News & Events
Cygnet Weekly Bugle
15th December 2015
Hi Cygnets one and all,
A fab time was had by all who made the Waddle and the Christmas party on Saturday with unrestrained wild dancing display from the Cygnets. Bouncing up and down is without question our best move and we can keep it going most of the evening which is a testimony to the circuits and Ergs that we've put in over the autumn. Special awards to Tom, James and Rob for innovation and energy. We must do it more often. Hopefully by now the last of the hangovers should have cleared.
Well, a very rare calmish weekend on the Tideway, with more good experience and rowing miles for our latest recruits without the help of any seniors. A few wobbles but lots of encouraging signs of the crew coming together. Thanks to Alan for his excellent instruction. For those who made it on the river on Sunday, I tell you it was the bestest, flatest water for months, absolute sculling heaven. And thanks to everyone who did the 5k erg test on Thursday, good to see all the ergs in use and the competitive juices flowing. So, this week:
Tuesday:
7:15 pm Circuits with Maxi - final session of the year to be held AT THE CLUB!!!! Burn off some Christmas calories pre-emptively.
Thurs:
7pm Squad Erg 3 x 10 mins 4,3,2,1, @ 26,28,30,32 with 3 mins rest between. A bit of a thrash to work up a thirst for drinks in Ye White Hart afterwards.
Weekend:
Saturday 8am
Coached session
Sunday 10am
Plum Pudding Race (race starts from the Pink House at 11:15) So far we have the following crew available PPs and Y on the spreadsheet: Bart, Gav, Matt, Jez, Simon, Iain, Robin, Tom B Rashid, William, James, Rob, Scott L, Abhijeet Marj is available to cox, Claudia TBC.
If we find a couple more people we could get 2 8's out. Otherwise we'll try to enter an 8+ and a 4. So BDF, Nick B, Nick R Big Jim R are you up for it? More info to follow when the final numbers are in.
I think that's it for now. Have a good week, see you on Thursday
Jez
Cygnet Weekly News 7th December
7th December 2015
The weekend's rowing was rather impacted by Desmond which (who?) caused the cancellation of Scullers Head. It was certainly the right decision given the strength of the wind but it's disappointing for those who trained and psyched themselves up for it. Better conditions on Sunday allowed the 8+ to get out and by all accounts it was a good outing.
With that in mind, Plum Puddings festive rowing event should take place on the weekend of 19/20th December, probably on the 20th. For those of you who aren't familiar with it, it is a processional rowing event usually from the Pink House in Isleworth back to Chiswick Bridge (~4.5k) that resembles a Head race except it's not a race as such. It involves local clubs and about 15 or so crews with a rough handicap of setting off slowest crews first with the winner being the first back to Quintin flagpole. Mulled wine and mince pies back at the club afterwards. Depending on who is up for it, I'd like us to to put out and crew made up half and half between newer youthful rowers and more experienced guys. It's a lot of fun and gives you a taste of what racing might be like (without actually being a race). So if you are keen to be in it then please put "PP" for the 19th /20th on the spreadsheet. You know you want to.
This week:
Tuesday 7:15 Circuit with Maxi at Cavendish School - final chance to tone up before the Xmas party and trying to squeeze into your dinner suit.
Thursday 7:00pm 'Fraid it's got to be done.... 5k Test rate capped 26 spm. Let's aim to start together at 7:30 following a 10 min warm up. Weekend:
Weather prospects look better so we may even get a relatively calm weekend and good water, so get your availability up to date so I can get as many Cygnets as possible on the water. Plan is for 8am outing on Saturday and 10 am Sunday (chance to recover from BBL Xmas Party and Cygnet Waddle)
Other Important Stuff: Go take a look at the Cygnet RC Historic Archive which is now published on the club website. Immerse yourself in club history and nostalgia. And see what some senior members looked like in their prime. And for those looking for Last minute Christmas gift ideas, what every well-heeled Cygnet should be unwrapping on Christmas morning etc, essential reading blah, blah. is the Club History. Beautifully presented in Cygnet Stripes it will surely grace any bookshelf and coffee table and be the talking point amongst all your Christmas drinks guests. A mere £15 for a quality gift. Contact Paul Rawkins (prawkins@googlemail.com) to secure your festive copy whilst stocks of these collectable items last!
Much Further Ahead January to March is 8+ head racing season culminating in the Head of the River Race on the 19th March. The aim is to get at least 2/3 crews racing over that weekend. This will be the focus of the training in the new year so I'll be chasing you to know who is up for it so we can plan the campaign. Based on what I've seen we've got a great bunch from the GFAR who are getting the water time and doing the land training to be ready to put in a good performance come March. I think that's it for now, update your availability and I'll get the weekend plan out later, Have good weekk Jez PS The Waddle on Saturday is pretty much mandatory even it you are not attending the BBL Party. Cris will plan the route and timings, lookout for his update.
Cygnet Weekly Update 30th November
30th November 2015
Well the seasons certainly have turned and those Indian summer days of September and October are a rather distant memory. Wild and windy at the weekend, but it's a tough sport and we rowers man up and get on with it. The Sculling Six rowed the Scullers Head course in 40mph winds on Sunday as a dress rehearsal for Saturday when the conditions could be just as challenging. And there were another couple of outings in the 8+ for our GFAR graduates getting more rowing miles under their belts and showing real promise. No reason why we can get a mixed Senior/Novice crew on the water for the Plums Puddings and get first experience of rowing at race pace. The most likely date for it is the 20th December, if you are interested in taking part can you put "PP" on the availability spreadsheet for that day.
This week:
Tuesday 7:15pm Circuits with Maxi at Cavendish School, Edensor Road
Great turnout last week, lets see the same again tomorrow.
Thursday: 7pm Squad Erg in the Shed. For those entering Scullers Head a short but sweet. Erg: 1x7', 1x5' @ target 5k pace, 2' @ over rate/pace, drag 125. If others feel short changed by this then the alternative is 2 x 20 mins r24/26 (change after 10 mins) 5 mins rest. Claudia is cooking afterwards, stay for food and chat after the erg.
Weekend:
Saturday
It's Scullers Head at 11am with Bart (150), Guy (288), Neil (299), Jez (321), Robin (380) and Cris (383) entered. This is one mentally and physically tough event rowed in the depths of winter over the Boat Race course. We would all very much appreciate a cheer as we go past the club or anywhere else on the course.
The river will be closed from 10am for Scullers Head so any outing has to be early and so far only 4 people have signed up as available and our two regular coxes are racing SH so I think this is likely to be a land based session,
Sunday - we have more people available so will have an 8+ out (10am to avoid the flood tide), but there are lots of gaps on the December spreadsheet right now. Now we've moved on to December can you fill in your availability for the month please.
Further Ahead:
Saturday 12th December is BBL/Cygnet party time. Cris is doing a grand job as usual publicising this. If you are not coming to the party you still should come along to the Cygnet Waddle that takes place before hand which will take in a selection of Mortlake and Barnes pubs before ending up at the Bulls Head. Cris will send the itinerary nearer the time.
Sunday 20th - probable date for Plum Puds
A thought for 2016
It's been great to welcome a bunch of new recruits to the club and seeing their development and enthusiasm. It would be good to grow the squad further, so can we all look to "find a friend" to introduce to the club and give them the gift of rowing (that just keeps giving) .
Have a good week, see you Thursday/weekend
Jez
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