Tuesday 31st January 2006
- FISA has opened nominations for the 2006 Thomas Keller medal.
- A PDF poster for the North of England Head 2006 (UK). The host club is Royal Chester, which doesn't have much bar old results on its website plus a map of the course.
- Bent Jensen and Carsten Hassing join Rowing Canada Aviron (press release on the RCA website).
- Draw for the Durham Small Boats Head (UK) is up, as Word and Excel format files.
- Weirdly, the triple-oars made for the Philips advert (see 23rd November 2005) do exist, as an RSR reader recently pointed out. Not photo-editing, but an interesting bit of engineering in Holland. To be fair, other RSR posters are a little bit dubious...
- And for those Brits who fancy their chance in the advert limelight, Casting call for male rowers - a Lucozade commercial's in the offing.
- Meanwhile, it might sound like some oarspersons' heaven, but according to the Melbourne Age (Australia), Men in Lycra Rowing Shorts is apparently not the best play on the planet. Dammit, the Slug's Rowing Romance books have more style and pzazz. (Had to get the traditional mention in - it's nearly Valentines' season after all...)
- Exeter University Alumni BC (UK) are looking to get in touch with past members of all ages for their alumni regatta or just to keep in touch with old friends. Contact is Felix Sloman.
- More thrills and spills for the Atlantic Rowing Race. That's a grand total of six unable to finish - five capsizes and one just due to damage.
- Rainlegs (first mentioned here on 18th November 2005) get another public plug.
Monday 30th January 2006
- It's terribly useful running a worldwide news service - readers are a great source of information. Following my suggestion on Saturday that Cracknell and Fogle might still have won the Atlantic Rowing Race despite penalties, another Rowing Service reader adds more colour. It's already been reported that the Crackers and Fogie's water desalinator broke when they capsized - this was several days before they finished the race. The standard output for a water-maker/desalinator is 5 litres a day, though it's likely some pairs would be able to do with less than that depending on climate, hours spent rowing, body shape etc. The question will be, how many more of their ballast containers did C&F have to break into to get enough fresh water to finish, given that three cracked containers (15 litres) is a 24-hour penalty, more than that begins to threaten a complete loss of ranking position, they had already broken into one container before the capsize, and there was 32 hours difference between them and Team C2?
- And one reader pointed out this report from the RowGirls, who say they're almost completely out of ballast water.
- A website for the Isle of Ely Rowing Club (Cambridgeshire, UK), which grew out of the Diamond44 celebrations in 2004 of the World War II Boat Race. They're holding a regatta in June over the delightful distance of 3 furlongs (3/8th mile, 603 metres) with the events including coxed double sculls.
- Results of the Quintin Head (UK).
- And results from the Thames Valley Trial Head (UK).
- The Schools' Head website has been updated for 2006 (UK) - note that it's only for the Tideway sweep head, not for the Henley sculling head the day before. Anyone have info online for this, other than via OARA?.
- Riverway Rowing Club (newly formed in Townsville, Australia) have a question. They need to instal an Albano course of 2000m and about 4 lanes wide. Does anyone have details of how these systems are moored and set up, etc? Contact Chris Cottrell if you can help.
- The Tideway Slug has updated Rabbit's Film Guide. And see the main Slug page for a good story about these brave people (UK).
Sunday 29th January 2006
- Starting to clear the backlog - a whole pile of UK notices. The rest will go up in the next day or two. I see Filippis are becoming considerably more popular on the singles-front, but there are also other things for sale, from Yole boats to ergs to blades to quads and eights.
Saturday 28th January 2006
- Storm in a waterbottle? Here is the BBC's piece Fury at 'favouritism' for Fogle (bad luck James, you just had the wrong surname for this alliterative headline). Now, in my role as Rowing Service editor, I sometimes ask interesting questions and get interesting answers. When I heard that Crackers/Fogle had broken open their water, I asked Teresa Page, spokesperson for Woodvale Events, what the Atlantic Rowing Race penalties were, since the rules (which I imagine every single competitor was given a copy of) are not posted on the Woodvale website. The reply came back on 10th January 2006 and went as follows:
"Boat No. 30 - Spirit of EDF Energy will incur a 1 hour time penalty for opening one five litre container of water ballast. Obviously, if they have to open any more containers of water ballast, the penalty will increase accordingly."
I quote verbatim from Teresa's email. No doubt she's now trying to keep the matter newsworthy by not telling reporters what the penalties are until all the crews have finished, but there's no real point. Earlier today I got this from race competitor Gearoid Towey: "For 5 litres [broken into] the penalty is 1 hour and from there it goes up to 10 litres incurs a 12 hour penalty and 15 litres is a 24 hour penalty." Clearly 1 hour (the most likely penalty given what JC & BF admitted to) is not enough to give Team C2 the doubles win. See current progress of the remaining crews here.
- Loughborough Students RC (UK) head coach Ric Colborne is running a raffle to raise money for their boat fund. The prize is a Concept 2 ergo, tickets £5 each, draw to be made on Wednesday 1st March. More details on Ric's RowGear website.
Friday 27th January 2006
- The closing date for Bedford Head (Sunday 12th Feb, UK) is likely to be earlier than advertised. The organisers have already received twice as many entries as they had done at the same stage last year and once capacity has been reached no further entries can be accepted.
- TalkRowing is running an album for Bedford Head (UK) where visitors to it can upload pictures they take at the race.
- All sorts of things about the Leo Blockley case (UK) on the rec.sport.rowing newsgroup (link is to the Google newsreader version of the group). Plus, in various places, the letters received and sent by the ARA, a response to the ARA's letter by Caroline Smith, the Leo Blockley campaign website.
- And posted by a reader of RSR, this link to a video on cold/ice water survival which may be of interest.
Thursday 26th January 2006
- Latest Schuylkill Navy News on the Boathouse Row website (USA), including details of their 4th March Schuylkill Navy Banquet, and the February 22nd Bridge to Bridge Open House.
- BUSA (UK) has published details of the 2006 BUSA Head in its 2005-6 Season's Information Pack (MS Word download). The BUSA site also contains a comment about the Concept 2 Freshers' Challenge, though no obvious results. They may be under '2005 Indoor Championships results' in the rowing section but to be honest I can't be bothered to look. BUSA - do something about your site! It's an absolute nightmare to find specific information, for any sport.
- The Vesta Veterans' Head (Sunday 27th March, UK) is now accepting entries via OARA or on paper. Closing date is 11th March (Women's Head day).
- Details for Kingston Head (March 18th, UK) are now online.
- What do former international medallists do when they retire? Well in Tom Kay's case (GBR) he sets up two businesses. One is Card Butler, just launching now, and the other is Balance - Workplace Wellbeing, which BIRO psychologist Chris Shambrook is also involved with.
Wednesday 25th January 2006
- Tickets are now on sale for the St. Peter's School York Dinner and Promise Auction (UK), with Ed Coode MBE as guest speaker. Date, Saturday February 25th, Pimms reception 7pm, tickets £40, more information from Gillian Ward (tel 01423 323564).
- St. Peter's School York (UK) are also advertising their Master i/c Rowing job, which "presents the opportunity to develop an already flourishing boat club with its own boat house situated on the banks of the River Ouse. The club has had recent national and international success. Candidates should have the ability to teach a half timetable and also be fully supportive of the ethos of this busy day and boarding school." Closing date Friday 10th February 2006, for more details please contact the headmaster's office: c/o St. Peter's School, York, YO30 6AB, tel 01904 527300, fax 01904 527302, email enquiries@st-peters.york.sch.uk.
- Entries for the new National Junior Sculling Head taking place at Henley on
Wednesday 8th March (UK) can now be made and paid for via OARA. This event is due to the Schools Head of the river becoming over subscribed and as a result the Sculling Head has moved to Henley and is being held on the day before the Schools Head which as usual is at Putney.
- A press release for the World Coastal Rowing Championships (MS Word format) taking place in Guernsey (UK) later this year.
- The Cambridge University Women's Boat Club (UK) website has been relaunched at www.cuwbc.org.
Monday 23rd January 2006
- The end of an era: Athena Rowing Club in Chester (UK) has had to disband. From my correspondent - "They had struggled on, changing from a ladies' rowing club to a junior club supported by the YMCA, moving out of their boathouse to lodge with Grosvenor RC. They finally ran out of cash and have sold their remaining boat stock to Queen's Park High School Chester." Shame.
- Some UK rowers will already know that Keith Mason (ex-OUBC amongst others) died suddenly on January 11th. The funeral service has now been arranged, and will be held at St. Mary's Church in Chartham near Canterbury, Kent, at 1pm on Friday 27th January, followed by the cremation and a get-together. The family welcome all who would like to attend, but would be grateful for an indication of the numbers coming. (As this notice was not officially requested by the family, please write to RQ at rq@rowingservice.com if you want their contact details.)
- As previously mentioned (11th Jan), Wycliffe RC (UK) is doing a 'Grandad row' to raise money for charities including Sir Steve Redgrave's Charitable Trust. See the front and back as large-ish PDFs, and there's also a downloadable Excel sponsorship form for any wishing to join Peter Daniels on his 100,000m erg attempt.
- The draw for the Thames Valley Trial Head (UK) is now online at the Marlow Regatta website, plus some TVH competitor info.
- For those wishing to enter the Durham Small Boats Head (UK), there is a running total of available places being kept at the Durham ARC website. Entries must include payment, or won't be accepted.
- A poster for the South Yorkshire Head (Saturday 11th Feb, UK). Entries via post or OARA.
- Details of the Weybridge Veteran and Junior Head (Sunday 12th March, UK) are online.
- The ARA Touring Rowers' Dinner (UK) will be held at Maidenhead RC on Saturday 11th March. All recreational rowers are welcome, and it will include an announcement of this year's ARA rec. tour. Further information from Caroline Turnbull, tel 01932 340108.
Saturday 21st January 2006
- Two rowing Olympians part of 'Most Influential Women' list (Canada, from Rowing Canada Aviron).
- Rowperfect UK are selling the Effective Sculling Technique DVD from FISA, for £26 plus £2.50 p&p.
Friday 20th January 2006
- The second Ocean to City Race is going to take place on 27th May 2006, from Crosshaven in County Cork to Cork City Marina (Ireland). Details on the link above, which is the official website for the event.
- In the USA, a philanthropic sculler aims to bring rowing to at-risk youngsters, as has been done very successfully in several inner-city programs already. He's created www.rowingsurvey.com, to ask those who row in the USA questions which will help create the necessary system. Worth a few minutes, no doubt the results will help Scullermb no end. Please note that it is very clearly for rowers in the USA only - I don't think feedback from other countries would be nearly as useful right now. The surveymeister's email address can be found on the rec.sport.rowing newsgroup posts about the subject.
- Part of a UK club and think you can prove you are the sports club making the most difference to your community? Chunks of prize money totalling £15,000 are on offer - see the Central Council of Physical Recreation site and click on the 6th January link to the application form etc. (The CCPR database doesn't like me making a direct link to it, for some reason to do with IDs and access). The same site also has a link to information about the 2003 Licensing Act and its impact, with a questionnaire clubs can fill in to demonstrate the effect of increased licensing charges on them.
- The Hammersmith head races are back (UK) after a year off - see links on the Auriol Kensington site for the Women's and Juniors' Head (Sunday 26th Feb 2:30pm) and the Hammersmith Head (Sunday 12th March 2:30pm).
- A poster for the City of Bristol Head (UK, MS Word format).
Thursday 19th January 2006
- In the Atlantic Rowing Race, Atlantic 4 are the second quartet home (last night), Spirit of EDF Energy the first double (this morning), and Team C2 have broken the 100 miles to go barrier. See the teams page for links to their individual websites, though BYM news tends to have more regular updates than some of the official sites.
- The Centre Manager's job at the River Tees Watersports Centre (Stockton-on-Tees, UK) is up for grabs. Advert, job description and application form linked from the page above.
- Clearwater Athletic (UK) aims to offer "technical performance clothing for rowing and dragon boating". Based in Manchester.
Wednesday 18th January 2006
- From FISA, Never mind the ice, keep rowing.
- Although there's nothing yet visible on the official WeHORR website, the ARA (UK) says the Women's Eights Head is assisting a fund-raising event for the Breast Cancer Haven. There's a Concept 2 erg prize draw for clubs raising over £30 this way. I would quibble with one of the ARA opening comments though - it's a little misleading. I believe the stats are such that the number of women they're suggesting will suffer from breast cancer will do so at some point in their lives, not necessarily right now. Not quite "in the Women's Eights Head, one person from each crew is likely to suffer from breast cancer" at the moment, as is implied by the wording used. But, a good cause, nevertheless.
- In the Atlantic Rowing Race, double Spirit of EDF Energy and quartet Atlantic 4 barrelling towards the finish line, less than a mile apart at the last check. They should finish sometime this evening GMT time, though usefully still in daylight Antigua time. I wonder if they can see each other - the dots are very close together on the map, even at quite high resolution... But there's been another capsize (this is definitely the worst year ever for them) - see below for the rescue of Sarah Kessans and Emily Kohl. I wonder if the rowers are going to call for an investigation into whether changes were made to the design of the standardised boats (or their loading) which caused these many flips?
Tuesday 17th January 2006
- There is a poster for Greenwich Fours Head (UK) online (MS Word format). The head is also open to eights as well as fours.
- I didn't realise that the inspiration for Chris Anton's Google Earth escapade (see yesterday) was a Dutch clubs map file (NL) courtesy of Ewoud himself. Similar comments apply.
Monday 16th January 2006
- Olympic medallist Derek Porter back in training? This report from the Canadian national training camp suggests so....
- Ken Hastie has updated the NERN results page (UK) with what must surely be the oldest results online - the finishing order for the Wear Head of 26th May 1962. Something it would be great to see more sites do - put old results online - there's a tendency to junk previous years in favour of the latest, which is less than satisfactory. And even event sites which do keep a record are content to begin with the first year they had e-results, rather than finding a way of getting older lists online. Remember you can always just scan an old paper sheet and put the image up - it may not be searchable, but since numbers are a nightmare to do OCR on, it's better than nothing.
- There is a basic starter website now online about the 50th South Coast Championship Regatta (16th September, UK). For some reason the links are non-functional at present but they have promised regular updates as it gets into working order.
- If you have Google Earth installed, you can investigate the West Midlands regatta file created by Chris Anton (inspired by Ewoud Dronkert). Chris has put together the start and finish points of all the West Midlands regattas, plus some WAGS regattas (UK), and where the resolution allowed, boating/trailer parking locations too. Neat. Note that last week Google announced a version of Google Earth for the Mac as well as their standard PC format utility.
- The Australian Institute of Sport is putting the brakes on - It's no more Mr Nice Guy as Australia blocks sport brain drain (Saturday's Times, UK).
Friday 13th January 2006
- From FISA, Guernsey to host Coastal Rowing Challenge.
- In the UK, I'm told the junior inter-regional championships (JIRC) have been confirmed for Sunday 14th May at Holme Pierrepont, Nottingham.
- An updated URL for Taupo Rowing Club (New Zealand), www.tauporowing.co.nz. Illustrated by some rather beautiful Flash animations based on doctored photographs - a different one heading each page.
- Agenda and directions for the NRC Club Development Conference (UK) are on the NERN news page.
Thursday 12th January 2006
- John Mulholland has posted up some "New Year's Resolutions" intended for the North East Rowing group (NERN, UK), but they're sensible ideas others may want to take a look at. A good way to seize the calendar moment and portray safety awareness in a slightly different way.
- LW1x world champion Marit van Eupen has been awarded the prestigious Golden Oar award (NLRoei, Netherlands, in Dutch. Translate roughly via the Babelfish website). She is the first woman ever to receive the award.
- The safety plan and some additional information for the Remenham Challenge have been published by Vesta (UK).
Wednesday 11th January 2006
- Entries for the Wycliffe Big Head (Sat 4th February, UK) are now open via OARA.
- As it happens during the Big Head Wycliffe member Peter Daniels will be trying to break his own world age-group record for a 60-69 year old man rowing 100,000 metres continuously on an erg. He set the mark at 7 hours 54 minutes 14.5 seconds last February, and is attempting to lower it, with 50% of sponsorship money raised going to Sir Steve Redgrave's Charitable Trust.
- While we're on the subject, SSR is on a specific mission this year, to break the Guinness World Record for the amount of money raised by one person at a marathon anywhere in the world. He's making the £1.2million attempt (postponed from last year so as not to distract from tsunami efforts) at the Flora London Marathon on 23rd April. The Justgiving page is open, and donations/pledges can be made online from any country. Note that UK taxpayers can add Gift Aid (governmental tax relief) to the donation free of any charge to them. Together with offline donations he's up to nearly a tenth of the total so far.
- A link for the wonderfully-named new Big Shoulders Rowing Club, based in Chicago (USA).
- James Cracknell has joined the TrainSmart operation, a business aimed at helping people lose weight (UK). There was mention yesterday in the press of some kind of challenge he's offering readers, but I can't find a link to it online at the moment.
- Hard on the heels of Ciaran Lewis and Gearoid Towey's capsize in the Atlantic Rowing Race is the news that it happened to solo rower Chris Martin in Pacific Pete on Monday. Although his shell also did not self-right as designed, he was able to get the boat turned over on his own, though has had to take blades from the support yacht to continue his journey. His report suggests a reason why the self-righting didn't occur - I hope the word spreads through the fleet of competitors.
- In their battle to win the pairs class of the Atlantic Rowing Race, Spirit of EDF Energy (James Cracknell & Ben Fogle) and Team C2 (Chris Andrews & Clint Evans) are closing fast on Atlantic 4 (David Martin, George Simpson, Glynn Coupland and Neil Wightwick), who were previously bidding to be second home after overall winners All Relative. Could get interesting.
Tuesday 10th January 2006
- World Tickets on sale - the first tickets for the 2006 World Championships at Eton are on sale from the official website (20th-27th August 2006, UK). Note that tickets are being released in stages, and at this point only the 8-day grandstand (£85) and 8-day parking (£25) tickets are available. Later this spring single-day and non-grandstand tickets will go on sale.
- Details of Quintin Head (UK), now cleared to go ahead, are online. Quintin say they also need to borrow launches - contact them via the website.
- Entries for Durham Head (UK) are open via OARA.
- A reminder that you can register online for CRASH-B's (World Indoor Rowing Championships, Boston USA, Saturday Feb 25th). Deadline is February 10th, after which the only option is a chance at entry via the bullpen. More information and a tentative schedule on the official website.
- It has been confirmed that the once-magisterial London Docklands Regatta is now definitely discontinued (UK) following a 2004 cancellation and 2005 change to a one-day event. Very sad.
- There are a few places left on the upcoming ARA coaching conference (UK).
Monday 9th January 2006
- It's all happening in the Atlantic race - the quartet "All Relative" has now landed, finishing at 3:35 GMT yesterday after 39 days, 3 hours, 35:47 minutes. The whole issue of records, which is being bruited about a lot by the press, is complex - the previous Atlantic Race record was in a double not a four, so claiming this as faster does not include all the facts, and the previous fastest crew east to west across the Atlantic (36 days and one hour) landed in Barbados not (as this time) in Antigua, so of course they've set a new mark. A word to the wise - endless subdivision of records eventually gets newspaper editors pretty annoyed - either you are the fastest ever or you aren't.... They have however definitely broken the record for the youngest person to row the Atlantic, finishing just after crewmember Martin Adkin's 20th birthday. Meanwhile Ciaran Lewis and Gearoid Towey were rescued after suffering a broken rudder cleat followed by a capsize, and the fastest doubles are now under 2 weeks away from the finish line, depending on the conditions they encounter. Some more information on the official website and updates from BYM News.
- Ever heard of the Champiot Ultra, the Great Rowing Machine on Wheels? An American contraption more like skiffing than rowing - the only use of the legs that I can see (even on the Ultra version) is to turn the cart. The Armpower version has non-leg steering, for those with lower limb disabilities. However, if you don't mind developing your shoulders at the expense of all else, quite cute. A brief article on it in Gizmag magazine (UK), which has quite a list of bizarre vehicles in its Urban Transport section.
- Allan Whitwell (UK) has started up a new webpage about La Carrere, his training venue in France on the River Lot. Sculling camp places available for Easter, summer and autumn this year.
- A piece about a new style of PLA launch (UK) which should be popular when it starts being used on the Thames this coming autumn. As the correspondent who pointed this out to me commented - "three provisional cheers?!"
- Information about Stourport's Winter Head are available on the Stourport BC website. Plus a very neatly devised table showing exactly which categories are available - a simple but effective idea more posters could copy.
- Details of Tyne Head (UK) are on the NERN website.
- The Wappingers Crew Club in the Hudson Valley (USA) is holding a rowathon from 12noon to 6pm this Saturday (Jan 14th) to raise money for the club and the Dutchess County American Cancer Society. They're aiming to row 75 miles on ergs during the stint.
- Shortie - apparently Turkey's Rowing Federation has improved its organisation by creating a General Board of management for the first time.
Friday 6th January 2006
- Pictures of the Clyde Festive Paddle (Scotland) on the Clyde RC website. I am told: "It was well attended to name the Raymond F Dixon coxed four and take a paddle in the new eight. The Emergency Services were also present - not to preserve life or peace, but to try the ergos on sliders. Did the Humane Society out-row the cops? It would be immodest to say...."
Thursday 5th January 2006
- University of London BC (UK) are looking for a coach to bring on the development squad. Part time position, £40 a session, (or?) £1000 a month. Contact Rusty Williams on russwill{at}aol.com or on 07785 564332.
- Bad news for Nottingham (UK) in this Evening Post piece - Tide turning against Holme - and related links (see to left of article). I would suggest Brits with an interest in being able to race properly multilane in mid-UK do need to consider how best to help save one of our hardest-working courses. Nottingham may have its problems but a finished course is still miles better than one being promised 10 years hence.
- Ron Rantilla has started a new Amazing Rowing Stories section on his website. The top one at the moment is a description of the 11,000-rower Sulkava Rowing Race (Finland), thought to be the biggest regatta competitor-wise in the world, with races up to 70km long (including an overnight camp on a Finnish island).
- This spring's Thames Regional Rowing Council seminars are now listed on the TRRC website (UK).
- The second part of the BBC2 remake of "Three Men in a Boat" is tonight (9pm, UK), during which the three intrepid comedians (and dog) encounter the Wallingford RC Pubs regatta and try and race the ladies' novices. No prizes for guessing who wins. Sadly, so far the rather dour programme doesn't seem to capture the light-hearted enjoyment the jokers evidently found in swanning up the Thames in late summer.
- This year's Remenham Challenge (Tideway, UK) is being hosted by Vesta, on Sunday 22nd January. There is no river closure, but two divisions (9:30am and 11:00), with a course downstream from Barnes Bridge to Ranelagh SC. Vesta would like to alert other river users to the event, which will have a total of 50 crews marshalling between Barnes and Chiswick Bridges, racing in divs of 25. More details on the Vesta website soon.
Wednesday 4th January 2006
- A claim from Dr. Valery Kleshnev that rowing records will become harder to beat (EIS, UK).
- Bridgnorth RC (UK) have a funky-coloured new website, with some shameless tat-showing-off on the front page. A particularly clear section for new members.
- The Bedford blades page (UK) shows as many blades as possible from the UK clubs list. Note you should ask permission before using them on your own website, as the author has generated the artwork.
- Teeside University rowing alumni (UK) are invited to join an alumni crew for the BUSA Sprints on Monday 1st May 2006. Anyone interested should contact James Andrews.
- From FISA, Top rowing coach shares his thoughts, Rowing on Christmas Day? Of course!, Indoor rowing world record broken (Sophie Balmary takes the open women's 2000m time down to 6:28.4), and Lightweight rowing stands out in awards.
- The British rowing calendar has been updated for 2006 (UK).
- For the UK sports aficionados, an amusing piece about the BBC SPOTY award.
Tuesday 3rd January 2006
- Happy Christmas, Merry New Year, cheery hangovers and a swift resuscitation from the 'flu (yes, that's why the RS has been out of action), to all readers. So, let's plough on into 2006 and see what's going on.
- 29th January sees the Thames Valley Trial Head (UK), details on the Marlow regatta site. Club and university categories separate for a number of boat classes, plus open pairs, and various juniors/vets events.
- The North East Rowing News website (UK) has added a tips and tricks page about repainting blades. Useful stuff.
- Tonight on BBC2 (UK) the first of a two-part re-enactment of Three Men in a Boat by Griff Rhys Jones, Dara O'Briain, Rory McGrath and dog Loli.
- The NZ M2-, W2- and W2x have been put through as finalists for the Halberg Team of the Year award in New Zealand, up against the All Black rugby squad. It's apparently put the rugby league team's nose rather out of joint... More from NZ City and NZ Herald. Coach Dick Tonks and singles champion Mahe Drysdale have also been nominated in their respective categories.
- It has apparently been decided that Westchester County (NY, USA) is to host the 2007 Empire State (ie NY state) Games, and to include rowing. The dates are 24th-27th July 2007.
- New Year's Honours - Robert Platt, President of Bann Rowing Club in Coleraine (Northern Ireland), gaines an MBE in the list. A story from BBC News (UK).
