cambridgeindependent.co.uk/sport March 14-March 20, 2018 SPORT 125 ROWING Eights make impression Victoria gets on Tideway

Cambridge University were the fastest University crew for the fourth consecutive year in the the Caius to a Women’s Eights Head of the River Race last Saturday. As they step up their preparations for the Cancer Research UK Boat Races on Saturday, March 24, the Walker legacy Light Blues sent three crews to contest the annual event. The first crew clocked 18min 50.2sec Mark Taylor would get a Blue in lacrosse!” to finish second overall, behind [email protected] But the bug had bitten and Emma Leander A, and won their category. became Caius’ women’s rowing Thea Zabell, who was in the No 4 captain in 2012-13, trialling with the seat, said: “Our performance was a Caius Boat Club, rowing for Light Blues in 2013-14, only to be the good reflection of our strengths and Cambridge University and the Walker spare that year. But she came back also gives us an idea of what focuses family, you would struggle to get a with a vengeance to get into the we should take into the last couple cigarette paper between the three. lightweights’ boat in 2015 as they of weeks in the lead up to the Boat The three are intrinsically linked, beat Oxford by three feet at Henley. Race.” and Victoria Walker will seal the So now it is the time for Victoria Reserve crew Blondie were eighth family dynasty when she rows in the to carry on the Walker legacy. overall, the highest second-placed Cambridge University Women’s Youngest sibling Victoria, who is crew from any club, and Pippa Dakin Boat Club lightweights’ crew at the said: “We produced a great Henley Boat Races this Sunday. performance coming eighth overall It all started in 2007 when Peter I had never really and first second VIII, giving us Walker arrived to study natural expected to be in the confidence that we are racing well sciences at Gonville & Caius. A for two weeks’ time.” keen and successful rower from Boat Race and never A third eight featuring openweight King’s School, Chester, he made an thought I would – I spares and student rowers who are aim to represent Cambridge thought I would get a part of the CUWBC development University Boat Club. Blue in lacrosse! squad were 42nd out of the 319 crews. It was when studying a PhD in Cambridge 99 Rowing Club Emma Walker material sciences that Peter finally finished well inside the top 150. CUWBC lightweight in 2015 fulfilled his objective, rowing for The first crew of Abbey Child, reserve crew Goldie against Isis on Chrysa Litina, Sara Bastiani, Josie Boat Race day in 2014. Harries, Agnes Bolinska, Klaske van Peter, 29, who is a metallurgist in in her third year studying medicine Marrum, Guinevere Woolstenhulme, Germany, said: “When I was rowing at Caius, learnt to row at King’s Linda Kitching and cox Sebastian at school, rowing in the Boat Race School, Chester and was the college’s The Walker siblings, from left, Peter, Victoria and Emma at Caius Boat Club, Hathaway completed the 6.8km was a dream. When you do it, it women’s captain last year. And in who they all competed for at university Picture: Keith Heppell course in 22min 4.9sec to place 116th. suddenly all comes true.” her first year trialling with CUWBC, The second boat were 185th, In the meantime, Emma Walker has made the lightweight crew. be a proud moment for their parents, we were brought up in an finishing the race in 22.58.2 matriculated in 2010 at Gonville & “I spent most of last year trying to who have become rowing fans. encouraging environment.” In the Head of the River Race on Caius to study medicine. be big enough to be a lightweight,” “I had been rowing for so long Peter also played a role in plans Sunday, Cambridge 99’s crew of Karel She was coerced into taking up the said Victoria, who like her sister, before mum and dad came and for the the new Caius Boat Club – Kabelik, Rob Sargent, Alex Shaw, Will sport by her brother, who by this was a ballet dancer at school. watched – even the stuff at school, which opened last year – a place that Young, Rhidian Maltby, Friso van point was overall men’s captain at “There wasn’t really any outward Henley and the Coupe de la the three hold in high regard. Gan, Nick Thorn, Nick Richardson the college. pressure; I put a lot of pressure on Jeunesse,” said Peter. “Being part of Caius Boat Club is and cox Sammi Tarling were 77th out “I learnt to row here when Peter myself though. “They have had three kids at so very important to us all and we of more than 300 boats, in 19.31.6. The was captain as they needed more “I always knew it was something I Cambridge so they now talk about it, have all been captains there at some men’s second crew finished in 20.28.5 girls,” said 26-year-old Emma, who is could do, it was achievable I just had ask about it and understand it a lot point across the past decade and and the third boat were 21.12.6. a junior doctor. “I had never really to put in the effort to do it.” more. I think they felt relieved when been rowing for the first VIII in Club captain Josie Harries said: expected to be in the Boat Race and All the family will be at Henley on Victoria got in the boat. every May Bumps that we could,” “It is fantastic to see the hard work never thought I would – I thought I Sunday to watch Victoria, and it will “There isn’t so much pressure as said Emma. that the squads have put into winter training paying off in these races and I am proud of our achievements SQUASH HANDBALL as a club. “I am really looking forward to seeing continuing success for Nines Thain and Smith lay winning foundations Angels flying over the summer regatta season.” CUWBC have named their Melbourn moved closer to the same score as Melbourn Sampson as he opened up a Cambridge’s difficult season in the lightweight crew to take on Oxford retaining their Cambs Ladies finished 17-3 victors. two-game lead against a former Women’s Premier Handball League at the Henley Boat Races this County Championship with Melbourn first team are in individual county champion, but continued as they were beaten 16-15 Sunday (March 18) at 3.30pm. victory over a weakened danger of relegation in Mixed fatigue set in as he lost 3-2. by London Angels. Newnham College’s Ellie Comberton II side. Division One after an 18-5 defeat Victories for Gareth Jones, They are struggling just one place Thompson will stroke a crew which As Comberton only had four to Peterborough. Mike Easton and Nev Rimes and five points off the bottom of the features Naomi Pygott (Peterhouse), players, Melbourn started a They only had four players, helped Melbourn II to defeat St table, while London Angels are only Olivia Hamilton (Magdalene), string ahead, and the victory was and the writing was on the wall Ivo II in Division Four, and four points off second place. Rebecca Hartwell (Queens’), Miriam confirmed with 3-0 wins for after 3-0 defeats for Mark Oppen skipper Roger Woodfield said: In a low-scoring game, they lost Apsley (Christ’s), Lucy Harris Frances Smith and Debbie Thain. and Jan Brynjolffssen. “This was another solid their 10th match of the season. Grete (Queens’), Debs Oakley (Darwin), The bonus points were in the Vinod Duraikan picked up performance from the team, we Morkvenaite top-scored with five Victoria Walker (Gonville & Caius) bag, and Sam Pluck won 3-0, but three points with a 3-1 win, and played well and deserved to win goals and Nikoletta Rau and Agi and cox Stephanie Payne (Trinity Helen Tipping was defeated by it looked encouraging for Matt this match.” Foglein got four apiece. Hall).

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ROWING The team behind the team that is MARK TAYLOR goes Wrobel seeks to behind the scenes at Goldie Boathouse to Davis gets in the bring power gains talk to the support staff at CUWBC. rowing mindset Injury free, strong and powerful rather than full-time coaches, it are the three goals that must be is a case of designing o stone is left unturned to ringing in the ears of Milosz programmes to tackle the gain the edge in the Wrobel at the start of each trends. modern sporting world. academic year. Developing future elite athletes Nutrition, strength and As the strength and condition- is one of the primary goals of the conditioning,N data analysis, they ing coach at Cambridge club, so making sure the strength have all become much more University Women’s Boat Club, and conditioning programme prominent tools to try to uncover it is Wrobel’s role to deliver a helps athletes progress is vital. those extra fractions to beat an programme that gets the oars- “In terms of the workload for opponent. women in peak condition for the me, and the intensity at which I Perhaps the biggest difference in following spring. need to coach, the highest is the the last 15 to 20 years, though, has Having worked with the club first two months,” said Wrobel, been the development of sports for the last three years, Wrobel who studied sports coaching and psychology, which in some spheres is well versed in what is PE at ARU before going into has become the prerequisite to demanded to take on the strength and conditioning. success. Tideway in the Boat Race. “You want the movement to If that is true, then perhaps a While some potential rowers get as good as you possibly can good example of this could be at Your mentality may go through the Light Blues’ and create that loop of informa- Cambridge University Women’s extensive development squad tion to an athlete about saying Boat Club, who have been using this in how you view during the summer, others will or doing the right thing so later practice since 2015 and their be immediately put through on in the boat they correct that development has born fruit through yourself and the their paces at the start of the and they improve as an athlete. their results. performance Michaelmas Term. “Once the form is there, you Kate Hays was the sports It sounds simple, but once can start putting some resist- psychologist initially working with you’re going into Wrobel, pictured below, explains ance in them so they become the Light Blues, but since she has can really affect the nitty gritty of the thorough stronger and also, as a result, been on maternity leave, Helen physiological screening, you more powerful. Throughout the Davis has assisted the squad from things understand it is anything but. season we then narrow it down, last September. Helen Davis “I have three main goals: keep and the programme becomes a Davis is working towards psychologist the athletes injury free while bit more specific as we get chartered status with the British making them strong and power- nearer competition and there is Psychological Society, having been ful,” said Wrobel. a lot of power work.” a primary school teacher for more “What I’m looking for is their The fruits of than 20 years, and it was her own flexibility screening as we then Wrobel’s sporting endeavours as a national design individual programmes labour will level swimmer that made her decide for athletes to look after them- be there for to change tack. selves throughout the season so all to see in Having started swimming with they don’t get injuries because the Boat some world-class triathletes at of how their body is neglected. Race on Cambridge Triathlon Club, she “Then we will test the lower Saturday, became interested that they deemed body and upper body March the discipline as the worst of the strength, and their 24. three and were negative about it, balance as well, and almost treating the race as Helen Davis has been getting whether there is an beginning from the cycling leg. into the mindset of the imbalance between “It just got me thinking, ‘what if Cambridge rowing hopefuls a lower leg push or they could get their mental state Picture: Keith Heppell pull. right with their swimming, how “That way we good could they then be?’,” said can highlight Davis, who has a psychology Now Davis is putting that theory the personalities and characters what degree. to the test. when they are in the boat. programme “I started looking into it and She works across a range of It has led to workshops between they need, as applying some theory to myself and disciplines, such as swimming, sessions working on building team well as look- in my early 40s decided to embark triathlon, cycling, squash, lacrosse culture and vision looking at ing at the on a Masters’ degree in sport and and of course rowing. attitudes, goals and values as a core injuries, exercise psychology. There are plenty of challenges group, as requested by president which is very “I then applied the skills to my for the CUWBC squad as they have Daphne Martschenko. important for own swimming, and I think it’s the balance of sport and academia, The insight of how sports rowers. The results are made a very big difference to my and competing with each other to psychology assists the athlete is fed back individually.” performance in that I’m now achieve individual goals, while also interesting, and Davis explains that With time at a national champion for the 50m trying to forge bonds with future in one-to-one sessions it offers premium given the breaststroke. crewmates. support for their well-being and the balance of academic “It’s why I feel I’m enthusiastic Davis, who runs sports chance to talk through concerns, and sporting about it because I’ve applied it to psychology consultancy think. challenges and to assess demands, and that of myself and truly believe it can believe.perform, has been out on the performance. being support staff work.” water at training sessions to observe “When you listen to somebody

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Having worked with profes- sional sports stars in the past, you would imagine it would just be more of the same for Helen Lavelle when she linked up with Cambridge University Women’s Boat Club. With a practice based in Oakham, physiotherapist Lavelle had a contract to work with Leicestershire cricket and Northampton Saints rugby team. Yet when she joined forces with the Light Blues for the first time at the beginning of October, it proved to be eye open- ing compared to the sporting groups with which she had previously worked. “They are a different cohort, but I’ve never worked inten- sively with women before,” said Lavelle. “This squad are so self-motivated. “In professional cricket, for example, they don’t have the driven work ethic. You don’t have to drive these girls, they are just on it. “They are high-achieving women, they are rowing at this level and in the middle they are knocking out a PhD or an MPhil. “They are very special human beings, irrespective of their rowing. In rugby, you have a very different cohort. These girls are training six hours a day, the Saints train six hours a day but then they go home. “They are not trying to fulfil the academic requirements that are going on here.” It has also given Lavelle an insight into a sport in which she also participates. Physio Helen Lavelle gets to work on a CUWBC patient She coxes with Champion of Picture: Keith Heppell the Thames, rows in an eight and sculls out of Peterborough Working with Rob Baker is one to try to prevent rib stress frac- with her partner. of the most enjoyable parts of tures and back injuries, and is talk, you can identify types of and listen to themselves about what Therefore, the background the job for Lavelle, describing it about to embark on a research thinking that they may have that is and isn’t working for them. knowledge has come in handy. as “amazing man-management”. programme, with funding from could be of help, or not be of help, “Your mentality in how you view “The more time I spend with “He just has an extremely Bioventus, on a product called to their performance on the water,” yourself and the performance the coaches, the more I learn gentle but forthright way of deal- Exogen which is aimed at she said. you’re going into can really affect and the more useful I am,” said ing with issues,” said Lavelle. preventing rib fractures. “A lot of what I do is talk about things. Lavelle. “He’s incredibly straightforward, If she is able to get the work the types of thinking that people “If you turn on the television and “The more I learn about he says exactly what he thinks, in done, it could see Lavelle have, maybe the words and get a sports person coming off the rowing the more I can link a very nice way. present her paper in Osaka in vocabulary they use in relation to track or similar, more often than not injury to biomechanics and to “He’s just the easiest person Japan in August. their performance and questioning their reason for their success might what I’m seeing in the boat. ever to work for, and I come “What the squad can provide and challenging them sometimes: be a psychological one. “I’m learning so much from from professional rugby and me with if I want to go and do ‘Is that of benefit to you? Is it a “Yet so much effort is put into the coaching. When I go out on a cricket and have worked for research is the cohort,” she said. helpful line of thinking?’. physical training but never quite so launch I’m absolutely imbibing some really good coaches.” “From a research perspective, “It gives them ideas about what much into psychological training information from both Paddy Being part of the CUWBC this is a very good environment sort of thinking can help them and but people readily admit it can have [Ryan, the assistant coach] and environment is also helpful for to be operating in. what doesn’t, and looking at their a massive impact in terms of Rob [Baker, the chief coach] and Lavelle. “Those are the things going self-talk and getting them to notice performance.” then I’m coxing my own boys.” She has set up two initiatives forward that are exciting for me.”

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March 14-March 20, 2018 | cambridgeindependent.co.uk/sport City seek to It’s a Walker family dynasty in Cambridge rowing go under the play-off radar

FOOTBALL Nightingale is hoping City can pick up a head of steam – as they did at the Mark Taylor end of last season – to make good their [email protected] aim of reaching the play-offs. “When they are on, we have to give ourselves the best chance of winning Robbie Nightingale is targeting a those games,” he said. stealth Cambridge City move to “We’re still in the mix and it’s one break into the Evo-Stik League, of those that we have three games in South East Division play-off places. hand of Chalfont St Peter and are The Lilywhites have had a five points behind them. catalogue of postponed matches “The games we’ve got are against since the turn of the year, and are teams in the bottom five or six. Our facing a backlog of games in the record in those matches have been run-in to the end of the season. good since the start of the season. Nightingale, however, has likened “And the top six are all playing the prospect to the opening six each other. Over the next few weeks, weeks of the campaign, and says his there are lots of games going on side will be ready for the challenge. where if we go under the radar “At the beginning of the season picking up wins then we give you play two games a week until the ourselves every chance. end of September,” he said. “We’re a young group of players, a “Between August and October, we hungry group, and are disappointed played 12 games so when you factor with a few of the results we’ve had that in – and we played five in two and want to put things right. Page 125 | Sibling success weeks at the end of August – it isn’t “Hopefully the weather will be Peter, Victoria and Emma Walker have been flying the flag at Caius Boat Club too different, to be honest. kinder to us as we move forward and since 2007 “I’m never one to moan. You can’t we might be able to have a run of Picture: Keith Heppell help the weather or certain games where we can pick up some situations and all we have to worry good points to be in and around [the about is what we can deal with.” play-offs] in the middle of April.”

DIVING £1 70p for subscribers Bronze medal is a building block for Goodfellow and Daley Dan Goodfellow earned a bronze Gold Coast Commonwealth the most difficult in the second with 417.93, having medal at the FINA Diving World Games. programme and scored 62.16. scored 78.81 for the same dive. Series in Beijing. The pair had been in second It saw the British duo finish China’s Aisen Chen and Hao The Meldreth-based diver place throughout the synchro with 417.93 points, allowing the Hang won gold with 484.29. joined forces with Tom Daley for platform event, but their final Ukrainian team of Maksym The next leg of the series the first leg of this year’s series dive, a forward four-and-a-half Dolgov and Oleksandr takes place in Fuji, Japan from as they build up towards the somersault in tuck position, was Gorshkovozov to pip them to March 15 to 17. cambridgeindependent.co.uk