News & Events

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New Captain's update
Author: Neil Pickford |
21st July 2024
Dear Cygnets,

Last week I was elected as Captain at the club’s OGM – a fantastic honour, and a role I’m looking forward to carrying out.

First – thanks to Martin and the previous captaincy. The squad’s grown in the past year and that is no small feat, and we’ve seen progress across the board. Second, a big thank you to Mustafa and Tom for agreeing to stay on as Vice and Deputy Captain!

I just wanted to run through where we stand with upcoming races and training for the rest of the summer. I’ll write shortly with more details on plans for the upcoming year.

Immediate priorities

Peterborough: there is the opportunity to enter a great regatta on the weekend of 10–11 August. We currently only have two signed up on FitClub. Could people who are available and interested please sign up by Friday so that we can decide on whether/what to enter.

Training: Unless there are any objections, I suggest we keep with our current plan of:
- Monday and Tuesday (1900): Water outings
- Thursday (1900): Ergs
- Sat (0845)/Sun(0745): Water outing
Again, I know it is not possible to get timings that work for everyone, but if you have any suggestions, please let me know. I’m particularly keen to explore the potential for morning sessions pre-work in the week.

S’camp: After the really successful camp in June, we are looking to hold another in September. More details shortly once a weekend is confirmed.

Upcoming races
- Peterborough 10-11 August
- Scullers Head 14 September (please let me know if you are interested)
- Pairs head 12 October
- Fours Head 24 November
Finally, a big well done to those at ergs on Thursday: Jordan, Nathan, Fillippo, and Tom B. We did a great session of 500m relays – a bit of competition mixed with a lot of lactic acid! But great to see some decent numbers and strong efforts. Let’s keep it going!

Onwards!

Dom
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Ann Southey
Author: Neil Pickford |
24th June 2024
We are very sad to report that Ann Southey died peacefully on 19th June after a short battle with cancer.

A larger than life character who had a distinctive turn of phrase, Ann Southey was a trailblazer in more ways than one. Professionally, she was one of the first female metallurgists, working for Wilkinson Sword, in a predominantly men’s world. During her leisure hours, she poured heart and soul into rowing, preserving the name of her beloved St George’s Ladies Rowing Club, coaching and officiating and playing a key role in the foundation of Henley Women’s Regatta, the success of which speaks to her unwavering dedication. She will be greatly missed by all those who knew her.

From the British Rowing website:
Ann was a stalwart of St George’s Ladies RC, which later became part of Twickenham RC, and then – for a great many years – of Civil Service Ladies RC (now Barnes Bridge Ladies RC), as well as of many major competitions.

As a rower, a career highlight was winning the Women’s Coxed Fours with St George’s Ladies RC at the inaugural National Championships in 1972. Her crew, which also contained Beryl Mitchell (later Beryl Crockford) and was coxed by future British Rowing Chairman Di Ellis, went on to be selected to represent England at the Home Countries International Regatta, which they also won.

In 1988, she was one of the group who founded Henley Women’s Regatta, and was the committee member responsible for compiling the Regatta programme for 15 years until 2002. She will be deeply missed this weekend in the Chairman’s Enclosure where in recent times her many friends in rowing have enjoyed her friendship, lively conversation and insight.

Ann was a very deserving recipient of the Amateur Rowing Association Medal of Honour in 2008. This recognised her enormous record of volunteer work as a member of the ARA Council as a divisional representative, member of the Women’s Rowing Commission, member of the Competition Committee, organiser of the Women’s Head of the River Race, co-founder and long term member of the Henley Women’s Regatta Committee, member of the Pairs’ Head Committee and National Championships Committee, coach and umpire.

Ann's funeral will be at 11.00 on Tuesday 30th July 2024, at West Berkshire crematorium. For anyone not able to attend in person, there will be an on-line link which will be live at 10:00 UTC (please contact us for login details).

All are encouraged to attend a celebration of Ann's life after the service, to reminisce in a way that Ann would have enjoyed. This will be at John and Ann's house, in Whitchurch on Thames. Please let John know if you are able to attend, so he can plan catering (please contact us for more details and John's email address). Rowing blazers or similar are encouraged, both for the service and the celebration.

No flowers please, but donations to Cancer Research in Ann's memory would be much appreciated. This link allows you to include Ann's name.

Ann (right) with friends Jackie Darling and Penny Haslam-Palfrey in 2010
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From the captaincy – 17 Jan
Author: Neil Pickford |
17th January 2024
Hello Cygnets,

Racing
Head Races on the Tideway back on with Quintin 8s Head Race and it’s fast approaching. As always, we are in need of volunteers to help with boating visiting crews. Please check below Google Spreadsheet and sign up where you think can help on the day.

Training
As Club, we're currently aiming for Hammersmith Head and the training program as following;
- Mondays:19:00–20:00 weights – 6 weeks program is on the shed board
- Wednesdays: 07:00–07:40 – circuits (the program till end of March is on the shed board)
- Thursdays:19:00–20:00 squad ergs
- Saturdays: 07:00–08:30 / 09:15–10:30 & Sundays 07:30-09:00 water outings
  Sign up via FitClub – cut-off time for the water outings is Thursdays at 19:00
Thursday Supper Club is back.
Thanks to Hannah for re-organising it. For more information and to show your cheffing skills on a Thursday, please get in touch with Hannah Steadman (BBL) who is coordinating. You will also have have a had an email about Supper Club from Hannah, please do get involved.

Dates for your diary – for both on and off the water.
- 20^th Jan: Quintin 8s Head Race. Followed by Laurent's Farewell do from 3pm.
- 27^th Jan: Burns Night (More information on how to sign up etc. will be sent by Rupert)
- 11^th Feb: Cygnet AGM. 16.30 at the boathouse
- 11^th Feb: following the AGM, Cygnet Birthday Drinks at The Crossing Pub
- 18^th Feb: Hammersmith Head Race
- 23^rd March: Head of The River Race
- 24^th March: Masters Head of the River Race
- 30^th March: University Boat Races
- TBC: Spring Sculling Camp
- TBC: Spring Learn to Row Starts
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