News & Events
Captain's Log: 31 October 22
31st October 2022
Bit of a bumper Captain’s log this week, but lots of important information including crew announcements, safety/navigation matters and some key things coming up where we really need Cygnet helps around the boathouse so will be grateful to all who can lend a hand. All rounded off with a couple of exciting Christmas events to look forward to- yes it’s that time of year already!
Please have a good read and shout to one of the captaincy team if you have any questions or queries.
1. Fours Head / Veterans Fours Head Crew Announcements
I am pleased to announce the racing crews for the forthcoming Fours Races on 19th and 20th of November
Fours Head:
• 4– Open Club: Matthew Gutteridge, Cristobal Cabrera, Rupert Bailey, Mustafa ÖzyurtVeterans Fours Head:
• 4x Masters F: Paul Rawkins, Rhodri Walters, Rhodri Walters, Nick Wylie
• 4x Masters E: Richard Warne, Arnold Paikin, Brad Bryant, Iain Golder (Cygnet / Guildford Composite)
• 4– Masters B: Henrik Jonstromer, Martin Drage, Rupert Bailey, Mustafa Özyurt2. Steering Tests:
Saturday 12 November, we will be conducting written steering tests in the Boathouse. Please can I ask that all squad rowers and coxes who have not yet completed the test sign up to attend so we can get our sign off procedures up to date. Whether you have previously steered or not, it is important that all senior rowers have a good understanding of the river and our rules of navigation – my expectation is that all squad rowers complete the sign-off process. This also helpfully increases our pool of available steers.
Please contact me sign up if you need to complete the test so I can put in place the arrangements with the Safety Adviser. If you cannot make this date, please get in touch to arrange a separate session.
3. Training:
Those who are racing in the forthcoming events, please review your availability over the next two weeks to see whether you can attend more weekend sessions so we can get race crews out – Race crews are selected with this in mind so please get signed up so we can get our crews on the water.
A reminder that all training sessions are online. The Captain is very cognisant of very busy lives and long winter months, but if I can please make a plea for land training sessions and good attendance, especially Charlie’s strength and conditioning – please do sign up and attend whenever to keep up the training effort (which has been making noticeable gains in our boats on the water). The shed is a highly sought after resource and it’s a real shame to see empty spaces / low attendance for Cygnet sessions.
4. Help around the Boat House – Extra hands needed, please sign up:
Working Day – Shed and Building Maintenance Next weekend
You will have seen the message in the boathouse recently – the Boathouse Exec is organising a maintenance day next weekend after outings on Sunday 6th November. Please do hang around and lend a hand for a couple of hours or come down later in the day. Chris Jageurs has a long list of jobs and maintenance tasks he wants to get through, so please do come, armed with elbow grease.Vets & Fours Boating Operations
Fours weekend will be one of our busiest of the year and is one of those events when we really do need all hands on deck to help out with traffic and boating for a couple of hours on raceday. This is a request for all club members to help make the hosting operation a success – we are looking quite light on Cygnet numbers on the current count. Those who are racing either Fours or Vets4s, please sign up for a shift around boating – it’s particularly important that racers lend a hand to make the day a success. On the boating front, we are currently forecasting a really packed weekend, with both days booked to full capacity.Sign up here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16vZ8X1DVvG0W8ge6BDEVEjwZg8hLiAU0AUoLbRWwqKw/edit?usp=drivesdk
5. Safety Matters
There is a bumper set of safety announcements online – all crews (and especially steers please take note) in particular a large barge/tree removal operation happening this week on the Hammersmith bend at St Pauls.
Also please note the series of forthcoming Barnes Bridge arch closures in November and December which will impact on navigation There are two NTM’s with dates and times when Barnes Bridge arches will be closed u16of2022.pdf (pla.co.uk) and u17of2022.pdf (pla.co.uk)
6. Christmas is Coming…
Cygnet Veteran’s Annual Christmas lunch at the RAF club is planned for Friday 16th December. Please Contact Lawrance McVeigh for more details and to sign up.
Save the Date: BBL Christmas Party Saturday 17th December at George IV Chiswick. Details to follow.
2022
- 19th November: Fours Head – Tideway
- 20th November: Vets Fours Head – Tideway
2023
- 29th January: Quintin Head – Tideway
- 26th February: Hammersmith Head – Tideway
- 18th March: Eights Head of the River (HORR) – Tideway
- 19th March: Vets Eights Head of the River – Tideway
Captain's Log: 05 October 22
6th October 2022
Hello Cygnets, this is your Captain speaking!
We survived the Rhine!
In what were some of the worst conditions in living memory our three crews fought hard against the water, weather and each other to complete the 42km challenge. Coxed by our Benrath friends Mucha, Tichel and Kett, we counted the boats out and counted them back in again.
It was a hard fought competition and a close margin across the three crews when the final times came in, but experience was triumphant on this occasion and the plaudits go to the Chairman’s Veteran Quad (2:48:39), followed closely by our Senior Mens Four (2:49:06), ahead of the CYG / BBL composite who completed the course in 2:52:28. Congratulations to Wylie, Martin, Tom, Neil and Mucha in victorious form as top of the boats!
Huge credit to all our crews and racers, it takes real stamina, determination and character to get those boats over the line and an extra dose of grit was required in the last 10km this year! Particular shout out to our novice racers Matt G, Mustafa, Anna and Samantha for taking on the challenge this time out, the jury is still out on whether it’s an adventure to be repeated- but we wish glutes and blisters a swift recovery!
Huge thanks of course to our good friends and hosts at RG Benrath who blessed us with warmest hospitality and looked after us splendidly all weekend, keeping the Alt Bier topped up and an enjoyable Erdedankefest to boot. We look forward to welcoming them back to the Tideway for Head of the River in March.
Pairs Head
The Tideway was also in racing strip this weekend and congratulations to Iain and Brad for completing Pairs Head and racing well in Cygnet colours completing the course in 17:35.90.Thanks to those who helped out on the day and were able to lend a hand. Please mark 19–20 Nov in your calendars for Fours / Vets Fours where we really will need all hands on deck for hosting our visiting crews: not just a nice to have so the races can run but an essential source of funding for the clubs which we cannot do without help.
Training & Race Availability
We’re well into Heads Season training now so for the Squad now is the time to make the gains on land as well as on the water. Please keep the shed well populated and training up Mon - Weds - Thurs as per the updated training plan on fitclub. We have no self-rowing ergs and the weights don’t lift themselves!Please look ahead to the next races:
Upper Thames Head 30th Oct and (V) Fours Head of the River. Entries are already opening and filling fast so get your race and training availability up to date through to the end of November please.A reminder too that your BR Race license must be valid for the race day in order to be eligible for racing - this is the rowers responsibility to check and update on British Rowing.
Committee Vacancies
We are still looking to fill two crucial vacancies on the Cygnet Committee - Secretary and Social Secretary, please get in touch if you think you might be interested and able to help with the running of the club and our social scene. Two pivotal roles that help keep the club running in some form or other: Volunteers urgently needed. Please get in touch.
Racing Calendar
2022
- 30th October: Upper Thames Autumn Head – Henley
- 19th November: Fours Head – Tideway
- 20th November: Vets Fours Head – Tideway
2023
- 29th January: Quintin Head – Tideway
- 26th February: Hammersmith Head – Tideway
- 18th March: Eights Head of the River (HORR) – Tideway
- 19th March: Vets Eights Head of the River – Tideway
Off-Season: Monday 20th March – Monday 10th April
Captain' Log: Issue 22
3rd October 2022
Good afternoon (Guten Abend from Benrath) Cygnet, this is your Captain speaking
It was a delight to see so many of you at last week’s ball in what was a fantastic evening of celebration and excellent company - all in all a memorable knees up. Huge thanks to the team behind the scenes who put in an immense effort to make it such an auspicious occasion - thank you all.
Thanks too, to all of you who came from near and far, it was great to see so many old friends and some very long overdue reunions. We celebrated BBLRC’s centenary, toasted a lifetime of achievement and contribution from BBLRC President Rubina Curtis and bid farewell to our dear Marj, celebrating her immense successes and efforts for Cygnet - thank you Marj!
You will have seen a select few pictures from the evening via the website and the full set of pictures is available here, should you wish to view or upload your own.
RETURN TO THE RHINE
This weekend sees a healthy contingent return to our very good friends at RG Benrath – we are excited to be back and ready to race in the 2022 Rhine Marathon with three crews of Cygnet and BBLs taking to the German waters. Best of luck to all crews - good odds now being offered in the three way sweepstake.
Mixed Quad BBL/CYG Composite – 62
Cox: Tichel, Anna Barkemeyer, Anna Constantini, Samantha Bailey, Rupert BaileyMens coxed Four – 78
Cox:Kett, Cris cabrera, Mustafa Özyurt, Matt Byrne, Matt GutteridgeVeteran Quad –119
Cox: Mucha, Neil Pickford, Martin Drage, Tom Broadhurst, Nick Wylie,PAIRS HEAD
Pairs Head also returns this weekend with plenty of visiting crews we are expecting a thriving Hard and busy boathouse.
Very best of luck to Iain Golder & Brad Bryant representing Cygnet in Pairs Head, going off Crew Number 57 as a Masters E 2-. From the boathouse and from Germany we will be cheering you on.
Please do sign up to help for a slot with boating or traffic for an hour or so - every little helps and is greatly appreciated. A few extra Cygnet hands will be a very great help.
Learn To Row. Spread the Word – 9 October
Our Learn to Row Sunday 9 October is launching next weekend, please spread the word far and wide, we are very keen for a healthy intake this autumn so please to share across your local and professional networks as we look to grow the club and build Cygnet momentum. Please contact Henrik / see the attached for more details.
Committee Vacancies
We are still looking to fill two crucial vacancies on the Cygnet Committee: Secretary and Social Secretary, please get in touch if you think you might be interested and able to help with the running of the club and our social scene.
Two pivotal roles that help keep the club running in some form or other: Volunteers urgently needed.
Racing Calendar
2022
- 1st October: Rhine Marathon – Düsseldorf, Germany
- 2nd October: Pairs Head
- 30th October: Upper Thames Autumn Head – Henley
- 19th November: Fours Head – Tideway
- 20th November: Vets Fours Head – Tideway
2023
- 29th January: Quintin Head – Tideway
- 26th February: Hammersmith Head – Tideway
- 18th March: Eights Head of the River (HORR) – Tideway
- 19th March: Vets Eights Head of the River – Tideway
Off-Season: Monday 20th March – Monday 10th April
