News & Events
Cygnet Weekly Update
29th March 2017
Cygnets,
Very disappointing that Head of the River Race was cancelled on Saturday. A difficult decision for the organisers, a strong northeasterly wind against the tide meant white horses on the river which are not the conditions that you want for 350 boats battling their into the waves. Thankfully Vets Head was not affected and we were represented in two boats - a Cygnet/Benrath composite and a Cygnet/TSS composite crew and there was all of 2 seconds between the two boats over the course. Both were very much scratch crews and it was enjoyable for all those who took part. It was great to have Tichel from RG Benrath in the boat in the tradition of the close and longstanding friendship between the two clubs. And there was good race experience for Deon, Niall and Bjarne who all started rowing in our LTR courses in the last 12 months.
So the Head Racing season is over and we start preparing for the summer regattas. And with that we will be moving into small boats and it's our objective to improve boat handling, steering and navigation skills across the squad. Tim is starting a sculling ladder every Sunday to give regular racing practice and establish an informal rank order. Should be fun too.
We've had our last Tuesday circuits class until September. With lighter evenings those who are signed off to steer can get water time on our Tuesday and Thursday sessions. There will be an alternative land base training plan for those who can't get on the water, but it you improve your skills and technique be maximising water time, so that has to be a huge incentive to learn to scull and pass the navigation test. Start now by getting to grips with the Tideway Rowing Code. Charlie says he will have some availability to cox some evenings to there will be some sessions for non steersmen to get out in the evenings, but there is no substitute for learning to handle a single scull and becoming self sufficient on the river. So can I also encourage everyone to sign up to Sculling Camp on the 22/23 April to get into sculling boats in as very safe environment.
The first regattas are not far away - Hammersmith Regatta on the 22nd April, Chiswick Regatta on the 29th April. We'll need to know who wants to race at these in the near future to put together crews and plan the preparation. My thoughts are that we should focus our resources on Sculling Camp on the 22nd and make that a full training weekend for the main squad to prepare for Chiswick Regatta the following week. For the rest of the season I will put a Doodle poll out to get an early guide to who can and wants to row which regatta throughout the season.
Our next learn to row course starts on Saturday at 10am. This remains our main source of new Cygnets so I ask you all to be welcoming and encouraging to the new guys when you see them and to help out with the sessions when asked. The first sessions before Easter will be on land, after Easter they will be out on the water on Saturday and Thursday so I'll be asking for coxes and boat sitters so please don't be shy to come forward.
So this week.....
Please fill in your availability to the end of the month, including Tuesdays and Thursdays so we can plan crews and sessions
Tuesday - No Circuits!!!!!
If you are a signed off steer then you can get out on the water. Sunset is at 19:27 so you need to boat early (6:30 at latest) and be off the river before sunset.
On land training is 30 mins rate 20 ergo
Wednesday 7pm Club run 25 min fartlek
Thursday 7pm Squad ergo 30' AT ergo Rate 24 Test (as far as you can row)
Weekend
This will be a small boat weekend for all four session. This covers the whole squad including novices.
Saturday and Sunday Meet at club at 7:05 OTW at 7:30
Oh and Sunday is University Boat Races day, here's the timetable:
The Cancer Research UK Women's Boat Race: 16:35
Osiris Blondie Race: 16:50
Isis Goldie Race: 17:05
The Cancer Research UK Boat Race: 17:35
So lots going on, we've worked hard over the winter, we can now look forward to more water sessions, evening outings, warm conditions, let's keep the momentum from the winter going so we can hit the regatta season at 38 SPM and go and win some pots.
Have a great week,
Jezkly Update blog post
Cygnet Weekly Update
21st March 2017
All,
Well it was our last full weekend before Head of the River and Vets Head next weekend. Good to see both 8s out together (kind of essential before the race) and both senior and novice boats looking pretty solid in the higher rate pieces. And thanks to Tim for arranging the match against Thames Novices on Sunday. This was a great way to prepare for the real event and deal with the pressure of racing and the crew which was 50/50 split of senior and novice rowers performed well, holding off the Thames crew in both races. So bring on Head of the River.
The draw is out and Cygnet i is number 308 and Cygnet II is 348. The race starts at 14:15 there are many top crews racing so come and watch the biggest Tideway event and cheer you club on.
The crews are:
Cygnet I
Marj (c), Sam (s), Robin (7), Nick (6), Gav (5), Matt (4), Ian M (3), Jez (2), Cris (b)Cygnet II
Charlie/Anna (c), Ian Sch (S), Scott (7), Bjarne (6), Tom (5), Eric (4), Vasil (3), Mustafa (2), Niall (b)Tim and I will send out more details about warm up outings and preparation for the race itself in a separate email, but we will be having an outing first thing Saturday morning and then we will need to be at the club at least an hour before the race. Can anyone who does not own club kit let me know so we can arrange for you to borrow some so we are in matching club kit. Looking the part and feeling good is free speed in the boat.
Vets Head
We have a boat entered at Masters B. This will be a combination of the two crews from Saturdays race final line up to be confirmed, but I need to know asap who can race.
The good news is that it is a shorter course the HoRR rowed on the flood tide. Race start is at 11 and our start number is 19 so this is pretty much the time of our second outing if there wasn't a race, so no excuse for not being in it.
We also have as Tideway Sculler School / Cygnet composite crew racing at Masters F number 131 to cheer on.
So with that in mind, this week's plan is:
Tuesday 7:15pm Circuits with Maxi Cavendish School
We have the school booked next Tuesday as well, can people let me know if they plan to make this session which would be the last of the term and last till September. If people are taking downtime after HoRR and aren't going to show then I'll cancel the booking.Wednesday 7pm at the club
Club Run 4k easy. Non runners 3 x 3' squats/1' rest Rate 30Thursday 7:00 Squad ergo at the club followed by Cris cooking supper
2 x 1k @ 5k paceSaturday: Pre race outing meet at 7:05, OTW at 7:30
We need everyone racing at this outing come hell or high water
Meet for race at 1pmSunday: Pre race outing meet at 7:05, OTW at 7:30
Race at 11 need to boat soon after 10 to get down to PutneySo lots to take in with more details to follow.
Further ahead.
Tim has published his training plan for the next 4 weeks. There is a change of emphasis as we move into the regatta season. I'll send out a separate email with more detail from Tim how this will work.
Finally...
It's a busy week and the weekend is the culmination of all the hard ours on the ergo and cold dark early mornings on the river, let's all enjoy it. Keep a close eye out for emails from Tim and myself with any refinement to the plans, and make sure you know where you need to be and when,
Cheers
Jez
Cygnet Weekly Update
14th March 2017
Chaps,
It was an excellent weekend on the river with lots of hard work and technical sessions which is really showing its benefit in the quality of the rowing and the balance in the boats. The two 20 min resistance rowing pieces on Sunday really showed a significant step up from a couple of weeks ago. And a word for Bjarne and especially Niall who were in the senior 8 for the long outings showing the progress they've made over the winter. Just shows what you can achieve when you put the time and effort in.
So we are less than two weeks to go to Head of the River weekend. We have two crews entered on Saturday, one at IM3 and one at Novice. We have a Masters B crew entered on Sunday.
The crew line-ups selected by Tim are for HoRR:
Cygnet I IM3
Marj (cox) Sam 8, Robin 7, Nick 6, Gav 5, Matt 4, Ian M 3, Jez 2, Cris 1
Cygnet II Nov
Charlie/Anna/Sue (cox) Ian S 8, Scott 7, Bjarne 6, Vasil 5, Tom 4, Niall 3, Eric 2, Deon 1
There may be some final tweaking on the lineup so subs need to available to step in if required.
We've put a place holder crew in for VHOR which is largely the first VIII from Saturday. We will be firming up this lineup over the next few days.
It is IMPERATIVE that both boats get out this weekend for us much time as possible. Head of the River Race is a big deal and a step up from Hammersmith Head and Quinitn Head, so can everyone do all they can to make themselves available for the weekend and be prepared to do double outings. This is what we've been training for all weekend so let's make this our priority this weekend.
So this week:
Tuesday 7:15pm Circuits with Maxi at Cavendish School
Wednesday 7pm 5k squad run
Thursday 7pm 4 x 10' Rate 24 (78% 2k wattage)Saturday
Everyone meet at 7:05 OTW at 7:30
Double outings for all, work to be confirmed.Sunday
Everyone meet at 7:05 OTW at 7:30
1st outing 16k Tech 2nd outing Water tech Speed strokes 12/7 x 20It's the final push to HoRR so let's give it our best shot.
See you all at CircuitsJez
