About the Boat Club
President: Rob Ferritto
Rob has been rowing with the GTBC open squad since 2018 where he began as a novice and really enjoyed the club’s welcoming and social atmosphere. Over his time, he has been an open squad captain, treasurer, and welfare officer, so it’s safe to say that GTBC has played a big role in his time at GTC.
Outside of rowing, he plays tennis, helps organise GTC Balls, and enjoys dabbling in PlayStation and Catan. He looks forward to helping lead the club this year and hopes we can continue to be a place which contributes greatly to people’s Oxford experience!
Treasurer: Fergus Maclean
G’day! My name is Fergus, I’m an Associate Member who started with GTBC as the partner of a rower in 2023. I really enjoyed my first sessions with GTBC, where I had a warm welcome into
the club. Having learned to row in High School in Australia, I knew the fundamentals and got straight to work. Since then, I’ve been a captain and active rower and cox for the club, having been a part of Summer VIIIs in 24’ and 25’. Still looking forward to my first run at Torpids (thanks climate change!). I’ll be working with the college in the background to make sure the club is on track for success financially.
Secretary: Kat Neumann
Hi everyone! My name is Kat, and I am the GTBC Secretary this year. I am a third-year DPhil student researching climate change law. I started rowing in 2022 during my Master’s at Mansfield College and joined GTBC in 2023. Together with Michelle, I led the women’s side last year as a women’s co-captain. I’m looking forward to welcoming many new members to the Club this year and, of course, to an exciting and competitive year of rowing!
EMBA Officer and Welfare and Inclusion Officer: Michelle Yeung
Hi everyone! My name is Michelle and I am a fourth-year DPhil student exploring AI in skin cancer diagnostics through implementation science and medical sociology perspectives. I have been at GTC for many years now (having done my MPhil here too!), so I am well-versed in all things GTC and Oxford more broadly! Last year, Kat and I led the women’s side as co-captains; it was an incredibly rewarding experience that only deepened my love for this welcoming and wonderful club of ours. This year, I will be taking up the roles of GTBC Welfare Officer and EMBA Officer. As your Welfare Officer, my goal is to ensure the club is an inclusive and welcoming environment for members both old and new. If you have any welfare concerns or simply want to chat about
GTBC, please feel free to reach out to me at michelle.yeung@gtc.ox.ac.uk.
Women’s Squad Co-Captain: Caroline Antpöhler
Hi everyone! My name is Caroline and I am a second-year on the MPhil in Development Studies, as well as one of the Women’s Captains this year. I learned to row with GTBC just last year with zero prior experience, and I can honestly say it has fundamentally shaped my time at Green Templeton and Oxford. From meeting amazing people, to staying active, to taking part in some of the oldest (and most fun!) Oxford traditions, GTBC has truly been one of the best parts of my university experience. I’m beyond excited to help run the club this year and can’t wait to get to know as many of you as possible – both on and off the water, whether as coxes or rowers. See you there!
Women’s Squad Co-Captain: Sara Tanovic
Hi everyone! I’m Sara and I’m in the third year of my DPhil using machine learning to write chemical recipes. I started off as a complete beginner with the club in my first year and have been rowing ever since. I’m super excited to co-captain the women’s squad with Caroline this year, and I’m looking forward to welcoming our new members into our supportive and strong community. See you on the water 🐍
Open Squad Co-Captain: Will Wynne
Hi everyone! My name is William, and I’m an MSc student in Translational Health Sciences as well as one of your Open Captains! This is my second year at GTBC, and when I first joined, I was a complete beginner. I was so new that I even called the oar a paddle for the first two months of Michaelmas! Since then, rowing has become a real passion of mine, and I’ve loved every moment being part of such a supportive and inclusive crew. Whether you’re an experienced rower or stepping into a boat for the very first time, I’d love to welcome you to this incredible community. Look forward to getting to know you!
Open Squad Co-Captain: Alex Hofman
I’m a second-year MPhil in Comparative Social Policy and, like Will, a complete novice to the sport. I initially signed up on a whim, but I can confidently say now that joining GTBC was one of the best decisions I made last year. It’s given me incredible memories and friendships, pushed me hard, and helped me structure my weeks. I have pretty severe asthma and I fell off the erg halfway through my first spring session. I was convinced rowing wasn’t for me, but I stuck with it and by Summer VIIIs looked around and realized I was having the time of my life. Can’t wait to meet y’all!
Development Officer: Yulia Stange (associate)
Captain of Coxes: Terra Rolfe
Kit: Tasha Durie
Social Secretary: Josh Walton
Safety and Equipment: Toby
Current Coaches
Women’s Squad
Steve Woodhouse and Sofia Bernal
Open Squad
Callum Gilbey and Yulia Stange
Find us
Boathouse
Most of our rowing activity happens on the River Thames (locally referred to as ‘The Isis’) in Oxford on a 2 kilometre long stretch between the Head of the River Pub and Iffley Lock. The GTBC Boathouse is located at Longbridges Boathouse, which we share with Hertford, St Hilda’s, Mansfield, and St Catherine’s Colleges. It is located along the towpath on the southern side of the river and can be accessed by joining the towpath either from Folly Bridge or Donnington Bridge. It is about 1 kilometre from either bridge, so travelling by bicycle is recommended although some members prefer to walk or run.
Gym
Training on the erg (short for ergometer, also referred to as a rowing machine) is an important part of rowing training. We are fortunate to be able to use the GTC gym for our training, located on the main GTC site at 43 Woodstock Road, Oxford. We have weekly coached sessions during term time, and you will find GTBC members doing ‘self-directed’ sessions almost every day of the year.
Rowing Tank at Iffley Road Sports Centre
The tank is a valuable land-training resource to refine rowing technique, for new novices and experienced rowers alike. It is essentially a concrete boat in a swimming pool which allows rowers to refine their technique without the worries of river traffic and boat balance. It is located at the Iffley Road Sports Centre and can be found in the rowing centre, on the far side of the athletics track.
Costs of membership
Subscription fees
Subscription fees help the club cover everyday running costs such as coaching, boat maintenance, racing and training costs. These fees are charged per term (Michaelmas, Hilary, Trinity and Summer Vacation). We strive to make these fees as affordable as possible and ensure they are good value for money. Students are offered a lower rate as their fees are subsidised by funding the club receives from the college. Athletes are able to come and try rowing for free, but will be charged a subscription fee if they attend 5 or more training sessions in the term.
Student Members: £40/term
Associate Members (partners of GTC students, college staff, alumni): £60/term
*Coxes who take 5 or more outings a term receive a £20 discount on their termly membership fees.
Financial support
We would never want a student to miss out on the opportunity of Oxford College Rowing, so if finances are an issue, please discuss this with your squad captain/s and/or another committee member to explore additional financial support.
External training
Sometimes the club holds training sessions or camps outside of Oxford across the UK. In the past, crews have regularly trained on weekends at Reading Rowing Club or Dorney Lake. The club will cover the costs associated with these sessions, other than transport, which is at the expense of the rower.
External Racing
Costs associated with all Oxford-based events organised by Oxford University Rowing Clubs (OURCs) are covered by the termly subscription fees. GTBC compete in many external regattas throughout the year across the UK, and occasionally internationally. Unfortunately, the club cannot subsidise all external racing costs, however, for events that are deemed to be ‘priority’ events by squad captains and coaches, the club will subsidise the following costs for athletes:
- 50% of entry fees
- 50% of boating fees
- 50% of boat trailering costs
Transport costs are the responsibility of the athlete for external events.
For most external races, athletes will need to be British Rowing Members. Memberships can either be purchased as an annual or single day pass. More information about memberships
Merchandise
There is a wide range of GTBC branded rowing apparel and merchandise that can be purchased by club members. The Kit Officer will organise regularly large orders from suppliers, which is normally the cheapest way to buy merchandise. Members can also order GTBC merchandise at any time directly from our suppliers Stitch Rowing
The club also has sets of unisuits that can be borrowed by athletes for racing.
Boat Club Dinners
After each major OURCs regatta (Novice Regatta – Michaelmas, Torpids – Hilary, Summer Eights – Trinity) GTBC hosts a formal dinner in the dining room at college. These dinners are always a highlight of the rowing calendar and subsidised costs depend on whether the member is a student or non-student and whether they take wine with their dinner. Dinners include 3 courses, with pre-drinks and post-dinner coffee, tea, and chocolates.
Speeches are held after dinner along with award giving. Whole club and crew photos are also taken. After the formalities have been completed, members often continue to socialise into the early hours of the morning at post-dinner events organised by our social secretaries.
