Friday 27th February 2009
- Correction to the Evesham notice below (UK) - Some ARA competitions running in May were originally told that it might be simpler if they didn't take too many entries before April. However, the online entry system of OARA will be able to deal with entries for competitions running after 1st April, before then, dynamically applying the new rules for entries and taking into account the fact that points will change on 1st April. The target deadline for this being set up is mid-March, but it may be in place earlier - watch the ARA website for updates, and webmasters will be contacted. A note will also go up here when the new system is sorted out.
- Tom Cannon is now the UK agent for KIRS (Kiwi International Rowing Skiffs, NZ). He has a UK website for KIRS, and there is also a comprehensive NZ website for the parent company, for those wishing to find out more. KIRS manufacture a complete range of boats from singles to eights.
- While we're on NZ, the results page for last weekend's BankLink NZ national championships has been further updated (NZ), now including results, points table and photofinish files. Drysdale beat Waddell by five seconds in the singles final, with Peter Taylor third.
- Details from the FISA Team Cup last weekend (Spain). The results are on the official site. GBR absent this year, training in Portugal instead.
- Lord Seb Coe checks on Olympic progress (report on his visit to young rowers from Windsor Boys School and Eton Excelsior, UK). Includes a video clip.
- A PDF poster for Birmingham Regatta (UK), which is primary so all events are non-qualifying.
- Rules and details for the Scottish Schools Head (21st March, Forth Clyde canal, Scotland, UK) are online in PDF format.
- Results from the Inverness Eights and Small Boats Head (UK).
- Lent bumps (Cambridge, UK) - the Cambridge News - now a morning paper - is putting the bumps chart online, though the final update won't be until the weekend.
Thursday 26th February 2009
- A reminder about GB coach Paul Thompson's lecture at the River and Rowing Museum (Saturday 28th February at 12 noon, UK). Details on the link including how to book.
- Lincoln Rowing Centre (UK) are running their annual head and dinner on Saturday 28th March.
- The link for Grosvenor Rowing Club (UK).
- Sport England (UK) have produced a video case study of Doncaster Rowing Club.
- A report from the recent FISA Congress (WorldRowing).
Wednesday 25th February 2009
- Evesham Regatta (UK) are after input on their regatta. They seek views from UK readers on whether or not to offer J17 events, which veteran events to run, and would like to observe that they will not be running any straight finals, due to the new points rules. Everyone should be aware that OARA for the Evesham Regatta will not be available until April 1st at the earliest, since the ARA will not be changing OARA's system until after the last event under the old categories has been completed. Feedback to Evesham Regatta by March 13th please.
Monday 23rd February 2009
- The Vets Head (UK) entries are open - the race will be at noon on Sunday
22nd March (the day after the Men's Head) and open to all veteran crews (according to the FISA age limit - all rowers must turn 27 or older during this year), over the normal Chiswick to Putney course. Entries close on Sunday 8th, more details on the official website.
- Bumps week for two universities: Cambridge (starting Tuesday) and Oxford (starting Wednesday) are at it again (UK). The Oxford Torpids index is now active and includes results from the recent rowing-on. The Cambridge Lents index is on the go too, with getting-on race results and useful links including to live commentary. There are also YouTube videos of some of the getting-on races, including this ejector crab from Darwin's M2 crew.
- Drysdale rules the single at NZ rowing champs (WorldRowing, FISA). The full NZ national champs results (New Zealand) are online.
- EU regulator wants 'whereabouts' rule on hold (Reuters, UK).
- Queen's University Belfast BC alumnus and NUBC ex-president Colm Tolan is running the Flora London Marathon in aid of Aspire, a back and spinal injuries charity involved with FES Rowing, a programme using rowing as regular full-body exercise for those with a spinal cord injury. See his JustGiving page to sponsor Colm.
Friday 20th February 2009
- Yesterday a group of 16 GB rowers published an open letter complaining about the new World Anti-Doping Agency system for nominating hours for out-of-competition testing. Olympic rowers call new Wada 'whereabouts' drug-testing system 'unworkable' (RQ, Telegraph, UK), and Why the code's not it for Wada (Matt Slater's blog, BBC Sport, UK), Ohuruogu backs drug-test changes (BBC Sport, UK), Growing protest against anti-doping rules (Schoenen, Holland). From Tuesday, when the rumpus started with professional tennis players, Wada stands defiant in doping row (BBC Sport, UK).
- The Women's Eights Head draw is online (UK, PDF file).
- From FISA, FISA Team Cup launches the season (World Rowing). There is an official site for the FISA Team Cup (Spain), which has a noisy video on it so you may want to turn off sound...
- Also from FISA, Drysdale vs Waddell fires up again, about the New Zealand National Championships. Latest news and results can be had via the NZ Rowing website (NZ).
- Results from last weekend's Strathclyde University Small Boats Head (Scotland, UK), division 1 and division 2 (both PDF format). Pictures on this Flickr page.
- The provisional draw for Inverness Head (Scotland, UK, Excel format) is out, together with information for competitors and a map of the course.
- There is now a page of full information about the GB Rowing technique seminars being held around the UK on 8th March.
- The ARA's outstanding affiiliation fees list has been updated.
- The Henley RC server is up and running again, so the results are now available in PDF or Excel formats (UK).
Thursday 19th February 2009
- Johns Hopkins University (USA) has made the unfortunate decision to cancel the men's and women's rowing programmes at the end of this spring season: the only varsity sports to be so deleted. The current students as well as alumni are organising a protest and an attempt to reverse the situation. interested parties can add their names to the online petition.
- Bishop Bavin School (South Africa) is planning to appoint a full-time head coach with effect from 4th May 2009, and would like to invite applcations from any suitable candidates, regardless of country, who would like to take on a coaching challenge. See the advert on the RS noticeboard and this full job description (PDF format) for details.
- Burton Leander have a new website at www.burtonleander.co.uk (UK).
- Scottish Rowing (UK) has put out a tender for applications to run the catering at two Strathclyde events (PDF file).
- The first Scottish Rowing newsletter is online (PDF, UK).
Wednesday 18th February 2009
- WADA officials move to allay fears over 'whereabouts' drug testing rules (Telegraph, UK).
Tuesday 17th February 2009
- A link for the Memorial Don Angelo Villa sculling challenge (Italy, 8th March).
- Initial information about the entrants for this year's FISA Team Cup (Spain, 21st-22nd February).
- A poster for the Erne Head of the River (Ireland, 7th March). If the PDF doesn't display properly, try try this version.
- Entries for the rescheduled Bedford Head have now opened on OARA (UK).
- Molesey Vets Head last Saturday was cancelled due to the state of the river (UK) but has been rescheduled to run on Sunday 1st March, 12 noon start. OARA has now been reopened until Monday 23rd Fmbruary to accept further entries. Any club that had entered for last Saturday's race is urged to contact the race secretary via this webpage to either confirm that their entry still stands, to make substitutions, or to withdraw.
- British Universities Rowing (BUR, UK) has decided to cancel their BUR Head due this Sunday, since the Trent is already running high and more bad weather is forecast. See the website for details, with more information on the Head page. They are offering a full refund, and if the weather does turn out to be good on Sunday, will help crews have a paddle at the NWSC if they want one.
- From FISA, Reed leads British trials.
Monday 16th February 2009
- Results from the GB senior trials (UK) - openweights and lightweights (both Excel files). Newslinks on the BIRO newspage.
- From FISA, World rowing tour deadlines approaching, Italy confirms coaching changes. This month's athlete in focus is Niccolo Mornati (ITA).
Saturday 14th February 2009
- LATE UPDATE: BEDFORD HEAD (UK) CANCELLED. Bedford Head will not run tomorrow, due to flooding. The organisers are canvassing clubs to see if they would be interested in rescheduling the event for Sunday 22nd February. Follow the link to send them feedback about this. Emails have been sent to all clubs entered, with the same question. Full refunds will be sent to any crews not racing.
- Sad news (UK) - Ex-OUBC oarsman Sir George Godber, who was the oldest Blue, died on 7th February aged 100. Godber rowed for Oxford in 1928 and 1929 (Cambridge won both races) and trained as a doctor, later becoming the chief medical officer of the NHS. The funeral will be at Bedford Crematorium on Friday 20th February (2:30pm) - no flowers please, but donations to the charity Fanconi Hope, via the Neville Funeral Service, 01525-406132. There was an article about Sir George in the March 2008 edition of the Rowing Voice - issue 2 of volume 2.
- The National Junior Indoor Rowing Championships (UK) will take place on 17th March at Battersea Evolution in London. The poster is online as a large PDF. Open to everyone of secondary school age, regardless of their rowing background. Entries close on Monday 9th March.
Friday 13th February 2009
- Henley Royal Regatta (UK) announced yesterday that they can no longer support the Saturday fireworks display and have withdrawn the use of their land for it. The grounds are crowd safety and damage to facilities, and if a new solution can be found they will continue to support the event as a charity.
- Due to flood risks at Peterborough, the BUCS Head is unable to run, and therefore cancelled - an alternative venue could not be found.
- The Scullery website (UK) has been updated with the details of this year's National Junior Sculling Head (Word flyer, also available online) - entries close on 23rd February. If the Henley venue is unsafe an alternative venue may be used for the race.
- Last night the Women's Eights Head (UK) had 252 entries (see below).
Thursday 12th February 2009
- Entries for the Women's Eights Head of the River (UK) close at midnight on Friday February 13th, or one 300 paid and completed entries ahve been accepted, whichever is the earlier.
- Former GB internationals Baz Moffat and Carla Ashford have started a new business, Point2Fitness, offering fitness training at Moorgate and Aldgate in the City of London, but also including rowing sessions based at Thames Rowing Club (UK). They are willing to work with sports clubs and teams on an ongoing basis, and can offer structured training, conditioning, nutrition, ergo technique including training for 2km ergo tests, trunk sessions, and free weights.
- Update from the BIshop Bavin rowing festival (South Africa, see 22nd January update) - the director of rowing at Sir William Borlase School in London, Dave Currie, has just visited the organisers and helped them review their arrangements. He has offered to give information and feedback on his visit to anyone thinking of participating - email Dave directly via this email address.
- Newark RC's Spring Head (UK, 15th March over 3km) will open on OARA on Monday 16th February. It includes the East Midlands Junior Head but is no longer just for juniors. See the new Newark website for more details.
Wednesday 11th February 2009
- A glimpse of the new British Rowing logo to be used when the ARA (UK) switches names to British Rowing later this year.
- A new enterprise, Midland Rower Servicing (UK), providing a full maintenance, repair and trade-in service for all models of Concept 2 ergs. Address 108 Robinswood Road, Aspley, Nottingham, NG8 3LD, tel 07547 469 958, email raff@midlandrowerservicing.co.uk.
- Results from the Swansea Head (UK).
- Results of the Warrington Head of the Mersey (PDF format, UK).
- From the ARA, a list of clubs whose affiliation fees are still outstanding (UK). They will be disaffiliated from 15th February if they do not pay.
- Likewise, those clubs whose safety audits are not complete (UK) will be disaffiliated on 14th February if they don't submit them urgently. Happy Valentine's Day...
- Bookings are now open for the next TSS Alec Hodges Easter sculling course (30th March to 3rd April, UK).
- Information on selection for the Thames Downriver team (Staines to Tideway juniors, UK) has been sent to the clubs concerned. If anyone who needs them has not yet received copies please meail Andy Crawford.
- Stephen and Jane Blockley are sending a flyer to as many of the ARA-affiliated clubs as possible (UK), about safety issues arising from the new RowSafe publication.
- GeTRowing, a new website which can act as a one-stop shop for rowing supplies. This is a free service to rowing suppliers, and orders placed via the website are forwarded to them directly. The enterprise is based in Australia.
- The poster for the Kingston Head of the River (PDF, UK). In the event of anything other than normal conditions, a daily update will be available on the Kingston website, from 7 days before the event.
- Rowing Canada Aviron (Canada) is now looking for a new full-time Executive Director (PDF format advert), since the previous incumbent, Ian Moss, is moving to the UK in April.
Tuesday 10th February 2009
- Results from Henley Head (UK, PDF format), though they may be unavailable due to the server going over the bandwidth limit. Also as an Excel file (same caveat). Photos from BigBlade>
- The Thames Upriver workshop on GB rowing (UK) on 8th March will be at Marlow, for coaches at clubs upstream from or above Staines BC, with a charge of £5 per person. It will run from 1:30pm to 4:30pm and include a presentation and practical demonstrations of GB Rowing technique.
Monday 9th February 2009
- The Amateur Rowing Association (UK) is to be rebranded 'British Rowing'.
- Rowing Canada Aviron (Canada) has announced the appointment of Peter Cookson as the new High Performance Director.
- The results for Durham Small Boats Head (UK) are online.
Friday 6th February 2009
- Late update - Durham Small Boats Head and the Warrington Head of the Mersey will both go ahead as planned. The Durham organisers wish to remind competitors that the forecast is very cold, so please ensure everyone involved wears suitable clothing. The marshals will enforce this and also turn back late crews to minimise time spent out on the water. The Warrington organisers say: "For once the North West has missed nearly all of the bad weather: there are patchy bits of snow left and the BBC forecast is OK".
- Wycliffe Big Head cancelled: the Wycliffe event this Saturday has been cancelled due to snow and road conditions on minor roads in Gloucestershire. Full refunds will be made to the clubs as soon as possible.
- Peterborough Head of the Nene cancelled: (UK) - another event off due to adverse weather. Refunds will be made, as stated on the PCRC website.
- For those who haven't heard via the usual contacts, the Taurus annual dinner (UK) is on Saturday 21st February, at Freuds in Oxford. For information or to book a ticket, Taurus members please contact Robbie Kennedy in Henley on 07779-639389, or Tamsin Adams in Oxford on 07967-700267. Cheques should be made payable to Taurus Boat Club and sent to Tamsin at 8 Reliance Way, Oxford, OX4 2FU. All Taurus members and their guests welcome.
- I'm told that on Sunday 8th March there will be "a series of seminars nationwide across the country given by GB rowing coaches" (UK - England and Wales). The topic is British rowing technique and coaching methods, with a format of a seminar followed by trying out methods on the water and ergs. The only specific information I have at present is for the Lower Thames seminar to be held at Molesey: see the seminar poster and application form (both Word). Other ARA regions may have similar information - contact your local ARA CDO.
- Information for northern (UK) clubs for junior inter-regional trials has been sent out to all junior contacts. The closing date is Monday 16th February - if any junior/school club in the north hasn't received them, please contact karen Howie.
- The date for the 2010 Boat Race has been set: Saturday 3rd April (Easter Saturday 2010), at 4:30pm. This will be the third year of a five-year sponsorship by Xchanging.
- From the ARA (UK), The point of the rowing status changes.
- RowTV (UK) has put clips of the Wednesday/Thursday heats from Henley Royal in the 'Jukebox' display online.
Thursday 5th February 2009
- Rowing Voice vol 2 issue 12 is ready to be downloaded. Volume 3 will begin in a few weeks time. Call for good photographs: - next issue our back page Picture of the Month will be of rowing in the snow. If you've got a good-quality snap you think would make the grade, send it in now to voice@rowingservice.com.
Wednesday 4th February 2009
- The start order for the Henley Fours & Eights Head (UK) is online, though competitors need to check the website regularly for weather updates until the day of the race.
- The start order and other information for the BUCS Champs Head (UK) are online.
- See here for the draw for the Durham SBH (UK). The organisers are monitoring weather forecasts and river levels and if cancellation looks likely they will make an announcement on the NE Rowing site and the club website.
Tuesday 3rd February 2009
- The start order for Peterborough Head (UK) is online.
Monday 2nd February 2009
- Sad news (Holland): Chris van Winden, De Telegraaf rowing/canoeing journalist, coach and great Dutch rowing personality, died last Wednesday from cancer after being ill for several months. See the memorial notice on the KNRB website and an article and reactions on the NLRoei website. KNRB are also running a condolences register. The funeral will be held this coming Wednesday.
- FISA has published the 2009 adaptive rowing classification guidelines and 2009 regulations for adaptive rowing (both PDF).
- A link for the Canadian Indoor Championships (Canada) yesterday, results already available.
- Kingston RC's Steve Molloy (UK) is running the London Marathon in aid of the Putney Samaritans: see his JustGiving page for how to donate.
- Results for Hampton 4s & 8s Head (UK), overall and by event.
- Ex-Resolute and Janousek employee Boyd Lyttle (who has also worked within Formula One and for the Aston Martin Le Mans team) has now set up Confido Racing, offering a complete boat repair service, in Wallingford (UK).
- Steve McKee (USA) is writing a regular blog 'My Rowing Heart', as he trains for the C.R.A.S.H.-B.s (world indoor champs) this year. It's in support for his book, 'My Father's Heart', as part of the raeson he now ergs is to avoid the same fate as his father, who died of a sudden heart attack aged 50, when Steve was 16. He's a good writer - go take a look.
- In yesterday's Mail on Sunday (UK), near the middle of this article, a mention of Nikolai Chernikov, who died in 1994 from a heart attack 200m from the finish line of a masters rowing race in Cologne and was awarded a posthumous gold medal when his crew carried on and won.
