Andrew M (Year 13) has accepted an early offer to Harvard and will train as a cox on the university’s rowing crew. Last term, both Harvard and Columbia invited him on official visits to the US to meet their teams as part of the cox recruitment process. Once he returned to School, we found out how he began his coxing journey and how it has shaped his Eton experience.
When did you start coxing?
I began as a cox in the spring of Year 10 but I started rowing in Year 9 as part of the summer sculling programme. There’s a misconception that if you don’t get into it early, it’s hard to come in, but we’ve had coxes that started in Year 12 and had a great time.
The Head Boatman saw that I was on the smaller end so he said: ‘Why don’t you come down to the lake and try some coxing?’ It was either running around in the mud playing Field Game or sitting in a boat for an afternoon, so that’s what I chose!
What do you enjoy most about being a Wet Bob (rower) at Eton?
The friendships you make are so strong because you spend so much time together. Even in Year 10 it was four to five days a week, so I got to know the other guys and made many friends really quickly.
At the start, a bunch of us were definitely crashing the boats, but as time goes on you gain more experience and responsibility by becoming a coach in the boat. You start running the sessions, talking to the guys about technique, and running the race plans.
Rowing is quite a unique sport in that no matter how big or strong you are, if you’re not technically proficient you’re just not going to go fast. It feels like a jigsaw, we’ve all got to work together and do our own little bit for the whole thing to come together.
How has rowing influenced your Eton experience?
Rowing has improved my ability to manage my time. Once you’re in Year 12, it’s six sessions and 20 hours a week so it forces you to figure out how to get stuff done quickly and what to prioritise.
Coxing in particular has definitely helped me develop my confidence. Sometimes you’ll be coxing guys two or three years older and a foot taller so unless you’re really confident in what you’re saying and making sure they believe in what they’re doing as a crew, nothing will work out.
What has been a highlight for you?
Though this is just one amazing moment out of many, nut racing at the Henley Qualifiers in the summer of 2024 was definitely a highlight. Whilst we unfortunately did not qualify, the privilege of racing down such a famous course is a memory I won’t let go of.
We have three key races in the season: Schools’ Head, National Schools’ Regatta, and Henley. These competitions really help structure rowing and my time at Eton. If I look back at Year 9, my memories are disjointed because I can’t place where they are, but from Year 11 onwards I can think: ‘This was before Schools’ Head’.
You’re racing crews from all across the country, sometimes from different countries, and being able to see how much speed you’ve put on is the best part. I like to think I’m calm and composed when I’m coxing, but when we’re racing and it’s competitive, I give it some!
Etonians row on Dorney Lake which was used as a 2012 Summer Olympics venue, what is it like to train here?
Dorney is really close to Eton which makes it super easy to run or cycle down for the sessions and we’ve got a really nice gym full of ergs and weights right next to the lake.
Last year we had a lot of rain in December, which meant other schools couldn’t train because their rivers were so full. Because we’ve got Dorney, which isn’t affected by how much it rains, we were able to keep training consistently, which meant when Schools’ Head came around in March, we had a really good race across the whole squad.
You were invited to Harvard and Columbia on official visits, what was the cox recruitment process like?
The US recruit coxes for their rowing teams and offer them a spot at the university, separate to applying. I got in touch last year and kept them updated on how our season was going and how my academics were shaping up.
For rowers, they look at how fast you are on the rowing machine and results on the water. For coxes, a big part is academics so I sent them GCSE results and my A Level predicted grades.
Congratulations on your Harvard offer, are you excited to train with the university’s team?
I am very excited to continue coxing at Harvard! Collegiate rowing in the US is the best in the world, so I am looking forward to experiencing the sport at a whole new level.
Additionally, Harvard trains on a river as opposed to a lake and has an indoor season in the winter months, so I am eager to explore these differences.
