Micheen Thornycroft, Blake Friedman

Rowing in the RURC can set you up for a good future. Andrew Theron, Boatrace Crew 2006-2009 and captain in 2008, firmly states that the qualities he relies on in the workplace today, he learnt from his days in the RURC.

This being said, it can even set you up for a good career in rowing-as can be seen from recent happenings:

Micheen Thornycroft, Womens Boatrace A Crew 2006-2009, has qualified for the London Olympics representing Zimbabwe in the heavyweight scull. She had qualifying races in Egypt against other African countries toward the end of last year, which she won to earn her spot. The first hurdle prior to this was to prove that she was the fastest in Zimbabwe and perhaps an even earlier hurdle was to get fast in a scull- a boat she had not rowed in a while as her university rowing consisted of a lot of sweep oar.

On the Rowing Tour in between World Cups 2012

Since then she has competed at 2 rowing world cups coming 10th and 13th respectively. Her aim for the olympics, let alone the dream of qualifying, is to be placed in the top 12 out of the 30 or so competitors.

Boatrace womens A crew 2009, seated 5

Micheen competed in 4 boatraces at Rhodes winning in 2006 and 2007 and coming second in 2008 and 2009. She was captain in 2007, vice president in 2008 and president in 2009. While at Rhodes Micheen, known as Mouse, competed at Henley in a very good coxless four-the whole boat going on to make Blues as well as a pair with her sister Rose for Zimbabwe at the World Under 23's.

Living the dream

Blake Friedman, Mens Boatrace A crew 2008-2009 and Gondwanaland Crew 2007, won the Thames Challenge Cup at the Henley Royal Regatta. The Thames Challenge Cup is the club mens 8 event. He won with Molesey Boat Club, the English based club he now represents.

Thames Challenge Cup Winners,Molesey Boat Club, Blake 3rd from left

Racing at the Henley Royal Regatta for Molesey, seated 3

Blake was involved in the infamous Rhodes-Stellies 2007 B Crew final in which Rhodes triumphed only to be told that the race was to be re-rowed due to various clashes and claims coming from them. Rhodes were unable to row due to an after race beer too many as well as an injury in the boat and the official victory was given to stellies, a victory which Blake and the crew still reject to this day. Blake even went as far as to make a cap and shirt which read "Stellies- medals in the post", which he wore at the next years boatrace.

His results in the A crew were 5th in 2008 and 4th in 2009.



Boatrace mens A crew 2009, seated 6



Blake was most notably known for his strength on the erg and pulled a 16:36 in his last boatrace season for Rhodes.

living the dream