Howard news

ROWERS UPDATE

May 2009

Here is the latest news from the current Howard Group Award recipients and their preparations for the run up to the 2012 London Olympics.  

This year's recipients:

Tommy Burton

Tom has been training with the GB National Squad this winter. He has clearly enjoyed the experience and turned in an excellent result at the GB Final Trials in Belgium. He also stroked Leander's first eight in the Head of the River Race and to victory over the Cambridge Boat Race crew in March. Tom commented: "I have just returned from the GB final trials in Belgium where I finished third in the men's pair. I have continued to make progress this year and have achieved personal bests on all my ergometer tests. I have been away on three GB training camps, in South Africa (January) Portugal (February) and Milan on another water camp. There are two more camps this year, a high-altitude camp in Austria and the pre-World Championships camp in Germany."

Tom Broadway

Like Tommy Burton, Tom has moved into the National Squad this season. The two Tom's were the stern pair of the Leander eight for the Head of the River race, a crew containing five Olympic medalists. In the Head they were narrowly beaten into second place. Tom writes: "This year has progressed well so far, and I have achieved personal bests on all of the ergo tests during the winter, including the 5km (15.49) and 2km (5.56.7). My results at GB Trials have seen me progress from last year, including second at the December trials and third in February. I'm hopeful of selection for the GB eight at the first World Cup event in May, held in Spain. I am looking forward to a successful year."  

Jane Hall  

Jane has made real progress during the winter, despite bouts of illness, she comments: "I have made a lot of progress in many areas in what is a critical season for me. I have finally managed to put on some weight which has made me able to train much harder and more consistently. I have really attacked the weight training and have got so much stronger. I have also improved significantly on the ergo. I have got Personal Bests at all distances, most notably at 2km where I have gone from being ranked mid way in the GB squad up to first! I have worked hard to improve my single sculling and have made several key technical changes. I came 3rd in the October GB Trials after only 6 weeks of training so that was an encouraging start."        

Previous recipients:

Lou Reeve: Following her appearance in two Beijing Olympic finals, Lou has had a good winter's training, stroking the Leander eight to second place at the Women's Head of the River Race. She has progressed well through the GB Trials process.  

Ian Lawson: Leander Vice-Captain Ian Lawson has had an excellent season to date and has forced his way back into the GB squad for the first World Cup of the 2009 season.