Our Supporters

Since starting this doubles project we have been grateful for the support we have been given by some great companies.  Racing through a season is expensive and we have gotten help in lots of small ways that really add up to make a big difference.

We would like to take this opportunity to publicly thank, in no particular order(!), those companies who are helping support our doubles project this summer.

Buff

Buff have provided us with some of their headwear and new technical kit and kindly asked us to be their brand ambassadors for rowing.  With the less than lovely weather we have been having we have been putting all the headwear/neck warmers to good use!

Hunter Boots

As we are involved in a water sport you'd think we wouldn't mind getting wet, but in fact we try to avoid it! So we love our brand new Hunter wellies which keep our feet dry before getting in the boat, and look gorgeous with their union jack vintage print too. We have been wearing them much more than just around the river!

Headsweats

Headsweats have given us some caps and visors that will really come into their own when the summer really arrives! We will race in the caps and they are great for keeping our heads cool and hair out of our faces.

Faith in Nature

Despite being rowers and athletes we are still girls and we don't always like being sweaty and like to take a bit of pride in our appearance. We love the face wipes, anti-perspirant, shower gel and moisturiser that Faith in Nature have supplied us with.  They are helping us to smell sweeter and look better!

Sun Sense

With all the sun protection information that is about I hope you all know by now that you should wear sunscreen even when it is not really sunny.  As we train outdoors every day we know that sun damaged skin is heading our way if we don't take care of it with a really high quality sun protection.  Sun Sense have provided us with top quality products which will protect our skin throughout the season especially as we move into hotter climes as we travel for our racing.

110% PLAY HARDER

Recovery is one of the most important aspects of our rowing lives, after training of course! We have just met with the UK representative for a very exciting new company, launched in the US in 2010.  110% Play Harder are unique in the way that they combine compression wear and ice or heat so that you can recover on the move. A walking ice bath!  We are racing this weekend and can't wait to try out the leggings with ice packs in the compartments, post racing. Pictures and review to follow!

The Beginning

Hello readers, thanks for starting this new blog journey with us! I hope you enjoy the journey through the summer with us, we will be keeping you updated on our racing and training as we aim for European selection.

First off, let us introduce ourselves. I'm Erica! I started rowing in 2008 in my second year at Cambridge University and after two terms of University rowing I was selected for the GB Rowing talent identification programme 'World Class Start'.  This started me on the road to full time rowing and GB trialling.  In 2010 I went to the World University Championships in my single, finishing fifth and in 2011 I went to the European Championships in an eight where we finished fourth.

Hey I'm Tina, I started rowing in 2003 at St. Peter's School, York.  During my time at school I was selected for two Junior World Championships and won a bronze medal at my second.  I then moved onto the GB U23 team where I won 2 silver and 1 bronze medal.  In 2008 I was selected as the reserve athlete at the Beijing Olympic Games.  I then moved into the senior team, representing GB at the 2009 World Championships in the women's eight.  Unfortunately since then I had a career threatening back injury which forced me to take 18 months off the sport.  I got back in a boat in April 2011 and since then I have returned to full time training and the GB trials system.

We are both athletes at Leander Rowing club and are coached by ex GB lightweight athlete Jane Hall.  The women's group at Leander is a selective high performance group containing just six athletes.  The Olympic Rowing Trials were held in March and we both put in good performances there. At the European trials in April Erica was unfortunately ill but Tina put in a great performance, winning the trials and cementing our position as the top two female scullers and improving our chances for GB selection in the double at the European Championships.

This season we are looking to race at the Metropolitan Regatta, Holland Bekker Regatta in Amsterdam, Henley Royal Regatta in a quad with two other Leander girls tbc and finally at the European Championships, pending selection.

L-R Erica and Tina

Here we are...we are actually friends outside of the boat! :) And like to do non rowing related activities in our limited spare time.