Welcome to the Cantabs Women’s Squads. Whether you’re interested in training and racing at national events or prefer the more social side of rowing, Cantabs has something to offer you!
We are organised into a number of different squads, depending on commitment, aspirations and ability. At Cantabs, we’re lucky to benefit from the best coaching provision of all town clubs on the Cam with each squad having at least one dedicated coach.
All of our women’s squads participate in the Cambridge Town Bumps. In 2025, Cantabs fielded 12 women’s crews for bumps – 6 of which are all within Division 1. Three of the top six women’s crews in Division 1 are from Cantabs, reflecting that our 2nd and 3rd boats are faster than most of the local clubs’ 1st boats.
At WEHoRR we usually have at least four crews entered, from the Senior, Intermediate and Junior squads. We have won the Provincial Pennant in 2017, 2022 and 2024, and the B, C & D regularly being the highest placed among other non-Thames crews of that type, regularly having multiple crews within the top 100.
Cantabs qualifies crews every year to Henley Women's, with 6 of the last 9 regattas seeing at least one crew reaching at least the semi-finals of an event. Cantabs are previous winners, course record holders and finalists of the Club 8+ event.
The Wargrave Challenge Cup for women's club eights was introduced at Henley Royal in 2021, and Cantabs has qualified a crew for this event every time they have entered since its introduction.
Please contact the women’s captain for more information on any of these squads or how to get involved.
Aimed at those who are committed and want to race competitively, we’re one of the top club women’s squads in the East of England. This squad is open to all, including students and masters age athletes, and we are able to support established athletes, as well as quickly develop those with less experience. For example, 2 of our winning Henley Women’s 8+ learned to row at Cantabs less than 2 years before.
Recent Results
In recent years, we have taken wins at races such as Henley Women’s Regatta, Women’s Eights Head, Henley Masters, Met Regatta, Wallingford Regatta, Fours Head, Pairs Head, Vets Head, Vet Fours Head, British Masters and Ghent Regatta, amongst others, as well as representing England at Home International.
We have also regularly qualified for the Wargrave Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta.
In Town Bumps, 6 of our crews are all within Division 1. Three of the top six women’s crews in Division 1 are from Cantabs, reflecting that our 2nd and 3rd boats are faster than most of the local clubs’ 1st boats.
Training
We train hard but we pride ourselves on having a training programme which is flexible around people’s work, study and family commitments, and a support system which means every athlete can get the most out of the training that they are able to commit to.
We row three early mornings and both days on a weekend (Mon/Wed/Fri 0550-0730, Sat 0630-1030 and Sun 0700-1100 with double sessions). Meeting early means that we are able to take advantage of a quiet river, often being the only squad out on the water.
There are two weights and two erg sessions programmed per week, which are typically done in small groups or in people’s own time.
Our committed coaching team supports the development of athletes who are considering doing GB U23 trials or trialing for the Boat Races in the future, and we have strong links with CUBC.
Coaches
The squad is supported by a team of coaches.
- Will Young (Head Coach): Will joined Cantabs as the new head coach in 2025 after a very successful sculling career and some time coaching at other clubs. Will learnt to row at Cambridge 99s where he pursued a rowing career in a single scull, notably making it to the semi-finals of the Diamond Sculls in 2024 and qualifying every year he entered. He has also won Scullers Head, Pairs Head, Wallingford Regatta, Met Regatta, Marlow Regatta and Head of the River on multiple occasions. He turned to coaching in 2024, where he put into practice everything he had done on the water and helped squads grow. He has had success in helping squads achieve their goals and qualifying multiple boats for Henley Royal Regatta.
- Jon Winch: Jon learned to row at Cantabs in 2003, rowing as part of the Senior Men’s Squad until he turned to coaching in 2010. He has also had tremendous success coaching masters crews, consistently coaching them to golds at the British Rowing Masters Championships, Pairs Head of the River, Veteran Fours and Vets Head of the River Races over the last decade. Jon coaches the Cantabs’ juniors in addition to the Senior Women, where his crews have medaled at Nat Schools and Nat Juniors.
We are also supported by Milosz Wrobel of Light Blue Clinic who also coaches the university squads.
Requirements
We don’t have any strict requirements for athletes to meet to join the Senior Women’s Squad, and are more interested in whether you are keen to train, rather than your experience within the sport or your erg score. People tend to progress quickly once they join.
The squad ranges in experience from those who learnt to row a year ago, to those who have been rowing at higher levels such as in the Women’s Boat Race or even international competition.
Three members of the crew which won the club 8+ at Henley Women’s learned to row at Cantabs, and 2 progressed through our squad system to move into the Senior Squad in January. Therefore, if you are worried you aren’t quite at the top level required for our top boats right now, we can get you there!
Coxing
The squad is always looking for new coxes to join us, regardless of experience. Coxes receive regular feedback from both athletes and coaches, and we also provide one-to-one coxing coaching from coxing coaches. There is also a coxing group, where the club’s coxes meet on a regular basis and share ideas and race recordings, giving each other feedback and helping each other improve. You can read more about coxing at Cantabs here.
Socials
The squad has regular socials, both within the squad and with the Senior Men’s Squad, as well as enjoying the regular club social events. These have recently included a ceilidh, pub crawls, scavenger hunts, pub quizzes and even Christmas wreath making!
Intermediate Women are a competitive squad with aspirations of winning regional races both on and off Cam, as well as participating and testing themselves in high-profile national events such as WEHORR, British Rowing Championships and Henley Women/Masters. The squad is part of a progression pathway at Cantabs, between the Development squad and Senior squad, and a home for experienced rowers unable to commit to the Senior squad sessions.
To allow for the wide range of technical and physical abilities within the squad and to ensure everyone has an opportunity to develop personally, the squad is split into two groups- Pathway and Core:
Pathway group - for less experienced rowers, focus mainly on technical development and understanding how to generate boat speed; individuals progress into the Core group, freeing up space for new rowers joining from Development squad or novice level rowers from elsewhere.
Core group - for more experienced rowers looking to build on sound technical platform and train at higher intensity, with focus primarily on physical development; individuals have the option to progress into Senior squad.
Training
The competitive aspirations are reflected in our training plan and expectations.
Our regular training schedule is five sessions per week (four water and one land) plus an optional weights session. Water sessions are two-three hours and cover 12-18 km. We currently train on the water at the following times:
Wednesday 18:30 - 20.30
Thursday 18:30 - 20.30
Saturday 07:20 - 10.45
Sunday 15:00 - 17.00 (winter) 17:00 - 19:00 (summer)
Land training consists of an erg and this can be done in your own schedule though there is an informal squad erg session on a Monday evening. We also have a short core or flexibility session after each outing.
All members of the squad are expected to commit to the training schedule.
Coach
Robert Allen: Robert is a qualified coach who learned to row at Cantabs and started coaching at the University of Bristol. He has coached crews to medals at the British University Championships and category wins at national regattas and head races.
Socials
The squad also enjoys regular social gatherings, including trips to the local coffee shop or pub after outings.
The Development Squad aims to:
- Introduce new rowers to the sport and develop their skills.
- Prepare rowers to progress along the Club pathways (Dev Squad → Intermediate Women → Senior Women or Dev Squad → Hunters/Poachers/Aquaphobes → Senior Men)
- Incorporate novice rowers who have completed the Learn to Row.
- Develop discipline and commitment.
- Race mainly on-Cam.
- Implement a weekly training plan designed to improve technique and fitness over the season.
Training
- 3 water sessions (Mondays: 18.30-20.30, Saturdays: 11.30-13.30, Sundays: 11.30-13.30)
- 1 erg (in your own time)
All members of the squad are expected to commit to the majority of the training (land and water).
Coach
Laura Tradii: Laura has been coaching the development squad for the past year now and has successfully helped people to progress through the Cantabs Pathway and achieve their goals they set out to do.
Becoming a Cantabs member
To join Cantabs, please email the Women’s Captain via the online form.
The club squad houses a number of different crews who don’t quite fit into the development pathway in terms of aspirations or availability. This is aimed at people who are looking for a lower level of commitment but still want the opportunity to compete at predominately local competitions, though sometimes there are also international racing opportunities available as well!
If you are interested, please email the Women’s Captain via the online form.