News & Events
Cygnet Weekly Update: Monday 29th Sept 2014
29th September 2014
Evenin' All,
A busy weekend at the boathouse. Boats of various sizes going out on the water, enjoying the late summer sun.
Sunday also saw a successful Open Morning, in conjunction with Barnes Bridge Ladies. Aimed primarily at recent graduates joining the civil service, there were 20+ fresh-faced new-comers being shown around. Some had rowed before, some hadn't, but all were keen, helped by the sunshine and by the evident effort that had gone into the day. Many thanks to those that were around to welcome them - in particular to Sue for a couple of coaching stints in the tank, and Stu for making the whole thing run like clockwork. We will be endeavouring to capture that enthusiasm, so please say hello as and when you see new faces around the club.
This week is the final ramping-up/ tapering-off/ dawning realisation of what's in store this weekend. Closest to home is the best race of the winter season: the Pairs Head. Despite the clash with the Rhine, this year we've got the Cygnet flag flying proudly in three boats:
Crew 219: IM2.2- Bart & Gav
Crew 267: Mx.Mas.B/C.2x Sid & Bec (composite with Barnes Bridge Ladies)
Crew 515: Mas.G/H.2x Neil J (composite with AK)
BBL crews are racing at numbers 400, 434, 470, and 495.
Race starts at 1pm, so if you're around, do come down to the club to cheer them on. There will also almost certainly be some catering set up by Barnes Bridge Ladies, and no doubt some opportunities to 'volunteer' to help out, particularly around boating time.This Saturday is also the Rhine Marathon, where we have a fantastic 25 oarsmen and women from both clubs hitting Dusseldorf hard, sweeping, sculling, seegigging, beer-carrying. You will be hearing all about it shortly.
This week
Tues - Squad Erg Night - 20mins, followed by 16mins. 5'5'5'5' r16/18/20/18. Then 4'4'4'4' r18/20/22/20.Thurs - Circuits. 7.00pm at the club, or 7.15pm (sharp) at the school. Bring a towel and a water bottle.
Thurs - is also post-circuits food. Sarah T is cooking, so please let her know if you're sticking around, as per Stu's email
It would be fair to say that numbers showing up to last week's Squad Erg and Circuits were not fantastic. And most of those that did, did both. And as a consequence those few are well on their way to becoming massively fit and powerful, beautifully balanced, coordinated Adonises. And the rest of you will wither and fade and lose races. Unless you do this week's erg and circuits, in which case you should be okay.
This weekend
We will try and work out outings, but given the Pairs Head on Saturday, and the fact that all the club captaincy, the coach, chairman, secretary, water safety advisor, and social secretary are in Germany, that may not happen. Watch this space.
Given the above, if anything urgent arises this weekend, please let Bart know (except for the hour or so he's on the water for the Pairs Head, during which time you'll have to sort it out yourself).
Further Ahead
Sat 25th Oct is the Henley Leander lunch - be there if you can.
Sat 1st and Sun 2nd Nov are the Fours Head Races - we're finalising crews and will be confirming this week, as we need to get entries in.
That's all for now.
D
Cygnet Weekly Update: Monday 22nd Sept 2014
22nd September 2014
Evenin' All,
Well done to everyone that took part in Sculling Camp at the weekend - from loading, unloading, shopping, trailering, coaching, sculling, swimming, loading, and finally unloading again - great to see the clubs making the most of our beloved bungalow.
There were also outings on the Tideway, which included some of our very newest arrivals from the current Learn-To-Row course. Thanks to Sue and Ian for coordinating, and to those more experienced oarsmen who jumped into boats (including the cox's seat) to ensure new bodies could get on the water.
With Sculling Camp out of the way, winter training is now upon us. With only the weekend mornings to get our on-the-water training done (we'll do some evening outings nearer to the big head races), it's even more important that you update your availability. Please do so for at least the rest of this month and October, up to the Fours Head races on the first weekend in November. Judging by the current state of the spreadsheet, we have all of five oarsmen available to race at Fours Head, and we know more of you than that are up for it.
Also, whilst I'm on a bit of a moan, the turn-out for last week's Squad Erg wasn't completely edifying - and even fewer distances were entered on the spreadsheet. However, for those that did, it was good to see some classic erg-techniques on show, including the Shaky-Start (stop after 10mins in a fit of pique, then restart and finish); and the Shaky-Finish (Go off a bit too hard, stop with heart palpitations with 10mins to go, recover then get back on and finish). Naming no names. But in that context, always remember the truth that: Dead last always beats Did Not Finish, which always trumps Did Not Start.
This week
Tues - Squad Erg night. This week it's 30mins, r20, feet out. And post your distance on the spreadsheet.
Thurs - Circuits. First circuits of the season. 7.00pm at the club, or 7.15 at the school (late-comers risk moderate humiliation from Greg). We had 20+ from both clubs at its peak last season, and would be great to have that again. Please try and make this first session in particular if you can, as Greg will be going over the format and techniques.
Thurs - post-Circuits food. A well-established club tradition this, and organiser-Stu will be showing us how it's done on the catering front - please let him know if you're staying around for food.
Sat - morning outings. Crew lists to follow (if you've put your availability on the spreadsheet).
Sun - morning outings. Ditto
Also on Sunday morning both clubs are hosting an Open Morning, 10.30am. Primarily aimed at Civil Service graduates (but anyone is welcome), we've pushed this out through government departments, and there has been a fair bit of interest. If you're around after outings to present a welcoming face to some potential new members, please do.
Further Ahead
Sat 4th is Pairs Head - run by BBLRC, who are still after two camera tripods for the day. If you are able to help, let me/ Sarah P know - they're still after volunteers for the timing team too.
Sat 4th is also the Rhine Marathon - we've just had it confirmed that no fewer than six crews have been successfully entered from across the two clubs (two Cygnet boats, two BBLRC, and two mixed - with particular thanks to Marj for coordinating). Surely there's got to be a fair few medals out of that lot?
That's all for now.
D
Cygnet Weekly Update: Monday 15th Sept 2014
15th September 2014
Evening,
Lots of boats out over the weekend, which is always pleasing to see. Fours, Quads, a couple of new faces, and even a 4+ doing some cheeky training (cheating' for the Rhine Marathon.
All only slightly marred by the hard being so freakishly slippery that we dinged a boat, and the launch trailer collapsing onto the floor very much in the style of an exhausted Cygnet. Nothing that can't be fixed however.
Thanks to all those that contributed to the discussion at last week's Squad Meeting - and to those that posted furher feedback by email. What Coach Sue and I took from the meeting were:
- There's an encouraging level of enthusiasm, spread across our various abilities and experience.
- We've got Pairs and Doubles entered for the Pairs Head, and Scullers interested in the Scullers Head. Which we'll support.
- We'll continue to focus on enjoying rowing, and building our abilities over the Head season.
- There's also appetite to race competitively at both of the Fours Head races in early November, and the HORR races in late March. Including at Novice and Masters categories.
- Racing isn't the be-all and end-all of Head season, but the Fours and Eights races in particular are good milestones to aim for.
- The Learn-to-Row recent graduates and current crop mean we should be looking at some Novice boats, including potentially a Nov 8+.
- We may consider entering our more experienced oarsmen in Masters categories, for a change.
- That said, we will aim to have Cygnet represented at both the Fours Head and HORR proper.
- Depending on availability, we'll also look to some of the off-Tideway Heads, including Kingston, Weybridge Silver Sculls, and Henley Head.
Integral to all of the above - both enjoying rowing and being competitive - is the beautiful training plan that Coach Sue has crafted for us. All those that the meeting have a copy, and we'll make a copy available online - a lot of work has gone into it, and it will yield results. Can I remind you of the half-dozen 5k pbs set by those who were most closely following the plan last season. Not a coincidence.
Active squad members should be looking to make at least two mid-week sessions, which should be the Squad Erg, and circuit training:
- Squad Ergs will hopefully be Tuesday evenings (still to confirm shed-sharing with BBL), and doing them together is the way forward
- Circuits should start on Thursday 25th Sept (just need to confirm that the school hall's available), and you have to do circuits to earn yourself the continuing Thursday night food in the bar afterwards.
This week
Squad Erg: 40min pyramid. 4x (4min r20, 3min r22, 2min r24, 1min r26). Then put your distance on the spreadsheet.
Thurs: Boat-loading for Sculling Camp, and food in the bar. With no planned outings, and circuits not starting yet, there is still plenty of opportunity to engage. 2nd Erg of the Week (oh yes, it's on the training plan), or weights, or a run. Plus helping load the fleet onto the trailer for Sculling Camp. Followed by food in the bar cooked by Aoife (let her know if you're coming - drudyah@gmail.com)
Sat & Sun: is Sculling Camp, so there won't be fixed outings at the club. But if you can spare even half a day, popping down to the bungalow on Hamhaugh Island is heartily recommended.
(Note - there will be a working party from the Bungalow Committee down there this Thursday - if you fancied the prospect of an extra day on the river, in exchange for helping wash up crockery etc., that got flooded in the shed).
Further Ahead
Sat 4th Oct - BBLRC are looking for volunteers to help with timing at the Pairs Head - hours required from 11am to 2.30pm. Please let Zoe know if you can help (zoeguiniven@gmail.com)
Sat 11th Oct - first 5k test of the season. If you start sticking to the training plan from today, you'll be okay. Just sayin'.
I think that's all for now.D
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