Olivia’s News category
Olivia makes it to the world cup!
Wow, it’s been a hectic few months and a lot has changed in my life. In short: I made it into the senior squad and I am now training as a full time athlete right up until the Olympics.
To explain further: The Olympic Trials were held at Dorney Lake, the Olympic Venue. I raced in a pair with Caragh McMurtry and we made it into the A-Final, finishing 5th. This in itself was an achievement as we hope to race this together at the Under 23 World Championships, however, I was invited to continue racing and was given another opportunity to prove myself once again with the Olympic squad in seat racing. This is where the team manager picks a select group of girls to race against one another to gain a ranking. The number of girls selected depends on the size of boat. In this instance 8 girls were selected to make up the women’s 8 for the first World Cup regatta.
Seat racing is run over a few days with 4 or 5 races each day. Each boat races the first race, side by side, and then comes straight into the landing stage. Two names are called out, they swap positions and the race is run again. Comparing the scores and margins from each race they begin to create a ranking of the 8 girls to work out which girls are moving the boats the fastest.
In this case I ended up ranking 3rd on my side out of 4 so that puts me in first reserve position. The racing itself was a great experience but to then become part of the squad in such an exciting year was almost too much to comprehend.
Since then I’ve been training full time as part of the squad in a pair with Natasha Page. At the moment university placements are on hold until September. Our pair was selected as a second pair to attend the first World Cup regatta in Belgrade, Serbia. This is the first of 3 World Cup regattas and the crews were announced on media day at Caversham Rowing Lake on 4th April.
Here’s a small clip from media day:
Following the press release, we have travelled as a team to Varese, Italy to train on the lake here for a few weeks in preparation for the World Cup. Unfortunately, as glamorous as it sounds, it hasn’t stopped raining! For me this camp has been a complete eye opener. I am learning every day, not just from the coaches but also from the athletes and about myself. I am so excited to be here and can’t wait to get to Belgrade and start racing.
Next stop: Belgrade World Cup 1 on 5th/6th May (might be on the BBC on Sunday).
- Olivia
Feel the heat as Olivia enters Olympic trials
Well, it looks like I did enough in the 5km ergo test! I beat some of the girls currently involved in the Senior Team and due to this I’ve been invited to the Olympic Trials this weekend. I’m racing in a pair with another girl from the U23 team so we have nothing to lose. We’re going to rattle the boots of some of the Senior Team and do what we can to show some speed wherever possible. We’re racing a time trial or heats plus a semi-final on Saturday, with the final being held on Sunday at Dorney Lake where the Olympics will be. They’ll be testing out the new screen they’ve set up and practicing using the ferry to get to the course. It will be quite an exciting weekend so fingers crossed.
Since my last update I’ve been training mostly at my club. I’ve achieved personal bests on most of my rowing machine sessions. My 30’r20 has improved loads and my general UT2 split on the rowing machine is also creeping down (this is the figure/500m displayed on the rowing machine that you can maintain for 18km at rate 18) – not bad considering I was struck by illness.
Head of the River: Olivia is 3rd rower from left
Despite a few minor setbacks the main priority for our training at Oxford Brookes has been in preparation for the Women’s Head of the River race which was held in London on the Tideway between Chiswick and Putney. We basically race the Boat Race but backwards. There were about 300 boats in the race, all of which were 8s. We ended up finishing 10th which wasn’t a bad result at all, considering one of the girls caught her blade and we had to stop and re-start halfway down the course – in rowing terminology this is called “catching a crab”!
It was great fun to get out and race and I was really proud of all the girls in the boat. Hopefully we’ll continue to train in the same boat and will race the Henley Women’s Regatta in it. Following that we’re hoping to enter (and obviously win!) the Henley Royal Regatta. It’ll be the perfect opportunity to enter as the clubs containing primarily Olympic athletes won’t be entering this year.
Coming next: the results of the Olympic Trials this weekend, a training weekend with the Under 23 potential squad, a 2km ergo test and then my birthday!
- Olivia
Olivia Hits Personal Best in Olympic Trial
We’ve now returned from the altitude training camp in Spain. During the last few days we did a weight lifting competition with one rep max and I got a personal best on all my lifts and won the power clean lift!
The camp was really beneficial but, as you can imagine, hard work. I’ve been continuing to train hard to maintain the full effects of the altitude training. When athletes train at altitude they produce extra haemoglobin which allows the body to transport more oxygen to the muscles when you return to sea level. We had our 5km ergo test coming up this week so I have been maintaining work on the rowing machine in preparation and making sure that I maintain my strength in the weights gym.
This week the triallists for U23 and the senior squad have had to complete a 5km ergo test following our various training camps. It was good to be able to sit on the rowing machine and feel confident with the training I had done. The girls and boys who are trialling from Oxford Brookes all did the ergo together in our gym at university. We had the rest of the squad behind us in the gym, cheering us along, and the U23 development coach Peter Sheppard also came to support and encourage all the athletes. I had a really good row with a consistent race profile and finished on a personal best, which will hopefully put me at the top of the U23 squad. More importantly I hope to have done well enough to be recognized alongside some of the senior scores. But I’ll have to wait until next week when the scores are released to find out!
My next event is a 2km Sculling Trial in my single at Dorney Lake (Olympic Course) during the weekend of 11th/12th Feb. So watch this space.
- Olivia
Olivia reaches dizzy heights
Happy New Year! 2012 has finally arrived and the Olympics are only months away.
Following the Christmas period where I trained independently and took time to visit family and friends, I am now currently on a GB training camp up a mountain in Sierra Nevada, Spain. At 3,478m there is little oxygen and limited places to go other than from our rooms, to breakfast, to the ergo room, to second breakfast, to the weights room, to lunch, to the ergo room, to weights…. I think you probably get the picture. The view however is amazing.
We arrived on 4th January and are here for 10 days of training on the rowing machine and lifting weights mixed with a few football and swimming sessions. The aim is to adapt to the altitude and use the training benefits of the altitude for when we go back down to sea level. We have a physiologist here who takes a blood sample from our ear at the end of each ergo, which is put into a machine that tells you the amount of lactic acid your body has produced. The coaches can then make sure we are training at the correct intensity. We also have a physiotherapist who ensures we are all ok to complete the sessions. We can book in appointments to see her about any injuries or worries that may be affecting the training.
The camp is for the under 23 heavyweight boys and lightweight boys and this year they invited 4 girls. As a small group we have really pushed on up here. Each of us has adapted in our own way but we have all moved on since the beginning and completed each session which can’t be said for the boys! To start with I was very achy and tired but now I’m in the swing of it, it seems to be going a lot quicker. Only 3 days left now and then back home to Oxford.
Next stops: Wimbelball, Devon; Oxford Brookes Training Camp.
Next trial: 5km rowing machine test to be submitted by beginning of Feb.
- Olivia
A Trio of Successes for Olivia!
I have three bits of GOOD NEWS!!
The first bit of good news is that I got a Personal Best (PB) on my 2k ergo test! Not by much but a PB nonetheless! After a slow start to the season this has filled me with confidence, especially as I can now get a good chunk of solid training done and be ready to really move on with another 2k test in the New Year.
I then had a couple of weeks of revision/cramming and training in preparation for exams at December GB trials.
Another bit of good news is that 3 girls have been invited to attend the under 23/over 23 boys’ altitude training camp in Sierra Nevada. I was one of them along with Katherine Douglass, who I raced with in the 8+ last summer, and Rachael Gamble-Flint, who also raced at the under 23 world championships but in a double. This camp will be a great opportunity to work on our fitness as well as strength, as we will spend 10 days just on the rowing machine and lifting weights.
My third bit of good news comes following last weekend’s December GB Trials: the second long distance trial up in Boston, Lincolnshire. In October the senior/Olympic squad are exempt but in December everyone has to attend. For the girls, this is completed in our singles over 5km which takes around 20 minutes. In training over the last few weeks my single sculling speed had been quite fast and consistent, so I was looking forward to showing what I could do at the trial where it really counts.
The weather was freezing but the water was quite flat and there was a bit of a tail wind. In the winter we race one at a time as a Time Trial so I had to wait for ages at the start for all the boys to be set off first. Once it was the girl’s turn the Olympic squad was set off first and then the rest of the girls in the order they finished at the last trials. Unfortunately I wasn’t at the last trials so I was set off right at the back. This meant I had to leave quite a big gap between the person ahead of me, as I wanted to avoid overtaking too many people.
Once I was off my hands froze. It seemed the quicker I went, the colder they got. I just hoped I didn’t catch my blade awkwardly against the water, as I would definitely have fallen in. Luckily I got myself into a good rhythm and raced well until the first bend, about 2km in. Once I turned the bend and could feel/hear that I was catching up with people ahead of me, I started to lose my rhythm a bit and felt my boat speed drop off. I didn’t quite get this back as well as I would have liked until the last km where I stormed past a few other girls to cross the finish line.
The results came out as soon as we had de-rigged our boats and loaded them back onto the trailer. I came 11th!! I was the only under 23 to finish in the top 25 and came in one minute quicker than the next under 23. I didn’t beat any of the senior/Olympic squad but I wasn’t too far off and I was the next non-squad member in 11th place. I got a lot of positive feedback from GB coaches and other athletes for a good performance which really proved to me that this year I need to keep stepping ahead of the rest of the under 23 athletes and move on and up towards the senior squad.
Following the trial I was invited down to the Olympic training centre in Caversham to train this week alongside the seniors as they prepare for their training camp after Christmas. Every day is another opportunity for me to try and prove myself.
HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR.
Olivia undefeated by crashing waves
The disappointing result at Fours Head sent the Oxford Brookes University Women’s squad back home with more determination to train and turn these results around. We’ve been completing 16km rowing machine training sessions twice a week, where we set the clock for 20 minutes and see how far we can row flat out. For anyone reading this and wanting a challenge, the boys have to hit 6000m and the girls are aiming for around 5500m… let us know how you get on!
I’ve had no more events to race at since my last update but I have been working on trying to improve my fitness steadily over the winter months, improve my strength and trying not to get ill again!!! I’m keeping a food diary and have been advised by my coach to buy specific recovery powders to mix with water so that I can recover from each session quicker and more effectively; and of course to eat more vegetables.
I spent the weekend of 26th/27th November in Nottingham on a combined camp with the World Class Start programme and the Under 23 triallists. The weekend consisted of two 1500m pieces on the lake in our singles; physiotherapy work; psychological analysis; video analysis; 1km rowing machine test;, 250m rowing machine test; then rowing in doubles about 12km on the river in those combinations. The next day, after a late night writing an essay that was due in on the 28th, we woke up to howling winds and rain. The lake was closed so we had a bit of spare time to work, sleep and eat. Eventually we were allowed out onto the lake to complete two 2km pieces in the double combinations at varied rates.
The weekend went okay, despite the appalling weather conditions and the stress of my essay. I managed not to fall in when I was in my single, even though waves were crashing over my head at one point, and I completed the 1500m to finish in the top quarter of the rankings. The rowing machine tests weren’t quite as successful, but hopefully I’ll pull a good score out of the bag tomorrow when I complete my 2km rowing machine trial.
Fingers crossed and I’ll let you know how it goes.
Olivia
Olivia Makes a Great Start to the Year
After the World Championships I took a break from training to let my body have a complete rest and to complete a month’s placement for my physiotherapy course. I also went to Slovenia to watch the seniors race at their World Championships. The quality of racing was amazing and a couple of the winning U23 squad had been invited to race too, so it was great to watch them be so successful. I hope that’ll be me either this year or next year.
Once uni started again in September I got back into training. The first set of trials were on 22nd and 23rd of October but unfortunately I was unable to attend due to illness, so I will have to complete a 2km rowing machine test before being able to attend the next set of trials in December.
The first race I took part in this year was pairs head with Caragh McMurtry in London from Chiswick to Hammersmith. We didn’t train for it together, but just did our own individual training and jumped into it on the day of the race as an elite 2- (pair). So we were very pleased to win!!
The next race of the year was Fullers Fours Head of the River. We raced on the tideway river in London again but this time from Chiswick to Putney. We were entered in Intermediate quads and ended up coming 5th. This was a bit of a disappointing result but we did race as full university crew so hopefully we will continue to train together and improve throughout the year for better results.
The next events coming up in my diary are:
• Training camp for the potential U23 girls
• 2km rowing machine
• December GB trials in Boston
Olivia
And They’re Off…
The lucky 8 chosen to compete in the World Championships packed our bags for training camp. This took place on the official GB training lake in Caversham where we were able to practice in the 8 every day and use the rowing machine and weights room to maintain fitness and improve technique.
There were a few dramas and disagreements in the crew but this was inevitable as we were together 24/7 training and staying in a hotel. We managed to make some good improvements with the help of our coach Nessa Folan, and with input from both Myles Forbes-Thomas, a former senior squad coach, and Peter Sheppard, the Under 23 (U23) team selector. The U23 team was a big mixed team this year and they were hoping for another successful year of medals.
Once training was over we set off to Amsterdam for the World Championships. A couple of the girls had doubts about competing as an 8+ and thought a 4- may give us a better chance to win a medal. However, testing was carried out and the choice was made to take an 8+ so we all put our mind to it to try and give the best performance we could! After a couple of days to get used to the course and find our bearings, we began racing on 22nd July, with our final race on 24th July. Our final position was 5th behind Canada, New Zealand, USA and Germany.
I felt disappointed with the way we raced. I think we were caught out when people went off harder than we had practiced and I feel that as a crew our cruising speed decreased as the other crews increased and moved ahead. I don’t think we prepared very well for every circumstance and I also don’t think that each athlete was at the medalling standard. Perhaps we would have medalled in a 4-, who knows. But that’s what the new season is for so watch this space!
Olivia
Olivia prepares for world championships
Since July I’ve been busy racing as part of the Under 23 GB Rowing Team in the women’s 8+ and women’s 4-. After final trials a group of 10 girls were selected to train together to try and build up a women’s 8+ for the World Championships. In July we raced in Amsterdam to test the speed of an 8+ and two 4s. In the 8+ we came 4th behind two senior boats and another British European Championship standard boat. This was a reasonable performance, although we would have preferred to have beaten the European standard boat. In the 4s my 4 came 2nd closely behind a Dutch 4. Following this weekend we raced at Henley Royal Regatta in the women’s 8+ event. We managed to beat Brown University, USAin our first race, which put us through to the next round, racing against the other GB senior Olympic 8+. We didn’t win this one, but we did put out a good fight off the start and used the race as another chance to practice what we had been training for. The 8 people competing in the World Championships were then announced as follows:
- Stroke: Olivia Carnegie-Brown
- 7: Karen Benett
- 6: Katherine Douglas
- 5: Michelle Vesie
- 4: Olivia Oakes
- 3: Caragh McMurtry
- 2: Brianna Stubbs
- Bow: Lottie Howard Merril
Read my next blog to find out how we got on in the World Championships.
Olivia
A R-oar-ing Success!
At Grovelands, we know that a happy relationship takes a lot of work, care and attention, with a pinch of thoughtfulness along the way. So being the ever dutiful wifely types that we are, we had one important anniversary pinned up on the fridge for quite some time, not wanting it to go unnoticed.
Not only were we celebrating a whole year of working successfully with one of our major clients, but also a year sponsoring our Olympic rowing hopeful – Olivia Carnegie-Brown.
We wanted to get everyone together to mark the occasion with something a little different than your ordinary meal or drinks night. Some might struggle to find any meaningful link between competitive rowing and major high street banks, but not our director David Leen. For a man that always thinks outside the box, the connections are endless, and thus was born The Olympic Complaints Event (it will catch on…)
The guests started arriving, and the turnout was fantastic. All attendees were greeted by the honorary Grovelands bouncers Tom and Kieran, and once confirmed on the prestigious guest list they proceeded to catch up with old colleagues and friends.
Beautifully introduced by David, our compère for the evening, Olivia stepped up to the stage to entertain and amaze everyone with the story of her rise within competitive rowing. She set a fantastic example for everyone present with her tale of motivation, modesty, hard work and sheer determination.
However, once challenged to a 100m rowing sprint competition against her, the Grovelanders became a little less humble than Olivia and stepped up to the Concept 2 rowing machine boasting of their own sporting prowess.
First up to attempt to beat Olivia’s time of 19.8 seconds was our very own Tom Henderson. After announcing Tom as a ‘rippling beast’, our director Mark Davies let slip that Tom had bet him £5 that he would beat her! Despite Tom’s best efforts, it was not to be, and fellow Grovelands bouncer Kieran Ives also fell short of the mark.
Next up was Ben Wilson, who fancied his chances following his maritime adventures in Brighton’s Paddle Round the Pier the previous week. Ben smugly returned to his seat after smashing a time of 16.8 seconds thinking his work was done, and he could return to Sussex a champion. This looked to be the case throughout the night, with many contractors coming up to have a go and narrowly missing Ben’s time.
And then along came Solomon. At a towering 6 ft 11, with legs longer than the rowing machine and an unorthodox technique, Solomon stole Ben’s crown by 0.4 of a second.
We’d like to say a huge thank you to Claire Campbell and Ashleigh Belgrave for the brilliant organisation of such a great evening, and also Mark Davies and David Leen. Not only for their sponsorship of the evening and of Olivia, but for being such cracking hosts.
Ant and Dec, watch out!