Archive News from August 2005

The Rowing Service

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 August 2006

  • I wasn't looking due to extreme exhaustion, but New Zealand was confirmed at the Monday FISA Congress as the host of the 2010 World Championships, on Lake Karapiro. Wahey!

    Tuesday 29th August 2006

  • News from Hammer Smith that the European Championships 2007 in Poznan will be on the weekend of September 22nd-23rd 2007, not the week earlier as originally reported.
  • Hollingworth Lake say the draw for their North of England Sprint Championship (UK) should be on the regatta page of their website by lunchtime today.
  • Rowing passes the test (BBC, UK).
  • A bundle of behind the scenes photos from the Worlds from Chris George (UK).

    Monday 28th August 2006

  • Flipping 'eck, what a week. I could sleep for a month.
  • UK main rowing headlines (more coming later) - Silver heartache for Grainger as British quad let last-gasp Russian surge steal gold (Martin Cross, Guardian), British four steal thrilling victory (Dan Topolski, Observer), Grainger 'devastated' after scullers are caught on the line by Russian rivals (Chris Dodd, Independent), Purchase pushes smoothly to singles glory (Mike Rosewell, The Times), What's the story, Dorney glory? Water power holds key to 2012 (Matthew Pinsent, The Times), Tear-jerk reaction as women's quad stumble at finish (John Goodbody, The Times), Last-gasp defeat for women's quad (Rachel Quarrell, Telegraph), British must rise to Chinese challenge (James Cracknell, Telegraph), Tears as Grainger is pipped (Mike Haggerty, Herald).
  • Final Eton Mess now up too.
  • Worlds reports, results etc on FISA's World Rowing site amongst others.
  • When we're all back to normal further champs links and non-British team headlines will be forthcoming.
  • Some pictures of what the GBR men's hwt coxless four got up to when they did their warm-down past the spectator bank and pulled in for a chat on Saturday (David Thomas, UK).
  • UK sad news: "Frank Bull, a member of Cygnet Rowing Club since the early 1930's, died on 18 August 2006. He has always been known as John to Club members. John had been ill for some time and passed away in the early hours of Friday 18th in Charing Cross Hospital, where he had been since the 14th August. He was 94. The Club secretary has published an obituary online. John's funeral will be held at 11.30 on Thursday 31st August at Mortlake Crematorium. No flowers by request, but, if wished, donations to the Salvation Army c/o Holmes & Daughters, 461 Upper Richmond road, London SW14. All John's friends will be welcome at a gathering afterwards in the Barnstonian Room (1st Floor) at Ye White Hart, Barnes. If you plan to attend at Ye White Hart, please let Mike AG know on mikeag [a] btinternet.com or phone 020 8878 0064. The Cygnet flag pole is out of action so Emanuel school have kindly allowed the use of theirs where the club flag will remain at half-mast until the 31st."
  • A reminder that the Oxford Brookes/Taurus barbecue is today from 4pm at the Bowbridge boathouse (see last Thursday's news). Contact Nick Ford on 07813-210188 if you want to come.
  • The Pairs Head (10:30 am 14th October, UK) is open for business - entries via OARA but payment by cheque please. See link for official site and details.

    Friday 25th August 2006

  • A very long time coming, the Worlds 2006 special section I meant to have up by the start of the week. No, don't nag - the Telegraph's been keeping me much busier than I hoped. Backlog will be caught up, though - there's plenty to tell (when I can only find time to type it up). The section includes galleries of photos taken for the Rowing Service by BigBlade, from the first day of racing onwards.
  • The Australia Physiotherapy and Pilates Institute has organised a half-day 'Pilates for Rowing' workshop on 24th September, Hampstead (UK). Details on the linked PDF.
  • Berwick Amateur RC (UK) have a new website up and running (UK).
  • From NERN, details of the new Autumn sculling series (UK) - also available as a printable PDF. Changes: only online/postal entries accepted this year (no email), and closing dates are now Thursday in the week prior to the week of the event. A surchage of a quid applied to fees paid on the day. <3 entries will be shifted to the next age/status category up/down as most appropriate. Crews who do not wish to be moved must state so on the entry form, though juniors will only be moved once in the season at most.
  • Another NERN notice (UK) - the Hollingworth Lake RC North of England Sprint Champs will be held on Sat 2nd September, with the closing date for OARA entries TODAY. Postal entries must already have arrived.
  • Poster for the Durham Primary Regatta (UK). Cheques for entries payable to 'Durham College Rowing'.

    Thursday 24th August 2006

  • Oxford Brookes University and Taurus rowers (UK) are invited to a party at the Bowbridge boathouse on Monday 28th August (ie next Monday) to celebrate the clubs' achievements this year. Starts 4pm, barbecue before dusk, families welcome. RSVP to Nick Ford on 07813-210188 so that he knows numbers.
  • Rachel Clarke is doing a photoblog of the world championships, mostly behind-the-scenes images.
  • Bath University (UK) has shifted its boatclub pages to http://www.bathstudent.com/Club_Homepage.asp?clubid=4881. Hmm, memorable address eh? For rowing-related information see just the gray-edged box on the lefthand side: the rest is general Bath Student material.
  • The Eton Mess continues, with a double issue today after a shocking catalogue of cockups, comments and captions. Back to 2 sides after this, folks.
  • More on the Leander and Marlow crews at the first UK Surfboat Championships in the Surf Nation weblog (UK). Full results on the UK Surf Rowers League website.

    Wednesday 23rd August 2006

  • Tickets for the University of London beach party (UK, Sat 26th August) can now be bought from the UL boathouse. They are also available from the world champs at Dorney Thursday onwards: see the people wearing lifeguards' t-shirts or the girls in bikinis (!). Or call 07877 531603 and arrange collection in Putney, London.
  • A full history of the development of Boathouse Row (Philadelphia, USA) is online now in the Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography.
  • And a bloke called Professor Cris Benton took some unusual aerial photos of Boathouse Row (USA) from a kite....
  • NLRoei's first fotoboek of the Worlds - here (Netherlands) - Tuesday reps.

    Tuesday 22nd August 2006

  • Grosvenor RC (UK) sadly announce the death of club stalwart Len Borrows.
  • Eton Mess issue 3 (approx. 3.8MB PDF file). Apologies for the huge filesize, but in order to get even reasonable picture quality they have to be that big.
  • As already listed on the Tideway Slug, the Committee of Dee website (UK) has pictures from the Commonwealth Regatta in Scotland recently.
  • Also via the Slug, details of a sportscoachUK/ARA coaching workshop effort on the TRRC website (UK).
  • On the Concept2 (UK) website, How to Framework for people who want help raising money for any purpose. There's an effort to get as many people as possible to bring in money for Children in Need this year by running indoor rowing events: see the site for details.
  • A bit belatedly (but might still be available), an advert for a flat in Putney (UK).

    Monday 21st August 2006

  • Another Newcastle University press release about their WURCs winning M2x of Henry Pelly and George Laughton (UK).
  • The Wimbleball Watersports Centre is relaunching its website shortly on the South-West Lakes Trust site (UK). The link will currently take you to the old site but will swap seamlessly to the new when it goes live.
  • Kew Bridge Users alert (UK): There is a planning application (ref 06/2716/FUL: Richmond-upon-Thames) in with R-u-T Council which could affect river users with potentially extra mooring of houseboats upstream of the southern arch of Kew Bridge. Local interested parties please contact the council for more information.
  • Eton Mess issue 2 (approx. 3.5MB PDF file).
  • From South Africa, a job vacancy. "St Andrew'ss College in Grahamstown, an exciting educational environment and school with immense tradition, invites applications for the position of: DIRECTOR OF ROWING. The successful applicant of this rewarding post will lead the development of the St Andrews Rowing Club, one of the biggest rowing clubs in the country, and further elevate its excellent reputation. Requirements for the post include: an established track record in rowing, proven ability as a leader, strong organisational skills and appropriate teaching experience as the candidate will be a member of the academic staff. Applications, accompanied by a Curriculum Vitae, and the names of three contactable referees, must be submitted by 15 September 2006 to: Kay Robinson, St Andrews College, PO Box 182, Grahamstown, 6140 Tel: 046 603 2302 Fax: 046 603 2381 Email: k.robinson@sacschool.com. Please note the submission of an application does not automatically qualify for an interview. It is anticipated that the successful candidate will take up the position in January 2007."

    Sunday 20th August 2006

  • First, a word of explanation. There's been a little regatta approaching down the road from me, and I'm afraid I've been a bit busy. Things will catch up over today and tomorrow if all goes well.
  • I'm sad to say that notorious criminal Hammer Smith Esquire has caused great trouble to me by kidnapping my rate-watch. He has refused to give it back unless I help him publish his latest masterwork, the Eton Mess. Designed to help the confused unravel the knotty tangle that is the World Rowing Championships (he says), the Eton Mess is thus available online at www.rowingservice.com/mess and issue one is up now - not copyrighted, feel free to print, copy and distribute. Well, I couldn't do without my rate-watch, this week of all weeks....
  • Serious stuff on the champs up on FISA's and the the official websites.

    Wednesday 16th August 2006

  • Row2k feature (USA) - The Pocock Generation and The Pocock Generation Part II, exclusive excerpts from Peter Mallory's new book.
  • The Italian rowing federation's website has details of the 23rd-24th September Coastal Rowing regatta - see the events page for details in Italian and English. Renato Alberti, the Italian federation VP, is in Eton from Saturday with the national team and can give more information if need be.
  • There is a new Notice to Mariners about accident reports on the Tideway (UK). Most incidents and near misses on the tidal Thames should still be reported to the TRRC using the standard ARA forms, with visitors from other regions able to provide duplicates to their own region where necessary. Only if a boat sinks, is damaged or causes damage to another vessel should the PLA also be informed, and specifically only if the damage is valued at a cost of more than 500 pounds to repair, though all cases of personal injury on the reach should also be reported to the PLA.
  • Rowing headlines - New rules on clubs at schools delayed (St Petersburg Times, USA), Rowers cap Games medal haul (Ottawa Citizen, Canada), Ashland rowers shine at masters nationals (Mail Tribune, USA), 'Hellish' weather lies ahead for race team attempting to row the Atlantic (Yorkshire Post, UK), Shipping St. has a plan (Norwich Bulletin, USA), BIRC win at Green Lake (Bainbridge Island Review, USA, plus another story a bit further down), Nine mags went to row, went to row a river (Wimbledon Guardian, UK), Rowers win titles (Corvallis Gazette Times, USA), Toxic algae levels feared in lower Charles River (Boston Globe, USA), Lightweight four's sights set on gold (Irish Independent, Ireland), An unusual Katrina victim helped by Newton rowing club (Newton TAB, USA), For this rower, life is but a dream (Washington Daily News, USA, with the usual inventive headline - snore), SPARC targets funding to medal-winning sports (syndicated, NZ), First preview chance for 2012 venue (Sports Journalists' Association press release, UK), It takes a while to row across the Atlantic (Seattlest, USA), UCLA freshman rower wins gold at Canadian Henley (CSTV, USA), Spartan rowers gain international experience (CSTV, USA), Life is all about the challenge (Nainamo News Bulletin, Canada), Duo pedal cancer facts before Alpine marathon (Wimbledon Guardian, UK), World rowing medal gives Anna a taste for more (Wanganui Chronicle, NZ), Winds frustrate ocean rowers (Times-Standard, USA), Regatta hit by worst weather ever (Whitby Today, UK), Rowers now in mini-regatta (Whitby Today, UK), Success story for students (Cherry Hill Courier post, USA), Fla. Tech delays rezoning attempt (Florida Today, USA), All smiles for Rotorua's silver success (Daily Post, NZ), Clarke's ready for new challenges (Manning River Times, Australia), Rowers seek $60,000 from city to improve course (Knoxville News Sentinel, USA), Reed blows away competition (Nick Harris, Independent, UK), Silver-lined return for Genevieve (MyTown Bay of Plenty, NZ), Travel tales (The Times, UK), BRC wins silver at Henley (Brockville Recorder and Times, Canada).

    Tuesday 15th August 2006

  • Sad news from a Rowing Service reader: "Legendary Canadian rowing coach Neil Campbell passed away on Friday. He had been ill for a long time. Neil coached the 1984 Canadian men's 8+ to a gold medal and also competed in, I believe, both Tokyo and Mexico City. Details can be found on Rowing Canada's website and various other media outlets over the coming days. Neil was also a member of the Order of Canada." Thanks TB. Details of the memorial service on August 17th in the Ridley College Chapel on RCA's website. I understand he also coached the 1986 (winning) Cambridge Blue Boat amongst others.
  • The draw for Warwick Regatta (19th August, UK) is up (see link), with a record entry.
  • Specific links to the FISU results (Lithuania): Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the last with the results summary after the main pages, not before.
  • A PDF poster for Worcester Sprint Regatta (9th September, UK) - the event includes all veteran and junior events since the separate Vet & Junior regatta previously advertised for the following day is not being run. Two divisions to allow crews to race once in each of the morning and afternoon, with a Speedcoach Gold prize to the winners of the Victor Ludorum for best club. Lunchtime events include Champagne scratch mixed eights.
  • A reminder that the British International Rowing Supporters Club is hosting a reception at the 2006 World Championships on Thursday 24th August from 2:30pm local time at the course, to which current and past international athletes and their friends and families are all invited.
  • I'm told that the RowTV Peterborough footage has some particularly fine end-of-season moments (UK) - see the broadband or modem pages as appropriate to your connection speed. The email forwarded to me included some choice comments which started... "Sarcasm is insufficient to the task so, admire, if you will, the chutzpah of incompetent crews".... I won't carry on, but it gives you a flavour of what to expect on the video clips.
  • Old boys message: "The Old Monmothians Club (and its associated Old Monmothians Boat Club) are holding their annual Henley Dinner at Leander on Saturday 2nd September (UK). The evening will include a presentation to Derek Barton in recognition of his service to Monmouth School from 1967 to 2006. Anyone who wishes to pass on any messages or any anecdotes please contact James Knight on ombccaptain at hotmail dot co dot uk."

    Monday 14th August 2006

  • The World University Rowing Championships website is here (Lithuania) off the national federation's homepage. As usual, promised results seem to have a stopped server, certainly nothing forthcoming despite several attempts. Instead, try this page.
  • The University of London beach party poster (UK) has been updated - Saturday 26th August at UL boathouse, from 4pm onwards.
  • FISA has an article on the Commonwealth Regatta.
  • Users of David Biddulph's rowing pages may find the usual www.biddulph.org.uk address slow to respond - if that happens use this address instead (UK).
  • A couple of mentions of UK rowers in other arenas: first Blizzard: Race to the Pole (BBC) features sometime lightweight Chris van Tulleken in the British team re-enacting the Scott/Amundsen race. And Olympic silver medallist Mike Hart gets a gratuitous mention in the Times for punt-racing (near the end of the article).
  • Other rowing press: Leander brings home four Henley golds (Hamilton Spectator, Canada), Lake Union rowers win title (Seattle Times, USA), a brief mention of a bizarre rowing feat (BYM News, UK), Only five finalists but plenty of promise (Unison, Ireland), Kiwis to attempt Antarctic Crossing (Mountain Zone, about two former Atlantic rowers), Erin-Monique Shelton sets age-group world record in 100km inside row (Knoxville News-Sentinel, USA), Andover rower aids US championship (Boston Globe, USA), Rowing titles up for grabs on Green Lake (Seattle Times, USA), Three crews in hunt at Henley (Brockville Recorder and Times, Canada), Rower puts KC on the map (Kansas City Star, USA), Progress pleases Crawford (Arizona Republic, USA).

    Friday 11th August 2006

  • Sad news from Australia - Top Tassie surgeon dead (The Mercury, Tasmania).
  • St. Ives Rowing Club (UK) has moved its website to http://stivesrowingclub.com and revised it.
  • The closing date for Clyde Sprint Regatta (Scotland, UK) is Saturday 19th August, not the week before as stated on the Notice of Regatta.
  • This coming Saturday (12th) sees the re-establishment of 'The Silver Rudder', a 1930's race between Clyde ARC and St. Andrew BC, at Strathclyde Park, including reserve races and the main mixed eights. Start time 11am, all spectators welcome.
  • Oxford University Women's BC coaching opportunity (UK): "Are you interested in helping coach Oxford University Women's rowing? We are always keen to add to our coaching team. Please email Emma Windham OUWBC President, emma.windham[at]balliol.ox.ac.uk."
  • More sad news, this time from the UK: Former Whitby landlord dies suddenly (Whitby Today, UK).
  • Shelton sets a cracking pace for world record (Stuff, NZ).
  • Other rowing newslinks: MRC achieves national prominence (Norwalk Citizen, USA), It's another massive entry for city regatta (Peterborough Evening Telegraph, UK), Splash hit (icBerkshire, UK), Colonnade idea is welcomed (Bexhill Observer, UK), Bronze for Larsen at world junior rowing championships (Bedford Today, UK), Medal eludes county duo in agonising finish (Shropshire Star, UK), It's all smiles as pair strike gold (This is Wiltshire, UK), Burra boys to brave Roost for charity (Shetland Times, Scotland, UK), Strokes make mark for worlds (Contra Costa Times, USA), Rower wins Commonwealth gold (Grantham Journal, UK), Rowing gold for sporting family (Isle of Wight County Press, UK), They're oar-some! (This is Swindon, UK), Tech hires alum to coach rowing (Florida Today, USA), Colby graduates to row for US national team (Central Maine Morning Sentinel, USA), Taxes at work? (Cherry Hill Courier Post, USA), 1,400 rowers seek national titles on Green Lake (Seattle Times, USA), Traynor has last shot at taking home the gold (Hamilton Spectator, Canada), Now oar never (Mount Vernon Gazette, USA - ha ha), Novice programme's timely start (Hawke's Bay Today, NZ), More entries for second year of rowing event (Malaysia Star, Malaysia), Rowers named for adaptive races (BBC Sport, UK), Former Hawkeye makes US national team (CSTV, USA), Third annual Compass Rowgatta (Maine Today, USA), UML will take over neglected city boathouse (Lowell Sun, USA), Burnaby using its 'rural' status to get dredging money (Burnaby Newsleader, Canada), 'The ocean is power' (Times-Standard, USA), Opponents put to the sword (Maidenhead Advertiser, UK), Row, row, row your boat (Community Press, USA, grr), Welsh teenagers strike world gold (icWales, UK), Decrepit boathouse given a lifeline (Boston Globe, USA), After years of decline, Vesper crews among the country's fastest (NEPA News, USA), Rowers hit Green Lake (Seattle Times, USA), New boathouse may drive interest in rowing (Cherry Hill Courier Post, USA), Carvins Cove a rower's paradise (Lynchburg News and Advance, USA, about rec tub-boat rowing), Ireland aims for the Olympics (Hamilton Spectator, Canada), Hamilton's Leander has strong start at 124th Henley Regatta (Hamilton Spectator, Canada), Row your boat ashore (Marblehead Reporter, USA), Parties, theatre and rowing (Mosman Daily, Australia), The master of masters rowing (Row2k, USA), Rowers headed north of the border (Poughkeepsie Journal, USA), A year after taking up rowing, Brophey a national champion (Lowell Sun, USA), Rowing victory salves varsity anxiety (Stuff, NZ), Council urged to make Galway a central hub for aquatic recreation (Galway Independent, Ireland), Farewell to "Mr Rowing" Les Clark (Wanganui Chronicle, NZ), Gently down the stream (Minneapolis Star-Tribune, USA - well worth a read for anyone who regularly teaches complete novices to row, especially adults).
  • And I think someone in NZ should tell the Hon Trevor Mallard in this article to correct his calendar of future events....

    Thursday 10th August 2006

  • Entries for the 2006 Rowers' Revenge Triathlon (Marlow, UK) are now open - 4km erg, 25km cycle, 7.5km run with timing including transitions. Entries are limited to the first 500 received, and are usually subscribed. 200 places have already been taken. Closing date 17th September or when the 500th has been received.
  • Omitted yesterday, a letter in the Times (UK).

    Wednesday 9th August 2006

  • OK this is a weird but cunning one. The 'Revolutionary Rower' (UK) does exactly what it says on the tin - it is a round flat platform with four rowing stations which can act as a revolving rowing tank on very small areas of water - 8+m wide swimming pools, or small ponds/lakes. See the front page over the above website for a picture, and its entry into the 2005 Concept Boat competition (shortlisted) for more details. Inventor Martin Bishop is talking about C2 PM3 monitor interfaces to allow internet-enabled races, etc. Bishop says he will have a trade stand at the World Rowing Championships in Eton, 'amongst the handbags and burgers' rather than amongst the boatbuilders. Sounds fascinating.

    Tuesday 8th August 2006

  • University of London Boat Club (UK) are holding a beach party on World Champs Saturday - food, drink and sand promised. More info soon.
  • The notice, safety information and risk assessment for the Clyde Sprint Regatta (large Word file, Scotland, UK).
  • The South Australia Rowing Association (AUS) has a Riverland coach/regional development officer post going at the moment - full job description also available (both PDF files). Closing date is Friday 18th August.
  • Results of Sudbury Regatta (the rowing part, UK).
  • FISA has quick quotes from some of the junior world champs medallists.
  • Missed a week ago, Cuba stands out at the Central American and Caribbean Games (WorldRowing = FISA).
  • Press links - Silver for Calpe Rowing Club at national rowing championships of Great Britain (Panorama, Gibraltar), Royal Gibraltar Regiment wins tri-service rowing championship (Panorama, Gibraltar, 18th July), Knorr fourth at rowing worlds (StarPhoenix, Canada), OKC to play host to Olympic rowing challenge (Muskogee Daily Phoenix, USA), Gilbert to row in worlds (Marin Independent-Journal, USA), Hotel sponsorship is crowning glory (Reading Evening Post, UK), Rowers ready to hit water at Green Lake (Seattle Post Intelligencer, USA), Fun, fitness, friends the aim of these games (Toronto Star, Canada, brief rowing mention), UCO making waves in rowing (Edmond Sun, USA), Rowing's not just for on the water (Daily Post, NZ), An accidental hero (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, USA), Rowing coach saves bridge jumper (KDKA, USA), Wanganui residents may have to leave homes (Stuff, NZ), Shenendehowa Rowing Club transport truck vandalized (Capital News, USA), Regatta saved (Sudbury Today, UK), Camden County unveils boathouse (Haddon Herald, USA), Wanganui rower a junior world champion (Wanganui Chronicle, NZ), Irish exchange with RuderVerein Osterholz-Scharmbeck (WeRow, Germany), St. Augustine Prep's Jack Lindeman takes 5th in Holland (Press of Atlantic City, USA).

    Monday 7th August 2006

  • A website for the World University Rowing Championships, that every-two-years event this time taking place in Trakai, Lithuania (8th-13th August). Racing actually starts on Friday 11th August.
  • Results from the Commonwealth Regatta (Scotland, UK) - Saturday only or both days, the latter with a few NTTs filled in. Plus the medals table (all three are PDF files). The Nigerian team didn't compete - didn't get visas so couldn't leave home.
  • Final results, reports etc. from the World Junior Championships in Amsterdam from FISA, from NLRoei and from the JuniorenRoeien website.
  • A plaintive plea (UK): "Bath University had a pair of sculling blades from Maidenhead regatta (5th August) go missing. These are painted dark blue and have the surname Ripley in black marker on the white collar. If you have mistakingly picked these up please can you ring me on 07887554583".
  • The Shanghai Daily newspaper (China) has published the BOCOG's Beijing 2008 Olympic pictograms which will act as logos for each sport. Rowing middle top row. There are 35 because they've split specific disciplines (eg swimming/diving) which may take place in different venues.
  • An insight into a rower's experience at a major championships - Richard Klein's blog from the Under-23s (USA).
  • Rowing press stories - New plan for water sports (Magical Kenya, Kenya), OCC giving sets a record (Daily Pilot, USA, with a fundraising record which has me pea-green with envy), Best yet for Scots as Logans lead way (Herald, Scotland), UTM are rowing champs again (Malay Mail, Malaysia), Junior eight take gold (TVNZ, NZ), Junior rowing eight take world title (Stuff, New Zealand), Olympic venues pose tough challenge for Athens (Zee News, India), Disappointing weekend for GB rowers (Henley Standard, UK), Gold and silver success for junior rowers (Henley Standard, UK), And a golden day for Upper Thames (Henley Standard, UK), Tickets available for world rowing championships (Henley Standard, UK), Ferry collides with rowers (ThisisSouthDevon, UK), The couple that rows together (North Lake Tahoe Bonanza, USA), Man the oars (St. Paul Pioneer Press, USA), Canadians win pairs gold (Montreal Gazette, Canada), London rowers strike gold (London Free Press, Canada), Rower Meyer wins bronze at worlds (Seattle Times, USA), Burns takes 2nd (Poughkeepsie Journal, USA), Gold for NZ junior eight (New Zealand Herald, NZ), Oar Idol: the Chinese use reality TV to pick Olympic coxes (Times Online, UK), Aussies win rowing gold and bronze (Sydney Morning Herald, Australia), Canadian rowing pair wins gold (CBC News, Canada), Death of a rogue sailsman (Stuff, NZ - with the oddest mention of a rower I've seen for a while), Canada finishes fourth in men's coxed four at junior rowing championships (CBC News, Canada), Rowing glory for Welsh youngsters (BBC Sport, UK), Troxell stroking to Henley Regatta (Sarasota Herald Tribune, USA), Thriving Watson's crew stick their oar in to make waves in rowing (Edinburgh Evening News, Scotland).

    Saturday 5th August 2006

  • Rowing Service noticeboard updated (UK).
  • More junior world champs information, reports and pictures from the Dutch junior rowing website as well as the usual reports and results etc from FISA.
  • BosBlog 2006 still running, though the internet access is intermittent.
  • Row2k (USA) has the latest US trials details, including the fact that LM1x Mike Altman made the time standard and won the singles trials then apparently declined his place on the US team: no details yet but Row2k promises to bring them when available.
  • Rowing press: Graham in world rowing final (StarPhoenix, Canada), Shoals race '06 (Portsmouth Herald News, USA), Canadians make finals (Vancouver Sun, Canada), Lucy on gold trail in Amsterdam (icWales, UK), Vesper blanked at trials: Penn AC duo wins (Philadelphia Inquirer, USA), Five local rowers earn US team berths (George Pocock Rowing Foundation, USA), Rower bound to eastern regatta (Esquimalt News, Canada), Rowing opening up to everyone (Dallas Morning News, USA), Two men in a boat - all the way from Northampton (Peterborough Evening News, UK), Gay Games medallists bask in victories - for a while (Capital Times, USA), Row tradition must stop in the name of the law (Guernsey Weekly Press, UK), China's crouching tiger, hidden dragon (The Australian, Australia - a general sports warning to the rest of the world), All hands on deck for yoal championships (Shetland Times, UK), Grosvenor's big guns fire at battle of Britain (icCheshire Online, UK).

    Friday 4th August 2006

  • A new venture, Aussie Rowing News, a geographical variant on the RS theme.
  • More photos from the juniors from NLRoei.
  • Mortlake Anglian & Alpha (UK) have made their website PDA-friendly - see the news for a link to the handheld-friendly version which will automatically load if you're using that method of access.
  • Press links - Rory O'Connor selected for World University Rowing Championships (Dublin City University, Ireland), Sebastian rower brings in about $10,000 for cancer cause (Sebastian Sun, USA), Junior doubles crew gains world semifinal (London Free Press, Canada), Local rowers get U.S. berths (Seattle Times, USA), Rowers make their mark at nationals (Greater New Milford Spectrum, USA), Gray's rowing glory (North Shore Times, Australia), Talented teen (Statesman, India), McCabe's in finals (Brockville Recorder and Times, Canada), Rowers named to national team (Mississauga News, Canada), Scott athlete in Amsterdam for rowing event (Gateway Newspapers, USA), Row, row, rowing towards a championship (Daily Mining Gazette, USA, with the now-monthly nonsense headline), Cracknell praises the 'oarsome foursome' (This is Bradford, UK - watch out for the Aussie copyright lawyers, that name is trademarked), Rowing club's lady champs make history (Bexhill Observer, UK), Coxed four first in heat (Ottawa Sun, Canada), Fair winds to Falmouth (Times-Standard, USA), Rivals take it to the river (Maidenhead Advertiser, UK), City rowers advance at world championships (StarPhoenix, Canada), My friend is dead (iAfrica, South Africa - an obituary of former schoolboy rower Ralph Johnson), The power to circle the world (Toronto Star, Canada), The boys from the flat stuff join the carnage (Surf Nation weblog, Times Online, UK - Marlow and Leander at the Surfboat championships in Devon.

    Thursday 3rd August 2006

  • A bit of a late mention, Baby2k - Lori Dauphiny and Ed Hewitt (USA) brought new Row2k 'mascot' Connor into the world last Friday - congratulations all three. Vital statistics and picture on the Row2k website.
  • Reports, pictures, results and webcast commentary from the junior worlds on FISA's website.
  • Something really weird - The music of rowing (Sport.ARD, Germany) - hooking up an erg's movements to a programme which converts it from power curves and similar data into music (the pitch, tone, duration and volume of notes dictated by the numbers). The result is interesting - from a loose translation into English: "Professional rowers bring out a rather dynamic, clear melody which occurs again and again. Amateur rowers give a mixed, somewhat chaotic and howling cacophony"..... This was part of a project to see if trying to emulate a video sequence of a good rower was more successful if you could also try and match the audiovisual output, since AV is a powerful input to our brains. Hearing the difference an alteration to the stroke makes to the music turned out to be a good way to achieve changes in style. possibly better than just copying what was seen on the screen. I don't get the impression the research is finished but it's interesting stuff, and they want to apply it to other complex movements such as tennis serves and the butterfly swimming strokes.
  • A date for next year's diary - the Martini Regatta in Groningen during the weekend between the 2nd World Cup (Amsterdam, 22nd-24th June) and Henley Royal Regatta (UK, 4th-8th July).
  • Team announcements for the senior Worlds - Australia's media guide (PDF) includes the full team list, and Rowing Canada Aviron (Canada, in English and French) has just announced the CAN team. US trials are still taking place - see Row2k for the latest reports and results. The German team is yet to be confirmed.
  • Latest news from the Shepherd Ocean Fours race on the official website.
  • Results, photos and details of the Stadtachter (private eights match) in Cologne this week (Germany).
  • A press release from Newcastle University about its students in the British WURCs team (UK).
  • The Shrewsbury Chronicle police log (Massachusetts, USA) shows that residents report unlit rowing boats to the local plod. Way to get them abiding by the rules.
  • Rowing press - SA crew prepares for epic ocean race (South Africa info, RSA), Local rowers advance (Seattle Times, USA), Londoners to row at worlds (London Free Press, Canada), Junior rowing team earns spot in final (London Free Press, Canada), Lofgren rowing for gold (Daily Pilot, Canada), Glandorf wins two silver medals (Town Online, USA), James Robert Hansen in final 400 nautical miles (BYM News, UK), Two NZ crews through to semis at world junior champs (syndicated, NZ), Rowing Canada names athletes who'll race at world championships in Britain (a long syndicated article, Canada), World at Laura's feet (Mosman Daily, Australia), Rough waters (Victoria News, Canada), Men's coxed four moves on to final at world junior rowing championships (syndicated, Canada), Local team leads cross-Atlantic rowing race (News Tribune, USA), Local rower Gossett places sixth at Youth National Championships (Rhea County Online, USA), Lack of facilities in Knocknacarra unacceptable - Mayor (Galway Independent, Ireland), Man injured in jetski accident (a rowing-related story in the Roscommon Herald, Ireland), See your friends fall at Graiguenamanagh's regatta (Kilkenny Advertiser, Ireland - pronounce that headline fast, then), Brazill, Kirzinger bring out the best in each other (Regina Leader-Post, Canada), Mike gets his oar in (Daily Record, UK), Boat race will be the business (icCheshire Online, UK), Connery named greatest British hero (United Press International, UK - but just see who came second, four places above David Beckham).

    Wednesday 2nd August 2006

  • Late update: - Predictable? Yup, that's me. Following the grand tradition of Poz, Luz and Haz, Bosblog makes an appearance as the world juniors start. Results via FISA and a report and pictures of the parachute-involving opening ceremony on the official website (Dutch and English). NLRoei's photographer-in-chief Sybrand Treffers was up at the start, so expect some updates to the NLRoei JWs fotoboek some time in the next 24 hours.
  • The Slideway Tug (UK) is helpfully hosting a couple of useful documents we've both been sent. First up, and not for the squeamish, is why we should all use kill-cords in launches, a large PDF with detailed pictures of exactly how engine propellors can damage the fragile human body....
  • And the Commonwealth Regatta full team lists (MS Word document) for this weekend's regatta in Scotland (see previous links). Ramon di Clemente and Donovan Cech (reigning world silver and Olympic bronze medallists) are attending as part of the South African team, and other notables include NZL U23 silver medallist sculler Nathan Cohen. Lots of the visitors are doubling up, including Canada's Elsa O'Hanlon, doing the W1x and LW1x with a relative (Terry O'Hanlon - husband, brother, father, uncle?) coaching her and coxing the CAN M8+.
  • ArcNav's website has been updated (USA), with the rowing light manufacturer's new waterproof design and cheaper price. Note that the current set-up has red/green lights at the bow, which may not suit the requirements for all waters. Discuss your needs with inventor Kourtney de Haas via the address listed on the website - I'm sure he'd customise for those who have specific rules about flashing/red/green/white lights and all-round visibility.
  • A Rowing Service reader with difficult work commitments has a week-long grandstand ticket plus parking for the Eton World Championships which he can no longer use. He'd rather it went to a proper rower than try and make a profit on eBay, so is offering it at cost price (100 pounds sterling) to a serious purchaser. If you would like it please email the Rowing Service with your name, more than one contact method (eg phone and email) and I'll put you in touch with the seller.
  • Tony Meldal-Johnsen has started Johnsen Rowing and Sculling Boat Manufacturers (South Africa), and is producing boats and doing repairs. Brief details on the link - a more detailed website will come eventually.
  • Rowing press: State well represented at worlds (Seattle Times, USA), Women's sport 'wins in media changes' (syndicated, Australia), Portobello Film Festival 2006 (Socialist Worker, UK, with a snippet about an early transatlantic rowing documentary), US senior trials day one (Row2k, USA), Dartmouth duo rows US to a world title (Dartmouth Athletics, USA), World Outgames off to slow start (CBC, Canada), Racing the waves (The Labradorian, Canada), Rowing teams flex their muscles (Montreal Gazette, Canada), Currents of renewal (Philadelphia Inquirer, USA), Boat manufacturer struggles with higher raw material costs (Wall Street Journal, subscribers only, USA), Burns makes junior national team (Poughkeepsie Journal, USA), Residents support plans for wharves (News Shopper, UK), Longridge Scout boating centre saved (Bucks Free Press, UK - but it's a more complex story than the headline), Pain and penury - the rower's lifeCautionary notice to all navigators in the Carrick-on-Shannon area (BYM News, Ireland), Hoodies urged to try a kayak (Oxford Mail, UK, not strictly rowing but should have an impact on the local clubs).