BUILDING STRENGTH ON AND OFF THE WATER

Over the weekend, the Guildford Grammar School senior girls rowers travelled to Ravenswood for a rowing camp on the Murray River. We stayed at Old Guildfordian Denys Warren’s house, which was a fantastic place to base ourselves for the camp. Surrounded by the river and away from our usual routines, it gave us the opportunity to focus completely on rowing while also spending quality time together as a team.

Across the weekend, we spent many hours on the water, rowing downstream to the estuary and completing long sessions upstream. These rows allowed us to experience a variety of conditions while building our fitness and confidence in the boat. When we weren’t rowing, we recovered, shared meals, analysed our sessions, and spent time together, which made the camp just as valuable off the water as it was on it. The relaxed environment and time spent together helped strengthen friendships and created plenty of laughs between training sessions.

Throughout the camp, we learnt a lot about both rowing and teamwork. On the water, we improved our endurance, technique, and consistency over both short and long distances. The coaches encouraged us to focus on maintaining strong technique even when we became tired, which proved to be one of the most valuable lessons of the weekend. Off the water, we learnt the importance of preparation, recovery, communication, and supporting each other. Living together for the weekend strengthened our connection as a squad and helped build an even stronger team culture that will benefit us throughout the season.

One of the biggest challenges was the amount of rowing we completed. Some of the sessions were physically demanding, particularly the longer rows to the estuary and the trips against the current. Staying focused and maintaining good technique when exhausted pushed us outside our comfort zones. While these sessions were tough, they were also incredibly rewarding, as they showed us what we are capable of when we trust our crew, work together, and keep pushing through.

The biggest takeaway from the camp was that improvement comes from consistent effort and working together as a crew. Every row, no matter how challenging, was an opportunity to improve, and everyone encouraged each other through the tougher sessions. The camp reminded us that rowing is just as much about mental resilience, discipline, and teamwork as it is about physical fitness. It also reinforced how much can be achieved when everyone is committed to the same goal.

Some of my favourite moments were rowing on the Murray River as the sun rose over the water, reaching the estuary after a long paddle, and spending time together back at the house after training. Whether it was sharing meals, relaxing after a tough session, or simply enjoying each other’s company, these moments made the hard work worthwhile and created memories that we’ll all remember. 

Overall, the camp was a challenging but incredibly rewarding experience that helped all of us become better rowers, strengthened our friendships, and brought our squad even closer together as we prepare for the upcoming regattas.

Sammy Malady – Girls Captain of Boats