Archive News from April 2008

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

There is a full Rowing Service archive index online.

Wednesday 30th April 2008

The draw for Merseyside Regatta (UK) is online in PDF format. The race information page also has details of the circulation pattern, parking, the safety plan and the race schedule.
The draw for Marlow Spring Regatta (UK) is on the official website. The organising committee "regrets that the regatta was seriously over-subscribed, so a number of events were withdrawn. Reluctantly this included all of the J13 and WJ13 events. All events with insufficient entries to be classified as 'Qualifying' were also excluded. Notes on refunds on the website."
The results for Birmingham Regatta are online (UK).
GB team for the first World Cup regatta (Munich, next week): from bow M4- James/Williams/Reed/Triggs Hodge; M8+ to be selected from Bourne-Taylor/Egington/Heathcote/Langridge/Lucy/Partridge/Smith/Solesbury/Stallard/J West/cox Nethercott, but Heathcote injured currently so he and Lucy not at the moment expected in the VIII for Munich; M2- also Garbett/Bateman and Parker/Moore; M1x Campbell; M2x Wells/Rowbotham; M4x Fieldhouse/Townsend/Gregory/Lucas; W4x Vernon/Flood/Houghton/Grainger; W2x Laverick/Winckless; W1x Bebington; W8+ Freeman/Ashford/Howard/Reeve/Rodford/Page/Greves/Eddie/cox O'Connor; W2- Moffat/Menheneott; LM4- Chambers/Lindsay-Fynn/Mattick/Clarke; LM2x Purchase/Hunter; LW2x both Casey/Goodsell and Hosking/Greenhalgh; LW1x both Dennis and Pauls. Primary selection is not quite finished for the men's eight and pair, the women's double, and the lightweight women's double. GBR intend to try and qualify all three of the other Olympic classes - W1x, M4x and W2- - in Poznan.
It appears that the Dick Phelps reported as having passed away last week is probably not a rowing connection.
Tuesday 29th April 2008
Posters for this year's Veteran Championships & Loughborough Regatta (UK) have been sent to clubs but the file is also available on the Veteran Championships website. Note a message about changes for 2008 on the front page, including vet senior 3 events and mixed quads. There is what ought to be a handy category calculator, but for some reason it's not working properly at present (perhaps only on some browsers - didn't have time to check it in full). OARA will be open for entries soon, and they must be paid for by the closing date, whether online or by post. No exceptions will be made. This year's closing date has been brought forward to 6pm on Wednesday 4th June.
Details for Loughborough Regatta (UK) can be found separately on the dedicated regatta website - the event is on a separate day from the veteran champs this year.
Twickenham Regatta (UK) is taking place on Sunday 25th May, a change from their usual Saturday due to tidal conditions. The regatta is open on OARA and this year is offering two new lightweight events for senior 3 single scullers (open and women). The regatta website has full details. The new events are aimed at lightweight athletes who may not have a chance to compete at national or international level. To mark their inauguration, winners will be presented with engraved pots.
Spotted by the eagle-eyed, an edition of "I'd Do Anything" including making contestants row. The programme is available here on the BBC iPlayer for another couple of days, and there is an interview with the coach for the programme, Phil Simmons, on the official website.
Monday 28th April 2008
The first oral question in the House of Lords (UK) tomorrow will be: "Lord Lloyd of Berwick to ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will take steps to discourage the Port of London Authority from felling riverside trees between Putney and Kew." I'm told that: "The format in the Lords is that the questioner asks this and one follow up, and then there is up to 7 minutes of further follow up questions on this subject. It will start very shortly after 2:30pm and will be available to watch live on www.parliamentlive.tv where it will also be available to watch again for a month, from Wednesday morning. It will also be on BBC Parliament sometime on Tuesday evening, and reported in Hansard.". My source wonders if anyone will bother to put the point that felling improves navigation....
The draw for Wallingford Regatta (UK) is online. The regatta has created a dedicated website, http://didwewin.info/, optimised for use on mobile phones. It will be running on race day with live results, or at any time beforehand to check the draw. Information can be searched by club, race number, or via a menu to reach specific events. There is no premium charge for the service, just the usual internet access rates for your phone. It also works on normal browsers. Neat.
The Metropolitan Regatta (31st May and 1st June, UK) is open on OARA for entries.
FISA has sent out a FISA Family Grandstand order form to all federations for the Paralympic Regatta in Beijing. Each ticket provides a seat for all three days of the regatta (9th-11th September 2008), in the FF&F grandstand. Orders must be returned by 31st May - friends and family looking to book should check with federations for the order form.
India has qualified M1x and LM2x for the Beijing Olympics, via the Asian qualifying regatta.
Entries are open on OARA for Worcester Spring Regatta (17th May, UK). Closing date is 12 noon on Saturday 10th May.
Katherine Grainger was apparently on Question of Sport (UK) last Friday - the first rower to do it in quite a while. Unfortunately it's not on the iPlayer, probably some nonsense about copyright, but the QoS page does have some older programmes, so perhaps the 25th April one will be screened online at some point.
Marlow Town Regatta (14th June, UK) is open on OARA for entries.
A reminder that the 2008 Henley Races are available on DVD - ordering is secure via Rock The Boat's usual server (UK). The deadline for the first main order has been extended by the Henley Races committee to 30th April, so the first orders will be despatched en bloc around 10th May, to keep expenses as low as possible so that the maximum funds can be raised for the races.
Thursday 24th April 2008
Evesham Regatta (3rd-4th May, UK) say they are getting a healthy entry (400-odd to date, with a limit of 550 spread over the two days). They wish to remind competitors that the regatta may be closed early if necessary (official closing date is Saturday) and that paid entries on OARA will be given priority if numbers are oversubscribed. They are also looking for competition for a veteran F M1x who is visiting from Australia and wants to race (not any special standard).
The results of Abingdon Head (UK) are online - in time order and by event (both PDFs) and online in full. Top link here goes to the header page including winners of the various speed trophies.
Eagle Travel (UK), which does the itineraries for GB Rowing's Supporters Club, has put the details of its Linz and Beijing packages on its rowing page. They still have a limited number of places on the Olympic package. And due to the late selection for the junior team, they are prepared to take refundable deposits for the Senior & Junior Worlds in Linz, subject to son/daughter/relative not being selected. A helpful approach.
Yesterday morning Tyne United RC (UK) was granted planning permission for their new 3-acre site development, with various conditions, and to be built in phases. Plans are on the Gateshead Council website (application number DC/08/00219/FUL).
Thames Ditton Regatta (17th May, UK) is open for entries either on OARA or by post. Details on the link above.
Tees Regatta (17th May, UK) is open for entries on OARA by preference, though postal/email entries (but not telephone ones) can be taken if necessary. Closing date is Thursday 8th May, 9pm.
More London Marathon runners (UK) - Jo Busvine (ex-CUWBC and New Hall women's Head crew '84) finished in 6hrs 25mins 44secs, just a few years after being treated for breast cancer, and with the sole aim of completing the course (well done). She was running in aid of the Breast Cancer Haven (same charity the WeHORR supports) and anyone wishing to donate to the same cause can do so via her JustGiving page. And Dick Smith (CUBC Blue 1991, Goldie 1990 and 1992, now rows from Wallingford occasionally) finished in 5-20:55, commenting "no personal bests this time, I just had a great time running around London in the midst of the fancy dress crowd." He was running for the Cystic Fibrosis group, raising Ł3k for the charity.
Durham Amateur RC (UK) are holding a predominantly junior capsize drill at Aykley Heads Pool on Sunday 4th May from 1-4pm - contact Alan Granlund if you want to come to it.
Tuesday 22nd April 2008
Walbrook RC (UK) is doing a 24-hour sponsored ergo on 25th-26th April, run by the club's juniors' parents. No attempts to break world records, but everyone in the club involved, and started by former Olympian Phil Simmons this Friday night. "Anyone from the local rowing community is welcome to drink at the bar", they say.
The draw for Hammersmith Regatta (UK) is online.
The draw and maps for Chester le Street Regatta (UK) are online. Rules and brief competitor instructions are on the draw page. All files in both Word and PDF. The regatta page also has a warning about parking.
Chester Regatta (Sat 17th May, UK) is open for entries on OARA only. Being the 275th anniversary of the first Chester Regatta, there are commemorative quart-pot prizes for the winners of Elite M1x and W1x and Sen2 M1x and W1x.
This year's Doncaster Regatta (UK) is on Saturday 24th May, a change to the date listed in R & R Magazine and in the Almanack. Entries open, only through OARA, click on the link above for details.
ROWEST, the Rio Abajo RC (Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA) has its website at http://rowest.biz/ now.
From FISA, French selections in the making.
Monday 21st April 2008
Completely missed at the time (first week of April), but picked up on RSR late last week: Rower suffering from hypothermia (West Sussex County Times, UK, about a capsize on the Medway).
The Thames Regional Rowing Council (UK) has published a full report on the Dove PIer novice eight sinking in 2006, with the report available in sections or as a large single file (all PDF).
Another update from my Leipzig mole (Germany). The missing boy has not been found, and the police feel they have done everything they can for the moment, so the search for what they are obviously assuming is a body has been scaled back. The other boy who was in critical condition in hospital has made what the doctors are calling a miraculous recovery, and is breathing for himself again. No mention has yet been made of any possible brain damage (or not). Only the local papers are carrying the news now.
The Junior Inter-regional regatta (UK) was cancelled on Saturday due to foul weather. Racing was initially delayed and then cancelled after just two events (J16 coxless fours, both boys and girls) were held.
The provisional draw for Nottingham City Regatta (UK) is online.
Sons of the Thames (UK) share the London Corinthian Sailing Club, and as a result several rowers have been sailing, including racing with some success. LCSC chief instructor Peter Hopps says he is keen to recruit more rowers, of any age ond either sex. This year's programme includes races and cruises around the Mediterranean and across the Atlantic. One crewman, having both rowed and sailed across the Atlantic, confirms that the sailing trip was the more enjoyable journey, though he didn't lose as much weight doing it..... There is a 10% discount for any rower quoting this website and Sons' name: see C & H Sailing Ltd for details of their 52' yacht Nisida, the programme of events, and contact details.
More London Marathon runners - 'Brett Favre' (a certain Westminster coach, I gather) 'unretired' this year to apparently be the fastest runner wearing a helmet (see picture from the London Evening Standard), in 4hrs 21mins, only 59 minutes behind Vikki Filsell (ex-ULWBC and GB lightweight) in 3hrs 22mins.
Nice initiative - there are grants available in Canada for clubs starting or expanding adaptive programmes.
Also from Rowing Canada Aviron (CAN), Kevin Light's blog, the most recent picture an intriguing one (read the story). For those with dark colour settings on their monitors, the snap is of what looks like an Aussie (all green and gold kit), quite possibly a rower, given that it's a lycra-like shorts-leg visible. Canada's coming to the Lucerne World Cup, with a partial team staying for the Poznan one, and their team announcements are May 2nd (World Cup) and June 24th (Olympic team).
Rowing in the news - Rower Robbins faces selection D-Day (ABC Online an example, Australia), Robbins to miss Olympics (Sunday Times, Australia with a potential scoop), Three men in a boat hit the river for charity (Swindon Advertiser, UK), Rowing team wins silver (Tuscaloosa News, USA), Regatta made a big splash (Albany Times Union, USA), Building up boating for future Olympians (News OK, USA), Marist wrangles MAAC titles (Poughkeepsie Journal, USA), Relay cut amide fear of 'ratbags' (Canberra Times, Australia), Grant to help Coffs Coast sporting groups (Coffs Coast Independent, Australia), Andy Ripley: my 'affair' with cancer (Telegraph, UK), Race celebrates river town's proud history (Kidderminster Shuttle, UK), Azadi Sport Complex to host Islamic countries' Solidarity Games (IRNA, Iran), Christina gets a cleaning (Delaware News Journal, USA), UW women lose 2nd in a row (Seattle Times, USA), Days of fun in the sun (Cherry Hill Courier Post, USA), Student wins race at 7-mile Bridge (Miami Herald, USA), Boy in small boat rescued as high winds buffet Marin (Marin Independent Journal, USA - does anyone know if this was a fine rowing shell, or a fishing skiff?), Temple finds a shrine for rowing in Oak Ridge (Knoxville News Sentinel, USA), Efforts underway to save Miami Marine Stadium (KNDO/KNDU Tri Cities, USA), McLean edges Westfield in stretch, draws rave review (Washington Post, USA), Rahul wins silver, India bronze (Calcutta Telegraph, India), Missing oars dent India's chances in Olympic qualifiers (Deepika, India), Pilot house restored, made into monument (Wenatchee World Online, USA), India's star rowers train on stinking drain (Hindustan Times, India), Souther schools dominate at titles (Examiner, Australia), HSU crew to compete in NCRC championships (Eureka Reporter, USA), When the rowing gets tough then tough Tracey gets rowing (Edinburgh Evening News, UK), Nichols will give OCU $5 mil for boathouse (Oklahoma City Friday, USA), Crew teams establish state association (Grand Rapids Press, USA), Fairfield's crew finally have a home (Connecticut Post, USA), Rowing champs get up to speed at V8s (New Zealand Herald, NZ), German official explains stop to equipment aid (The Tide, Nigeria), From stage to sea, oarsman finds his passion in rowing (Flyer News, USA), The wide appeal of Argentina's rowing school (WorldRowing, FISA), Water on way (Courier, Australia).
Friday 18th April 2008
More London Marathon runners: Will Robins (former RUBC and Bristol UBC rower now coaching Monckton Coombe) finished in 3hrs 56min 49sec, and John Warnock (ex-LRC and GB lightweight) finished in 2-50:50.
Details of this year's Two Cities Boat Race (Manchester vs Salford universities) on May 10th (UK) at Salford Quays.
The draw for Birmingham Regatta (UK this weekend) is online.
A new technical rowing paper: The direction of the water force on a rowing blade and its effect on efficiency (by Michael Macrossan, University of Queensland, Australia). The full paper is here in PDF format (the previous link is to the abstract).
The ARA website (UK) has just undergone a big makeover. Lots of visual changes and some content. Any problems or feedback, write to sitefeedback@ara-rowing.org.
Thursday 17th April 2008
Shrewsbury Regatta (10th-11th May, UK) is running a race matchmaker service for those who want to be sure of getting competition in the right events for them. For main regatta information see this link.
Wednesday 16th April 2008
Update from Leipzig (see 14th April): The missing boy hasn't yet been found, and they are now using special divers in the area immediately behind the weir, as well as looking further downriver. The one who was injured is still in a very critical condition in hospital. After mistakenly announcing him as dead on Sunday they have clearly decided to be more careful and are not giving a great deal of information to the media. The other three children are out of intensive care, but apparently still in hospital and receiving counselling to help with the trauma. The police are now investigating the regatta organisers, checking every detail of what was planned in the way of safeguards, the river conditions at the weekend etc. What happens next will depend on the results of these investigations. Full article here (in German).
Birmingham Regatta (UK) is now closed to entries, as they're well over their limit (so presumably there is a waiting list).
The draw for the Junior Inter-Regional Regatta (UK) is online. The page includes the draw/timetable (Excel), safety instructions (PDF), volunteer rota (Excel) and volunteer notes (Word). There are server problems with the JIRR website which the organisers hope to have fixed some time today.
Results from Lincoln Head (UK, end of March).
And results of the Glasgow Silver Regatta (UK), also available in CSV format for importing into Excel.
Bedford Spring Head results (UK) overall, and by status and in their usual clickable by-club/event format.
Rowing headlines - Rowing ahead: swifter, higher IOA favours India-made boats over Chinese ones (Economic Times, India), Capital torch route revealed (Canberra Times, Australia), French selections in the making (WorldRowing, FISA), China to become Olympic superpower (LiveNews and widely syndicated, global), Hug doesn't calm waters for Sally (Daily Telegraph, Australia), Group hug exorcises Robbins (The Australian, Australia, and a load more which are all about the same content), Clobber crew hike the hype (Sydney Morning Herald, Australia), Money's there for boat ramp (RedBankGreen, USA).
Tuesday 15th April 2008
Competing in Beijing and have, or ever been anywhere near having, asthma or bronchoconstriction? FISA have issued an important bulletin about the therapeutic exemption forms. Note that those who were given permission to use beta-2 agonists in Athens 2004 or Turin 2006 can continue that permission, but must fill in part of the form anyway so that the paperwork is complete. There were stories of some athletes who do not usually have asthma finding it difficult in Beijing last summer - I hope that medical teams for this Olympics are doing all the necessary tests now to ensure that nobody who needs it will be denied the right treatments in the summer. Without being an athlete, I personally found cycling beside the Shunyi lake much more difficult and exhausting on days when you couldn't see the whole course clearly, ie days when the air appeared to be more polluted (RQ).
This month's FISA athlete in focus is Frida Svensson (Sweden).
Also from FISA, Adaptive rowers in early season race and Cop and Spik start season at Croatian Open.
The ARA (UK) is advertising vacancies for a policy officer and a communications officer, both jobs with the Central Council for Physical Recreation. Closing date for both is March 18th: link is to the MS Word file.
Entries are open on OARA only for Tyne Regatta (31st May, UK). Closing date 12 noon on Sunday 25th May.
A link for Murwillumbah RC (Australia).
London Marathon results - James Cracknell did 2hrs 59min 11sec; Chris Morris 2-54:46; Antonia Van Deventer-Taylor 3-13:01; Richard Taylor 3-26:30. Let me know if there were other rowers running it and I'll stick the times up. See here for searchable results.
Rowing headlines - Robbins hugs crewmate who slapped her (Sydney Morning Herald, Australia), Chinese athletes put U.S. athletes in a tough spot (not really rowing, but a very good piece from the Orlando Sentinel, USA), Crew catches on at WA (Worcester Telegram, USA), Capital City Rowing medals 7 regatta races (Tallahassee.com, USA), Controversial rower Robbins completes trial (Nineman, Australia), Locals will benefit from ¤20m fund if incinerator goes ahead (Irish Independent, Ireland, about worries rowers), Steps towards new wharf facilities at Bayswater and Takapuna (Scoop, NZ), Dedication paying off for Miller (Inside NoVa, USA), Robbins to learn Olympics fate in a week (The Age, Australia), Hot laps for rowers (Stuff, NZ - anyone for highly dangerous four-wheeled cross-training?), British spy agency discovers Chinese prisoners used in drug experiments (Epoch Times, Ireland), Young rower eyes up world champs (Southland Times, NZ), Olympics body to endorse bid for Pan-Am Games (St Catharines Standard, Canada), Safety of sailing titles in doubt (not directly rowing, but about pollution right beside a club, Tasmania Examiner, Australia), Garratt lays Robbins fears to rest (Sydney Morning Herald, Australia).
Monday 14th April 2008
Very shocking news (Germany) - Criticism after boy is lost in German rowing-skiff accident (syndicated to Top News, India, and about a JMxd4x+ swept over a weir). I'm told that apparently: "the coxed quad was pushed over a weir by the strong current. The boat broke apart because of the drop. Three kids (two girls and a boy) could be brought ashore safely; one 11-year-old boy is still in hospital in a very critical condition, and the fifth, another boy, aged 12, still hasn't been found." There is more from a local German newspaper and a photogallery showing the area where it happened. Readers may want to use Babelfish or Rock3 for very rough approximate translations.
Late update - The missing boy has not yet been found. Apparently the club organising the regatta had not applied for a permit for the event. Had they done so, the city says they would have had to cancel the racing because of the very strong stream (not actually flooding, but 80 m3/sec through the weir as opposed to 15 m3/sec, on Sunday). There's an updated article (in German) and another photo gallery - picture 11 has the snapped-off green bow of the boat, as well as some sculling blades, lodged in the driftwood. Plus a film clip of the scene, showing the red boat used by the young man who rowed out to help and rescued at least one of the children (he is interviewed in the film). An awful situation from start to finish.
There is a new recreational rowing website (UK) - RecRowing.org.uk. It includes details of this year's ARA recreational tour (PDF poster) from 28th-31st August on the River Severn between Stourport and Gloucester RCs.
Further afield there are two recreational FISA tours this year - Saar & Mosel (Germany, 28th April to 4th May) and Rio del Plata (Argentina, 19th-25th October).
Rowing - When the Tyne led the world (PDF poster, UK), an exhibition being held until 6th July in the Discovery Museum in Newcastle. Open 10-5 Mon-Sat and 2-5 Sundays, free entry.
The National Schools Regatta website (UK) is updated with this year's information. Changes for this year's regatta include reclassification at the J15 and J16 level to mirror the J18 events; Friday 1km time-trials for all events over 12 entries; and crews in 3rd Eight events may include up to three J16s from now on.
The poster for Tees Regatta (UK) is online.
Not sure if this works for rowers, who are notoriously single-minded, but the BBC (UK) is looking for potential Sports Mastermind contestants - auditions to be held in late June in various cities. The PDF application form has more information, and can also be completed online.
Blades Retail Cafe (UK, run by Oarsport) has been nominated in the Best Cafe/Deli section of the 2008 Nottingham Restaurant Awards. Voting enters you into a prize draw for a day jet trip to Paris.
Rowing in the news - Women lead Olympic rowing hope (Sky News video clip, UK), Rowing can be healthy (Connellsville Daily Courier, USA), Masters - Eye on the bawl (Yahoo! Eurosport, UK), Oldest gig boat launched again (The Cornishman, UK), Residents get ear of the city on boathouse (Columbus Dispatch, USA), Rowing coach imported from Regina (StarPhoenix, Canada), Robbins hangs by a thread (Fox Sports, Australia), Sally Robbins Beijing hopes dead in the water (Sunday Times, Australia), Future of Mere to be discussed (Scarborough Today, UK), 'Lay Down Sally' has one last chance to make Beijing (Radio New Zealand, NZ), Oarsome form (Penrith City Star, Australia), Encouraging signs for NZ's top rowers (TVNZ, NZ), Sports stars to ride 2008 London to Paris (RoadCycling UK, UK), Smash doesn't stop tutu rider (Marlborough Express, NZ), Sally's bid stutters (syndicated, Australia), Adventurers to recreate Antarctic boat ordeal (Trend News Agency, Azerbaijan), Gunns official lashes council over pollution (Examiner, Australia), Mandoli makes bid for her first Olympics (BC Local News, Canada), Four Alaskans part of dedicated crew (Anchorage Daily News, USA), Women cancer survivors put their oars in the water (Rochester Democrat & Chronicle, USA), Arlett claimed by NU (Boston Globe, USA), Rain or shine: Greenwich crew masters its stroke (Stamford Advocate, USA), Vikings finish fast on home waters (Bellingham Herald, USA), Binghamton High grad plans daring Atlantic crossing (Press & Sun-Bulletin, USA), Greenwich crew masters the Mianus (Greenwich Time, USA), A high-profile 'Naik' of Indian Army (Merinews, India), Robinson's crash course in survival (Washington Post, USA), BHS graduate plans transatlantic journey (Press & Sun-Bulletin, USA), Men tighten grip on power in boardrooms (syndicated, NZ), Grant a stroke of luck for club (Orillia Packet & Times, Canada), Games boycott should use dollars, not athletes (Times Colonist, Canada), Brian Price doesn't know the meaning of quit (Belleville Intelligencer, Canada), Alabama travels to Murray State for rowing (Tuscaloosa News, USA), World champion Gill rows into the record books (Sunderland Echo, UK), Rowing raises Ł200 (This is Nottingham, UK), Pippa savages rowing rivals (Toowoomba Chronicle, Australia), Budda delivers the blessings (Hawke's Bay Today, NZ), Peddie keeps forming winning crews (Packet Online, USA), Hemasiri disappointed on axing of cycling (and rowing, in the Sunday Times, Sri Lanka).
Plus the usual huge load of US college stories on the CSTV crew page.
Thursday 10th April 2008
Information on Castle Semple Regatta (17th May on Castle Semple Loch, Lochwinnoch, Scotland). Closing date is Thursday 8th May at 9pm, 1km multilane just west of Glasgow airport.
The BBC's rowing producer Sally Richardson has kindly told me her likely transmission times for the World Cup coverage, ta Sally. Munich 11th May all A-finals live on BBCinteractive, plus highlights on BBC2 probably 15:00-16:00. Lucerne 1st June all A-finals live on BBCi, plus highlights BBC2 probably 14:00-15:00. Poznan 22nd June all A-finals live on BBCi, plus highlights BBC2 probably 15:00-16:00. Times are BST (=GMT+1), though may be subject to change, and all highlights will be available on the BBC's iplayer for 7 days after transmission. Sadly BBC iplayer is not available online outside the UK. I imagine the full live FISA coverage will make up for that though.
The results of last Saturday's Northwich Spring Head (UK) are online in Excel format.
A rowing painting by water artist William H Bishop (UK).
A new boats for sale website (Ireland).
Editorial feature: - Seems a shame to waste the Varese trip I took this week on 120 words in the Telegraph (and not even online), so I thought the Rowing Service readers might like a story. So here's a long rambling wibble about what's going on in Italy at the moment. Not very journalistic, but perhaps more useful to rowers. (RQ).
Rowing in the news - River a disgrace: West Torrens councillor (ABC Online, Australia), How London shaped the history of the marathon (The Times, UK, about former rower Lord Desborough), Beccles win boat race (Beccles and Bungay Journal, UK), Minister for Sport sends messages of support to rowing teams (Gib Focus, Gibraltar), Robbins chasing last boat to Beijing (Sydney Morning Herald, Australia), Controversial comeback: Sally Robbins sets her sights on Beijing (ABC Online, Australia), Atlantic rower feted in USA (Gazette & Herald, UK), Rowers make a splash in Zagreb (Croatian Villas, UK), Dunne Regatta slated for April 27 (Wilmette Life, USA), Morgan claims rowing gold medal (Kent Online, UK), Olympic champion slams China Games (James Cracknell on Sky News, UK. Also click on the video clip to the right of the article to hear the full interview), Hard work, solid second-year rowers paying off for crew (The Santa Clara, USA), Soccer experience inspires novel (Georgina Advocate, USA, and yes there is a rowing connection), Regatta opens Stockton waters to young rowers (Stockton Record, USA), Shedding light on the torch (San Francisco Chronicle, USA), Tennessee rower seeks adventure (TriCities.com, USA), Ven Velthooven gets trial (Marlborough Express, NZ), Taylor helps secure prestigious win (Waikato Times, NZ), Alex Partridge out of favour in Britain's Olympic coxless four (Patrick Kidd, The Times, UK), Tasmania to host rowing titles (The Mercury, Australia), Baltic athletes get ready to reach for Olympic gold (Baltic Times, Latvia), Girls crew team starts season with solid showing (Weston Town Crier, USA), Tuf as Nails rows in San Diego Crew Classic (Port Townsend Leader, USA), Rowing races on the river (Chesterfield Observer, USA), Canty pair to join elite (Stuff, NZ), Students brave cold to row for cash (Somerset County Gazette, UK), Rowing team eager for new boathouse (OSU Lantern, USA), Imes hired as director of high performance (Row2k, USA), Rowers to welcome Bengals (Community Press & Recorder, USA), Cop and Spik start season at Croatian Open (WorldRowing, FISA), Free watersports taster sessions for Merseyside residents (Liverpool Daily Post, UK), Indoor triathlon for young (Gloucester Citizen, UK), Agnes Irwin rowing team poised for success (Philadelphia Inquirer, USA), National rowing regatta for Lake Barrington (ABC Online, Australia), Oarsmen must win to keep shirts on their backs (Yale Daily News, USA), Ruling the river (Messenger News, Australia), Naturally talented? (Stratford Press, NZ), Two Irish athletes in positive drugs tests (Irish Independent, Ireland), A man with his own (sports) plan (Eyeopener, Canada), Scarlet fever (the weirdest story from the Baltimore Sun, USA), Dutchman to row from Peru to Brisbane (Sydney Morning Herald, Australia), Adaptive rowing program on Dillon Reservoir? (Summit Daily News, USA), Row on regardless (Melbourne Leader, Australia), United we stand (Dearborn Press and Guide, USA), Madras Boat Club: rowing bliss (Chennai Online, India), Nowra High's state silver (Nowra South Coast Register, Australia), Rowing pushes new 2km course (The Press, NZ), Victorious rowers back on dry land (Norfolk Eastern Daily Press, UK), MAC crew makes history (Daily Pilot, USA), First partially-sighted man rows across Atlantic (Guardian, UK), Back on the water (Greenwich Time, USA), Zuckerberg may settle Facebook case (Globe and Mail, Canada). And Caught in time, missed in late March (The Times, UK).
Wednesday 9th April 2008
Medway Towns (UK) have a new website, and on it announce the sad news of the death of club vice president David Collins, on 7th April, aged 60.
Rower Chris Morris of Burway RC/Jesus College Cambridge is running the London Marathon for charity - donate online here (UK).
A Row for Life is going to be held at the Eldon Leisure Centre in Newcastle on Tuesday 13th May 2008 (UK). It's an erg event in aid of the Bubble Foundation (a local charity which helps babies born without an immune system). NERN has a PDF poster and more information in a Word document. Local rowers are invited to take part.
Marlow Spring Regatta (UK) is live for entries on OARA. Clubs are advised to enter early and pay online to minimise the risk of rejection if their event is oversubscribed. See the regatta pages on the website for details.
And a very early opening of entries for this year's British Indoor Rowing Championships (UK) because they have moved a full month earlier than usual. This year's date is Sunday 26th October, at the NIA in Birmingham as normal. Entry details here.
Berwick Amateur's annual capsize drill is being held on Saturday 19th April from 4-5pm at the Swan Centre in Berwick (UK). Anyone interested in doing it should contact them via the club's website.
Interesting ways to use a rowing club part 23: City of Oxford RC (UK) is running a Sporty Speed Dating night on 19th April at their boathouse, starting 7:30pm. Tagline - 'are you too busy training to meet someone special? - have you exhausted the talent at your own sports club?' See the website's news page for more details.
Tuesday 8th April 2008
Former international rower Antonia van Deventer and her husband Richard Taylor are running the London Marathon in aid of Children with Leukaemia - charity donations site for them here. They also run a website - www.dietandfitnesstoday.com with fitness information. By the way, i am happy to put up other London Marathon runner details (must have a strong rowing connection please) especially those with charity fundraising to do.
The Alec Hodges sculling course application form (Tideway Scullers, UK) is now available - Word format.
The Great Western Sprint (UK) is being held at the Cotswold Water Park on Sunday 20th April under the auspices of WAGS, and together with the BUSA Sprint Championship. 500m, 4 lanes, now open for entries on OARA. See the website for details.
The poster for Durham City Regatta (UK) is online - also downloadable from the same page.
An outfit called Rhyme Stars (UK) is running a competition to see which nursery rhyme is the most popular in the country. If they get 50,000 votes by the end of April they will 'unlock' a Ł50k donation from their corporate sponsor. They have 20,000-odd votes so far. They tell me that there was a run of votes on 'This little piggy went to market' over last weekend (from a load of butchers?) and it inspired them to ask if any of you would like to vote for 'Row, row, row your boat'. Not sure how keen you all might be, and I am bound to point out that you may wish to be very careful about how you place your vote. The exercise is quite clearly an information-gathering one, and I suggest anyone keen on privacy should not tick the "I would like more information" box. Those especially paranoid about personal information might like to create a new email address for the purpose..... On the plus side, voting does enter you into a prize draw, and I can't see anything in the terms and conditions breaching the Data Protection Act, so it could be worth it.
Monday 7th April 2008
From FISA, Extending rowing in Tunisia, Introducing Russian rowing's new president and most pertinently, issued last Friday, International rowing federation satisfied with Russian Rowing Federation actions. As a result of this final FISA decision, Russian rowers may compete from now on, provided that they only use the newly elected officials, and newly appointed coaching and medical staff - the 3-year ban on those involved in staffing the squad during the recent doping scandals remains. The 2-year bans on the nine rowers involved also remains. The letter from FISA to the new federation executive is here (PDF format). I note that Russia still has to pay a swingeing fine and all costs, but has been granted an extension of the payment period. Students of the last nine months of RUS/FISA interaction may find the final doping hearing notes instructive, as they contain details of what happened between July 2007 and the New Year, as well as several of FISA's expectations of doctors and athletes. Full FISA information on anti-doping (facts, figures and forms) is here.
FISA's latest World Rowing magazine was published in March. And the latest anti-doping survey (2007) is out as part of the latest circular. China still heads the list by number of tests performed, but now at roughly double the 2005 number.
A website for 8-Spirit, a rowing clothing company in Barcelona (Spain) and selling to the Iberian peninsula and Latin America. Website is in Spanish and Portuguese. Not sure if they make their own clothes - there is a clear link of some kind to Di-Bi - but they do take stalls round the international regattas: see Noticias for the latest plans.
Wallingford Regatta entries (UK) are filling up quicker than expected. 400+ entries were received last week and the organisers expect the event to be full by the coming weekend at the very latest, perhaps before. For example, senior 4 eights (men's, I think) are already at capacity, though not yet all paid. Paid entries take priority over unpaid so get your cheques in now.
Bert Cocu and Erwin Cardol's Boat Race photoalbum is up on NLRoei (Holland).
Hammersmith Regatta (UK) is now open on OARA for entries.
A note that the date for Bristol Ariel Head (UK) is actually Saturday 25th October, not 9th November as some calendars have it.
Rowing for gym bunnies? Try Rowbics (USA), though I notice the founder, Victoria Draper, doesn't yet seem to have rowed for the US Olympic team as she says she intended to....
Rowing headlines - Washington crews take top honours at San Diego regatta (Seattle Times, USA), Stars are pounced on by protesters as London Olympic torch parade turns ugly (Daily Mirror, UK), Beijing Olympics: hope swiftly extinguished (Times Online, UK, these two articles pretty tupical of many), Inequality driven from equality (an interesting leader column in the Buffalo Spectrum, USA), Rowing pair show Paralympics potential (The Age, Australia), Boys' High defend Maadi Cup crown (Waikato Times, NZ), MGC rowers strike it rich at Maadi Cup (Marlborough Express, NZ), Fahan's four too strong again (Mercury, Australia), Golden start for GB rowing squad (BBC Sport, UK), Rangi Ruru keeps cup (The Press, NZ), Roncalli finish third best overall (Timaru Herald, NZ), Hargest pupil wins boys U18 single sculls at secondary schools champs (Southland Times, NZ), Pulling for teens: champion rower, filmmaker wants kids to find inspiration (Toledo Blade, USA), Rower completes Atlantic challenge (Norwich Evening News, UK), Scotch pair aim for worlds (Examiner, Australia), Finals set at 2008 national selection regatta #1 (Row2k, USA), Torn between two loves, but Guest's having a ball (Examiner, Australia), Milestones at the Maadi (Wanganui Chronicle, NZ), UCSD holds own against rowing's elite (San Diego Union Tribune, USA), Chinese rowing hopefuls get morale boost (Malaysia Sun, Malaysia), A muddy walk for charity (Richmond & Twickenham Times, UK), Floating their boat (Orlando Sentinel, USA), Romero proves first impressions can be misleading (This is Local London, UK), Chinese Olympic hopeful Xu wins 2nd national rowing title (Xinhua, China), Star college sculler dominates open (Mercury, Australia), Glenville students delve into genealogy at luncheon (Greenwich Time, USA), Inspired by '84 Olympic gold (Ventura County Star, USA), More crews make finals (Nelson Mail, NZ).
Thursday 3rd April 2008
Evesham Regatta is now open on OARA (UK). Payment preferred via OARA but cheques can be accepted if necessary.
A link for the Ball Cup Regatta south (UK), taking place on Sunday 11th May.
Janousek Racing Boats and Molesey BC (UK) featured on yesterday's Working Lunch programme, available now on the BBC iPlayer. Look about 24 minutes in for the segment.
FISA's bids are in for the next world champs to be awarded. Plovdiv (BUL) is the sole bidder for the 2012 non-Olympic senior and junior championships, while Amsterdam (NED) and Montemar-o-Velho (POR) are bidding for the 2011 Under-23 championships.
Wednesday 2nd April 2008
Entries are now open for the Merseyside Regatta (3rd May, UK). OARA entries only but payments only directly to Liverpool Victoria RC. Closing date 5pm on Saturday 26th April.
Entries also open for Shrewsbury Regatta (10th-11th May, UK).
Belatedly, results from the Heineken Roeivierkamp in early March (Netherlands, PDF file).
A link to the Maadi Cup website (NZ).
I should point out that Peter Toon, who has put up an advert seeking a coaching position, is mainly looking for one in the UK - this isn't entirely obvious from his text.
A brief review of two rowing books in the last story of the Boston Globe editorial column (USA). The Wonder Crew and Kelly, A Father, A Son, An American Quest can be pre-ordered and bought respectively on Amazon and doubtless on other sites too (US Amazon links given).
New from the ARA (UK), the updated rules of racing, CCPR vacancies and Henley Stewards Scholarships, and a reminder that the 2008 Almanack can be ordered - link on the news page is wrong, this is the correct order form.
International regattas coming up this week, the Croatia Open (Croatia, website in Serbo-Croat and English), the International Adaptive Regatta (Gavirate, website in Italian and English),
Rowing headlines - System catches out Tees rowers (Gazette Live, UK), The rowing machine and I need relationship therapy (She Knows, USA), Olympian courts with a new career (Cowra Guardian, Australia), College rowers maintain momentum (Marlborough Express, NZ), Gillett rallying for the cause (about Amy's husband Simon, Rally Sport Magazine, Australia), Rower Drysdale comes through tough test (People's Daily Online, China on the ball as usual), Several crews go through to finals (the Nelson Mail, NZ, bagging the 'most informative headline of the week' award), 2008 national selection regatta Friday (USA Olympic Team press release, USA), Rowing for Yale (Madison Courier, USA), Rowing club battling on Spring Lake Saturday (Grand Haven Tribune, USA), Timaru looking good at cup's opening days (Timaru Herald, NZ), Size of team not a worry for rowers (Timaru Herald, NZ), In the Mackenzie, autumn's muster brings its hoard to the water's edge (Marlborough Express, NZ), South astir with school sports tournaments (Southland Times, NZ), Rowing hours in a row (Daily Mining Gazette, USA), Beijing moves heaven and earth to supply Olympic water (Chief Engineer, USA), Rowing team heads to dry land for fundraiser (MP Now, USA), Casco Bay starboards up (Row2k, USA), Province promotes rowing (Welland Tribune, Canada), Athletes row for charity (Charities Aid Foundation, UK), Rowing sophomores wax poetic, climb mountains (Daily Pennsylvanian, USA), Pressure's on for Head of the River (Messenger News, Australia), Crew faces challenges before hitting water (Burlington Free Press, USA), EMU slaying trial gets under way (Ann Arbor News, USA), Bay rowers powerful across early heats (Hawke's Bay Today, NZ), Maadi Cup crews begin strongly (Marlborough Express, NZ), Tri-state soldier remembers Matt Maupin (Kentucky Post, USA), Coxed four come out strongly in defence of shield title (Waikato Times, NZ), Rowing nursery sprouts medals (Daily Examiner, Australia), Oxford victory is watched by 7.6m (Oxford Mail, UK), Teaming up with co-workers for sports (Scripps News, USA), Training help for rowing (Calcutta Telegraph, India), Ultrasounds for US Olympians to study heart health (AFP, USA), Row, row, rowing his way across the Atlantic (ABC News), Nine pupils make oarsome effort (Southland Times, NZ), Crew Classic worthy of 'Classic' part once again (San Diego Union Tribune, USA), Ricky's just knockout at glitzy bash (Manchester Evening News, not strictly our sport, but boxer Ricky Hatton cracking a decent joke about it).
Tuesday 1st April 2008
Left out several times recently through sheer forgetfulness (I do apologise), the information and poster for Evesham Regatta (UK), running on 3rd-4th May, and sponsored by Kamdean International. The regatta has been reorganised this year, to prevent late running, with changes including no doubling within each of the two divisions (only between them), entry limits, one-stop registration and two sets of award ceremonies to prevent waiting. See the link for full details. Entries on OARA only, open shortly, and closing at 2pm on Saturday 26th April.
Entries are now open for the Chiswick Regatta (3rd May, UK). The restriction on more than two-abreast racing on the Tideway has now been lifted, meaning Chiswick hope they will not have to turn any entries away. All details on the link.
Boost to Kuwait rowing (WorldRowing, FISA).
Belatedly I have the official Veteran Boat Race results: Cambridge beat Oxford 9min 31sec to 9-43, on the same slack tide the Boat Race experienced the next day. Conditions were rougher than for the 29th March race, course is from the University Stone to a roughly 2-mile point just short of St Paul's.