(UK). Entries close at 6pm on Saturday 16th February.
Details of a plan to combat proposals to sell off Elvet Waterside land which would affect rowing in Durham (UK) - see the For City Sake website. Locals may wish to add their voice to the protests.
From last week, results from Quintin Head (UK).
Two weeks ago the River and Rowing Museum's Paul Mainds took part in an edition of Excess Baggage (BBC Radio 4), saying knowledgeable and interesting things about the Thames and rowing. You can listen to it again (link at the top of the page) - Excess Baggage is one of the few BBC programmes to keep editions online for ages. Paul's chunk was in the second half of the programme.
Sunday 27th January 2008
Waddell beats Drysdale again - but this time by just 1/3 of a length. A press release from Rowing New Zealand on the latest uber-sculler ding-dong in the southern hemisphere. Sounds like a phenomenal race. Tell you what, whichever one ends up going to Beijing in the single is going to be truly frightening to race - they're both developing a wide range of tactical moves. If Rowing NZ make the decision early enough - ie well before the World Cups - then this internal competition will be nothing but good for them.
Just to add more fuel to the fire - Mahe might migrate (NZ Herald, NZ, published just before the race). More headlines later.
Friday 25th January 2008
The Vesta Veterans Head (UK) is open now on OARA. The event is on the day after the HORR, over the Mortlake to Putney (downstream) Head course, starting at 10:30am. Entries close on 1st March, ie WeHORR day. Foreign entrants are more than welcome, but the organisers are not able to help them arrange boats, accommodation or coxes.
It's been pointed out to me that the latest edition of Physiology of Sport and Exercise from Human Kinetic, has a very good picture of Marcel Hacker on the cover. (Thanks JC).
A reminder that replies for the ARA Touring Rowers dinner (1st March, UK) have to be in by 15th February.
Rowing in the news - Police hope leaflets will lead to information (News Guardian, UK), Paying a price to practice (BC Local News, Canada), Welcome home our rowing heroes (Dispatch Online, South Africa), Tulsa Rowing Club juniors hosting learn to row week (Greater Tulsa Reporter Newspapers, USA), 1st Pacific Outgames (Gay.com, UK), Sports bodies get ?13.5m grant package (Irish Times, Ireland), MacGregor continues Marlow rowing tradition (Bucks Free Press, UK), China aims for a drug-free Olympics (United Press International, China), Record smashed, but there must be simpler ways to get to Barbados (Borders Today, UK), Atlantic rowers nearing the far side of the ocean (Croydon Guardian, UK), Sore and wobbly - Aylsham rower's happy (North Norfolk News, UK), Cyclist's crash mystery leaves family in agony (Cambridge Evening News, UK).
Thursday 24th January 2008
City of Oxford (UK) are trying to get in touch with someone from Wycliffe Sculling Centre, about boating from their facilities this weekend. They've tried the email on the website but would like help as this isn't (yet) producing a reaction. Any ideas please email Emily Lyons, CORC women's captain.
There's been a bit of a buzz about the BOA awards announcement (UK). After investigating, I am (extremely) reliably informed that this news story, though published just last week, refers, at least for rowing, to the 2006-7 year award, albeit with very bad timing. The new BOA rowing Olympic Athlete award for the 2007 season will be called the 2008 award and will be made to a crew at the British Rowing dinner in early February.
Rowing in the news - Trainint with Light Blues left me red-faced (Will Greenwood, Telegraph, UK), Beijing to unleash a golden juggernaut (People's Daily Online, China), Long Beach resident braves Atlantic (Gazette Newspapers, USA), Drysdale disgruntled with rowing selection policy (Newstalk ZB, NZ), Technology gives athletes fighting chance (The Times, UK), RP Olympic hopefuls looking for 'godfathers' (Inquirer, Philippines), Oarsman Don's Atlantic victory (Bellshill Speaker, UK), Veteran Aussie celebrates (last story, Mosman Daily, Australia), Grainger aims for gold (Eurosport, UK), James Cracknell to swim the Straights (surely they mean Straits? - Gib Focus, Gibraltar), Four wins for City club at Boston (Peterborough Evening Telegraph, UK), Citizens win trans-Atlantic Rowing Race (All Africa, USA), BT staff off to Kenya to build school library (Glasgow Evening Times, UK), Tomkins can breathe easy again (Sydney Morning Herald, Australia).
Wednesday 23rd January 2008
Funeral arrangements for Paul Brady (UK) - the service will be held on Friday 1st February at 2pm in St Godric's RC Church, Durham City Centre, beginning with a requiem mass and then going on to Durham Crematorium, South Road, Durham, DH1 3TQ. Afterwards everyone is invited back to Nevilles Cross Social Club, Durham, DH1 4PJ. The family want the service to be a modern celebration and would like all his friends of any or no faith to attend if they can. Those thinking of buying flowers are asked to donate the money instead to two charitable appeals that the family will choose at a later date. Paul's brother Chris can be contacted by email or by phone (01325 485 238) about any of the arrangements. The family made an appeal to witnesses of the accident on Look North yesterday.
A look ahead to the D'Inverno Sul Po in Turin on 9th-10th February (Italy). The well-updated website has details in both English and Italian, although sadly the linked results website has only 2005 data (why do regattas continually throw away their old results in these digital days?)
Spotted by an RS reader on YouTube: rowing in art - Digging Deep. A rather good short animation aiming to be "an exploration through animation of the movement of a rowing stroke and the thought process that accompanies it", by Katherine William Maynard with help from the Radcliffe crew. Set to a soundtrack of the atmosphere of a rowing gym/club and also water-rowing noises, it's very evocative. Thanks DF.
Spotted by another reader, Water sports centre hit by floods (BBC News, UK). Yep, it's a silly title but those who've been to Nottingham will know it could happen.
The ARA has opened nominations for the ARA volunteer of the year (UK). Closing date is February 29th.
A reminder that the entries for the Southern Indoor Rowing Championships (UK) close on 8th February. First link above is to the downloadable entry form in PDF format.
The Austrian Indoor Championships (27th January, AUT) are thrown open to all-comers - more information here on the Austrian rowing federation pages in German and English. Late entries will be taken up to an hour before each race on the day.
The ARA (UK) has appointed their new Rowing & Regatta Magazine editor: Wendy Kewley will start in March.
Rowing headlines - Coach calls on Redgrave, Pinsent and Cracknell (Rachel Quarrell, Telegraph, UK), St Benedict's take honours in Kowie schools boat race (Herald Eastern Cape, South Africa), Rowing catches on as a sport at St Andrew's (Herald Eastern Cape, South Africa), SA team wins Atlantic Rowing Race (press release, South Africa), Kings of the Atlantic (Dispatch Online, South Africa), Team 'Pura Vida' first across the line in this year's Atlantic Rowing Race (Antigua Sun, Antigua and Barbuda), Grieving father's appeal for witnesses to son's death (Northern Echo, UK), Record for fastest row across Atlantic broken (Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation, Barbados), Five states register for rowing seminar (The Tide, Nigeria), Motion suit could simplify biomechanics studies (Design News, USA), Setback for full to overflowing club (Richmond and Twickenham Times, UK), Champion Zac has pulling power (This is Gloucestershire, UK), 'Giant' Vicky given a sporting chance (icCheshire Online, UK).
Found on the ARA website, the following message (UK): "ARA member and Thames region umpire, Mr Martin Denny of East Molesey, would like to reassure his friends that he is alive and well. Unfortunately, on 19th January, the Daily Telegraph published an obituary for a namesake who lives in the same area and since then his wife has received a number of letters of sympathy and condolence. Mr Denny, who is a member of Thames Rowing Club, Molesey Boat Club and Tideway Scullers School, has asked us to try and nip this rumour in the bud, and is pleased to say that he is in good health."
Tuesday 22nd January 2008
Worcester Head (UK) is open on OARA. Details on the poster (PDF format). Note that the organisers are requiring Empacher slots on the boats, for numbers.
There is now a website for Lincoln Rowing Centre, one of the UK's newest rowing clubs (founded last year). The website is still slightly under construction, but they're hosting their first event, the Lincoln Head, on Saturday 29th March. Divisions at 11am and 2pm, so there's plenty of time afterwards to settle down to watch the Oxford-Cambridge Baot Race if you want to.
So, more on the Star Club (UK) erg world record. The team (Chris Callow, Dave Kempsall, Kevin Bullard, Martin Birch, Andrew Piesley, James Gani, Richard Slaymaker, Joel Grant-Jones and Pete Mulkerrins) rowed for 24 hours non-stop, setting 477,445m as the new record - beating the 2006 French mark by 3043m. The average split was 1:30.5, and they did it by rowing for 30 seconds each, every 4.5 minutes, with very fast changeovers (and stroke rates). Sponsored by Kier Group, they aim to raise enough money to buy a new coxless four for HRR this year. Insane!
Ocean rowing action - while as announced last week La Mondiale broke the all-comers Atlantic crossing record, Orca, who landed a couple of days later, became the fastest four (by 4 minutes) to cross that ocean, as well as the only multihull to row across any ocean. And in a separate effort, Pura Vida won the Atlantic Rowing Race 2007, reaching Antigua last Saturday and beating the second four home by 250 miles. See the team's own website for news and pictures. The pairs race was won by Gquma Challenger, beating No Fear by just under five hours.
From Canada, a call for Under-23 athletes for a national development camp.
Upcoming, the Canadian Indoor Championships on Sunday 3rd February.
Castleconnell Boat Club (Ireland) seeks the immediate appointment of a full time professional club coach. For full details contact Joe Cunningham.
Press links from the last few days (most recent first) - Raslanas elected to UNESCO sports committee (WorldRowing, FISA), Crew remains determined despite new record (Gazette and Herald, UK), SA oarsmen triumph (News24, South Africa), 4 row, row, row their boat 3000 miles (Seattle Times, USA), Rowers head indoors for winter workouts (HeraldNet, USA), Joe Burk, 93, won honors on Thames and in Pacific, is dead (New York Times, USA), Commit to new resolutions with the Loyola rowing team event (Loyola College Greyhound, USA), Awards on and off the water (Bundaberg NewsMail, Australia), LI rowers celebrate cross-Atlantic journey (Newsday, USA), Carl wins rowing challenge (Malvern Gazette, UK), Danian flexes muscles to help pre-school (Malvern Gazette, UK), Well done to Carl and his rowing team (Worcester News, UK), EL rowers on verge of victory (Dispatch Online, South Africa), Kayaker rows for AIDS awareness (actually a rower, Beaufort Gazette, USA), Lake Wendouree - when does a lake become a paddock? (ABC Regional Online, Australia), Buckingham juniors in the points (The Mercury, Australia), Rowing regatta cut short (1XX Whakatane, NZ), Carlton Super Cross 2008 on a new format (Daily News, Sri Lanka), Rowers a-crew more boats (The Columbian, USA), Penn rowing coach and war hero (Philadelphia Inquirer, USA), Britons break Atlantic rowing time in second-hand boat (The Times, UK), SOS to keep tradition afloat (Telegraph on skiffing, UK).
Monday 21st January 2008
Cancellations (UK) - Stourport Winter Head next week is off, due to "too much wet stuff in the ditch" according to the club.
Henley RC (UK) have had to cancel the Henley Fours and Eights Head (due 26th Jan, UK) for the second year running due to river and ground conditions in Henley (the towpath is flooded). Clubs are asked to let Henley know if they need their cheques to be returned, otherwise they will all be destroyed.
On the positive side, the start order and instructions for Quintin Head (26th Jan, UK, Tideway) are now online. The club says: "Despite the exceptionally large amount of landwater coming down the river, we're optimistic that the race will take place. However, if river conditions don't improve before Saturday, we may reluctantly have to scrap some categories in which the inexperience of some of the crews might cause difficulty when marshalling. We aim to announce a decision no later than Thursday morning. In addition, if the coach, captain or rowing master fo any other young or low status crew considers that the crew is not sufficiently competent to handle the present extraordinary conditions on the Tideway, we will allow the crew to scratch and will refund their entry fee in full."
At the weekend Star Club broke the 24-hour erg world record, beating the previous mark by 3043 metres. More details later when I have time.
The 2007 NE Chairman's report (Word, UK) has been uploaded to the NE Rowing website.
Results of the 2008 Swiss Indoor Rowing Championships last weekend are out (link now correct): at the Champs Andre Vonarburg beat his own old Swiss indoor record by 1.4 seconds, racing 5mins 47.6secs, more than 12 seconds faster than all the eights oarsmen. He bagged a 500 Swiss franc bonus for the new record.
Tyne Head (16th Feb, UK) is open for entries on OARA. See the Tyne RC website for more details.
Entries for the Durham Small Boats Head (UK) close on Friday 25th January. Veteran Novice events are not listed on OARA so those who wish to race this category should say so in the notes.
Entries for the Head of the Mersey (UK) are open via OARA only until 10pm on Friday 25th January. Details on the Warrington RC website.
Sunday 20th January 2008
Very sad news (UK): on Friday 18th January former rower Paul Brady died in a hit and run crash with a car while cycling to work. Paul was a successful North-Eastern junior sculler, medalling at the Nat Champs and National Schools, as well as competing for his college, St Catharine's Cambridge, and in 2004-5 trialling for CULRC (I can't find whether he then rowed at the Henley Boat Races or not, but no doubt a reader will know). He had recently returned to his home region near Durham to work.
Friday 18th January 2008
NEW ATLANTIC CROSSING RECORD - La Mondiale has done it. The crew of Leven Brown, Ray Carroll, Charlie Taylor, Peter Donaldson, Don Lennox, Mike Tooth, Stuart Kershaw, Julian Barnwell, Reinhardt Von Hof, Oliver Dudley, PJ Luard, Rob Loder-Symonds, Jamie Walker and Liam Hughes landed at Port St Charles at 20:53 on Thursday 17th January 2008, making their voyage in a time of 33 days, 7 hours and 30 minutes, chopping a little more than 2 days off the previous record set by the same actual boat with a French crew in 1992. The crew's website will no doubt be updated soon. The plan is now for the boat to cross the Indian Ocean in 2008-9, and Leven Brown is now recruiting for that crew. If you want to support La Mondiale's charities, click here and then choose which charity to help.
MORE RUSSIAN ROWERS SUSPENDED - once again yesterday was a day for breaking news. FISA has suspended three more Russian rowers for anti-doping violations - as last August, due to using banned methods (prohibited intravenous infusions). Alexander Litvintchev, Evgeny Luzyanin and Ivan Podshivalov, all from the 2007 RUS M8+, have been banned for two years retractively from 27th August 2007, the date when the previous three rowers were suspended (see the Rowing Voice worlds coverage, third supplement, page 7 for details.) This further raises the number of violations within a twelve-month period, and so FISA, as promised, are now definitely looking at the eligibility of the whole Russian federation, whom FISA can ban for up to four years if they wish. Unless FISA do take further action, the rest of the Russian eight is eligible for Beijing, but because the three ineligible rowers took part during the worlds in which they finished 5th, qualifying their boat class, that crew is now disqualified from the 2007 worlds. The result of this is that eighth-placed Australia moves up into seventh and is now pre-qualified for Beijing (lucky Tomkins?). The FISA press release is the link above, and there is more information in the official doping hearing panel document (PDF). At the worlds Russia came first in their heat, then second in their semi (beating Australia directly during that race).
With Monmouth RC currently flooded (UK) it will be no surprise that their Winter Head, postponed once from 9th December, is now cancelled.
Maidstone Small Boats Head (UK, rescheduled to 20th January from December) is also apparently off.
The Remenham Challenge, originally intended to be held at London this Sunday (UK) because Kingston is unrowable, has now been postponed indefinitely.
The website for Marlow's Thames Valley Trial Head (UK) is now working again and open for entries.
The ARA's annual Touring Rowers Dinner (UK) will be on Saturday 1st March at Leander Club, price £35. Anyone interested in touring rowing is welcome to attend: email Caroline Turnbull for further details and a booking form.
The date of the Home International Regatta (UK) has been moved to Saturday 26th July 2008. It is intended to try and start the regatta earlier than usual, probably around 10am, so that it is less likely to be affected by wind later in the day.
Not listed last week, but the Head of the Avon Gorge last Sunday was cancelled due to wind (UK).
The Welsh ARA's coaching events diary has been updated (PDF format), including details of the March-April level 2 coaching course in Swansea, for which there are places still available.
Chicago is still pushing its 2016 Olympic bid hard - their full applicant file (>5MB PDF) has now been published online. Since it's an Olympic bid that has for once put the rowing course at its heart - the planned Lakefront course would be a permanent fixture once built - it's probably of interest to rowers. 7 minutes away from the Olympic village, and 4 from the hotels (by bus) - sounds better than usual!
Newslinks - Flying fish bombard the boat of Atlantic rowers (Northern Echo, UK), Liverpool rowers help smash record (Liverpool Echo, UK), Rowers cross shark-infested waters to break record (icWales, UK), My dream of Olympic rowing success (Norwich Evening News 24, UK), 3000 in a row (Glasgow Daily Record, UK), Rowers smash Atlantic record (CBBC Newsround, UK), Lawyer's Atlantic dream comes true (Manchester Evening News, UK), Tomkins gets 'oarsome' Beijing boost (Sydney Morning Herald, Australia), Rowers prepare after securing Olympic place (ABC Online, Australia), Top 10 battle for prestigious award (Murray Valley Standard, Australia), Four men in a boat (Gazette Live, UK), Rowing Australia says men's eight Olympic medal chance (Radio Australia, Australia), Scots set Atlantic rowing record (Scotsman, UK), Australia's James Tomkins set for rowing team in Beijing Olympics (Courier Mail, Australia), Scottish adventurer leads Atlantic rowing crew into record books (Herald, UK), British-Irish rowers set new cross-Atlantic record (Inquirer.net, Philippines), Competition for seat in Canada's Olympic eight is hotting up (Canadian Press, Canada), Atlantic record for Norfolk rowers (Eastern Daily Press, UK), 3 more Russian rowers hit with 2-year bans (CBC News, Canada, and similar around the world), Flood effects felt by many (Evesham Journal, UK), Heavy storms cause severe flooding across Carlow and Kilkenny (Kilkenny Advertiser, Ireland), An ill wind blows positive (Lake Oswego Review, USA), Rowers invited to challenge (Albany Times Union, USA), Injured student is still unconscious (Journal Live, UK), Rowing center has a new leader (Munster Times, USA), Locals to repel challenge (Manning River Times, Australia), 4 from LI are rowing across the Atlantic (Newsday, USA), Sailing school to get $4million renovation (Orange County Register, USA, and yes it is also about rowing), School bids for rowing triumph (Oxford Mail, UK), Boathouse proposal wins OK (Grand Rapids Press, USA), South Devon duo are getting close (South Devon Herald Express, UK), Region on flood alert after overnight deluge (Peterborough Evening Telegraph, UK).
Thursday 17th January 2008
Weybridge Winter Head (UK) has had to be cancelled: with waters yet to peak on the reach there is no possibility of red boards coming down before Saturday. All entry cheques will be destroyed, and the organisers thank everyone who entered, for supporting their inaugural winter head.
Wednesday 16th January 2008
Late Tuesday night update (UK): Marlow's regatta website server has crashed and is being restored on Wednesday. In the meantime, for those looking to enter or find information about Thames Valley Trial Head, the poster is being mirrored here (Word format) and this cached page has the basic entry information. The rest will have to wait until the website has been restored, but if you need enquiries answered or want to say you are going to enter, contact them via tvhead@themarlowregatta.com.
Rowing in the news - More local rowers step up to help destroyed Vancouver club (Tacoma News Tribune, USA), Rowers invited to challenge (Albany Times Union, USA), Sport Relief gets Spiced up (The Sun, UK), An accomplished all-rounder (WA Business News, Australia), Local women turn to rowing for fitness, competition (San Jose Mercury News, USA), Rowers, community send boats, oars, cash to rebuild tornado-devastated Vancouver club (Sports Features press release, USA), Security sends London 2012 team to Aldershot (Telegraph, UK), George Plumtree - 1912 to 2008 (NEC Harlequins, UK), SA oarsmen lead in Atlantic row (Independent Online, South Africa), Rio de Janeiro unveils plans to host 2016 summer Olympics (PR-inside, Austria), Shock turns into resolve for rowing club members (The Columbian, USA), In our view: back on the water (The Columbian, USA).
Tuesday 15th January 2008
Sad news of the loss of a legend (USA) - Former Penn rower Joe Burk passes away (Penn Athletics, USA). More on Row2k. At Joe's request, there will be no services in his name. His daughter has said that her father would want any gesture made to him to be made to Penn Rowing. His career and passing will be marked at the April 5-6th San Diego Crew Classic: details will be on Row2k in due course.
This year the Glasgow University Western Eights Head (Scotland, UK) will be followed by the GUBC's annual Burns Supper, at the University Union. Bagpipes, ceilidh and Tam O'Shanter are all promised. See the new GUBC website for details.
Nottingham Head of the Trent (UK) is open on OARA for entries.
A reminder that overseas entries for the Head of the River Race (Sat 15th March at 9:45am, UK) close at 5pm GMT this coming Friday (18th Jan). Domestic entries then open at 10am the next morning.
The National Junior Sculling Head (3rd March, UK) is now open for entries and payment via OARA.
The Atlantic Rowing Race is about to have a winner, with four Pura Vida likely to be first home, this coming weekend. Like several others, their computer broke down early on, and they have had to rely on satellite messages about position and weather. To see more about the probable winners and support their fund-raising for The Big Issue, Crisis and Raleigh International, see their website. They have already raised nearly £17,000 for those charities. Regular updates on all the Atlantic Race crews from BYM News and the official race website.
Rowing news: Clifton crews strike gold at rosebowl rowing regatta (Taranaki Daily News, NZ), Frank Lloyd Wright's pieces added to 2008 tours (Open Press, Canada), Cancer fells famed officer (Winnipeg Sun, Canada), RCMP mourning the loss of a heroic member (St John's Telegram, Canada), Olympic athletes shun Beijing (Guardian, UK), Rowers get off to a good start (Timaru Herald, NZ), Conference pushes for diversity in rowing (WorldRowing, FISA), Tell us about your heroes (Daily Telegraph, UK).
Monday 14th January 2008
SARA"s 5km trial (Scotland, UK) will take place in Inverness on Saturday 16th February 2008, starting at 10am, just before the Inverness Eights & Small Boats Head. Entrants will be required to race in either 2- or 1x, as open (hwt/lwt), under-23 (hwt/lwt) or junior. Lightweights are required to weigh in (60kg max for women and 73kg max for men). There are no averages for lightweight pairs. Those who do not make weight will race in the hwt categories. Entries should be made to the Team Manager, to be received by 5pm on Monday 11th February. Email entries are preferred, to lee.boucher@scottish-rowing.org.uk. Postal entries can be made via 4/5 Albion Gardens, Edinburgh, EH7 5QF. Athletes are reminded that the Scottish Indoor Rowing Championships is listed in the 2008 SARA Selection Policy (Appendix C) and that performances at this event will be monitored.
The start order and competitor instructions for Weybridge Winter Head (Sat 19th January, UK) are now online. The stretch is currently red-boarded, so the club isn't certain if the event can go ahead, but they will make a decision on Thursday.
Entries for Reading University Eights Head (Sat 23rd February, UK) are now open on OARA.
The poster for Tyne Head (UK) is now online (Word format).
As is the poster for Durham Small Boats Head (also UK, Word format).
George Plumtree's funeral (UK) will take place at 10:30am on Tuesday 22nd January, at St Mary the Virgin, Church Street, Twickenham. Afterwards at the Royal British Legion, Popes Grove, Twickenham.
FISA's current athlete in focus is Elke Hipler, stroke of the GER W8+.
Missed at the start of January, the news that Oxford University Boat Club's Senior Member has been knighted, making him Professor Sir John Bell now, for his services to medicine (UK).
From last year, now linked to the BBC website, a picture of sculling over the Worcester racecourse (UK).
Rowing in the news - Munich misery will drive us on (Ian Stafford, Daily Mail, UK), Soldiering on for Olympic glory and a greater challenge ahead (Matt Dickinson, The Times, UK), Jurgen Grobler banks on old guard to inspire and guide young pretenders (Matt Dickinson, The Times, UK), SA pair pull away in Atlantic rowing race (The Times, South Africa), Air fears bring athletes to Japan (Daily Yomiuri, Japan), Kiwi first to row across the Tasman (Stuff, NZ), Helpers buoy rowing club (The Columbian, USA), Masks to help Team GB breathe easy (Telegraph, UK), Oarsmen on target to break world record for Atlantic (Daily Post, UK), Rowing club will help rival to the south hit by rare tornado (The News Tribune, USA), Crew club members pick up the pieces (The Columbian, USA), Volunteers help crew club get oars in a row (The Oregonian, USA), Study for new rowing course sinks without trace (Canberra Times, Australia), Richard vows to fight on (Worcester Standard, UK), Storm Uru credits programme with bolstering career aims (Southland Times, NZ), Seselj trial suspended at prosecutor's request (Institute for War and Peace Reporting, UK, involving a former YUG rower), Curtain calls and his crew hush to relive their King's Cup glory (Sydney Morning Herald, Australia), Professional excuses are amateurish (Sydney Morning Herald, Australia, see 2nd page). And CSTV is already starting this year's crew coverage (USA, link is to the section top, which has several stories each day).
A bit of old Scottish history in What is a Wayzgoose? (All Media Scotland, UK).
Friday 11th January 2008
Devastation (USA): Vancouver Lake Crew's entire club, boats, paperwork, the lot, was destroyed by a tornado yesterday (USA) - press stories Tornado touches down in Vancouver neighbourhood (Seattle Times, USA), Goodwill follows storm's wake through rowing club (The Oregonian, USA), Tornado destroys Vancouver Lake Crew (KOIN, USA). Row2k has links to photos. I assume they could not have been comprehensively insured, since the club is asking for donations of money or equipment to get back on its feet. As a community program, founded only six years ago and aimed at participation, I suspect they're going to need a lot of help.
Entries for the Wycliffe Big Head (2nd February, UK) are now open on OARA.
Other headlines - Hellstrom to row for Auckland (Marlborough Express, NZ - possibly the first ever 'rowing club transfer' news in regional/national press), SAHS product living life on the row (Stillwater Courier, USA), Obituary: Colonel Wallace Pryke (Telegraph, UK), Farewell to a man with a big heart (The West Australian, Australia), Northside led team break two world records (Dublin People, Ireland), Rowers halfway to Atlantic target (News Shopper, UK), Norwalk rowers headed to Florida (Stamford Advocate, USA), Events for race founder (Ely Standard, UK), Holden joins national talent squad (Oxford Mail, UK), Crews eye Boat Race berths (Andrew Baker, Telegraph, UK), Oarsmen ready to participate on 25th (Daily Times, Pakistan), ECG abnormalities in healthy athletes may signal future risks (Medpage Today, USA).
Thursday 10th January 2008
Funeral arrangements for Willie Ross (UK): Wednesday 16th at Mortlake Crematorium, 4pm, and afterwards at the Ship, Mortlake. I gather that Willie was also a member of Thames RC (captain 1981, chairman 1984), Leander and Remenham clubs, amongst others.
Not at all sure how I missed putting this article up, since I did see it - Sound of Paul McCartney and sands of home help toughen up single-minded Alan Campbell (Patrick Kidd, The Times, UK). (Thankes SL).
Wednesday 9th January 2008
Sad news from Australia - Olympic bronze medallist Tim Willoughby has died unexpectedly of a heart attack. Brief report here from News.com.
Unfortunately we hear that the Australian and international publication Rowing MagOZine is going to have to close down, after three years of publishing. Big shame.
New business (UK) - the Rowing Company is the UK supplier of Heritage recreational shells, and also supplies WaterRower ergs.
The 2007 ARA coaching awards are now properly online (UK).
Details from the ARA on applying for a CRB disclosure for those who work with under-18s (UK).
The North-East Rowing News timeline (UK) has been updated with details of William Fawcus of Tynemouth, the only north-eastern England winner of the Diamonds.
A reader reckons this article (UK) could be read as an advert for veteran rowing - and perhaps veteran drinking? (Thanks KM).
Morag Emery is seeking volunteers for a body-composition study at the Scottish Indoor Rowing Championships (UK). See the Scottish news page for details.
A reminder that overseas entries for the Head of the River Race (UK) are already open, and close at 5pm on 18th January. Entries for UK (ARA/WARA/SARA) clubs start at 10am on 19th January and close at 5pm on 15th February. Note that all entries MUST be done via OARA, and the system has changed a little since last year - see the HORR front page, linked above. There are a lot of other important instructions and notes on the same page.
Separately, the Women's Eights Head (UK) is not quite open yet for entries on OARA, in fact, but it won't be long. This year, entries will close either at midnight on Friday 8th February, or whenever 300 paid and completed entries have been received, whichever is sooner. Those who leave entering too late may be disappointed. Like the HORR, the WeHORR is also requiring all entries via OARA, including overseas clubs - instructions on the race front page (linked above).
Rowing in the news - Waterford Boat Club's new fleet arrives (Waterford Today, Ireland), Rower aims for record (Manchester Evening News, UK), O'Donnell is a national champion in only her second year of competition (ABC, Australia, about former rower Bridie O'Donnell), Rowers navigate stormy waters (Norfolk Eastern Daily Press, UK), Rowing club hopes to boost area high school programs (Sebastian Sun, USA), Grant named among NZ sporting elite (Marlborough Express, NZ), Joe Burk, sculler (Row2k feature, USA).
A post on the Rating40 forum (NZ) about the New Zealand world junior medic's opinions of the Beijing climate and pollution.
Tuesday 8th January 2008
More sad news (UK) - news has just been received of the death of Tom Findlay after a protracted illness. He was a coach, and member of Clyde and Clydesdale rowing clubs, also committee member of both. Funeral arrangements are not yet known.
From Row2k (USA), Joe Burk hospitalized.
The poster (PDF) and competitor instructions (Word) for Henley Fours and Eights Head (UK) are up online. Note that this year's race is on the earlier date of 26th January, with entries closing at 6pm on Friday 18th.
Coldharbour Boat Club, the club for the alumni of the University of West of England (UK), is up to its annual fundraising party tricks. This year's event - its 1st Birthday Party - will be held at London RC, Putney, on 19th January 2008. DJ, casino tables, raffle and a winter barbecue. Tickets are £16 beforehand, £20 on the door, and can be obtained by emailing coldharbourbc@googlemail.com. Undergraduates and alumni of UWE, friends, family and supporters of Coldharbour are all welcome, with profits going towards CBC's Henley fund.
A plea from a former UK club sculler: He competed in the 1995 Scullers Head, start number 160, for Tideway Scullers School, finishing 61st. At the time he saw a proof of a photograph of him racing, probably taken by one of the professional photographers at the time. However, he didn't buy a pic then, and now doesn't remember which company it was. He'd like to buy a copy, so if you might be the photographer, please contact RQ so she can put you in touch.
Readers of the newslinks will know that La Mondiale, the record-breaking Atlantic crossing team boat, is about to break its own record with a new crew including stockbroking ocean rower Leven Brown. La Mondiale's website contains news, blogs and details of the crew. If they can do it, well done, since the record has stood since 1992. To set a new time (less than the current 35 days and 8 hours), La Mondiale has to land on Barbados or another Caribbean island by 21:35 hours on Saturday 19th January 2008. It's looking good, as they have less than 1000 miles to go and have regularly been moving more than 100 miles a day. They're also 300+ miles ahead of ORCA, the other crew trying to break the record at the same time.
If you want an update on the main Atlantic Rowing Race, which the above attempt is not part of, see the ARR progress page. Be alerted that in past years this rather information-heavy page has tended to crash browsers, so worth closing other applications down to give it a fair chance to load properly. It's also a bit dependent on how nicely Google Maps is behaving. Current leaders in the race (about 3/4 of the way) are Pura Vida in the fours, Gquma Challenger in the pairs, and Charmed Life (solo).
Headlines - Jarvis suspended for failing to communicate (Globe and Mail, Canada), Boaters pay so ramp can open again (Gainesville Times, USA), Only 799 miles left to row (Dispatch Online, South Africa), City, Pulling dispute far from over (Naples Daily News, USA), Diver's life packed with adventure (Waikato Times, NZ), Rowers celebrate Atlantic Christmas (Edinburgh Evening News, UK), Action County: Greg Ruckman (Summit Daily News, USA), Central RPC name squad for nationals (Marlborough Express, NZ - the direct link weirdly doesn't work as a paste, so go in via this page), Scholarships give talented students a sporting chance for well-rounded future (Irish Independent, Ireland), Skiff swamping sparks sea rescue (Nelson Mail, NZ, fourth story down - again click on the title to load it as I can't make a direct link), Grobler puts likely flagship four to the test (Guardian, UK), Waddell shows form ahead of Beijing (TVNZ, NZ).
Monday 7th January 2008
Sad news (UK) - I've just learnt that W.L. (Willie) Ross of Elizabethan and other clubs died in Ealing Hospital on 3rd January after an emergency admittance, after a long illness. Funeral arrangements yet to be decided.
The funeral service for Richard Moody (UK) will be held at 11am on Thursday 10th January at the Chelmsford Crematorium, Writtle Road, Chelmsford, CM1 3BL. The family invites everyone to join them afterwards at the Marygreen Manor Hotel, London Road, Brentwood, CM14 4NR. All Richard's friends are very welcome, say his parents. A Faceboak page has been set up for friends and family to post memories of Richard - it was intended to be open but you do have to be a Facebook member to be able to see the page.
From FISA, Reflections of 2007 - junior rowing.
On the Scottish Rowing website now (UK), the poster, terms and conditions, event list, individual entry form, team entry form and competitor information for the Scottish Indoor Rowing Championships on 9th February. All PDF apart from the entry forms, which are Word documents.
SARA reminds Scottish racers that their competition licences must now be renewed, and needs a 2-week turn round time. Licences are required at the time of entry, not at the time of the event, and there will be no fast-tracking this year.
Posters for the Hammersmith Women's & Juniors Head and the Hammersmith Head (UK) are now online.
Another nekkid rowing calendar (UK) - Edinburgh University.
Rowing headlines - Valley is spared major flooding (Daily Examiner, Australia), Indravadi rowing competition (The Statesman, India), Teenager rower's Atlantic battle (Bolton News, UK), Rowers, athletes figure strongly in selection for Halbergs (Stuff, NZ), Crack! (a piece in the Guardian, UK, with an interesting story about James Cracknell - about halfway down), Rockland is anchor, inspiration for Curtis' work (Village Soup, USA), Vili, Drysdale top Halberg favourites (NZ Herald, NZ), Atlantic record attempt on course (Norfolk Eastern Daily Press, UK), Myles picked for Olympic grooming (Bradford Telegraph & Argus, UK), Flood shares Olympic ideal with caring for young offenders (Martin Cross, Guardian, UK), Oarsome James Tomkins feeling the pressure (Courier Mail, Australia), Flood recovery money to help local sports clubs (Evesham Journal, UK), Atlantic crew put in the hours (Malvern Gazette, UK).
A link to the Station Maine centre mentioned in the Village Soup article above (USA).
Friday 4th January 2008
Repost: first posted 31st December 2007. RowingVoice issue 1:5 is now out - 6.7MB file with 27 colour pages. Packed with news, views, pictures, results, reports and a big feature on the cost of club rowing in the UK. Like it? Hate it? Want to give your opinion on something in the issue, or any other rowing matters? See the main Voice index page for details of how to contribute letters, news, results, pictures or a Rant for the next issue, out in February 2008.
Ghent International Regatta (Belgium) is on 10th-11th May this year, with its usual full programme of events on both days. This year a new trophy is being awarded, the silver 'Trophy 125 year Sport Gent', celebrating the anniversary of foundation of the club. It will be awarded to the club which performs best overall on the Sunday during the 89th International regatta. See link above for more details (apart from the new trophy, which is not yet on there).
Monmouth Winter Head, postponed because of flooding last month, is being offered again on Sunday 20th January. Entry details online.
Entries are open online for the Thames Valley Trial Head (UK) on Sunday 27th January. Note that OARA is not being used for this event.
Scottish rowing racers please note that the Glasgow Small Boats Head has been deleted from the calendar and the Strathclyde University Small Boats Head will take place on 2nd February in its place (UK).
The ARA's 2008 rule changes are now online (UK).
Can K4 kayakers match quads for speed? This report suggests so (NZL).
Other headlines - Beating ex-HB twins on Twigg's agenda (Hawke's Bay Today, NZ), New Zealand's top 10 sports teams ever (Stuff, NZ), and the world's best ever sports teams (ditto), Friends net support for Bulgaria murder accused (News.com, Australia), New Year seen in with dehydrated ice cream and a bar of Toblerone (South Devon Herald Express), Bishop's quartet celebrate national honours (Hereford Times, UK), Outrunning clots (Louisville Courier-Journal, USA, second item).
And the ultimate accolade: rower makes the football pages: Meet the man who gets De Canio's point across at QPR (This is London, UK, about Brookes' Ruben Reggiani).
Thursday 3rd January 2008
Edward Blum had his picture of Bangor University RC's Paul Jonson sculling on the Menai Strait included in the BBC's best pictures of 2007 (see October or November - it moves about).
And there's a professional rival in this picture from the Daily Mail collection, mentioned on the SJA website.
A new Irish event is being re-inaugurated after a break of 21 years: the Head of the Shannon in Carrick on Shannon on 16th February 2008. Details at the link.
Approval has been given for a new boathouse at the University of Central Oklahoma (USA), which will join those already planned for the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma City University to try and create a new centre of excellence on the Oklahoma River. Unsurprisingly, they want to call it 'Boathouse Row'. Lawsuits from Philly, anyone?
Stories from FISA - Medal to De Frantz 27 years on, Madsen adaptively rowing the Atlantic, and Pakistan hungry to show rowing commitment.
Other news - Border pair hold a slender lead in ocean rowing race (Herald Eastern Cape, South Africa), Rowers on track for new record (Bradford Telegraph Argus, UK), Scullers aim to knock out heavyweights (Sydney Morning Herald, Australia), Munich sets stage for Olympic glory (New Zealand Herald, NZ), 'Oarsome' duel (Stuff, NZ).
Wednesday 2nd January 2008
Terribly sad news (UK) - Richard Moody, of Vesta RC and formerly of both University of Leicester RC and Nottingham BC, died suddenly over the break. From the Vesta website: "Richard was a much liked member of the men's senior squad who had a great enthusiasm for rowing and club camaraderie at Vesta. His modesty, sense of humour and easy-going nature will be sadly missed. Our deepest condolences go to his family and friends. Informal drinks in his memory will be held in the club bar on Saturday 5th January from 12 noon." Funeral arrangements will be posted on the Vesta website shortly.
On 28th December there was an article by Matthew Bond in the Daily Mail about Andy Holmes, who is back in rowing, this time coaching at Furnivall (UK). Click on the link to load a 2MB jpeg file into your browser, or for more controllable reading, save the scan to disk and open with a better graphics program. (Thanks PQ for the scan).
Missed at the time, the fact that the National Junior Indoor Rowing Championships (UK), first held last year, will be on Wednesday 5th March 2008, so that they don't overlap too much with the Boat Race itself. Venue will be the Battersea Evolution site in Battersea Park, and more details available from the London Youth Rowing subsite. Entries are already open and close on 22nd February 2008.
From ProductReviews.net, Get fit for the New Year - a review of the Concept 2 'indoor rower'.
