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Cygnet Weekly Update: Monday 7th July 2014
7th July 2014
Cygnet Weekly Update: Monday 7th July 2014 blog post
Evening All,
A mercifully short one this week, as we recover from Henley Royal Regatta. And a Henley where the Cygnet colours were seen on the water as well as on the riverbank. Nick & I were very pleased to get through qualifiers to earn ourselves a race on Thursday. We did our best, but we weren't a match for the University of Western Ontario boys (and I mean 'boys' - one was 18 years old). But we had a great day - the sun was shining, we didn't row like complete donkeys, and we had supporters cheering us on on the bank and (silently) from the umpire's launch. Many thanks to those that made it down to support.
All of which was the precursor to Henley Friday, and therefore club-day at Old Blades as guests of the Slys. A smashing day, and evening, with a number from both clubs getting completely smashed, and some of us taking most of the weekend to recover. Heartfelt thanks again to the Slys for putting us up/ putting up with us.
This week
- Tues evening outings, as per Coach Sue's email.
- Squad Erg is 2 x 2000m rate increase / 4 min easy. Row two 2000m pieces. In each piece, row the first 1000m @26, then 500m @28, 250m @30, and 250m @32. Row for four minutes at light pressure during the rest period.
- 2nd erg is 40 minutes feet out - max r22 holding a consistent split
- Erg for the New Novices is 2x 15mins r20 or lower.- Thurs evening outings, as per Coach Sue's email- Thurs evening post-session-session, and Nick Bates is catering afterwards.
- Sat and Sun morning outings - crew lists to follow.
Other stuff
St Neots is only a fortnight on Saturday, so dig your tent out of the shed. Henley Town & Visitors is the weekend after.That's all for now.
D
Weekly Update
2nd July 2014
Evening,
We had two Cygnet pairs racing at Marlow Regatta at Dorney Lake on Saturday - our only 2k racing this season. It was some of the best conditions we've seen, skylarks singing above the fields, damselflies dancing on the stern as we paddled up the practice lake etc etc. Which was a welcome distraction for those parts of the day where we weren't being brutalised down the course. Because whilst the format has changed from previous years, unfortunately 2,000m hasn't got any shorter, and the propensity for very good oarsmen to rock up at Marlow hasn't changed.
The pairs put in some solid rows against big opposition, with Nick & I managing 3rd in the B Final of Sen 2-, only a few seconds ahead of Bart & Novice Gav, who were racing at least one status up. (Nick & I also doubled-up into the Elite 2- race, which proved to be a race & status too far).Still, the change of format was much better in our view, and we should definitely make an effort to fly the Cygnet colours there next season: the time trial in the morning required the self-discipline of a head-race, with the excitement of finding out the results afterwards. And then the finals being split into A, B, C etc. in the afternoon, made for some close and adrenalin-fueled racing.
This week
Tues - 7.00pm outings (Nick R coaching).
Boat unloading at TSS for the boats that raced at Marlow.
Wed evening - Greg E has offered to extend Jez's 1-to-1 session to a sculling pod for any Cygnets who wants to join. Let Greg/ Jez know.
Thurs - 7.00pm outings (Nick R coaching)
Followed by post-session-session in the bar. I think there's a name down to cook - no doubt more info to follow.
Fri - 4pm a Cygnet Pair will be first off down the Henley course in the Qualifying Races. (It's 2 to qualify from 4 boats, and we're being chased by a a pair from the Oxford boatrace 8, a pair that's flying in from Canada, and a pair that's flying in from the USA - I'm just managing your expectations here).
Sat and Sun - 8am outings - plus recent graduates of the Learn-to-row course later in the morning.
Further ahead
This weekend there's no regatta (following the cancellation of Richmond). If you're interested in Kingston Rgatta on Sat 12th June, please put your availability on the spreadsheet. Some of the BBLs may be going to that, so we can make a trailer of it.
The next regattas that we want to prioritise are St Neots on 26/27 July and Henley Town and Visitors on 2 August. Please put them in diaries, as they're two of the best of the season. St Neots for local painted-bottles-for-lane-buoys authenticity, and Henley T&V for all the setting and splendour of Henley Royal, but without the massive Oxbridge, Candian and American oarsmen.
So update training availability for July now please.
Scumbags - unfortunately in the space of a week or so three sets of scumbags (or one set of diversifying scumbags) have visited the environs of the clubhouse . A bag was stolen out of a car parked behind the boathouse - please do be careful and avoid leaving just about anything remotely valuable visible in cars - even bags with nothing in, or loose change is sufficient temptation for some to smash a window. A car was torched next to the Emanuel trailer rendering both the trailer and a new Flippi 4 unusable. And for good measure a truckload of rubble was fly-tipped between the trees. So another reminder that if you see anyone acting suspiciously round the boathouse, please do call the Chiswick police (their number is on the notice board), or the non-emergency 101 number.
Henley Royal Regatta - you'll have seen Marj's emails on this - there'll be lots of us at Old Blades on Henley Friday on 4 July - thanks as ever to the Slys for their hospitality.
Bungalow -The bungalow is unbooked between June 29th evening and Sunday July 13th midday. Anyone can stay free-of-charge providing they help with maintenance. Just advise Derek Bush (via the captaincy) what days you can manage. Derek will be there Mon - Fri both weeks (the middle weekend can be booked as normal if wished)
'Night All.D
Weekly Update
2nd July 2014
Evening All,
A rather nice weekend, which saw various training outings, a committee meeting, plus our newest single, 'Port2Port' named and beautifully sculled past by Neil P.
Also, the big news on Friday, was that Nick Bates' superstitious attachment to his old Cygnet all-in-one was finally broken. We had a solid training outing on the course in the morning, which seemed to be the last straw for the gusset. So it was in smartish newish Cygnet kit that we qualified for the Silver Goblets! Thanks to all for the support - both from the riverbank and from cyberspace. I'll spare you the stroke-by-stroke analysis of our qualifying piece - rest assured you'll get that on Friday at Old Blades.
(The other qualifying crew, from Western Ontario University, started two boats behind us, and finished one boat behind us. And we've drawn them in the first round on Thursday).
This means, incidentally, that since 2004 Cygnet have raced at Henley Royal Regatta more years than not.
This week
- Tues evening outings, as per Coach Sue's email.
- Squad Erg is 5x 6min, r28 or higher, 1min light pressure inbetween. Or 30min, r20, feet out.
- Erg for the New Novices is 2x 15mins r20 or lower.
- Thurs Bates & French 2- racing at Henley Royal Regatta (time to be confirmed on Wednesday evening)
- Thurs evening outings, as per Coach Sue's email
- Thurs evening post-session-session, I understand that Claire S-A of BBL is cooking.
- Fri Club Day at Henley Royal Regatta. You'll have seen Marj's emails on this: read and obey.
- Sat morning outings traditionally suffer somewhat after Friday's exertions...
- Sun morning outings - crew lists to follow.
- Sunday 6th is also "open house" at the Cygnets Bungalow. Anyone who wishes may visit - there will at least be a pot of tea (to detox from Friday?). A day or an afternoon by the river? Why not?
Other stuffEntries for Kingston Regatta (12th June) need to go in this week, so let me know if you've got a crew that wants to go.For St Neots at the end of the month (26th/27th July), the Coach and captaincy will be putting crews together based on availability + optimal boat speed + fun, from both clubs. So if you want to be involved - and believe me you do want to be involved - please update the spreadsheet now to show that you're available for St Neots regatta, and for training outings between now and then.
After that we approach the end of the regatta season, with Henley Town & Visitors on 2nd. We've already got crews up for that, so again, please put it in your diaries.
Small Ads
- If you're after a Concept II MOdel D, and/or a Turbo trainer - I've been contacted by someone converting his home gym into a nursery. £600 for both for a quick sale.
That is all
D
