Captain’s Report to the Cygnet AGM – Sunday 18th February 2007

Neil Pickford, Feb. ‘07

Racing.

Since the OGM in July the club has raced at St.Neots, Peterborough Summer, Rowers Revenge Triathlon, Rhine Marathon, Pairs Head, VIs Head, BIRC and the Scullers Head. Alas, most of our pot winning was done earlier in the season but St. Neots once again proved a successful late season event with wins in Vet C Sculls, S1 Pair, S4 Four and an S2 Eight!

Training.

Sculling camp and another large entry into the Marlow RC Rowers Revenge Triathlon kept most of us training through September and weekday land training has continued much as previously with some long ergs, circuits and weights.

Circuits are conducted in conjunction with BBLRC (with dinner afterwards) to which attendance has been very encouraging. Ergs have also been very well attended despite being up to an hour in duration. Some new weight training equipment has been installed in the shed, which I hope will encourage more participation in this important training area.

As I have always maintained, fitness really is paramount in this sport and commitment to training has been reasonably good so far, which should pay dividends in the HoRR and over the regatta season.

Outings are generally restricted to weekends but there is a good turn-out for regular coached sessions to Richmond lock or Putney Bridge and crews have now been selected for the HoRR. There have also been sporadic second outings in sculling boats as well as some early morning efforts from the truly dedicated training for the Scullers Head.

Coaching.

Professional trainer Greg Edelston has now become a member of the club and continues to run circuit training, making these sessions hard but rowing specific and always varied. His Sports Massage skills have also been taken-up by several members.

Alan Cox continues to make himself regularly available at the weekends in whatever role I ask of him. This has been a huge help especially with the new novices and my thanks to Alan.

Kathryn and Peter continue to be our principle coaches as well as very (pro)active club and squad members. It is a great help to both me and the club as a whole to have continuous, qualified coaching on top of all the excellent voluntary efforts of club seniors.

Social.

Judging by the amount of hatches and matches going on, interaction between the clubs still seem to be fairly good! No EOS Dinner this year but a very successful Vets Lunch – an event that we hope to build on as the club’s primary social function.

I hear plenty of encouraging news for this year’s social calendar and it is hoped that by rearranging the room, to make the bar more accessible and encourage more use of it particularly after outings at the weekend. I’m also encouraged by the willingness of members to stay help out with jobs around the boathouse at the weekends. Perhaps it’s because these working parties usually evolve into drinking parties?

What’s next?

Two boats training for the HoRR and one in the Vets Head.

Building on the coaching and fitness generated for the Heads I expect to complete a full regatta season with, as per last season, particular emphasis on getting most of our (new) novice contingent up to senior status early on. Because of the buoyant membership I also hope to keep at least one eight racing in regattas.

With better weather and water I’d like to encourage more sculling on the Tideway It would be beneficial to follow up Sculling Camp with Tideway experience and I hope that a regular pod will resume with better conditions.

Membership

Interest in Cygnet RC has been good this season and we have had a steady stream of new members including a new cox. Particular thanks to Stuart for all his hard work in introducing and looking after all the new guys. We have also had renewed interest from some of the ‘more experienced’ seniors and the potential to put out three boats for the HoRR I think indicates a healthy membership and rowing squad.

Safety

As we know, safety and navigation have been and continue to be at the top of the agenda on the Tideway and I’m please to report that on the whole Cygnet has a good attitude and reputation towards this aspect of the sport. A sensible attitude pervades from the whole squad with excellent support from committee and WSA.

Thanks

Are due to my Captaincy team of Marj and Stuart for all of their often unsung work. Also thanks to everyone who gives their time to coach and cox, the committee for its support and the whole of the squad for its continued commitment and enthusiasm.

Neil

PS: I’d like to take the opportunity to announce my intention to stand-down as captain at the end of this term. I’d be very happy to discuss the role with anyone interested in taking on this challenging but enjoyable job.