News & Events
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
Captain's Log: Issue 14
6th March 2022
Good evening Cygnets, this is your Captain speaking
I am very pleased to report a cracking day of racing at Hammersmith Head on Sunday 27thFebruary, great to see two Cygnet boats out on form and performing well in the tideway, more on this below. Whilst spring hasn’t yet sprung it is a relief that the days are now rapidly getting longer meaning lighter evenings and most importantly early outings no longer quite pre-dawn!
We are in the final weeks of Heads season now, building towards the bumper weekend of Head of the River and Veterans Head of the River 26th – 27th March. Training is continuing in earnest and we’re seeing the results pay off – a few more weeks of hard graft (keep up that commitment to your land training crews) to see us through to the sprinty summer season – I know for many of us Regatta season can’t come soon enough.
HAMMERSMITH HEAD – 27 February 2022 – Race Report
I am pleased to report another successful outing at Hammersmith Head, this time with both a Veterans and a Seniors Open 8+ entry, both crews doing us proud and competing well in respective categories. Despite some challenging (and cold) winds during marshalling, both crews got off without a hitch from Middlesex and performed well in the Fairway. Full results here.
The Coach was particularly pleased with the gains made by the senior crew, making some real improvements on the last race at Quintin and finishing in a strong position in the division ahead of a good number of tideway clubs and a competitive time in the category. The crew were tidy, rowing well and kept a good, strong pace down the course to Hammersmith Bridge, serving as good preparation for the main event in a few weeks’ time. The Vets crew also had a good run out, with a little help from some friends at Guildford, in a competitive Master D/E category and was great to see both VIIIs racing again. Well done to both crews and a big thank you to our Coxes Megan and Laurent for keeping us sharp and motivated.
The next few weeks we will be stepping up the training and rating so we’re ready to take it up a couple of pips for the long run down to Putney. Crews for Head of the River and Vets Head will be announced shortly.
Noel Davidson #268. VIII+ Open: 12.56.9
Megan Eldred (cox), Dominic Marshall, Pete Goldsworthy, Martin Drage,Whit Mason, Matt Byrne, Mustafa Ozyurt, Rupert Bailey, Andy Stromberg.Marj Israël #250. VIII+ Masters E, CYG/GUI Composite: 13.30.3
Laurent Couacaud (cox), Paul Rawkins, Steve Reeves, Paul Woowat, Richard Warne, Rhodri Walters, Nick Wylie, Iain Golder, Brad BryantCLUB HOSTING AND BOATING: ALL HANDS ON DECK – Please Sign Up
A big thank you to everyone who has helped with Boating this Heads season and to those who have driven launches or found other ways to pitch in.With Hammersmith behind us, we now have the two biggest racing weekends ahead of us in the form of WeHORR and HoRR/VHoRR.
We are expecting a full complement of visiting crews which means we will need all hands on deck across both weekends, to make sure the event runs smoothly and all crews arrive, boat and depart safely. It is a big part of racing and the rowing community and without our services, the Head Races just couldn’t run (and nor would we be able to raise the substantial funds that we do for the club from boating fees).
Please sign up for slots here to assist on Saturday 12th March for WeHORR. Any questions to Henrik.
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: cygnet-rc.org.uk/100ballDates for your diary:
- 12th March - WeHoRR
- 26th March - HoRR
- 27th March - Vets Eights
- 6-10th April 2021 - Training Camp
Captain's Log: Issue 12
21st January 2022
Good Morning Cygnets, this is your Captain speaking
2022 is off to a strong start with squad training in full swing, on the water and on land. Fog in recent days has meant rather more on land than we would like, but it hasn’t dented the enthusiastic training effort.
Next weekend will see us hosting and racing Quintin Head and I will be pleased to get Eights Head season underway in earnest (more on that below). Meanwhile planning is underway for the summer regatta season and spring training camp.
BOAT NAMING: ‘Big Malc’ – This Sunday 12.00
We are very much looking forward to the naming of our new 4x/- this weekend and delighted that many of the Burman family will be joining us to mark the occasion and to toast our newest member of the fleet. Please join us at the boathouse from 12.00 as we toast ‘Big Malc’.
QUINTIN HEAD – 29 January
Crew Announcement
I am pleased to announce our first squad racing crew of the year. We are awaiting draw details to confirm our racing number, but representing the squad in Cygnet Colours will be:
8+ Noel Davison
Megan Eldred (coxswain), Rupert Bailey, Pete Goldsworthy, Matthew Gutteridge, Chris Jageurs, Matt Byrne, Andy Stromberg, Octavian Puzderca, Mustafa Ozyurt
Final race training will be this weekend, including a run down the course (University Stone to Harrod’s Wharf), ahead of raceday next weekend.
Crew Hosting: Please look out for further details from Henrik and the boating team, we are anticipating c. 30 crews being on site for hosting visiting Quintin crews. We will be grateful for boating and parking volunteers to help the day run smoothly.
CLUB KIT WINDOW
Megan is putting final touches on a new kit window for the summer season, details will be distributed shortly for placing orders for racing and training strip.
A SPECIAL THANK YOU: THE SHED
A special shout out and thank you to our Boathouse Captain and all round handy man Chris Jageurs for the implementation of the Shed Development plan. We have now what can only be described as a first class land training facility with an excellent fleet of ergs and weights equipment which has transformed the space and means we are getting great use out of Charlie GM’s land training sessions. The final finishing touches will be put in place in the coming couple of weeks but we’re pleased to be making full use of this excellent facility. Huge thanks to you Chris for all of your efforts.
OTHER QUICK REMINDERS:
· BOAT LOG: Please ensure all outings are logged in the boat log – good to see it in good use, please keep it updated with club boat usage.
· LIGHTS: In poor light, foggy conditions and dark mornings, please make sure you're using the correct lights and high-vis clothing.
· WINTERY (TIDEWAY) CONDITIONS: The weather and water is getting colder and wetter, and it's a particularly risky time of year for hypothermia: make sure you are well layered up and have spare clothing after outings. Stay dry, stay warm.
· OUTING CANCELLATIONS: On occasion the weather or river conditions may mean we can't go afloat or a land session is required: If the forecast is poor, come prepared for both but wait for the call from Coach or Captain before assuming the outing is not going ahead.
· LAND TRAINING: Great to see the shed in good use. Please make sure you're signed up to sessions and if you're signed up, show up (on time).
· BOAT CARE & MAINTENANCE: Please make sure boats are properly washed, left in good condition and any defects or damage appropriately reported. Our fleet is precious and must be looked after properly. More to follow on this one.
Dates for your diary:
- 23rd January - Boat Naming
- 29th January - Quintin Head
- 27th February - Hammersmith Head
- 26th March - HoRR
- 27th March - Vets Eights
- 6-10th April 2021 - Training Camp (Further details very soon)
Rowing and Racing Calendar
