Wednesday 31st January 2007
- An advertisement for a talent development coach in the Ulster Branch Irish Amateur Rowing Union (Ireland). BIg file in Word format (due to logos): closing date is 9th February and interviews will be held in the week starting 26th February.
- James Cracknell to open new University sports facility (Reading University press release, UK).
- From FISA, Indoor rowing battle of the Danes - junior champion and Danish Rower of the Year Henrik Stephansen beat senior world champions Eskild Ebbesen and Mads Rasmussen, spicing up the quest for the LM4- seats.
- Missed from Monday: 36 rowers rescued after boats flip over (Standard, Hong Kong). RSR correspondents say the article is inaccurate: see this thread for more details.
- The annual ARA Touring Rowers Dinner will be on Saturday 10th March at Leander (UK). Those interested can email Caroline Turnbull via weyfarers@aol.com or download the booking form (PDF format) on the ARA website. "Anyone interested in recreational and touring rowing is welcome to come", says CT.
- Mentioned on rec.sport.rowing recently, Jamoja.com, an 'online rowing community' (USA). It's another of these multisport artificial communities, some of which take off and others fall flat - it will be interesting to see if this survives. At least they publish a proper address and phone number, though no names alas, and it seems the site is about generating funds, volunteers and interest for inner-city sports camps in Florida to start with. (Today Florida, tomorrow the world?) Their privacy policy sucks, though.
Tuesday 30th January 2007
- The draw for the Wycliffe Big Head (3rd Feb, UK) is available in a variety of formats, including by individual event online and as PDFs.
- Start order and competitor instructions for Thames Valley Trial Head (4th Feb, UK) are now available.
- Advanced ticket bookings can now be made on the Under-23 World Champs website at www.U23-2007.com. Shame they don't include the dates of the regatta visibly on the homepage and bookings page: it's Thursday 26th to Sunday 29th July inclusive, for those who don't know. (Hint to event webmasters - put the date in the main headline visible on all pages, it's very helpful).
- William O'Chee (OULRC, UK) would like members of his 1987 Oxford lightweight men's crew to contact him in the hope of organising a reunion on the 20th anniversary of their race. He can be contacted at wochee@knights-india.com and also phoned on +61 7 33150668 but now lives in Australia, so note that he's 10 hours ahead of GMT and the best time to phone is 6-10:30pm his time.
- I hear rumour that the documentary Lantern Film's 'Row Hard No Excuses' about John Ziegler and Tom Mailhot's Trans-Atlantic Rowing Race experience (USA) won something at the Sundance or Slamdance film festivals, but there's no sign of it on either press release. It's had good reviews, though.
- More on the FISA story in the UK press (see yesterday's top link) - Britain's women awarded quad gold (RQ, Telegraph, UK), GB quad awarded gold medals after Russian drugs ban (JG and MR, The Times, UK), Belated gold for Britain after Russian fails drug test (Martin Cross, Guardian, UK), Russia drug test elevates GB crew (BBC Sport, UK), Russian's drugs ban gives gold to Grainger (Mike Haggerty, Scotsman, Scotland), Brits bag gold after Russian's drug ban (This is London, UK). And Aussie women's team claim silver (syndicated, Australia), Olga gets ban, Russians stripped of title (Supersport, South Africa), Russian rower gets two-year ban: Russians stripped of world gold in quadruple sculls (International Herald Tribune, France), Russian W4x forfeit gold medals after positive drugs test (Row2k, USA).
- Other headlines: Seattle rower qualifies for world indoor rowing championships (Row2k, USA), Rowing team on track (Yachting World, UK), Row for the Cure (George Pocock Rowing Foundation press release, USA), Timaru rowers take u-16 quad title (Timaru Herald, NZ), Rowing through the Med.... in Greasley Sports Centre (Eastwood Advertiser, UK), Rowing coxswains: a voice of reason (TexasSports, USA), For many women, rowing 'just grabs you' (News Journal, USA), Happy with medals but wrong colour (Gisborne Herald, NZ), City's top sport (Manning River Times, Australia), Buccaneering family to the fore (Marlborough Express, NZ), Central eight wins open event in creditable time (The Press, NZ), Kurrawa collect another surfboat victory (Gold Coast Bulletin, Australia, surf-rowing just for a change), Washington women shine in home meet (Seattle Times, USA), All about attitude (Sunday Times, Sri Lanka).
- And finally... a new book featuring rowing in a small way, called The River Killings - link is to a pretty sniffy review, but it might amuse some readers if the rowing content is serious.
Monday 29th January 2007
- Late update: - Russian positive drugs test hands British women world gold.
- Slightly worrying: Pensioner overboard in Severn rowing accident (Worcester News, UK).
- Results of the Northampton Head of the Nene (27th Jan, UK) are online.
- The draw for the Durham Small Boat Head (UK) is available in PDF or Excel format.
- And results from Quintin Head (28th Jan, UK).
- Plus results from the Western Eights Head (27th Jan, UK, PDF format).
- City of Cambridge RC's Head to Head results from the week before (UK) are available in PDF or Excel format.
- The deadline for consultation on the Low Emission Zone in London (UK) is 2nd February according to the ARA. See article for details which may affect London clubs.
- From FISA, Dutch Grande Dame of rowing passes and Danish lightweight four on the build.
Friday 26th January 2007
- Boat Race sad news - Albert Andrews, for more than three decades the boatman for successive OUBC race crews, died yesterday (UK). His funeral is being held at 11:15am on Friday 2nd February at the Oxford Crematorium, with a gathering afterwards (approx. 12 noon) at City of Oxford Rowing Club beside Donnington Bridge, Oxford.
- It's that kind of day. An obituary for Sid Clay, AKRC member and President of the Head of the River Fours, who died earlier this month.
- A message for friends of Light Blue Miles Barnett (UK).
- Courtesy of La Slug's twitching feelers, the United Hospitals Winter Regatta (London, UK) is scheduled for Sunday 28th January between the UL boathouse and Mortlake Anglian, start time 10:30 and final race around 15:30. Local river users beware.
Thursday 25th January 2007
- The poster for the Cardiff Head of the Taff (Wales, UK, warning big PDF file).
Wednesday 24th January 2007
- A poster for the Reading Head (PDF format, race Sat 10th March, UK).
- RoCat's rowing catamaran hull is a runner-up in the Sports category of the JEC Innovations Composites Awards 2007. The awards ceremony is being held on 3rd April at the Musee d'Orsay in Paris (France).
- Results of the first leg of the Cambridge Winter League (UK) are online.
- Imperial College BC (London, UK) have a vacancy for a rowing assistant - full details on the website. Closing date 9th February, interview date 19th February.
- The Powerpoint presentations from the 2007 Northern Rowing Council Club Conference (UK) are now available on the NRC website. Participants in the conference are also encouraged to fill in the feedback form (MS Word format) and send it back to Rob Cree.
Tuesday 23rd January 2007
- Entries are open for the Women's Eights Head (Sat 17th March, UK) which has its own online entries system. The closing date is 25th February at midnight but crews are encouraged to enter early to make sure they get in. The entry system should have been improved following last year's feedback, and it now calculates the veteran category automatically once you have entered crew-member details. There is once again a competition to raise money for the Breast Cancer Haven, with a prize draw for a set of Magik Oarlocks into which any crew raising over £30 will be entered.
- A poster for the South Yorkshire Head (Sat 10th Feb, UK).
- The ARA (UK) is doing a review of its online entry system, and wants input from users. There is a consultation document (PDF format) and the user group driving the review meets again on 3rd February. Comments to oara@ara-rowing.org on anything in the document.
- A full press release from the Nat Champs (UK) on the changes to the racing programme in 2007. Headlines - all J14 and J15 finals will be on Saturday, and there will be 1750m time-trials for all events with 25+ entries at the closing date. Timetrials will be held on Friday (junior) and Saturday (all senior and some junior) and only the top 12 crews will go forward to the semi-finals. NRC have also published a useful Q & A about the changes.
- From FISA, Youth Olympics and rowing.
Monday 22nd January 2007
- Late update (UK): - Stourport Boat Club has had to cancel the Stourport Winter Head (Jan 28th). They say: "Although the river is likely to come down we are advised that it would not be low enough to race on safely." They will destroy any cheques that have been sent.
- From the BBC (UK), GB rowers lead medal haul and GB rowers top Sydney medal table. The short piece the Telegraph took from me was left out for the moment (I'm hoping for it to go in today) so here are the British team results in full in Telegraph format. For full results see the AYOF07 website - rowing is split into Saturday and Sunday PDF sheets.
- UK rowers wrap up warm - the cold snap we're just going into has high wind-chill factors, and it will feel like sub-zero most of this week. Lots of layers so you can adjust body temperature, and make sure coaches let you stop if you need to put more on. Coxes and coaches too.
- The start order for Quintin Head (27th January, UK) is now online. Instructions for competitors available shortly. NOTE: "The race is from Chiswick Bridge to Hammersmith Bridge at 11.30 on Saturday, with the 60-odd crews being marshalled between Chiswick Bridge and UL. Since the river will not be closed, the organisers would be very grateful if any other crews who are in the vicinity would allow the competing crews plenty of room."
- The Wycliffe Big Head (3rd February, UK) is now full and the entries have closed. OARA will stay open for a few days to allow online payment, but new entries will be scratched. The draw will be circulated to clubs via their OARA contact email address before the weekend.
- Rowing Ireland are looking for a High Performance coach (MS Word document, Ireland). Deadline for applications is Friday 23rd January 2007.
- There's an opening for another UK community sports coach (MS Word, big file), this one at Hexham.
- From the Scottish Amateur Rowing Association, a spreadsheet of the athletes invited to the 17th February Scottish trial (Excel format), and information for triallists (PDF). Those who want to attend should notify the Scottish team manager by Weds 31st January.
- Details of the 50th Erne Head of the River (3rd March, Ireland), including the celebratory dinner being held that evening, to which the competitors are also invited. Sounds like a great plan.
- A link to the South African Rowing Championships (RSA), this year being held at Roodeplat.
- Minutes of the Northern Rowing Council meeting are now on the NERN website (UK): committee meeting minutes, Div Rep report, CDO report and the coaching commissioner's report (all Word docs).
- Entries are now open on OARA for the South Yorkshire Head on 10th February (UK). Closing date is 3rd February.
- Grosvenor Rowing Club, Chester (UK) is embarking on a major fundraising project. Ex-members, friends and supporters are asked to help. Donations, ideas, offers of help and applications to join the 200 club etc should be sent to the fundraising group at grcfund@yahoo.co.uk.
- Rowing headlines: Victim of MS 'rows to Japan' (Glasgow Daily Record, UK), Rowing deserves varsity label (News Record, UK), Champions on rack as Scottish sport faces funding meltdown (Herald, UK), Joy as the heavens open (Bendigo Advertiser, Australia), Crash-Bobs inspire activity (Boston Globe, USA), VN documentary grabs award (Viet Nam News, Vietnam), Money matters make athletics take running jump (Observer, UK, pertinent comments by footballer David James), Shirley sees life beyond the ocean wave (Independent, UK, with mention of former rower Annie Lush), Southern boy living a dream (New Zealand Herald, NZ), Atlantic rowing bid alters course (BBC News, UK), A commute over troubled water (Washington Post, USA), New Bell CEO gets his bearings (Star Telegram, USA), KHS rowing team tries to stay afloat (Kingston Daily Freeman, USA), Floods hit Australia's central desert (China Post, Taiwan), Al Matla'a 2 and Al Yah steal the show in rowing race (Gulf News, United Arab Emirates), Rowers return from winter training trip, prepare for season (Murray State News, USA), Indoor rowing record to Danish lightweight (WorldRowing, FISA), Linda on crest of a wave after completing rowing marathon (Hawick News, UK), County duo on elite course (Worcester News, UK), 8 seconds key to weight loss (News.com, Australia), Kiwi athletes shine at Youth Olympics (Newswire, NZ), HF-L's Eiffert makes waves with crew team (Rochester Democrat & Chronicle, USA), Rowers return from winter training trip, prepare for season (Murray State News, USA), Red Bank vows action to halt river pollution (Asbury Park Press, USA), Cold snap skewers navel orange market (The Day, USA), Mickelson adds to trophy case in huge 2006 (Seattle Post Intelligencer, USA), China looks to reality TV to find Olympic team members (Peninsula Online, Qatar), JK Rowing team qualify for quarterfinal (Greater Kashmir, India - and no, it's not a spelling mistake), City rivers - perception versus reality (Scoop, NZ), MRC rowers get early college acceptance (Norwalk Citizen, USA), Turning the hard men of sport into teddy bears (The Times, UK), Mullin to compete in the Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race for Oxford University (a jumping-the-gun headline from Boston University, USA), Unsung crew team builds upon success (Daily Beacon, USA), Ragnar Hegna, 80, Golden Eight crew member (Row2k, USA), Women's rowers going to court to save team at UC (syndicated, USA), Gold medal favourites for coxless four are broken up (This is Bradford, UK).
- And Helping dyslexics (a letter from Sir Steve Redgrave to the Telegraph, UK, last week).
Thursday 18th January 2007
- Blowin' in the wind - weather forecasting (well, a 'climate data logger') comes to Dorney (UK).
- From FISA, China coxswain reality show slims down. Interesting that the current Chinese women's cox is taking part.
- The ARA has a vacancy for an administration assistant (UK).
- Other headlines: In a class of their own (Maidenhead Advertiser, UK), Flooding at Shiplake College sports ground (Reading Evening Post, UK), Rowers with a cause (Toronto Star, Canada), Title IX still a cause for controversy (Daily Evergreen, USA), Women's rowing not done fighting (News Record, USA), Making waves (The State, USA), Stars of new Chinese reality show just want to direct Olympic rowers (Wall Street Journal, USA, full article only available to subscribers), Sinclair has shot at Sport BC repeat (Burnaby Newsleader, Canada), Eade to carry flag at Youth Olympics (Scoop, NZ), Vic and his crew hoping for gold (Sunshine Coast Daily, Australia), Film about Title IX pioneer, 'A Hero for Daisy', to screen Jan 19 (Middlebury College News, USA), Guelph Lake could be home to rowers (Guelph Mercury, Canada), Boatyard blaze causes £120,000 damage (South Wales Argus, UK), Britain's Fab Four rowers are split up for their own good (an unattributed and partly speculative piece in the Daily Mail, UK - apparently Ian Stafford in the Mail on Sunday), Gold Rush (Guardian, UK), Dom Mee speeding to Barbados on target for a record (Somerset County Gazette, UK), Marlborough rowers among Otago winners (Marlborough Express, NZ), Thredbo evacuated (Daily Telegraph, Australia), Tributes flow in for Russell Sage (Bucks Free Press, UK), Blind water-skier's war on lakeland speed limit (Stockport Express, UK).
Wednesday 17th January 2007
- Soren Krogh Hansen is one of 16 Danish women rowers from Danske Studenters Roklub in Copenhagen planning to enter the Women's Head of the River (UK) on 17th March. They are looking for two eights to borrow: if this works, they aim to bring a couple of eights over each year. The women are aged 23 to 40, all experienced rowers. If anyone can help them please email Soren directly.
- A reader points out that the Sunday Telegraph article I linked on Monday includes a video clip of GB rowers erging and skiing at St Moritz.
- Llandaff RC (Wales, UK) also has a webcam for rowers who want to check the conditions before they go out. Llooking pretty rowablle today... Other webcams in the UK include the Menai Straits where the University of Bangor rows (Wales), and the one in Bedford (link from Bedford RC, apparently stolen from Bedfordshire Schools). Sadly London RC's useful Putney webcam seems to have been stopped.
- Spreading the love: there will be a indoor rowing coaching course held on the Scilly Isles (UK) on Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th January - see link for details.
- An update on the rowing-boat-bits-for-sale (UK, Monday). A reader has had the following answer from the seller: ""I was given these items after they were donated to a round table bonfire event but were never taken to the bonfire sight so after being instucted to skip them i thought they may be of salvage to someone.There are two markings on to sections one reads LRC the other JUBILEE 77 and yes they were given to me to do with as i will. Thanks for looking. "
- Rowing in the press: Athletics and events center planned at IC (Ithaca Journal, USA), Wetzel on quest to row in Beijing (Star Phoenix, Canada), Atlantic challenge for Mee (Yachting World, UK), Officialdom makes it a transatlantic fiasco (Tenerife News, Spain), Chance for truly memorable Games sacrificed (Herald, UK), Top rowers paddle on Eastern Bay waters (1XX Whakatane, NZ), 40 clubs take to the river (Manning River Times, Australia), Rugby pitches become rowing lake (BBC News, UK), Anthony felicitates army's Asian Games medallists (RxPG News, India), Back surgery didn't end Jake Wetzel's quest to row in Beijing Olympics (widely syndicated, Canada), Two coasts, two clubs, too bad for the rest of us (Row2k, USA), Gilbert's row to the Paralympics (WorldRowing, FISA), Pupils stick their oar in (News Shopper, UK), Changing of the guard looms (Daily Post, NZ), Bubbling with confidence (third item, The Australian - only mildly relevant but quite amusing).
Tuesday 16th January 2007
- Due to the high river levels in the Thames Valley (UK), new novice classes have been added to the Thames Valley Trial Head held on 4th February at Dorney Lake. Max. number of boats is 100 per division so early entry is advised. A fourth overflow division will be held if over 300 entries are received. Entries can be made via the Marlow regatta website - the organisers say "OARA is not being used on this occasion because of the unique pricing arrangement with Dorney Lake."
- City of Swansea (UK) are launching a new Small Boats Head on Sunday 11th February, over 2300m on the River Tawe from Swansea Marina. Divisions at 11:30am and 2pm. Entries to Bill Gannon by 8pm on Sunday 4th February or call 01792 849456. There is also a poster (Word format).
- The University of Limerick boat club (Ireland) is altering the terms of its Paddy Dooley scholarship so that there is a single 4000-euro scholarship each year. Terms and conditions have changed - see the Word-format press release linked above.
- A new organisation called the English Sport'ers Club has started (UK) which "helps to generate income and mutual benefit for business and sports alike". Rowing clubs are invited to join to get various benefits, and business to contribute money and also get benefits. See the Trytime website for full details, though if you can't find your way round their fairly byzantine links, the information for clubs, information for individuals and products for businesses pages may be more helpful. To sign up, visit the YourBenefit website. I really don't know what to make of this. It could be a great idea, it might be one of those rather flawed ideas which works better for a few percent of clubs than it does for most: it could be anything. Concise feedback from RS readers who have tried it would be welcomed. The Welsh Sports Association has already signed up, and there is a information document which WSA employee David Cotton is sending out, to invite the formation of an English version (MS Word format).
- The Maidenhead RC webcam (UK) shows the extent of flooding in Maidenhead and how fast the Thames is at the moment.
- The draft programme of events for the North Eastern Club Development Conference (UK) is online - Word format.
Monday 15th January 2007
- UK flooding: pictures of Stourport and Bewdley from Chris Anton, who says the entire Severn is unrowable at present.
- And in the discussion on RSR, Paul Pattenden has posted this this rather gorgeous picture of the Severn at Shrewsbury (Pengwern, UK). He says the weird water effect is the result of merging lots of photos - very evocative of the Thames at the moment. Meanwhile Bristol Docks are showing off (water can't get in) and so is Birmingham (not enough water in the reservoir yet after they drained it to do some work).
- I erred slightly in not including the Excel events and entry form for the Hinksey Dry Regatta (see Friday 12th Jan news, UK). Both poster and form are online now.
- A reader points out this auction of wooden rowing shell bits from someone in Oxford (UK). He and I are both wondering whether this person is the owner of said bits, or just taking advantage of what looks like unwanted items to try and raise a bit of cash. If the seller is legitimate and a rower (and to be legitimate obviously a committee member of one of the local rowing clubs) then perhaps they could identify said club and make things more official.
- Rowing headlines: Students pay $75 to row at boat club (Detroit Free Press, USA), Peta and her paddle earn win (Border Mail, Australia. Paddle?! Pah!), Rowing duo taking on the world (Auckland Times, NZ), Life's a beach now for Danielle and Gordon (catch up on the antics of former Cambridge rowers with the Chichester Observer, UK), Timaru rowers to fore (Timaru Herald, NZ), Aramoho claims Rosebowl (Wanganui Chronicle, NZ), Rowing's Fab Four to become a coxless six as fight for places hots up (Simon Hart, Sunday Telegraph, UK), Flooded pub brings in regulars by boat (Worcester News, UK), World-class expertise to benefit local juniors (Daily Post, NZ), Boaters hit by 12 per cent rise (Cambridge Evening News, UK), Brian's rowing to raise thousands (Peterborough Evening Telegraph, UK), Ooh, you lot are oarful! (The Sun, who else?, UK), Last workout for Youth Olympics duo (Timaru Herald, NZ), Wearing Maple Leaf 'an amazing experience' (Langley Times, Canada), Rowing club forced to delay super draw (The Corkman, Ireland), Rower makes waves in Aussie time trial (Cycling News, third item), Maccabi seeks Jewish athletes (Cleveland Jewish News, USA), Rowers club to remain afloat (Mosman Daily, Australia), Rowing team recruitting (sic, Eastern Echo, USA), Warrington youngsters considered to be potential 2012 Olympians (Northwich Guardian, UK), East Side park gets face-lift, water fun (Columbus Dispatch, USA).
Saturday 13th January 2007
- Due to severely unsafe river conditions, Star Club have had to cancel their head scheduled for tomorrow (Sunday 14th Jan, UK), for the second time. They send their thanks and apologies to all the clubs and competitors who entered for the second time.
- Entries for Wycliffe Big Head (Sat 3rd Feb, UK) are now open on OARA. The organisers say: "The amount of water will not be a problem as the event is on a canal, however high winds (if they continue) will give problems."
- Posters online for the Hammersmith Women's and Juniors Head (25th Feb, UK) and Hammersmith Head (18th March).
- A sneak look at the Siemens 2006 Christmas card. I gather the fog's fake, the rowers are real, the hats are also real (blush with shame, boys). Bowside from the GB LM4-, stroke side Dave Currie and Ali Leighton-Crawford.
- Chris Dodd to run for US President (MSN), another from the slightly demented Rowing Service contributor who doesn't have enough of a life. Ho ho.
Friday 12th January 2007
- Late update: - a host of new UK notices, with el backlog cleared up. There are ergs, eights, fours, singles, blades, bikes, seats, DVDs, shoes, two SpeedCoaches, a seat cover and various other stuff for sale; coaches, boats, blades etc. wanted. Singles offered include Lola, Stampfli, Sims, Empacher, Spartan, Filippi, Glyn Locke, Aylings, Janousek, George Sims, Laser, Hudson, Languin, Resolute, various wooden shells plus one bloke with two Empachers and three Burgashells to sell.
- Hinksey Sculling School (UK) are hosting the Oxford Schools Dry Rowing Competition on Sunday 4th February in Wheatley. Information and entry details are available as a Word file.
- Entry information for the BUSA Head on 25th February (Word format, UK) is online.
- The Irish Times Sports Awards of 2006 (see yesterday) will be awarded tonight in Dublin (Ireland).
- A Rowing Service reader points out that it might be useful to swap information about water conditions in the UK. He contributes that the Taff and Wye are in flood at the moment, he thinks the Severn might be, and I can vouch that the Thames is full to the point where some lower-lying rafts are under water in some areas, making it a bit of a lottery which reaches are rowable. The Thames is certainly redboarded throughout, which means if you are rowing you are doing so against the advice of the EA and possibly invalidating your insurance unless you have made a specific arrangement and risk assessment with them for rowing in high stream. I note from the EA website that the Ouse, Great Ouse, Severn, Swale, Ure, Vyrnwy and Wye are all under "flood warning" which means they think people's houses are likely to get wet, let alone rowing clubs/rafts/fields.
Thursday 11th January 2007
- Sinead Jennings and Niamh Ni Cheilleachair have been nominated for the 2006 Irish Times Sportswoman of the Year (Ireland), as the nominees for the month of June. It's unclear when the overall winner will be announced.
- Several rowers have won BUSA awards (UK).
- Amber Bradley was shortlisted for the West Australian ANZ Sports Star of the Year (Australia), but pole vaulter Paul Burgess won.
- More quiet takeovers of other sports: former rower Andy Geiger has been made Vice-Chairman of USA Boxing (USA).
- Headlines - A life in sport: Colin Smith (Sarah Edworthy, Telegraph, UK), All aboard for a second trip on the ocean's waves (Richmond & Twickenham Times, UK), Novel combination (Mid Sussex Times, UK), CNN International chief to step down (Atlanta Journal-Constitution, USA, see end of piece), Crew team holds recruitment drive (Independent Florida Alligator, USA), Icy storm, dicey commute (HeraldNet, USA, not really rowing but for once a picture of a sculler to illustrate a general article), Social club to stay afloat (Village Voice, Australia), Celtic, boatbuilding festivals coming this summer to Belfast (Village Soup, USA), Four head for the top (Hunts Post, UK), Guwahati ready for Games (The Hindu, India), Reflecting back on 2006 in rowing (WorldRowing, FISA), Olympic training sites identified (BBC News, UK), New boat boost for Ireland's rowers (Irish Post, UK), Hobson's choice for paddlers (Auckland Stuff, NZ), Sreesanth felicitated by Kerala govt (India Times, India), Aspiring young athletes gain financial support from Aussie company (Emediawire, USA), Your views (letter in the Huntsville Times, USA), Weeroona almost dry (Bendigo Advertiser, Australia), West Buckland explorer on course for record (Somerset County Gazette, UK), Oswald's influence recognised (WorldRowing, FISA), 'Madman' on board in bid for Atlantic record (The Herald, UK).
- ARA abolished (BBC, UK) - no, not really, but one of the Rowing Service readers thinks the confusing acronym makes the article sniggerable.... Well, it's a slow news day.
Wednesday 10th January 2007
- Poplar Regatta (UK) has been shifted to Sunday 13th May, a week earlier than planned. Details on the Poplar website.
- The UK Surfboat Rowing League (UK) is looking for a graphic designer who could think up and produce a poster idea for their 2007 UK Surfboat Championship. Logos and sponsors' details already in place, they need an overall theme and someone to execute it. Interested artists apply to Peter Gaisford.
- Another hi-tech invention: the OarTec Rowing Simulator (Australia) for sweep and scull simulation. Like an updated version of the old rowing machines you can still occasionally find in some of our centenarian clubs, but adjustable for both types of rowing, equipped with a proper monitor, and with variable resistance.
- At least one of them puts it down to rowing/friends voting: no idea about that, but it's amusingly suspicious that all three former rowers in the list have won places on the London Triathlon Academy (UK, see 18th December for previous mention). That's three of the four places going to ex-rowers.... The decision was made on votes not ability, once they'd reached the short-list. Good luck to all three.
- A Rowing Service reader drew my attention to this Telegraph article (UK), which includes the lines: ""So, in 2007, I'd like to encourage urban men to try Moroccan fisherman therapy. I observed that men were - are - happy in the open air, being useful, working in teams, testing another element, setting off with a goal in mind, being extremely physical, feeling properly used." Substitute 'rowing' for the sport, and you've got his 'perfect idea of what we all get from rowing'. Agreed.
Tuesday 9th January 2007
- The London Youth Rowing film is being shown on TV this week (UK) - Sky digital channel 539, freeview channel 87, the Community Channel, during five half-four programmes called V for Vounteer. The bit featuring London Youth Rowing is on Tuesday 9th January at 6:30am, 10:30am, 6:30pm and 10:30pm, and again on Sunday 14th January at 2pm. If anyone would like their own copy of the film please contact Matt Rostron.
- Powerhouse kit manufacturers (Ireland, UK and Europe) have a brand spanking new website. The address is http://www.powerhousesport.com but those who use the old URL will be redirected for a while at least.
Monday 8th January 2007
- Leo Blockley's parents have started a buoyancy retrofitting section on the memorial website (UK), in which they invite contributions and advice. They've kicked it off with Carl Douglas's retrofitting technical points available as a Word document and as a PDF.
- Shocking news: the Essen rowing centre's Albano laning cables have been stolen from where they were stored over Christmas (Germany). A report here in German on the Rudern1 website. Unless replacements come in time, the loss could make the annual international regatta in May pretty difficult. The centre is run by Essener Ruder Regattaverein e.V. and they can be contacted via the website if anyone can help.
- News headlines - Maestro still looks for monster wave (surfboat rowing from the Age, Australia), Uganda: Ofoyuru is canoeing top boss (All Africa - yes it is a rowing story, part of the regular disputes over who heads which sports in Uganda and Kenya), Lucy's off to Oz (icWales, UK), Dom Mee's Atlantic record attempt (Yachting World, UK), Murder suspect on suicide watch (an update on Neil Entwistle, icNewcastle, UK), Transportation among issues facing city (Burnaby Newsleader, Canada), The engine room (The Age, Australia, about Dana Faletic changing sports. Betting on her versus Rebecca Romero in a year or so, anyone?), Rowers target Olympic success (Cambridge Evening News, UK), Boathouse navigates rough vote (Huntsville Times, USA), Cracknell to compete in coast to coast (Radio New Zealand, NZ), Waiariki launches sport academy (Daily Post, NZ), 2007 USRowing Masters national championships to be held in Oak Ridge, Tennessee (SFC Presspoint, USA), Elite rowers hit our roads (Hawkes Bay Today, NZ), Unofficial indoor rowing record for Balmary (World Rowing, FISA).
- Plus I can't really resist this - not entirely relevant, but quite funny: A manly look at the world (Monterey Herald, USA). And this mention of a new US TV show called 'I'm From Rolling Stone' sounds interesting (see third paragraph). The oarsman in question is Peter Maiden, former Berkeley rower.
Friday 5th January 2007
- There's been some discussion in the UK press about the new EU regulations putting paid to the 5-year Thames Waterman apprenticeship - this article in the Guardian on New Year's Day is an example. The reference it makes to the Doggett's Coat & Badge race is slightly inaccurate, since it gives the impression the race is mandatory for all apprentice watermen. In fact only a few choose to do it each year, no more than 5 since 2000. How the race will be affected depends on the definition of apprentice: it could broaden the opportunity to become eligble for it, but the Fishmonger's Company which hosts the races expects little change.
- The European Sculling Camp in Ratzeburg (Germany) run by Dutch coach Carla Beekman, is expanding due to interest, with five different weeks now offered. Registration closing date is 1st March. See the new English-language website for full details including dates and price.
- Veteran rower and former international triathlete Sarah Springman OBE has been appointed President of the British Triathlon Federation. Congratulations SS.
- Lifeboat comes to aid of rowers (BBC, UK). Apparently some of the BBC details are rather badly inaccurate: a description of the incident from the regional water safety advisor can be found on the Yahoo NE Rowing group (UK). Further press: A shore too far for rescued rowers on the Tyne (icTeesside, UK).
- James Cracknell is contributing day 5 to a series of celebrity diet advice in the Telegraph (UK). Contains some wise words about what happens when you give up competitive sport, though surprisingly nothing about the slimming effect of rowing the Atlantic on limited rations.
- Other headlines: Warning - exercise can damage your... ...home (Thrifty Scot, UK), Knight secures gold in Holland (Harrogate Today, UK), Talented Little Tiders swim past North (Princeton Packet, USA, slightly about rowing), Sculling in South Africa (Barnstable Patriot, USA), Rio's Pan American Games rush (OhmyNews International, South Korea).
Thursday 4th January 2007
- Disappointing news from the International Commonwealth Games Federation. They have changed the system for choosing sports, by capping the number of overall sports (17, though disciplines take it to more events/medals), and grouping the possible sports into three types. Mandatory sports must be included, optional sports can be included when the host committee makes its bid, and the third rank is sports which can only be included after international development. Rowing is in the third group, meaning that despite all efforts, it is now highly unlikely that the Glasgow 2014 bid will be able to include rowing as part of the main Games. Rowing isn't widely enough spread in the Commonwealth countries, particularly those in Asia and Africa. I can only hope they stage a Commonwealth Regatta (as has happened the last few times) pretty close to the CG dates so that the publicity effect isn't lost. SARA vice-president Mike Haggerty says: "Disappointed as we are (and we are still exploring options), SARA remain keen, active supporters of the Glasgow Commonwealth Bid. SARA will also continue to make representations to FISA and the ARA (as the international representatives of British rowing) to have rowing developed, particularly in Commonwealth nations, in the hope that these efforts can promote the sport out of category three when future Games are being decided."
- The ARA's coaching awards for 2006 (UK) go to: Ray Sullivan (Furnivall, Senior coach of the year), Julie Edwards (Nottingham, Junior coach of the year), Dick Wilkinson (Tees, Adaptive coach of the year), Maidstone Invicta junior coaching team (Coaching team of the year), John Bell (Durham Amateur, Young Persons programme coach of the year), with highly commended certificates to Richard Sinnott (Warrington), Bill Platt (City of Oxford) and Kevin & Sharon Ayles (Canford School).
- The third BUR newsletter of the season (UK) is online.
- Rowing headlines: The return of the Puffin: a legend takes to the seas - again (Tenerife News, Spain), Study proposed for boat house (Republican, USA), Organization works to improve prosthetics (Winston-Salem Journal, USA), Matt's got the measure of 'Big Red' all right (Hawke's bay Today, NZ), Rowing pair celebrate mid ocean (Gazette & Herald, UK), Borders punch above their weight (Borders Today, UK), Pub plot turns into Atlantic row (BBC, UK), City kids get rowing machines to beat the bulge (Birmingham Mail, UK).
Wednesday 3rd January 2007
- Rummaging around the rec.sport.rowing group, there are several items worth wider interest. Top of the list is the Google video clip of 'Dorney Lake', subtitled "A boat trip down the famous course with Camel the Staffordshire bull terrier". Nice illustration of commonplace Dorney water conditions. Camel over-acts shamelessly, of course, and the poster has an intriguing taste in other video clips (see RHS of page).
- Mike de Petris has pointed out that Mario Ustolin, an Italian international at the 1948 Olympics, died on December 30th 2006 (Italy). In memoriam.
- A new rowing and sculling online community has been started, by a 'young' chap called Tyler (USA). The group is part of Prosper, an online person-to-person loan community set-up, with special interest groups added on as a way of generating bigger communities. See here for more information about the format.
- Mersey RC (UK) have launched their new website. More black even than Molesey, and a good history of the club.
- Shortlists for the Halberg Awards (New Zealand's sporting achievement trophies) include Mahe Drysdale for the Sportsman of the Year, and Dick Tonks for Coach of the Year.
- FISA's World Rowing site has a number of articles about "world champion rowers make their wish". Not much of it will surprise readers.
- A profile of former Boat Race cox Jim Rogers in the NY Sun (USA).
Tuesday 2nd January 2007
- HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYBODY.
- And to celebrate, Mortlake Anglian & Alpha BC (UK) have brought out the useful 2007 Tideway tide tables at their own boat club - also downloadable as a PDF or Excel file. The BBC's general UK tide information for the next 7 days may also be helpful to some.
- I hear via the Maidenhead grapevine (UK) that former South African Olympic oarsman John Webb died on Christmas Day. He was a former Mayor of Maidenhead, a great supporter of the rowing club, and of critical help when they built their new clubhouse in one of the first Lottery-funded rowing projects. The funeral will be held at 12 noon in the Windsor parish church on Friday 5th January. The newsletter editor writes "John... ...was regularly to be seen umpiring at regattas where his jovial manner was always a welcome sight." Obituaries on the Windsor & Maidenhead borough website and in icBerkshire.
- Another bit of rowing news - Light Blue bigshot Chris Rodrigues was made CBE in the British New Year's Honours List (UK) for his services to business and charity. Rodrigues is a Steward of Henley Royal Regatta, was for a short time Chairman of the Boat Race Company Ltd, chaired Leander during the period when it admitted women, was CEO of VISA International and now chairs VisitBritain, was a former President of CUBC and has coached Jesus College Cambridge. There's a more business-related profile from the Independent in 2005 online,
- A new variant on the rowing vehicle idea - the Streetrower. Being marketed as an alternative way to train when the rivers are flooded/iced up, it's the brainchild rower Simon Tarrant, in the UK. The Streetrower is going on tour during 2007, with its first outing to Dorney Lake on 4th February, and other dates including HORR day, Gent regatta, Cambridge Lents and Oxford Eights week. (Yes, and all the rest - don't bother to write to say which ones I've missed - there are 10 dates and readers can look at the website themselves). The price is pretty competitive, as well...
- Details of Quintin Head (UK, Sat 27th January) are online.
