Engineering the Perfect Article: Phoebe's JRN Journey

Phoebe Horan is a former Captain of Boats at Headington School Oxford Boat Club and had a vastly successful junior career, winning the inaugural Prince Philip Challenge Trophy at Henley Royal Regatta in 2021.

After contributing to our junior team for three years, including as Junior Editor for the 22/23 season, Phoebe is now jointly responsible for editing the Student and Senior section.

Day-to-day, Phoebe studies Civil Engineering at the 英国巴斯大学 and rows for the university boat club.

Ed Evans sat down with Phoebe over the summer to explore her journey as an athlete, student, and journalist.

Ed: Hey Phoebe, thanks for finding time to sit down! You've been with JRN for several years now: what first prompted you to apply?

Phoebe: Hi Ed, no worries at all. I first applied after hearing about writing for JRN from a few friends who did it and recommended having a go. Rowing is a small community, so after a while, you tend to get to know quite a lot about the circuit.

I was interested in the opportunity to use this otherwise useless knowledge to write about the circuit beyond general regatta chatter. I was also about to start my A Levels and thought it would be an excellent opportunity to improve my communication skills ahead of the university application process.

Ed: You first joined as a staff writer and are now jointly responsible for editing the written output of our senior domestic team: how would you describe your JRN journey?

Phoebe: I have had a great time so far with JRN: it has been something I've enjoyed doing alongside whatever else I've got going on. I particularly like how, through entering as a writer, you have the opportunity to immediately work at the heart of the JRN operation whilst also growing and enhancing your skill set.

Becoming an editor has allowed me to understand more of the intricacies involved in producing content at our current scale. I've really enjoyed seeing the company grow in recent years, and it is a testament to all the hard work everyone puts in.

Ed: You're a student-athlete balancing an engineering degree alongside your role at JRN. It must be a busy lifestyle: what has made you stick around at JRN?

Phoebe: I think I have learnt that if you genuinely enjoy something, you will make time for it. Plus, I'm definitely one of those people who just love to be busy.

I have always enjoyed being involved with JRN and the work we've produced, so it's just been something I have always managed to work into my schedule. Furthermore, I've liked being a part of the team, working alongside like-minded people, and the supportive atmosphere that has developed.

Ed: Do you see any parallels between your rowing, studying and work at JRN?

Phoebe: Organisation. I think this carries on from my school days, but just the organisation and self-discipline it takes to balance multiple things simultaneously. Whether that be managing training around assignments or editing, just being organised and having a clear plan of what to do and when is super important.

I would also say communication is a top parallel. Rowing is obviously a very physically demanding sport, but it's also essential to have good communication skills and create a supportive atmosphere and environment in which to train and race. Similarly, at JRN, communication is vital in all the work we produce to effectively convey the writer's voice and perspective to the audience. It's exactly the same for me when doing university work—communication is, again, critical.

Ed: JRN has undergone profound and rapid change over recent years - what stands out to you as our most exciting development, and what are you most looking forward to at JRN this year?

Phoebe: There are so many exciting things happening at JRN this year. I have two top things I'm most excited about this year that spring to mind. Firstly, we have the largest team yet. To me, it is super exciting to read articles from more voices, learn their perspective on the rowing world and cover a wider variety of events. The more exposure for events, clubs and the sport, the better!

I also look forward to seeing what Rachel and her new international team can produce and learning more about the sport outside the circuit, which I have become very familiar with.

Ed: Finally, what's your most outlandish prediction for 2025?

Phoebe: Ahh, I’m afraid I’m going to have to keep that one to myself. Although I'm sure, most people who know me well enough can probably predict it, given that it has basically become a yearly prediction!