Two of the best- with Matt & Ellie
Ellie Cooke and Matt Long: Ellie is the UK’s top under-23 women’s sculler. A second-year Ancient History and Archaeology student, Ellie won a gold medal and two silver medals at the BUCS regatta. Matt, a first-year Business and Spanish student who secured three of RUBC’s gold medals at BUCS. Matt is the UK’s top under-23 men’s sculler.
Why rowing?
Matt: I’ve always done a few sports but when I did a ‘learn to row’ at Kingston Rowing Club I loved it and I just kept going from there really.
Ellie; I have run since I was 7 or 8, but I wanted a different sport that was still endurance but more interesting.
What are you most proud of achieving at RUBC?
Ellie; I’m really proud of myself and how I’ve improved at my time at Reading. My greatest achievement is April trials - that was the most rewarding individually.
Matt; Probably being undefeated in the men’s squad CotC (our Friday speed order water session) is well up there, but I think being a part of a squad that achieved some pretty banging BUCs results would be the main thing I’m proud of – and from a personal point would be taking the overall win at April trials.
Do either of you have committee roles? Why/Why not?
Matt; No, I’m a fresher, but Will Rand has made me fridge monitor recently, so I’m taking that pretty seriously.
Ellie; I’m a recruitment officer; I try and connect with new potential clams and get them ready to join us here at Reading.
“Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it”
What are 3 items you couldn’t live without?
Ellie; My car, I can’t cycle anywhere really. Caffeine, Falcon.
Matt; Falcon, Yellow Bike, A battered pair of Reeboks
What advice would you give yourself 2 years ago?
Ellie; to not be as scared of going to uni, Reading made it really easy to trust in the program and that the coaches know what they’re doing. I’d come to uni with an open mind and just get really stuck in. I’d also tell myself to get my catches in.
Matt; Take time to appreciate what you’re doing. Two years ago, I was at the beginning of doing some pretty cool stuff. “Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”- Ferris Bueller. You can get caught up in looking forward and forget to appreciate what’s actually cool right now. I’ve had a lot of enjoyment this season from not caring about the future, but just rocking up every day and having a great time training.
Which of the 4 RUBC values do you connect with the most?
(Respect, Unity, Belief, Commitment?)
Ellie; Commitment
Matt; Belief- I have a lot of self-belief and belief in clams. As a result, I don’t really get nervous racing - there’s no reason to be nervous when you trust what you can do, and having belief in training and having everyone moving towards the same goals.
Ellie; Can I revise my answer? I actually have a lot of belief in unity and I’m really committed to the idea of respect. Go Clams.
What one thing has contributed the most to your success?
Matt; Probably just a lack of stress and not overthinking- I’d say I live a pretty laidback life. It fundamentally comes down to the fact that I don’t waste time overthinking or over complicating things. I love rowing, and staying objective and relaxed about it helps make it more enjoyable, and hopefully more successful.
Ellie; The program written by Chris Bartley is the main reason I am where I am. I have a lot of trust in it.
What do you bench?
Ellie; 50kg
Matt; Not a lot. 70kg. For reps.
What are you most excited for the rest of the season?
Matt; I think it would be quite exciting to see how many PoW quads we can qualify for Henley as we can. I’m really excited to race there again for Reading.
Ellie; Going into my second racing season with Reading gives me the opportunity to take all the lessons I learned from last season and also just give it a good shove.
“Reading made it really easy to trust in the program and that the coaches know what they’re doing”
