Coxing is ‘a huge trust thing’

Saint Peter’s petite coxswain duo Brooke Houston and Anabelle Mcguire say there’s a lot more to coxing a boat than sitting back and enjoying the scenery. 

Both girls usually cox for under-16 sculling quads crews,  for either the girls’ or boys’ squads. 

The role of a cox involves steering the boat and providing motivation for the rowers.

“We’ve got to get the boat down straight and fast,” Mcguire said. 

For the under-16s the coxes must be 50kg. Any less and they carry dead-weight to balance the boat. 

Houston said that the coxes attend every rowing training and do a lot of study. 

“We actually have a role, we’re not just getting dragged down,” she joked. 

“And as the only person not rowing in the boat it’s kind of our job to make them dig deep to the point where they can’t push themselves,” said Houston. 

The girls said it is important that coxes are liked and respected by their squad. 

“Cause you’re like yelling at them,” Houston said. 

“It is a huge trust thing as well…we’re like a little coach talking to them,” said Mcguire.

“It can be a pressured job, their job is to power it, you’ve got to do the rest,” she said. 

It’s especially important for the coxes to be able to read the nerves and mood of the crew, the girls said.

That’s especially true in the bow.

“They can’t see,” said Houston. “You’ve got to be the eyes of the boat.” 

Despite the pressured role, the coxes have to hide their nerves, the duo said. 

“You’ve got to take all their stress but show that you’re calm,” said Mcguire. 

It’s harder to knock the nerves at a big events, said Housten. 

“At Maadi we get pretty nervous, the starting line is the worst,” she said. 

Mcguire is pleased with her results so far, having steered a crew straight into the semifinals on the first day. 

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