Learn to row

Get fit and make new friends

Rowing for Clare

Rowing is a great way to make new friends at Clare, as well as to improve your fitness amidst your work. If you are new to the sport, it’s possible to "novice", both as a rower and as a cox, at the beginning of the Michaelmas and Easter terms, although rowers with basic previous experience are welcome to join at the beginning of the Lent term as well. Rowing is free for everyone at Clare and you don't need to have any rowing or sports experience at all!

Learn to cox

Harry (left) coxing W1 in May bumps 2017

While shouting through a headset is not an activity typically associated with rowing, coxing is an integral part of rowing, and crucial for the success of a crew. The cox is in charge of steering, and gives verbal instructions through a microphone.
At Clare, we have had a history of great coxes that have experienced success at a college and a university level, and we would like to continue this going forward. We welcome anyone who wants to try coxing, and ensure coxes at Clare get support and coaching going forwards.
Click here to learn more about coxing at Clare

Make lifelong friends

With team training and regular whole-club socials, rowing is a great way to meet people from different courses and ages in college. Expect swaps, pub crawls, quiz nights and much more, as well as a termly Boat Club Dinner to celebrate the term with your crew in style.

Flexible commitment

Whether you want to train seriously and compete, or just row once or twice a week in the sun, there's a place (and a boat) for everyone at Clare Boat Club! Lower crews train 1-2 times a week, with top crews training up to 6-10 times a week and crews are set each term.

Where do I start?

There's a novices' BBQ on the first weekend of Michaelmas and Easter terms where you can try out rowing or coxing and ask current rowers any questions you might have. The times and days of outings are set on a week-to-week basis, depending on the crew’s availability. Weekday sessions take place earlier in the morning to ensure people are back in time for 9am lectures, whilst outings on the weekends are later in the day.

Novice crews are coached by the Lower Boats Captains (LBCs) and other senior members of the Club, who accompany them along the bank to offer advice and set technical exercises. Training for, and participating in races against other colleges starts after just a few weeks of novicing. Races are a great way for crews to put everything they have learned into practice and have lots of fun whilst doing it.

As well as the rowing itself, another great reason to join the Boat Club are the social events, such as Boat Club Dinner, held at the end of every term, crew meals, swaps with Boat Clubs from other Colleges, and many more. These are a fun way to bond with your crew and other members of the Club and get the most out of rowing for Clare.

Already row or cox?