A brief update to my Christmas blog - I omitted to mention GRC's success at the Monmouth Christmas Head - a small contingent from the club entered - water was high and fast and the conditions cold and windy - congratulations to Sarah and Gerry who won W IM2 2x by a substantial margin - 20 seconds over a fast 2k course.
I believe that the canal is and will be frozen at the weekend, so more land training looks to be in the offing. I will try and organise an outing to Tewkesbury for Saturday and Sunday morning, (9th and 10th). This will probably involve derigging and loading Friday evening. Would anyone interested let either myself or their vice captains know, so that crews and boats can be organised.
There is a committee meeting Monday evening, (11th). If any member would like anything raised, please let myself or any committee member know, preferably by email so that it can be included in the agenda.
Russell Thornton 5th January 2010.
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Everything frozen so cross-training is the order of the day.
I'd like to wish all members and friends of GRC a merry Christmas and a happy and succesful new year, and thank everyone for their efforts in the past year.
I believe that the canal is and will be frozen at the weekend, so more land training looks to be in the offing. I will try and organise an outing to Tewkesbury for Saturday and Sunday morning, (9th and 10th). This will probably involve derigging and loading Friday evening. Would anyone interested let either myself or their vice captains know, so that crews and boats can be organised.
There is a committee meeting Monday evening, (11th). If any member would like anything raised, please let myself or any committee member know, preferably by email so that it can be included in the agenda.
Russell Thornton 5th January 2010.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Everything frozen so cross-training is the order of the day.
I'd like to wish all members and friends of GRC a merry Christmas and a happy and succesful new year, and thank everyone for their efforts in the past year.
Hope to see you all at the christmas pudding races on Sunday at 9 am.
Russell Thornton 24th December 2009
Back in Weybridge - cold, wet and windy, Thames flowing fast and high and I've just done an incredibly slow and exhausting 10k - isn't winter lovely!
On a positive note we have, as a club entered three events and none were cancelled!
Six of us went to the scullers head on the Tideway with varying degrees of success and a good spread of statii (!?) - lightweight, IM2, Vet C, D and E. Our two vet D entries were sabotaged, (torpedoed?) by their fellow competitors and both went swimming. Gerry was well treated by Grosvenor - showered, dry clothes, lift back to Barnes with boat in launch. The powers that be obviously felt that Martin was less deserving of succour and he was left to make his own way back, (once they'd let him get back into his boat!)
On the same day as scullers, Hampton Head draw a large entry, (over 700 raced), including 8 Gloucester Juniors, and saw some cracking performances; Ruth and Yasmin gained first places in WJ18 2x and 2-, with Camilla and Kalan-Mai finishing 5th and 6th in the same events, Dave Pollard got 4th in J18 1x and also 6th with Ben in J18 2x, (15th fastest time of the day). Jake Flower and Neil Vine also gave creditable performances in J17 1x and 2x.
Finally last Saturday saw what must have been a record entry at Wycliffe - 30 Gloucester crews raced, and the most boats I've seen on our trailer. We won a total of 11 golds, 5 silvers and 3 bronze. With some excellent individual performances including 2 golds from Dave Pollard in J18 1x and IM3 1x, and 2 from Ben and Neil in J18 2x and IM3 2x. Congratulations to all who took part, and a big thank you to all who helped mend and prepare boats, load, unload, tow and looked after crews and boats at the event - it couldn't have happened without you.
After recovering from the wind and rain at Saul Junction, 40 odd senior and junior members retired to the Gloucester clubhouse for chilli and a quiz. We all now know how many islands make up the Indonesian Archipelago and how many prime numbers there are in 100. (two?). A terrific effort from the chef, bar staff, quiz master and question composers. Thanks to Jane, Tim, Clive, the chef and servers, who's names I will add as soon as I can get them.
I'm hoping there will be some events between Christmas and the new year, including the highly competitive xmas pudding races - watch this space and get training.
Russell Thornton 8th December 2009
On a positive note we have, as a club entered three events and none were cancelled!
Six of us went to the scullers head on the Tideway with varying degrees of success and a good spread of statii (!?) - lightweight, IM2, Vet C, D and E. Our two vet D entries were sabotaged, (torpedoed?) by their fellow competitors and both went swimming. Gerry was well treated by Grosvenor - showered, dry clothes, lift back to Barnes with boat in launch. The powers that be obviously felt that Martin was less deserving of succour and he was left to make his own way back, (once they'd let him get back into his boat!)
On the same day as scullers, Hampton Head draw a large entry, (over 700 raced), including 8 Gloucester Juniors, and saw some cracking performances; Ruth and Yasmin gained first places in WJ18 2x and 2-, with Camilla and Kalan-Mai finishing 5th and 6th in the same events, Dave Pollard got 4th in J18 1x and also 6th with Ben in J18 2x, (15th fastest time of the day). Jake Flower and Neil Vine also gave creditable performances in J17 1x and 2x.
Finally last Saturday saw what must have been a record entry at Wycliffe - 30 Gloucester crews raced, and the most boats I've seen on our trailer. We won a total of 11 golds, 5 silvers and 3 bronze. With some excellent individual performances including 2 golds from Dave Pollard in J18 1x and IM3 1x, and 2 from Ben and Neil in J18 2x and IM3 2x. Congratulations to all who took part, and a big thank you to all who helped mend and prepare boats, load, unload, tow and looked after crews and boats at the event - it couldn't have happened without you.
After recovering from the wind and rain at Saul Junction, 40 odd senior and junior members retired to the Gloucester clubhouse for chilli and a quiz. We all now know how many islands make up the Indonesian Archipelago and how many prime numbers there are in 100. (two?). A terrific effort from the chef, bar staff, quiz master and question composers. Thanks to Jane, Tim, Clive, the chef and servers, who's names I will add as soon as I can get them.
I'm hoping there will be some events between Christmas and the new year, including the highly competitive xmas pudding races - watch this space and get training.
Russell Thornton 8th December 2009