By Sarah ‘Sloth’ Loughlin

BUBC Women’s Captain ‘10-11/Mother Hen

 

The life of a Sloth…

 

Four years ago I started Bournemouth University and decided to join BUBC. I’m not exactly sure how but rowing became my sport for the next four years. I had never tried rowing before starting university but turned up to one of the taster sessions with a couple of friends, who I think were partly there to see the ‘talent’ on offer. However, within a couple of weeks rowing had dragged us in kicking and screaming and Smath had somehow managed to get us training five times a week. Even Jess, who I don’t think had done a single day of exercise in her life and would finish a training session with a cigarette seemed to even be enjoying it (she is now running a marathon in October, new girl!).

 

Fresher’s year was great; we trained really hard but still had a lot of fun and formed a great team and group of friends. But as well as training hard BUBC definitely know how to have a goodnight and the socials, even the many unplanned ones in Lava Cheese Room, are always entertaining and the gossip is endless. Second year I took on the task of Women’s captain, I enjoyed the chance to get involved with the running of the club and do my bit for the team. Being a university club each year BUBC offers a completely different experience and squad but the personalities and the people are always welcoming and up for a laugh.

 

During my placement year rowing became more of a spectator sport for me, but did manage to row with Reading rowing club for a few months. However BUBC managed to become like habit again in final year, and my idea of doing it socially of course turned into daily training. I have had a lot of highlights over the last few years, including Women’s Head of the River and Reading Regatta but my top one has to be getting into Pairs Final at BUCS with Miss Belcher – I don’t think you have seen anyone so happy to come 5th, but just the qualification was an achievement in itself. All of that training really paid off and was great to finish on such a high in my final year. I have also been luckily enough to be picked to row at Henley Women’s Regatta twice now however unlucky enough to manage to come 17th both times and miss out on the next round, still some thing I need to tick off in on my life… Now when I left Bournemouth I said it was the end, but give it a year and I will probably have joined a club in London in the hope of finally qualifying.

 

If you're heading to Bournemouth University this September or already there, I cannot recommend rowing enough. It is definitely not for the faint hearted but some of the best memories of uni come from rowing and also I have met some of my best friends through the club too, proven by the fact that now I’m leaving Bournemouth and BUBC I’m now moving in with three of them.

 

 

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