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Cygnet Weekly Update
Author: Neil Pickford |
24th May 2016
Hi All,
Busy weekend on the river and on land. The latest learn to row course moved into the tank, they will be on the river next weekend. Challenging conditions for steers on Saturday morning with a narrow, shallow river, strong wind and M25 like traffic. On Sunday we took three guys out in single sculls on the Tideway for this first time. I know how scary it was for me first time, it's a big step up from the tranquillity of the river at Shepperton. Will, Rob and Vasil all did really well, staying upright (comfortably) developing their sculling skills and learning more Tideway navigation. Charlie was praciticing his 1x racing starts, as were Matt and Jez in a 2x, Guy and Gareth exhausted each other racing the Richmond Lock and back, and the Chairman's 4- soaked up the rays and paddle with panache. Thanks to Dr J, Sue and Sian for taking them for providing instruction and caperone services. Good to see so many boats on the water. We will make sculling pods part of the summer schedule when the tide times are right (ie every other Sunday at 10am).
So this week, it's Twickenham Regatta on Saturday and we are entered in 4 events - Nov 4+ (Claudia, Patrick, Scott, Rob, Charlie) , Mas C 2x (Matt, Jez), Mas C 1x (Charlie), Mas E 1x (Jez). Priority for Tuesday and Thursday is race training for these crews.
Tuesday 7pm
Matt (cox), Nick R, Scott, Patrick, Piers
Ergo Vasil
Thursday 7 am - Boat loading for Twickenham after the outings
2x Matt, Jez
1x Charlie
4+ Claudia (cx0), Patrick, Scott, Rob, Vasil
Ergo (sorry no more steers available)
Nick R, Piers
Weekend
Saturday
Twickenham Regatta - I'll let people know the race times once the draw is out. If you've not been, it's a great setting and a good one to watch with a beer and burger from the facilities on the finish line in Buccleuch
Gardens. I will need someone with me in the ute to trailer the boats to Twickenham and help me reverse the trailer down River Lane. So who wants a lift at early o'clock on Saturday?
There will be no squad outings on Saturday back at the club, but feel free to self organise if you want an outing.
Learn to Row - 9:30 First water outing. Boat sitters required!!! Contact Jenny (Jenhawtin@googlemail.com) if you can help out.
Sunday 8am
Squad outings at 8am, please get your availability up to date on the spreadsheet.
Further Ahead
There are some people interested in going to Peterborough Regatta on the 4th June. Your captain will not be there, but if you are keen get your crew organised, let me know what you want to enter in good time. Someone will have to drive the trailer if you are going.
Even Further Ahead
Barnes and Mortlake International 11th June is the last regatta on our home surf. 8 yesses so far, any more for any more? Let's talk about who wants to enter what event at the weekend.
Have a good week, more info on Twickers when I have it.
Jez
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Weekly update
Author: Neil Pickford |
4th May 2016
Hi All,
Sorry this is slightly later than normal, I've been lazing on the Cornish coast... But back to reality now. Firstly our Nov 4+ with 3 regatta debutants raced at Chiswick Regatta and drew the eventual winners Furnival in their heat. By all accounts their start was less than perfect losing a length on Furnival but then losing no further water for the rest of the race. Losing to the winners is no disgrace and shows that the crew is competitive. Keep practising those starts, get ahead and stay ahead. Thanks to Gareth for coxing.
On land William took and passed his steering test. After a few more chaperoned outings he will be set free on the Tideway!!! Thanks to Will to taking the leading in developing his steering skills, let's see if this triggers a flood of requests from other non steers to take their test and gain the freedom of the river.
The main event this week is Borne@Chiswick Regatta. We have 5 crews entered, a Nov 4+ and four BBL/Cygnet mixed Nov 4+. so Cygnet pots are guaranteed.
The crews are: Nov4+ Claudia, Jez, Nick R, Cris Robin
Mixed 4+s
Crumpets Varsha Amelie Patrick Charlie
Doughnuts Sonja Shannon Tom [Nick] - replacement required
Muffins: Carly Hannah Rob Jez
Tiramisu Miranda Jo M Cristobal Scott Race times are as follows:

10:45 Race 28 MxNov4+Crumpets v Tiramisu
11:45 Race 40 MxNov4+Muffines v Doughnuts
15:10 Race 70 MxNov4+Final
13:35 Race 51 Nov4+ v Eastbourne College
14:50 Race 66 Nov4+ Final
(Mixed Final may need to be delayed if the we beat Eastbourne)
Important Note:
Nick can not row both Nov4 and Mix4 so we are one novice short for the Doughnuts. Please can someone volunteer for this race - Rob W? Raph?, Robin? Big Jim?
For the rest of this week:
Thursday outing at the club by 7, otw by 7:15 8 rowers plus Claudia, plan is for a 4+ and 4- doing side by side starts.
Saturday - Borne Regatta no squad outings
Sunday - outings at 8:30am
Saturday Learn To Row course starts at 9:30am led by Jenny Hawtins.
So do pop in and say hello, and help show what a friendly club they've had the good fortune to find themselves amongst.
And crucially, please spare a small bit of your time, experience, and expertise, to help Jenny with the sessions, which are 9.30am Saturdays, and 7.15pm Tuesdays. This will become particularly important towards the end of the 5-week course, when we will be getting our newbies afloat, and will need established oarsmen to sit boats.
I think that's all for now, have a good weekend, see you at the weekend Jez
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Cygnet Weekly Update
Author: Neil Pickford |
25th April 2016
Evening one and all,
Firstly, a massive congrats and admiration to Charlie on completing the London Marathon in 4:21min. He did it in a very good cause, so if you are minded to sponsor him you can do it here: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/CharlesPretzlik .
On the river we were race training on Saturday and Sunday practising race starts and high rate pieces. And we welcomed Barts brother Tom for an all star a de Groot pair. Excellent progress was made with each piece in balance and power. You guys are ready for some proper race action so please get onto to Google Drive and update your availability for the regattas, there are still an awful lot of people who haven't filled it in yet. Entries are closed for Chiswick where we have a novice 4 entered. Over the following weeks we have Bourne and Putney Town regattas. We have a chance of fun racing in mixed crews with BBL at Bourne. They have 8 rowers keen to row so we need 8 Cygnets to make up the crews. We are about 4 short, so come on dont be shy. And if people want to double up in another boat then please let me know. Entries close this Sunday.
And we need a cox for the Tuesday and Thursday outings to take out the Nov 4+ racing crew out. Any volunteers?
This week
Tuesday 7pm
Matt, Cris Tom B, Vasil, James, Rob A, Piers, Scott
Priority is to get the racing 4+ on the water (Cris, Scott, Rob Vasil). Matt can you cox if we don't get a volunteer?
Thursday 7pm
Nov 4+ Cris, Scott, Rob, Vasil cox tbc
4- James, Piers, Tom, Matt
Weekend
Chiswick Regatta - I'll let you know when our brave boys are rowing when the draw is announced. Very few people available based on the spreadsheet, I'll look on Thursday to see if there's enough to get some small boats out. Alan is away and so am I.
Beyond
Its all about regattas and getting crews together, so once again can I ask you to fill in the regatta page online even if it's to say you're not racing so I know where we stand and can plan accordingly.
Have a good weekend and best of luck to team Cris on Saturday
Jez
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