review of the Yi-Ban restaurant on the first floor.
Rowing headlines: Big is beautiful as Sir Steve Redgrave recruits for 2012 medal battle (This is London, UK), Broadwater crew performs well in indoor event at Granby High (Tasley Eastern Shore News, USA), Rowers can come in out of the cold (Victoria Times Colonist, Canada), Parkinsons failed to stop dedication of award-winner (Northern Echo, UK), Canoeists' row at plans to redevelop pontoon (Richmond & Twickenham Times, UK, and yes it is partly about rowing), Major regatta backing (Burton Mail, UK), Rowing patrol (perhaps not in fine boats, Bradenton Herald, USA), Women's rowing injunction hearing held (News Record, USA), Twigg, Alexander spearhead Bay haul (Hawke's Bay Today, NZ), Oar went to wrong club (New Zealand Herald, NZ), A million metres in 72 hours (Peterborough Evening Telegraph, UK), Indoor rowing and the Danes again at CRASH-B's (WorldRowing, FISA), Rower lays down his oars for good (Gazette & Herald, UK), Robbins hopes selectors sit up and take notice (The Age, Australia).
Tuesday 27th February 2007
A Rowing Service reader warns that this BBC news piece may be relevant to some UK rowing clubs.
The results of Hammersmith Women's & Juniors Head (UK) are online now.
And results from the Molesey Vets Head (UK).
And the BUSA Head results (UK).
Rowing from the Victorian Institute of Sport (Australia).
Thursday's Torpids racing (Oxford, UK) is also cancelled. A decision will be made about Friday during Wednesday afternoon.
Rowing in the news: Robbins wants another chance to prove herself (Sydney Morning Herald, Australia), Sarasota crew 18th at Southern Erg Regatta (second item, Sarasota Herald Tribune, USA), Oarsome victory for the vets (icNewcastle, UK), Tall athletes targeted for 2012 (BBC Sport, UK), Hannah prepares for Oxford versus Cambridge Boat Race (Louth Today, UK), History groups mourn buildings (Albany Times Union, USA), Rowing Canada Aviron to receive inaugural Mark Lowry Memorial grant (CNW Telbec press release, Canada), Incoming UCLA rower takes first place at CRASH-B sprints (CSTV, USA), Rowers get Golden Edge (Nelson Mail, NZ), It's Nelson! (Newswire, NZ), Rowers shine at CRASH-B's (CSTV, USA), Edinburgh waterfront to host series of new international events (Scottish Enterprise, UK), Hotlap for auction to help rowers (Timaru Herald, NZ), Cohen ready to step up again (Southland Times, NZ), Tash swaps tips with Cracknell (Ledbury Reporter, UK).
Monday 26th February 2007
Full CRASH-B (World Indoor Rowing Champs) results.
An Italian crew is looking for a cox for the Schools' Head (UK) on 15th March. Anyone eligible who can help should contact Antonio Bassi.
The Junior Inter-Regional Regatta (UK) has a new day-glo website including results for the last two years and information for 2007 crews. The address is http://www.JIRR.org.
For those following the black-clad boys' battle in New Zealand, Mahe Drysdale beat Nathan Cohen in the men's singles, while Caroline Evers-Swindell won the women's singles. Full results and reports from the NZ National Championships on Rowing NZ's website.
Results from Worcester Head (UK) division 1 and division 2 (PDF format). Both are 2007 results even though the div 1 page doesn't say so.
Details of Thames Upriver trials for the JIRR (UK) are on the Henley RC website (PDF format).
Wednesday's racing for Oxford University's Torpids (UK) has been cancelled due to stream conditions. Decisions will be made day by day for the rest of the regatta.
A report on the UL trial eights (UK) held last Friday.
Rowing headlines: Celebrity health: Andy Ripley (BBC, UK), The Knight of the Olympics is upon us (Wessex Scene, UK), Big race looms for rowers (Waterfront Online, UK), Crew team members row for stream of donations (Daily Northwestern, USA), Rowers aim at world record (Oxford Mail, UK), Suspect arrested in Eastern Michigan student's death (MLive, USA), Boss Rooster back in Waikato colours (Waikato Times, NZ), Mort success (Mudgeee Guardian & Gulong Advertiser, Australia), Waikato stripes Canaviron of Boss (The Press, NZ), You can slow decline of ageing (Denver Post, USA, partly about Mike Teti), City rowers shine (Wanganui Chronicle, NZ), Levee revamp starts at edges (Journal & Courier, USA), Drysdale happy with form (Newstalk ZB, NZ), Wanted: Olympians as lofty as their ambitions (Telegraph, UK), Bridge to acknowledge immigrant contribution (ABC News, Australia), Plane fare (Observer, UK), Drysdale takes three golds at rowing champs (Stuff, NZ), UT rowing team return with 3 medals (Chandigarh Newsline, India), Waikato wins Boss Rooster and championship eights (Newswire, NZ), Attention turns to trials (Newstalk ZB, NZ), Top rowers put to the test (New Zealand Herald, NZ), Loudest cheers for national champion Waikato crews (NZ Herald, NZ), Tomkins stamps class on Victorian titles (The Age, Australia), Rowers needed for the 'Burn' (Rochester Democrat & Chronicle, USA), Mowbray is the motivator (Oxford Mail, UK), Revenge for Drysdale (Newstalk ZB, NZ), Twizel win for Auckland rowers (Newstalk ZB, NZ), Mahe back with a vengeance in the single sculls (Newswire, NZ), A dreamer makes waves in a rowboat (Turkish Daily News, Turkey), Shock losses at rowing championships (Xtra News, NZ), RPC South powers to coxless fours title (The Press, NZ), Youth excel at new disciplines (NZ Herald, NZ), Club celebrates Darling's success (Timaru Herald, NZ), Cohen and Trott burn off field (Timaru Herald, NZ), Marlborough tipped to get world rowing champs boost (Marlborough Express, NZ), Nathan Cohen adds national title to growing tally (Southland Times, NZ), French national indoor rowing record faster than world record (WorldRowing, FISA), Celebrations after Atlantic marathon row (Dorset Echo, UK), Chicago tweaks rival as L.A. touts face-lift (Chicago Tribune, USA, with some mad plot to hold the 2016 Olympic rowing in a harbour), Stony Point town board report (Remote Access, USA), Joy for pair as they finish epic crossing (Glasgow Daily Record, UK), Cohen gets first blood against Drysdale (Stuff, NZ), Four cross Atlantic (Nation Newspaper, Barbados), Atlantic rowers reach land after 63-day adventure (Scotsman, UK), Round one to Cohen (TVNZ, NZ), Rowers in Atlantic triumph (Herald, UK), Champion crews found at Twizel (Newstalk ZB, NZ), Sports star of the week: Sam Nicholson (Manning River Times, Australia), State experience (Manning River Times, Australia), Ashley battles into single sculls final (Marlborough Express, NZ), Twaddle in pursuit of club record (Timaru Herald, NZ), Aussie Olympian rowers dig deep in Twizel (Timaru Herald, NZ), Patterson, Bell glad to be back (Stuff, NZ), Grahame's gift tinged with sadness (icCoventry, UK), Maidenhead's best young rowing stars were in impressive form (Maidenhead Advertiser, UK), Roz gears up for rowing the Pacific Ocean (Portsmouth News, UK).
Friday 23rd February 2007
Entries are open for the Vesta Vets Head (UK), which is on Sunday 1st April at 11:30am, from Hammersmith Bridge to Chiswick Bridge. Entries close on Saturday 17th March. They'd love to hear from anyone who competed in the early races (this is the 25th) to hear the tales of how it and veteran rowing has changed in the last quarter-century. Contact address vets.head@vrc.org.uk.
News from NZ: First blood to Cohen - world champion sculler whipped (in a double). Full story on Rowing NZ.
Florian Caspari has put his rowing dictionary back up, and updated (Germany).
Today is the closing date for the Oxford University Rowing Sabbatical post for next year (see 2nd February news, UK).
FISA have extended the deadline for the Thomas Keller Award nominations to Monday 26th February.
News about Trafford RC's 50th anniversary dinner and celebrations (UK).
Thursday 22nd February 2007
Calling women masters rowers in Croatia: a plea from a US group. "We're a Master Women's rowing club looking to establish contacts with women masters in Croatia. We're looking to see if other women are interested in net-working to
host each other during regattas in each other's countries. We're located in Massachusetts so we could host rowers interested in coming here to row at the Head of the Charles for example. We're looking for women to host us during the World Masters 2007 in Zagreb. Contact Christine Hart (USA).
The Hammersmith Women's & Juniors Head (9:30am on Sun 25th, UK) is racing without a full river closure, so the cooperation of local crews would be appreciated. Details on the link.
Latest report and results from the New Zealand national championships (NZ).
From the ARA, a report on the British coaching conference (UK).
The recruitment of 29 Olympic and Paralympic Competition Managers for London 2012 (UK) includes a post to manage the rowing. Full description on the link.
Rowing in the news: Poway grad Walton makes switch from rowing to triathlon (North County Times, USA), Lack of funding impacts crew team (The LSU Review, USA), Drysdale and Cohen ahead in singles and doubles (Newswire, NZ), Memoirs of an art dealer (something very weird from the Moscow Times, Russia), Island approves concept for boating center (Hilton Head Island Packet, USA), Good 'hit rate' for southern rowers (Southland Times, NZ), Motivated twins ready to fire (Timaru Herald, NZ), NZ's high profile in world rowing attracts Canadian sculler (Timaru Herald, NZ), Crews continue good run (Timaru Herald, NZ), Roberts making most of opportunity (Timaru Herald, NZ), Rowers near end of voyage (Scotsman, UK), Kyrgyz sailor to lodge $490000 suit to Spain (Kommersant, Russia), Rowers leave other (Fermanagh Herald, Ireland), Rowing club looks to expand (Galway Independent, Ireland), Trouble-hit rower have end in sight (This is Wiltshire, UK).
Wednesday 21st February 2007
OK, here is the definitive answer about the Henley Junior Head (UK). TRRC did cancel it for organisational reasons, on Monday night, but the message didn't get through to the organisers. The event is off, although a new date may be organised.
New Zealand Nat Champs update day 2 on the Rowing NZ website.
Message from the British International Rowing Supporters Club (UK): "We are organising packages to this year's Junior World Championships in Bejing, the
World Championships and Olympic Qualifying Regatta in Munich and the 2008 Olympic Games. For this year's Junior Championships there is hotel accommodation booked and we will offer flight and other requirements on a one off basis. For the World Championships in Munich we have secured convenient accommodation but consider that supporters may want to make their own arrangements for travel. If required we can assist in this respect. For the Bejing Olympics we have secured accommodation, flights and tickets to all the rowing schedule but only for a limited number of people. To obtain full details of all these packages ring Jessica on 01234 348882 and to find further details of the supporters club ring
Heather or Brian on 01234 268568 or e-mail on britrowpsupport@aol.com."
Rowing headlines: 'Rookie rowers' close to finish (BBC News, UK), Charity cancer row aims to raise £50,000 (News Shopper, UK), Survey says China would win Olympic gold count (a provocative piece from the Seattle Post Intelligencer, USA), Golden girl of rowing facing hard times (New India Press, India), Gravink, Higbee, Furlow, Nagel are newest honorees (Jamestown Post Journal, USA), Avon girls dance their way to the final (Newswire, NZ), Bell and King win monthly honours (Hawke's Bay Today, NZ), Rowing future looking bright (Gisborne Herald, NZ), Star rowers untroubled at Twizel (Newstalk ZB, NZ), No surprises at national rowing champs (Xtra News, NZ), Top names go through at rowing champs (Radio New Zealand, NZ), Stu and Ed's excellent adventure on the high seas for Cancer Research (Cancer Research UK, UK), Goodhew steps up to save the day (Timaru Herald, NZ), Dramatic start to nationals (Timaru Herald, NZ), Drysdale's aim is for high standards (Timaru Herald, NZ), Disaster strikes rowing pair (Marlborough Express, NZ), Bright future for young rower (Timaru Herald, NZ), FISA Team Cup crowns off women's development camp (WorldRowing, FISA), College rowers training here again (Access North Georgia, USA), Race against time for rowers (Tasmania Examiner, Australia), Newcomers win by just 62 seconds (Dragonboat rowing in Driffield Today, UK), James targets top (Scarborough Today, UK), Students in bid for MTV green (The Republican, USA), Carole loses cancer battle (Lancashire Evening Telegraph, UK), Rowing champion gains university distinction (Newswire, NZ), Crews defy the odds (Orange Central Western Daily, Australia), Dom fails in rowing record bid (Somerset County Gazette, UK), British Atlantic rowing team miss record (Yachting World, UK), Club structure still strong: Ferguson (Wanganui Chronicle, NZ).
And A win-win situation (the Guardian's Education section in the UK fuelling the degrees vs medals debate).
Tuesday 20th February 2007
I can't see it anywhere on their website, so here is the call for volunteers for the Under-23 World Championships in Strathclyde this summer (Scotland, UK). Full details in the (MS Word format) document linked.
A reminder that you only have until Friday to nominate rowers for the Thomas Keller Award. Anyone can nominate their heroes/heroines - it doesn't need to be an NGB official. Full details and the nomination form on the FISA link.
Also on FISA, Sprint and drama at India's National Games, and FISA Team Cup breaks winter monotony.
From Swiss Rowing, an article about the election of Christian Stofer to the Coupe de la Jeunesse committee (in German).
Race information for the BUSA Championship Head (25th February, UK) is now up on the BUSA events page for downloading.
Courtesy of Henley Royal Regatta, a profile of Alan Watson (see yesterday's news). His funeral service will be held at St. Peter's Church, Church Street, Sheringham at 12:45pm on Thursday 8th March, followed by cremation at St. Faith's Norwich at 2pm. The delayed date is due to matching available times at both locations. The tone of the service will be one of celebration, and thanksgiving for a life. His wife does not want to hold a memorial service, but would like his ashes scatteered on Temple Island in Henley at some date in the future, probably a private family occasion.
Results of the New Zealand national championships (NZ), and other information about the regatta, including a venue webcam and photo albums, on the Rowing NZ website.
The draw for the Hammersmith Women's & Juniors Head (UK) is online.
From Weybridge RC (UK), the Wey To Row courses for novice juniors. This year's courses will be open for booking on 1st March.
Monday 19th February 2007
Late update: - Henley Royal Regatta Steward Alan Watson, former President of the University of London BC (UK) died on Thursday 15th February peacefully, after a long illness.
Full results from the 13th FISA Team Cup in Seville (Spain) at the weekend. The two days have now been combined: 1000m on Saturday, 500m on Sunday.
On the Inverness website, results from the Scottish national trial held on the Caledonian Canal on Saturday (Scotland). Results available in a variety of formats, usefully.
GBR held junior trials at Boston (UK) over the weekend - results from Saturday's division 1 and division 2, plus Sunday's small boats results.
Results from division one and division two of the Inverness Eights and SBH (Scotland).
Provisional results for the Head of the Trent online already (UK). I am however very disappointed to see the committee reverting to the practice of so many clubs, that of overwriting the previous year's results. I trust they will restore the 2006 results to their own page, so that both are kept. In fact, while we're at it, none of the previous 4 years results are available online - the links at the top are to the summer regatta (but in any case are defunct links because NWSC has changed the addresses). Worth sorting out, guys? What's the point of a virtually infinite-sized online archive if people keep removing results which are a year out of date?
Rowing headlines: Gold medals galore as Britain lift Team Cup (Rachel Quarrell, Telegraph, UK), Events mark Lanier's 50th (Gainesville Times, USA), Assam defeats the odds to stage a smooth National Games (Indian Muslims, USA), Happy Valentine's for starving ocean rowers (Dorset Echo, UK), Suspended above icy water, facing the demons within (New York Times, USA), Women rowers raise funds for Stetson University crew (News Record, USA), Drysdale-Cohen clas eagerly awaited (Xtra News, NZ), First class (Murray Valley Standard, Australia), 2007 Pacific Northwest rowing awards (press release, USA), Chris Cramer - meet the future of TV news (Independent, UK), Junior tests champion all the time (New Zealand Herald, NZ), ITV jazz up Boat Race coverage (The Spoof satire publication, UK).
Saturday 17th February 2007
Calling former registered Oxford college senior coxes (UK) - there is a chance that OURCs will have to run Torpids with senior coxes only. If this happens, in the interests of getting as many rowers competing as possible, restrictions on coxing eligibility are lifted and alumni coxes are asked to help if they have the time. Could those who were registered to cox at an Oxford college and were senior when they left please contact Rowing Sabbatical Officer Rich Stock if they might be free to help during Torpids week. Note that this is not a general plea for all good coxes: you must already have been registered as a senior Oxford college cox in the past, even if you are no longer there. New registrations will not be done between now and Torpids.
Tyne RC is seeking a coach for 10-12 hrs a week up to Nat Champs in the first instance. The coach will be working with both men's and women's senior squads and the veteran squad. Rates of pay will be in the region of £10 per hour. For further details email Chris Parsons.
Rowing headlines: Grobler sets first test for GB squad (Rachel Quarrell, Telegraph, UK), Oar blimey (Glasgow Daily Record, Scotland), Olympian pair for Grand (Dispatch Online, South Africa), No food? Have some of oars (Glasgow Daily Record, UK), Cyprus and Greece link up for sports deal (Cyprus Mail, Cyprus), Starving rowers saved by rivals (The Sun, UK), Services overtake Manipur in medal race (E-Pao, India), Mexico renews sporting exchange program with Cuba (People's Daily, China), Mid-Atlantic feast saves starving rowers' bacon on fundraiser (Scotsman, Scotland), Strategic positions, maximising opportunities prompts change in UC athletics (nonsense-speak from CSTV, USA), Mission impossible? (Timaru Herald, NZ), Powerful South eight for title bid (The Press, NZ), Hapless British rowers saved from starvation by Dutch rivals (This is London, UK), Depth of young talent starting to show (New Zealand Herald, NZ), Crew to row from Pacific Ocean to Stockton (Central Valley Business Times, USA), As good as it gets? (Canadian Business, Canada, about a former Olympian), 'Plastic v metal' weakens battle over waterways (Harts Essex News, UK), City rowers taken senior team prize (Hereford Times, UK), CRPC confident of national champs (Marlborough Express, NZ), When medals dry up, recycle (The Australian, Australia), New rowing landmark for Lucerne (WorldRowing, FISA), Cold reality chills athletes, coaches (Cleveland Plains Dealer, USA), L.B. talked up as an Olympic venue (Long Beach Press-Telegram, USA).
Friday 16th February 2007
Henley Fours and Eights Head (UK) has been cancelled due to adverse weather conditions.
Cracknell opens £2m centre (BBC Berkshire photo gallery, UK), and there's an audio clip of JC discussing the opening.
Other headlines: Council's £30m deal faces criticism (Belfast Telegraph, Ireland), Tech women's crew proud of new boat (Florida Today, UK), The journey that is the Iloilo Paraw Regatta (News Today, Philippines, which looks as if it does now include rowing), From Seattle to Kowie (Dispatch Online, South Africa), US Olympic women's rowing team comes to Lake Casitas (USRowing press release, USA, and a very rare example of rowing as a spectator demonstration), Rower's state title dip (Warrnambool Standard, Australia), Chinese imports force Eton boat house to close (Telegraph, UK), Drysdale topples All Blacks at Halbergs (Xtra News, NZ), Drysdale supreme at Halberg awards (MyTown Bay of Plenty, NZ), Mahe Drysdale says it's all a bit of a dream (Radio New Zealand, NZ), Drysdale is New Zealand's top sportsman for 2006 (Newswire, NZ), Mahe Drysdale wins coveted award (NZ City, NZ), USRowing to hold workshops on making rowing accessible to urban youth (press release, USA), McCallie student dies (WDEF, USA), No ownership of weed issue (Timaru Herald, NZ), Rowers Ouse class at Bedford Head (Bedford Today, UK), Wits rowing stays afloat (Vuvuzela Online, South Africa), London are pride of the river (This is Local London, UK), Pulling away (icNewcastle, UK), Cycling nut claims three golds - in indoor rowing (Wanganui Chronicle, NZ), Three honours for Ross Rowing Club (Hereford Times, UK), Mahe Drysdale Aotea rower (a nice profile in the New Zealand Herald, NZ).
Thursday 15th February 2007
Congratulations double world champion Mahe Drysdale, who has just won the highly prestigious overall Halberg Award, as well as Sportsman of the Year, at the New Zealand national ceremony. He beat the All Blacks (team of the year) and Valerie Vili (sportswoman of the year) to the overall title, and was given his award by Olympic and world champion Rob Waddell, who won the Halberg three times himself, and in whose rowing footsteps Drysdale hopes to follow. Well done Mahe! Newsbites from all the big NZ publications, including NewsTalk ZB, TVNZ and Radio New Zealand.
From FISA, Winter rowing in Italy.
And the results for that race, the D'Inverno sul Po, are available online broken into Saturday (1x, 2- and 2x) and Sunday (4s, 8+) lists.
The Tunisian National Rowing and Canoe Kayak Federation is running the 2nd Tunis International Regatta over the March 31st-April 1st weekend. Details online (PDF format) from Rowing South Africa.
A website for Dutch junior rowers, Roeiouders, has been relaunched (in Dutch, but use Babelfish for a rough translation into other languages). Roeiouders' most useful page is the sitemap, with links to plenty of handy information for parents and juniors, and the site's guestbook. Now we know how the Dutch instil the love of all things orange into the next generation....
Cambridge Sport Lakes (UK) now have a detailed press release and supplementary information about their recent news that they've been granted planning permission to create the new multisport Cambridge Lake. Their news page also has details of their beginners' rowing courses this April and August.
Rowing headlines: Futuristic plan to put roof over Brighouse (Halifax Today, UK), Ohio rowers help out Fla. group after twister (USA Today, USA), Lots of puff left in Coast to Coast winner (Stuff, NZ, about former rower Alison Hamilton), Big night for sporting elite (Newstalk ZB, NZ), UP on way to create sporting history (Hindustan Times, India), School rowing project gets under starter's orders (Aberdeen City, UK), Walkers on warpath over riverside fences (Yorkshire Evening Post, UK), Endicott crew looking to make mark at the CRASH-B sprints (CSTV, USA), Sensational effort from U19s men's crew (Wauchope Hastings Gazette, Australia), Test distracts finalist Cohen (Southland Times, NZ).
Wednesday 14th February 2007
The draw for Henley Head (UK) is out.
The Port of London Authority are holding an open meeting at 6:30pm on Thursday 15th February in the Docklands (UK), about current and future issues over the tidal Thames.
From back in January, results from the Head of the Avon Gorge (UK).
News from a press release that Dr Richard Budgett has been appointed Chief Medical Officer for the 2012 Olympics. Congratulations RB (I think!).
Another snippet - the Marin Rowing Association did 24-hour rows recently. The men's varsity/novice composite team set 421,569m and the women's similar composite 384,650m over that period. The article I got this from says they're new world records - I think they might be university records, since though the women's breaks the world small team mark, the men's doesn't.
Rowing news: Rowing venue finds place in GIS database (India eNews, India), Services rower out of danger (Telugu Portal, India), All set for 120th regatta (Dispatch Online, South Africa), Lawsuit demands Naples return property (Naples News, USA), Changing Eastern's rowing program (Eastern Echo, USA), HB club take home impressive haul (Hawke's Bay Today, NZ), Rowing on dry land, local youths fare well (Holmdel Independent, USA), Bucknell women's rowing has strong showing at 11th annual erg armageddon (CSTV.com, USA), Gold Coast Sportsman of the Year down to big five (Duncan Free in the Gold Coast Bulletin, Australia), Holland's boys in good shape as they enter home stretch (Cambridge Evening News, UK), RPC women lead medal collection (Marlborough Express, NZ), Mant in world record-breaking form (Wanganui Chronicle, NZ), City of Oxford RC have high hopes (Oxford Times, UK), Star RC shine at weekend heads (Dunstable Today, UK).
Tuesday 13th February 2007
Results from the weekend's City of Swansea Head (Wales, UK), by event.
And Hampton J/Sch Head results (UK) in time order and by event (yay, they managed to run a race without the weather interfering!).
Results and reports from the North Island & South Island Rowing Championships on Lake Karapiro (New Zealand) from Rowing NZ.
The results of the South Yorkshire Head (UK) are in PDF format. Note that div 3 was cancelled due to rising water levels and debris in the river.
Results of the Scottish Indoor Rowing Championships (UK) are on the C2 UK website.
The National Schools Regatta website (UK) has published changes for this year including new WJ14 8x+ (the former mixed event changes to MJ14 8x+), a WJ15 4+ event, alterations to qualifying races, and other news. Advertising opportunities in the marquee or programme are now open.
The NSR site also has an appreciation of retiring Chairman Peter Politzer (UK).
New Zealand's Halberg Awards are on Thursday night this week - there are rowers up for awards in three of the five categories (preview from TVNZ).
From FISA, Rowing meets rally car racing.
And FISA's Executive Director Matt Smith has an article in the latest Sportcal Sports Market Review about sporting TV rights.
The Henley Junior Head (UK) now has its own website. The event takes place on 24th February, and by popular request they have included a J15 8+ event in division 2. See the link above, in particular Notice 2007 for full details.
From the NZ Herald, an obituary of Eric Craies (New Zealand) by former international cox Andy Hay.
Rowing in the news - Services team back in action (Telugu Portal, India), Crew Classic has quantity but not quality (San Diego Union Tribune, USA), Dam delay sinks river users' hopes (London Free Press, Canada), Local rowers shine at Southern Sprints meet (Tallahassee.com, USA), Rowers reclaim Bridgeport riverfront (Connecticut Post, USA), Waikato rowers poised to impress at nationals (Waikato Times, NZ), Pulling against time (Washington Post, USA, with a good picture), Nelson crews scoop 11 titles (Nelson Mail, NZ), Rowers shaken but not stirred (Calcutta Telegraph, India), Fame, 30 years on, for champion Ballina boaties (an 'older you get, the better you were' story about surf rowing, Northern Star, Australia), Tragedy strikes rower champ in Guwahati (NDTV, India), City rowers take gold, silvers (Timaru Herald, NZ), Accident may rob arm of Asian Games prospect rower (Daily News & Analysis, India), Stars shine at weekend heads (Bedford Today, UK).
Monday 12th February 2007
The provisional draw and circulation rules for the Head of the Trent (18th Feb, UK) are up now.
The Scottish trials start list, information for athletes and map of the course are now online (Feb 17th, Scotland).
A website for RuderDesign (Germany), a rowing jewellery company offering everything from earrings and cufflinks to pins suitable for body piercings for the more adventurous. Prices in euros. Note that I had trouble loading the pages directly from the left-hand menu, but just open them in a new window, or copy/paste the link, and it works fine.
A press release on the results of the Boustead Cup yesterday (UK - can't one of the participant clubs host this?!). The preview was originally put on the LRC website.
Results for Bedford Head (UK) are available by time, by status and with blade colours an optional extra display (tres natty). Click on a crew name to give yourself the full results for that club: divisional winners are in bold. The regular Bedford course was shortened to 1500m to avoid increased risk in the usual start area when the river rose 5 inches overnight, but as GD said when sending in the results, "the punters didn't seem to mind." I'll bet.
The poster for Hammersmith Regatta (28th April, UK) is now online.
The decision to withdraw day tickets (ARA, UK) was confirmed by a close vote at the weekend's ARA Council. Day tickets will now disappear on 31st March 2007, so competitors need to be more careful about checking memberships are kept up to date.
On 16th February (UK) Di Ellis is making ARA medal presentations to Bill Parker (at St Leonard's School 3:30pm) and Kate O'Sullivan (Tees Rowing Club 7:30pm).
A website for the Royal Cercle Nautique Dinantais, or the boat club in Dinant (Belgium), with the website in French. Any club which advertises sausage sandwiches on its annual regatta poster gets my vote, but they have been a bit naughty and uploaded other people's pictures to their gallery (esp. see humour) rather than making links to the originals. Nasty breach of copyright, chickybids.
David Flook (UK) has uploaded the UK 2004 National Rowing Champions video clips onto Google Video UK - senior men's, senior women's, junior men's and junior women's.
Rowing headlines: Bus crash at India's National Games venue injures 18 athletes (GG2.net, UK), Headed for a record (Somerset County Gazette, UK), York rowers blow away cobwebs (York Press, UK, a bit of an old link), Ten athletes injured as bus overturns (Mangalorean, India), Mortars, teeth and cash boxes: the buried treasure of 'Lake' Wendouree (ABC Regional, Australia), Plovdiv contributes more properties to public-private JV (Dnevnik, Bulgaria), Mishap mars Games high (Calcutta Telegraph, UK), Stetson rowing team (Central Florida News, USA, about the 2nd February tornado and including links to video clips and how to donate to their replacement fund), Cricket: rowing in confidence (a link to make all Aussies snigger from the People, UK), Rowing in Great Miami's future (Hamilton Journal, USA), Polar bears sighted on Hartwell Lake (Anderson Independent Mail, USA), Zeeman Ocean Challenge - rowing across Atlantic in 87 days (All At Sea, USA), Golden girls back in water at the double (Stuff, NZ), Crews in good form down the Liffey (Inverness Courier, Scotland), Disabled woman to row across Atlantic Ocean (Florida Sports, USA), Rowers seek to hone skills before nationals (Timaru Herald, NZ), Quest rowers smash 100-mile barrier (Yachting World, UK).
Friday 9th February 2007
The Thames Regional Rowing Council (UK) is piloting an online incident reporting system starting today. The main system is here together with some useful brief notes on what constitutes reportable and other incidents. There are also explanatory notes and a link to the reporting system together with a description/plan of the system on the TRRC website. Those reporting incidents may find reading through the guideline plan first helpful. Note that for the moment this does not replace the report to the ARA required for ARA-reportable incidents. This is just a regional report. However, it can be used for the full Thames, not just the Tideway.
Under the same remit, the Tideway Code has been operating on the relevant region of the Thames (UK) for a while. From 12th February 2007 the 'what if' points awarded for infringements on the Tideway will be given for real, and this letter has been sent to Tideway clubs by the TRRC to explain what's going on. The letter also mentions new Tideway buoys to be laid later in the year, which will mostly aim to mark areas non-rowing boats should ideally not be going into.
On the Tideway Slug's site (UK) a preview of the BUSA Head (item 'The Croats are coming'). The official press release isn't yet up on the BUSA website but most of it's here anyway.
I gather from a regular RS source that this week's New Scientist has a piece on ancient trireme speeds compared with today's rowers, on pages 46-47. Apparently paying subscribers can access the content via their website, though there seems to be a steal of the article or something like it on this fitness website amongst others. (Prof Rankov was highly involved in the trireme trials which took place some years ago). The same topic was covered on today's Today programme (BBC Radio 4, UK) and should be at about 07:39 GMT on the listen-again option
The same contributor points out that Australia will be banning blogging by its athletes at the Beijing Olympics (story on the BBC, UK). A result of the 'Lay Down Sally' story two and a half years ago?
Potentially relevant to UK rowers, the British Canoe Union is running a River Access For All campaign, to get legislation under a Parliamentary 10-minute rule bill to allow the public to access many waterways in Britain currently closed. I think this will probably benefit whitewater canoeists the most, since large numbers of waterways are unsuitable for other boaters, but there may be implications for our sport.
Rowing headlines: Club needs £1m to replace base (Oxford Mail, UK), Charles Grimes, 71 (full obituary from the Los Angeles Times, USA), Legislators call Rutgers' cuts of six sports 'a big mistake' (the Newark Star-Ledger reporting of Rutgers University's cutting of sports including men's heavy and lightweight crew, USA), I aim to row in the 2012 Olympics (CBBC Newsround, UK), Who will be the 2006 sports star? (Murray Valley Standard, Australia), Three candidates vie to head sports council (Jakarta Post, Indonesia), Priest to take on new inner-city challenge (Camden New Journal, UK), Tribute paid to Great Britain's quad (WorldRowing, FISA), Medal joy for rowers (Scarborough Today, UK), Waterless rowing (Washington University Record, USA), Fighting fires wins Helen a top award (Boston Standard, UK), Rivalries put on hold (Maidenhead Advertiser, more or less the BIRO press release, UK), Water park go-ahead (Cambridge Evening News, UK), Golden girls are crowned champs (Maidenhead Advertiser, UK), Class project becomes a record (Augusta Chronicle, USA, subscription only or use Bugmenot to log in), Atlantic rowers on target (still! Yachting World, UK), 12 days to break Atlantic record (Somerset County Gazette, UK), Crew 'ultimate team sport' (Red and Black, USA).
Thursday 8th February 2007
GB Rowing have cancelled the international trials planned this weekend for Boston (UK). Official statement: "The meteorological Information has now been consistent for 3 or more days in predicting winds of 25mph and more as well as rain and sleet. Although there are never guarantees we intend by making a decision now to give rowers and coaches enough notice so that they can where possible plan alternative activity and hopefully save some money". (Getting there might have been a bit of a problem for some clubs, too.)
Other UK clubs hoping to put on outdoor events this weekend are welcome to text me on 07710-538114 if they have urgent news about cancellations, changes or transport information.
Cambridge Sport Lakes' planning permission for the new Cambridge facility (UK) has sailed through their appeal and been passed by the local council. Now the money needs to be raised.
Florian Caspari has relaunched his Rowing X-Pert website, in German and English and with its own domain name. But although the bibliography is still extremely useful, the rest of the site, which used to include a dictionary, is now just a specific-term Google vertical search engine, which others have already created.
Headlines: Sebastian River's athletic facilities are getting a facelift (Vero Beach Press-Journal, USA), Playwright Anton Dudley delivers a fresh, clear and theatrically riveting script (Montclair Times, USA), New York City AIDS activist unveils rowboat for Atlantic Ocean trip (The Advocate, USA), Classic Event promises classic race (Scoop press release, NZ), They'll remember this sailing for a lifetime (Bainbridge Review, USA), Rowers win gold medals (Mississauga news, Canada), Oarsome result for Shore rower (Auckland Stuff, NZ), Brave oarsman risks life to save lucky young boy (Nationalist, Ireland), Good Evans! Georgia is a golden girl (Peterborough Evening Telegraph, UK), 2k test men rowers' strength on Main erg (The Hawk, USA), Stetson crew looks to replace its gear (Orlando Sentinel, USA).
From the Minnesota Star-Tribune (USA): "Charles Grimes, a member of the Yale varsity crew that won a gold medal at the 1956 Olympics and the husband of U.S. Tennis Association chairman Jane Brown Grimes, died Monday in New York of pancreatic cancer. He was 71. His crew at the Melbourne Games was the last college team to win an Olympic rowing championship and was featured in Bud Greenspan's "100 Greatest Moments in Olympic History." An obituary has been syndicated round North America.
And this tragic news about Oxford college rower Andrew Mason (UK) has now gone generally public.
From the Irish Post, rower Paul Gleeson has been named the 2006 Limerick Person of the Year for his trip across the Atlantic with girlfriend Tori Holmes. They raised over £20,000 for charity Concern.
Wednesday 7th February 2007
A plea from a crew from Berlin which is coming to compete in the Women's Head (UK) but needs a boat to row in. They're arriving on Wednesday 14th March, would like to train Thursday and Friday before racing on Saturday, and have already asked several Tideway clubs. Does anyone have a 70-80kg shell they could hire/borrow? Heavier boats are also fine: they basically just want to race, have already booked their flights and don't want to cancel. Offers of help directly to Katharina Koch please.
Entries are still open for Trent Head (UK), and close at noon on Friday 9th February.
Details from BIRO of the British International Rowing contingency plans about possible bad weather at the Boston trials on Saturday (UK).
Draw for Bedford Head (UK) is available by status, by club and by division.
The Remenham Challenge (UK, Remenham clubs' winter races) originally planned for 21st January at Kingston has been rescheduled for 24th February at Molesey as part of the Molesey Vets Head day.
News of the rowing world: Rowing club is still going strong (News Shopper, UK on Curlew RC's anniversary), Pupils get fit for life (North Devon Gazette & Advertiser, UK), 20 spots for rowing? Look closer (Sun-Sentinel, USA), Zen and the Art of Rowing (Washingtonian, USA), Unsinkable man to retry Atlantic row (Metro, USA), Students going back to college for 6th and 7th years seen as emerging trend (Radio New Zealand, NZ), Paving the (water)way for Singapore to become more than a garden city (Today Online, Singapore), Councillors rescue regatta for town (Burton Mail, UK), Italian sculling challenge attracts internationals (WorldRowing, FISA), Athletes' achievements celebrated (Nanaimo New Bulletin, Canada), Rowed trip - to Africa (Cape Cod Times, USA), Rowing to keep the years from catching up (Cincinnati Post from the end of January, USA), Rowers' wave of promise (Chester Evening Leader, UK).
Tuesday 6th February 2007
Full results from Thames Valley Trial Head (4th Feb, UK) are online.
Results of the Wycliffe Big Head are up by event and by division as well as selectively by club/single event on the main page lookup system.
Results from the Peterborough Head of the Nene in time order and by event.
The Boustead Cup (UK) is scheduled for 11:30am on the Tideway on Sunday 11th February. It's the 60th year and 50th race between London and Thames RCs.
Emmanuel College Cambridge (UK) is seeking a new boatman as their current one is leaving. Job advert available in PDF or image format. Deadline is 19th February.
Adam Carter (UK) says he took pictures at Peterborough Head, excluding div 1 when he was rowing. He says that the pictures are free and if anyone wants the fullsize (4MB) images they just need to email him the photo number and he will send the file.
Rowing in the news: Scholarship winners (Winnipeg Sun, Canada, second story), Use BMI as a screening tool - not the final word on fat (Wilkes Barre Times Leader, USA, of general interest but note a particular comment halfway down), A crew, but no boats (Daytona Beach News-Journal, USA), Fraternity row - oarsmen in drama grapple with bonds of affection (Newark Star Ledger, USA), 22 tonnes of bulldozer sinks into Lake Wendouree (ABC Regional Online, Australia), Grahame's going nowhere - fast! (icCoventry, UK, oh-so-funny headline writer...), True Sport Foundation announces finalists (CNW Telbec press release, Canada).
Monday 5th February 2007
A reader points has found a website for a new proposed rowing/sport/conference development called Boat House Row in Johannesburg (South Africa). The project seems to be the brainchild of RSA world and Olympic medallist Ramon Di Clemente, Chris King (I presume the RSA coach) and a James Morgan. Updates are promised from July (hopefully next July, not last) but no progress visible yet. Looks superb, if they manage to get it built.
The GBR W4x were, most appropriately, given new world champs medals, this time gold, at the BIRO annual dinner on Saturday. Smiles, cheers, signs of tearfulness (including from guest speaker Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson), and a few old lags who shall remain nameless singing the national anthem out of tune when it was played to a standing audience. Mike Williams did the honours for FISA, grinning inordinately and remarking to me afterwards "I enjoyed that. Had to give them the wrong colour last time." Pretty well as good as you could get without a world champs final and a lake behind you. Congratulations BIRO and FISA for pulling out all the stops to try and make up for last summer. Apparently the medals are new ones, not those the Russians are going to have to hand back. The GBR M4- collectively won the British Olympic Association's 'Olympic Athlete of the Year' trophy but I'm sorry to say I have to disappoint Steve Williams since I've confirmed it's not a cross-sport award. Each of the 35 BOA sports has been given its own separate trophy to dish out annually, in honour of the BOA's centenary.
Entries for the Head of the River Race (UK, 31st March) are online. Closing date for domestic entries is 5pm on Friday 2nd March (NOT the usual Saturday evening), and overseas entries are already closed. OARA is the only entry method and Scottish clubs are advised to read the notes to British captains. Other important information for all crews is on the front page of the site, linked above.
Sydney Rowing Club (Australia) is looking for a new Head Coach (PDF format document). Applications close Wednesday 28th February 2007, and there is a full position description (PDF) on the SRC website.
Results from Saturday's Durham Small Boats Head (UK) are on the NERN website. Amongst the photographers who have pictures from it is Fractured Frame, which I think is a new-ish outfit.
Start order for the South Yorkshire Head of the River (UK) is now online. They've had a record entry so are asking crews (particularly regulars who think they know how it all works) to boat in plenty of time as the river will be more crowded.
The Southern Indoor Rowing Championships (UK) have their own website at www.southernirc.co.uk and have raised publicity via the local BBC website with potential follow-up coverage on TV and radio. Entries close 8th February.
Two seminars for Club Welfare Officers are being run by the Thames Regional Rowing Council (UK), led by Annamarie Phelps, the ARA's Child Protection Officer. Dates Sunday 25th and Wednesday 28th March at Maidenhead and Tideway Scullers respectively, etails on the TRRC website.
The Yorkshire Head (17th March, UK) is open for entries via OARA.
Also on the Yorkshire Rowing Council website (UK), details of a Level 2 coaching course to be held in Doncaster on 3rd, 10th, 24th and 25th March. There is a pilot funding scheme which should have course costs refunded to local attendees - see the front page of the YRC website for details.
News from the world of gig racing: 'Sheer guts' of Torridge Club helps get it afloat (North Devon Journal, UK).
The results of Boston Head from January (UK) are online.
A link to the Koebenhavns Roklub (Copenhagen, Denmark, right in the middle of the city.)
Rowing headlines: Wave of support for park (Cambridge Evening News, UK), Rowing for charity (Orange County Register, USA), Victoria native wins women's indoor heavyweight race (Victoria Times Colonial, Canada), Oars to you: BC rowers dominate (Vancouver Sun, Canada), Callum in indoor rowing champion (Grantham Today, UK), Atlantic lads are oarsome (The Sun, UK, still following an unmissable mixture of the military, muscles, and a good PR team), Close competition on Oreti (Southland Times, NZ), For access to a supercruiser, just get the oars out (Sydney Morning Herald, Australia), Atlantic rowing team at halfway (BBC News, UK), Regatta to grow this year (Rochester Democrat & Chronicle, USA), One woman makes it her personal mission to get people into rowing (WLUC-TV, USA), Guns kill people (WV Gazette, USA, a disturbingly relevant piece because it brings to light a loss in the rowing community not previously mentioned), Rowing champions (Sunday Times LK, Sri Lanka), Lake Kawana stakes claim for GPS regatta (Sunshine Coast Daily, Australia), Rower attempts deadly ocean voyage (syndicated, UK), A real diamond (York Press, UK), Warrington Sports Personality winners (Crewe Guardian, UK), National team rowers rev up training months before returning to water (syndicated, Canada), Lions strong at indoor regatta (CSTV, USA), Rowers awarded around the world (WorldRowing, FISA), Decision on top eight at champs (The Press, NZ), Christchurch bid for games is enterprising but likely to founder (The Press, NZ), Herald junior sports awards (New Zealand Herald, NZ), Man ticketed for running red light - in a rowboat (Times Herald-Record, USA), Weekend championships good lead in to future events (Wanganui Chronicle, NZ).
Friday 2nd February 2007
Picked up from a blog at Middlebury College (USA), The Dreamers: a story about rowing, written in December 2005 by a girl called Hana as part of a story project. Teenagey super-abundance of lyricism, but it captures the excitement and tension of rowing a big race.
FISA have opened nominations for this year's Keller Medal, to recognise exception rowing careers allied to exemplary sportsmanship. Nominations can be made on this PDF form and must reach FISA HQ by 23rd February 2007.
Rowing Service reader Gerry Farrell would like to recommend Baumgarten boats for both touring and novice training. He's been so voluble about their merits that Baumgarten Bootsbau have asked him to become their UK and Ireland rep (that'll teach him). Paeans of praise available on request.
London Youth Rowing are holding the first National Junior Indoor Rowing Championships on Wednesday 28th March at the Hammersmith and Fulham Town Hall (UK). Held in association with C2 UK and the Boat Race, it includes individual and team relay events, plus Boat Race relays of an appropriate 6780m. Entry forms (PDF) have to be posted or faxed to reach LYR no later than 16th March 2007.
The OURCs Rowing Sabbatical Officer applications are now open (UK, Oxford college rowing). Note that this post requires someone with plenty of direct personal experience of Oxford college rowing, and applicants are also voted on by the current college captains, so is not for a complete outsider. I am advertising it here because the post is highly suitable for former OU college rowers/coxes/coaches who have already left and for some reason fancy a part-time job back in the city. Current students who will graduate this summer are also encouraged to apply. Note that the closing date for applications is Saturday 24th February 2007.
Henley Women's Regatta (UK) have put up their 2007 qualification/eligibility rules. Very little changes: one tweak to the way the overseas rules for senior events are stated, but they haven't taken out the old sentence (so there's slight redundancy.) Points calculation date will be 31st March 2007.
In the Malvern Gazette (UK), Rowers rescued from river - more details of the recent Upton incident.
Websites for the Canadian Indoor Rowing Championships and the Monster Erg at the University of Victoria (both Canada).
The earliest known road-rowing machine? A picture of the 1884 Kempster Rowing Tricycle on a stock certificate (USA). Similar patents are filed regularly, eg in 1995-6, and a great collection on the Human Powered Vehicles website (rowing page).
Headlines: Ambitious plans for park (Hexham Courant, UK), Court battle over former Freihofer's landmark continues (WNYT, USA), Indoor rowing marathon benefits crew team (Poughkeepsie Journal, USA), Two silver medals (Northwich Guardian, UK), Rowers upgraded to gold medal (ThisisLocalLondon, UK), Singfield makes history at Teddies (Oxford Times, UK), Xeno's Iron Oarsman 1st annual Row Bowl February 4th (Row2k, USA), Powerhouse Timing named official timer of USRowing (SFC press release, USA), Crossing the finish line (Toronto Star, Canada), Succes for rowers at Youth Olympics (Murray Valley Standard, Australia), Club pulling together (Scene, NZ), Work starts on lottery funded boathouse (North Devon Gazette, UK, actually a boathouse museum), Genesee Regatta getting a makeover (Rochester Democrat & Chronicle, USA), When good teams go bad (Harvard Business Sch journal, USA), Row for Humanity lacks student support (Loyola College Greyhound, USA), Under-19 boys show impressive ability (Hawke's Bay Today, NZ), Rowers on song at champs (Nelson Mail, NZ), Clemson athletes post second highest fall GPA (show-offs, The State, USA).
Thursday 1st February 2007
Rowing Canada Aviron has named new national junior team leaders to develop junior athletes (Canada). RCA has also released a new rowing safety DVD to encourage good practice and good decision-making about the sport.
Further to yesterday's mention of the WeHORR and the Breast Cancer Haven charity, fundraising packs for the crews entering can be downloaded from the BCH website (UK). The prize has apparently changed: the winning fundraisers will receive a new Rowperfect, and the runners-up a set of 8 Magik Oarlocks.
A new idea: the CorePerform seat destabiliser - sits underneath your Concept 2 seat and makes it rock to simulate the movements in the boat. See the "Product' page on the website for an animation clip showing it moving. Intended to help develop core stability and train balance awareness. The company is run by John Argitis in the USA.
Results of the English Indoor Championships (UK) in Manchester last Sunday, incorporating the second round of the BUSA Freshers' Challenge.
Concept 2 (UK) are running a special offer this month. From their site: "Buy a Concept 2 Indoor Rower online during the month of February and you will receive a free flight voucher that entitles you to a return flight to one of nine US or European countries." (D'you think they've heard of the Hoover fiasco?) Anyway, full details here on their website. Offer applies to C2 UK only, and flights must be taken during November-April months in one of the next two years. They're also asking customers to spend "an additional £100" ie I presume buy another product too.
