News & Events
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)
Captain's Log: Issue 11
31st December 2021
Good afternoon Cygnets, this is your Captain speaking
I very much hope many of your have had a peaceful and festive Christmas with your loved ones with a well earned break from work and training and I hope without much Covid related disruption to your plans.
As we approach the end of 2021 and the start of a new year, I look back on the year that we have had as a club, as individuals and as a community. 2021, much like 2020, has perhaps served as the clearest reminder that life is very much a Head race and not a Regatta sprint.
At times this year, like last, we have faced real head winds, conditions have been tough and perhaps for each of us a moment or two of wondering quite how we’ll make it through these choppy waters and difficult wash.
Like many, however, I have also come to notice and recognise, more so than ever, how like the crew of a hard working VIII our Club and community is in battling against the toughest of races on the Championship course.
It has been great to see how, despite the conditions being against us, Cygnet has pulled together, been there for each other, sharing the load and rebounded from the most difficult waters. Never has it felt more important that the club, our community and the sport has been there for us all as we’ve battled our way through and found our way out of lockdowns and restrictions to be together again, on the water again and enjoying all that rowing gives us once more.
In 2021 we’ve had our summer races, Henley Friday, Sculling Camp, End of Season Celebrations, Learn to Row, Squad Training, Head Race Crews, Head Race Hosting, Christmas dinners, tea in the lounge, Thursday suppers and (many) drinks in the bar. Being a part of Cygnet and enjoying all of these things has been all the more rewarding and enjoyable having come from such challenging times. Perhaps not unlike that raceday feeling, having turned the corner and pressed through the choppiest waters together.
That we have been able to enjoy these things has been down to you as the Cygnet crew, pulling together to make them happen, getting through those tougher moments and putting in the effort when it counts. To all of you, thank you: for making it happen and for making it so worthwhile. Because like the VIII we are so much stronger together, when working as one, supporting each other and knowing that each of us has a role to play in moving the boat and guiding it on its course.
Thanks to all of you who have helped along the way, to our coaches, to our volunteers, to those who go out of their way to go the extra mile, for doing your bit to make things better for those around you, for training hard and for showing up when it matters. For all of that and more, thank you for making 2021 the year it has been and continuing to make Cygnet the place we love.
A very special thank you to those of you in the club and in our community who have gone beyond in other ways, for your service during these difficult times on the frontline and behind the scenes beyond all that is rowing. Many of you will have made contributions that have gone unseen but for helping us, our communities and the country through the challenges we have endured, we are grateful. I particularly appreciate those who have continued to play such important roles both in that capacity and for Cygnet as a club.
And so on to 2022.
Uncertainty remains but there is hope of better water to come. We’ve got much to look forward to, plenty to prepare for and to strive for. Head of the River (26th March) is now just 12 weeks away and beyond that what we hope will be a fulsome regatta season and I remain ambitious for Cygnet success on the tideway and beyond. And so in the meantime there is training to be done, races to enter (Quintin and Hammersmith to name two) and much behind the scenes to keep us on track. There will be sculling camps, recruitment and learn to row courses and much more besides to use the momentum we’ve found this last year to continue to build and develop as a squad and as a club.
After the Christmas and New Year break squad training will resume in earnest if we are to make the most of those twelve weeks, so prepare those resolutions and get yourselves ready for an exciting and busy year ahead.
There is much to look forward to, some exciting celebrations in 2022 and I hope plenty of opportunities to make up for lost time on the water and off – but this year, like last (and each before that) our successes will depend on you and our collective efforts. That you in advance for continuing that hard work and for your contributions in the year ahead.
But for now, I shall raise a glass to Cygnet and to each of you. Wherever and however you are celebrating your new years eve, I send very best wishes. I look forward to sharing the year ahead and all that 2022 has to offer with you, as we continue to press on through the Head Race of Cygnet history.
Happy New Year and very best wishes from the Captain.
Rupert
PS: Squad training resumes Thursday 6th January on the ergs, Saturday 8th January on the water, Monday 10th January in the Shed.
