Coxing at DUBC

Here at Durham, our coxes are no different from our high-performance rowers. They are relied upon daily by our athletes and coaches and are key members within the club. Like the rowers, they also have access to the Team Durham staff including the strength and conditioning coaches, a sports psychologist and a nutritionist so they can keep developing on and off the water.

While the coxes of DUBC are involved with the Men’s, Women’s or Development Squad, we are a tight bunch. We maintain a collaborative and competitive environment to get the best out of ourselves and each other every session. We run many of the erg sessions and support the athletes and the coaches throughout the season. Many of our coxes have coxed for years at school before joining while some started coxing at their college before joining us at DUBC resulting in a diverse and rich community.

DUBC is also happy to support coxes who wish to trial for the U23 GB Squad.

Captain of Coxes: Ishan Barve (also Captain of Coxes for all of Durham College Rowing)

Development and Selection

In order for our coxes to develop every session throughout the season, our athletes fill out feedback forms to assess areas of strength and areas of weakness. This continuous dialogue that is established early on in the season helps generate a dialogue between coxes and athletes so they both are consistently improving from session to session. The coxes also have recurring meetings with the crews, captains and coaches for feedback in both directions. This system is key to our coxes also being at the top of their game.

Selection for crews works in a similar way. Forms are sent out to the whole squad and then the responses are sent to the coaches. The coxes are graded on categories, that they agree upon beforehand, with written comments alongside. The responses are then sent to the coxes so the feedback can benefit their training. The coaches will also meet with coxes to discuss the results so that the coxes can benefit from this period.

Ishan Barve

I joined DUBC having previously coxed at school and at TSS in my gap year. I was a little nervous when I arrived for preseason but was very quickly integrated into the squad (with a little help from the returning coxes). I was surprised how involved we were right from day 1. We cycled alongside and coached smaller boats, we ran erg sessions and some water sessions. Having that level of responsibility was a new experience but I think it’s partially what makes this student-run community so special. Because we are so involved with the athletes and partially responsible for their coaching, our relationship with them becomes that much tighter.

I’ve learnt so much from the coaches, athletes and the Team Durham staff, who are extraordinarily helpful. We talk to the coaches a lot so that we can improve and add speed to the hull every session. The other coxes are extremely supportive, pushing each other hard on the water. They have really shown me what I am capable of and that has been invaluable. Having such a close-knit group of individuals in my first year was something I truly appreciated. 

I was absolutely gutted I didn’t get the opportunity to represent DUBC at HORR and then Henley Royal Regatta but the sense of community we have maintained through lockdown has made me even more eager to get back to Durham with the rest of the squad.