Archive News from April 2007

Snippets of news and events from earlier months, as shown originally on the Rowing Service News Page.
Standard results/events/etc not shown.

Monday 30th April 2007
• Results of Saturday's Oxford City Bumping Races (PDF format, UK).
• And results from Hammersmith Regatta (UK, Excel format).
• Brief results from the Lloyds TSB Bristol Varsity Boat Race: Senior men Bristol, senior women UWE, both alumni and both novice races Bristol. No doubt more details/photographic evidence on the race website shortly.
• Results of the Lea Spring Regatta (Word format, UK).
• The draw for Wallingford Regatta (6th May, UK) is out.
• The poster for Kingston's 150th anniversary regatta (14th-15th July, UK) has gone up. In celebration, 3-pt tankard prizes are being awarded to the winners of eights and octuples events, and all other events will receive lidded pint tankards. Every winning club will receive a commemoration 3-pt tankard engraved with the events their club has won. Clubs are advised to get entries in early as 2006 was oversubscribed. Also note there are no repechages and no plate events this year. Formal closing date is 12 noon on Monday 9th July, or earlier if full before that. There is no sign that the regatta is using OARA, and the club will also accept entries into the box hung on the gate of Remenham Club in Henley until the evening of Sunday 2nd July.
• The information for Thames Ditton Regatta (UK) is online now.
• Information about Marlow Town Regatta (16th-17th June, UK) is on the official website, and OARA is open for entries. Closing date is 12 noon on Sunday 10th June.
• Sent out by the ARA but not yet on their website, a press release about the MPs/Lords rowing erg race running this week at the Houses of Commons (UK). This is the week for clubs to contact their local parliamentarians if they haven't already done so. The concurrent exhibition on rowing is open to the general public too.
• The Hong Kong and China Rowing Association (Hong Kong) looks likely to mandate shell buoyancy for all its rowing clubs, effective from 1st January 2008. The link is to a PDF of the HKCRA enquiry into a sinking in Tolo Harbour on 28th January 2007, and a list of recommendations including (4) that of following FISA guidelines. A review of the HKCRA code of practice for water safety (PDF) a couple of days later includes many of the enquiry's recommendations now made formal rules, and is effective immediately from 27th April 2007. However, the proposed change in buoyancy is not yet a requirement, although no doubt that will follow soon.
• The Scottish Amateur Rowing Association Rules of Racing (Word, Scotland) have been tweaked to reflect their own rule change over buoyancy.
• FISA media accreditation for 2007 is open for those journalists attending the World Cups and various FISA championships this year.
• This Thursday at Marlow Rowing Club (UK) a how-to-load/drive/tow trailer symposium featuring GB trailer guru Phil Tinsley. 7:30pm at Marlow RC on 3rd May, open to all from the Thames Region.
• Want a giggle?. Try the following while surfing the Web. Visit either http://maps.google.co.uk or http://maps.google.com (either link will open into a new window). Type or paste the following into the search-the-map box: new york city to london, england and hit return. When the map appears, scroll down the left-hand box of text directions. Read number 24. Try not to fall off your chair. Thanks CD and originator TW.
• I don't think I've linked this before - while scouting round for other information I came across this rather effective and interesting map of Runcorn's reach of the River Weaver (UK). A great way to help visiting crews/competitors, illustrate dangers while racing/training, and entice people to want to go and row there. Looks like a great bit of river - they call it "the best stretch of rowing water in the North-West (of England).
• Rowing press links - Artist unveils Medway Boat Race trophies (ARA, UK), Champion quartet set to stay in the same boat (Mike Rosewell, The Times, UK - left over from last Friday), Doyle recalls anger over Robbins fallout (syndicated, Australia), Seven-time lay down Sally (Daily Telegraph, Australia), Robbins lay down 'at least seven times' (The Age, Australia), Vikings bring home two medals at WIRA (Bellingham Herald, USA), All for one (Chronicle of Higher Education, USA, subscription only), HSU crew medals in novice eight, varsity eight (Eureka Reporter, USA), Rowers felt punished over Robbins 'no row', court told (Sydney Morning Herald, Australia), an SFCPresspoint release (Northwest Rowing Council, USA), Lookout Rowing Club brings medals home from Dogwood Regatta (The Chattanoogan, USA), Manulife president does it his way (The Star, Malaysia), A stunning combination of beauty, brains and sports (Daily Mirror, Sri Lanka, looks like a beauty queen's manifesto), Atlantic Ocean across the waves (Concord Monitor, USA), A charmed life beside the Whanganui (Whanganui Chronicle, NZ), Jefferson Boys 8 keeps winning as it's 'refining' (Washington Post, USA), Radcliffe claims rowing's Beanpot (Boston Globe, USA), Low water level in Lake Superior spells trouble for boaters (La Crosse Tribune, USA), New regimen, attitude keep Wichitan ahead of game (Kansas.com, USA, not directly about rowing but an interesting mention of it), Women's varsity eight takes first in Atlantic Regatta (Free Lance-Star, USA), 'Future' benefit slated at mall (The Republican, USA), Rock and row (Charleston Gazette, USA), Vogl leaves soccer success for water (Chicago Tribune, USA), U sets Big Ten record on way to rowing title (Minneapolis Star Tribune, USA), Luck favours Al Matlaa 2 (Gulf News, United Arab Emirates - traditional rowing races in the Middle East), Rowers are in it together, without NJSIAA (Press of Atlantic City, USA), Bhavik Ghandi halfway to world solo ocean crossing record (press release, India), Olympic rower vies for 11th national team (Oregon Live, USA), Girls oar boys, Mountie rowers shine at Mercer Sprints (Montclair Times, USA), Broad is a 'dream fulfilled' (Norfolk Eastern Daily Press, UK), Rough waters ahead (Livemint, India), Badger rowers have something to prove (Capital Times, USA), World champion quad altered (WorldRowing, FISA), Peter to row in the north's university boat race (Times 24, UK), The row goes on (Sydney Morning Herald, Australia), Plans for marina rejected (Malvern Gazette, UK), Students relay to support cancer research (Georgetown University News, USA), Oars varsity quad suffers first loss at Mercer Lake Sprints (Sarasota Herald-Tribune, USA), North riverfront pakr plan moves forward (Corvallis Gazette Times, USA). Plus endless repeats of the syndicated feature on Roz Savage in the US papers, and the usual plethora of US collegiate in-house reports/releases most of which can be found o Row2k (USA) or CSTV.
• A bit from an IT blog about the Carbon Rower - which links physical substances and images to carbon footprints. This is part of the Carbon Gym which can be hired in the UK to demonstrate carbon dioxide generation to spectators.

  Friday 27th April 2007

• The Ocean Rowing Society dinner (UK, but open to all) has moved venue to the Cavalry & Guards Club, Piccadilly, London. It's still on 19th May, from 6:30pm, and anyone interested in ocean rowing is invited to come. Those who haven't yet rowed an ocean but are thinking of doing so would find it a good opportunity to make lots of useful contacts and pump the experts for advice. This year's dinner also celebrates the first rowing race across an ocean, the 1997 Trans-Atlantic Rowing Race, of which this year is the 10th anniversary.
• Information on the National Veteran Championships (UK) is online. Entries close at 12 noon on 9th June, and can be made in writing or via OARA. However, all entry fees must be received by the closing date, whatever the method of entry - no exceptions. Cheques payable to National Veterans.
• Loughborough Boat Club (UK) runs Loughborough Regatta, on Sunday 17th June this year. Contact loughboroughboatclub@talk21.com for details.
• Details of Kingston Regatta (UK) are online.
• GB team press links (UK) - Grobler leaves champion four unchanged (Martin Cross, Guardian), Coxless four to defend world title (Rachel Quarrell, Telegraph). Also, Alex Partridge was interviewed on Sport on Five (BBC Radio Five Live, UK) yesterday - see the Thursday replay link and it's about 58 minutes in. The full BIRO press release is also online.
• Other press links - North riverfront park plan moves forward (Corvallis Gazette Times, USA), Getting ready for Regatta (Evesham Journal, UK), No. 1 UW, No. 2 Cal line up in biggest dual in past half-century (Seattle Post Intelligencer, USA), Revived regatta set to make a splash (Chester-le-Street Advertiser, UK), Varsity four advances to finals (Murray State News, USA), Bears and Huskies battle for Schoch Cup (Daily Californian, USA), Rowing looks to rebound in Eugene (Daily Evergreen, USA), Stage set for rowing extravaganza (Khaleej Times, United Arab Emirates), Ryssdal competes for OSU rowing team (Curry County Reporter, USA), Hetherington and Astell strike gold (Cambridge Evening News, UK), Eales denies he "handled media" (Border Mail, Australia), Strokes compete in Windermere (Alameda Sun, USA), Drifting scull causes alarm (Courier Mail, Australia - possibly the one country in the world where that headline wouldn't be misspelt by ignorant subs), On campus: a new endeavour (New Albany Tribune, USA), St Luke's invite next weekend (Wilton Villager, USA), It's so long, Sally (Daily Telegraph, Australia), Program's past successes spur Pioneer rowers (Ann Arbor News, USA), Sparks chosen as official charity in Two Cities Boat Race event (Manchester.com, UK), Crew teams pulling for lake's health (Boston Globe, USA), Boat club trade-off (Limerick Post, Ireland), Middleton takes double gold in regional races (Hereford Times, UK), Golden hat-trick as Vale crews win on water (Evesham Journal, UK), It's a great day for Scott (Ely Standard, UK), Rowing for gold (Southern Highland News, Australia), Alf still rowing strong at 78 years young (Hackney Gazette, UK), Lake Wendouree mishap prompts council warning (ABC Regional Online, Australia), Rowing on the river (Richmond.com, USA), NJIRR medal success at NOttingham (Warrington Guardian), No cheque for rowers (Scene, NZ), Supreme Court hears damages case against broadcaster Alan Jones (ABC Online, Australia), Out for a morning scull (Times Community, USA), London, here I come (Manning River Times, Australia), The Orchard Lake St Mary's crew team begins practice (C & G Newspapers, USA), Pacific Crew completes 100 mile fundraiser (Pacifican, USA), Tasmanian rowers head overseas (ABC Regional Online, Australia).
• Newsflash - rowers aren't stupid. The University of Virginia Rowing Association won a spelling bee. Cleverclogses.

  Thursday 26th April 2007

• GB team announcement this morning (UK). The only crews officially announced today were: M4- Triggs Hodge/Reed/Partridge/Williams, W4x Grainger/Houghton/Vernon/Flood, M1x Campbell, M2x Rowbotham/Wells, W2x Bebington/Laverick, LM2x Hunter/Purchase. More to come after the end of 10+ days of seat-racing. Best wishes to Sarah Winckless for a speedy recovery from her recent knee operation.
• As noticed by the Tideway Scullers website (UK) and some observant readers, Rod Chisholm in the Australian LM4- is the former TSS boy.

  Wednesday 25th April 2007

• Worth pointing out to those who didn't spy it in the news links yesterday that sadly David Halberstam, author of "The Amateurs", died in a car crash on Monday (USA). Widely reported in the American press, and the link above is to an article which also serves as an obituary.
• The results of the recent GB junior trials races are out (Excel format, UK).
• Italian rowing looks strong at season opener (WorldRowing, FISA), with full results of the 21st Paolo d'Aloja Memorial Regatta (Italy).
• A SIRA Championships report from Row2k (USA).
• Rowing press: An awesome journey (San Mateo Daily Journal, USA), Aces deal sterling victories (Marin Independent-Journal, USA), Oarsome results (St Marys Star, Australia), Munich stepping stone to big time (The West Australian, Australia), Stanley off to world regatta (Geelong Advertiser, Australia), Eight Wake Forest student films to be featured at screening (WFU News Service, USA), Serious time, effort paying off big time (Sunshine Coast Daily, Australia).

  Tuesday 24th April 2007

• The 2007 Australian senior team has been announced (MS Word document) - it's going to Linz and then Amsterdam World Cups, back to training and then returning to Europe for the world champs in Munich. There is a series of short media releases on the Rowing Australia website filling in some of the detail.
• The draw for Birmingham Regatta (UK) is out, together with the instructions to competitors (PDF). Details of crews which have no opposition are also on the website. Late payers are requested to send their entry cheques sharpish since payment on the day attracts a surcharge.
• Draw, safety instructions and course maps for both rising and falling tide are up on the Hammersmith Regatta website (UK). Because they don't have a river closure they would like Tideway users on Saturday 28th April to be aware that: "Racing will be taking place between the areas of the Mile Post and Hammersmith Pier from 9:24 am to approximately 12:15, and then from 13:30 to 17:30 from Chiswick Pier to the Hammersmith Bridge area. There will be a moored boat at the start area during racing periods."
• A couple of new ARA jobs (UK) have just gone up: a new CDO for the Eastern region, and various jobs at Hammersmith or in Bedford.
• There is a poster up for Copenhagen Regatta (Denmark, poster is PDF and in English). That's on 26th-27th May, with closing date 16th, but they're also running a sprint and junior regatta (in Danish, also PDF) on 12th May.
• OARA is open for entries for Tees Regatta (UK). The closing date is 9pm on Thursday 10th May.
• I'm not going to keep listing it, but RowTV (UK) is keeping a watch on the three-month-long preparations for Henley Royal Regatta: this week's job was putting the boat tents up.
• Spot the difference (as sent in by a reader): yesterday's Roeispul digital pitchmeter and Axminster's bevel box (UK). Sibling tools perhaps?
• A BUSA press release about the BUSA regatta (UK).
• Rowing in the news - Jones book pays off in sales and prize shortlist (Sydney Morning Herald, Australia), Age no barrier for fit Tomkins (The Age, Australia), Veteran rower Tomkins named in squad (syndicated, Australia), Writer Halberstam dies in car crash (syndicated, USA), Virginia rows to title to end ACC drought (Roanoke Times, USA), Brandeis, Lasell embark on athletic partnership (Justice, USA), Imperial's "Veritable Professor of the Oar" honoured (Imperial College press release, UK), Olympic hero hails heart campaign (Eastern Daily Press, UK)), Robbins' Olympic dream sinks (syndicated, Australia), Gophers women rowers finally have a home (Minneapolis Star Tribune, USA), Boron back in rowing business (WorldRowing, FISA), Jones accused of running an agenda over rower (Brisbane Times, Australia), Maclean finds new Everest (Daily Telegraph, Australia), Amber in shape for best shot (Adelaide Advertiser, Australia), Athlete's new challenge (The Press, NZ).

  Monday 23rd April 2007

• Results from the junior inter-regionals (UK) - J14, J15 and J16 finals in PDF format. The results page of the lurid but neat and highly functional JIRR website has links to the heats results and the VL points (Thames Upriver the winners, but only by 16 pts over the North West). The individual gender championships went to Thames Upriver (girls) and North West (boys).
• Birmingham Regatta (UK) is now closed, since the entry limit has already been reached. The draw is being done today and should go online on Tuesday.
• Results from Strathclyde Park Regatta (Scotland, PDF format).
• Abingdon Head results (UK, also PDF) are online too.
• After discussing bank tubs with a reader, he discovered that Burgashell's recreational page (UK) lists them. It may also be possible to get either a boat-builder or a competent carpenter to make one for you, if you're seeking such an aid for your club.
• Roeispul (Netherlands) have been spamming a lot of people who have publicly-available rowing email addresses. Perhaps a proper mention will give them enough publicity that they'll stop annoying potential customers this way. (Trust me guys, you really might lose custom with unrequested mailshots). Their website is in Dutch, English and German, and features a load of products including a digital pitchmeter, and what they say is a "budget" version of New Wave's adjustable shoes. Hope there's no breach of design copyright/patent involved there...
• London Youth Rowing (UK) have a promotional video online. They also have up a FISA adaptive video of a classification and coaching workshop held in Mombasa, Kenya.
• "Colaiste Chiarain, Limerick, Republic of Ireland, is currently recruiting a range of teachers for the coming academic year. We wish to recruit a number of teachers throughout a range of subjects and are looking for subject specialists with wide-ranging general interests who wish to develop their careers in an achieving school. In all cases, willingness to contribute to the extra-curricular life of the school, including rowing, which is a developing new sport in the school, will be an advantage. For further details, please contact the Headmaster at principal@cco.ie and forward your CV immediately."
• From FISA, Rowing looks in the mirror.
• Tees RC (UK) are running two events which offer racing opportunities to adaptive athletes this summer. Tees Regatta (19th May) will have 450m adaptive races: contact Dick Wilkinson if you are interested in taking part. Tees are also running a primary+adaptive event (11th August) which will have 500m races - contact Wendy Capes if you want more details.
• Biorower (Austria) have announced a new product - the S1-aero. Costly but interesting.
• Rowing headlines: Duelling duo (North Shore News, Canada), Coates denies bullying over rowing spat (syndicated, Australia), Champion to be key speaker at event (This is Lancashire, UK), Jones defame case (Sky News Australia, Australia), School rowers revved up (Victoria Times Colonist, Canada), Rowers limber up for club's rejuvenated regatta (Chester-le-Street Advertiser, UK), Alabama rowing team competes in three finals in SIRA Championships finale (Tuscaloosa News, USA), Rowers win £10k repairs grant (Oxford Mail, UK), Rowers fight for seats in British team (Simon Hart, Sunday Telegraph, UK), Mainland varsity eight girls earn two wins (Press of Atlantic City, UK), Coates takes on Jones in defamation case (syndicated, Australia), Jones accused of putting oar in over Robbins (Sydney Morning Herald, Australia), SIRA Regatta like oasis for Tech rowers (Knoxville News Sentinel, USA), One fun Crew (Daily Aztec, USA), World bid (Warrnambool Standard, Australia), Olympic hopes no lay down for Sally (Brisbane Times, Australia), Alabama rowing earns bronze at Southern Intercollegiate (Tuscaloosa News, USA), The other showdown at West Lakes (Phil Mangelsdorf, Sportsnut, Australia), Aussie girls smash rowing world record (W4- mark, Sportsnut, Australia), 800 rowers descend on Riverside Park (Grand Rapids Press, USA), Rowing is surging ahead in local waters (Virginian Pilot, USA), Melton Lake has dry run for NCAA (Knoxville News Sentinel, USA), How we met: George Parsonage and Alex Gray (Independent, UK), Kelly earns scholarship to Clemson (Southern Pines Pilot, USA), Charity night for Isle of Man rowing bid (NW Evening Mail, UK), UOP rows into fund raising with trip from San Francisco (Modesto Bee, USA), Crews set to reverse trend of last six years (Waikato Times, NZ), Memorial exhibit displayed (Cayman Net News, Cayman Islands), Fighting upstream battle (Chicago Tribune, USA), Rowing towards success (News Net Nebraska, USA), Fight carries on to save endangered JMU sports (Staunton News Leader, USA), Strokes of success (Pacifican, USA).

  Friday 20th April 2007

• Very sad news (UK) - Death-crash cyclist named (Oxford Times, yesterday). Worcester College cox Tsz Fok was run over by a waste collection lorry on Wednesday.
• From FISA, Australia in the thick of rowing trials and Return of old familiars to Croatia Open.
• London 2012 is looking for subjects for a film about the Olympics and Paralympics coming to Britain. See full information on the ARA website (UK).
• A plea for help (UK): "My name is Robert Weitzel, I am a member of the University of Cincinnati Crew Team and we are looking for a Filippi or Empacher to row in the Henley Royal Regatta.? We are getting into London June 26, 2007 and we are looking to either rent or borrow a boat for the two weeks we are in Henley competing.? Email me at rnsscamaro@fuse.net or you can call me at 1-513-324-0988.? Any help in finding a boat to race is greatly appreciated."
• Rowing headlines - Actor Robert Powell launches Two Cities Boat Race (University of Manchester press release, UK), Pacific beckons British rower (San Mateo County Times, USA), St Neots rower Jo in Brit Parade (Hunts Post, UK), Harvard rowers battle in England (fresh Boat Race perspective from the Harvard Crimson, USA), UOP crew preps for SF-to-Stockton row (News10, USA), On the water, colors (St Petersburg Times, USA), Hodge sets down a marker for British team (Craven Herald, UK), The Grub Scout review the Flatwater Grill (Knoxville News Sentinel, USA - nosh and rowing, yum), World performance technology expert Emil Kossev joins Podium Canada (CNW Telbec press release, Canada), Residents sound off on riverfront development plans (The State, USA), Local man was teammate at Purdue with shooting victim (Wish TV, USA), Grainger still at the top of the pecking order (Herald, UK), Second chance at dream (Nelson Mail, NZ), Clarke's great year (Manning River Times, Australia), Warwick HS crew tteam hosts regatta on Greenwood Lake (Photo News, USA), Torridge Pilot Gig club in launch celebrations (North Devon Gazette, UK), Lefever: I'm a rower (Pacific Daily Times, USA), Mounties earn five golds at Sprints (Montclair Times, USA), Rower's plea for sponsors (Telford Journal, UK), Why not bridge over road instead of tunnel? (Gainesville Times, USA), Test your rowing skills, munch crab in Depoe Bay (Salem Statesman Journal, USA), Weak in numbers, strong in purpose (Salem Statesman Journal, USA), Tosin makes 'splash' appeal for state school kids to try for university (East London Advertiser, UK), St Ives RC's Ian Brown is back after 16 years (Hunts Post, UK), A crew season absent Bergman (Philadelphia Inquirer, USA), Steely resolve to convert Pittsburgh (Daily Commercial News, Canada), Romero lives the dream after switching sports (syndicated, UK), Union Rowing Club launches first official adaptive rowing pilot (Newswire, NZ), Regatta's popularity soars (Cowichan Valley News Leader, Canada), Girl power at Portora (Fermanagh Herald, Northern Ireland), Carlow rowers get off to a great start (The Nationalist, Ireland).

  Thursday 19th April 2007

• The poster for Shrewsbury Regatta (UK, PDF format) is up. The organisers say succinctly: "Friday night curry, Saturday disco, plenty of camping available". Who could refuse such an opportunity?!
• UK announcement - "On Bank Holiday Monday May 7th Broxbourne RC will celebrate its 160th birthday and the Official Opening of its new boat house. Di Ellis (ARA Chair) will perform the ceremony, and GB squad members Tom Stallard and Acer Nethercott (training permitting) will be in attendance. The day will start with a playboat regatta at 10am, with the main ceremony starting at 12pm. Tickets (which include lunch) are available for ?5. For more information please see the club's website or email membership[at]broxbournerowing[dot]org."
• The URL for Nereid Boat Club (New York, USA) has altered to http://www.nereidbc.org/.

  Wednesday 18th April 2007

• UK plea - "Oxford Academicals ladies are seeking a set of 4 strokeside riggers which disappeared on HoRR weekend. The boat (and all 8 riggers) were on a trailer with 2 men's boats (Oxford Colleges) at Barnes Bridge/Cygnet and the boys may have had to take our riggers out of the trailer as part of their building of their boats. When we turned up the following day for the Vets Head, our 4 strokeside riggers were missing. We can only assume that in the melee following the return of all crews at the same time on the Saturday that our riggers might have been picked up and loaded into the trailer(s) adjacent to ours. So if you found an extra set of riggers when you unloaded your trailer or 4 extra riggers have mysteriously appeared at the back of your boathouse, then please contact Jenny Bizley."
• A reminder that the closing date for entries for Chester-le-Street Regatta (UK) is Saturday 21st April.

  Tuesday 17th April 2007

• Tyne Rowing Club (UK) is looking for a coach for both the men's and women's squads for the rest of the current season to start with. Rates of pay will be in the region of £12-15 per hour and approximately 10 hours per week. For more information email Chris Parsons.
• Results from Bedford Head (UK) in full and by event. The Secretary adds a shameless bit of artless plugging, by saying "Hoping for the same sunshine for Britain's largest one-day river regatta (yes it is, go on, check the last few Almanacks!) on Saturday 12th May)."
• City of Oxford (UK) have plans to race at lots of major regattas this season and are looking for coxes to steer them for weekday (Mon/Weds) and weekend (Sat/Sun) outings as well as racing. They'd also like to hear from people who can only help out occasionally. Contact Emily Lyons for more information.
• GB trials links - Reed and Hodge dominate coxless pairs (Martin Cross, Guardian - Crossy says before we think he's lost it completely a mis-subbed sentence in the first paragraph should read "a stunning _six_ second win"), Trialists turn on the style (Rachel Quarrell, Telegraph), Grobler to decide if surgery is needed (Matthew Pinsent, The Times), Hodge and Reed push the boat out for victory (Mike Rosewell, The Times).

  Monday 16th April 2007

• GB Rowing has put out press releases including the GB time-trial results and semi-final results from yesterday's racing in Hazewinkel. I notice the C/D and D/E/F semi-final results aren't up - I will publish them for tomorrow. Times shouldn't be taken too seriously - although there wasn't too much wind, what there was varied quite a lot.
• The Warwick coxing conference (22nd April, UK) is definitely going ahead. Applications to attend can still be made until Friday 19th April - see the downloadable documents for details.
• Entries for Doncaster Regatta (19th May, UK) are now open on OARA. This is the only entry method possible this year, and the closing date is 10am on Sunday 13th May. Details on the link above.
• The poster for the Merseyside Regatta (PDF format, UK), hosted by Liverpool Victoria Rowing Club.
• Information about this year's ARA rowing tour (PDF format, UK) is online.
• Rowing headlines - All at sea to set a record or two (Business Standard, India), At 42, Tomkins targets sixth Olympics (The Australian, Australia), Robbins' Australia bid not over (The Australian, Australia), Ginn and Free set for pairs (Sydney Morning Herald, Australia), Ginn, Free off to defend title (The Age, Australia), Sian back in the groove as old boy grabs victory (icCheshire, UK), St Patrick's boats lost in road crash (Tasmania Examiner, Australia - nobody hurt, fortunately), St Peters School charity row (ARA, UK), Rowing regatta starts at Jarun Lake (Javno, Croatia), 42nd annual Newport Regatta: OCC overall winner (Daily Pilot, USA), Successful day enjoyed by Dover RC (Kent Online, UK), Chicago's own rejoices in 2016 news (Chicago Tribune, USA), Ginn and Free blitz pair (AOC press release, Australia), Savage puts bite on rivals (AOC press release, Australia), Weapons giant helps UK Olympians (Telegraph, UK), Rowing his way into record books (Times of India, India), We still think we can win the cup (Telegraph, UK), Tales of the riverman (Sunday Herald, UK), Rutgers faces critics on killed sports (New Brunswick Home News Tribune, USA), On the rocks (Aspen Times, USA).

  Friday 13th April 2007

• The entries for BUSA Regatta (UK) close on Thursday 19th April. Link is to the entry details in Word format.
• On a related topic, crews winning the top events at BUSA will be selected to row for GB at EUSA (European equivalent): the 2007 EUSA Regatta takes place from 6th-9th September in Girona, Spain. (Website is in Catalan, I think).
• The poster for Durham City Regatta (UK, 12th-13th May) is up in PDF format. Closing date is Friday 4th May, at 6pm. The organisers would like to remind everyone that ARA day tickets are no longer available and all competitors need an ARA or equivalent racing licence.
• Apparently according to an industry insider, the Boat Race programme on ITV did get the full-programme audience I mentioned yesterday (see below). However during the race itself, ie 16:30-16:45, they had a peak of 4 million viewers, an audience share of 38.2%. Bang on what commentator Peter Drury morosely predicted a week before the race, and very good for such a sunny afternoon, but at least not quite as bad as 2.5million.
• RowTV (UK) has some unusual footage on at the moment - top of the front page is a clip of the HRR booms being brought out from their storage under Regatta HQ, and below that a clip of the epic men's HORR.
• Rowing news: Chicago Olympic bid: what's at stake for Rockford? (Rockford Register Star, USA), Atlantic oarsman to attempt rowing record to Antigua (Caribbean Net News, Cayman Islands), Australia relish Redgrave meeting (syndicated), The race is on! (Sun Weekend, Antigua and Barbuda), Pippa Savage wins at rowing trials (syndicated, Australia), GAA training at top of ?2.5 million sports grants list (New Ross Standard, Ireland), Good decision, athletics (The Charlatan, Canada), Tom triumphs on the Thames (icCheshire Online, UK), Rowers to compete in Calif. regatta (Daily Beacon, USA), Robbins is stalking her Olympic demons on the water: Ginn (Sydney Morning Herald, Australia), Welland regatta part of Olympic selection process (Welland Tribune, Canada), Korea tests adaptive indoor rowing (WorldRowing, FISA), Rowing Canada returns to Welland for 2007 national championships (Row2k, USA), Sally refusing to lie down (Sunday Times, Australia), Robbins targets Aus team return (Brisbane Times, Australia), Towns neck and neck after rowing races (Beccles and Bungay Journal, UK), Australia in awe of Redgrave (Express, UK), Rowing team misses win over Tide by 1.1 seconds (Murray State News, USA), On the river, a colorful rowers' row (St Petersburg Times, USA), Council says no favouritism in rowing course revamp (ABC Regional Online, Australia), On the water colours (St Petersburg Times, USA), Crucial trials for rowers (AOC press release, Australia), Harvard in Great Race (Waikato Times, NZ), Cambridge pair out to prove point at GB trials (The Times, UK), Different strokes and folks for Olympic champions (Sydney Morning Herald, Australia), Regatta-competition in the organization of Pannon University (Balaton, Hungary), Rowers, powerboaters seek safe travels on Mianus (Greenwich Time, USA).
• One varsity crew squad which should be safe from sudden cutting in the USA is West Virginia University, which has just elected a 38-year-old former rower as their 22nd university President.

  Thursday 12th April 2007

• ARA invades Parliament - hot news (UK). Not yet visible on the ARA website, but announced to clubs yesterday by some of the quicker RCDOs, the All-Party Parliamentary Rowing Group has been given permission to run a rowing exhibition and competition in the Houses of Parliament. The event runs from 30th April to 3rd May, between noon and 6pm daily. Members of Parliament will be encouraged to row 250m flat out as part of a Commons vs Lords contest which will also find the 'fittest' parliamentary party. The ARA representatives present will coach any MP who wants help. This is an incredible opportunity for British clubs in all areas to get their MPs and House of Lords members psyched up about rowing, and clubs have been sent a template letter they can use to inform their MP of what is happening, build links, and encourage their participation. The letter has been published on North-East Rowing News (Word format) for those who haven't yet received it, but individual club members do please check with your committee before firing off duplicate letters to local MPs. (Note that the middle blue section must be left unchanged, whatever else is added or taken away). Even those MPs who don't want to take part might be interested in hearing about developments in local rowing, so it is a good excuse to make contact. It may be worth reminding them that rowing is one of the most successful Olympic sports in Britain, and that though the Boat Race has just hit the headlines, it is a sport done by all types of people at all levels and ages. Names of Lords/MPs can be found on the Parliamentary website.
• Just published, "In the Sky: a fantasia about rowing" by veteran US oarsman Rob Slocum. It's available on Amazon USA and Amazon UK.
• Digital Spy (UK) says that the ITV coverage of the Boat Race pulled in just 2.5million viewers, which is way down on the 7million plus of the last couple of years (move to Saturday, great weather and Easter jointly responsible). It was a 26.3% share of the available viewers, which isn't bad. Mind you, the same site says boxer Amir Kahn (sic, lightweight) was fighting Joe Calzaghe (super middleweight) on the same day, so perhaps we can't trust much they publish.
• Details of the Head of the Cam (UK, 5th May). Closing date Sunday 29th April. The PDF poster and Word entry form can be downloaded.
• Rowperfect manufacturer Mark Campbell has made a video clip about the new prototype of his machine, available on YouTube or from the Rowperfect UK website news page.
• A bundle of Swedish rowing photos - Frida Svensson, Sara and Lena Karlsson, and the official Karlsson twins' homepage.
• Rowing in the news - U of Scranton crew boat capsizes (Wilkes Barre Times-Leader, USA), Scranton rowers take a frigid spill (Philadelphia Inquirer, USA), Scull capsizes, five sustain hypothermia (Scranton Times-Tribune getting it wrong, USA), Pymble's eight rows into history (Village Voice, Australia), Coxs'ns (sic) keep crew strong (Daily Ithacan, USA), Stroking to an elite status (Free Lance-Star, USA), Manchin pumps up center (Martinsburg Journal with photographic evidence, USA), Rowing club charts course to six medals (Echo Online, USA), Australia hear tips from rowing great (Cricinfo with a new spin on yesterday's story, Barbados), Strong winds affecting regatta (Ashburton Guardian, NZ), editorial from the same newspaper (Ashburton Guardian, NZ), Olympic athlete visits Westmount to promote insulin pump therapy (Westmount Examiner, Canada), Azerbaijan bids for 2016 summer Olympics (Baku Today, Azerbaijan), First Northeastern crew coach made history (Northeastern News, USA), Clubs to fight lake plan (News.com, Australia), Rowing a way of life at the Dutch Skiffhead (WorldRowing, FISA).

  Wednesday 11th April 2007

• Sad news (UK): Blyth and then Cambois RC former coxswain Milne Hunt died yesterday after a lengthy period of ill health. Funeral arrangements will be publicised when known, but Milne's close friends may contact Norman Howitt directly if they wish to.
• Club Nautique de Belbeuf, Rouen (France) have shifted their website to www.cnbelbeuf.fr and done a slick new upgrade at the same time. They are one of many clubs now using a Google Maps plan to show where the club is, which is a pretty good idea because it is scalable, can be overlaid with the satellite view and employs other Google features.
• Peterborough City have a question to pose to all (UK) rowers - is there a need for more events for veteran novices? They have put out a Word format letter about the idea and are offering a special cup, the Rod Glover Memorial Trophy, for VN4+ at their Peterborough Sprint Regatta on 10th June. Reaction/comments/interest to PCRC chairman and regatta secretary John Canton please.
• Results from the Northwich Spring Head (Excel format, UK).
• Catching up on older results, those from the Cambridge Champs Junior Sculling Head (UK) are also available in Excel format.
• Boat Race photos from ECBC (Erwin Cardol and Bert Cocu) on NLRoei (Netherlands).
• The ARA has put up its 2007 rules of racing which became effective on 1st April 2007. At the same time as J13 and lower age groups being required to register now, there is a free ARA racing licence for under-14s for their first year. A few other useful links on a what's new for April page.
• Rowing headlines - Cambridge University rows through Oxford (WorldRowing, FISA), WinTech Racing names Brendan Crotty director of sales (Row2k press release, USA), Aussie cricketers quiz Olympic great (syndicated, Australia), Boaters under fire on Thames (Oxford Mail, UK), Rowers limbering up for Truro's annual river race (This is Cornwall, UK), Don't accuse him of coasting (Toronto Star, Canada), Court summarily dismisses Haifa Rowing Club's representative claim (PR Newswire, USA/Israel), Family puts back into school rowing (Waikato Times, NZ), A marathon effort by indoor rowers (Telford Journal, UK), Rowers put an end to club dispute (Village Voice, Australia), Rowers turn the tide (Blue Mountain Gazette, Australia), Pedestrian tunnel for Clarks Bridge (Access North Georgia, USA), AIU allots PU 3 disciplines (Chandigarh Newsline, India), Bhavik braves high Atlantic waves (Monsters and Critics, UK), Boat race bash! (Ely Standard, UK), W Crew needs speed (Daily Free Press, USA), Oldest West Cornwall rowing club needs a coach (This is Cornwall, UK).

  Tuesday 10th April 2007

• Entries for Abingdon Head (UK) close at 12 pm on Saturday 14th April. 2000m head-race so works as a warm-up for the regatta season.
• Closing date for the Warwick coxing conference (22nd April, UK) is Friday 13th April.
• Want to do an instructor's course (UK)? - Major Mike Schofield (the Mr Fixit of the world of club rowing) is running a non-residential Level 2 instructor's course from 16th-20th April at Dorney Lake. He has several people signed up but there are still spaces on the course which need to be filled urgently or the course may have to be scrapped. The course cost is £265, with daytime sessions and also Monday and Tuesday evening activities. This intense format is a good way to get a course done quickly without taking up several weekends. Anyone who is interested should contact Mike immediately on 07885-038642 or armyrowing@army.mod.uk.net. His contact details are also on the Army Rowing Club contacts page.
• The deadline for entries for Ponteland Junior Head (UK) was extended to midday today because the original date (yesterday) was during a bank holiday.
• The entry list and timetable for the Junior Inter-Regional Regatta (21st April, UK) is now on the official website.
• Last weekend's first US trials (USA) were cancelled - Row2k has a preview/early report and also the cancellation notice. From someone attending: "The trials were called off before the semi-finals due to sub-zero temperatures and gale force winds and bouts of driving snow. The water was freezing so dangerous if anyone fell in."
• The BBC Radio 4 programme on the Oxford Mutiny has been put properly on Listen Again (UK). Should be up until this coming Saturday.
• Rowing in the news - Victorious veterans in pennant success (icNewcastle, UK), College crew in the spotlight (San Jose Mercury News, USA), Tom's on top of the world after op (icCoventry, UK), Names and news (Sacramento Bee, USA), Rowers prevail over wind, cold, and foes (Daily Princetonian, USA), Rowers fear power boats (Village Voice, Australia), Sindh CM opens 30th National Games at colourful ceremony (Daily Times, Pakistan), Great day at the boat race (This is Local London, UK), Cambridge pair out to prove point at GB trials (John Goodbody, The Times, UK), O'Shaughnessy helps Cambridge to victory (Brockville Recorder & Times, Canada), OCU adds sculling to its rowing program (Oklahoma City University Athletics, USA), Viking crew: not crabbing (The Cauldron, USA), Student helps win Boat Race (Shropshire Star, UK), Bhavik Ghandi braving the mighty Atlantic rowing solo, one mile at a time (India eNews, India), Stepping out to help charity (Cambridge Evening News, UK), Nightmare for Brodie (This is Wiltshire, UK).

  Monday 9th April 2007

• The Scottish Amateur Rowing Association (UK) has put out a second letter calling for volunteers (Word format) for the World Under-23 Championships in late July. They now need volunteers to commit themselves urgently so that arrangements can be put in place. Not least of these is the kit order - all volunteers will be given a cap, splash top and two t-shirts, and they need to know the sizes. Appropriate forms are included in the letter.
• The Boat Race website is offering a video replay of the whole Boat Race (UK) on low or high resolution. May not work on all players as it is DRM-protected content.
• Boat Race headlines since Saturday - Cambridge rally to end Oxford run (Chris Dodd, Independent on Sunday, UK), Light Blues lay a ghost (Rachel Quarrell, Sunday Telegraph, UK), I'm so proud says Bowden (Oxford Mail, UK), Calm cox was key for Light Blues (Rachel Quarrell, Telegraph, UK), Efficient rather than brilliant win (James Cracknell, Telegraph, UK), Joy at last for James as Light Blues win a classic (Chris Dodd, Independent, UK), Cambridge live up to their billing (Mike Rosewell, The Times, UK), McDaniel has last laugh after belief in omens proves justified (Patrick Kidd, Times, UK), Oxford lose Boat Race after Iran captures crew (The Spoof satire, UK), Light Blues are much bigger but not much better (Paul Weaver, who may well actually be Ian McNuff, The Guardian, UK), Cambridge claim win (Dan Topolski, Observer, UK), Breadhead boat race chilled by Peter principle (Martin Kelner, Guardian, UK), Cambridge stars pull off win (Nigel Botherway, Sunday Times, UK), Buckland's Oxford team falls short (The Olympian, USA), Cambridge rallies, ends Oxford's winning streak (Victoria Times Colonist, Canada), Oh Canada (Row2k, USA), Cambridge win 153rd University race (New Zealand Herald, NZ), Xchanging's cox floats his boat (minimal rowing relevance, Sunday Telegraph, UK), Wrexham rower's boat race dream (BBC News, UK).
• The Committee of the Dee website has pictures of the recent Aberdeen/Robert Gordon Universities Boat Race (UK).
• They also have pictures of the Tideway Head of the River (UK, 31st March). One of the most interesting is two crews passing - 29 (I think) trying to race and 417 trying to get up to the start. Underlines how there has to be a plan for the Tideway races for when conditions do turn foul mid-course. As illustrated that day, people are understandably using standard local knowledge to tuck in to the bank. If they can't do that they need to be told so in advance, and they need to know that the marshals will cancel much earlier rather than let them race on sinking conditions without the right to take the calmer bank-side water.
• Information for those attending the SARA final trial (Scotland, UK, PDF format) on 28th April.
• Other headlines - Boathouse eagerly anticipated (University Daily Kansan, USA), Traitors - the fifth column of freelancing (Rowing News makes it into the Digital Journalist, USA), $47m tunnel to end Hobson Bay eyesore (New Zealand Herald, NZ), Crimson Tide wins inaugural home meet (Dateline Alabama, USA), Jarun regatta (Javno, Croatia), Troubled waters (Toronto Star, Canada), The life of a river (Charlotte Observer, USA), Cougars row past Huskies (Seattle Times, USA), Vikings row past Puget Sound (Bellingham Herald, USA), Abbott's perfection propels Lady Vols (Knoxville News Sentinel, USA), School sports drug-testing is invasive (Canberra Times, Australia), Austinites find their bliss on the lake, on the dance floor (Austin-American Statesman, USA), First 2007 national selection regatta underway (Row2k, USA), U of G athletes donate food (Guelph Mercury, Canada).

  Saturday 7th April 2007

• Late update - Boat Race. Cambridge beat Oxford by 1.25 lengths in a very close race. Bulletpoints: Oxford get narrow early lead, extended to third of a length ish at Harrods. Warnings under and then after Hammersmith Bridge, clashing only avoided by Oxford blades being just past Cambridge when it got bad. Usual dispute over Chiswick Eyot water (Cambridge like to be further to Surrey, Oxford further to Middlesex, so they were on entirely the wrong stations to like their positions), but crews far enough apart and Cambridge claw the 2/3 length deficit back, knowing they're now on the straight. Cambridge very narrowly ahead at Steps, Oxford grimly determined but Cambridge speed starts to surge through. Both very tight on Bandstand bend, and Oxford having to move out a little to take Barnes Bridge gives Cambridge chance to go clear. Oxford refuse to let them go, but Cambridge know it's over and they've got it for the last three minutes. Astonishingly close, exciting race, more or less a re-run of 1992 with the opposite result. Times - Milepost Oxford 3-48, Cambridge 3-49; Hammersmith Bridge Oxford 6-57, Cambridge 6-58; Chiswick Steps Cambridge 10-55.0, Oxford 10-55.5; Barnes Bridge Cambridge 14-46, Oxford 14-50; Finish Cambridge 17-49, Oxford 17-52.
• Reserves race - Goldie beat Isis by 4 lengths. Times - Milepost Isis 3-54.0, Goldie 3-54.5; Hammersmith Bridge Goldie 7-01, Isis 7-02; Chiswick Steps Goldie 10-56, Isis 11-03; Barnes Bridge Goldie 14-45, Isis 14-55; Finish Goldie 17-48, Isis 18-00.
• Boat Race press: Crews set for Boat Race (Sky News, UK), Brodie eyes big upset (Swindon Advertiser, UK), Find the best seats in the (boat) house (This is Local London, UK), Light Blues must get it right when it matters (Rachel Quarrell, Telegraph, UK), Oxford can defy logic again (James Cracknell, Telegraph, UK), Plotkowiak out to show why universities are Poles apart (Jim White, Telegraph, UK), Boat Race has become more than tradition (New York Times, USA), Light Blue crew seek rhythm of victory (Chris Dodd, Independent, UK), Oxford resolved to punch above weight (John Goodbody, The Times, UK), Cambridge hope to speed them to victory (John Goodbody, The Times, UK), High profile crews warned not to turn the air blue (Mike Rosewell, The Times, UK), Strain and champagne for Oxbridge boat race (Daily Star, UK), Cambridge seek to end losing run (BBC Sport, UK), Inconsistent form makes Jones wary of favourites' tag (Martin Cross, Guardian, UK - I'm pretty sure that headline is a typo and should be James).
• Telegraph sport has a short video preview of the Boat Race by James Cracknell and RQ (UK).
• Other news: Clemson coach sent up river (Spartanburg Herald, USA), Pocock Rowing Center (SFC press release, USA), Northwest Rowing Council (SFC press release, USA), City offers GVRD $10M loan to dredge Burnaby Lake (Burnaby Newsleader, Canada), Boathouse 1st step for Pequonnock (Connecticut Post, USA), Keweenaw rowers up to the 'challenge' (Marquette Mining Journal, USA), Corbell's vision for lake (Canberra Times, Australia), Good headaches for rowing selectors (Australian Olympic Committee, Australia), Clemson fires rowing coach (Times and Democrat, USA), Bama women ready for first home rowing event (Dateline Alabama, USA), Rowers okay with Tainui water bid (Waikato Times, NZ), Rowing to meet the challenge (Daily Mining Gazette, USA), Paul Tergat helps boost Kenya Rowing and Canoeing Association (Coastweek, Kenya), Rowing stars help clubs christen fleet (Wimbledon Guardian, UK), Rowers get that sinking feeling (Richmond & Twickenham Times, UK), Tide rowers hope they'll roll on the river in team's first home race (Birmingham News, USA).

  Friday 6th April 2007

• Late update: - From the Independent brief news column this morning: "Redgrave's trophies stolen. Sir Steve Redgrave's three Sports Personality of the Year trophies were stolen during a dawn raid by thieves at the rower's family home, in Marlow Bottom, Bucks. The raiders also made off with jewellery b ut the five Olympic gold medals he won were not kept at the house." Other links - Redgrave's appeal to raiders who stole his awards (This is London), Burglars target Olympic rower (Maidenhead Advertiser), Crooks snatch Redgrave gongs (The Sun), Sir Steve tells of heartbreak over awards theft (Hello Magazine online).
• Entries are now open on OARA for Chester-le-Street Regatta (28th April, UK). Closing date is Friday 20th April.
• Reading Rowing Club (UK) are holding a reception for all those who have been involved with Project Oarsome at the club (15th April, 1pm). Former rowers, coaches, anyone involved with the junior system at the club is invited.
• Stelph now sell their rowing spares on eBay (UK).
• FISA has opened bids for hosting the 2009 World Rowing Forum.
• Boat Race press: It's Boat Race time (WorldRowing, FISA), Oxford have faith in theology student (Patrick Kidd, The Times, UK), When mutineers hit the Thames (Andrew Baker, Telegraph, UK), Oxford opt for mind games (Rachel Quarrell, Telegraph, UK), Sport in my world: Dan Snow (Sarah Edworthy, Telegraph, UK), Crews start to get a grip on pivotal procedure (Mike Rosewell, Times online only, UK), Small + mouthy = cox (Swindon Advertiser, UK), Battle to find donors is expected to get bloody (Cambridge Evening News, UK), Battling boat crews, glass opera, tiny film sets (Bloomberg, UK), Dark Blues' secret weapon can stun Cambridge (Mike Rosewell, Oxford Times, UK), Brodie aiming for third time lucky (Mike Rosewell, Oxford Times, UK).
• Boat Race odds - Oddschecker has longest Oxford odds for gamblers at 6-4 (totesport), with longest Cambridge odds at 11-18 (Mansion). The only outfit offering odds on the reserves race is Betfair, with fairly similar odds for both.
• Other rowing news: MHS crew team to row the night away (Middletown Press, USA), Waterfield keeps the crew in rhythm (Daily Evergreen, USA), LaBella is latest to go on from MJRC (Princeton Packet, USA), Rowing to host inaugural meet (Crimson White, USA), Local athletes take it to the next level - college (Daily Astorian, USA), Sex and the 30-something professional (Jewish Journal of Greater LA, USA), Fund started to replace lost racing boat (KETV, USA), School firm on drug tests (North Shore Times, Australia), UCSD crew borrows oars to win Cup (UCSD Guardian, USA), For boaters, life is but a dream (Bainbridge Island Review, USA, including rowing), Start time for Saturday's regatta at Lake Monticello changed to 10 am (CSTV, USA), Athletics pulls plug on eight varsity teams (The Charlatan, Canada), Teens hear straight talk on DUI (Savannah Morning News, USA), Crowds, confusion surround Mission Bay launch ramp (The Log Newspaper, USA), NCHS crew and St. Luke's crew (New Canaan News Review, USA), All alone on that big ocean - challenge number two (All at Sea, USA/Caribbean), Strokes rowers are fourth in SD (Oakland Tribune, USA).

  Thursday 5th April 2007

• News that ROCAT creator Christopher Laughton (UK) has alas decided to put the rowing catamaran development project on hold for a while: he has a fully finished product, but can't make the small-scale production of selling to individual customers work without further investment. Hope he finds someone to back expansion soon, or it will become one of those great ideas which nobody ever got the chance to really try.
• Boat Race press links: Waves created by mutiny continue to ripple (John Goodbody, The Times, UK), Size is no issue for Kusurin (Rachel Quarrell, Telegraph, UK), Sparks fly as Cambridge relish head-to-head with Goldie (Mike Rosewell, The Times, UK), Oxford coach gambles by shuffling his crew (Martin Cross, Guardian, UK, who apparently did tell his desk that the switch happened on Monday, but they carved his piece up and rewrote it. Sorry Martin!), Nick's stern test (Swindon Advertiser, UK), Cambridge knocked out in semi-final of boat race (NewsBiscuit satire, UK), Kieran hopes his aims of third victory don't go West (Woking News & Mail, UK), Belper rower is simply oar-some! (Belper Today, UK), Replacement of Cambridge cox creates ripples in rowing world (yesterday's Telegraph news section, UK), Das Boot Race (Philip Barker, Sports Journalists Association, UK), Management theory (Economist, UK, subscribers only), The Boat Race cattle market (Liz Wray, Row2k, USA), Foreign rowers raise quality of annual Boat Race (International Herald Tribune, USA), Little and large show (Sporting Life, UK).
• An incident in Nebraska: Crew team tells of icy rescue (KETV, USA, with video interviews with crew-members.)
• Other headlines: Strokes rowers are fourth in SD (Oakland Tribune, USA), UW honors crew legend (Seattle Times, USA), Hopes sink after swim team cut (and rowing, Canoe, Canada), Developing stories: private projects, public benefits (Austin Chronicle, USA), Marais makes most of Maadi Cup debut (Marlborough Express, NZ), Delays plague Rio Pan American Games preparations (People's Daily Online, China), Ambush marketing bill to protect major events (Scoop, NZ), CM to lay foundation of sports infrastructure facilities today (Central Chronicle, India), School athletes drug warning (Daily Telegraph, Australia), Rowers rocking as storms come to Head (icCheshire Online, UK), Anti-doping group sounds bell on school sports cheats (The Age, Australia), Public gets first glimpse at Virginia Key master plan (Miami Today, UK), Head race turns too rough for rowing (WorldRowing, FISA), Tip-off sparked school nude drug tests (Sydney Morning Herald, Australia), San Diego finishes Crew Classic Sunday afternoon (CSTV, USA, which has a lot more coverage of SDCC and other college crew news), Pilot gig racing season gets underway (This is Cornwall, UK), School crews scoop nine golds at nationals (Nelson Mail, NZ), Boys' High finally unveil hidden speed (Waikato Times, NZ), Pittsfield Onota Boathouse proposed (Berkshire Eagle, USA), Rangi regains Dawn Cup (The Press, NZ), Sun shines on Hamilton Boys as they dominate the 2007 AON Maadi Cup (Newswire, NZ).

  Wednesday 4th April 2007

• I've been sent more comments by a member of the Chiswick Pier Trust, who lives on a boat on Chiswick Pier near the Eyot (Tideway, UK). Commenting on Fiamme Gialle's Saturday expedition - "The whole crew ended up sheltering in our wheelhouse after being dumped shivering on the Pier. After an hour and a half warming up and watching the chaos outside, they got a lift back to Barn Elms from the PLA pilot boat. Other crews were looked after by Chiswick Pier members in the Pier House." Attached was a press release sent to the local London media and a picture of Fiamme Gialle looking a bit more cheerful up in the wheelhouse. They'd clearly warmed up a bit by the time it was taken...
• The ARA would like to remind everyone involved in the HORR about incident reporting (UK). I think that's a gentle hint that several clubs ought to be doing it...
• Boat race inspires future Olympic champs, a press release from Hammersmith & Fulham press office about the National Junior Indoor Rowing Championships last week (UK). The full results are now up on the London Youth Rowing site: note that they're listed by school year, not age.
• Boat Race press: Engelmann gives a sizeable advantage to Cambridge (Mike Rosewell, Times, UK), Light Blues make weight an issue (Belfast Telegraph, UK), Boat Race (Daily Express, UK), Cambridge call for the heavy brigade (Rachel Quarrell, UK), more later.
• Boat Race odds at various different bookies can most conveniently be found on Oddschecker's webpage. Odds can also be found here for sinkings, winning margins and for Isis vs Goldie (the latter having switched their crew around - it now goes bow to stroke MacLeod, Perrin, de Groot, Garnett, Wyper, Kromdijk, Scott, Billings and cox Glenn).
• Rowing in the news - a letter in the Independent (fourth one down, UK), Officials defend schoolboy drug tests (The Age, Australia), Top rowers compared to business leaders (WorldRowing, FISA), Drug testers forced schoolboys to strip (ABC Online, Australia), Family sues in death of Princeton teen (Asbury Park Press, USA), Student dies after skateboard accident (State Hornet, USA), Record breaker launches charity campaign (Cotswold Journal, UK), CU rowing club gets a boost (The Statesman, India), Carleton cuts Lauzon, programs (Ottawa Citizen, Canada), Family of film dedicatee sues over her traffic death (Philadelphia Inquirer, USA), Schoolboy drug test objections pursued (ABC Regional Online, Australia), Pocono native finds a reason to keep his oars in the water (Pocono Record, USA).

  Tuesday 3rd April 2007

• The Fours Head (UK) is making some big changes to its entry criteria next November, and wants everyone to get to grips with them early. Background to the decisions and the fine detail both available as PDF files. Brief overview - senior internationals of the previous four years may only enter elite (irrespective of whether rowers or scullers); all ARA or WARA sweep crews must have a minimum of two points per crew at the time of entry and on race day (SARA is exempt from this); non-ARA/WARA/SARA crews continue to be eligible for Elite events only; W4+ Elite is being removed and WS2 4- put in place; no composites in any of the senior 3 4+ events; all coxes minimum aged 16 in the calendar year of the race, ie born in 1991 or earlier.
• Edinburgh University are going to hold a regatta this year (Scotland, UK) at Strathclyde Park. Poster and information here together with downloadable entry forms.
• Dalton Designs (UK boat-sticker maker amongst other things) has done a website redesign.
• Clips of the 45 racers at the HORR on RowTV.
• Boat Race press: Cambridge ready to turn tide (RQ, Telegraph, UK), Determined Oxford aim to sneak victory (Andrew Longmore, Sunday Times April 1st, UK), Xchanging announces plans to float on the stock market this year (Personnel Today, UK).
• Other rowing news: Sinking feeling at boat race (syndicated in London, UK), Wrongful death suit filed in fatal crash (Trenton Times, USA), Harbour use in spotlight (Village Voice, Australia), Christchurch Games biggest in years (Scoop, NZ), Thieves target rowing club (ABC Regional Online, Australia), Boys' High rowers and Karapiro rated the best (Waikato Times, NZ), Campus crime growing concern following EMU student's murder (WZZM, USA), African rowers gain racing experience (World Rowing, FISA), Dangerous trees get chop for rower safety (syndicated, NZ), Ohio State, Florida, committed to athletics (Charlotte Observer, USA), Gold proves elusive at Maadi Cup (Marlborough Express, NZ), SD's oars, men win (San Diego Union Tribune, USA), Classic's marquee race struggles to retain marquee names (San Diego Union Tribune, USA), Wordley, Dowbiggin make mark (Cambridge Evening News, UK), Jubilant James (icWales, UK).

  Monday 2nd April 2007

• Very sad news (UK): - Cox Charlie Allen, of Radley College and Trinity College Cambridge, died last week. From the Times notice: "On 27th March peacefully at home surrounded by so much love after a courageous battle with cancer." Charlie was cox and captain of the Radley 1st VIII in 2004 and went on to cox the GB Coupe VIII in Ravenna that year. Despite a poor prognosis he went up to Trinity where he read English and took part in university life to the full, including coaching the 1st and 3rd Trinity women's eight. He desperately wanted to finish his degree this summer but that was not to be. His brother Alex told Radley on Saturday: "We had the funeral service, a quiet family affair, yesterday, and it was a very apt send-off. The Service of Celebration will be on Friday 13th April at 2:30pm in the Minster Church, Warminster, to which everyone will be welcome. There will be parking in the school next to the church and nibbles and drinks back at our house, about 400m away, afterwards. For any who can't make that, Trinity College Cambridge have asked if they can also hold a memorial service in the college chapel, which will take place at 2:30pm on Saturday 28th April."
  I can pass messages on via Radley to the family if people want to send them (RQ). No flowers please but donations to the National Youth Theatre c/o F. Curtis & Son, Warminster, Wilts, 01985-212033.
• The Head of the River (UK) is publishing time-only results for the 29 crews who finished without having to bail out or stop mid-race. As a result, the 2008 starting order will be based on 2006's results, and no trophies will be awarded this year.
• HORR and HBR press links: Cambridge pumping to victory amid turmoil on the Thames (Martin Cross, Guardian, rather cheekily referring to CUBC's cox Rebecca Dowbiggin as 'novice', which is hardly justified), Cambridge women take advantage of rivals' woes (Mike Rosewell, The Times), Rowers feel nature's force (Rachel Quarrell, Telegraph).
• Lots of photos of disappearing crews at the Eights Head (UK) on Saturday, but a particularly startling sequence showing Fiamme Gialle going down with all hands on BigBlade.
• A heart-rate watch was found at Thames Tradesmen RC after the Head of the River on Saturday (UK). If somebody lost one there can they contact TTRC.
• At Henley on Sunday, the Henley Boat Races went as follows: Nephthys rowed over; Osiris bt Blondie by half a length, no times taken; OUWLRC bt CUWLRC BY 1 length, 4min 11sec to 4min 15sec; CUWBC Blue Boat bt OUWBC Blue Boat by half a length, 4min 03sec to 4min 05sec; OULRC bt CULRC by 1 length, 3min 44sec to 3min 47sec. Due to conditions the course was shortened, and ran something between 1250-1500m, from Upper Thames to the usual finish line at Temple Island.
• Results of the Vet's Head (UK) on Sunday.
• The first Tideway regatta of the year, Hammersmith Regatta (UK) is on 28th April. Details at the link above.
• Hexham Regatta (UK) are running a questionnaire (Word format) asking for input from former and potential competitors (ie England Northern Region rowers) about how they can best improve their regatta. Fill in and send back, or try the online interactive form.
• Current Boat Race odds - Oxford 11/10 and Cambridge 4/6, both with bet365.com; Oxford 13/10 and Cambridge 5/9 with Betfair. Boat Race press: Another multi-national takeover (Dan Topolski, Observer), Boat Race revisited: the 1987 Oxford mutiny (Christopher Dodd, Independent), 'Brodie' determined to preserve his love of the oar-inspiring (Nick Townsend, Independent on Sunday, and note it's about Brodie Buckland, not Nick Brodie), Cambridge confidence gets big boost (Rachel Quarrell, Sunday Telegraph).