News & Events
Cygnet Weekly Update
1st February 2017
Cygnets,
Quintin Head on Saturday was our first race of the year and it was heartening to see two Cygnet VIIIs competing in excellent conditions. We had three people making their debuts in Cygnet colours, Ian Schofield, Niall Smith and Bjarne Hustad and they all enjoyed the experience and excitement of racing. The results were Cygnet 1st VIII 107th overall in a time of 15:17 and Cygnet 2nd VIII were 178th in 16:32. Both boats reported having good rows down the course and looked good in the photos, but there could have been more pain in the boats to get the times down. So we need to work hard on and off the river to improve our relative positions for HoRR and VHoR. Huge thanks to Marj and Charlie for coxing the boats.
This week:
Tuesday 7:15 at Cavendish School Circuits with Maxi, carrying on the focus on core strength
Wednesday 7pm Club run - Club Run 40' easy. Non runners 4 x 4' squats/1' rest Rate 30
Thursday 7pm Squad ergo 5 x 1500m @5k pace -0.5s split, sign up with Sarah Powell for food afterwards, you're going to need to refuel after the ergo!!
Saturday Main squad outings, meet at club at 7:20, OTW by 7:45 for first outing, 2nd outing at 10:45 - Sunrise is getting earlier so we can start and finish our outings earlier
Novices: meet at club at 9:15, OTW at 9:45
Sunday Main squad outings, meet at club at 7:20, OTW by 7:45 for first outing, 2nd outing at 10:45 - Sunrise is getting earlier so we can start and finish our outings earlier
Novices: meet at club at 9:15, OTW at 9:45
We tried on Sunday including a Novice 4+ in the main squad outing but there was too much difference in speed between them and the main squad for Tim to shuttle back and forth between the crews so I think for now the Novice outings are best scheduled between the main squad's first and second outings.
Preparing for HoRR/VHoR and squad development
On Sunday the group of rowers who were doing both outings and coach Tim talked about plans for Head of the River weekend and the obvious fact that we were a small and select group who are doing all the weekend outings. It's something that I've put in previous news letters and I know people have other commitments and priorities that puts a limit on the outings they can make. But there is no getting away from it that those attending all Tim's session are getting the full programme of technical and physical development and will progress faster than those that don't or can't. So Tim wants to put the squad into three categories of rowers - fully committed, part committed, social. Fully committed means making all the sessions on and off the water, part committed means training every week but not all sessions, social means joining the squad as and when. Crew selection for races and outings will take from the committed group first, then the part committed then the social. In the recent poll 11 people said they were going to make all the weekend outings, but with only four of us on the second outing on Sunday, that's clearly not the case. We will put up a list in the changing rooms of the squad and which category they are in. This is not a fixed thing, if you can move between the categories in any direction depending on attendance. The aim of this is so people know where they stand with regards selection, that those putting the time and effort in get the recognition and most all more people make more outings and take full advantage of Tim's fantastic coaching and programme. Finally, the four of us who did the second outing on Sunday, we had a great session in single sculls racing each other back from Putney to the club.
Recruitment
In the same discussion on Sunday we talked about recruitment and how we can build the base of active rowers in the club. We have the fleet and coaching set up to support a substantially bigger squad which is good for the club in many ways both competitively, socially and financially. Most of our recruitment traditionally comes from our Learn to Row courses and the next one starts on the 1st April. We also should recruit experienced rowers who can get straight on the water and join the competitive squad and we have been less successful at this. We all thought we need to do more on this. Ideas include advertising locally and in rowing websites. I'm sure there is a lot more we can do, it needs to be the responsibility of every club member to help by using their own networks of work, family friends and by coming up with ideas on ways to attract guys to the club. So let's keep the ideas coming and turn them into actions and into new recruits, both for the LTR and of experienced rowers. More to follow, but to start with fire your ideas over to me, Nick and Charlie.
That's rather a long update, have a good week and enjoy your rowing!!!
Jez
Cygnet Weekly Update
24th January 2017
All,
Back at base again last weekend. Suffice to say Richmond and Petersham Meadows looked beautiful with mist coming off the river and steam coming off the two Cygnet crews...
This weekend is Quintin Head starting at 12:15 rowed up river from Hammersmith to Chiswick.
The two crews are:
1st VIII (crew 58): Robin, Jez, Cris, Matt, Gav, Nick, Gareth, Bart, Marj (c)
2nd VIII (crew 55): Niall, Piers, Vasil, Tom, Sam, Bjarne, Scott, Ian S, Charlie (c)
They are both in the same Mas BC division so please come down and cheer them on, they should be passing by the club between 12:30 and 12:45.
This week:
Tuesday - 7:15 Circuits with Maxi at Cavendish School.
Wednesday - 7pm Squad run from the club - details to be confirmed
Thursday - 7pm Squad ergo - details to be confirmed
Saturday - Meet at club at 7:30 OTW by 7:50 for Pre race outings. Racing crews to boat at 11:15
Sunday Double outings meet at club at 7:30 for first outing OTW by 7:50
A bit of a captain's moan and a suggestion...
Those of use making the second outings especially on Sunday are a small band, only 5 of us on Sunday. It's frustrating for Tim and if we want to achieve our goals we need more people making the sessions and getting maximum water and training time. If people need to get away by a certain time, then can we start our outings earlier so we finish earlier let's say on the water by 7 for the first outing and second outing finished by 11. Would that enable those who currently find it hard to be able to make the second outing? Let's talk about it but anything we can do to get better turn out is worth considering.
That's it, I'll update the run and ergo plan as soon as I have it.
Cheers
Jez
Cygnet Weekly Update
18th January 2017
Hi All,
Full on morning of seat racing at a rather cold and breezy Dorney Lake on Saturday morning with three coxless fours powering down the Olympic regatta course. Four races in quick succession, Tim alongside on his bike getting accurate timings for each race. Four back to back races is hard work but what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. It's great to be getting variety in our training and as well as the mileage it gets us prepared for the head races by doing dress rehearsals like this. Thanks for all those who completed the poll, 24 responses in all. Tim and the captaincy will be looking at who wants to race in each event and based on ergo and seat racing results pick the crews for them. If you said you want to race, it is assumed you are available and can make the outings ahead of each race, so if you are picked for Quintin it is important to make the outings this weekend, so update you availability if you haven't already done so.
So, this week:
Tuesday 7:15pm Circuits with Maxi at Cavendish School, bring towel and drink
Wednesday: 7:00pm club run - 5k
Thursday: 7:00pm Squad Ergo 3 x1500m at 101% of 5k wattage
(You can use tools on the Concept2 website to calculate you 5k wattage and what 101% of this means in terms of target split)
Sian is cooking supper afterwards.
Saturday: Squad outings - it's tarting to get lighter so senior squad will meet at 7:30, 18k first outing, double fartlek second outing, we must get the racing 8 for Quintin on the water.
I'll confirm the time of the novice outings, likely to be around 10am
Sunday: Meet 7:30 16k plus 3 x 10 min pieces @ 28,30,32
Further ahead
Next Learn To Row starts 1st April
We have set the date for the next learn to row course to start on 1st April. It will be 16 sessions over 8 weeks with a week off for Easter. Please help promote the course through your contacts, friends, family, colleagues. Full details will be on the the website.
Have a good week everyone, see you at the club soon,
Jez
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