News & Events
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
Cygnet Weekly Update: Monday 23rd Feb 2015
24th February 2015
Evening,
Busy again at the boathouse over the weekend. Various outings, a learn-to-cox session that it was gratifying to see a couple of Cygnets at, and all culminating in the climax that is the Cygnet AGM on Sunday lunchtime.
Thanks to those that put themselves forward for various roles on the committee - everyone was duly elected in, and the bar bell was rung by our (alas, outgoing) Treasurer. There is still one committee place up for grabs, plus the Boathouse Exec will be convening shortly and looking for people from both clubs to take on roles, so do please consider it if you haven't already.
After the sunshine of the AGM, it seemed to rain hard for a long time, with the result that... the Tideway is currently Yellow Flagged. So exercise even more caution than usual, no inexperienced crews out on the ebb tide, no night outings without agreement of the captaincy.
This coming weekend sees two important events:
- Saturday we have a capsize drill. 4pm, St Paul's School. The response hasn't been overwhelming, and it really should be - it is immeasurably preferable that your first/ only capsize experience is in a safe environment. And it's a condition of your membership. And it'll be fun. And there's bound to be some sort of socialising afterwards.
- Sunday sees the Hammersmith Head . We've got our Mas.B and Nov crews racing, both using this as our last stepping stone to the HORR weekend at the end of March. And whilst we're on the subject, note that crews are not finalised for the HORR races weekend, so keep focusing on training and availability. That includes this week's 5k test - I've confirmed with Sue that it is very unlikely that any seats will be decided on 5k results alone - but it is rather more likely that if you don't do the test at all, you won't be in any seat!
This week
Tues - Squad Erg Night - 5k test for all, rate-capped at 28.
If you've already completed it, then second erg of this week is: 40min r20, feet out.
Also on Tues we have a planned outing of the Mas.B crew.
Thurs - circuits - 7.15 at the school.
Also on Thurs, post-training food. Anna C is cooking this week, please let her know if you'd like to stay.
Sat morning outings - crew lists to follow.
Saturday afternoon - capsize drill, 4pm, St Pauls School. Please let Neil P know that you'll be there.
Sun morning outings are likely to be affected by those racing in Hammersmith Head.
Hammersmith Head
Race starts at 12.30pm, so if you're not racing, do come along and cheer on our boats.
- Our Mas.B crew are #175
- Our Novices are #192
- BBLRC are also racing at #151 and #210
After the race many of us will decant to the bar to recount our efforts over a beer. And also to conduct the latest 300 Club draws. For those of our newer members who don't know about the 300 Club and its essential role in maintaining our fine fleet, come down and Guy or Nick B can fill you in. All your future/ nostalgic Cygnet racing exploits will have been in boats part paid for by the 300 Club.
Finally, another reminder that our Learn To Row course starts on Sun 29th March, to coincide with the Head of the River Race. I.e. just over 4 weeks away (i.e. we've only got 4 weeks until the HORR!).
D
