Katherine Ferris
Squads
Boat Race History
- 2018 Oxford Women’s Lightweight Reserves Boat
- 2019 Oxford Women’s Lightweight Boat
- 2023 Oxford Women’s Lightweight Boat
About Katherine :
What course are you studying and what level?
DPhil in Oncology
Why did you chose that course?
I love understanding the detail of how living things work, and studying the way cancer cells subvert standard cellular processes to promote their own growth and survival is a great way to dissect the mechanisms behind these processes, combining academic curiosity with clinical relevance.
When, where and why did you start rowing? And what do you love about the sport?
2016, with Trinity College (Oxford). I had lived with rowers in my first year at uni and thought it sounded fun, plus it seemed a shame to be at Oxford and not try the sport so closely associated with the university. I love how it combines raw power with technical finesse, and the way you can see quantifiable progress but always with room for improvement. I was quickly hooked by the pursuit of a perfect stroke, however unattainable! As a cox, I enjoy the challenge of working out how to get the best from my crew in training and racing, and the extra focus on feeling how a boat moves and manoeuvres. There is another level of complexity to the sport that I didn’t fully appreciate as a rower, and I love the tactical and psychological elements that coxing gives a space to explore.
What was your first rowing club and coach?
Trinity College Boat Club, Finn Lawton & Alexander Rowe-Jones
How has rowing and being part of the Boat Race squad impacted your life?
I love the teamwork and camaraderie of rowing, especially with the added intensity that the Boat Race brings. There is something wonderful about turning up in September to a sea of new faces, knowing that, by Easter, they will be some of your closest friends. Being part of the Boat Race squad has also given me confidence in my own ability to push my physical and mental limits, and the awareness of when it is more productive to retreat into my comfort zone. There is something addictive about pursing both academic and athletic excellence simultaneously, but it is a delicate balance and recovery is at least as important as work!
If you weren’t a rower, what sport do you think you’d excel at?
Nothing with a ball, that’s for sure! Maybe athletics? Something that doesn’t require too much hand-eye coordination!
