Winter is still very much with us - ice on the canal, snow on the landing stage and another weekend with a cancelled head.
In preparation for Worcester Head, last Thursday, a large group of us loaded five fours and an eight onto the trailer in the driving snow. Come Friday we heard that the head was cancelled because of predicted cold water – Saturday turned out warm and sunny by 10.30; I've asked Worcester for an explanation, but nothing forthcoming so far.
A contingent of juniors headed east for Boston - a brief report from Dave Pollard -
It was sunny on Saturday with an inch or two of snow on Sunday. I came 18th in the singles, Ben came 37th, and we came 12th in the doubles. Ruth and Camilla came 13th and 17th in the singles, and 4th in the Pair I think. Ben and I were feeling rather short as we were walking around!
Meanwhile back in the west country, a small group headed for Bristol, where there were wins for the women's four and the old man's single.
The men's squad had erg tests on Tuesday – various coughs and sniffles contrived to make it a disappointing result for most; a few of the more imaginative athletes contrived to record PBs using distance reduction techniques, but I believe Ben has ruled these to be inadmissable.
A quick word on BOAT HANDLING and RACKING; a near-accident on Sunday saw a potential four-figure repair bill for Stephen Rose, (the boat, and by implication the treasurer!). There is a real need for concentration and care, when putting boats away - we simply cannot afford carelessness with boats costing in excess of £10,000 pounds each.
A safety day was held recently for the RAC rowing club, covering procedures on and off the water - we will be repeating this for our own members before the regatta season takes off.
A reminder to everyone to sign out before and after outings, and to fill in the damages book if you cause or discover anything wrong with the boats - we can't repair damage if we don't know about it!
Sarah has sorted the club sculls into sets, (see white board):
Two sets of quads blades
- White bands length 287, inboard 88
- Red bands length 286, inboard 88
Three sets of doubles
- Yellow/green bands 287, 88.5
- Blue bands 287, 88
- Green bands 287, 88
Six sets of singles
- White band on red 286, 88
- Blue band on red 287, 87
- Yellow/green on white 287, 87
- Red and Green - can't remember!
In total we have 20 pairs of sculling blades
There is a new set of quad blades, raedy to be assembled - their purchase was made possible by an additional input to club funds from the sponsored row at the end of last year.
A quick reminder to all squads; please don't alter rigging on club boats, or the setting of club blades, (however 'wrong' they may appear to be) without reference to Ben or myself.
There's a good reason for this - most equipment is set up up for particular crews, (age, size etc.) and in the case of blades, in sets. If changes are made the next user is likely only to find the problem when they are on the water, and a lot of time is then lost while the problem is investigated, readjustments made or alternative equipment sought.
Note that all club blades must be painted in club colours before being used in competition. There will be a blade painting session at 11am Saturday 27th February
Gloucester Head is on Sundy 14th March - please be available on the Saturday morning to help set up, and on Sunday to help with running the event, and clearing up afterwards. A work rota will be issued during the next week. As usual, entries from Gloucester crews will be considered when we are sure we have the work rota covered.
AuPair and Double Gloucester have had their shoulders repaired so are now available as doubles and pairs. Henry Beaumont will shortly be disappearing for a week or two, to have the foot plate repaired. Pangbourne have kindly offered us their Janousek eight for the next few weeks at a nominal rental to allow us to train and enter the Tideway eights heads in competitive boats. Monkton (the part wood, part composite double) is being retired; if anyone is interested in aquiring this boat, please contact Ben
Circuits continue on Wednesday evenings at beaufort School - contact Tim for details. This activity is very effective at preparing rowers for the Tideway events, and for 'benchmarking' fitness for the coming regatta season.
Russell Thornton 25th February 2010.
In preparation for Worcester Head, last Thursday, a large group of us loaded five fours and an eight onto the trailer in the driving snow. Come Friday we heard that the head was cancelled because of predicted cold water – Saturday turned out warm and sunny by 10.30; I've asked Worcester for an explanation, but nothing forthcoming so far.
A contingent of juniors headed east for Boston - a brief report from Dave Pollard -
It was sunny on Saturday with an inch or two of snow on Sunday. I came 18th in the singles, Ben came 37th, and we came 12th in the doubles. Ruth and Camilla came 13th and 17th in the singles, and 4th in the Pair I think. Ben and I were feeling rather short as we were walking around!
Meanwhile back in the west country, a small group headed for Bristol, where there were wins for the women's four and the old man's single.
The men's squad had erg tests on Tuesday – various coughs and sniffles contrived to make it a disappointing result for most; a few of the more imaginative athletes contrived to record PBs using distance reduction techniques, but I believe Ben has ruled these to be inadmissable.
A quick word on BOAT HANDLING and RACKING; a near-accident on Sunday saw a potential four-figure repair bill for Stephen Rose, (the boat, and by implication the treasurer!). There is a real need for concentration and care, when putting boats away - we simply cannot afford carelessness with boats costing in excess of £10,000 pounds each.
A safety day was held recently for the RAC rowing club, covering procedures on and off the water - we will be repeating this for our own members before the regatta season takes off.
A reminder to everyone to sign out before and after outings, and to fill in the damages book if you cause or discover anything wrong with the boats - we can't repair damage if we don't know about it!
Sarah has sorted the club sculls into sets, (see white board):
Two sets of quads blades
- White bands length 287, inboard 88
- Red bands length 286, inboard 88
Three sets of doubles
- Yellow/green bands 287, 88.5
- Blue bands 287, 88
- Green bands 287, 88
Six sets of singles
- White band on red 286, 88
- Blue band on red 287, 87
- Yellow/green on white 287, 87
- Red and Green - can't remember!
In total we have 20 pairs of sculling blades
There is a new set of quad blades, raedy to be assembled - their purchase was made possible by an additional input to club funds from the sponsored row at the end of last year.
A quick reminder to all squads; please don't alter rigging on club boats, or the setting of club blades, (however 'wrong' they may appear to be) without reference to Ben or myself.
There's a good reason for this - most equipment is set up up for particular crews, (age, size etc.) and in the case of blades, in sets. If changes are made the next user is likely only to find the problem when they are on the water, and a lot of time is then lost while the problem is investigated, readjustments made or alternative equipment sought.
Note that all club blades must be painted in club colours before being used in competition. There will be a blade painting session at 11am Saturday 27th February
Gloucester Head is on Sundy 14th March - please be available on the Saturday morning to help set up, and on Sunday to help with running the event, and clearing up afterwards. A work rota will be issued during the next week. As usual, entries from Gloucester crews will be considered when we are sure we have the work rota covered.
AuPair and Double Gloucester have had their shoulders repaired so are now available as doubles and pairs. Henry Beaumont will shortly be disappearing for a week or two, to have the foot plate repaired. Pangbourne have kindly offered us their Janousek eight for the next few weeks at a nominal rental to allow us to train and enter the Tideway eights heads in competitive boats. Monkton (the part wood, part composite double) is being retired; if anyone is interested in aquiring this boat, please contact Ben
Circuits continue on Wednesday evenings at beaufort School - contact Tim for details. This activity is very effective at preparing rowers for the Tideway events, and for 'benchmarking' fitness for the coming regatta season.
Russell Thornton 25th February 2010.