Archive News from December 2006

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

Sunday 31st December 2006
• I've just become aware that Leander Club suffered their second fire within a fortnight yesterday (BBC Oxfordshire, UK). The previous fire was in the front office, and thought to be due to overheating office equipment.
• A bit of a belated link for James Cracknell and Ben Fogle's 'The Crossing' - subtitle 'Conquering the Atlantic in the World's Toughest Rowing Race' (UK). ISBN is 184354511X. So they decided not to go with the 'Two Naked Men in a Boat' idea, then....
• New Zealand's rowing administrator Tony Popplewell has been made Officer of the NZ Order of Merit in the New Year's honours list. See Order for Olympic stalwart (syndicated, NZ).
• Other headlines - Lowell rowers learned to pull together (Boston Globe, USA), Politics ruled county in '06 (Northwest Herald, USA), Cheer up, we can win in '07 (Telegraph, UK - football learning from rowing?...), Ireland in race for Olympic spin-offs (Sunday Times, UK), Do sports stars deserve gongs? (BBC, UK), New Year's resolve (Portsmouth Herald, USA), How our top British picks for the London Games progressed (Guardian, UK), Jal yatra to battle river pollution (Pune Newsline, India), West harbour recreation master plan draws mixed reviews (Stoney Creek News, Canada), Rower Roz heads back to the high seas (Daily Mail, UK), Crew plans to row from Florida to CB, then on to Ireland (Chronicle Herald, Canada), Rowing centre confirms expectations (Marlborough Express, NZ), Madras Boat Club wins Hoogly Cup (Hindu, India), Griffin's legacy cast in bronze (Kingdom, Ireland), Evers-Swindell sisters determined to regain their top spot (The Press, NZ), Years of cups ahead for NZ (The Press, NZ), Schoolboy remembered, with jazz, tears and oarsmen (Sydney Morning Herald, Australia), Dom's latest record bid (Somerset County Gazette, UK), Cause of EMU student's death still unknown (Ann Arbor News, USA).

  Friday 29th December 2006

• A little bird tells me that two members of the Ann Arbor Pioneer High School rowing club broke the world tandem U19 hwt 100,000m erg record. Julia Darnton and Emily Smalligan set 7 hours 35 minutes 19.7 seconds for the distance between them, during November 2006. Congratulations both.

  Thursday 28th December 2006

• Star Head (UK), postponed in November due to adverse weather, has been rescheduled for Sunday 14th January 2007. The event is now accepting entries for eights. Please contact Chris Callow for further details.
• University of West of England (UK) alumni have been establishing Coldharbour BC, a club for those who used to row for UWE, based at Thames Tradesman's on the Tideway. They're throwing a launch party in London on January 20th 2007 from 9pm to 1am. Tickets priced at £16 each are available to all Coldharbour eligible members (ie ex-UWE) who can then buy tickets for up to 2 guests each. Tickets are also open to anyone who would like to contribute to the support of UWE BC and Coldharbour BC. See their new website for full party details including an online booking form and note about when the early-purchase price will expire.
• Details of the Thames Valley Trial Head (UK, 4th February, run by Marlow RC) are online. Entries will be accepted from 9th January via the link above (not OARA).
• Rowing headlines: Olympic hopeful seeks a sponsor (Doncaster Today, UK), Six months of a fantastic year in sport (Borders Today, UK), Some singular successes (Northwich Chronicle, UK), Iredale farewelled (Sky News Australia, AUS), Kiwis aim to reach South Pole (West Australian, AUS), The non-negotiable New Year's resolution: when dreams of gold take second place (CNW Telbec press release, Canada), Mysterious death draws townsfolk closer (Grand Rapids Press, USA), NICTA takes to the field (Australian IT, AUS), William C. Warren III dies at 84 (Rochester Democrat & Chronicle, USA), Top 10 2006 sporting moments (TVNZ, New Zealand), Our young Olympians (Gisborne Herald, NZ), Rowing in behind the team (Dublin People, Ireland), Super-fit Fiona simply oar-inspiring (Townsville Bulletin, Australia), Soldiers row for charity (Suffolk Evening Star, UK), Journey of life in a rowboat (Miami Herald, USA), Sports figures who died in 2006 (Bloomington Pantagraph, USA), Ten biggest stories of 2006 - #10 (Bearcat Insider, USA), Millersville teen killed in crash (Annapolis Capital, USA), Swimmers stranded by mix-up (Stuff, NZ), To keep rowing alive (Huntsville Times, USA), First-hand look at regeneration (News Shopper, UK), Pensioner dies at gym (Argus, UK), West harbour recreation master plan draws mixed reviews (syndicated, Canada), Association first to pick Games squad (East Standard, Kenya), SC athletes prove just champion on the world stage (Timaru Herald, NZ), World champion rowers make their wish (World Rowing, FISA), Ruling opens door to demolition (Albany Times, USA), Slovenian best athletes in 2006 (People's Daily Online, China), Bhavik, first Asian to row solo across any ocean (Hindustan Times, India), Vennell and Goldsbury notch sport award doubles (Hawke's Bay Today, NZ), Rowing coach visits UCFV (Abbotsford News, Canada), Oliver seizes his opportunity (Ely Standard, UK), Coachforce appointment put on hold (Wanganui Chronicle, NZ), Sort yourselves out, rowers told (Wanganui Chronicle, NZ), Oar-some gift for rowers (Leeds Today, UK), New grant for sailing club (Somerset County Gazette, UK, about sea rowing), A fledgling club that's starting to make waves (Orange Central Western Daily, Australia), Dooley rows in behind Olympic hopefuls (Nationalist, Ireland).

  Saturday 23rd December 2006

• HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY.. The Rowing Service is having a little holiday for a few days, so won't update unless there is anything urgent. Urgent messages can be left on 07710-538114.
• The poster for Durham Small Boats Head (UK) is online (MS Word document).
• Southampton Scullers Head (UK) says they have had some interest in the possible inclusion of coastal quads. Would any other clubs wishing to enter an open-status coastal 4x please let the organiser know. They will run immediately after the open quads.
• I've had this piece about former footballer Dario Silva pointed out to me. I'd seen this a few weeks ago in the local papers, and was reluctant to put anything up since it appeared to be just a wish he was expressing, with no clear action yet. However, this BBC piece makes it clear he's been a rower since a boy, so he might well be a good prospect. Good luck to him - the mixed TA double or the LTA mixed coxed four should be likely events, depending on the extent of his amputation.

  Friday 22nd December 2006

• Prompted by the Tideway Slug's mention of it, University of Bristol BC's Light over water calendar (UK) featuring pictures by Hamish Roots is rather a gorgeous specimen of the genre. Hit refresh/reload to see a new random image from the calendar.
• Also via La Slug, the Thames Regional Rowing Commission wants to train up more new umpires (UK).
• From Row2k (USA), the 2007 Boston Rows Wall Calendar, and there are also some rather gorgeous posters available in the same section.
• I'm delighted to say that Amazon USA are listing Joel Rogers' 2007 rowing calendar, though it is not yet available, and may not be. Joel told me a few weeks ago that his publishing company was having difficulties, and he is now negotiating a half-2007, full-2008 18-month calendar to publish instead, which will come out in the spring. Joel is king of rowing photogenicity, and has some incredible shots in his collection, so it will be well worth waiting for. I will list the details here when he is able to tell me who is publishing it and when.
• Missed yesterday, Foster takes Swiss coaching job after 'lack of opportunities' in UK (Martin Cross, Guardian, UK).
• A link to the brilliantly-named Rat Island Rowing and Sculling (Washington, USA). Includes a link to the Sound Rowers Open Water club for all open-water human-powered craft (USA).
• From FISA, Tough blood on the indoor rowing circuit.
• From Olympics30: The 30 Greatest Olympic Stories, numbers 14 and 20 - Steve Redgrave - Motion in Action and Elisabeta Lipa-Oleniuc - 6 Times Olympian. Plenty of other amazing stories on the list for those who don't just like rowing.

  Thursday 21st December 2006

• Maidstone Small Boats Head (UK) has been rescheduled to 14th January 2007 (RTF format poster).
• UK clubs are reminded that ARA Safety Audits are due in by the end of the year, ie December 31st 2006. Thames upriver clubs are also reminded to get their new river licences sorted out in the New Year - the fine can be £1000 if you're caught without one, and officially the cox or steersman is liable. Buy from your nearest EA office or lock-keeper.

  Wednesday 20th December 2006

• Quintin Boat Club (founded 1907) is holding a centenary dinner on Friday 9th February 2007. They would like to see as many past members and friends there as possible. Email/letter invitations have gone to every ex-member for whom they have contact details: if you should have been on the list, please contact club secretary Malcolm Cook in case they don't have an up-to-date address.
• A press release about the GBR Youth Olympics team (for January 2007).
• The poster for Tyne Head 2007 (MS Word format, UK) is online. Note the change of date to 3rd March, from the original 17th Feb.
• Press links - Swiss bring in Foster as their new chief coach (Rachel Quarrell, Telegraph, UK), Boathouse near Ditto won't get a reprieve (Huntsville Times, USA), Save rowing team (second letter, Huntsville Times, USA), Rowers impress early in season (Northern Advocate, NZL), Probe into teen bushwalker's death (syndicated, Australia), Just Oar-Some! (an over-excited ThisIsWiltshire, UK), Hastings woman who died in dorm loved music, drama (Kalamazoo Gazette, USA), Foster takes top Swiss rowing job (BBC Sport, UK, largely the press release), ET sports awards (Peterborough Evening Telegraph, UK), There's no party for James in Boston (Wrexham Evening Leader, UK), The Boathouse (The Age, Australia), Kinross eights upstage more fancied rivals (Orange Central Western Daily, Australia), BC windstorms claim two lives (Global National, Canada), Feeling old? Feel better with exercise (Pioneer Press, USA).

  Tuesday 19th December 2006

• The Boston GB trials results files have been corrected: there are now links to both the openweight and lightweight rankings. They have now been added to the ARA website (Excel format, including gold-medal percentages) to join the official report. The early junior ID trials results are also available (Excel file) from last month.
• Also from BIRO, a press release about the Olympic Youth Regatta entry from GBR.
• From FISA, Not so hellish northern rowing.
• From NLRoei (Netherlands, in Dutch), Gerard Van der Linden has set a new Dutch lightweight record on the erg at the Euro Open. Full results available.

  Monday 18th December 2006

• From the regional BBC pages (UK), Rowing on the River Wear in 2006 (thanks to Ken Hastie of the NERN list).
• Warrington RC (UK) would like to move their Head of the Mersey event to Saturday 24th February 2007. They are still awaiting confirmation of this new date from the ARA: more details will be published in due course on the club's website.
• Shopping info: Rock the Boat (UK) can help with last minute Christmas orders but please telephone these through 01293 822 742 to check stock and confirm delivery plans.? Last posting date for UK 1st class is Tuesday 19th but special delivery shopping can be sent on Wednesday 20th for a small extra charge to cover the extra costs.
• For GB team-watchers, a piece about Baz Moffat's dad in the Bradford local paper (UK).
• Something a bit different: three former rowers have been selected for the London Triathlon Academy shortlist (UK) and are now facing a public vote to get one of the four places (10 competitors going for them) at the Academy. The lucky novice triathletes will get top-class coaching and support, and may flourish in the new sport - this is a talent contest which could create future Olympians. The three former rowers are Katherine Vile, Louis Verdi and Tristan Shipsides. The public vote (online) continues until January 5th 2007.
• There has been drama in the Rames Guyane ocean rowing race including Emmanuel Coindre falling overboard and having to be rescued (in English and French).
• Rowing headlines: Springbank dam work could wake neighbours (London Free Press, Canada), BC Hydro continues to restore power after storm left thousands in the dark (Canada.com, Canada), Dispute hinders West and James (Guardian, UK), Dry Lake Marma has stories to tell (Wimmera Mail Times, Australia), Telegraph Point Regatta success (Port Macquarie News, Australia), Top rowing coach to reconsider future in Wanganui (Wanganui Chronicle, NZ), Grainger back in the boat (Bucks Free Press, UK), Local back to row on the river (Hamilton Journal News, USA), Dog with harness rescued from Newport sewer (WCPO, USA), Station Maine seeks help to 'Rescue the Rogue' (Knox Village Soup, USA), Royal Holloway graduate crowned Sportswoman of the Year (Media Newswire, UK), TV's Ben Fogle tells of his pride in Atlantic rowing adventure (Yorkshire Post Today, UK), Scullers glad they teamed up (Marlborough Express, NZ), Loss fires up twins (Waikato Times, NZ), Cries for help alert witnesses (Adelaide Now, Australia), Magic on the Mersey (icCheshire Online, UK).

  Friday 15th December 2006

• From FISA, The sculler's mind opened in documentary.
• I gather that: "Tyne Head (UK) is in the ARA Regatta calender as the 10th March 2007. It is actually being held over 5500 metres on 17th February 2007. All details can be found on the Tyne Rowing Club website.
• Wade Hall-Craggs has updated the Wingfield Sculls records (Excel format).
• A website for Mission Rowing (Canada), boatmakers.
• RowHard, aka South Bay Rowing (USA) do rowing shirts for sale, and also temporary 'tattoos' and stickers.
• From Martin Cross in the Guardian, Funding offer gives hope to Cambridge pair (UK). Not perhaps an unmixed blessing: what will happen to other students if this issue is resolved by business jumping in and sponsoring once. Will there be any guarantee it will happen another time, or will it just set a precedent that the national squad need not fund those it considers could tap other sources? Also, in the Woking News & Mail, West won't toe the party line.
• Rowing headlines - Strokes varsity 8-girl triumph (Montclarion, USA), One gift, multiple recipients (Ithaca Journal, USA), Representing Warrington at Great Britain camp (Northwich Guardian, UK), Timaru rowers in pole position (Timaru Herald, NZ), Take football out of Title IX formula (Pittsburgh Post Gazette, USA, opinion piece on a relevant subject), With shouts of 'stroke', shivering rowers brave the Hudson (Downtown Express, USA - someone wash that reporter's ears out), Gibraltar seeks recognition from governing bodies (Daily Express, UK), Rec won't host rowing or inside dog obedience classes (Hingham Journal, USA), Meeting the challenge of rowing (Hope Standard, Canada), City turns Olympic eye to its lakefront (Chicago Tribune, USA), Merc partners announce support for Irish heavyweight rowing team (Irish Sports Council, Ireland), Hamilton's harbouring dreams (Hamilton Spectator, Canada), Former cadet wins top military prize (Bedford Today, UK), Seattle office routine: coffee, email, watch for suicidal jumpers (ABC7 News, USA), Novices' efforts bode well for the future (icCheshire Online, UK), Success in Irish indoor (Fermanagh Herald, Ireland), Teeside rowers take to the Tyne (icNewcastle, UK).

  Thursday 14th December 2006

• Pointed out by a Rowing Service reader, the Ultimate Olympian. Oxonian John McClure is bravely trying as many Olympic events (including separate disciplines) as possible, and has recently taken up trying to learn to row. There are videos of the sports he has already achieved, and blogs aplenty since August 2004, when his 4-year challenge started. Great stuff, and very good blogging, and to make it more impressive he's linking it to fund- and awareness-raising for Sobell House, a very worthy hospice charity in Oxford. Those who want can donate online to his charity fund.
• Results of the North East Indoor Rowing Championships (UK, Excel format) are online.
• A message for UK women's crews: ""As the end of the year approaches, a reminder from the Women's Eights Head committee...
  The Women's Head has a Club pennant which - if the overall winner is a Composite crew - is presented to the fastest crew from a single British Club? (excluding universities, colleges or schools, National and similar associations). To qualify for the Club pennant in the 2007 race, all rowers in the crew must have been fully paid-up members of the club that they are representing by 1st January 2007. So, if you're planning to race in the Women's Head and you're not yet a member of the club you expect to race with - then get signed up with them before the end of December, or your crew won't be eligible for the Club Pennant. And a further word of advice to clubs: in due course when you make the entry, only tick the box to?enter the Club Pennant if the crew is eligible. If someone isn't eligible - don't tick the box! And if you later have to field a substitute who is ineligible for the Pennant, tell the Entries Secretary and withdraw from the Pennant - you'll still be allowed to race and still be eligible for the status pennants (Senior 1, Senior 2 etc). The committee will be making eligibility checks - so don't try to bluff it and risk disqualification. Finally to avoid confusion, a bit of background: the idea of the Club Pennant is to have a prize for crews that are genuinely drawn from one club; the 1st January rule was designed so that rentacrews, ringers are de facto composites are not eligible. For clarity, the distinction is between Club and Composite, it is NOT between Club and International. Current GB squad members are perfectly eligible to compete for the Club Pennant. Full detail on pennants and rules is available on the Women's Head website. Any questions, contact the Entries Secretary James Elder."
• Roz Savage (UK) is rowing the Pacific next summer. News about her preparations on her website.

  Wednesday 13th December 2006

• Results of the Head of the Float (Liverpool, UK, PDF format) are online.
• A press release about the new University of Limerick boathouse (Ireland) is on the ULimerick website.
• News from Exeter RC (UK): "Exeter Head was another casualty of the weather last weekend when a forecast of strong to gale force winds and heavy rain led to the organisers to cancel with just 24 hours to go. Exeter Captain Kevin Dentith said `with many clubs travelling long distances we took the decision to cancel not only based expected conditions during the day but also very strong winds were predicted for the evening whilst many clubs were travelling back to the South East. The 3.3km event on the Exeter Ship Canal has grown over recent years and this year saw a record entry of 225 boats including 29 eights. There will be another chance to hold the event in February 2007 when the organisers are planning to offer the race in Saturday OR Sunday depending on weather forecasts."
• News links - End fiscal losing streak (Asbury Park Press, USA), Olympiads back in boat (sic! Bucks Free Press, UK), Off the water, WSU rowers are quite handy (Kansas Sports, USA), City floats west harbour plan (Hamilton Spectator, Canada), UL to build first indoor rowing centre (Limerick Post, Ireland), Lacrosse overtakes rowing program (WANE, USA), Africa Games pushed a week back (Daily Nation, Kenya), Carver renovations get Regents' OK (Gazette-Online, USA), From rowing umpire to parliament (World Rowing, FISA), Reno marine killed in Iraq (Reno Gazette Journal, USA), Age-old story line: stay active (Hartford Courant, USA), Drysdale chasing Beijing edge (TVNZ, NZ), Some geeks have all the talent (Hindu, India), Robin's calendar puts rowers in picture (MyTown Bay of Plenty, NZ), Rowing club receives mayor's cheque (Ely Standard, UK), Accused dad in Christmas plea (bringing up an old story, Sheffield Today, UK), Rowers decry loss of program (WANE, USA), Lawsuit has 'no bearing' on decision (Cincinnati Enquirer, USA), UI rowing team may get own boathouse (Iowa City Press Citizen, USA), A popular life of a controversial painter (Baltimore Sun, USA), World champions named rowers of the year (Sydney Morning Herald, Australia).

  Tuesday 12th December 2006

• Pictures of the Durham ARC demolition (UK) posted online by Mark Bell from the NE Rowing newsgroup.

  Monday 11th December 2006

• John Goodbody adds to the debate: James fights to turn tide over funding (The Times, UK). Oooh naughty naughty, it's not the Xchanging Boat Race (they don't pay enough for that title...)
• From FISA, Surprised China loses Asian Games rowing monopoly, and Mannum's flooded rowers remembered.
• Reports on the Oxford and Cambridge trial eights on the official Boat Race site (UK).

  Friday 8th December 2006

• Monmouth RC (UK) has had to cancel their Winter Head planned for Sunday due to high water. "The River Wye is close to bursting its banks and organisers decided with more rain forecast that there was no prospect of the 80-boat event going ahead. It's the second event the club has had to cancel this year, after the two-day Monmouth Regatta in May was abandoned after two hours because of rising water levels."
• Also cancelled this weekend (UK): Walton Small Boats Head.
• The Southampton Scullers Head (UK) was cancelled in October due to very strong winds. They have rescheduled it for Sunday 21st January 2007, with entries to be in by Saturday 13th January (well, I suspect they mean the Sunday, but they've put 13th. Always difficult converting last year's documents...) Yet again the documents aren't so far available on their own site, so here are the event poster (very large Word document) and entry form (much small Word document) for competitors to download.

  Thursday 7th December 2006

• See below for the annual Henley Royal Regatta Stewards meeting announcements (UK).
• There are results and pictures, and a movie from the 29th Hel van het Noorden (aka 'Hell from the North', Netherlands), which was rowed on November 26th. From my correspondent: "The competition distance is 6000 meters east-west after you have rowed 10,000 meters from boathouse to startline. Because of these distances, the regular elements you have to fight against like wind, rain, snow, hail, it is also a contest of your (sometimes heroic) determination to win. Boattypes are restricted to 1x and 2-. Participants included Olympic silver medallist Juri Jaanson, Sjoerd Hamburger, Frans Gobel (LW 1x World Champion 1988 and 1989), Sjoerd Hamburger, Mitchell Steenman & Olaf van Andel (WU23 Champion 2- in 2005), World and Olympic Champion Ekaterina Karsten etc.etc.etc. This is the first selection contest here in the lowlands so quite a happening."
• Today at 2:15pm GMT (UK), the Oxford trial eights from Putney to Mortlake. Tomorrow the Cambridge version, at 3pm. It's going to be very interesting for both, with so much land-water coming down, and today the added fun of wind and rain threatening.

  Wednesday 6th December 2006

• Late update, 6:01pm GMT: - The Stewards of Henley Royal Regatta (UK) have announced their accounts (donations of £266,900 and £222,000 to their Charitable Trust); their committee changes, and their latest rule changes. (Summary: U23 crews into the Visitors, both U23s and selected international lightweight crews into the Ladies Plate and Men's Quads, and non-medalling U23 or WURCs competitors are now allowed into the Thames/Temple/Wyfold/Brit/Prince Albert. Oh, and the entry fees have increased by another hefty wodge.) They have also announced the election of Greg Searle MBE, Olympic champion, as the latest new Steward. Congratulations Greg. Anyone care to take a bet on an all-Searle, all-Steward Goblets entry next summer?
• The second British Universities Newsletter (UK) is up on the C2 Universities website (MS Word format).
• Further to yesterday's BBC sports awards news, Alistair McKean has just won the BBC Disabled Sportsman of the Year award for the South-East region (UK).
• Another press release from camToo (UK, MS Word format).
• Rowing in the news - Japan wins rowing gold (INQ7, Philippines), Japan wins rowing gold along with two each to China, Uzbekistan (International Herald Tribune, France), India finish fourth in men's double sculls rowing (Telugu Portal, India), Pope John grad excells (sic) with Duquesne crew team (New Jersey Herald, USA), HK keep focus on 2008 (China Daily, China), Regents accept UC Berkeley athletic building plan (Contra Costa Times, USA), Iraq fail to book first rowing final berth at Asian Games history (People's Daily Online, China), China expected to dominate Wednesday's rowing finals (People's Daily, China), Players honoured (Chandigarh Newsline, India), ...but they would have appreciated some more money (Chandigarh Newsline, India), India in line for two rowing gold medals (Telugu Portal, India), Britons to cross Atlantic Ocean in boat named 'Memory of Zayed' (Gulf News, United Arab Emirates), Company rows in with sponsorship deal (Dublin People, Ireland), Council study for Dodder Bridge (Dublin People, Ireland), Asian rowers narrowed down to finals (FISA), Victoria rowers land national awards (Victoria Times Colonist, Canada), World rowing champion Wu breezes through to semifinals in Doha (East Day, China), Whatever rows your boat (Washington Post, USA), Langley Pond levels dropping for inspection (Aiken Standard, USA), Fitness, all in a row (Wichita Eagle, USA), Top schools to compete in regatta (South African Star, RSA), Chinese rowing team treats Asian Games as high-intensity training (People's Daily, China - wonder if they picked that trick up from Jurgen Grobler?!), Sports community's hopes of cashing in on Olympics checked (Herald, Scotland UK), Paul and Andre take top prizes (Warwick Courier, UK), Kazakhstan on target for lightweight doubles final (Kazinform, Kazahkstan).

  Tuesday 5th December 2006

• The draw for the Head of the Float hosted by Liverpool Victoria (UK) is now out (MS Word format). Further information for competitors on the LVRC website, along with a rather gorgeously moody picture of the course 'from the bar' which makes me think being a spectator might be rather a good option.
• Brenda Liski has been named Rowing Canada's new President (Canada) for the next three years. RCA have also published their 2006 awards list.
• BBC sports awards (UK): Emma Hall-Craggs has won the North-East Coach of the Year Award. World champion Alan Crowther was shortlisted for the East Midland Disabled Sportsman of the Year title, but narrowly lost out.
• A link to Rowing Recruiter (USA), a rowing-specific service to help female high school rowers promote themselves to NCAA college coaches offering scholarships to university.

  Monday 4th December 2006

• Results of the Scullers Head (UK) - Mahe Drysdale won in a time just 2 seconds outside the record.
• Wycliffe Small Boats Head (UK) results available by division and by event (both PDF).
• Results of the Rutherford Head (UK).
• From FISA, Somali rowing develops outside the country and China tipped to dominate Asian Games.
• From last weekend, results of the UBBC Head (UK, PDF) including the BUSA Southern Beginners categories.
• From a while back, the results of the Veteran's Fours Head (UK).
• Drysdale leaves field in his wake (Rachel Quarrell, Daily Telegraph, UK), although to my huge annoyance they don't seem to have put online the full list of pennant winners which I always supply - it's only in some of the print editions.
• Other rowing headlines: Rive Isle has overcome multiple obstacles (Sarasota Herald-Tribune, USA), Wind plays havoc but Chinese power on in Doha (Turkish Daily News, Turkey, and syndicated), Strong winds test China's rowing performance in Doha (People's Daily, China), Iranian women fail to ride the choppy waters (Gulf News, United Arab Emirates), Rowing gigs towed to safety (international newswire), Three Great Britain champion rowers defeated on Thames (Enjoy France, a bit late with the Fours Head news, France), Rowing facilities sought for Indian River County canal (TC Palm, USA), Buffalonians are doing the Wright thing (Deseret News, USA), Watkins finds her newest sport challenging (Branson Daily News, USA).

  Friday 1st December 2006

• There are a surprisingly large number of jobs on the newest batch of Rowing Service UK notices.
• The Scullers' Head (UK) is expecting to go ahead, and with wind predictions lower for Saturday than Sunday, it seems likely. There is a message on the website (link above) suggesting it may take longer to get to the start due to the mass of landwater coming down. Competitors please note and plan ahead.
• Roz Savage in the news (UK): Atlantic rower calls club sexist (BBC News, UK). Roz's blog contains the following related entries: "Rejected" (25th November) and "Leander Latest" (29th November). There's also a classic tabloidy piece in the Mirror.
• Good news in the USA: Old Dominian University in Norfolk, Virginia, plans to introduce women's rowing in 2009 to stay level under Title IX when they regain their men's football team.
• Other rowing headlines: Competitive rower opens fitness center (Desert Sun, USA), Schools work on getting kids in shape (Red Bluff Daily News, USA), Rowing places (Manchester Evening News blog, UK), Cancelled regatta will cost city (Wanganui Chronicle, NZ), Broxbourne crews are a-Head of the game (Royston Mercury, UK), Nearly $1M set aside for waterfront projects (Milwaukee Business Journal, USA), Sport of crew is an exercise in camaraderie (Newsday, USA), Veterans fill the first two places (Hereford Times, UK), UN effort for eco-friendly sports wins gold with new report on 2006 Winter Olympics (Noticias, Spain), Donato 'Dan' Fanelli, defense worker, 84 (Philadelphia Inquirer, USA), No matter the coast, gold a fitting color (Wilton Villager, USA), Prestigious college in American Indian controversy (Turkish Daily News from AP, Turkey/USA), High-profile developers eye mill site (South Coast Today, USA), Funding row clouds Boat Race (Guardian, UK), Has sport's freakshow begun? (Herald, UK, with comments from Olympic rowing champion Dr. Richard Budgett), Rookie rowers show promise (Manning River Times, Australia), Kerry duo picks up major gongs (Kingdom, Ireland), Triathlon life begins at 40 for Barker (Maidenhead Advertiser, UK), Youth Olympics call-up for Lewis (News Shopper, UK), Commonwealth Games adds to required sports (Chronicle Herald, Canada - not entirely good news for rowing), Sheriff meets his life savers (Milton Keynes Today, UK), Oarsome calendar celebrates New Zealand's elite (Gisborne Herald, NZ), French test for GB ace Edward (ic Cheshire Online, UK), Atlantic rowers gather in La Gomera (Tenerife News, Spain), Oarsome return (Daily Telegraph, Australia).