The Squads

Men’s Squad

The squad follows Head Coach Angelo Savarino’s programme, specifically adapted for university athletes and derived from the Italian National squad’s training regime. The programme continues to have success for Italy at the U23 and Junior international levels. Training sessions tend to be more intense than is typical in other rowing clubs, although the total mileage remains similar or greater than other programmes around the country.

The season begins with a focus on the GB trialling process for those who wish to enter, with others working on building fitness for the main head events of Rutherford Head (December), BUCS Head (February) and Head of the River (March/April) and the summer season. After the Head the main focus becomes 2K racing with a view to BUCS Regatta in the first weekend of May. After BUCS Regatta, Henley Royal Regatta becomes the priority and Henley crews are determined through a rigorous selection process.

The squad has seen many notable successes, including winning Henley in 2008, 2014 and 2017, BUCS Championship 8s in 2011, 2012 & 2013, Men's Victor Ludorum and Overall VL winners 2016, 2018, 2019 and pennants at the Head of the River in 2006, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2016. 2018 & 2019. In addition, many squad members have gone on to achieve international success – a large number of current students and alumni have gone on to be selected for the GB U23 and Senior rowing teams.

For more information on joining the senior men's squad email Angelo Savarino

Women’s Squad

The Senior Women’s squad looks to take rowers with previous experience and push them to the highest levels of university rowing.

As a High-Performance squad, training is seven days a week, following Angelo’s programme. The intensity and number of sessions varies and is structured around major features such as GB trials, BUCS regatta, and Henley Women's.

The first races of the year, aside from GB trials, are Rutherford Head in December, BUCS Head in February and Women’s Head in March. The season then shifts towards multilane racing, the first event being BUCS Regatta in early May.

After this, the squad puts full focus on Women’s Henley. Intense selection follows, and once crews are selected, they race at Metropolitan and Durham Regatta before HWR. With the addition of Henley Royal Student events for Women, we also send a large contingent of the squad back to the Henley stretch to compete amongst the best out there.

The Women’s squad has grown in success immeasurably, and now boasts wins at BUCS events, EUSA and Henley Women’s Regatta as well as qualification for Henley Royal Regatta over the last few years. Notably winning the Women's Championship 8+ at BUCS Regatta for the first time in 2014 and again in 2019, seven Henley Women's Regatta wins since 2015 and qualifying for both the Remenham and Princess Grace Challenge Cups at Henley Royal Regatta in 2018.

For more information on joining the senior women's squad email Alex Leigh

Novices

At the start of the academic year the Boat Club holds open trials for those who have never rowed before. A select number will be taught to row and integrated into our senior programme over the course of the year. Previous novices have gone on to win at BUCS regatta, qualify for Henley Royal Regatta and at the European Universities Games (EUSA) within their first year of rowing. If you have what it takes, sign up at the Fresher's Fair (Monday and Tuesday of Freshers Week) or get in touch.

For more information about rowing as a novice at Newcastle email Julian Egan-Shuttler