UOC Rowing Club

By Alexander Hermans – UOC Rowing Club Secretary & Fundraising Officer 23/24

At the Fresher’s Fair on the Bognor Regis Campus in my first year I signed up with my friend to join the University of Chichester’s Rowing Society. At the Welcome Week taster session I met the other new members, including Matthew Lane, who I already knew from high-school. Eventually, I ran for the position of club Secretary and took on the role in my second year, re-establishing the society with Matt as President, and Kamran Ewbank as Team Captain.

^Fresher’s Fair 2022 From left-right: Kamran Ewbank , Matthew Lane, and Alexander Hermans.

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Now in my final year of university I’ve seen the club grow, and go from strength to strength. We have secured and maintained a great relationship with Itchenor Sailing Club and attend regular on water training sessions there, which was our primary goal when re-establishing the society as the UOC Rowing Club.

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^  Itchenor Sailing Club, Photograph By Holly Mason

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We have also managed to double our membership numbers and have ran many successful events, such as,  completing a 12-hour Row for Movember (November 2022), and we doubled our efforts the following year and accomplished a 24-hour Row (November 2023), raising an amazing total of £2,101 for the charity. This event also got us a nomination for The Impactful Event Award at the annual SU Awards.

“Being part of a society at Chichester has been so rewarding and has been a highlight of my university experience. I have made an incredible group of friends and I couldn’t recommend getting involved with a club or society enough. You won’t regret it!

Joining a club isn’t just a great social experience but also helped me find a balance between my studies, work, keeping fit, and most importantly having fun. It really is a great way to enhance your university experience. The new club president is the incredible Florence Tweddle who was our amazing Social Secretary for the last year. The UOC Rowing Club has a very special place in my heart and I can’t wait to see what the club achieves in the years to come. Follow the @uocrowingclub Instagram page for all the rowing club updates!