News & Events
Cygnet Weekly Update: Tuesday 5th May
5th May 2015
Evening All,
This week's is slightly later and shorter than usual, for which I offer no excuse except the bank holiday yesterday.
A bank holiday Monday, incidentally, that saw Cygnet crews training on the water. And very encouraging to see so many at the club tonight and that a) all crews wisely stayed off the water on account of the conditions, and b) everyone decamped to the shed to do an erg instead.
All good prep for Borne Regatta this Saturday, where all but one of our crews have got races over the whole day:
Nov 4+ heat at 0830, final at 1040
Guy's Nov 1x heat at 1025, semi at 1230, final at 1335
Guy's Mas.C 1x straight final at 1600
And then all hell breaks loose:
Our four Cyg/BBL Mixed 4+s make up the entire field (first pots of the season!). Semi finals at 1554 and 1630, final at 1724.
And finally, the IM3 8+ is in a straight final at 1748.
By which time, we'll all be in need of a beer. At lest two of which will be served in pewter.
This week's focus is on racing crews getting on the water (conditions permitting). Crews lists being sorted separately.
Don't forget Cris is cooking after training on Thursday evening, let him know if you want some grub.
Looking further ahead, or next priority regatta is Twickenham Regatta on Sat 23rd. That's the bank holiday weekend (and the Queen's birthday Privilege Day for the Civil Servants amongst us). Please update the spreadsheet with availability for the rest of the month.
Other stuff
Kit
A reminder about the 125th commemorative kit at the smarter end of the scale (Blazers, ties, cuff links etc.) Details on the website along with links to the online order form (Doodle poll). Bagsy early to avoid disappointment.
In terms of kit more suitable for being in a boat, be assured that there will also be a kit ordering window opening soon.
Not a sub-heading that appears too often... Put Friday 17th July in your diaries for a reception in the House of Lords as part of Cygnet's 125th birthday celebrations. An evening reception (although earlier for those who may want a tour of Parliament), hosted by Lord Moynihan, and will involve varying quantities of canapes, wine, speeches, Cygnet blazers etc. More details here. All welcome.
And finally, a message from the Slys:
GRATEFUL THANKS
Pat, Prudence and Oscar Sly would like to thank all the very many friends who were in touch following Peter's death on 9 March. We received over 200 cards, letters and emails as well as phone calls - many containing personal recollections starting from those early days in the 1960s and 70s when Peter and I were so very involved in the two clubs as well as more recent times, especially Henley Fridays. Thank you also to all those who were able to actually get inside St Nicholas Church, Remenham,for Peter's funeral and to those who listenedto the service from outside over the loudspeakers. We are sorry not to have been able to speak to everyone on the day - and we understand that there were over 300 people at the church! - but your presence to celebrate Peter's life and to say "Goodbye" to him was so very much appreciated.
Henley Friday at Old Blades will continue to be available to the members and friends of both Cygnet and Barnes Bridge Ladies, the 2015 date being 3 July. We look forward to seeing some of you then. The Sly Family x
D
Cygnet Weekly Update: Monday 27th Apr 2015
27th April 2015
Evening All,
Good to see various boats out over the weekend, even if it didn't feel particularly summery and was rather choppy. But all good on-the-water time now that Regatta season is upon us. (And under-the-water time for those that chose to do an impromptu capsize drill...)
As discussed at the Squad Meeting last week, we will be looking to enter several boats at Borne Regatta on Saturday 9th May. So far we have about a dozen Cygnets down as available to race, which is encouraging at what will be our first regatta of many this season. Entries close at the weekend, so if you haven't updated the spreadsheet, do so asap. And not forgetting to include availability through the week, so that we can get crew combinations out training.
At Borne we're also looking to enter some Mixed 4+s with Barnes Bridge. These will be largely scratch crews, and should be fun, so we're assuming everyone that is available to race is also up for doubling-up on the day.
We will have a couple of potential new members around the club over the next couple of weeks. It doesn't look like we've got the numbers for a formal Learn-to-Row course, so if you see a new face on the ergs, do introduce yourself, and perhaps share some of your rowing wisdom.
This week
Cygnet Erg of the Week: 3x 8mins (1st r24, 2nd r26, 3rd r28)
(Now that British 'Summer' Time is upon us, we don't have a set Squad Erg Night - although Tuesdays are still our priority night in the shed. But you should endeavour to fit in at least this erg at some point in the week)
Tues evening 7pm - coached outings. If you're not in a boat, Erg of the Week in the shed.
Wed morning 7am - sculling pod (with BBLRC). Note that this is an informal and uncoached session, so for those who can already scull.
Wed evening - 7.30pm Cygnet Committee
Thurs evening 7pm - outings.
Thurs evening - post-outing food if a volunteer can be found to cook. Last week was an enjoyable St George's Day pint in the pub, next week Social Sec Cris is cooking, so if anyone can fill the gap this week, let him know.
Sat & Sun mornings - outings.
Other stuff
There is some spiffing kit and 'merchandise' being released to mark our 125th anniversary this year. Neil's been designing/ coordinating, and the details are already on the website along with links to the online order form (Doodle poll) and a pdf of a paper order form for those who prefer the old ways. There are also a couple of copies up in the changing room.
Finally, if anyone has seen any Royal Chester RC kit around, let me know - was left after the Vets Head.That's all for now.
D
Cygnet Weekly Update: Monday 20th April 2015
20th April 2015
Evening All,So, with Sculling Camp done and dusted, the Spring sunshine upon us, and the culmination of the Head season seemingly but a distant memory, it's time for regatta season.
We've got a Squad Meeting tomorrow (Tuesday), 8pm in the bar. Please come along if you can - it will be short and informal, but very useful to get an idea of what you want to get out of the summer season, what you'll be able to put in, and what the club can offer to help you get there. If you can't come along tomorrow evening, please drop me and Sue a line with your intentions/ ambitions for racing this season.
I've appended, below, a list of all the regattas that we have been to in the past or might consider. We very likely won't be represented at all of them, but have a look. We'll aim to identify the key ones we want to go to at the Squad Meeting.
Of course, we can't enter regattas unless people have told us they're available for the race and for the necessary training outings. So go onto the google sheet now, and update your availability, pleeeeease.
This week
Tues pm - Squad Erg: 2k test. This will hurt, but only for 7 minutes or so (ideally less - but remember that ANY TIME IS BETTER THAN NO TIME AT ALL!)
Tues 8pm - Squad Meeting. Whereat you may have a beer if you've completed the 2k test, above.
Wed am - ad hoc outings. Note, please don't use the Benrath at the moment as it's damaged.
Thurs pm - outings tbc.
Thurs pm - post-outing food. You'll have seen Cristobal's email on this - the Thursday evening post-training-session-sessions were a very welcome feature of the Head training season, so it would be great to keep this going. If you can volunteer for a catering effort, please let him know.
Sat and Sun am - outings tbc.
Further ahead/ 2015 Regattas:
Sat 25th Apr - Hammersmith (entries now closed)
Sat 2nd May - Chiswick (Bank Hol weekend)
Sat 9th May - Borne
Sat 16th May - Putney Town
Sat 23rd May - Twickenham (Bank Hol weekend)
Sat 30th May - Sun 31st - Met at Dorney
Sat 30th May - Sun 31st - Peterborough Spring
Sat 6th June - Walton & Weybridge
Sat 13th June - Barnes & Mortlake International
Sat 13th June - Sun 14th - Reading
(Fri 19th June - Sun 21st - Women's Henley)
Sat 20th June - Marlow at Dorney
Fri 26th June - HRR Qualifying Races
Sat 27th June - Richmond
Wed 1st July - Thu 2nd - HRR first rounds
Fri 3rd July - HRR Club Day
Fri 10th July - Sat 11th - Henley Masters
Sat 11th July - Sun 12th - Kingston
Sat 25th July - Sun 26th - St Neots
Sat 1st Aug - Henley Town & Visitors
Sat 8th Aug - Sun 9th - Peterborough Summer
Sat 15th Aug - Sun 16th - Oxford City
Sat 29th Aug - Sun 30th Aug - Gloucester (Bank Hol Weekend)
Sun 30th Aug - Mon 31st - Ross (Vets on Sat)
I think that's all for now - see you in the week.
D
