Report from the club Training Camp in Banyoles, February 2005

It was my first training camp away with the Club to Banyoles due to my being based at Dorney during the last three years with the GB lightweight squad.

This winter has been tough following Mark Banks' program. Having lightweights, heavyweight men and women gives the group a great mix of athletes with their different goals and ambitions training together and working with each other. The atmosphere of training was carried out on camp with us amid the different and changing weather conditions we had to deal with. Some days it was too windy others it was extremely cold but no one complained - just adapted to the change in training sessions so that we could complete the mileage set by Mark.

We stayed in the Mirrallac Hotel by the start at the top of the course. The view in the mornings was amazing when walking down to the boat house as the mist lifts and the Pyrennes Mountain-tops covered in snow come into view.

The Trailer left Leander on Saturday morning and arrived late Sunday evening. It was a stroke of luck that Rob and Filipe set off when they did because the severe weather conditions in France closed off the main roads and they would have been stranded. On behalf of the athletes I would like to thank them for their time and driving the truck and trailer to Banyoles.

Most days we had three sessions, two on the water, one being a work session and the other a team session and the third a weights session. We would wake up to a pre-outing breakfast, then after our first session we would have a second breakfast then a technique session before lunch and a further weight session in the afternoon. We would normally then go in to town for a coffee before returning for dinner. Then it was DVD time before bed!

It was impressive to watch Ben Lewis and Adam Gibbs change sides at the start of the camp due to Ben suffering from tino and I believe this underlines the attitude of the athletes.

A 6km piece which should have been done on the water had to be done on the ergo due to windy conditions. All 20 athletes completed the test in two rows of 10; it was great to see the encouragement given from those who had finished to those who were still going. Also, before we departed we had to do a 4km flat out piece and everyone was shouting each other on at the start and finish which was great to see.

We were accompanied on the camp by 2 visiting athletes who were made very welcome by all Leander athletes and staff. They commented on how hard we train and how well we all get on.

The comedy highlight of the camp was Pete Gostling offering to put on the lions tour and all but one of us declined... later Tommy Burton said to Pete that he likes wildlife shows and would like to watch it! Don't worry Tommy it happens to everyone at sometime or another.

All participants made improvements especially as some of our athletes were just returning after injury and illness. I am sure our improvements will be going with us to the rowing long distance trial being held in Boston on 12 February and into the season ahead.

I would like to thank Invesco for their continued support in funding the club to reach new heights and I would like to wish all athletes good luck in the forthcoming trials.

Mark Hunter

Selection of photos from the training camp (Taken by Debbie Flood)

Group shot of the Leader athletes on the training camp

The weather misbehaving for a couple of days, hence the ergos...

On the water (Matt Beechey left, Mark Hunter right)

Serryth Colbert and Ben Lewis (left) and coaching right