News & Events
Cygnet Weekly Update: Monday 8th Sept 2014
8th September 2014
Right,
Well, I hope you enjoyed the 'lull' between seasons. Because it's definitely over. We've got a number of important things kicking-off this week: Squad Meeting, new website, Learn-to-Row recruits around, and Coach Sue's back in the country with ergs and set outings. So do pay attention.
First up, we can proudly announce that the refreshed, revamped, redecorated Cygnet website is back on the scene!
cygnet-rc.org.uk
Everything you could possibly want to know about Cygnet is there - including joining, boating, a blog, social calendar, these updates, photos of past glories, tides, weather, flag status. Enormous thanks to Neil P who has been labouring long and hard on this - take a look now and I think you'll agree that it's been well worth it. Three quick things:
- direct your friends and colleagues to it, particularly if they've shown the faintest whiff of thinking about rowing;
- some bits of the site will be for members only - info & login details will follow;
- if you've got photos for the site, do please send them to Matt B for approval, editing (photoshopping), and uploading.
Second up, please come along to the Squad Meeting on Thursday evening, 8pm if you can. It won't be long and formal. But it will be a chance to discuss what we want to get out of the months ahead: competitively, social rowing, and off-the-water. We won't be nailing down commitment there and then, but the Captaincy and Coach Sue will find it helpful to get an idea of where people are.
That said, it would be helpful if you could have idea of whether you are looking to row in the Fours Heads (Sat 1st Nov and Sun 2nd Nov), and the Head of the River Race (Sun 29th Mar). Including availability to train (and not e.g. planning on taking a week off skiing immediately before the biggest race of the year). Please put availability on the spreadsheet if you can.
I'll also be cooking some food - which may or may not be an incentive.
T
his week
We don't have any more set outings mid-week, now that there's less light. Scullers and individual crews can still go out, but be back by sunset unless you're signed off for night-steering, and have lights.
But you can use the time to do this week's Squad Erg!: 30mins, rate-capped at 20spm, blind (i.e. no looking at splits).
- Use a peice of card and a rubber band to block out the split time, and focus on a) your technique, and b) working as hard and as consistently as you can.
- Enter your distance on the spreadsheet afterwards (I know more of you did 30mins last week than the three times on the speadsheet).
- And whilst you're on the spreadsheet, why not put in your availability for the next month or so?
Thurs - Squad Meeting in the bar, 8pm. Timed so that you can do you Squad Erg first. If you'd like some food, please give me a shout so I know how many turnips to peel.
Thurs - is also the next session for the current Learn-to-Row course. We've got a small but promising looking intake this time around, so do say hello to Jonathan, Mike, Henry, and Valeska when you're down. We may look to get them into boats on the water sooner rather than later.
Sat am - Outings for Senior and Novice squads - crew lists to follow.
Sun am - Outings for Senior and Novice squads - crew lists to follow.
Further Ahead
You'll have seen Nick B's email about Sculling Camp (Fri 19th to Sun 21st). You can help him by indicating when you'll likely be down, here: http://doodle.com/mnmpd5k42mm9nqat.
Pairs Head is Sat 4th Oct. Entries are now open (and will fill up), so speak now if you haven't already done so if you want to race.
Stu's sent out details about the Cygnet Leander Lunch, on 25th Oct.
Thanks
D
Cygnet Weekly Update: Monday 1st Sept 2014
1st September 2014
Evenin' All,
A busy weekend around the club - even without set outings at the moment.
Friday evening was the End-of-Season dinner, in the now traditional surroundings of the backroom of the Coach & Horses. A healthy cross-section from across the club, and a good time was had by all - particular thanks to Stu for organising. And it was a salutory reminder that it is ALWAYS better to be over-dressed than under-dressed.
That event also saw the awarding of our two annual awards:
- The G.P. Jeffries Cup for Cygnet Rower of the Year. This goes to the oarsman who has improved most over the past 12 months - and there were several to choose from, with at least three of our scullers de-novicing for example, and our Novice 4+ continuing to work hard. It was difficult to single out an individual, but given how quickly he has picked up the rhythm, and his admirable attendance at training, congratulations to Nick Rae.
- The Wally Whedal Cup for Cygnet Sportsmanship & Endeavour, also known as 'Clubman of the year, was another category where we had more than one worthy candidate. This award is about showing willing, jumping into new boats, crews, and races, and putting up with what crewmates/ coaches/ other river users throw at you. For doing all of this, and staying smiling, congratulations to Louise Johnson.
There were a few boats out over the weekend, and then on Sunday we had the BBLRC & Cygnet Club Day. The sun shone, the bar was open, the barbecue was fired up, and there was even some rowing done - congratulations to the winners of the Mixed 4x and Mixed 2x side-by-side-training-pieces-events. And thanks to Orla and Sharon of BBLRC for arranging.
This week
-Tues and Thurs evening outings by crew arrangement. Remember to check sunset times and take (and switch on) lights.
- For those not on the water, this Thursday is Squad Erg night this week. With Coach Sue still overseas, I'm setting this one, and drunk on the power, it's an old favourite:
30mins, rate-capped at 20spm. Do it alongside others if possible, and don't forget to post your time on the google spreadsheet. We'll also have a couple of the new Learn-to-Row chaps down on Thursday, so do say hello.
- That erg will mean you can enjoy Thursday's post-session-session with a clear concience. Sarah T from BBL is cooking, you'll have seen Stu's email, please let Sarah know if you're staying for food.
- Sat & Sun 8am outings, and 10am for newer novices. We will have a look at availability on the spreadsheet and allocate crews if there are enough...
... which leads me to the first (of many) pleas of the Head season - please put your availability onto the spreadsheet. It's remarkably quick easy and painless, and makes the captains' and coach's life soooo much easier. Thank you.
Next week
We're holding an informal Squad Meeting next Thurs (11th) in the bar. Please put it in your diary and come along. If you're intending to race in the Head season, and/or prepare for next summer, and/or want to focus on social rowing/ fitness/ the social side, we want to hear from you. I'll even provide some food!
Looking ahead to the bigger Head races - the two Fours Head races and the HORR in particular - a lot will depend on numbers and commitment, as ever. We'd also like to take the squad's view on whether we might take a slightly different approach to some of them. For example, we could consider:
- focusing on 4x's for the Fours Head Saturday (4 point minimum in the boat, 10 point minimum for sweep boats).
- getting two or three Nov 4+'s for Fours Head Sunday - including one made up graduates from the most recent Learn-to-Row course.
- in 8's, putting our more experienced oarsmen into a Masters boat to in the Vets HORR, to go for a result there,
- and for the HORR itself, focusing on getting a Nov 8+ out and training regularly (with the more experienced guys subbing in where necessary).
All just thoughts at this stage - but hopefully food for thought - come along next Thursday and tell us what you think.
Further ahead
I've already banged on about Sculling Camp (weekend of 20/21 Sept) up at the Bungalow - not to be missed. And following that, the Pairs Head/ Rhine Marathon weekend on 4 Oct (if you're not doing one, you should be seriously considering doing the other).
I should also start flagging the Cygnet Leander Lunch, which is on Saturday 25th October. Fine dining, fine company, a mediocre speech from your captain (recycling much of the material from Friday night), followed by a fine post-prandial stroll to a local hostelry. Stu and Phil Beckett will be in touch with more details - but for now do save the date.
That's all for now.
D
Cygnet Weekly Update: Mon 25th August 2014
25th August 2014
Right,
Am back in civilisation after a couple of weeks in Cornwall - so this will be short and sweet.
The regatta season has now ended for Cygnet, and we've now entered a slightly quieter period on the rowing front. But the first head races are around the corner (see below). Please, please, use this time to maintain your core fitness, erg, run, cycle. I.e. whatever you do, do not end up on the finish line of an Autumn or Winter head race thinking "if only I'd kept a bit more of my summer fitness in the bank..."
For the next couple of weeks outings will continue, but will be in boats either organised by the crew, or show-and-row. 8am Saturdays and Sundays. Mid-week outings to be organised by crews, but note that earlier starts will be needed and/or lights on boats.
We will have a Squad Meeting shortly - date tbc. It will be a chance to discuss the season ahead, ambitions, and how to get there, with clubmates, captaincy, and coaches.
The end of the season does bring with it two welcome social events this weekend however:
- Friday evening is the End of Season dinner at the Coach & Horses, Barnes. You should have given your details over to Stu already if you're up for dinner - if you're not up for dinner but up for a beer or two, do drop in - we'll be in the room at the back, all are welcome.
- Sunday noon is the Cygnet/ BBLRC Club Day. Messing around in boats. All welcome including newer novices (and families) to come along to what is always fun and informal and involves members of all abilities from both clubs jumping into mixed scratch boats. (Essentially what St Neots was like, before other bigger clubs starting spoiling our fun).
Further ahead
- Sculling Camp is on 20/21 September. More to follow from Nick on this, but all are welcome to learn to scull/ hone sculling skills/ watch from the bank whilst discussing past sculling exploits.
- Pairs Head is on Saturday 4th Oct. So far we have two crews up for it: Bart & Gav's 2-, and an intergenerational 2x of Guy & Guy Jr. So there are boats available if you're interested, and we'd like to have as many entries as possible. I'd encourage anyone to consider it - it requires some reasonably competent steering, full pressure rowing for 15minutes, and (ideally) some training. There are also mixed categories available. Let me/ Sue know, or if you want to discuss.
Finally, on safety, I was going to draw everyone's attention to the current BLACK flag status on the tideway, due to low fluvial flows. However, given the biblical amounts of Bank Holiday rain we've been enjoying, it may end up jumping straight to RED... which is why doing a sensible risk assessment every time you go out is the only way to go.
Goodnight all.
D
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