Hannah Woodford describes her experience of racing for St John’s on the Tideway at WEHoRR, the largest women’s rowing race in the world, thanks to the support of the John’s Opportunities Fund.
This March, I had the opportunity to compete in the Women’s Eights Head of the River Race (WEHoRR) as a member of the First VIII for St John’s College Boat Club, Durham. I am so grateful to have been able to take part thanks to the support of the Opportunities Fund. Racing on the famous Championship Course on the River Thames was genuinely an honour and felt like a very special milestone in my journey as an athlete.
WEHoRR is one of the largest women’s rowing events in the world, bringing together university crews and competitive clubs to race through London. Arriving on a sunny Saturday morning, we were greeted by the scale and energy of the event. There were hundreds of boats preparing to race, and the atmosphere along the river was incredible. As a crew we worked together to rig the boat and discuss our race plan before heading out onto the water.
Watching some of the fastest crews in the country fly past was inspiring, and it was particularly special to cheer on the other Durham teams as they raced. Representing St John’s at this level of competition was something I felt immensely proud of, and it made the day even more memorable when our crew finished as the fourth fastest college team.
What made this achievement especially meaningful to me is the journey that led to it and the culture within our boat club. When I first arrived at Durham, I had never rowed before. I joined through the club’s novice programme, which is designed to introduce beginners to the sport and support them as they develop their skills. From the very beginning I was encouraged by teammates and coaches from the top boats at John’s who gave their time to help us novices learn and improve. This supportive environment makes the club such a special place, where older rowers mentor new ones and teammates genuinely care about each other’s achievement.
Because of that culture, opportunities like racing at WEHoRR feel possible for anyone who is willing to commit and work hard. Being part of the First VIII on such a big stage felt like representing not only my crew, but also the community that helped us get there. I am incredibly thankful for the encouragement and belief from teammates, coaches, and supporters. I feel very proud to have been part of this incredible sport and competition.
John's Chronicle 