Captain’s Report to the OGM, 19th July 2005

Important: A Health Warning

This is perhaps the most self-congratulatory document written in the history of our rowing club.  Reading it may cause involuntary retching.  You have been warned.

The Last Two Years

My, how time goes by.  Below is a non-exhaustive list of the club’s achievements during the Israel, Davidson, Collier years.  I love this sort of stuff…

Racing

  1. Club representation in the Goblets at Henley in 2004 and 2005.
  2. Club representation in the National Championship Open 2- final 2005.
  3. Gold at the National Veterans Regatta 2005.
  4. Club representation in international and national veteran regattas.
  5. Regatta wins in 1x, 2x, 2-, 4+, 4-, 4x.
  6. Regatta wins at N, S4, S3, S2, VetD, VetE, VetF, VetG.
  7. 134th in the 2005 HoRR – the club’s best result since 1998.
  8. Several head race wins.
  9. Two successful joint club regattas.
  10. Two successful trips to Düsseldorf for the Rhine Marathon.

Training & Coaching

  1. The overall fitness levels at the club have increased significantly.
  2. Winter training intensity increased significantly.
  3. Weekly, year-round ergo tests introduced.
  4. New professionally-run core-stability circuit sessions over the winter.
  5. A just-turn-up approach to on-water training has built squad flexibility.
  6. Nick Rowett continues to coach the club styleee.
  7. Three members gained the ARA Instructor’s Award qualification.
  8. Cygnet at the British Indoor Rowing Champs 2003 and 2004.
  9. Cygnet at the Marlow Rowers Revenge Triathlon 2004.
  10. Week-long sculling camps at the bungalow with record numbers of swimmers…erm…scullers.

Boats

1.      Two new Janousek pairs purchased 2004.

2.      A new Janousek single purchased 2005.

Social

Arguably the glue that binds us all together - the aerobic effects of Leffe and Barnes Bridge Ladies in ball gowns are well documented:

  1. Ever-more aggressive Waddles including the first six-venue seven-pint (with optional tequila) Waddle, and the first international Vaddle.
  2. Balls, end-of-season dinners, cocktail parties, sports days, marquees, sheds, mixed football, impromptu BBQs, quizzes, bike rides, concerts, dinner parties, birthday parties, food after training, beer on the steps, a packed bar, etc, etc, etc.
  3. Hosted AKRC vets for 6 months.  Discovered the “AK Special”.
  4. RGB 40th celebrations.  Düsseldorf; Altbier; KillerPiss; juggettes.
  5. Vets lunches.  Presidents - oh dear, oh dear.
  6. Committee meetings.  Sixpence on a Sunday, gentlemen never reverse, dear boy.
  7. Weddings.  Babies.
  8. The German Cultural Attaché.

Thanks

Most importantly thanks to Marj for her ceaseless hard work turning daft ideas into actual events.

 

Chris has done a fantastic job introducing new members to the club and masterminding sculling camp.  Neil has worked tirelessly on too many things to list which have kept us moving forward, whilst simultaneously keeping us all well lubricated.

 

The past and present captains of BBLRC - Esme, Tammy and their colleagues - all deserve our thanks.  Everything we do is more fun if the girls are (a) involved and (b) wearing bikinis.  I think the inter-club relationship is as strong as it has ever been, with new couplings happening so fast even Theresa can’t keep up.

 

We have worked hard to create and maintain links with local rowing clubs.  Both Nick Hubbard at AK and Anthony Cake at Putney Town have helped Cygnet on numerous occasions in the last two years and deserve our thanks.

 

Lastly, crucially, well done to everyone who understands that both rowing and Cygnet are much more about what you put in than what you take out.  Everybody’s attitude has been positive and moaning (whilst inevitably there’s been some) has been kept to a minimum.  It really has been about keeping it simple and having fun and I think we should all be very proud of what we have achieved together.

 

“Just reach an unsustainable level of work…and then sustain it.”

 

Mike Collier, 18th July 2005.