News & Events
Captain's Log: Issue 16
1st April 2022
Hello Cygnets, this is your Captain speaking
I’m very pleased to report back on a really positive climax to our Heads season campaign and reaching the end of our long winter training regime.
This weekend was a really positive weekend of racing and hosting and the spring weather capped it off nicely, beckoning towards our summer season and regatta campaign. The weather these last couple of days, a reminder we’re not there yet!
I want to offer huge thanks to everyone who has been involved in a very busy schedule of races this season, on land and on water doing our bit to support the club and wider rowing community, ultimately enabling these races to run. To the boating coordinators, the traffic marshals, the launch drivers and race marshals, the boating teams, the numbers desk and all other helpers who have been involved: thank you. Many of you have put in hours of effort and a lot of support above and beyond to make the races a success and our visiting crews safe and welcome - from which we’ve had much positive feedback. Thanks to you all for the contributions you’ve made and making us such a popular boathouse for hosting and an excellent fundraiser for the clubs too.
Training
Squad training will be out of its regular rhythm as we prepare to shift gear for the summer season and a mini-break after the end of Heads.
Uncoached squad outings at the regular time this weekend with signed off steers in the driving seats for those who are around. Strength & conditioning training with Charlie resumes Monday 4th April.
HORR / VETS HEAD RACE REPORT
Great to see Cygnet well represented in both the Head of the River and Veterans Head this weekend, whilst the weather might not have lasted, the Cygnet effort did. Well done to both crews who battled hard and put the many outings and training throughout the winter to good use, keeping up the effort all the way to Putney. You’ll find some highlights from the weekend on the club facebook and Instagram accounts.
HoRR
In the HoRR event, Cygnet crew 226 paced well with Cox Megan building the crew off a strong start and the best row from the Post through Barnes Bridge and down to Chiswick Steps we’ve seen this season. The crew built well on the performance of Hammersmith and Quintin Heads. The middle third was buffeted hard by squally gusts but the crew battled on and importantly really committed to the race plan and stepped it up to max effort from Hammersmith Bridge and pushed on hard to Putney, keeping the pressure on and technique in check. We finished the course in 22:24 and an overall placing of 244, a good showing and strong improvement on our last HoRR run out in 2019.
Shoutouts go to the Cox for keeping us honest and keeping us measured, pressing us hard when we needed it most. Likewise a standout performance from Octavian, stepping into the crew and delivering in his first Championship Course race - stellar performance and big achievement in your first season after graduating the Learn to Row.
Vets
Whilst the weather for Veterans Head may have disappointed, crew 47 did not and once again we saw a strong performance from our Masters crew, doing us proud. Again building on the successes of the shorter courses, guided by Cox Laurent the crew took the Championship Course in 22:51 finishing 113 overall and 23rd in Masters E.
A shoutout too goes to the cameo performance of Deputy Captain Martin Drage, rowing in X-PRESS Boat Club colours in crew 10 and to our visiting friends from Benrath for their strong performances and excellent company in the Boathouse this weekend.
That rounds off a really good season of long distance racing on the tideway, we’ve been well represented and visible in every tideway race and with consistent crews making some really good in roads in some of local rivals and tideway competition. My thanks once again all our supporters, coxes and coaches who have made it such a positive and enjoyable season. Congratulations to all who have raced this winter.
SUMMER SEASON
Tuesday (5th April) evening, the squad kicks off the summer planning with a get together at the boathouse with some food and an opportunity to discuss our summer season plans and our approach to regatta training and racing. Please do join to find out more about the summer training plan and racing schedule for the squad and to catch up with the Captaincy and Coach on the season so far.
Then it’s off to training camp from 6 - 10 April, a number of us will be heading up to Reading RC for some calmer water and a change of scene with a chance for some pre-season training to get sprint racing off to a good start. There will be no regular squad outings Sat 9 / Sun 10 April.
BOAT RACE
A reminder that that other race is on this coming weekend. The University Boatrace returns to the Tideway again this Sunday. The bar will be open from 1300 and a BYO BBQ will be in operation, so join the crowds, bring a sausage or two and cheer on your favourite Blues. Contact Social Secretary Megan for more info.
CENTENARY BALL 24th September
A reminder of dates for your diary that we have the BBL / CYG centenary ball on 24 September- a bock tie affair promising to be a great occasion after a couple of years of limited socialising. We are looking forward to rowers and friends past and present joining us at the Richmond Hill Hotel. More info here.
Happy Birthday BBL
Final word goes to our good friends next door at BBLRC, who celebrated their 100th birthday this Monday. A remarkable achievement and very special occasion and we send our warmest birthday wishes to all our friends at Barnes Bridge Ladies.
Rupert
Captain's Log: Issue 15
23rd March 2022
Good evening Cygnets, this is your Captain speaking
Spring is in the air at last! It’s good to be enjoying the lighter mornings and the evenings opening out – I hope you’ve been able to make the most of the warmer weather, on the water and off! With Spring comes the final races of the Heads Season and an exciting weekend ahead with Head of the River and Veterans Head of the River Races to round it off.
Look forward to seeing many of you at the Boathouse and on the hard for this weekend’s events. Thank you to all of you who will be lending a hand at different points during the weekend.
Cygnet Crews
Good luck to our two Cygnet crews racing this weekend on Saturday and Sunday, looking forward to capping off the Heads Season with a good showing in the fairway down the full Championship Course. Having missed the last two years' races due to restrictions, it has been a long time coming, with a lot of training and hard effort in the meantime.Head of the River Race, Saturday 26th March (10.00) Crew number 226 in the Noel Davidson.
Megan Eldred (cox), Matt Gutteridge, Cris Cabrera, Dominic Marshall, Pete Goldsworthy, Mustafa Ozyurt, Whit Mason, Rupert Bailey, Andy StrombergVeterans Head of the River, Sunday 27th March (12.30) Crew number 47 in the Noel Davidson.
Laurent Couacaud (cox), Paul Rawkins, Andy Rawkins, Richard Warne, Rhodri Walters, Mike Collier, Nick Wylie, Iain Golder, Brad BryantWelcome Back to RG Benrath
I know many of you will join me in offering a very warm welcome back to Mucha and our good friends from RG Benrath who will be arriving this week. Benrath are joining us for the race weekend and going off numbers 50 and 144 in Vets Head – please do give Benrath a good cheer and the warmest of welcomes back to the Boathouse. Looking forward to sharing many a beer and many a story in the clubhouse bar over the course of the weekend.Boat Race Social 03 April 2022
With the University Boat Races coming up on April 3rd we will be opening up the bar and firing up the BBQ on Boat Race day. BBQ goes live at 1300 and the first race is at 14:20, so please join to cheer your favourite Blue – friends and family welcome too. Please contact Social Secretary Megan for more details.Spring / Summer Training and Regatta Season
Final touches are being put on our summer season training plan and regatta racing, with much more detail to follow in the coming weeks. We are looking forward to building on the successes and commitment to winter training and seeing that pay off in our series of regatta on the Tideway, and off. Watch this space for updates on mid-week outings and the plan for summer racing.Save the Date: 24 September 2022 – Centenary Ball Social Secretary Megan will be in touch with very exciting news about the big celebration in September, please save the date in your diaries and find out more here.
Last but not least…
I am pleased to announce the arrival of our newest arrival to the Cygnet fleet, with our new Cygnet launch (accompanied by a very impressive looking trailer), which had its maiden voyage this weekend. We have enjoyed many hard years of service from our previous launch, it has seen better days and has now been retired to calmer, drier waters. As ever we’ll be supporting the marshalling effort this weekend, with thanks to our launch drivers assisting on race days.
Rupert
Dates for your diary:
- 26th March - HoRR
- 27th March - Vets Eights
- 6–10th April - Training Camp
- 24th September - Centenary Ball
- 26th March - HoRR
HoRR 2022 crew selection
10th March 2022
Good evening Cygnets
Hope you all are well and training all going to plan, let’s keep at it and keep the lights on the shed as we get towards the end of Heads Season and on to Regattas – that momentum and consistency is really key for maintaining and making the most of the excellent gains since September.
Please keep up with the ergs and weights programme as far as you can.
Head of the River Race (HoRR)
I am very pleased to announce the crew below which will form our entry for HoRR on Sat 26th March.
We are only able to field one entry for the race, which means crew selection has been competitive and based on performance and participation, as judged by a combination of strength, length and commitment during Heads season in recent months.
Even if not selected below, thank you for your efforts and work in training, these do not go unnoticed. There is a further opportunity to race at Vets Head, details below.
Cygnet 2022 Head of the River Race: Crew Selection
Noel Davidson 8+
Megan (Cox), Matt G, Cris, Dom, Pete, Mustafa, Whit, Rupert, AndersI am really pleased that we have a strong entry and delighted with the progress we have made, as demonstrated at Quintin and then Hammersmith head. Kudos to you all for keeping up the training and everyone who has remained active and engaged throughout the season. This sets us up well not just for HoRR but for the summer too.
Veterans Head of the River Race
If you’re not listed above, there is still an opportunity to race, with our second entry of the weekend in Vets Head on 27th March, action required.
We have an 8+ entered for Vets Head, which will race alongside our Veterans crew, if we have enough people to enter a raceable squad boat. Please can I therefore ask, that if you have not been selected for the Saturday but still want to race, to sign up for Sunday 27th on Fitclub. There is an age requirement that you must be 27 or older or turn 27 this year.
I need this by noon on Saturday, as entries close on Monday – if we don’t have a crew to field we will need to withdraw the VHoRR entry.
Well done to the HoRR Crew, please put yourself forward for Vets Head if you are interested in racing, well done for keeping up the training. As a squad and a club we’ve got much to take pride in, all of which is down to you and the efforts of our excellent coaching team.
Any questions or thoughts, please do get in touch with me or with Beth.
On we row Cygnet.
Rupert
