News & Events
Cygnet Weekly Update: Monday 16th Mar 2015
16th March 2015
Evening All,
First up, well done to the Barnes Bridge crews who raced in the Women's Head on Saturday. And many thanks to those of you that helped with the boating, numbering, eating, as required. In amongst that activity, we also had crews training at ungodly hours - the Tideway's lovely and quiet at 6am...
In other news, our kit order has arrived. It's in a box in the caboose, conveniently sorted into named bags. If you missed out on this order, we'll likely open another ordering window in the summer (although you can of course order at any time at slightly more expensive prices on the Godfrey website).
This week
Both the Masters and Novice 8s are squeezing in outings wherever availability allows, but do try to fit in the erg and circuits if at all possible.Tues - Squad Erg Night - 50min r20, feet out. Only a couple more Tuesday night Squad Ergs until the clocks change and we have more evening outings - do keep at them, they're all part of Coach Sue's masterplan.
Wed am - small boat outing - largely self-organising (but let me or Ian know if you're interested in jumping in a boat).
Thurs - circuits - meet at 7.00 at the club or 7.15pm at the school.
Thurs - post-training food - I'm cooking this week. If you're staying on for food, please let me know (and probably brace yourselves for an anticlimax following Cris's bigging up email and Sarah T's magnificent Mexican feast last week).
Sat & Sun outings - currently both 8s are sorting out their own availability (much to Sue's visible relief) - please help out by jumping in if asked. If you are not in a racing boat but available to row, please keep the spreadsheet up to date, and we will try and get a smaller boat or two out.
Other stuff
- there's still a call-out for helpers at the HORR weekend - let Nick B know if you can help. Also, the race organisers are still looking for launch drivers - let me know.
- you'll have seen Nick B's message about Sculling Camp, which kicks off on Fri 10th April. One potential issue this year is drivers - we have a small list of able and willing ute & trailers drivers for this and all the other occasions when we venture away from the Tideway. If you passed your test before 1997 and would be willing to lend a hand, let me know, and one of us can show you what's what.Finally, the Head season finishes on Sun 29th with the HORR, just in time for the Regatta season starting (Hammersmith Regatta is 25th April). Both 8s (including supersubs) are improving all the time, and so we should be able to get strong racing combinations out of both for the summer races. And/or some sculling crews. We will try and have an informal squad meeting after the Heads, so worth thinking now about what you want to achieve in the Summer, and how to build on the solid base we've developed so far.
I think that's all for now.
D
Cygnet Weekly Update: Monday 9th Mar 2015
9th March 2015
Evening All,
And sad news to report. Our Cygnet President Peter Sly died peacefully this afternoon, surrounded by his family. A long time friend, supporter, and stalwart of the club - many happy memories (one of my favourite Cygnet moments is passing Old Blades in the Henley Qualifiers, hearing Peter's vocal support from the bank, and spying him under his wide-brimmed hat). A great loss, and we send our love to the Slys.
On the Tideway, we are ramping up to the last hurrahs of the Head season, with Women's Head this Saturday, and the Vets and Mens' Heads two weeks after that. The boathouse will be very busy this Saturday, as 60-odd crews boat, including three Barnes Bridge Ladies crews. A couple of important things to remember:
- the race starts at 9.30am, Chiswick Bridge to Putney.
- Barnes Bridge Ladies are racing at #40 (IM3), #69 (Mas.C), #70 (Mas.F composite), and #294 (Nov). Come down to give them a cheer.
- if you can lend a hand with any of Nick B's boating jobs, there's still time to put yourself forward and you will be put to very good use.
- there will be catering and the bar will be open.
- BBL will be using the men's changing rooms (gawd help them), so don't barge in.
That then leaves only two weeks until the Vets Head on Sat 28th, and the HORR itself on Sun 29th. Both our crews are trying to squeeze extra training outings in between now and then (so please lend a hand if you're asked to sub in).
This week
Tues - Squad Erg Night - 30min r20, feet out.Thurs - circuits - 7.15pm at the school. Don't forget a towel and a bottle of water.
Sarah T is cooking dinner post-training - let her know if you'd like to stay.
Sat outings will either be very early, very late, or not happen at all, as the river is closed from 0830 to 1230 for the Women's race.
Sun morning outings - crew lists to follow.
Reminders
- Don't forget to read, inwardly digest, and observe the safety notices that get posted from time to time. They're on email, facebook, and on the website. Currently there's one regarding Chiswick Bridge centre arch closures and the temporary circulation pattern (until Fri 13th, and then from Tues 17th to Fri 27th). There's always one crew that doesn't pay attention (and nearly smashed into BBL's shiny new boat) - don't let it be Cygnet.
- Don't forget to keep you race fees up to date. It's on the spreadsheet, so you (and the rest of us) can see if you're in the red. I should also point out that we're well into the third month of the year, so there shouldn't be any outstanding subs to pay... but there are. You know what to do.
Thanks
D
Cygnet Weekly Update: Monday 2nd Mar 2015
2nd March 2015
Evening All,
And first up, well done to our two crews racing in Hammersmith Head yesterday. Both reported strong rows:
- Cygnet Mas.B came 53rd overall, in 11:20
- Cygnet Novices came 127th, in 12:12
Everyone seemed to enjoy the experience, except perhaps for seeing just how inept schoolboy crews can be at marshalling, and possibly also the moment the Master crew had to easy briefly during an 'altercation' with a Molesey boat.
Both crews significantly improved their performances compared to how we did at Quintin Head. For example, although the Masters crew were again overtaken by London, we fought hard and made them work for their 22 second lead (down from over a minute). And the Novices took revenge on both Team Keane and Putney Town, and indeed, halved the gap between the Cygnet boats...
We need to continue this upward trajectory in the remaining four weeks until the Head of the River Races. Which - as ever - means training hard and doing exactly as Coach Sue tells you.
After the race, there was some disappointing rugby watching, and the last two 300 club draws of the year. The lucky winners were:
£25 Paul Rawkins, Stavros Kyris
£40 Jeremy Pugh, Solomon Peters
£60 Ian Mountain, Mrs Houldershaw
£100 Stavros Kyris, Sue Cole
Actually, of course, the lucky winners were current and future Cygnets who get to enjoy a fleet supported by people buying 300 club tickets. If you haven't got any, contact Nick B or Guy to get some. If you have got tickets, contact Nick B or Guy to get some more.
Also, well done to everyone that took part in the capsize drill on Saturday afternoon. And thanks to Neil P for leading it.
This weekTues - Squad Erg Night - 2x 4500m (90s rest in between), r19/20, drag 120. Both to include 4x 10 stroke bursts r30/32k.
If you haven't done the 5k test, please prioritise that.
Thurs - circuits - meet at the club at 7.00pm or at the school at 7.15pm. Last four sessions before the HORR, so am expecting a big turnout
Also on Thurs, post-training food. Cara & Clemmy are cooking this week, please let them know if you'd like to stay, as per Social Sec. Cris's email.
Sat & Sun morning outings - crew lists to follow.
Further Ahead
Sat 14th is Women's Head is on Saturday, 9.30am, which will a) disrupt morning outings, and b) be a good opportunity to lend a hand around the boathouse for boating, marshalling etc. Watch this space.
Weekend of Fri 10th Apr to Sun 12th is Sculling Camp. Definitely save the date if you can.
Sat 26th April is Hammersmith Regatta. Yes indeed, a mere four weeks after the HORR weekend, the summer regatta season kicks off. So stick at it up to the HORR and beyond, I can almost taste the pewter already...
D
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