I am currently in my first year at Cambridge University studying Engineering
Lightweight Rowing
I became involved in Rowing in 2005 through an extra curricular club that was set up at Oakwood Park Grammar School when the Amateur Rowing Association provided funds for Maidstone Invicta Rowing Club to link with local schools in order to bring more youngsters into the sport
Since 2005
John Thicknes
My biggest achievement has been representing England at the Home Countries International Regatta (HIR) and winning gold, also this year representing Cambridge in the Lightweight Blue Boat
My aspiration for the future is to represent Great Britain at the FISU World University Championships, then go on to win a gold medal at the olympics whilst representing the GB lightweight squad
My proudest moment is most definately crossing the line in 1st place whilst representing England at Home countries, having had to row through the Irish crew in the last 500m
I train 12 times a week, with training based around training cycles of 3 weeks, (Light, Medium , Heavy intensity, then back to Light intensity for week 4, ect)
Sponsorship will leave me free to concentrate on my training and studies and alleviate the additional worry of how to finance travel, accommodation, training camps, and competition entry fees
To any business willing to sponsor me I would say that I have immense enthusiasm and energy for things I believe in and this has been really important in my involvement in high performance sport outside school over the last 2 years.
My hero is Zac Purchase, as he is the current world record holder for the lightweight single sculls, and also in 2008 won all three world cups and won an Olympic gold in the lightweight double sculls, the first ever lightweight crew to achieve this
The advice I would give to other sportsmen/women is to believe in yourself and maintain a good rounded balance in life
The thing I most enjoy about Rowing is that it has taught me some really valuable lessons about the importance both of self discipline to achieve my own targets and of pulling together to get to the finish line when working as a team
I do not currently receive any sponsorship
Results
Head of the River Race
03/04/11
Won the Halladay Trophy at Head of the River Race, London
Henley Boat Races 2011
27/03/11
Lost to Oxford by a canvas
National Championships of Great Britain
18/07/09 - 19/07/09
Won the Junior Mens Coxless fours, resulting in selection for England
Home Countries International Regatta (HIR)
25/07/09
Represented England in the Junior Mens coxless fours and won gold
