Finding Her Coxing Voice: Hannah Murphy

Coxswain Chronicles: This is Part of an Ongoing Interview Series

Even the most optimistic of Light Blue fanatics cannot have dreamt that curving around the final Barnes Bridge bend, Cambridge's women would have numerous lengths of clear water on their Dark Blue rivals. In the weeks leading up to the Women's Boat Race, all the conversation had been focused on Oxford and their turning of the tide to stem the overpowering flow of six consecutive Cambridge Boat Race wins. Off the start, it was indeed Alan French's girls who stole the early initiative, but thanks to the cool heads of Cambridge's crew and the decisive actions of Hannah Murphy, the Light Blue steerswoman, it was Paddy Ryan who ended up claiming his third win in three years.

Hannah spoke to NK shortly after the race.

How did you first get into coxing?

I first got into coxing the summer after year eight. Westside Rowing Club was around the corner from my house, hosting a learn-to-row summer camp. I rowed on the first day of camp and on day two they asked if anyone wanted to try coxing. I wasn't really sure what it was about but even at 13 I knew I liked being the one in charge. I volunteered and haven't looked back since (despite a few growth spurts).

What really kept you involved in the very beginning and how has that evolved over the years?

I think what really kept me involved in the beginning were the relationships I had with my teammates. Over the years, as the boats have gotten faster and I've (hopefully) gotten better, this keeps me returning to the sport. As the intensity has built throughout my rowing career, the bonds have become stronger. The team and the culture really drew me into Syracuse when I was deciding where to do my undergraduate studies, and to this day, my teammates and the culture are my favorite part of my time there. I've also been lucky to have coaches at every step of the way who have valued coxswains and cared about my development. I cannot overstate how much of an impact this had on my ability, my confidence, and my love for the sport.

What was your first club like, and how important were they to your growth?

My first club was a hybrid between my school team, City Honors Crew, and the club we rowed out of, Westside Rowing Club, as I coxed for both programs congruently throughout high school. By rowing for the club and the school, I had exposure to programs with six eight worth of girls (WSRC) and programs with just ten to 12 rowers (CHC). Through these experiences, I learned how to compete while working with other coxswains and how to run a multi-boat practices, but also the value of riding in the launch and how much boat feel you can really find in a bow-coxed four.

How would you define your coxing style?

I feel like it can be hard to describe your own style sometimes, but I would say I am exceptionally competitive, but in a calm, well-planned manner. In the boat I strive to be calm, present, and internal, and to do that requires loads of work off the water, especially in a Boat race scenario. I really prioritize building trust and confidence with the crew on and off the water, learning what makes them “go”, and building a race plan around that.

In your opinion, what is the most important attribute a successful coxswain must imbue?

I am torn between two on this; being a good listener and being confident. They may seem a bit at odds with one another, but there's no point in being confident if you have no idea what you're talking about, and there's no use being a student of the sport if you don't have the confidence to use what you've learned. I think listening to the athletes in your crew and other, more experienced coxswains with an open mind while learning how to take constructive criticism is vital to improving. Listen to yourself, listen to other coxswains, and listen to the athletes. As far as confidence goes, I think a bit of self-belief goes a long way, especially in racing scenarios.

What has been your favourite coxing memory?

I think this one might be obvious, but my favourite coxing memory has been participating in the Boat Race. I've been watching the event since I first started rowing, and it seemed so far away - the pinnacle of rowing, and something I could only dream of competing in. Even after I applied, I didn't believe I would get in and even after I got in, I thought there was no way I'd make a boat. This feeling was exemplified when I showed up to the first day of preseason and there were 11 coxswains on the squad, three of whom had won the event last year. After a bit of finding my feet last fall, I came out of trial eights feeling for the first time like I truly had a shot. Even when I'd been officially announced as the blue boat coxswain, it didn't quite feel real until I sat on the start line, looking at the incredible eight women in front of me and the 6.8k we had left together. Winning by a seven-length margin after coming in as the underdogs and being a length down through Hammersmith was an unbelievable experience and felt like the culmination of what's really been a ten-year journey for me.

Talk me through The Boat Race - how did you manage what was a complicated contest?

There's been a lot of talk over the “bump” in the boatrace, and I personally have had a few mixed feelings about it, mainly because I feel like it takes away from the incredible rowing that went on that day from both sides. I think coming in we knew a bump was a possibility, but until it was happening, I didn't quite know what to expect. For me, the most important thing in that moment (besides staying in my water) was staying calm and getting out of the situation as quickly as possible. It would have been easy for that to completely throw us and shatter the comeback we had just made, but the crew had 100% confidence in each other. From there, we just took off and arguably came out of the bump in a stronger rhythm than we had been. The four minutes between Oxford finishing and the white flag being raised was probably the longest four minutes of my life!

What was the biggest learning curve during your coxing journey and how did you tackle it?

I think learning to take risks and have a bit of fun in my coxing was a big learning curve. I spent a lot of my undergraduate career being really serious in the boat, and while it was effective, it wasn't always super enjoyable for me or the crew, especially if the session wasn't going well. I still wouldn't say I've totally conquered this challenge, but I can hear in my recordings when I'm enjoying the row and it genuinely makes my coxing so much stronger when I'm having fun.

What is the one bit of advice you'd give to a new cox trying to find his or her voice?

I think you must back yourself. I highly recommend putting in the work off the water, both in building relationships with the athlete and in building your rowing knowledge (learning the technical profile, asking your coach questions about what they're seeing, and listening to recordings) so that you can be confident to be yourself on the water.

How crucial is high quality equipment (like NK) to set you up for success?

Having high quality equipment is so important to success because you can be so prepared and execute your race plan flawlessly, but if no one can hear you, it doesn't really matter. Coxswains have so much admin and prep to worry about, so using NK equipment is one less thing I have to worry about on the start line.

How have NK supported you on your journey to becoming a Boat Race-winning cox?

I have only ever used NK equipment in my coxing career. I bought my own standard model coxbox when I was in year 10, and after moving to Syracuse stepped up to the GPS model. I've used a GPS model coxbox and speedcoach for nearly every session for the past six years, and I genuinely feel a bit lost when I don't have the data around me. Splits are so useful for communicating positive technical changes to the crew and help provide a baseline for long steady rows. The GPX recording was incredibly useful in studying the line for the leadup to the Boat Race, as we were able to build a collection of GPX traces across the season dating all the way back to Fours Head to help understand the changing tide with the increased rain fall.