Joining the Club
The Lady Margaret Boat Club is open to all members of St. John's College, Cambridge. Each year in Michaelmas term, we take on a large number of new members, the vast majority with no previous rowing experience at all. Usually around a third of all freshers sign up to try rowing or coxing in their first term, and many choose to continue throughout their degree, which makes rowing a great way both to meet other freshers and to make friends with people from other years.
You don't need any previous experience to try rowing with LMBC - the vast majority of members learn to row within the club, mostly in Michaelmas term when there are races against other colleges specifically for 'novices'. With up to 10 novice crews (each with 8 rowers and a cox) in a typical year, we cater for people of all abilities, and since the time commitment varies hugely across those crews, it's up to you how much time you want to put in.
Rowing is also a very sociable sport. A key part of novicing is going on formal hall swaps with boats from other colleges, and the end of term boat club dinners are half the reason why lots of people row, so it's not all lycra and early mornings as the myths would have you believe!
If you are interested in learning to row or cox at LMBC, email the men's or women's lower boats captains, or come along to our stall at the college freshers' fair.
Those with previous rowing experience are welcomed straight into the senior squad. For further details contact the men's or women's captains.
