Don’t be confused. We all know Anna as one of the most successful women in the UK and World indoor rowing scene. What's new for 2007, however, is that Anna is learning how to row on the River Severn at Upton Rowing Club on their beginner's start-up programme. Over the spring and river floods permitting, through the summer - she’s had instruction from experienced coaches and has just graduated from Upton’s Foundation Course.

This meant over thirty sessions in the last four months, two or three times a week. Anna’s learnt how to scull (two oars per rower one in each hand) in coxed doubles, quads and the octuple. And for sweep rowing (use both your hands – one oar per rower) she’s been on the river in fours and eights. Mainly she sat in the stroke seat where she could set the rhythm.

She says that it’s been really exciting getting afloat and also challenging. They had an incident turning an eight in a fast flowing stream where the crew were confused listening to instructions from both the cox in their boat and the coach alongside in a launch at the same time. They returned to shore still afloat but as novices they experienced the strength of the river stream. Not the same as sitting safely on the Indoor Rower.

Anna has also had a go in the cox’s seat steering an eight and the chance to understand that everyone in the boat contributes to the success of the crew. She says this has been a great year learning something new and building on her strengths and skills from indoor rowing.

Upton Rowing Club is a small club with dedicated coaches but with limited resources. It’s on a great stretch of water and she’s also met new people. Alongside her training for the upcoming Indoor Rowing season there are further opportunities afloat with Upton Rowing Club. She says rowing in a women’s squad crew would be fun but so would single sculling or some recreation touring along the Severn. Overall, it’s going to be busy for Anna both indoors and on the water.