Captain’s Report to the Committee 24th September 2006

Training and racing.

Since the last meeting Cygnet has raced in 3 regattas; Kingston, St Neots and Peterborough Summer plus the club day here on the Tideway. From those events we had just one qualifying and two non-qualifing wins but some very encouraging sweep and sculling performances at the high quality Peterborough Summer Regatta. We also picked-up a couple of Vet Sculling wins (at Lee and Cambridge Autumn) courtesy of Chris Jillings, who always races as a Cygnet.

As expected Peterborough turned out to be the last racing of the season and after a long season that started on 22nd April most of the regulars have taken the opportunity to take a break since then. This has given us the opportunity to blood quite a little flurry of potential new members and novices. Many thanks to Stuart for his continuing hard work arranging these sessions for the new guys.

Evening outings have now stopped because of the failing sunlight and weekend outings have been a bit sporadic but we've had boats out on a regular basis.

Sculling Camp was a bigger event than last Autumn although not as busy as the April event. Although noting really much changes it was once again judged successful with lots of first timers experiencing the joys of single sculling and many of them brushing-up on their swimming skills as well! Mike and Theresa have kindly arranged a follow-up session on the Tideway this Sunday to try and keep the momentum going. Thanks to Stu for his organisation, Katy for the catering and Ronnie for use of the Bungalow.

We have entered a Senior 3 pair, Senior 1 pair and two senior 4 doubles into the Pairs Head. Chris Davidson is also soliciting support for single scullers to join him in the Weybridge Silver Sculls in preparation for the Scullers Head.

Winter training kicks of in earnest with the Rowers Revenge triathlon on 1st October where we have a very encouraging 16 entries. From then the usual form will apply with weekend outings (in eights as much as possible) and weekday land training including ergs, weight and circuits. We've had promises of coaching for all training both on and off the water (see below)

Boats, Sales, Repairs and Racking

The whole fleet is currently in the boat shop, rigged and ready to row except for Cygnets, which was damaged at Sculling camp and is already with Andre awaiting a new shoulder. Currently the Du Parcq is rigged as a quad with the 12 Feb and YWH as doubles with the rest set-up to sweep. We are still having trouble getting hold of the replacement quad rigger for the Du Parcq, but it is in hand and we’re using a Rawkins sculling rigger as a temporary replacement.

Apart from Cyngets we've not troubled Andre since the last meeting but I do propose taking both the Hamhaugh Island and Ye White Hart for a hull refurb after the Pairs Head. Marj has also ordered a large assortment of new bits from Janoseuk including shoes, riggers and hatches in order to keep the fleet in good repair. However we are still awaiting delivery due to Janoseuk's legendary poor service. Perhaps if we mention that we have 16k to spend on a new eight they might buck their ideas up!

With regards to buying a new boat I intend to adopt a wait and see position. If after winter training a boat emerges that could go on to some of the 2k regattas and even Henley then I will buy the appropriate boat (hopefully an eight!). Even if a potential Henley boat fails to materialise I do believe that after all the fund raising we should spend (some of) that money on equipment rather then have it languishing in the bank.

The interest from York St, John RC in the sweep blades that we have for sale seems to have fallen by the wayside. I think that we are probably asking too much and should probably just get what we can for them.

In conjunction with the Boathouse Captain, we’re currently reviewing the racking situation. It is the Execs next major project to re-rack the boat shop but in the meantime BBLRC have disposed of the Coombs freeing up some space. The Golden Oldies has been retired to the garden as it is very rarely used.

I have designed an additional (covered) rack for single sculls to be positioned on the concrete in front of the shed and we have had a man round to look into re racking the boathouse but we’re still awaiting prices for both.

The trailer has been to De Graaff where it has received some long overdue TLC. It has been given a full service and had some parts replaced including the jockey wheel, break-away cable, hitch lock and wheel lock. Not a cheap trip but the costs are being shared with BBLRC

Coaching.

Kathryn Pengelly will continue to coach on a regular basis over the winter. Kathryn has declined to row with BBLRC again this season and will focus all her attention on coaching Cygnet. Her partner Peter Humphries will also do more coaching than rowing and we have had offers of coaching from Mike Collier and Simon French. We will continue to employ Greg Edelston to run circuits, which we hope to do in conjunction with Putney Town RC.

Particular thanks to Alan Cox who makes himself available at least once a week, usually more for whatever role I require of him, mostly with the steady trickle of incoming novices.

As always we are very much in need of another coxswain to take the pressure off Marj. Esme Wingrove has again offered to cox specific head races this season but a regular club cox would be a major advantage particularly considering the continuing influx of new novices.

Neil 21/09/06