax,and for some the highlight of the domestic season with the infamous Gloucester Bristol and Ross regatta and the Skiff Championships at Henley and the beginning of a week of fierce competition, in the form of the long awaited World Championships in Bled. With three days of racing the majority of the GB crews are progressing well, with only one noticeable upset, the Woman's Quad not making the final. They will have to race the B final in the next few days and it is so important that they have a good race, only the winner of the B final qualifies for the Olympics next year. I get of a plane to head out there tomorrow and can't wait to be part of it, but with a record number of competitors and from the quality of the heats I don't expect it to be all plane sailing for the Brits. ..Bring it on.

27th July 2011

Time to celebrate . .. and take stock. One year to go - I have to say I am grateful 2012 is a leap year - I think I'll need all 366 days to be ready for the games, there are six commission meetings left and I am starting to look at a project to work with potential 2014 and 2016 Olympians at Games time. Here at the BOA offices all are hard at work, yet we are due to get together at 4pm to celebrate and will be moving on mass to Trafalgar Square to witness the celebrations later. So far, so much to celebrate, the venues are looking fantastic, the aquatics centre was showcased today, and it looks amazing. Many of the big names were there, marking the importance of the day by taking time out of training. Noticeably absent were the rowers, the heavy Men are up the mountain in Austria battling snow and lack of oxygen, the Women and Lightweights in Germany training on the Rhine - whilst we can have the luxury of looking a year ahead, they have a job to do in just a few week time and are fully focused on the World Championships in Bled.

I am looking forward to the weekend, Friday night I will be on the radio with Destination Dorney and then on Saturday I will take to the water for Henley Town and Vistors Regatta, racing in a mixed four; It'll be great fun to be back on the start line.

Then next week the World Junior Regatta starts at Dorney, 46 countries are taking part, with the best young rowing talent competing to gain the title of World Junior Champion. I will be volunteering, supporting the event and running try rowing sessions for spectators, come on down to have a go!  

11th July 2011

The crescendo starts to build. Anyone who regularly listens to BBC Berks or saw me at Henley Regatta will have seen that I am doing some radio work and now you can listen in to me and Tim Deller every Friday night on Destination Dorney! It has been great fun and is a real opportunity to showcase our sport. What you can't fail to appreciate is just how much is going on, Henley Regatta was star studded and our Men’s' Squad did brilliantly, Alan Campbell, Hodge and Reed, the four, the quad and the Red Express all picked up silverware. However just a week later in Lucerne, the strength and depth of the whole squad shone through, 10 medals which came from all categories, heavy and lightweight, men and women, four of them gold - really exciting and I can't wait to get out to Bled to commentate on the World Championships.

However before that the World Junior Championships arrives at Dorney, the women’s squad has just been announced. I was particularly pleased to see Klara Weaver who I noticed in the single earlier in the season has been selected for the quad - she will be joined by Katie Bartlett, Jessica Leyden, and Lucy Burgess and it will be great to follow their progress early in August.

With all this going on I've not had much time to take to the water, however I have to confess to a couple of early morning outings on the Henley Course during regatta, I am still playing at learning to go forward in a Canoe and think I may be getting addicted to Hot Yoga, which is keeping the length and strength in my body. The first half of this week has been all about the London 2012, we are gearing up for a year to go on 27th July and today I was at LOCOG overlooking an ever more complete Olympic Park. The second half of this week I am up in Scotland supporting the Scottish Huntington's Associations summer youth camp, last year I climbed a 60 foot tree and went canyoning and enjoyed going forwards in a boat canoeing - who knows what will be thrown at me this year. It is always fun to try new things, but also a good opportunity for these young carers to act as children, relax and be outside in the fresh air and make new friends. We will also run a 'festival day' when there is a programme of events for the group to learn more about the disease and to express how they feel about it - something that is really important to help the Association support them and their families. I am really looking forward to it - can't wait.

29th June 2011

On the day the Henley Royal Regatta starts let me say - good racing and good luck to all the crews, especially the local clubs, who I have seen the work and effort they've put in and their improving boat speed over the last weeks and months. Tomorrow I will be there with LOVATs insurance, so look out for us and come have a chat to Chris Moon (and maybe a Pimms) if you see us about.

I have just had the most incredible week; I was invited to Olympia to represent the British Olympic Association at the International Olympic Academies 3rd Session for Olympic Medallist. In Britain we think we have events steeped in history and Henley and Wimbledon happening now are certainly two of them. However when I stood in the grounds of ancient Olympia and contemplated the vast time span of the Olympic movement, from the original truce in 776 BC and the first ancient Olympics to the efforts and vision of Pierre de Coubertin to bring reignite the passion and spirit and founder the IOC and create the modern Olympic Movement in 1896, I realised how lucky I had been to play a tiny part through my Olympic participation. Mixing with medallist from different countries and cultures in the beautiful and tranquil setting of the Academy, the overarching theme was the communication of Olympic values and Olympism by Medallists. I think we all realised first we needed to be educated in these ourselves! I guess to get to this point and throughout our sporting careers EXCELLENCE had been a common thread to lead to performance. During the conference all of us learned something new, and thought about things in a different way; throughout the week we embodied RESPECT, questioning and seeking to understand the different cultures and backgrounds, sometimes agreeing to differ on point, but without making the other person wrong. And finally the outcome, which I hadn't expected or sort, was in just five days I feel I have created some deep and lasting FRIENDSHIPs. As Suleiman Nyambui a 5000m runner from Tanzania so eloquently put it, you become and Olympian and you can become a Citizen of the World, and I think if we can sit in that perspective,  Olympism can become even more powerful.

3rd June 2011

Wow let the battles commence! The racing is season is truly upon us, last weekend the National Squad impressed in Munich at the first World Cup regatta, interestingly trialling the time trial in the first round, whilst back home at Nottingham the National Schools Regatta was forced to shorten the course to 1000m and rely on this format.

In Germany particularly impressive where Mel Wilson and Katherine Grainger in the Women’s' Double, a scratch combination, which dominated the event, and in Women’s' Lightweight Doubles, yes, two of them, who fought tooth and nail down the course to claim Gold and Silver in this event. These results continue to demonstrate unprecedented depth of talent and form in the Women’s' program, and eleven medals over all signals an exciting start to the season, roll on Hamburg in two week’ time.

Kings of the Waves in Nottingham were Eton in the Championship Eights, beating Abingdon School in a close race, whilst on the Girls side Headington beat Lady Eleanor Hollies in another tight battle. I also noticed my Wallingford regatta favourite Klara Weaver of Latymer Upper won the Championship Single, definitely one to watch.

On a personal level I have had a great week, after 5 weeks out of the boat due to a fall off a horse I am back on the water and loving it. I even tried going forwards in a canoe; I am hoping to do the Devizes to Westminster next year and am taking my first wobbly strokes. Surely steering should be easier when you can see where you are going? It seems not, you just get more warning that you are going wrong. I also took a trip to Molesey Boat Club to catch up with the Tall and Talented group I am mentoring - It is so exciting to see their excellent progress, with only a year of rowing under their belts they are improving in leaps and bounds - have already won some pots and are racing side by side in doubles, singles and eights at Dorney at the Metropolitan Regatta tomorrow. I am planning to head down there to cheer them on, but only after I've been on BBC Berks with Henry Kelly talking about the new exhibition on Women’s' Rowing at the River and Rowing Museum - tune in on 95.4FM at 10.30 to listen in.

20th May 2011

With the summer racing well underway and boats on the move practically every weekend, I call upon everyone to please please check the insurance policies for your boats. You may have heard about the Upper Thames trailer which somehow caught fire on the way to Ghent international a couple of weeks ago. It was holding the Upper Thames boats including two new Empachers, boats from Reading Blue Coats and the Oratory School plus some private sculls, all were ruined. Rumour has it, some although having an insurance policy in place weren't covered for particular eventuality, I know none of us have a crystal ball, and it is hard to predict what might go wrong, but check what you are covered for, where you are covered and what you can claim for if something does go wrong.

For me personally once again time has flown, Wallingford Regatta showed us Eton College Rowing Lake at its' trickiest, a strong side wind which made it extremely difficult for the boats to firstly get attached to the start and secondly stay straight. Bow siders got an extra work out as they generally had to keep the boat straight and even at the calmest time of the day, the organisers resorted to a FISA 'fast start', which means no call over of the crews and the race can start as soon as the Starter has called 'two minutes' and believes the boats are straight. On my bike with the coaches it was a whole new perspective on the regatta, each one calling 'GO!' to the starter when they saw their own crew as straight. All this meant that the regatta ran late on its ambitious timetable and after the heats they switched the lane order for the finals, putting the fastest crews in the best lanes. Finally at three thirty they conceded defeat and called racing off. However I followed many crews and watched some great rowing. I was particularly impressed with Canford Schools' IM2 Coxed four, I loved how they were moving the boat at the finish; a Latymer Upper School single sculler, Klara Weaver who took on the Elite Women's Scull field, rowed fearlessly in the conditions and won the event; and the Thames Men's Eight who looked like they are converting good Head racing speed into a fast 2000m profile.

Preparation work continues to get ready to host the Junior World Rowing Champs on 4th - 7th August at Dorney lake. Last Sunday I attended my second volunteers training day and it was great to see the team that will be working together during the event to give the athletes' the best possible experience. We are also working hard to get as many people along to the event as possible and making sure that they have a great spectating experience. Our Event Champions scheme is going well, and with an opportunity for the most committed Champions to take part in the medal ceremonies it is well worth signing up for.

Having managed to fall off a horse at the end of April I have been unable to take to the water personally and hence the time spent on my bike. I have been coaching with the Henley Men and it is great to see the course going up for the Regatta. It has been frustrating to not be on the water, but really good to be able to support the sport I love in a different way, they are racing at Nottingham tomorrow and we'll see how they get on - good luck boys.

28th April 2011

Only days after the close of tickets for the Games, tomorrow we have a royal wedding to contend with. Rumour has it, Miss Middleton isn't a complete stranger to rowing, having coxed the Great River Race a couple of years ago. However I doubt whether we'll be seeing much of her on the water in her new role in life. Good luck to Will and Kate tomorrow!

I will be at Dorney Lake on Sunday for Wallingford Regatta. Will 130 races taking places from 8am to 7pm, it should be a great day - and the first opportunity for crews to flex their muscles over 2000m. I will also be promoting the World Junior Regatta which is at the lake in August this year. We are looking for Event Champions to get people involved, go to http://www.wrjc2011.com/volunteers and click on Event Champion.

26th April 2011

Last day for tickets! After 5 weeks and 6 days of talking about it I finally managed to get my Olympic ticket requests in yesterday, and anyone else has until 23.59 tonight to do it. Dorney Lake and the rowing was top on my list, with finals from the 1st to 4th August, all those days were a must and I have my fingers crossed that I am successful. I know that we'll be seeing history made at these games and I very much hope to be there!

I have also tried to get into a couple of athletics sessions, modern pentathlon, cycling and waterpolo, and white water canoeing. Last week I had the privilege of going down the course in a raft at the launch of the venue, now I want to see the experts do it. Also I really want to see the stadium in its’ Olympic Glory and I thought that Modern Pentathlon was great value, 4 events, fencing, swimming, show jumping and the new final event, combined run and shoot, three different locations, all for one ticket So if you are reading this on your computer, click on http://www.tickets.london2012.com and get choosing!

24th March 2011

Head Season! Here we go! It was with great excitement that I lined up with 299 other eights for the Women's Head of the River Race last week. It was a beautiful day and I was honoured to be asked to sub into crew with Katherine Grainger, Beth Rodford, Jess Eddie, Elise Laverick, Helen Glover, Lindsey MacGuire, Sophie Hoskins and Caroline O'Connor at the rudder strings. Under the guidance of Paul Reedy we'd had a great week, bedding down the new crew, boating at dawn so Elise and I could do the day jobs and each day finding extra bits of speed. As crew no 214, marshalling at the bandstand we saw the first crews go passed; Leander were off number 1, they had good length and rhythm and were moving the boat well in the second half of the stroke, Reading chasing them looked sharp and committed, but the gap between the crews looked significant. Knowing we still had over an hour to wait I felt like a spectator in a really good seat, crew after crew raced by, sometimes four abreast, each wanting to get the advantage in the first part of the race. Eventually it was our turn to move up, passing under Barnes and Chiswick it was good to get moving, and I prepared myself mentally for what was a head. I felt in a time warp, I'd been in this position many times before and I was both excited and nervous. As a new starter we only had one crew ahead of us, a junior squad combination, we decided to give them plenty of room, hopefully using them later in the race as we caught up. Going under Chiswick I could feel the blood pumping and as Caroline called us up to race pace my legs sprung into action. As ever the 18 minutes of racing passed in a blur, there were points I really remember, the boat moving sweetly under Barnes Bridge, moving up on and passing the Junior crew during the Chiswick Eyot, and digging deep under Hammersmith and again into a headwind Barnes Elm. As we crossed the finish line everything hurt, my legs, my head, my lungs, but I was smiling, it had been a really good effort. Whatever the result it had been a committed effort. We landed and put the boat back into London Rowing Club, Paul Reedy debriefed us, then told us that we hadn't been fast enough, Leander were at least 30 seconds faster. The disappointment was palpable, there was no doubt, we'd not done it. It is always had to reconcile being beaten when we are racing different conditions at different times, Leander looked very good, but I knew in a side by side race, or going off in succession, the result would have been closer, could we have reversed it? We'll never know.

This weekend Oxford and Cambridge do get to find out. The Men are racing at 5 on Saturday, they are doing our head course backwards, starting at Putney and finishing at Chiswick. At the moment the Mens race seems too close to call, it will be the crew who steps up on the day, no different tides, no different conditions, just 17 minutes of side by side effort. What this space.

On Sunday there are the Henley Boat Races, involving Women and Lightweights from both Universities, Natalie Redgrave is representing Oxford, but I have been really impressed with the Cambridge Women's Boat, they are longer and sharper than I've seen them before and got a top 10 finish in the Head, if they've managed to recover, I think they'll come off better in this battle.

3rd February 2011

2011! I can hardly believe it, where did the end of 2010 go! Well actually I know, I had the most amazing time climbing Kilimanjaro, and then enjoyed recovering from it all with family in Thailand. Kilimanjaro was fantastic, having never gone to altitude to train, I had no concept of how my body would cope, having only flirted with the concept, once trialling an altitude sleep tent and sometimes using the altitude chamber at Bisham Abbey. Also I had done plenty of cross training, running, cycling, swimming and cross country skiing had all featured, but walking - for up to 15 hours a day, with no oxygen? It was going to be a challenge. Actually the walking was fine, the scenery was beautiful, the company fun; wearing no watch and with no ergo screen to record each passing second the hours slipped by. It definitely wasn't advisable to run over 3000m, I tried it a couple of times, felt fine for about 30 seconds, then it hit me like a steam train as my legs shouted that they wanted more oxygen and my brain scolding me with intense throbbing. However it wasn't until I got about 4700m, that I really knew that I was in the rarefied atmosphere. Plants had pretty much stopped growing at this height and the only signs of wildlife were the black crows that had found their way to base camp. As soon as I reached this height the aching in my head became permanent and it was accompanied by nausea. Not the best way to start the 10 hour ascent, but I figured it wasn't unusual to be in this state, feeling sick and forcing food down had been my activity on many a race morning! Although I felt sick, my legs and body felt strong and at midnight I set off with the group on the ascent attempt, there was never any doubt in my mind that I would make it. I had to stop on numerous occasions to be sick, but the years of training of body and mind allowed me to separate from that just keep going. Reading the guide book on the way down I realise that I was lucky, I didn't have to be much worse and they simply wouldn't have allowed me to stay on the mountain, but the trip was brilliant and magically as I descended I felt better and better. It lead me to think about what rower go through during winter training, this is the time for the slog of the ascent. The body is probably complaining, training is in the dark, often bitterly cold and sometimes it feels like there is no end in sight. However it is already February, the daffodil shoots are beginning to show and by the time they bloom it will the Head season. So make the most of these days, use each session now better than your competition, now is the time to train hard so you can race easy!

10th November 2010

I've been addicted! My last week disappeared with a combination of late nights on the World Rowing website and early mornings working or on the river. While here in the UK I watched rowers in a more traditional winter pass time, the rowing head race, over the other side of the world our National Team were finally getting to strut their stuff on Lake Karapiro in New Zealand in the 6 lane racing, 2000m format that is associated with the summer season. Nothing better highlighted the challenge our athletes and coaches had, a 13 month long season, training 3 or 4 times a day, often 7 days a week. The team had had a fantastic world cup season, racing in June, July and August, had they managed to hold on to their form? As the heats, semis and finals progressed the answer came across a resounding yes! Four gold medals, two silver and a bronze in the Olympic Class boats, our rowers showed a strength and confidence that was inspiring. The closest race of the Championships? The lightweight men's Coxless four, 0.08 separate the top 3 crews, the British Crew coming out on top. The most commanding performance? Katherine Grainger and Anna Watkins in the women's double, nearly 7 seconds back to silver, nearly 10 to bronze, just outstanding.

Whilst here in the UK our club rowers are putting the in mileage and making the most of the extra hours of light in the morning as the clocks changed, many of our team are having a well earned holiday down under. There is so much to see and do, I hope they are managing to rest a little too - training starts back on 22nd November. Only 8 months to go until the Worlds in Bled and the first bite at Olympic Qualification.

1st October 2010

Where is the year going? Since I last wrote this blog so much has happened. On the international front our girls produced an exceptional performance at the World Junior Regatta, becoming the first ever Junior Women's crew to become World Junior Champions in the Women's Eight. They had to fight had to prove they were good enough for selection and raced as if their lives depending on it, producing a first 500m that would have been competitive in a senior international race and blowing the rest of the field away. A pair was then selected to go to the inaugural Youth Olympics in Singapore, having got through to the final in third place and having a faced a photo finish to decide their fate, Georgia Howard-Merrill and Fiona Gammond raised their game in the final and once more claimed the place at the top of the podium. Brilliant racing girls.

As the nights draw in club rowers will be well into their winter training, being to put together the strength and fitness that will help them reach their goals next summer. Will the fours head still six weeks away I am already hearing plots and plans floating down the river, as each club tries to decide which boat will be the one to go for to give them the best chance of a Henley medal. I have been out quite a lot recently, jumping into mixed eights, women's quads and my single at Henley Rowing Club. Whilst I can't make all the session I really enjoy the club atmosphere and enthusiasm of the members.

Last week I lined up on the start line of the Great River Race in Dittons 1. This is a fantastic event aimed at the traditional wooden boats, racing 22 miles from Greenwich to Richmond. It is handicapped with the slowest boat categories starting first and the fastest last. As a wooden double skiff my start time was about in the middle of the pack, we had entered the Riparian Challenge which meant we had the Deputy Mayor of Elmbridge as our passenger, a cox and two rowers. The cox and rowing slots would alternate, with each of the three of us doing 40 minutes on, 20 minutes off. It was great fun, though hugely rough at the start with the tide going into a stiff headwind. The course took us about 2 hours 45 minutes and we finished pleased with our performance, suffering from sore backsides and hands, but feeling we'd had a good crack at it. The party afterwards is worth staying around for and lots of brave souls camp on both the night before and night after racing. It was my second time of doing the race, I loved it and will definitely be back!

10th August 2010

Every stroke counts! Well I've done it, finally I've competed in Wargrave and Shiplake regatta after years of watching it from the bank. Unfortunately I didn't get my hands on any of the silverware. I was beaten in by a much better crew in the Dongola, yes they did have their own paddles and personally moulded cushions for kneeling on, but also they were a hugely tight unite and despite our strength and enthusiam we were not a patch on them, and in the skiff Dan and I came up against fellow Olympian Pete Wells, a hugely strong athlete, they had a fantastic start, Pete really demonstrating his explosive power, Dan and I got into a strong rhythm and started to challenge, then a slight slip up in our boat and we had a lot of work to do. It was an amazingly exciting race with the two heavy boats side by side right to the finish line, as we crossed it took a few minutes for the judges to decide the verdict, it was given to the other crew by just a couple of inches. I have to say nothing wets the appetite like a close race and I'll be back to try again! I may not have managed a victory that day, but a significant win was happening for our team at the World Junior Championships. Our late selected Women's eight dominated their event and claimed Britain's first ever Women's Gold medal of the event - just a brilliant result and it will be a title we'll want to defend in 2011 on our home waters at Dorney Lake.

On Sunday I took back seat and watched and gave out the prizes at the 125th Punting Championships at Maidenhead. Having piled 6 people into a three foot punt the day before I watched in awe at the competitors managed the one foot punt that used to contest the championship races. Never was there a sport more designed to test the resolve of the competitors, an unstable boat that you stand in, an uneven river bed and the unpredictability of other river traffic, the wash of which can easily knock a competitor off balance. With racing tight and individuals pushing boundaries mistakes inevitably happen, and a special mention has to be given to the winner of the junior women's event, who lost her balance, fell in, managed to get back into her punt and launch an attack, overturning the obvious handicap of a wet and heavier boat to win by just 3 inches - absolutely inspiring!

7th August 2010

Messing around in boats! This week has been brilliant with lots of steep learning curves. Dongoling - a word I can barely spell was a complete mystery to me. Now I can just about talk a 'J' stroke and even have an idea about 'which side' I paddle on. It is amazing how you can get a three foot wide punt up and running with six rather large adults all paddling furiously. Like rowing, timing, steering and rhythm are important. We are hugely lucky with our steersman David Bushnell, yesterday we raced a three lane race on a slight bend of the river and he handled the boat brilliantly. Today we meet a section of the GB dragon boat team - the hype is that they bring their own paddles... suffice to say they will be tough oppo, bring it on!

I am also racing the ladies and gents skiff with my partner, Dan. We got through two rounds yesterday, learning lots each time. We are still trying to 'row' the heavy wooden boat, and look in wonder at the lean back of the more experienced competitors, but we are still in the hunt and are in the quarter finals later.

The event is great fun, and is taken seriously by the locals from both Wargrave and Shiplake, competitors start as young as eight and the level of competence is fantastic, family rivalries start young and can last a lifetime. You can punt as well as paddle, and for the brave hearted there is the punt in a canoe, I think if I tried it, it would be a certain swim. It is a fantastic day out, there is bar, a bouncy castle, food and I even bought a whole new outfit from Di at her Rock the Boat stand.

27th July 2010

Time to get rowing! Wargrave and Shiplake international beckons. These are two tiny villages near Henley, and this event traditionally produces great rivalries on the water. It is a traditional regatta where you can race in skiffs, canoes, punts and dongle, and which competitors starting young as coxes and in the children’s race, some of the older competitors will have years of experience of racing the same opposition. This will be my first time racing the event, although I have enjoyed the social side of it many a time, meeting at the St George and Dragon in Wargrave, paying my 60p to get the ferry across the river and enjoying catching up with friends and family as the racing unfolds on the water. Racing starts on Friday 5th August and I can't wait. I've even been have been skiffing a couple of times as the boys are preparing for the Great River Race at the end of October and needed an extra man.

Off the water, but definitely rowing related, I had the honour of meeting the most extraordinary man yesterday. Two years ago, Dave Holby, already an accomplished rower, so knowing what he was letting himself in for, decided to attempt to ergo a route around the globe, achieve a Guinness World record, and raise money for Breakthrough for Breast cancer. I met him in Basingstoke town center, where he spends about 6 hours on the machine each day, he has fantastic support from the local community, who have come to see him as a permanent fixture, and he talks about the local kids, who were doing their GCSE's when he started and are now getting ready to leave for university. This weekend he wasn't on the ergo, instead he was traveling through the night, fitting in a quick three peaks challenge. I have to say I was inspired, he aims to row 44,075km, he is due to finish on 18th December, now is the time to get behind him and offer your support, find out more on www.worldrecordrow.com/.

5th July 2010

What a Regatta! From the size of the entries and the quality of qualification last Friday I could tell that this was going to be a fantastic regatta. The top events were filled with internationals, the Eton Eight was looking superb and the club events were looking highly competitive. Personally I had a 'first' experience, three weeks ago when my own entry failed to be registered in time (due to complications of bringing athletes from 4 different countries together), I got the opportunity to work with the Henley Wyfolds Crew and act as a coach. It was a brilliant experience, the crew had been put together late, were keen to gain speed and put up with my mad schedule, knowing I'd get there when I could and give them 110%. Already qualified and selected they had a good draw and I was confident that we'd mount a strong campaign. I had already promised to be in London at a Huntington's HiDden No More launch on Wednesday, so as the time of their race came round I nervously watched my phone, waiting for the text that would tell me their fate. I was delighted to see that they had put a good race together and got through to Thursday safely. I arrived back at the regatta in time to debrief the guys, setting up the two things they had done well and wanted to keep and the thing that they wanted to keep for the next day.

Thursday dawned, a scorcher and after a couple of quick meetings at Bisham Abbey, I beat the Henley traffic and made my way to the regatta. As I got to the course, it was obvious that no records would be broken, a strong headwind was blowing. The guys seemed in good shape and spirits and I felt confident for them as I pushed them off. It was strange, as an athlete this was the time that my nerves would disperse, I'd be concentrating on the warm up, the boat, the circulation pattern, my head would be full of what I needed to do to get myself ready to race, today I had to wait, today I would be watching from the Launch. As I waited in my Henley dress I felt strangely detached, there was nothing that I could do now, I was confident in my crew and I knew they'd put in a good performance, these guys were hungry for success and were prepared to put themselves on the line to do it. As we pulled up to the start line and the umpire raised his flag I concentrated on just my crew, keep loose, first three strokes together was all I asked of them. This would set them up to race the rest of the 240 odd strokes that they would have to complete to cover the course. 'Attention GO!' As so often I had felt as an athlete time seemed to slow as I watched them push the boat away from the start line, loose and smooth. The adrenalin in my body was surging and it was almost impossible to sit still and not shout. As they passed the end of the island they were up, dealing well with the strong wind and choppy conditions. They raced hard and well, keeping their London opposition at bay and progressing safely through to Friday.

Today was going to be tough, a late race and up against the much fancied Notts and Union Crew. To add to the mix, two of the Union guys had raced and lost with three of my guys in the final of the Thames twelve months ago. There was great respect amongst my crew for our opposition and we knew we were going to have to put together our best performance to win. As they boated I could see in their body language that they were ready and knew they were ready to take it to the line. Watching this time from the floating grandstand I listened closely to the commentary, willing them on, watching the two specks turn into boats as they came up the course. Unfortunately Notts and Union proved to be too strong for my boys, but they put a good race together, going out hard and committing to a strong and high rhythm, as they came up the enclosures I could see that they were paying for it and hadn't anything more to give, it was a brave race and I was really proud of them, but disappointed at the same time. It was a brilliant experience and a fun team to be involved it, guys who were passionate about their sport and keen to find every inch of speed. I loved it, was sorry that we didn't make it one or two steps futher, but we lost to a great crew who finally won the event.

With my coaching hat off I could let my hair down and enjoy the regatta, I'm not sure what it was, but for me it was a fantastic Henley. Watching my former team mates we had five GB boats in the finals with both quads victorious. The Men's pair, double and Women's eight will be disappointed not to have lifted the trophies, but they have all had a good World Cup season so far and hopefully will have recovered to challenge all comers in Lucerne at the final World Cup this weekend.

21th June 2010

What a weekend! I am delighted to report that there was a brilliant weekend of racing. I managed to get round the Henley Women's Regatta and Marlow Regatta as well as set a world best (well an unrepeatable world first) in my own rowing adventures. With strong tail wind, and not much stream on the Henley stretch, 10 course records were set at the Women's Regatta and there was fantastic racing. The closest races I saw was a gutsy performance for Antonia Van Deventer who won the lightweight single by just half a length and a mature performance for the lightweight women’s double from Reading University, who took it even closer, winning their final by just one third of a length.

I had a brilliant day at the regatta and when Geraldine Peers and I took to the water at 2.40 to warm up for our sprint to raise money for the Macmillian Charity, it was a real honour to be part of it. I knew that win lose or draw, both Geraldine and Susie has achieve a massive amount in just 6 outings and I was confident it was going to be a close race. As we lined up to start at the barrier I wanted to have a good experience and a clean race, there was a slight wind blowing from the left hand side, but the water was flat and conditions couldn't have been better. As the umpires launch pulled up, I knew we would do best if we stayed relaxed, so as I asked Geraldine to come forward I made a joke with her, keeping the moment light. I was surprised to feel the nerves in my stomach; the start line felt a familiar place to be.

With a very brief chat from the umpire we were off! Geraldine was brilliant and this 'uncompetitive news anchor' put in some great strokes to have us surge away from the other double. We had worked on her getting her hands outside the boat as soon as possible, to give us length and she kept her head and did just that. For a few strokes I had to concentrate on the steering and once straight I became aware of Susie and Mariam surging along side us, the race was on! “Keep it on the legs Geraldine, brilliant”, I called, and it worked, lifting the boat toward the finish line.

As both boats came to a standstill I had no idea of the result. Miriam called three cheers for us and Geraldine and I returned the compliment. Finally the result was announce, Geraldine and I had won by just two feet, the closest race of the day! We were delighted, reckoning that it was a world record for a TV celebratory and an Olympic Medallist over a sprint at the Henley Course!

I know the main reason for the race was to raise money for Macmillian, and it is really important that we did that, however I also got to be part of something really different and exciting. I truly couldn't believe how both Geraldine and Susie embrace rowing, its language and technique so quickly, and also how much they go out so trying something new. It has really inspired me, and I'd really like to thank Ali, Pete, Jim and Amy who put in some much work behind the scenes.

18th June 2010

Oh my where have the last two weeks gone, you blink and anther brilliant racing weekend is upon us. On a personal level I am really looking forward to the charity race I am involved with on Sunday. Geraldine Peers from BBC Oxford and Susie Dent from Countdown have put themselves forward to race with Miriam Batten and me, for Charity at Henley Women's Regatta on Sunday at 3pm. We will be racing over 350m in aid of Macmillian Cancer Support. Just a few weeks a go I met up with Geraldine, who despite living near the river had never ventured onto it. We had a look at a boat and she was surprised to see that the seat moved and that you had feet already in the boat. This week on Wednesday we had our maiden voyage, Geraldine having had just 4 rowing sessions under the instruction of Ali Gill, another former Olympian. I have to say I was blown away with how much she had achieve in such a short time - confidently tapping down over the white horses that the wind against the stream was whipping up. Both she and Susie were totally able to handle the conditions and I know the race will be close on Sunday - Bring it on.

Outside of what I am doing I will be enjoying be a spectator at the Women's Regatta which is getting bigger each year. I have been fascinated by variety of accents on the towpath and rowing styles on the water and am looking forward to some great performances over the next three days.

Meanwhile the boys will be continuing there preparation for the Henley Royal Regatta at Dorney Lake, this weekend it is Marlow Regatta, more six lane racing, and with the entries for Henley closed, clubs will have made up their minds which event to go for and crews will be keen to establish the psychological advantage.

On the international scene it the second of three World Cup regattas at Munich in Germany. This takes place on the Olympic Course and the British are fielding an extremely strong team. They started this campaign brilliantly three weeks ago, can they keep their dominance as more countries enter the fray? Good luck to them, I've heard preparation has gone well, and they are ready to take on this challenge.

My one issue with so much going on is how to keep abreast of all that is going on, a nice problem to have!

4th June 2010

The racing season is truly upon us and last weekend was a fantastic one for rowing fans. The National Team had their first opportunity to test out their wares after the long and hard winter in the first World Cup at Lake Bled, Slovenia. The results were impressive, with a haul of gold medals, some great performances and the team claiming 75 points, China finished in second place with 32 points. With so many good performances it is hard to pick out individuals, however special mention should go to Katherine Grainger and Anna Watkins who won the double scull just an hour before joining Beth Rodford and Annie Vernon to storm the quads event, a fantastic achievement. Also in the Men's double scull event, not only did Matthew Wells and Marcus Bateman win gold, they were followed home by a fast finishing Sam Townsend and Bill Lucas to gain the one two, an unprecedented dominance by British scullers. With other wins from the Men and Women's Eights, Men's four, Zac Purchase in the Lightweight single, Tom Aggar in the adaptive single and the adaptive four, I'm looking forward to the second World Cup in Munich on 18th - 20th June, it will be great to see plenty of British crews racing in their yellow jerseys as event leaders.

Back home it was the highly contested National Schools at Nottingham, a highlight in the calendar for our future stars. There was some extremely competitive racing and some great performances. It is fantastic for our juniors to experience the discipline of six lane racing and win lose or draw I hope they will have come away from the event having learned a huge amount.

This coming weekend the six lane fun continues at Dorney Lake in the shape of the Metropolitan Regatta.This will be a great event for our domestic crews, who will be using this event to prepare for side by side racing on the river at Henley in a few weeks time, but also watch out for the singles on Sunday, these athletes will be trying to impress the selectors for the Commonwealth Regatta in Canada later this year. With racing starting from 9am both Saturday and Sunday and the weather forecast looking good, it should be a great day out for rowers and spectators alike.

24th May 2010

Last week, I joined British Rowing in launching its’ Explore Rowing Scheme. This is a new scheme to open rowing up to even more people. The boats are slightly wider, more stable and robust than an elite shell, but still able to go fast when you get it right. Sir Steve Redgrave and Di Ellis joined forces to demonstrate the crafts at the launch at the River and Rowing Museum. The boat were then available for any one to have a go in them, and judging by the queues, peals of laughter and smiling faces the afternoon was a great success. If you’ve always wanted to try rowing, but not had the time to commit to a club, have a look on the www.explorerowing.org website, it has great ideas of where to have a go, challenges and courses that you can try.

I am also getting excited with the summer racing session fast coming upon us. I will be once again trying to raise money for charity at the Women’s Henley. This year I am joining forces with ex Olympians Miriam Batten (who will race) and Ali Gill (who is offering her coaching expertise) to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support. Miriam and I will be partnering TV celebrities Susie Dent from Channel 4’s Countdown and Geraldine Peers from BBC Oxford TV News, and we will be racing over 300m on Sunday 20th June. I met Susie and Geraldine last week; both are really excited about the challenge, but are yet to get into a boat to start training! On a personal note, this and the weather has enticed me to get on the water as often as possible, it should be great fun and perhaps I will see some of you there.

April 23rd 2010

It is almost exactly a year since I stepped away from my life as an international athlete and started my new career.
For the first time in 10 years I have been able to watch the boat race from the Putney hard, rather than scrabbling to find reception during a foreign training camp.

I have been able to watch, day by day as Henley is transformed, and the arrivals of the marquees signal the beginning of the summer, and I've made sporting decisions on whether my work commitments allow me to train, rather than the other way round.

I am already looking ahead to the summer season, the six lane racing kicks off this weekend (Sunday 2nd May) with Wallingford Regatta, now held at Dorney. Look out for the wider bridge and deeper warm up lake - they are gearing up for the World Junior Championships in 2011 and of course 2012.

Personally things have been very busy, I get my blades wet when my timetable allows and the water is flat, if not it is not unknown for me to take to the towpath on foot, maybe I've been inspired by the London Marathon, who knows.

Last week I beat the Iceland Volcano and took the train to speak in Scottish Parliament to help raise awareness on Huntington's Disease in my role as a Patron of the Scottish HDA. A truly magnificent building and a big occasion.

I also attended a debate between Martin Johnson and Boris Johnson which was fun and enlightening and in a good cause, raising money for Safer London Foundation and Hitz (the Rugby programme targeting young people at risk of exclusion and anti-social behaviour in inner cities).