News & Events

• XLIX Deneb's Captain's Log

  Author: Neil Pickford |

  9th July 2019

  Dear Cygnets,

  I hope everyone had a nice summer weekend.

  Henley Friday:
  Many Thanks to the Sly Family for hosting us another year at Old Blades. Thanks to Marj for coordinating the picnic and to all attendees who made it possible, bringing food and drinks. Good to see some young and not so young faces together. Also thanks to Hannah for organising the taxis. I hope everyone had a good time and were able to enjoy some racing.

  In other sad news:
  Ronald Hext has passed away on the 25^th June, only days after his 86^th birthday. Obituary -Funeral details

  Racing:
  This Weekend is Henley Masters. We are not there but the Ladies are - Good luck to BBL!!

  Our next stops are going to be St Neots, Henley Town Visitors, Peterborough and City of Oxford - Please update your availability in fitclub.me by the end of the week so we can plan the best racing combos.

  Safety:
  The river is closed Friday (12th July) between Chiswick eyot and Fulham reach 7am to 5pm.
  U16 of 2019 - Upper Notice - Barn Elms Reach - Local Traffic Control - Filming Operations

  Don't forget... Failure to keep a proper lookout is the single biggest factor in collisions.

  If you row to Putney in the next Month be aware about the works at Fulham FC.

  Don't forget the new TIDEWAY CODE recently launched by the PLA. Steers and coxes, please take a look.

  Thursday Social:
  Watch out Rupert's email

  Training This Week:
  Erg 1: 3x10mins - r22/ 5mins rest
  Erg 2: 8x500 r30-32 / 2 min rest 

  Tuesday
  Meeting 18.45- OTW 19.15 / Please if we can, try to be there 18.45. we might need to rig some boats

  Thursday
  Meeting 18.45 - OTW 19:15

  Outings this weekend:
  Will follow...

  Have a nice Tuesday and a better rest of the week!

  Cris

  Dates for your Diary:

  • 13th July: Kingston Regatta
  • 16th July: Ordinary General Meeting - 8:15 pm at the clubhouse.
  • 26-27th July: St Neots Regatta. Please update availability
  • 3^rd August: Henley Town and Visitors
  • 10^th August: Peterborough
  • 17^th  - 18^th August: City of Oxford

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• Ron Hext

  Author: Neil Pickford |

  3rd July 2019

  Ronald Hext

  1933 - 2019

  Richard Hext wrote to Cygnet recently to inform us that his father, Ronald Hext had died on 25^th June, only days after his 86^th birthday.

  Ron joined Cygnet in January 1954 while working as a clerk in the Admiralty. Although he had no previous rowing experience, he quickly developed an affinity with the sport and soon found himself rowing in one of the most successful Cygnet crews of the 1950s, a Junior Vlll coached by Bill Peer and John Bull.

  The crew made its debut at Chiswick Regatta on 26^th May1956. Eric Wale, author of 'Cygnet Rowing Club: The Fifties', recalled that "The Vlll, meanwhile, had developed into an extremely effective crew - indeed good enough to win at its first regatta beating Westminster School in the final of Juniors by one length. This was an excellent result bearing in mind the large entry (17 crews) and clearly demonstrated that Cygnet again had a crew of considerable potential".

  That potential was amply borne out in the successive weeks and months of 1956 and early 1957. Thus, the crew won Junior Senior Vllls at Walton on 9^th June, Kingston on 13^th July and Staines on 28^th July. These results continued a successful run of regatta wins since the early 1950s, echoing the 'victory years' of the Thirties.

  C.H. Genever Watling, an earlier club history scribe, recalled Ron Hext "as a 'perpetual student' because of the number of years and different courses undertaken with various local authorities, to see him through from extra mural at Ruskin to a degree course at Keble". Ron subsequently taught economics at the local Further Education College in Rugby for many years.

  His rowing career appears to have come to an end in 1957, but not before he rowed in the 1957 Head of the River Race, coming 34^th in a time of 20.29, a very creditable performance. As luck would have it, Maurice Hart, who also rowed in the crew, recently sent the Club a batch of regatta and HoRR printouts from that period, along with a photograph of the crew. The crew was steered by Colin Dominy; both Colin and Maurice still appear from time to time at Leander lunches.

  Ron was one of the longest standing members of the Cygnet 300 Club and continued to follow the Club's activities with interest.

  Richard Hext adds "Dad had a long and happy life, was a loving and generous husband to Judith, and father to Richard, Neil and Alison. He very much valued his time as a rower with Cygnets and his continued association with the club. He passed his love of rowing to his son, Neil and at least one of his nine grandchildren. He was very much loved by his whole family and will be sorely missed."

  Ron's funeral will take place at 3pm on Monday 15^th July at Rainsbrook Crematorium in Rugby. Cygnet members would be very welcome.

  Paul Rawkins

  

  Ron is seated first left in the front row.

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• XLVIII Deneb's Captain's Log

  Author: Neil Pickford |

  2nd July 2019

  Dear Cygnets,

  I hope everyone is surviving the heat wave, please drink loads and don't forget the sunscreen.

  Saturday was Richmond Regatta: Good races but unfortunately no wins; good platform from our Nov8+ against the senior crew from Sons of the Thames (winner of the event), they were simply stronger, Congratulations to James on his first Race.

  Our Nov 4+ also had  a good race against City of Cambridge (winner of the event) - but at the end it wasn't to be. All crews lost against the winners of the events - so technically we were second! Let's keep the good work to be first.

  Thank you very much Tom for driving the trailer, Anna for coxing and all of you who made the effort to come to the club to unload the trailer after a very long hot day. Please update availability to prepare well the next races.

  Safety:

  Failure to keep a proper lookout is the single biggest factor in collisions.

  If you row to Putney in the next Month be aware about the works at Fulham FC

  Don't forget the new TIDEWAY CODE which was launched by the PLA last month. Steerers, Coxes, please take a look. This is a must.
  
  

  House Keeping:
  This Tuesday and Thursday we need to do some rigging- please try to be there 18.45.

  Boats/ Equipment: Don't forget to do the Pre and Post outings checks. If there is something wrong please report it to the captaincy.

  Social:
  This Week Sian K (ccd) is cooking- please let her know if you are staying for food this Thursday

  Also this week Henley Friday - all you need to know is here. Please let Marj know if you are taking part in the picnic. Prepare your blazers and if you are interested in purchasing a club tie please contact Matt B.

  For Taxis to Henley - please contact Hannah (ccd )

  Also this week we have been invited to the Annual Music Night in Hamhaugh Island (Saturday 6^th of July) . All the islanders will come onto the green with their BBQs and there will be a band - might be a good plan to recover from Henley Friday

  Training This Week.

  Erg 1: 30 min r20
  Erg 2: 3 x 6min / r28-32, 4 min Rest

  Tuesday:
  Meeting 18.45- OTW 19.15

  Thursday
  Meeting 18.45 - OTW 19:15

  Outings this weekend will Follow.

  Have a nice day and a better rest of the week.

  Cris

  Dates for your Diary:

  • 5th July: Henley Friday at Old Blades
  • 13th July: Kingston Regatta
  • 16th July: Ordinary General Meeting - 8:15 pm at the clubhouse.
  • 26-27th July: St Neots Regatta. Please update availability

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