While our Year 9 rowers remained in the UK refining their small boat sculling techniques, Pangbourne College’s Year 10 and senior rowing squads travelled to Belgium for their much-anticipated annual training camp in Ghent.

This year's trip began with immediate participation in the prestigious 45th Ghent International Spring Regatta. Despite limited water time prior to departure due to land-based training, our crews delivered exceptional performances. Across multiple events, Pangbourne secured an impressive five gold, seven silver, and two bronze medals — an outstanding achievement that boosted morale and set a strong tone for the week ahead.

Intensive Training and Academic Balance

The training camp was structured to balance high-performance rowing with academic responsibilities. Each morning, senior rowers kick-started the day with a pre-breakfast outing on the water, while Year 10s enjoyed a well-earned lie-in.

Post-breakfast, the team engaged in focused revision sessions before heading to their main morning training. Lunch was taken either at the local rowing club restaurant or sourced from nearby supermarkets. Following another revision block back at the hotel, the athletes completed their final rowing session of the day before unwinding with dinner and evening study.

Midweek Cultural Break in Bruges

Midway through the week, the squad was rewarded with a well-earned afternoon off. We travelled to the beautiful city of Bruges for sightseeing and a taste of local culture — including the ever-popular Belgian waffles. This break re-energised the group for the final stretch of training.

Looking Ahead to the Summer Rowing Season

The 2025 Ghent training camp was, once again, a huge success. The team made substantial technical and physiological progress, setting a strong foundation for the upcoming summer racing season. We returned to Pangbourne on Good Friday, tired but inspired and ready for what lies ahead.