News & Events
Cygnet Weekly Update
23rd August 2016
Hi Cygnets,
Wild day on the river on Saturday with unseasonably strong winds. Still there was good solid sculling training by those who were out plus the very welcome return of James to boat and his first taste of sculling. More to come at sculling camp on the 10/11 September.
No more races now until Pairs Head in October so its time to plan the training and crews for autumn. Thanks to those who have filled in the poll, for those who haven't yet, it only takes a couple of minutes and will be a big help in putting plans together. Cygnet Autumn Poll. Please put the squad meeting on the 8th September in your diary, after boat loading for Sculling Camp.
Learn to Row starts in less than two weeks. I am still looking for volunteer coaches and helpers to cover all the sessions. The water sessions will need lot of support, coach, cox, two boat sitters and someone to do land training if we have as expected two 8s going out one after the other. Go to the LTR page of the famous spreadsheet to sign up.
And Scamp is fast approaching on the 9/10/11th September. We'll load the boats on Thursday 8th Sept before the squad meeting, we will need volunteers to meet the trailer at Weybridge Ladies on Friday evening to get the boats across to the bungalow.
This weeks outings:
Tuesday 7pm
Nick R, Scott, AJ, Ben, Big JohnSorry no steersman amongst you so it will have to be land training unless a steer comes forward. So its 30 min feet out rate 20 ergo, please record times on the sheet
Thursday 6:45
4x Vasil, AJ, Ben, Jez
Guy, the sun sets at 8 so we need to be on the water by 7 at the latest so make a special effort to get down early.
See you at the club soon, enjoy the heatwave whilst it lasts
Jez
Cygnet Bugle Weekly
12th August 2016
Chaps and Chappess
Report from HT&V Regatta does not include any pewter I'm sorry, but the Nov 4+ gets closer to glory but continues the habit of coming up against the eventual winners in the first round. Anna, Jez, Scott, Cris and Robin were have with a large and powerful RAF crew (who hadn't organised the Red Arrows as hoped) and rowed pretty much side by side with them only to loose by 2/3 length in by far the fastest semi final. RAF went on to win comfortably in the from Twickenham and Oxford Green Templeton college. There was no denying that they had more power so it was a reflection of our superior technique that we held them so close. The Mas C 4x came up against a very tidy Mas B Oxford Academicals crew who rather left us for dead but it was good to give Ben H his first race in Cygnet colours. On Sunday it was great to see John Stockdale back in a boat after an injury enforce layoff, it's just like riding a bike isn't it.
Upcoming...
Saturday August 20th Oxford City Regatta - last regatta of the season, we will be selecting crews in the next couple of days, if you want to be in it then update the regatta page on spreadsheet....
This week:
Tuesday 7pm
Lacking a signed off steer so its fun on the ergo ( I'll see if I can find one)For your delectation:
Erg: 2 x 2k + 1 x 1k [max effort - 5 min break] Scott, Rob A, AJ, Ben, John SThursday 7pm
Water: 2 x 20mins [@ r18-20]
4+Jez (c), Rob, Scott, John S, BenWeekend
Saturday 8am Squad outings
Sunday 8:30 Squad outings
Now we've moved into August there is a whole new availability spreadsheet to fill, it's looking a bit thin at the moment.
Further ahead
3rd September Start of the next Learn to Row course. Do you have any friends or colleagues who you could persuade to join???
I'll be posting a schedule for the 8 week course including the volunteers we will need for each session, please be ready to sign up and help bring on the next generation Cygnets
4th September Club Day - more details to follow from Cris
9/10/11 September Sculling Camp
1st October Rhine Marathon in lovely Dusseldorf -more details to follow, this is one of the 5 Pillars of Cygnet, pilgramage we must all make at least once in our lives.
16th October Pair Head on the Tideway - start thinking if you want to enter and who you want to enter with, this is our next big race day after Oxford City
I think that's about it for now,
Have a good week one and all
Jez
Cygnet Weekly Update
25th July 2016
Highlight of the past week was the festival of rowing that is St Neots Regatta. It was my fourth time and by far the loveliest of days on Saturday, the river and the regatta field really looked a picture. Last year the gazebo was needed for its rain retarding properties, this year it was thethe shade it offered that got everyone seeking its cover. The rwgatta is a joy, so friendly and relaxed, the marshals so patient and such a good spirit between clubs and opposing crews, competitive but in a most old fashioned sporting way.
On the river, by fat the coolest place to be, we had some exciting racing and race wins but no trophies. It could have been different, the 4+ crew of Nick, Scott, Cris and Robin were hunting down the London Otters when Swany McSwanface strayed into the the racing lanes to be clipped on the body first by Robin on the drive, chopped on the neck on the recovery by Robin then to add insult to injury Scott delivered the coup de grace to its wing on the next strike. So we missed about 3 strokes in the process and boat speed was lost. Swany was certainly moving slower, the otters darted away up the Ouse and the race was lost. I'd like to say the no swans were hurt in the making of this story, but that would not be true. Maybe the cox should have kept a between look out, but had a grudge against all of them since one attacked me whilst canoeing on the river Wye in 1988. Taken a long time to get even with swankind. Thank goodness it wasn't a Cygnet. Needless to say the Otters went on to win leaving all their other oppo a,country mile behind.
The Mas C 4+ won their heat against Star by about 3 lengths. In the semi final we faced a Mas D crew from Broxbourne which meant giving them a 9 second headstart, which meant that they were like half way down the course before we started. We clawed most it back to have an overlap at the finish but we ran out of river to get past them. Needless to say again that Broxbourne won the final by a more comfortable margin. More races and fast and furious action in the sprints on Sunday, Matt won his 1x heat, but lost to a giant in his semi. Thanks to Robin and Anna for coxing and to Tom and Jo for trailering. I'm trying to get the details of the swannery so we can send flowers and get well soon cards.
Next weekend is Henley Town and Visitors where we have a Nov 4+ and Mas C 4x racing, more details to follow.
This week's plan...
Tuesday 7pm at the club
Both crews working on race starts and 2, 3 4 minute race pieces both boats side by side if poss4- Nick R, Scott, Tom R, Robin
4x Ben, Vasil, Tom B, CrisThursday 7pm
More race pieces and starts and side by side races. Boat loading for Ht&V after the outing4- Jez, Scott, Cris, Robin
4x Ben , Vasil, Tom B , Ian MSorry AJ and John, am the crews are geared round the racing lineups for Saturday and doing full race practice, but as always come and do a 30 min r 20 feet out ergo. Will get you out on the water soon.
I'm sorting out coaching and we should have cover for both days.
I'll send out more detail about HT&V meet and race times later in the week.
And City of Oxford is just round the corner so will be putting crews forward in the next few days.
Finally, big thanks to Scott for fixing the trailer. Kiwis are great club members!
Have a fab week
Jez
