News & Events
Stan Collingwood
16th October 2019
David 'Stan' Collingwood
1947-2019
Cancer has claimed all too many of our rowing friends and colleagues lately. Sad to relate, therefore, its latest victim, Stan Collingwood, who died on Saturday, 12th October, at the age of 72, in St Theresa's Hospice, Darlington.
Rowing is all about characters and one person who amply fitted the mould was Stan Collingwood. Many clubs can claim an association with Stan, but, at Cygnet, we like to think we got in on the ground floor, electing D.S.Collingwood as an active member in January 1973. Although his birth name was David, to the world of rowing he will always be remembered as 'Stan the Man'.
Stan's stay at Cygnet appears to have been brief and the club annals do not record him rowing in any competitive crews. Perhaps more surprisingly, he avoided any committee or organisational entanglements, although he would later return as an impressive finishing coach and organiser of the Business Houses Head in the late 1990s.
Stan would grace many Tideway clubs in his time, but no club could truly contain him, and he was always destined for greater things in the guise of umpiring, coaching, commentating and organising. Chairman of Thames Region was but one of the many posts he would hold in the rowing universe. One medium that was tailor-made for Stan was Regatta Radio at Henley Royal Regatta and he would spend many happy hours regaling listeners with 'tales of the riverbank' in between races before the drone took over.
Stan always brought experience, enthusiasm and bonhomie to all he did. In 1998 he accepted an assignment to coach an aspiring Cygnet entry for the Thames Cup at Henley, professing that it would be unrecognisable by the time his ten weeks were up. Walking over Barnes Bridge late one summer evening and watching a technically near perfect Vlll passing beneath, I can confirm that in this, as in all things, he was as good as his word.
Later in his working life, Stan was delighted to inform us that he had again become a Civil Servant and might even consider rejoining Cygnet. Although he never did, there was always a space at the Cygnet bar whenever he cared to stop by. He will be much missed.
Stan donated his body to science, so there will be no funeral. However, a Service of Celebration and Thanksgiving for the life of Dave ("Stan") Collingwood will be held at 10.30am, Saturday 16th November at Holy Trinity Church, Hounslow. Dress code: Colourful, as befits a celebration! RSVP to Linda Collingwood
Paul Rawkins, 16th October 2019
LXIII Deneb Captain's Log
15th October 2019
Dear Cygnets,
I hope everyone had a nice weekend.
Good training sessions on the Tideway, rowing in the rain 😉, with a 4x and a 4+ and a 8+ on Saturday and a 4x and 2 singles on Sunday.
Also on Saturday the Learn to Row had the chance to go on the water for the first time. Well done everyone.
Next stop, 4's Head and Vets 4. Please update your availability in https://www.fitclub.me/ for all the sessions/races - (including weights and ergs, so we can plan which of them are going to be coached) and log on your erg results - cut off day for outings Tuesday!
This week training: (as per plan)
Monday:
Weights - Focus on techniqueTuesday: 19:00 to try to start at 19.15
Erg - 4k/3k/2k/1k continuous, R18/20/22/24Core and Stretching
Wednesday
Weights - Focus on techniqueThursday: (LTR will be also there, so please share the shed)
Erg - 4 x 4' @ 24/26, 4' rest, 2km split
Core and Stretching
Thursday Social: watch out Rupert's email.This Weekend Outings will follow
Have a nice Monday and a better rest of the week!
Cris
Dates for your Diary:
- 26th October: Henley Lunch - bookings by 20th October please
- 23rd November: HoR4s, 12.45
- 24th November: Vet 4s Head, 9.45 (Flood Tide)
LXII Deneb Captain's Log
8th October 2019
Dear Cygnets,
Happy Tuesday! I hope everyone had a fantastic racing weekend!
Saturday: Germany, Düsseldorf - Rhein Marathon: Fresh conditions with a head wind but no rain (lucky us). We had two crews enjoying the Rhein:- Cyg 1 (Martin D,Matt B, Tom B, Rupert B, Mario) (03:04:03)
- Cyg 2/BBL (Neil P, Cris C, Anna C, Marj I, Mucha) (02:46:38)
Congratulations to both crews, good effort, specially Martin and Rupert for their first Marathon. After the race, since "ein bisschen Spass muss sein 😉", we went for some nice food (most of us Schweine Haxe), a 'few' alt beers and a party... until ... they closed the venue.
Vielen Dank to our Benrath friends for hosting us another year and huge thanks to Marj for organizing. Looking forward to the next one.
Sunday - London - Pairs Head: Fresh conditions and rain. We had 4 crews, enjoying the Thames, please see times below.
- Cyg Op 2x Intermediate (Furby/Sears) 109th - (14:23)
- Cyg Op 2x Club (Pugh/Stewart) 213th - (15:16)
- Cyg OpMasB 2- (De Groot/Hunter 289th - (15:42)
- Cyg /AKN (Jackson/ Otterburn) 416th - (18:03)
Congratulations all racing crews and Thank you all volunteers, launch drivers, BBL for their Catering, well done everyone! (please see Jo's message below)
"A huge thank you to everybody who helped out with Pairs Head on Sunday - there were so many of you, and you were so positive and competent. The race went really smoothly, the parking was beautifully controlled and the catering was superb. Our reputation for the best and friendliest Tideway race is secured thanks to all your hard work.
Special mention to Clemmy and Emma who came down at 06.30 in the pouring rain to manage trailers, to Samantha and Penny who were at the cooker from the crack of dawn to, Kate, Leticia, Patricia, Christina, Emilie and to Jackie and Marion who didn't stop all day. Thank you to all of you who volunteered for the Timing Team - you will have already heard from Sarah what a fantastic job you did.
You all of course deserve special mention but I need to leave room for our valiant Cygnets - Richard du P on the numbers, Chris on the boating, Jim on the parking, and Mustafa on parking, boating and on the bar. We couldn't have managed without you all - and the cakes were spectacular.
I leave you with just one of the messages of appreciation that we have received from Maidenhead RC:
"Thankyou for yet another amazing Pairs Head - it is one of the few events that we have to borrow boats for as it is so popular with our members! All the Maidenhead crews agreed that it was as well organised, friendly and relaxed as ever, punctuated by some great racing - and you even had the weather arranged perfectly!"
Thank you all - you did the club proud!
Jo "
Next Stop 4's Head and Vets 4. Please UPDATE YOUR AVAILABILITY in https://www.fitclub.me/ for all the sessions/races - (including weights and ergs, so we can plan which of them are going to be coached) and log on your erg results - cut off day for outings Tuesday!
Enjoy the fantastic pics from both events in our social media.
Thursday social: Watch out Rupert's email.
This week training:
Monday:
WeightsTuesday: 19:00 to try to start at 19.15
Erg: 2x20' @ R22 3' rest approx. 2k+12sWednesday:
Weights Conditioning with MarkThursday:
Erg: 3 x 6' @ R24 3' rest approx. 5k pace (LTR will be also there ,so please share the shed)This Weekend Outings will follow
Have a nice day and a better rest of the week!
Cris
Dates for your Diary:
- 26th October: Henley Lunch - bookings by 20th October please
- 23rd November: HoR4s, 12.45
- 24th November: Vet 4s Head, 9.45 (Flood Tide)
Rowing and Racing Calendar
