The Charity/Development Draw, in partnership with the Pied Piper Appeal, was officially launched at the Gloucester Civic Charity Ball on the 26th of February. Tickets will be issued to members in the next few weeks to be sold to friends, family and the public.
 
Work has started on Phase One of the development; the landing stage. As of this evening new piling is about 75% done. The stage should be completed by the end of the month. It's fantastic to see the work commencing and have something 'concrete' to show for everyone's hard work to date!
 

Dear All

The club has been contacted by British Waterways because a Narrow Boat owner, between Park End and Saul, has complained that our launch's wash caused them problems.

This happened on February 27th at 0943.

It is unclear from the launch records, as they are incomplete, and from the boat booking out and in book if we had crews that far out at that time.

All I can ask with this message is that all Launch Drivers please slow down near parked Narrow Boats and that Launch Drivers remember to fill the Launch Out and In log.

Thanks

Clive

We now have a Boat House Appeal website  ready to take donations and to sell bricks for the new boat house.

We are currently running a "Design a flag fit for a Queen" competition. The club has 8 athletes who have the honour to be rowing in the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Pageant on 3rd June and we would like to fly a club flag on this boat along with the county flag. This is an opportunity of a lifetime: the winning flag will be seen by millions of people all around the world. The competition has been sent out to all Schools in Gloucestershire, but if any of the juniors or seniors children would like to design a flag and put their entry in the box at the club, we would love to see them. The website has the competition form and rules- so just go to the Flag competition tab and download.

Dear All

From February 9th 2011 to 31st May 2011 Sainsburys will be handing over Active Kids Vouchers with your daily / weekly / yearly shop on check out.

Like last year there will be a box on the bar in the Clubhouse to deposit tokens to allow us to buy equipment for the club.

Last year we obtained some gym mats and dumbells. If we start hard and fast this year we might get something more substantial, so start collecting.....

It's been over a month since my last post; busy times.
Racing
We've had crews racing at Thames Valley Trial Head and Stourport Head.
At Thames Valley, Ed and Ollie were 2nd in Senior Pairs and Lauren and Fran won WJ16 Doubles.
At Stourport there were wins for the WIM1 8+, Masters C/D 2- and WIM3 4+.
Well done to everyone!
Despite the high winds this weekend we ran a club time trial (Icicle Head).
A strong tail wind for most of the course led to challenging conditions, but quick times.
Tim and James Hall took the honour of Fastest Boat. In unconventional style they chose to celebrate by throwing themselves into the water!

The following crews competed:

Gloucester sent a small contingent to compete at Wallingford HoRR, a prestigious event held on a picturesque 3 mile upstream course in Oxfordshire countryside.

Development News
We were delighted to receive confirmation last night of the approval of our planning application for the new boathouse development!
This will allow us to begin work on phase one - the construction of the landing stage - which will then open up the site by improving access to the water for our events. More information on the project will be released on the website shortly and we are planning to hold a presentation evening with Q&A session soon.
I'd like to thank everyone involved in the development team, in particular Tony Markey and Stephen Rose, for their dedicated work in getting us to this stage. Now the hard work really begins for all of us in GRC in raising funds to allow the plans to progress.
 

Just a short message to wish everyone at GRC a Merry Christmas and a successful 2011.
 
Hopefully the weather will improve in the new year and we will be able to get back on the water. Until then, keep up with the land training and you'll see the benefits come the spring racing season.
 
I'd like to thank everyone who has been involved in the club this year and helped to move things forward. 2011 should see some big changes, with work commencing on the new boathouse facilities. I hope the project will really get into motion in the next twelve months and, as ever, we need your support to make it happen.
 
Enjoy the holidays.
Ben