May 26, 2023

Rowing is one of the most popular sports at Elliott Hudson College and within the GORSE Academies Trust which has seen the rowing program grow each year, building a strong reputation for producing many national-level competitors. Students work hard during their training and have been competing in races against other schools and colleges around the country this year. We caught up with Year 13 Rowing Captain TJ Hargreaves to find out more about rowing at Elliott Hudson College. 

In a remarkably short span of time, TJ has succeeded within the sport in ways that have garnered admiration from the rowing community: from winning the Head of the Mersey competition with his team in their very first attempt, to ranking among the top 30 rowers in England at the NJIRC 2022 virtual rowing competition within just three months of taking up the sport. Since last year he has started volunteering as a rowing coach for the Morley Academy and cheered his team on at the NJIRC 2023 live rowing competition. 

How long have you been rowing, TJ?

I‘ve been rowing for about two years now: I only started when I joined EHC. It’s actually my first time trying out the sport. 

What made you decide to take up rowing?

Well, I wanted to try something new, and rowing was offered as an enrichment option at the college. I’ve played football and rugby before, but I never really felt like those sports teams were the right fit for me. Rowing was so different – from my very first session I felt a strong sense of camaraderie and belonging within the team. 

Can you tell us a bit about the team environment in rowing?

Absolutely! The team environment in rowing is fantastic. It’s all about having each other’s back. We push ourselves to be our best and compete with one another, but it’s in a healthy and supportive way. There’s a real sense of unity and teamwork. It’s an environment where everyone supports and encourages each other, and that’s something I really appreciate. 

Could you explain the basics of rowing for those who might not be familiar with the sport?

Of course! In rowing, we typically row in teams of four, although you can have anywhere from one to eight people in a boat. There are different types of rowing, but the two main categories are sculling and sweeping. Sculling is when each rower has two oars, and it’s the type I enjoy the most. Sweeping is the more well-known version of rowing, where each rower has a single oar. It’s the type you see in competitions and at the university level. 

What do you enjoy most about rowing?

The thing I enjoy most about rowing is the sense of unity within the team. Knowing that everyone is working together towards a common goal is an amazing feeling. The healthy competition among teammates pushes us to improve and gives us a drive to succeed. Plus, being out on the water and feeling the rhythm of the strokes is an incredible experience. It’s a sport that challenges both your physical and mental strength, and I love that about rowing. 

Do you think rowing has had an impact on your wellbeing and personal growth?

For many individuals, rowing is far more than just a sport or hobby. Whilst rowing is undoubtedly a source of exercise, personally, it is also a means of development and self-improvement. As a young adult, juggling the responsibly of college work and a personal life can be troublesome and difficult to navigate. Yet despite this, the close-knit relationships which have formed within our boat club serves to prove how rowing itself allows an individual to navigate the ultimately ever-changing world, dealing with college development as well as self-improvement, as a key source of maintaining mental well-being. This sturdy foundation, in a sense, allowed me to discover who I am as a growing person and has given me the opportunity to craft an identity and sense of belonging in our dynamic social sphere. 

TJ’s achievements earned him a coveted scholarship to the prestigious Sparks Rowing Summer Camp in Ely last year, and building on his successes, he is set to return to the Sparks Rowing Summer Camp in 2023, this time taking on the role of an associated program leader. This prestigious position reflects his growth and influence within the rowing community. 

He said “I was taken aback when presented with the opportunity and ultimately selected for the chance to complete a 5 day rowing camp at Cambridge University. Every rowing session I’ve taken part in I have thoroughly enjoyed and thus it felt important to leap at this amazing chance to train and bridge the gap in my rowing ability with like-minded individuals.” 

TJ’s dedication to the sport and his commitment to sharing his expertise make him a role model for aspiring rowers, both within Elliott Hudson College and beyond.