News & Events
Peter Sly - Benrath Obituary
26th March 2015
Peter Sly
The late President of our London friends has passed away. For those that knew him, this news is exceptionally sad, as Peter Sly was such a key part to our partnership with Cygnet Rowing Club.
Peter was a gentleman. Whoever met him commented on his imposing stature, as well as his larger than life gestures and facial expressions. One of my earliest memories is from the 70s: with his enormous hat and his cigar he was "The Godfather" incarnate.
Peter Sly was a patriarch. I have a vivid memory from 10 years ago during a visit to Henley Regatta how Peter came down from his house above the Thames in order to greet the throng of visitors assembled on the patio by the river.
Peter Sly was a force for our integration and not just for members from his own club. He was always concerned about the Benrath rowers and their safe journeys while the UK. Through these acts of kindness both Peter and his wife Pat showed enormous hospitality.
These memories and descriptions of him can barely scratch the surface in describing the fond memories many of us hold for this gentleman, some of us as a result of over 50 years of his friendship with RG Benrath. He himself took great joy in this partnership between the clubs, a good example coming from his congratulatory speech for our 75th anniversary when he said: "Many lasting friendships have been made, although there have so far been no marriages!". You could see him smiling when he said that. He also gave us occasion to smile a lot, for example through his speech to RG Benrath in German.
The older "Head" competitors from Benrath will remember the "After Head Regatta" at Peter's house in Henley. From the 80s Peter was often in Benrath with his wife Pat, his children Prudence and Oscar as well as his mother-in-law (Peter couldn't really pronounce the German for Mother-in-Law, *Schwiegermutter). Benrathers were always welcome as guests of Peter and Pat when they visited the Thames. And in 2005 we were lucky to enjoy this on a grand scale again at a big party in Peter's garden by the banks of the Thames for the 40th anniversary celebration of the two club's partnership.
Thank you, Peter. We shall not forget you.
Ferdi Picker, March 2015
pdf of the original German version
(Translated from the original German by former Cygnet Captain Rob Henderson)
Cygnet Weekly Update: Monday 23rd Mar 2015
23rd March 2015
Good Evening,
The coming weekend is one of the busiest of the year in terms of activity around the club. Cygnet have one and a half crews racing in the Vets' Head on Saturday, and a crew in the Head of the River on Sunday. Plus Benrath are over for the weekend, and we've got an open morning on Sunday.
But first things first:
This week
Tues - Squad Erg Night - 30min r20, feet out. This will be 40% less horrible than last week (but I for one am definitely feeling the benefit of all these feet-out ergs when I'm in the boat). Hope to see lots of ergs in use tomorrow night.
Wed am - small boat outing.
Thurs - circuits - 7.15pm at the school. This will be the last circuits session of the season, as we look to move to mid-week evening outings.
Thurs - post-training food - Coach Sue is cooking this week. Please let her know if you're staying on for food (and thus avoid a FHB panic when e.g. 50% more people stay for food than had said so)
Sat & Sun outings won't be happening as usual, given that the river will be either closed or heaving for much of the weekend. Please use the energy you've saved to a) race harder, b) help out with organisation, c) socialising.
Saturday
The Vets' Head kicks off at 11am, with 50-odd crews boating from our club. If you are helping on the hard, or in a launch, or round the club, then many thanks in advance. As for the race itself, there are several crews for the loyal Cygnet to cheer on:
#16 Cygnet RC Mas.B
#81 RG Benrath Mas.E
#129 Barnes Bridge Ladies Mas.B
#155 Cygnet/Tideway Scullers Mas.F
#183 Barnes Bridge Ladies Mas.D
#198 Barnes Bridge Ladies Mas.B.Nov
There are also Barnes Bridge Ladies in composites at #122 and #138
After all of that the bar will almost certainly be open, our friends from Benrath will be down, and there will of course be ample opportunity to raise a toast to our sadly departed President.
Sunday
The race starts at 12noon, so if anything, there will be even more boats around the club than the previous morning. But only one that counts: our Novices are off at #286.
You should also be aware that we're holding an open morning - alongside BBLRC - for new and experiences rowers on the Sunday, from 10.30am to 12noon. The idea is that a few of us can show newcomers around, introduce them to what's involved if they're new to it, and culminate by letting them enjoy the top quality racing on the Tideway. If you can help out, even if only for half an hour or so, please let me or Ian know. Otherwise, if you're around doing other jobs, please make any newcomers feel welcome.
And I think that's about it for now. I'm disappearing for a couple of weeks straight after the HORR, so you'll be in Ian & Nicks capable hands.
D
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
