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Captain's Blog
Author: Matt Byrne |
24th July 2017
Racing Post:
On Saturday, a small but intrepid band of explorers travelled up the A1 to the wilds of Cambridgeshire in search of pewter. Sadly, the team returned empty handed; erstwhile captain Jez sportingly decided to give his oppo a couple of lengths at the start before losing by the diameter of a bowball (we await publication of the photofinish) and the beardy pair are reported to have had a mid-race incident with some shrubbery.
This Saturday, it's a trip to Henley for the novice 4+ (Anna, Niall, Cris, Jez, Vasil) and Jez/Cris warming up in a Masters D 2x. BBLRC are also sending a quad and half a pair to race. Draw is at: http://www.henleytownregatta.org.uk/regatta-day/competitors
Housekeeping
Please get the availability up to this weekend into the system by close of play on Tuesday. (Ere long, this deadline will be rolled back to close of play Sunday, so I can combine weekly updates with outing plans.) Looking further ahead, we need your availability updated ASAP on the spreadsheet as far as Oxford City on 20th August, so that coach and captaincy can plan crews for that and Peterborough Regattas. (Entries for both close next week.)
We're also trialling a new web-based availability system for August, so please have a look at http://www.fitclub.me/ to create an account and request to join Cygnet RC. All the training sessions are loaded into the Cygnet calendar and it looks like a simple system to update and change on the fly.
This week:
Tuesday
Seniors - weights
HTV crew - outing
Novices - erg test with Tim (from 6.30pm)
Wednesday
Seniors - outings/ergs/cross-training

Thursday
Seniors - ergs
HTV crew - outing and boat loading
Novices - outing 7pm, coached by Alan. Crew list to follow once the availability is better populated.
Saturday
Seniors - Outings 7am, 10.30am
Novices - Outing 9am

Sunday
Seniors - Outings 7am, 10am
Novices - Outing 10am
Big thanks to Jez for leading the club for the last 2 years; let's keep pushing the envelope and continue on the upwards trajectory that we're on.
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Cygnet Weekly Update
Author: Neil Pickford |
17th July 2017
All,
It was back to the Tideway for a full on training last weekend. It was good to have three coxed fours on the river on Saturday doing race pieces against each other, and it was good to see our bow loader the Peter Roche on the water for the first time in a while. The new novices are making big strides forwards and a good number made the Sunday outing and were rewarded by the excitement of six side by side race pieces against small boats. I can vouch for how hard that was for the single scullers!!! Keep this momentum and you guys should be ready for a season closing race at Oxford City on the 18th August.
It's St Neots regatta this weekend and a trailer loaded with Barnes Bridge and Cygnet boats is heading up the A1. Unfortunately a couple of our entries did not get races so our entries are thinner than expected:
Ex capn Jez MasE 1x heat at 10:24 vs Broxbourne
Sam and Robin Open 2- semi final at 15:30
So this week....
Tuesday Weights session/ race training outings followed by:
8pm Boat naming of our new single scull
8:15pm OGM to elect the new captaincy followed by ringing of the bell and consumption of a few celebratory drinks.
Wednesday Outings for race crews,
Thursday Novice outing meet at 7pm, 7:15 sharp OTW
Squad ergo - 10 x 500m in teams of 2 with 30 second change over
Boat loading for St Neots
Saturday
St Neots Regatta
For those not racing, please put your availability on the sheet so we can plan Tideway outings. We could combine novices with more experience rowers if numbers and mix are right to get further on the prep for Oxford City.
Sunday - meet at 7:05, OTW at 7:30
Novices to join the main squad at 10am
Slightly further ahead is Henley T&V then Peterborough Regatta (12th August).
HT&V entries close at the weekend so if people want to race then they need to get organised really quickly and let me and the new captain know. There seems to have been a shift towards Peterborough, which is fine, but you need to keep the captaincy informed.
This is my final weekly update before I step down as Cygnet captain tomorrow. It's been a great privilege to have been captain for 2 years, thanks of all the support you've given me and the club and to all those who serve on committees behind the scenes to keep things working smoothly. There have been little minor crises when something breaks or we need someone to step into a crew at very short notice leading to "volunteer required" type email from me. And someone always does come forward, the boats get on the water, the kit gets fixed, the trailer gets driven to its destination. We've had a successful summer of pots, the squad is growing, we are getting leaner, fitter, better looking... The future for Cygnet is rosy blue.
I wish the incoming captaincy every success.
See you at the OGM tomorrow,
Jez
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Cygnet weekly Update
Author: Neil Pickford |
10th July 2017
Hi All,
There was more regatta action at the weekend at Kingston and another win to report. In IM3 Single Sculls Dave French got through his heat comfortably to get to the final where he beat the very experienced sculler Mike de Poali in the final by 2 lengths in a fast time that matched that of the IM1 winner in the next race. Dave clearly has more wins within his reach!!!
The two coxed four crews both record wins in heats but missed out on pots. The Nov 4+ of Anna Niall, Nick and Vasil beat Putney Town and Kingston comfortably in their semi final but came against a very quick Kingston crew in the final. It was side by side till the mid point of the race but Kingston had the stronger finish to take the pewter. The all conquering IM3 4+ of Marj Sam Scott Ian and Robin won through their heat against Oxford Academicals comfortably enough by four lengths but were narrowly beaten by 1 1/3 lengths in a very fast semi final by Vesta who went on win the final against another Vesta crew. But it's good to be slugging it out in very competitive races with the like of Vesta and leaving our other Tideway revivals behind.
Back on the Tideway, we welcomed new cox Catrin Beetham to the club for the summer vaction from Durham University. We are always extremely grateful to coxes and promise to obey her every command and in return she will become super knowledgeable about the Tideway and the racing line when she is coxing for Durham in Head of the River. And welcome too to Ranko Berich. Ranko is from Auckland, NZ and comes with that competitive kiwi spirit so you'd better watch out for him on 2k erg tests.
This week...
Tuesday
Weights session
Wednesday
Meet at 7, OTW at 7:15. Novice outing with Alan (note the change of evening, Alan is not around on Thursday hence the switch of evening). Please update the availability sheet for Wednesday.
Thursday
7pm Squad ergo - TBC
Any novices wanting to join in please feel welcome to come to this session
Saturday
Main squad outing, meet at club 7:05, OTW at 7:30
Preparation for St Neots and Henly T&V regattas
Novices meet at 9, OTW at 9:30. We want to start building towards Oxford City Regatta. It looks from the responses so far that we should be able to race a novice 8 there, but we need to get as well prepared as possible, maximising water time and getting used to rowing at higher stroke rates.
Sunday
Main squad outing, meet at 7:05, OTW at 7:30.
Novices are encourages to come and join the second outing (10 fro 10:30). Please put your availability on the sheet so we can plan the crews.
Slightly Further Ahead
St Neots regatta, 22nd July
Final call for those wanting to enter races.
So far I have for Saturday (entries submitted)
Sam and Robin Open 2-,
Jez Mas E 1x,
Cris Open 1x,
Sam Open 1x
Jez and Cris Mas D 2x
Tom and Matt, you said you were interested in the regatta, should I put your names forward to BBL for mixed races?
Anyone else interested in mixed races? You need to tell me soon!!!
Henley Town and Visitors Regatta 29th July
I have the following who said they wanted to race, but I suspect this may have changed. Please update me on your status as we need to put crews together v soon.
David, Jeremy, Sam, Cristobal, Barry, Scott, Robin, Tom, Matt
Tuesday 18th July Ordinary General Meeting
This is the meeting to elect the new captaincy to look after you all and the club for the next 12 months. We will also be naming our new single scull. So there are many reasons to come down and share a drink with the new and old captaincy and whet the boat's bows.
Have a good week, see you at the club soon,
Jez
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