Archive News from July 2006

Snippets of news and events from earlier months, as shown originally on the Rowing Service News Page.
Standard results/events/etc not shown.

Monday 31st July 2006
• I have to commend the Coupe de la Jeunesse 2006 website (Groningen, Netherlands) for its simple, clear but highly informative and properly updated design and content. Results (link above) were available soon after each session of racing, and the 'news updates' including changes to crews were in a clever format which FISA might think about copying. All in all, a very useable regatta site, and I particularly liked the images depicting temperature and wind strength and direction (presumably properly measured and automatically input?) for every race. Very smart stuff indeed. While we're at it, I hope they think to leave the website intact, both as an example to others and as a resource for those wanting archive results and information.
• Overall Coupe results - GBR won, Italy second, France third. Details including points on the website above. Photos and reports in Dutch on NLRoei (of course).
• Starting on Wednesday, the Junior World Championships in Amsterdam (Netherlands). Full details via FISA or there is a full event website in both English and Dutch.
• Robert Treharne Jones says: "I'm just preparing my commentary homework for this week's World Juniors in Amsterdam, but my information on the athletes is a little thin, to say the least, comprising only the form from Banyoles 2004 and Brandenburg 2005. Any info on any teams worldwide (non-GB) would be very welcome, plus any news of parents travelling out there etc." If you wish to contribute, and perhaps have your stories about athletes mentioned at the Bosbaan this week, email Robert on tjwizard'at'tiscali.co.uk. Please make sure information is accurate or he will set the athletes on you!
• The Commonwealth Regatta draw (Scotland 5th-6th August) is up. Slightly disappointing there are still only 10 countries participating - this event needs to grow if it's to be reinstated on the full Commmonwealth Games programme. The official website is also online, but since it doesn't have the draw, it's unlikely it will carry updated results - the Scottish Rowing website will be a better bet.
• Also this weekend, Maidenhead Regatta (Sat 5th August, UK).
• The weekend after the Eton World Championships (UK) Dorney Lake will play host to a sponsored row for autism research (large PDF file). The charity, Autism Speaks, would like to hear from those who'd be interested in taking part in the challenge to keep a boat moving for 12 hours non-stop. Contact details on the poster.
• The North of England Sprint Rowing Championships is open for OARA entries (UK). Full details on the Hollingworth Lake website.
• The Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club is inviting applications for a rowing coach/administrator for its rowing section (Hong Kong). Notice linked above since I can't yet see it on the club website. No closing date given yet, and this is not the same as the General Manager job advertised earlier in the year.
• Details of safety plan (PDF) is also online.
• Row TV's Henley Royal Regatta DVD is out on 10th August. The home page (see link) has details but may be very slow to load - even on broadband - because it includes a sample video clip.
• Press links, most recent first - Ithaca rowers successful from any view (Ithaca Journal, USA), Quigley coxes NZ to gold in Belgium (Auckland Times, NZ), National rowing team deprived of basic facilities (International News Network, Pakistan), National rowing team vows to display exceptional performance in 10th SAG (INN, Pakistan, about the South Asian Games), Squeezing in an Italian interlude (San Francisco Chronicle, USA - a thoroughly laudable feature about a rower actually taking time off!), Local ESG competitors doing well in games (The Saratogian, USA), Crew program opening doors... on the water (New Haven Register, USA), Schoolboy no threat, says Howard (Courier Mail, Australia), Rowers get set for non-stop Broads trip (Norfolk Eastern Daily Press, UK), The boat floats, so now it's time to race (Middletown Press, USA - more like kayaking than rowing, however), Minister's call to rowers (Hindu, India), Phoebe wins bronze at world titles (Geelong Advertiser, Australia), Star make a stir at St Neots Regatta (Bedford Today, UK), Davison '07, Kennedy '07 help female rowers bring home gold (CSTV, USA), Lang helps Canadian crew lock up gold (Vernon Morning Star, Canada - these last two written by the same PR officer, perhaps?), Bartley leaves the world in his wake (icCheshire Online, UK), 4 more qualify for Doha games (Indiatimes, India), Big 12 rowing heads to KCK again in 2007 (Kansas City Kansan, USA), Opening events planned for Camco boathouse (Cherry Hill Courier Post, USA), Drake, Waite medal in early Empire action (Glens Falls Post-Star, USA), Rowing club moving to Nyack (Journal News, USA), More medals for Daniel (Harrow Times, UK), Richland balks at buying property (The State, USA), Miami's Prendes rows to victory (Miami Herald, USA), New law cracks down on voyeurs (syndicated, Australia - slightly worrying), BRC won the fight for all the clubs (Brockville Recorder and Times, Canada), Duo land silver for England (Huntingdon Today, UK), Oarswoman Helen is aiming for World Championships (This is Bradford, UK), Jenny strikes gold (Sudbury Today, UK), Fitzsimon and Bream enjoy revenge mission (Cambridge Evening News, UK), Olympic gold medal burglar jailed (BBC News, UK - I hope this means Crackers got his laptop and other possessions back), Forest Hills rowers win bronze (Grand Rapids press, UK), Moor wins for Bideford rowers (North Devon Gazette & Advertiser, UK), Rowers off to Europe (Vuvuzela Online, South Africa), Longtime resident succumbs to cancer at 44 (Lexington Minuteman, USA, about Andy Sudduth again), Racing for a reason (Times-Standard, USA), Ocean rowing challenge (icThe Wharf, UK), Medical student Elizabeth cracks the scull (Borders Today, UK - nice headline!), Go with the float (Telegraph, UK), Groups want level playing field (Globe and Mail, Canada, with an even better headline if you see what the article's about), Officials get peek at boathouse (Cherry Hill Courier Post, USA), UMW crew will stay at Lake of the Woods (Free Lance-Star, USA), Gentle Giant regatta won by Needham crew of novices (Somerville Journal, USA), Mike gets his oar in (Glasgow Daily Record, UK), Rowing shell demo day in Marblehead (Swampscott Reporter, USA), Rower aims for Beijing (Warrnambool Standard, Australia), Rowing club decision nears (Esquimalt News, Canada), Awesome view has Hardcastle primed to win (Mosman Daily, Australia), Court rules in favour of rowers (Brockville Recorder and Times, Canada), Fun in the sun at Loughquittane (The Kingdom, Ireland), Henley Regatta to accept late entries (a better title for the Brockville story above, Toronto Star, Canada).

  Thursday 27th July 2006

• The 2006 World Championships team is in need of fluent Russian speakers able to attend the regatta. A knowledge of rowing and, ideally, commentary experience, would also be useful but are not as essential as the language. If you think you can help please contact Robert Treharne Jones.
• If anyone's having trouble with the usual Coupe de la Jeunesse website (it doesn't always display properly) then this link will take to you to the site for this year's event (29th-30th July, Groningen, Netherlands). Shame they seem to have ditched the handsome Europe-as-flags logo except as a very washed out picture in the background of the pages, but the original is still online.
• The poster for Warwick Regatta (19th August, UK) is now online, and entries (OARA or postal) are open. It is being run as a Primary regatta with J14/J15/Nov/S4 events as leagues where possible, all events non-qualifying, and events for those new to the sport. Questions to regatta-atremovetostopspam-warwickboatclub-dot-co-dot-uk.
• Doncaster Regatta (UK) has been rescheduled for Saturday 9th September after the May cancellation. Entries are now open and close at 3pm on Saturday 2nd Sept. See link for details.
• Eliot George photography (UK) has launched a new version of their website, with a forum coming shortly.
• Still spaces on the Alec Hodges TSS sculling course (UK).

  Wednesday 26th July 2006

• This year's Tour du Lac a la Rame (Lake Geneva, Switzerland) is renamed due to a sponsorship. The 'Anglo-Irish Bank 34th Tour du Leman a l'Aviron' takes place on 30th September and 1st October, a two-day race around the Lake. There is a large PDF (1.6MB) in English about the event: closing date is 10th September, and they welcome visiting crews. Further information in French on the host club's site.
• The draw for Warrington Regatta (UK, PDF format) is out.
• While on the subject of unusual rowing events, Oxford City Royal Regatta is running a mixed medley class this year - Mx4+, Mx4x and Mx8+ over the two days of the regatta, with a prize of 4 smoothies to the best team. The aim is to allow races to pot-hunters without bumping up their points: 1000m for the two fours on Saturday (8 people plus cox) and 500m for the eights on Sunday (new or the same people). Teams can be 8-16 people plus coxes, and must be minimum 50% women. Nobody can race in more than two of the three events.
• A website for North Carolina State University rowing, aka the 'Wolfpack' (USA).
• The Port of London Authority (Tideway, UK) requires rowing launches which will carry more than 2 people to be wash-tested with the expected number of people in. Those on that stretch of river with such launches need to contact Alex Brown to have the test arranged.

  Tuesday 25th July 2006

• The full Home International results (PDF format, Scotland) are now online.
• Sonia Mills from the AUS W4x has been doing diary reports from the Australian senior team while in Europe.
• Queen's College Oxford (UK, first mentioned July 7th) have set up a website for their Thames-rowing challenge as well as a JustGiving site for those keen to support their charitable target for the RNLI. The row takes place this coming weekend.
• In two weeks time the Commonwealth Regatta (a separate event from the main Commonwealth Games) takes place in Strathclyde (Scotland). There's an official website but entries are not yet confirmed.
• FISA's quick quotes from the World Under-23 champs last weekend.
• First solo Atlantic rower honoured (Western Morning News, UK) - John Fairfax exhibit at the National Maritime Museum in Cornwall.
• Details of the Inverness Sprints (Scotland, September) - poster, rules and entry form (all MS Word).
• I wanted to list this article - World champ at 11 (Chronicle Herald, Canada) but with some extra information about what was going on. Background information here and here.
• News links - Left to sink, rowers return with bag of silver (Hindustan Times, India), Anna Bebington: the rowing production line continues (Mike Rowbottom, Independent, UK), Youngsters surge to golden day at worlds (New Zealand Herald, NZ), BRC's focus affected - not best results (Brockville Recorder and Times, Canada), Cal trio helps Canada to rowing gold (CSTV.com, USA), Double world champion coach still committed to Wanganui (Wanganui Chronicle, NZ), Locals take 3 provincial gold medals (Ottawa Sun, Canada), Haver ninth at rowing worlds (StarPhoenix, Canada), Coopertown graduate helps women's eight to world gold (Oneonta Daily Star, USA).

  Monday 24th July 2006

• (first posted yesterday). Upton Regatta (UK) has been cancelled due to lack of entries, perhaps due to confusion over dates - it was going to be held on 29th July not 30th as listed.
• Under-23 press links - Chambers and Bartley take gold (Rachel Quarrell, Telegraph, UK), UW rowers shine at U-23s (Seattle Times, USA), Three golds and a silver for NZ (New Zealand Herald and syndicated, NZ), Chambers strikes gold in U23's (BBC News local (Northern Ireland), UK).
• Other press - RGS rowers taste national success (Worcester Standard, UK), Fundraising calendar focuses on rowing body (Montreal Gazette, Canada), US juniors feel confident (Indianapolis Star, USA), She's back on her feet again (News-Herald, USA), Rower Jenny is on course for Beijing (This is Gloucestershire, UK), 41 national titles awarded Saturday at the 2006 USRowing National Championships (Row2k, USA), Saints duo get it right in nationals (Cambridge Evening News, UK).

  Sunday 23rd July 2006

• More Bloso blogging from the Under-23 finals (updated intermittently).
• Another batch of UK notices posted last night.
• Results of yesterday's Home International Regatta (Strathclyde, Scotland).
• Details of the Port of Bideford Regatta (UK) are now posted online.
• Pictures from the 2006 Australian Masters championships (AUS).
• If you don't like Wikipedia's methods, try 'Everything you want to know about rowing and sculling by Chris Abraham, who has digested it all down to one page with masses of Wiki links.
• Press links - Nines rock City with the old 1-2 (Cambridge Evening News, UK), Waikato captain back for Great River Race (Waikato Times, NZ), Little Rock Boathouse members rowed (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, USA, subscription only).

  Saturday 22nd July 2006

• Hazbloggery updated. There are official reports, results etc. from the Under-23s on FISA's website where you can also listen to the course commentary live online during racing.
• Entries for the 2009 Atlantic Rowing Race open today on the Woodvale Events website. There are apparently a few places left in the 2007 race.
• Row2k's doing news from the US National Championships (USA).
• An interesting piece in a Japanese paper about a new TV drama on the JPN Asahi channel: "If you prefer your group dramas populated with adults, you can hang with the college crowd in Regatta, (Fridays, 9 p.m.) which started July 14 on TV Asahi network. This is also based on a popular comic book. Hero Ozawa feels like he murdered his old rowing partner, Kurata. They both loved the same girl and when Kurata challenged him to a race for her affections in very stormy weather, he lost his life. Everyone else thinks it was just an accident, and after a year, Ozawa gets up the nerve to come back to the boat club and strive for a place on the Olympic rowing team. All the actors could have used a bit more muscle training to make this story look more believable, but never fear, Shinji Yamashita is on hand to play the coach who will whip them into shape. He has had the role of coach in so many sports dramas over the years, he would definitely look the part if they hired him to coach the Japanese national soccer team." I wonder if we can get hold of the comic book it's based on? - RQ.
• A piece in the Daily Mail (UK) about Lewis Gordon Pugh, who h is swimming the length of the Thames. It mentions his support team will be rowing down the Henley reach dressed as polar bears next Monday, when he reaches the town. You can follow progress and read about his efforts to highlight environmental problems on his website (Thames Challenge section).
• Press links - Islanders row into U-23 finals (Seattle Times, USA), Hayes rises to occasion (Irish Independent, Ireland), Cuba with all boats to finals (Prensa Latina, Cuba), NZ crews make U-23 rowing finals (Newswire, NZ), Bad day for British crews (Chris Dodd, Independent, UK), Medal hopes stay alive as British boats rise above expectations (Mike Rosewell, The Times - I had just a short snippet in the Telegraph), Rowing competition continues at Eagle Creek (Indianapolis Star, USA), Vandals strike rowing club (Saanich News and syndicated, Vancouver Island, Canada), Rower advances to finals at US nationals (CSTV, USA), Klem advances to semis at world rowing U23 championships (Boston University Terriers, USA), All four Badgers advance at world U-23 rowing championships (University of Wisconsin Badgers, USA, I must be going soft putting the student puff in), Unusual promotion of London's waterways (British Satellite News, UK), There's no stopping the magnificent 99s (Cambridge Evening News, UK), For a cause, businessman will compete in ocean race (Wakefield Observer, USA), Carl Holtz was champion rower (Journal Sentinel Online, USA), Oarsome! (News and Star, UK), http://www.maidenhead-advertiser.co.uk/sport_article.php?section=8&category=93&story=1780">Stunning results for young blades (Maidenhead Advertiser, UK).
• Sportsbite updated for those interested in things other than rowing.

  Friday 21st July 2006

• Yesterday the Development Control Committee of Bedfordshire County Council (UK) passed the planning application for the Bedford Rowing Lake at Willington. Fancy that.
• London Youth Rowing have two jobs up for grabs (UK, MS Word format).
• Results from the Cambridge Town Bumps are going onto the Cambridge Evening News website: day one and day two reports (UK). LYR's new website is looking
• Press links - Phillips a high-level coxswain despite disability (Capital Times, USA), Haver at rowing worlds (StarPhoenix, Canada), Six Strokes make national team (Contra Costa Times, USA), Cracknell joins Webber's 'A-team' (ex-rower action from the ITV website, UK), Her Majesty's cygnet service (Swanupping in the Independent, UJK, which involves quite a few rowers), Oarsome end to a dream for Birkenhead (icLiverpool, UK), Canada in final (Montreal Gazette, Canada), Natalie gets an England call after national success (Peterborough Evening Telegraph, UK), O'Neill runs out of steam (Irish Independent, Ireland), Locals row into Under-23 finals (Seattle Times, USA), a story about Scott Strong (Press Telegram, USA - look below the first 2/3 of the page, about Bud Furillo, and down to the second story), Rowing club commemorates 10 years, Olympics (Atlanta Journal Constitution, USA), Rower Tim wins city heart (Cumberland News, UK), Cent Am rowing opens in Mexico (Prensa Latina, Cuba), Strong start for NZ U-23s (TVNZ, NZ), Proposed naming of boat splits alumni (CSTV, USA), Wanted: some serious rowers to crew Deale woman's new scull (Annapolis Capital, USA), Good start for young Kiwi rowers (Newswire, NZ), Dramatic regatta greets new crew (Sudbury Today, UK), Rowing lake approved at last (Bedford Today, UK).

  Thursday 20th July 2006

• World Under-23s start today - results on the FISA website.
• Doing a spot of Rowing Service HazBloggery from the Under-23s.
• From Chris Anton on RSR, news of the Gloucester canal course changes (UK). Discussion on the rec.sport.rowing newsgroup.
• Water Boiling Aft: London Rowing Club, the first 150 years (Chris Dodd, UK) is now available from Amazon and other book suppliers. ISBN = 0955293804 - you should be able to avoid sourcing fees by asking your local bookshop to order it since it's only just been published. Some time next week I'm going to be offering a free copy as a prize for a Rowing Service competition: details to be confirmed.
• On Saturday Channel 4 is showing 'Viking Boat Race' (click on 'Saturday' at the top of the page to see details - there's no absolute link. Time 19:05-20:05 BST (GMT+1), Channel 4 (UK). Can be watched live online at the time.
• And the BBC is re-showing "Through Hell and High Water", the story of Ben Fogle and James Cracknell's trans-Atlantic row, again this week at 7pm on BBC1. Last two parts tonight and tomorrow.
• From an Irish reader:- "A number of club rowers in Ireland are becoming fairly concerned at the practice now of certain english rowers being brought over to the Irish champs for the day/weekend to target a senior pot. Many of us consider that this practice is undermining the amateur ethos of senior rowing in Ireland. I would appreciate it if you could link our discussion on this matter". RS editor's note - there is a certain amount of personal flack on the forum linked above, but some serious points made if you read all the way through.
• There are still some spaces available on the Tideway Scullers Alec Hodges Summer Sculling Course (UK from 14th-18th August for juniors and adults. Details and how to apply on the link.
• Cardiff University (Wales, UK) has a smart new website.
• More details of UK/GBR sports funding (UK, from the BBC a couple of days ago). Most similar to another newslink I made, but some extra points.
• An obituary for Andy Sudduth (New York Times, USA). And another in several newspapers (USA). Plus NH Olympian Andy Sudduth dies at 44 (Union Leader, USA).
• Other rowing news: Star's aim is Henley triumph (Bedfordshire on Sunday, UK), Friendsmith says success comes from hard work, passion for rowing (Somerville Journal, USA), National rowers back in the Valley (Cowichan Valley News Leader, Canada), National success is simply oarsome (icCheshire Online, UK), West prepares for Britain's big week (Woking News and Mail, UK), British rowing event leaves mark on CCD rowers (Community Press, USA), Eleven titles for Galway (Galway Independent, Ireland), International action for Irish (Unison, Ireland), National regatta returns (Indianapolis Star, USA).

  Wednesday 19th July 2006

• A website for the Thames Barge Driving Race (UK), an annual rowing event for large lighter-barges started by the Transport on Water Association and running from the Palace of Greenwich to the Palace of Westminster. A lot of good history of the Company of Watermen and Lightermen on the site too, though sadly not this year's results even though it took place last Saturday.

  Tuesday 18th July 2006

• RIP Andy Sudduth - very sad news (USA). A guestbook has been set up on the above link, and details of the memorial service on July 28th at Tabor Academy in Marion (USA). No flowers, but donations to the Pan Mass Challenge which his brother Matthew is riding this year in his place. There will also be a Harvard dedication at the Newell boathouse on Saturday evening at the Head of the Charles (21st October). Details to be announced later. Plus, an admirer has set up a Wikipedia site about his rowing.
• From Row2k, an update on the elimination of Rutger's men's crew programs (USA).
• I thought this was going to be a detective puzzle. While doing the news links, I found Adidas threat to scale back Olympic support over IOC sponsoring row (Monsters & Critics). So, which bit of rowing does Adidas support? It's not FISA or USRowing according to their websites. No, it turns out that Adidas Eyewear is a minor sponsor of the German men's eight. No sign of them also supporting the rest of the German team as far as I can see. Oo I bet that will really scare the IOC, the idea of the GER M8+ not having any sunglasses this year. Shocking.
• A report on the Thames Water Raft Race (Reading Evening Post, UK).
• Other rowing press links - State looks to fix errors that led to oil spill (News Journal, USA), Local team competing in Mexico (Stockton Record, USA), Their work is child's play (Oregon Live, USA), Crewing for college (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, USA), Want to build a boat? Check this out (Village Soup, USA), Paddlers up creek on access (The State, USA), Report will recommend hammer for underperforming sports (Herald, UK - note rowing is not the underperformer, but one of the benchmarks), Gay Games kick off in record heat (247gay.com, USA), Area sports (Brockville Recorder and Times, Canada), Nan Miller is an ardent advocate for rowing (Dallas Morning News, USA), Guelph-Eramosa Twp - boat motor stolen (Fountain Pen, Canada), Parents pay tribute to cyclist (Courier Mail, Australia, on the anniversary of Amy Gillett's death), Kansas City rowers compete nationally (Kansas City infozone, USA), Teamwork floats their boats (Portland Press Herald, USA), Straight fours highlight races at Bud Myra Memorial Regatta (Chronicle Herald, Canada), Mills back on the water (Chronicle Herald, Canada), Regular day at Gay Games (Chicago Daily Herald, USA), Gay Games no big deal, just another day at beach (Northwest Herald, USA), All around the world... (Munster Times, USA), Gliding through the summer (West Linn Tidings, USA), India juniors put up a good show (Hindu, India), Rowing towards final lake decision (Bedford Today, UK), The story behind the Riverfront's success (News Journal, USA), Professor rowers across calm waters of Middle Tennessee (Daily News Journal, USA), Tom's Eton double act (icWales, UK), A fond look back from one who was there (Gainesville Times, USA), Different strokes (Sun-Sentinel, USA), Rower finds a different stroke (Worcester Telegram, USA), No head-butting in this World Cup - yet (Waterbury Republican-American, USA), Rowing worlds beckon to ex-Eagle (San Luis Obispo Tribune, USA), Seeking synchronisation with oars in hand (Stockton Record, USA), It's the boating life for me (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, USA), Fast track Beijing battle fund (syndicated, Canada), A sobering list of expensive Kiwi failures (Stuff, NZ, again rowing being held up as the example of what to do), Sailboat house may lose windfall (syndicated, USA), Explorer to set sail again (Somerset County Gazette, UK, with a misleading headline), Hunter the new king of Britain's oldest event (Chris Dodd, Independent, UK), Peter Irvine appointed to key Wanganui rowing role (Wanganui Chronicle, NZ), Windsor rowers are awesome (icBerkshire, UK), Growing from rowing (San Diego Union-Tribune, USA, about a former rower), Rowing replaces tennis for Mountain Ridge graduate (Glendale Star, USA), Marlow rowers take three golds (Buckinghamshire Free Press, UK), Kenyan lightweight James Okello in men's double scull (Coastweek, Kenya), Rowers pleased with form (Beccles and Bungay Journal, UK), Royal Gibraltar Regiment wins Tri-Service rowing championships (Panorama, UK, on the Joint Services Regatta).

  Monday 17th July 2006

• (first posted yesterday) Another load of UK notices. Masses for sale, including some collector's-item wooden boats.
• The Daily Erg blogspot (Canada) has been covering a few interesting issues recently. In the last week - Stephen Seilor of of MAPP on "what if Lance Armstrong were a rower?", sodium bicarbonate buffer-loading, and GPS's.
• Nat Champs results (UK) online: Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The Nat Champs committee invites comment and feedback on the event (at any of its locations) via feedback@natchamps.org.uk.
• Bizarrely (and to be honest nothing to do with my persuasive skills) the Telegraph decided to go big on the UK National Championships this year with a proper article. Must be a lack of any football to write about. What's the betting I get no more than 100 words a day for the Under-23s this week? Anyway, Rebecca untangle their way to bronze (RQ, DT, UK).

  Sunday 16th July 2006

• We'll be starting live online commentary from the Nat Champs (UK) at about noon, when the first senior and J18 finals begin. However, due to the results not going on the official website until after racing, I will also list the results from the younger junior finals, updated probably every 30-40 minutes between now and then - hit refresh to get the latest version. I'm on a dial-up line - if it goes down please be patient, as it can sometimes get stuck. Should the Rowing Service server have a hiccup, as has happened before, then I will shift to an alternative site but this is very much a back-up - the one I'm keeping updated if all goes well is the top link in this item, the proper RS version. Both will be updated following the end of racing, for posterity.
• An interesting lost and found notice (UK) - I'll post it in full, since it's quite amusing. "I found a plain gold wedding band in the mud (because it's very shiny!) outside TSS during the low tide, while coaching this morning. Not sure whether it was dropped by a sculler in their haste to finish their outing and get home to their lovely husband, or was thrown from the bridge during an argument by an angry wife (whose husband is spending more time on the water than with her perhaps?) - or indeed whether it entered the river anywhere near there at all (could have fallen off a Pimms-pickled woman at HRR and has gradually been making its way down river since...). However, it is a really nice one - I assume a woman's by the size, and it has the manufacturer stamp inside it, so it could actually be identified and returned to the owner (hopefully she'll still have a use for it!) which would be nice. If anyone wants to contact me at this e-mail address, then I can see about getting it back to them." FB.
• Start order and crew lists for the Cambridge Town Bumps (UK) have been posted.
• Doggett's result from Friday (UK): Ross Hunter (Leander) won in 25min 27sec, with Lance Veysi (Poplar Blackwall & District) second in 26min 56sec, and Billy Ruler (Globe) third in 29min 00sec. Ryan Sandall (Royal Docks) didn't show. A pretty straightforward race, Hunter leading inside a minute and able to paddle most of the way after the second minute.

  Friday 14th July 2006

• Clearing the backlog - loads of new UK notices and the rest of the piled-up list going up tomorrow (UK).
• The UK's National Championships begin today (Scotland, UK). Results will be going up online about 90 minutes after the end of racing daily, at this link for Friday and possibly something similar for Saturday.
• I will be doing live online commentary from Strathclyde on Sunday for the finals - bookmark the link now.
• UK squad press links - Squad prepare to rule the waves (Mike Rosewell, The Times), Lucerne winner Campbell aiming to add world title (Chris Dodd, Independent), Hopes high for GB team (Rachel Quarrell, Telegraph), Grainger prepares for Worlds (Herald, Scotland, UK).
• Other press links: UK searches for 20 Olympic champions (Reuters), University aims to build £19m complex (Oxford Mail, UK - interesting how I find out about this from the Internet!), Sunflower State Games get started early today (Topeka Capital Journal, USA), Hodge lands World Cup gold (This is Bradford, UK), Controversy over Gay Games rowing event wanes (Chicago Tribune, USA), Crews sprint for glory at regatta (Bedford Today, UK), Talent show seeking to discover Olympians of future (Sunday Times, UK), Pulling together to inspire the ultimate talent show (Matthew Pinsent, Telegraph, UK), Boat unites high school rivals in common goal (Poughkeepsie Journal, USA), Rowing club boycotts regatta (Whitby Today, UK).

  Thursday 13th July 2006

• News on the GB-France match on the Aviron France website (in French). Since the link is unstable - will move when they have more news - the results are here and the officials here (both PDF). 'De pointe' means sweep-oar, 'de couple' crew sculling, and 'skiff' single sculling. Club affiliations for GB team: M1x, W1x and W2x all Maidenhead, M2x Notts Schools Rowing Association, M2- Shrewsbury (also given the Entente Cordiale award), M4x Windsor Boys, W4x Henley, M4- Tyne, W4- Haberdashers Monmouth, M4+ KGS, M8+ Walton/George Watson's, W8+ Henley/Dame Alice Harpur.
• Aussie job notice: "Due to a last minute hitch, Gippsland Grammar, Australia has a gap (ie gap year) vacancy for a rowing person, with good rowing experiences, to help with our rowing programme. The position requires that you provide your own transport to and from Australia. We will provide accommodation, meals and a small weekly cash allowance. Our rowing season runs from October to March/April. There are opportunities for you to continue rowing/sculling, compete in local regattas and possibly compete in the Australian Nationals while you are here. For further information please contact Frank Stone on fj(dot)stone(@)Gippslandgs(dot)vic(dot)edu(dot(au) or one of last years Gappies, Paul Kelly on 01322-552965."
• Entries and provisional timetable for the World Under-23s in Hazewinkel next week (Belgium).
• The GB team will be named today (UK), and yesterday it was formally annoucned that Siemens would be sponsoring both the team (until 2012) and this year's World Championships in Eton. Press links - Britain offered cash for medals (John Goodbody, The Times), Britain profit from £3.2m sponsorship (Rachel Quarrell, Telegraph).

  Wednesday 12th July 2006

• Results of Henley Veteran's Regatta (UK) are out.
• GB won the GB-France match 8 races to 4 - does anyone have full details:?
• Omitted during Lucerne - FISA have announced that the 2008 World Cup regattas will be Munich, Poznan and Lucerne again. Munich beat Milan for the honour of holding the first one. In 2008 the non-Olympic/junior Worlds will be held in Linz, Ottensheim (Austria) in the fourth week of July. The Olympics (Beijing, China) run from 10th-17th August 2008.
• Press links - Home finals are big draw (Irish Independent, Ireland), Waterfront row resolved (Newstalk ZB, NZ), BRC finishes in second at ERA (Brockville Recorder and Times, Canada), Games sculler chases clean sweep (Brisbane Courier Mail, Australia), Do you have a burning ambition to fulfill a lifelong dream? (Response Source, UK), USRowing announces 2006 Under 23 national team roster (Row2k, USA), Just oarsome (icNorthWales, UK).

  Tuesday 11th July 2006

• Websites in South Africa, for Alfred RC, Western Cape Rowing, Elgin RC and Cape Town RC - the last three all still under construction.
• The Northern Rowing Council (UK) is holding a trials day for the 2007 junior inter-regionals, on Sunday 4th March 2007 at Cambois - if involved please put it in your diary.
• A fully-loaded liferaft will be running tests on the Tideway all this Friday (14th July, UK) from 9am to 6pm. It's also the day of the Doggett's Coat & Badge race further downstream, so it could be a day for local rowers to take off and spectate, instead.
• Doggett's entry this year: Lance Veysi, Poplar, Blackwall & District RC, Ross T Hunter, Leander Club, Billy J Ruler, Globe RC and Ryan G Sandell, Royal Docks RC (all UK). For those who don't know the background, competitors must be apprentice watermen, and can't compete again once they've won. The race is held from London Bridge to Chelsea and is at 12:30pm this Friday.
• Founded in the US, presumably by Rochester rower John Bartucz, Rowiki, a derivative of the Wikipedia idea.
• Northwood School's rowing programme (Lake Placid, NY, USA) can be contacted via head coach Howard Runyon.
• Doing the rounds of newsgroups and bulletin boards at the moment, a sculling video clip (29 MB, so best on broadband) of exercises you can try if you don't mind risking falling in....
• .... It actually comes from the Coup De Pelle (France) rowing forum website in French.
• Beware those rowing and particularly coaching on the Thames from Monday 17th to the end of July: Swimmer planning Thames challenge. Don't run the poor guy over!
• An elderly press link not picked up a few weeks ago - Curlew men beat the best in record time (News Shopper, UK). FYI the Curlew crew eventually lost to Hamburger & Germania in the first round of the Thames Cup at HRR.
• More timely links - Viking ship replica too big for the Oslo Fjord (Aftenposten, Norway), Wascana Centre has many faces (Regina Leader-Post, Canada), Campbell comes good with Beijing in mind (Martin Cross, Guardian, UK), Rowers represent Canada (Brockville Recorder and Times, Canada), Compass Project boat-building festival (Maine Today, USA).
• And race-by-race Lucerne World Cup stories on www.worldrowing.com.

  Monday 10th July 2006

• The Nat Champs website (UK) now has details of the provisional draw, timetables etc, plus the safety instructions for competitors to download/print off. Note that races and lanes will not be finalised until check-in is complete 90 minutes before the start of the first race in the event.
• The LuzBlog has been updated.
• The FISA video clip page is updated too, though no sign of Zac's clip from Saturday, perhaps because it's not a World Cup event.
• For British fans going to the junior, U23 and senior championships this summer, the British International Rowing Supporters' Club (UK) have red poplin BIRSC logo shirts with a button-down collar, 20 pounds each, and caps, 10 pounds each: call Heather on 01234-268568. They have also arranged hotel & ticket packages for the juniors: for that call Jessica on 01234-348882.
• Details of Warrington Regatta (UK, 29th July) online in PDF format.
• More from YouTube: if you search for Henley 1953 there is a 2-minute Pathe clip of some of that year's Royal Regatta finals (UK).
• I'm told that the two Scottish Canoe Association jobs on this link (Word format) don't necessarily have to be done by canoeists. They have requested the link, adding "the performance director job in particular could be done by someone in any sport and live pretty much anywhere to do it." Interesting!
• Details of Tideway Scullers' Alec Hodges summer sculling course (UK).
• Press links a) - Lucerne World Cup today: Campbell is first Brit to win World Cup title (Martin Cross, Guardian), British enjoy strong team performance in World Cup (Chris Dodd, Independent, UK), Champions lead way to golden World Cup for Britain (Mike Rosewell, The Times, UK), Coxless four keep their cool to lead medal haul (Rachel Quarrell, Daily Telegraph, UK), Lightweights in name only (Toronto Sun, Canada), Canada wins World Cup gold (Montreal Gazette, Canada), Lightweight four deliver knockout blow in Lucerne (Unison, Ireland), NZ rowers pick up two golds, one silver at World Cup (Radio New Zealand, NZ), Silver lining for super James (Western Mail, Wales), Medal haul for Kiwi rowers (Stuff, NZ), Golden sisters add to medal tally (New Zealand Herald, NZ), Gold not great for Evers-Swindells (Xtra, NZ), Drysdale second in Lucerne (syndicated, NZ), Men's rowing pair make mark in Lucerne (Stuff, NZ), Ireland finish second in B final (RTE, Ireland), Irish quartet win World Cup (RTE, Ireland), Canadian rows to silver at Lucerne World Cup (CBC News, Canada).
• Press links b) - Lucerne World Cup previously: Britons to fore in Lucerne (RQ, Saturday's Telegraph), Campbell sets pace in heats for World Cup showdown (Chris Dodd, Saturday's Independent), Campbell bids for final glory (Chris Dodd, Independent on Sunday), Britain boasts 10 boats in medal races (RQ, Sunday Telegraph), Positive start for NZ rowers (Xtra, NZ), Kiwi rowers post mixed results in Lucerne (Xtra, NZ), A silver on Saturday for Vandor in the light 1x (RCA's press release on Row2k, USA/Canada), Alan books final berth (Sunday Life, UK), Irish lay down marker for French (Unison, Ireland), Rowers focused (NZ City, NZ), Powerful Purchase blitzes high-class Lucerne field (Sunday Times from press releases, UK), A finals contest by all NZ crews (Newstalk ZB, NZ), Jones, Cameron advance to semis at World Cup (syndicated, Canada).
• Press links c) - non-World Cup: Brave wife 'fends off' big tiger (BBC News, but Bangladesh story), Happy anniversary (Guernsey Weekly Press, UK), Foursomes helped make it oarsome for Southsea (Portsmouth News, UK), Life's dream yields winning design (The Mercury, Australia), Local rowers going far (Star Phoenix, Canada), USA seeks cycling, rowing gems for 2008 Games (USA Today, USA), Harbour regatta a great success (Independent Online, South Africa), Adaptive rowing making waves (Vernon Morning Star, Canada), Ashley Blake has made up for lost time on the river (Lowell Sun, USA), Regatta held on 'beautiful day' (Duluth News Tribune, USA), Henley Regatta hits the lake (Herald and News, USA - about the Rural Henley Regatta), Success comes easy for this amused rower (Kolkata Newsline, India), Shepherd Ocean Fours rowing race (BYM News, UK), Warriors in high spirits half-way across Atlantic (Yorkshire Post Today, UK), Valley rowers a big boost to Brentwood (Comox Valley Record, Canada).

  Saturday 8th July 2006

• A Parlimamentary Private Question tabled recently in the House of Commons (UK): Rowing Safety: - Q: Hugh Robertson - "To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media & Sport what recent discussions she has had about rowing safety; and if she will make a statement." A: Mr. Caborn (DCMS) - "Since the adjournment debate on rowing safety in March I have met with my Hon. Friend the Member for Ashton-under-Lyne (David Heyes) and his constituents Stephen and Jane Blockley to hear their concerns on the issue. I have also written to the Amateur Rowing Association to ask them to clarify the matter of boat buoyancy and to the international rowing governing body FISA to better understand its position on the matter. Safety in any water sport is paramount and given that there is divided opinion on the issue I consider that it would be helpful to have an objective view of the current guidance and evidence available. I have therefore asked Sport England to identify an appropriate organisation to undertake an independent review of rowing safety."
• Thames RC (UK) has two jobs going - coach/boatman and HPP devt coach (PDF format). As advertised in Regatta, closing date for both 4th August this year.

  Friday 7th July 2006

• The Rowing Service is doing something of a LuzBlog from the Lucerne World Cup, though don't expect it to be updated more than a couple of times today at least. If it doesn't load (the Arachsys server is playing up) then use this alternative URL until the problem is corrected.
• Details of the Waterways Ireland Carrick on Shannon Sprints (August 6th, Ireland).-
• A plaintive plea (UK): "Furnivall SC had a pair of brand new tressles from 'Swift Racing' go missing at henley Royal regatta. Black metal frame with Colour Green canvas sling. If you have mistakingly picked these up. Please can you inform furnivall_sc@hotmail.com."
• The poster for Staines Amateur Regatta (UK, PDF format) is out - general information on the regatta main page.
• Queen's College Oxford are doing a Oxford to London rowing challenge to raise money for the RNLI on 29th-31st July (UK). They're after corporate and individual sponsorship for it, contact Sarah Buckley if you can help.
• POLA are up to more fun and games - new Cagethings in the Tideway (UK) and replacing the 'riverview' buoy with a larger one which will be trialled with a light. I suspect Alex Brown (POLA liaison) is about to go on holiday - he has been sending out increasingly less factual emails, so I have no idea when exactly all this is happening, other than before 13th July. If you want more information please contact Alex directly.
• From FISA, Adaptive rowing impacted for Beijing by IPC decision, which will affect the LTA mixed 4+. In that intellectually disabled athletes have so far been able to join the crew, but it looks as if the IPC has kaiboshed it now - there will have to be some degree of physical impairment. Correction to original note - apparently intellectually disabled athletes in LTA mixed 4+ crews at the moment don't have to wear blindfolds - they are worn by partially visually disabled athletes to level that particular playing field.

  Thursday 6th July 2006

• From YouTube, Borat at Henley Royal Regatta, a few years ago (but I don't think I've linked it before).
• From the PLA (UK): "The PLA and the members of TRRC who are involved in the formation of the updated rowing code, feel that it would be advantageous to the coaches of Tideway clubs to come out for a trip on the river in a Harbour Service Launch. Not only would this give a greater appreciation of the difficulties faced by motor boats when navigating in the waters of the Thames, but it would also be useful for coaches and launch crews to have some dialogue so that communication at other times can be as friendly as possible. The launches are out on the river (tide permitting) in working hours seven days a week. If you have any coaches who would like to take this up please ask them to contact Alex Brown who will organise a trip. People can be collected from any of the piers up and down the river, but would need to go between Kew Rail and Putney to get the full effect." Finally getting round to HRR press links - Wells and Rowbotham claim top scalp (Rachel Quarrell, Telegraph).-->

  Wednesday 5th July 2006

• IMPORTANT FOR THAMES REGION CLUBS (UK): - from Chris George, TRRC Safety Adviser: "The list of clubs for whom the Thames RWSA has not had an on line audit is now under 30. All have been written to three times, twice by the ARA and once by the region and it is suspected that the Hon Sec to whom the letter is sent may not be in communication with the master/person/CWSA in charge (so, not dissimilar to quite a few other clubs!). In accordance with the Regional Council resolutions in May and June, as of midnight on 3rd July 2006 (7 days after the date of the letter warning them) these Clubs are now suspended from affiliation with the ARA and Events shall be informed. What is worrying is that there are so many University and School Clubs featured therein. If you know any members of the clubs on this link it would be kind to get them to fill in the audit to be found at the online audits page so the suspension of affiliation can then be removed and they can get back to summer racing. Full disaffiliation procedures start in 7 days."
• I've done an independent feedback questionnaire about Regatta Radio (UK). It would be great if any listeners could fill it in. NB Message fields now no longer mandatory (sorry, forgot to double-check originally).
• BigBlade's website is back up and running (UK). The link points to the HRR index, fully indexed. Photo 3 of the Wells/Rowbotham vs Spik/Cop on Sunday (HRR_06_8044) is pretty well precisely where and when the Slovenians hit the wall (I was in the launch, lucky me!)
• The draw for Llandaff Regatta & Sprint (Wales, UK, 8th-9th July) is up online.
• And that for Bedford Quarts Sprints (UK).
• Note that the Cambridge Sport Lakes Community Sports Coach jobs are now advertised on the organisation's own website (link changed).
• Jobs going for GB team doctors (closing date 31st July, UK).
• Note that Eliot George Photography (UK) has an art-style prints gallery including several rowing images.
• Rowing Trader (UK) is doing an email newsletter - email admin@rowingtrader.com with "Newsletter" in the subject line, to subscribe.

  Tuesday 4th July 2006

• Cambridge Sport Lakes (UK) is offering Community Sports Coach post(s) - more information on their site.
• Message from the north of England (UK): "Some members of Durham ARC are planning to compete at the European Masters Regatta in Vichy, France in September. They are looking to find trailerage for at least a quad & possibly additional 2x/1x. If any other clubs are intending to go that may have spare trailer space please get in contact.
• Photos from the recent UK regattas (ie HWR and HRR) up on Nature's Images, HRR official website, Wokingham Photographic, Jet Photographic, Only Rowing Photos, Row2k, NLRoei, Rowing News, RowTV (video clips), BBC Berkshire, WireImage (commercial agency), BigBlade, Eliot George Photography and no doubt plenty of others.

  Monday 3rd July 2006

• Sorry - haven't had internet service all day, for some bizarre reason. Now fixed, not that British Telecom were much help - it just seemed to restart working.
• Winner of the Regatta Radio/Rowing Service limerick competition (UK) was Oli Watkins, for his boom-hitting effort, one of five very good entries. Runners-up were Oli (again) and Rob Bristow. Congratulations Oli - please email the RegattaRadio organisers to give your address and have your prize of a bottle of (real) champagne delivered.
• Full results and winners' photos from Henley Royal Regatta (UK). More later this week from the Rowing Service about the last day of racing.
• A message from the PLA (UK): "A PLA photographer will be taking photos for the cover of the RCP (Rowing Code of Practice) this Saturday (8th July) from about 09:00 near Kew Road Bridge and the Harbour Service launch will be in the vicinity as well. If you row through this area from this time onwards it is possible that you will be our cover stars for the forseeable future - obviously if you are not keen to be immortalised in this way I would suggest not going as far as Kew road... However if you are very keen to be on the cover, please row over to the launch and tell him so and you might be asked to row up and down the stretch between the two bridges once or twice. Clearly if you are going to be in the area it would be a good thing to ensure you are in the right place on the river, as the cover of the RCP is not the only thing these photos could be used for. I hope that you have all recovered from the heat exhaustion of Henley, Alex Brown (POLA liaison)."
• Lady Margaret Boat Club (UK) has a Boat Club Manager job going (PDF format). Closing date 21st July.
• The draw for Talkin Tarn Regatta (UK) is up.
• Results from Egham Regatta (UK).
• A notice from Bangor University (North Wales, UK). "We are looking to introduce coastal rowing at the club, due to the moderate sea conditions of the Menai Straits. We would love to hear from clubs that have any surplus coastal rowing boats lying around in their boat houses or just information about coastal rowing. Thanks, Vivienne Sim."
• The 2008 Paralympic qualification criteria are now available - rowing (PDF format) has its own chapter. Interestingly, the athlete count doesn't include the coxswains, because they are able-bodied, which allowed the number of boats to be increased overall. LTA4+ coxes will be accredited in a special category just like the guides for visually impaired runners and cyclists, who similarly compete with them.
• The Lucerne World Cup starts on Friday (Switzerland).