This week we had A Conversation With...the brilliant resident Boatman Barry Bathe-Taylor. Barry ensures that the fleet of 100 Shiplake boats are up to scratch, is the Boat Club safety officer and also coaches the J14s.
What does your average day entail?
My normal day often starts with assessing the river conditions, which is done daily during term time. This enables me to confirm, with Dave Currie, that water sessions are okay to go ahead. Then it’s onto any urgent boat or blade repairs. After lunch, I begin the prep for afternoon outings, which includes fuelling up the launches and getting them started. Next is the best part of the day; coaching. I coach the J14s - the Year 9 group - which entails setting the work for the session and making sure the session runs safely... as they do have a habit of getting wet!
What do you like to do in your spare time?
I enjoy spending time with my partner, Natalie, and my daughter, Sabine. Sabine is really into track cycling at the moment, so this can take up most of our spare time!
How did you get into rowing?
I got into the sport from around the age of 9, when the Captain of the local rowing club moved in next door to me. He came round to watch the Boat Race and then the whole family got involved in the rowing club, which was back in 1975. I first raced in J10 coxed fours and my rowing progressed from there.
With the run up to Henley Royal Regatta, what challenges do you face?
Henley Regatta is a busy time for me, especially because we have the chance of two crews racing this year, meaning there will be a lot of blade painting during the run up. There are also daily checks on all the boats, as the regatta progress can mean a lot of running back and forth from school. We also host Greenlake School from America, so I need to keep an eye on their boats too. But I really enjoy Regatta, it is great fun and always good to watch Shiplake.
Are you looking forward to the new boat club facilities, and how do you think it’ll change your role?
The Davies Centre will bring many different benefits for myself, and also the boat club. But most importantly, and the thing I am looking forward to most, is the dry and warm workshop! Having an area which will ensure the boat is dry will make doing repairs a lot easier to finish properly and efficiently, as many of the resins and sprays we use do not like having damp conditions. I also think having a proper changing facility will be great to have for the pupils.
What does the future hold for Barry Bathe-Taylor?
I would like to take some more training courses, in carbon-fibre work and also sports psychology to help further my knowledge of the sport.
