News & Events
Cygnet Weekly Update: Monday 10th Nov 2014
10th November 2014
Evenin' All,
A brief one this week. Good to have a couple of 8s out over the weekend. Would be better to have a couple of 8s out at the same time - so do confirm availability on the spreadsheet.
This week
Tues - Squad Erg. 40min, r20, feet-out. Almost zen-like in its simplicity, and similarly good for the soul.
Thurs - Circuits. Usual time (7.15pm), usual place (Cavendish School). Don't forget a towel and some water.
Thurs is also post-training food, this week brought to you by Team Broadhurst. You'd be crazy to miss out.
Sat and Sun morning outings: 7.45am, 9.45am- crew lists to follow.
(Note the times: the radical idea is to be actually on the water by 8am/10am. Having completed changing, faffing, getting blades and launch out, and warming up - do that for only a few mornings and before you know it we've added the equivalent of a whole additional outing!).
Further Ahead
I've already mentioned Scullers Head on Sat 29th Nov. The Monday after that is also a date that ought to go into diaries...
...FREE BEER in the bar. Yes, really! For one night only though. Mon 1st Dec to be precise, as Cygnet are hosting the PLA Safety Awards (spoiler alert: we won). You may know that we won a cash prize as part of the award - and as we are also hosting, the PLA will be putting a similarly large sum behind the bar that it is our privilege/ duty to deplete. (More info: http://www.cygnet-rc.org.uk/post-safe_as___039_ouses.html)
BBLRC Christmas 'do' on Sat 13th, which is the perfect prep for...
...The 'Plum Puds' annual inter-club training piece on Sun 14th Dec (please have your availability up to date at least until then).
And looking even further ahead, to 12th Feb 2015 it's Happy Birthday To Us, with 125 candles. There'll be various events to commemorate this milestone, including a reception in the House of Lords on 17th July - all of which will be detailed on the website (http://www.cygnet-rc.org.uk/sspage-news__amp__events-social_events-cxxv.html)
That's all for now.
D
Cygnet Weely Update: Monday 3rd Nov 2014
4th November 2014
Well, well, well...
...is how our three 4s Heads crews did at the weekend. Actually, more like well, very well, and very very well.
First up, our IM1 4- in the Saturday race. Despite only managing to coordinate four training outings (three of them in the dark), we had an enjoyable race and kept it together. 18th out of 31 in our category, gratifyingly beating both Putney Town's boats. And much more importantly (for Stu) we went faster than the Parrs Priory crew racing in a completely different category.
Next up, our Mas.B 4x, who were the 11th fastest crew out of nearly 200 boats on Sunday! A brilliant result, they also came 2nd in their category, behind a composite crew (ringers), and nearly a minute ahead of the next placed crew.
And finally, a fantastic result from our Mas.Nov 4+, who came 2nd in their category. Stav, Nick R, Jez, Cris, and Anna were a mere 7s away from claiming the pennant, and beat a Molesey crew in the process. Big thanks to Coach Sue and Cox Anna in particular for jumping in and getting the best out of the boat.
Meanwhile on dry land, it was good to hear support from the Boathouse, and to see Cygnets lending an invaluable hand with boating, marshalling, administrating, and of course frequenting the Barnes Bridge catering corps.
In other news - we're going into 8s now, so this is yet another reminder to update your availability. At least until the end of the year, i.e. the Plum Puds race. We definitely have enough active oarsmen for two 8s, and ideally we'll have some mixed ability boats going out for some power stroke 'battles' - but only if we know who's available.
This week
Tues evening - Squad Erg Night. This week it's 20min (5@16, 5@18, 5@20, 5@18) + 16min (4@18, 4@20, 4@22, 4@30).
Thurs evening - Circuits at the school. Hopefully Neil will be taking this one, as Greg's not available.
Thurs evening - post-training food in the bar - Katy B is cooking, let her know if you're sticking around.
Sat morning - 8am and 10am outings, crew lists to follow.
Sun morning - crew lists to follow. Coach Sue's not around on Sunday, so if any seniors could help with coxing, or even sharing their wisdom from the coaching launch, that would be wonderful. Let me/Sue know.
Further ahead
Scullers Head is on Saturday 29th Nov. It looks like we'll have five or six entries for the club, which is great. We may well have a social gathering in the bar afterwards to cheer their efforts. You should have seen Nick's call for volunteers for boating - do help out if you can.
In terms of dates for diaries - or at least dates to not arrange to go skiing - it's worth making a note of the following races. We're not sure that we'll make all of them, but we will definitely be looking to use some as milestones up to the HORR weekend at the end of March, where we should get at least two boats out over the two races
Sat 31st Jan - Quintin Head
Sat 14th Feb - Henley 4s & 8s Head
Sun 1st Mar - Hammersmith Head
(Sat 14th Mar - Womens Head of the River Race)
Sat 28th Mar (11:00) - Vets Head
Sun 29th Mar (12:00) - Head of the River Race
That's all for now.
D
Cygnet Weekly Update: Monday 27th October
29th October 2014
Right,
First up, good to see a fair few of our dedicated oarsmen doing a 3 mile training hike on Sunday. Albeit a walk preceded with a few ales and a three course meal, and concluded with a few more ales. Yes, it was the Cygnet Henley lunch at Leander on a beautiful day. Those who weren't there missed out on fine food, good company, and a spiffing autumnal riverside stroll (as well as perhaps rather too much time spent getting into position for the group photo, and having to listen to the Captain's speech).
In other news, we also had some crews out training, which was just as well, as it's the Fours Head races this weekend.
This week
Tues - Squad Erg. 2x 4k, r19-20, with 90s recovery between them. Each 4k to include 4x 10-stroke bursts r30-32.
I did mine this lunchtime, and can report that it's a humdinger.
Thurs - Circuits. 7.00 meet at the club, or 7.15pm at the school.
Thurs - post-session-food. Stu's emailed separately, do let Bart know if you want to stay for food.
Weekend outings. Will be severely affected by the Fours Head races - more info below - as both involve river closures. Watch this space.
If it ends up that we can't make outing timings work (and we will try for the Novices in particular), fear not, there will be ample opportunity to a) do an erg, b) cheer on crews in the races, or ideally c) do an erg AND cheer on crews in the races.
Fours Heads this weekend
We've got one crew in the Saturday race, our IM1 4-, going off at #169. Race starts at 9.45, so do give us a cheer.
We've got two crews on the Sunday Masters/ Novice race, which starts at 11am. Our 'Quad Squad' Mas.B.4x is going off almost immediately at boat number#6.
Our Mas.Nov.4+ is number #208. (Unfortunately, we had to scratch the other Nov boat due to injuries- but we hope to get everyone racing this head season before too long).
Barnes Bridge Ladies are at #144.
So if you're about do come down the club for one or both days. To cheer on clubmates, to lend a hand with boating/ parking/ organising, and to contribute to our sister club's accounts by eating cake and drinking tea.
We're still on the lookout for launch-drivers for either of the races - please let me know if you think you can help.
Further ahead
If you're wanting to do the Scullers Head (Saturday 29th Nov), you need to let us know asap, as entries are apparently filling up. So far we've got three brave fools confirmed, but it's always good to see as many Cygnets racing as possible.
And good news! We have been cordially invited to the Barnes Bridge Ladies' Christmas Party. Saturday 13th Dec, at Duke's Meadow Golf & Tennis Club. More details to follow, most importantly regarding the pre-Party Waddle, but also regarding dress code (SO important to have the right shoes for both the Waddle and the party - they don't necessarily need to be the same shoes).
I'm also pleased to announce that Cygnet have (again) won the overall prize in the annual PLA Rowing Safety Awards. Well done all, and particular Neil for keeping us on the proverbial straight and narrow as our Water Safety Adviser. We do have a strong safety culture at the club, which exists because we all keep working at it - keep it up. (As well as the warm feeling, and the lack of serious injuries or deaths that that comes with winning the award, there is also a not-inconsiderable cash prize!). Awards ceremony at the club on Monday 1st Dec.
Also to note that after the recent demise of our much-maligned Ute, our Boathouse Exec have swiftly and successfully sourced a new one. It looks great (all-leather interior! (wipe-clean?)), and is a Volvo XC90, so whether the nickname 'Ute' will still apply remains to be seen.
And finally...
A bit of a proper moan I'm afraid. On Saturday evening the boathouse was not only left unlocked, the outer door was pinned back, the lights were on in the Shed, and a massive neon sign had been erected saying 'Help Yourselves'. Okay, not the last bit, but we were fortunate (again) that an eagle-eyed member was walking past in the evening, and was able to put it all right. If you're the last to leave the club, you MUST make sure it's all switched off and locked up. Not sure if you're the last to leave? My cunning method is to shout "IS ANYONE ELSE HERE?" before checking the sign-out board.
That's all for now.
D
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