News & Events
Cygnet Weekly Update: Monday 13th Oct 2014
14th October 2014
Right,Firstly and foremostly, heartfelt congratulations to Ian Mountain and Katie Coyle, who got married on Saturday in the Lake District. It/ they looked fantastic, and are the latest in a proud tradition of Cygnet & Barnes Bridge nuptials.
That did justifiably seem to distract many of our active squad this weekend - but we still had a handful of single scullers out on both days, plus nine 5k erg tests completed according to the spreadsheet (that's the Ist VIII selected for Head of the River then!).
If you haven't done it yet, please do. Coach Sue has given us until Wednesday to post a time I think. Now that the weather has turned dark and grim, the ONLY WAY to get through the week is by erging next to your crew mates on a Tuesday, and celebrating the nearly-end-of-the-week with Circuits + food on a Thursdayl
It's only a few weeks until the Fours Head races on the first weekend of November, and we've got one crew entered for the Saturday (Seniors) race, and two for the Sunday (Masters & Novices) race. They are:
(Sat) IM1 4-, Bart, Gav, Dave F, Stu
(Sun) Nov.Mas.A 4+, Stav, Cris, Nick R, Jez
(Sun) Nov.Mas.A 4+, Charlie, Jim R, Mike E, Patrick
There's also a faint possibility of a 4x crew, if we can organise something in the next 24 hours or so before entries close.
The eagle-eyed amongst you will have spotted that this amounts to two coxed crews, when we don't currently have a regular cox. Whilst we may be able to call on Coach Sue and a volunteer from BBLRC for the race itself, we will be in dire need of coxes for the next couple of weekends of outings - plus some mid-week evenings. If you can help, please let me know - we're keen to get as many of the squad confident in the cox's seat as possible, and will aim to have a coaching launch out alongside.
Also on the subject of helping out at the Fours Head, you should have seen Nick B's plea for boating volunteers. With 60+ crews boating from our hard for each race, we really rely on lots of people to give only an hour or two of time to help it all run smoothly.
The Vet Fours Head (Sunday) organisers are also after someone to drive our launch with a race marshall - again, let me know if you can help.
This week
Tues - Squad Erg. If you haven't done your 5k, this is your last chance. If you have, it's 30mins r20 feet out. (If you're like me, it'll be welcome opportunity to get your technique back after thrashing away agriculturally through the 5k test).
Thurs - Circuits. 7.00 meet at the club, or 7.15pm at the school. A more encouraging turn-out last week - from both clubs; it definitely makes it easier to get through with more people.
Thurs - post-session-food. I think there's a volunteer on the sheet - watch this space for further details from Stu.
Sat - 8am and 10am outings - crew lists to follow
Sun - 8am and 10am outings - crew lists to follow
Futher ahead
If you're coming to the Cygnet Leander Lunch on Saturday 25th Oct, now's the time to make sure you've paid for your ticket (which is excellent value, by the way)
Rather further ahead, I understand that the Barnes Bridge Ladies Christmas party is set for Saturday 13th Dec. It's so far ahead that I haven't established whether we've been invited yet, but let's behave ourselves and hope so.
Safety
A quick reminder to all to always use the white-board in the boatshop to log you and your boat out and back. And for everyone to check it. Logging out is an invaluable safety measure - but only if you sign yourself out, and only if others read and act on it. So next time you're passing the white-board, and every time you're shutting up the boatshop have a check that all the boats are ticked back in, and no-one's been out for longer than expected.
That's all for now.
D
Cygnet Weekly Update: Monday 6th Oct 2014
13th October 2014
Evenin' All,
It's not every club that can boast boats in two big races on two of the continent's most significant rivers on the same day - 15 Cygnets spent their Saturday racing down the Thames and the Rhine.First up, the Pairs Head, where Bart & Gav were our only pairs entry, racing at IM2. Their time of 15:21 (over the slightly longer course this year) meant that they came in a very creditable 6th out of 22 in their category.
In the Mixed double, Sid and Bec (BBLRC) were in Mas.B/C, and clocked a very swift 15:01, the fastest in their category! (Unfortunately, a slower older crew had a bigger handicap, so robbed them of the pennant).
And in the Masters double, Neil J and partner (AK) came in at 17:11 in Mas.G/H.
Well done to all crews - and to those that helped out marshalling on the water and on the bank.
Over in Germany, Cygnet and Barnes Bridge hit the Rhine Marathon hard. Six crews between the two clubs might be a record, and sure enough, we secured a podium finish. Congratulations to Rob H, Stu, Ian, and Matt B, coxed by Jutta L (Benrath), who won a well-deserved bronze medal in the Seegig category.
With 25 of us flying out, this was a significant logistical exercise - and our Benrath friends' remarkable hospitality and good humour continues to astonish. For example, 24 oarsmen & women racing = 6 (massive) boats to ferry to the start and from the finish = 6 experienced coxes required (plus the 7 for the Benrath boats), plus taking over the club gym, and basement, booking dinner, tickets to the beer tent etc. etc.
Highlights too numerous to mention, but included:
- the happy throng arriving in Dusseldorf Altstadt on a sunny Friday afternoon on German Reunification Day
- Stu's face when he realised he'd medalled
- your Chairman and Mucha dancing to Tina Turner (the earth literally moved under our feet)
Lowlights were few, limited only to:
- the hire-company failing to produce the minibus we'd booked (but suddenly fleets of Benrath cars appeared to drive us back and forth).
- Stu's face when he realised that despite medalling, he'd still been beaten by a 75-year-old from Parrs Priory
- your Captain's hungover response to a local journalist's query about what we liked most about the parade ("the tractors").
On our side, particular thanks are due to chief cat-herders Marj & Neil. Amongst other things, Marj coordinated the record entry - and still managed to do the bakery-run on both mornings (and make the coffee machine work). Whilst as whipman, Neil had the best part of two and a half grand passing through the london-bus-purse over the weekend.
After all that excitement, it's back to work...
This week
Tues - Squad Erg Night - 3x 8ms (6min r28, 2min r30).Thurs - Circuits. 7.00pm at the club, or 7.15pm (sharp) at the school. Bring a towel and a water bottle.
Thurs - there should also be post-circuits food - not sure who, but watch this space.
This weekend
Sat am - 5k erg test. Oh yes. If you can't do it with others this weekend, deadline is Tues 14th to post a time (and remember, any time is faster than no time).
Sun morning outings - crew lists to follow.
Sun 10am - coached erg in the shed. Aimed mainly at the newest guys, but anyone is welcome. We'll go through the stroke, and for those that are ready/ able, finish with a timed 5k piece.
That's all for now.
D
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
