News & Events
Cygnet Weekly Update: Monday 5th Jan 2015
12th January 2015
Evenin' All,
Welcome back from wherever you've been over the break. And welcome to 2015, the year in which Cygnet reaches the ripe old age of 125!
There were a few smaller boats seen out in the water over the Christmas break, as well as a few (smaller) ergs witnessed in the shed. Otherwise hope you were treating your bodies like temples throughout the festivities. If the shock of the return to the domestic and work routines has hit you half as hard as me, then you're in need of returning to the rowing and socialising routine around our favourite boathouse.
And we're straight back into it, with a clean and fresh training plan from Coach Sue, ergs and circuits this week, and only just over three weeks until the first race of the season. And less than three months until the Head of the River Race weekend. Three months is time enough to substantially improve your fitness, technique, and boat speed - but only if you work on it from now, it simply won't do to get to March and wish you had several weeks' more training backing you up.
This week
Tues evening - Squad Erg Night. 2x 20min, rating 24/26 (changing after 10mins). The more of us that can do this together, the better - and will start getting us into the right frame of mind for the Head distance, and indeed next weekend's 5k test.
Thur evening - Circuits, 7.15pm at Cavendish Primary School, or meet at 7.00pm at the club to jog over together. Turnout waned slightly towards the end of last term. Circuits is really invaluable, is rowing-specific, and makes a tangible difference to speed and fitness. And furthermore, it's paid for directly out of the coaching budget, so you've no reason at all to miss out. If you want to be in a Cygnet boat for HORR weekend, you ought to be putting in three months' worth of Thursday night 'fun'.
Also on Thur evening is the welcome return of post-training food. Nick R is stepping up to the plates this week, so please let him know if you want to stick around. See you there.
Sat and Sun mornings - 7.45am and 9.45am outings (for 8am and 10am sharp on the water). Crew lists to follow.
Note that we may have one or two boats going out earlier if that means we can do some side-by-side pieces with the BB Ladies.
Further Ahead
Quintin Head is on Sat 31st Jan, 1.45pm start. We ought to be able to muster two crews for this, so please update your availability, which we use as confirmation that you're up for racing.
If you're interested in attending the British Indoor Rowing Champs on the 8th Feb (Olympic Park Velodrome) let me know. You can enter directly, or they are also hosting relay events this year - ideal for any four Cygnets who fancy their chances over 500m each.
An important Feb date for diaries is Thursday 12th Feb, Cygnet's 125th anniversary. Something will be happening that evening, even if it is in combination with circuit training...Finally, a little moan to start the year - my Sunday evening riverside run was interrupted by spotting that the shed lights were on, and in fixing that, discovering that the shed garage door was unlocked - you know what to do.
That's all for now.
D
Cygnet Weekly Update: Monday 12th Jan 2015
12th January 2015
Evenin',
A relatively full update this week, but covers such exciting and important topics as racing, kit, and subs, so do bear with.
Time on the water was scuppered somewhat this weekend by the weather and a couple of no-shows (see below). But it was particularly heartening to see a strong turn-out for land training in the week. Witnessing all the ergs full of Cygnets knocking out 2x 20mins was a beautiful thing, as was having nearly 20 oarsmen and women from both clubs showing for circuits. Let's see if we can't beat those numbers this week.
This week
- Tues evening, Squad Erg Night. 2x 20mins r26/28 (changing every 10mins). A slightly more exciting/ painful variation of last week's.
- Thurs evening, Circuits. 7.15pm sharp at the school, don't forget to bring a towel and a water-bottle.
- Thurs evening, food after training - Cristobal is doing the honours this week, let him know if you're staying.
- Sat & Sun mornings - crew-lists and outing times to be confirmed. Please turn up 15mins before the time stated, so that we can boat on time.
Further Ahead
In terms of racing, these are the likely events we'll be building on over the Head season:
- Sat 31st Jan, Quintin Head - crew(s) to be confirmed shortly.
- Sat 14th Feb, Henley 4s & 8s Head - we haven't done this for a couple of years, but it's in a lovely location and divisions run at separate times (so we can double-up e.g. two 4s into an 8). Please indicate on the spreadsheet if you're available.
- Sun 1st Mar, Hammersmith Head
- Sat 28th Mar, Vets HORR
- Sun 29th Mar, HORR
Please update your availability as far as you can. And whilst we're on the subject of availability, a couple of things:
- Over the weekend we had a couple of issues with Cygnets not turning up - now that we're prepping for the Head races, please pay close attention to the weekly crew lists, and if you're in a boat definitely definitely don't unilaterally decide to not turn up. (As it was there was no real harm done, as we took the decision to cancel outings on Saturday due to the conditions, and on Sunday we had a vaguely competent sub (moi) who jumped in).
- We'll also be looking to do some midweek evening outings in the run-up to the races, so please indicate availability for those too.
Kit
If you want to race in the above, you will require as a minimum a Cygnet racing all-in-one (as well as raw power, technique, co-ordination etc.) Having been disappointed by DiBi's service with our last order, we've decided to go back to Godfrey. Their new fabrics got the general thumbs-up in the bar (and they also have the advantage of being able to produce some of our 'retro' items, for those so inclined).
All the available items are now on our club-page on the Godfrey site here:
http://godfrey.co.uk/club/cygnetrc,
and they have set up an ordering window with a cut off date for ordering ofMonday 9th February, to deliver kit around the beginning of March. You can order kit from their website anytime, but if you order in this window you will save money by only being charged the 2-11 price level, and only paying a fraction of the postage.
Apparently, almost all questions can be answered by info on the website, in particular:
- http://godfrey.co.uk/collation-information
- http://godfrey.co.uk/sizing-guide
- no money is taken until after the cut off date has passed, when they have had a chance to collate the orders, apply the discounts and then they can take the payments.
- the worst case scenario will be the 2-11 price level, even if someone is the only person to order a particular item, if it is ordered within the club ordering window.
Remember, you need at least a Cygnet all-in-one ("Custom Finesse AIO") to race , and the ordering window closes Monday 9th Feb.
Subs...
...are due I'm afraid. £260 for CSSC members or linked members, £320 for others. Best value club on the Tideway, cheap at twice the price, etc. etc.
That's all for now.
D
Cygnet Weekly Update: Monday 22nd Dec 2014
22nd December 2014
Evenin' All,
Final one of the year from me, and a short one as we all wind down for some mostly well-earned rest.
Several boats out over the weekend, and one unfortunate crew of 7 who were treated to an erg-relay instead of an outing on Saturday morning. And as well as outings on Sunday morning, we also had the Plum Puds. A crew was carefully selected(!) from across the range of our active squad, and was ably coxed by Marj - which was just as well, as the conditions at the start were pretty parlous. However, a surprisingly solid row and we finished fourth, allowing us to retire to the bar without the chore of having to trek to MAA to collect any prizes...
We also took the opportunity on Sunday to present Coach Sue with a small token of our appreciation for all the extra hours/ encouragement she provides Cygnet crews with. Unfortunately, no sooner had we done that, than she emails us all with a training timetable for the Christmas break. There is talk of a 5k test early after we all return, so I'd suggest you do what you can.
This week
Tues evening Squad Erg Night. Oh yes - just because it's Christmas Eve Eve, doesn't mean you shouldn't enjoy: 5x 10min (each 4min r22, 3min r24, 2min r26, 1min r28) 4min light pressure in between.
(Next Tues evening, 30th Dec, it's 40min r20 feet-out).
Thurs evening no circuits, on account of it being Christmas Day. But there's nothing stopping you doing 200 burpees (well done to all those that completed last week's circuits in one piece...)
Circuits will start again after Christmas, once we've confirmed arrangements with the school. Do please include it in your regular weekly training timetable - it is invaluable, and is easier/ more fun the more turn up.
Sat & Sun morning - no set outings this weekend (27th/28th), but nothing stopping you arranging something amongst yourselves.
Sat 3rd Jan & Sun 4th Jan mornings - there may be set outings, depending on availability (so update your availability).
And that's all for this week, and indeed for 2014 - have a smashing break, and look forward to seeing you all in a couple of weeks for the ramp up to Head of the River Race weekend.
D
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