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.

Tuesday 31st July 2007
• The British team for the EUSA championships has been announced by BUSA.
• Home International results: the full race results and the points results, both in Excel format, from IARU (Ireland). Ireland won the junior girls and boys matches, England the senior men and women, and the overall competition.
• Wales Rowing (UK) has put a PDF of the historic Home International summary results online.
• Encouraging news from Stourport (UK): "The river level at Stourport seems to be coming down. It was rowable at the weekend and we have every hope of running the Regatta and Sprint on the 11th & 12th August. Please make sure your entries are in by Saturday 4th August. We look forward to seeing you all then."
• "York City RC (UK) have lost 2 sweep Croker blades at HRR. They were on one of the blade racks in the boat tents and were no longer there on the last day. Perhaps another club picked them up by mistake? Blue handles with yellow ends, white blades with gold/black/purple diagonal stripe. If anyone can help, please ring Andy on 07753 604469."

  Sunday 29th July 2007

• The Rowing Photoboxgallery - a way of buying top international photographers' pictures from major events (UK origin). Just set up and featuring the under-23 championships in Strathclyde this weekend.
• Racing is well under way for the U23s, and those who haven't checked the FISA website lately please note that they have compressed the programme, to avoid predicted winds this afternoon. The A-finals are about to start at 11:18 local time (BST = GMT+1) and will take place every 10 minutes rather than the usual 15, finishing early at 14:28 local time. Yesterday's problems with the racetracker seem to have been sorted out.
• In today's Sunday Telegraph (UK), Britain's rowers on the road to Beijing (Simon Hart), round-up (U23s, RQ), Oxford see red over rivals' disappearing Blue (Andrew Alderson).
• Also, Sailors, rowers are in Games for the long haul (Hudson Journal, USA), Journey from fat boy to lean machine is worth the weight (NIck Townsend, Independent on Sunday, UK), Boating club hands oars to public, hoping to recruit members (The Day, USA), The fight was always in him (Monroe News, USA), Five boats into under-23 finals in Scotland (Radio New Zealand, NZ), Awash in activity: 1000 rowers compete in Ontario finals south of plug (Welland Tribune, Canada), Rowers picked for US jr team (Oakland Tribune, USA), Rory motion surges to China water scorcher (York Press, UK), Clemson says ex-coach commits NCAA violation (WIS, USA), Two Olympic venues completed (Xinhua, China), Adirondack still perfect (Albany Times Union, USA), Valley rowing duo wins gold at Empire State Games (Times Herald-Record, USA), New record in sight for defending men's champs (St John's Telegram, Canada).

  Saturday 28th July 2007

• Beaulieu Abbey (UK) are running a River Row on Saturday 4th August at 3:30pm. They say - "This is a fun row up and down the river over about 2 to 3 miles. All details available from Jenny Brewis at the Beaulieu estate office on 01590-614621 during normal office hourse or by email. Failing that call John Millbourn on 01747-811022." (You can come to it in anything human-propelled - rowing boats, sculling, gigs, skiffs, punts etc.)
• Oxford City Royal Regatta (UK) is open for entries via OARA. They are once again running the Mixed Medley event over both days, with mixed 4x, 4+ and 8+. The winning club receives a set of four blades. The junior Victor Ludorum club will get a set of sculling blades.
• Durham Amateur RC (UK) have just taken delivery of their new clubhouse - see this link for a 2006 press release about it. An updated release should be on the website shortly.
• Newcastle University (UK) is planning to appoint a part-time assistant coach. Closing date Monday 10th September 2007.

  Friday 27th July 2007

• From Regatta Radio (UK), a series of pictures of the Henley floods this week. As one US coach remarked when I showed him this morning, "well you can still get a drink at the Angel, so that's OK". For those who would prefer to get a longer look at each of the pictures (currently on a 2-second switch) I've saved it with a 10-second delay here on the Rowing Service (large file, 2MB).
• The Welsh team list for the Home International (UK, PDF format) is online. The timetable for the HIR (Cork, Ireland) is online in Excel format.
• Details of Ireland's national championship results last weekend are on the IARU website (Ireland), mostly in Excel format.
• Update on Evesham RC (UK) - they say "we have been heartened by the many offers of help we have received from rowing clubs all over the country", and will be replying to them over the next few days. The boathouse was full to within a few inches of the ceiling, during the worst of the floods.
• The Bridgnorth webcam on the River Severn (UK) shows that waters have dropped considerably since last weekend: they were over the walkway to the right just behind the bridge, originally.
• However, the latest Met Office forecasts (UK) show a 60% likelihood of very heavy rain and flash flooding in Oxfordshire and Herefordshire on late Saturday/early Sunday, with 40-50% risks across the whole of south England. That is likely to top back up the slowly receding waters quite fast, depending on where exactly in the catchments the bulk of it falls.
• On Facebook, from Tom Williams, photos from Wallingford RC, where it's up to just under their terrace.
• The River and Rowing Museum (Henley, UK) has had a great new website redesign, combining much more stylish looks with considerably more useability. Good job. Amongst the pages are some about the Rowing History Forum on Saturday 20th October (with booking details), and Kern's patent single scull, July's 'object of the month'. The forum booking form and leaflet are on the RS for now (PDF, 0.1MB and 1.8MB respectively) but will be on the RRM site eventually. A reminder that those who competed at HWR and HRR earn free admission to the Museum until the end of September 2007. HWR just identify your crew at reception, HRR show them your this-year's competitors' badge. For all others, your normal-price ticket (£3.50/£3 unless you also want to see the Wind in the Willows exhibit, which is double price) will admit you any number of times for a full 12 months, a scheme started last year.
• Press bits: a little in the Telegraph round-up on Under-23s (RQ, UK). Doesn't look as if they managed to get the results in.
• And Good day in heats for NZ junior rowers (Radio New Zealand, NZ), ConnectU's disconnection with reality (All Things Digital, USA - for Tyler and Cameron's international rowing records see this and this link on RowingOne.com), Don't take medal haul lightly (SLAM! Sports, Canada), City club rower to chase glory on world stage (Worcester News, UK), Holly Metcalf named MIT's women's openweight crew coach (Row2k, USA), Famous four haul for Flesk Valley crews (The Kingdom, Ireland), Berlin voices 'concern' over Chinese doping in 2008 Olympics (Islamic Republic News Agency, Iran), Canadian crews race at world under 23s in Scotland (Row2k, USA), Watson and Beven headbig medal results in Nottingham (icBerkshire, UK), Ashley Towne to compete for GB (icBerkshire, UK)http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/sports/story.html?id=9bf835c0-b5d5-460e-94d8-9994386cfa82">Eights advance at U-23s (Times Colonist, Canada), Nigeria loses 65 golds before the games (People's Daily Online international report, China), Corporal's a glutton for punishment (ThisisGloucestershire, UK), On your mark; get set; build a boat (Village Soup, USA), CanAmMex Regatta stresses friendship and cooperation (Niagara This Week, Canada), Men's eight crew move to semifinal at under-23 rowing championships (Chronicle Journal, Canada), World first (Warrnambool Standard, Australia), Uru blitzes field at champs (New Zealand Herald, NZ), Kirwan wins two gold medals at CanAmMex Regatta (Wilton Bulletin, USA), 'Mock Olympics' cheap as noodles (China Daily, China - the world juniors are included in these test events), River race stays on course (Norwell Mariner, USA), Eight Seattle-area rowers advance at under-23 worlds (SFC press release, USA), Scott's crew through to semi-finals (Worcester News, UK), Bronze Age replica boat embarks on its historic maiden voyage (New Ross Standard, Ireland), Kate Middleton takes the helm (People Magazine, UK - it's really dragonboating not rowing, but might explain why there have been rowing/Middleton headlines recently), Exe rowing crews take double firsts (Exmouth Journal, UK), The under-23s open with heats (WorldRowing, FISA), Rub-a-dub-dub... eight men in a tub (Wexford Echo, Ireland), Injury forces out Savage (Courier Mail, Australia), Henley unveils plans for big birthday (Welland Tribune, Canada), Vandals attack boats (Maidenhead Advertiser, UK), Judge delays Facebook court case (Crave, UK), Flood complications force museums and galleries to close (24 Hour Museum, UK), Pa lends his name to link road (Limerick Post, Ireland), Judge throws the Facebook at twins' suit (Boston Herald, USA), A Nile idyll (Providence Journal, USA), Bevan sisters share medals (icBerkshire, USA), South Cariboo rower on the Olympic trail (100 Mile House Free Press, Canada), (News & Star, UK), Savage withdraws from rowing world title (The Age, Australia), For the love of a river (the magnificently titled Brattleboro Reformer, USA), Sarah flying out for China battle (Worcester News, UK), St Neots rowers get national recognition (Town Crier, UK), Rowers cut through the blue (Xpress, United Arab Emirates), An arrival that made ripples (Philadelphia Inquirer, USA), Diplomatic bird-watcher (Stuff, NZ), Kayaker meets challenge in race for perseverance (New York Times, USA).

  Thursday 26th July 2007

• St Neots Regatta cancelled (UK), due to the state of the field by the river, plus the likelihood of river restrictions remaining in place over the weekend even though it is now falling. It's the first known peactime cancellation of the regatta in over 140 years. More information on the club's website: as the food and drink has been paid for, the Saturday party is going ahead as planned.
• (Bet Mike Sweeney and the rest of the HRR crowd are relieved that they got the Royal Regatta over and done with before last week.... The current weather conditions really would have stopped racing, wellies or no wellies.)
• However, Sudbury Regatta (UK) is still on and boasting a "sunny weekend forecast" by the Met Office.
• Looking further ahead Bristol Avon Regatta (Sunday 26th August, UK) is now open for entries. Bristol has teamed up with the other Bank Holiday weekend regattas, Gloucester and Ross, to introduce the "GBR 07 Challenge". The most successful club over all four regattas in eights, fours and quads, will win a Swift sculling boat.

  Wednesday 25th July 2007

• Henley Town & Visitors' Regatta cancelled (UK). A full refund of entry fees will be made. Henley's off because as well as flooded meadows, Henley reach is beset by unstable wooden booms/piles which were being taken out post-HRR before the floods hit, and several have been washed down to Hambleden Lock.
• Very sad news (USA): Town stunned by deadly robbery (LA Chronicle, about Hayley Petit).
• Charges upgraded in boating death (Turnt010.com, USA).
• The Tideway Slug (UK) has information about how to find specific flood details on the Thames via the Environment Agency. Anu Dudhia continues to keep his Isis river levels in Oxford page updated, which will give a decent picture of how fast things are (or are not) changing, and has added plenty of pictures. Naturally with all the floodplain meadows below Oxford the size and speed of 'bulges' of water will vary on different sections of the Thames, though it's a good bet that the current Oxford peak will travel slowly downstream over the next week.
• A message on the North East Rowing News group (UK) about a forthcoming exhibition for July 2008 about the history of Durham University Boat Club. The organisers (RRM and DUBC) are seeking items for inclusion - see the message for details.
• UK job: Following the move of Ed Green to MBC as Junior Co-ordinator there exists a vacancy for a coach/assistant boatman at St Edward's School BC in Oxford. The precise mix of responsibility is negotiable as is the accommodation on the boathouse site in Wolvercote. Anyone interested should, in the first instance, email John Wiggins, Master ic Rowing at Teddies.
• That apology in full - CUBC writes to OUBC (and the answer) on the Cambridge University Boat Club website.
• A Cambridge Town Bumps preview (UK).

  Tuesday 24th July 2007

• Burway Junior & Veteran regatta now cancelled (UK). The anticipated increase in water coming down from Oxford has made organisers decide that since the majority of their competitors are juniors, it would not be safe to hold the event even if the stream were to decrease.
• The organisers of Henley Town & Visitors' regatta (UK) would like to confirm that should the regatta be cancelled due to flood conditions a full refund of all entry fees will be made.
• "On Wednesday night/Thursday morning Coalporters ARC (UK) had their river trailer nicked from outside their clubhouse in Southampton. It looks like a 'stolen to order' job as the padlocks and jemmy bar were disposed of in a professional manner. If anyone gets offered a boat trailer or hears of a boat trailer going cheap could they please contact Gareth Cook".

  Monday 23rd July 2007

• Staines Regatta cancelled. Staines Regatta has had to be called off completely. Entry cheques will be destroyed. However, the regatta party at the boathouse is still on as planned.
• (updated Monday pm). The EA's latest local advice in Oxford (UK) to homeowners near the river is that levels are likely to peak during the early hours of Tuesday morning. Another big fall of rain could top them up, though. This should give some idea of timing to clubs further downstream on the Thames. Anu Dudhia has restarted his Isis levels chart of the height above normal and is now adding photos of the Isis between Folly Bridge and Iffley Lock. For comparison we were seeing levels of 20-30 inches during the worst of the spring high stream in February of this year, when parts of the towpath flooded, and Anu noted 42" above normal in early January 2003 when we had the most recent "worst floods". Though I don't recall the water getting into several boathouses then the way it already has at 40" now. 'Red flag' is when the colleges get off the river completely, though local clubs do row on for a while until it gets much higher/faster. Flags in Oxford are not actually linked to river height, but as Anu says, it's a very good rule of thumb that the stream will be unrowable for students and novices while it's above 6 inches, which usually indicates the sluices and gates pretty well open. Please also note that it usually takes ages for this level of water to go down: even in the summer, with some hot days, it will probably be a great deal more than the week originally estimated by the EA before the upper Thames reaches are safely rowable again - and that's if it doesn't rain much more.
• Nat Champs results (UK) from Friday, Saturday, time-trials and Sunday are all online. Details of how they reorganised from Friday's abandonment are all on the front page of the official website.
• Very sanguinely Evesham Rowing Club (UK) are publishing photos of the floods on their website. I hear that their boathouse is pretty well drowned, so the shells at the Nat Champs yesterday (two J16 golds, well done) may be their only intact equipment. Flooded clubs which need help, including loans of equipment for the summer racing until insurance replacements are organised, are encouraged to email me and I'll put details up here.
• Burway Regatta (UK) have decided not to publish their draw until Wednesday by which time they should know whether or not the regatta will be able to take place.
• There are a few spots left on the London Youth Rowing summer courses - space during week 1 (30th July to 3rd August, for those who have rowed before) and week 4 (20th to 24th August for complete beginners). Each week costs £10 and includes a day of racing and try-outs of other water sports such as sailing, kayaking and raft building. Interested parties should download the registration form (PDF format) from the LYR subsite and send it to Penny Cuthbert at the address on the form with a cheque made out to 'London Youth'. They might like to ring her first - number here - to check availability, though.
• The start order for this year's Cambridge Town Bumps (UK) is online. The dates are Tuesday 24th to Friday 27th July - for some odd reason they aren't clearly listed on the CRA bumps homepage, I expect because they know everyone entered will be aware which week it is. Record entry of 96 crews this year.
• OARA is now open for Tees Primary & Adaptive Regatta (UK, PDF poster).
• Choppy waters ahead for Boat Race (Mihir Bose, BBC Sport, UK).
• So now we know what Cracknell and Ben Fogle are going to do next - see this article, fourth paragraph (UK).

  Saturday 21st July 2007

• VERY SERIOUS FLOOD WARNING ON THE THAMES (UK). The Environment Agency has just rung me (Sat pm) and asked me to make the Thames clubs aware that the huge floods in the Lechlade catchment, and those in Banbury, are heading downstream through the Windrush and Cherwell tributaries and will hit the main Thames at Oxford in the next day or two, with levels going up sharply from about 1pm on Sunday in Oxford itself. Oxfordshire is likely to suffer its highest floods for many decades (much worse than 2002) for around a week, and the 'lump' of water will travel steadily downstream over the next 7-10 days. Clubs are asked to stay off the river as soon as it gets at all bad (it is red-boarded for much of the length anyway now) and warned to check that launches, low-racked boats etc. are all secure.
• Extremely sad news (USA): - Patrick Murphy, son of Brown women's coaches Phoebe and John Murphy (from Row2k).
• If the flood warnings above do not affect it, Staines Regatta (UK) says they have extended their entries deadline until 11pm on Sunday 22nd July, in case any of the crews originally planning to race at Bewdley or Molesey want to transfer there. The organisers are accepting email entries, with cheques to follow by Wednesday next week. See the club's website for latest updates.

  Friday 20th July 2007

• Late update: Molesey Regatta Saturday cancelled. I have been asked to post a notice to the effect that the floods heading down the Thames are going to disrupt Molesey Regatta (UK, 21st-22nd July). The Saturday races are cancelled entirely and the committee will take a decision during Saturday, possibly in the afternoon, about how Sunday will run. They do intend to run something on Sunday but are not yet sure of the format: if the river is unrowable it will be on ergs. Competitors should check the regatta website for updates, and are notified that the regatta tent will still be up and serving refreshments throughout the day for those who want to go down and tell each other how easily they would have won if they had been racing.... The Molesey Saturday night party is also still on.
• And another: Bewdley off. Bewdley Regatta (UK, 28th-29th July) has been cancelled entirely - the river is in flood and the fields are all waterlogged. The organisers say the bar will still be open on Saturday night next weekend though...
• The provisional draw, provisional timetable, instructions and a load of other information are on the (UK) National Championships website ahead of this weekend. Racing begins today with juniors.
• Blades Retail Cafe, just a few minutes from Holme Pierrepont, are offering a 20% discount to any National Rowing Championships competitor on production of their Competitor badge. This applies to all food and beverages plus any giftware and gift food purchases on the ground floor. More details on the website linked above.
• FISA has made its mind up on the three 2011 world championships bids: it is supporting both Bled and Lucerne, but not Amsterdam, to present to the international congress at the end of this year's worlds. See this piece on the FISA website.
• The full results from the Pan Am Regatta are here on the official website (Brazil). Click on 'reports' to bring up links to results for that event, including records and other official data. Some of the Thursday results may not be up yet.
• That time of the year already? The Rowers' Revenge Triathlon run by Marlow RC (UK, 7th October 2007) is once again online. This year sponsored by Fitness First, and with 500 places available. Online entry will go live on 1st August and tends to fill up extremely quickly so put the date in your diary if you plan to enter.
• "Trailer space wanted from the UK to Croatia for the FISA Masters in September. Anyone going that can accomodate a four, eight and pair? We are using 75kg craft and would offer to boat share if events don't clash with WVB/C categories. We can deliver boats to anywhere in the uk. contact via my email address."
• Partridge in GB worlds squad (BBC, UK). Britain's winning rowers are rewarded for their stunning World Cup win in Lucerne (RQ, Telegraph, UK). It's had to be trimmed down a lot - space was tight - so clarification here of a couple of points. First, the aim in Munich is have GB stay in the top three places on the medals table as it has been the last couple of years. Secondly, Matt Langridge's apparent breathing problems during racing in Lucerne have not yet been diagnosed fully, so the doctors don't know what is up with him. However, he says they are confident they can get him right before the world championships. Plus, the Paralympic boats individually have to finish in the top eight to qualify for Beijing, not the team as a whole.
• Rowing headlines - Pair of golds on the water (syndicated, Canada), Canada claims seven medals at regatta (StarPhoenix, Canada), Rockin' and rowing in Rio (London Free Press, Canada), Mighty Mattick makes history (Oxford Mail, UK), Hoosiers take gold in swimming, rowing (Indianapolis Star, USA), Woman to row solo across Pacific (Africa.com, South Africa), Leon High graduate Troy Kepper wins gold medal in Pan Am Games (Tallahassee Democrat, USA), Locals catch eye at Mile spectacular (Evesham Journal, UK), Woman to row solo from here to US (The Australian, Australia), American rower robbed at gunpoint (Malaysia Star, Malaysia), Jack Nicklaus attracts major attention (Cracknell meets one of golf's greatest, The Telegraph, UK), Jacqui Smith (one of Hertford College Oxford's now more famous rowing alumni confesses all, Daily Mail, UK), Sewage at lake is 'huge health risk' (Bexley Times, UK), Cuban rowers first time gold medalists at Pan Am (Cuba News, Cuba), Briton set for Pacific solo odyssey to highlight warming (South Asian Women's Forum, India), Hoskins born for the boat (SLAM! Sports, Canada), Many thanks (letter to the Daily Mining Gazette, USA), Middleton's international debut brings crew success (Hereford Times, UK), Under 23 rowing on its way to Strathclyde (WorldRowing, FISA), Hereford veterans retain Henley title (Hereford Times, UK), Hereford crews overcome conditions for dozen wins (Hereford Times, UK), Four US crews win medals on Thursday at 2007 Pan Am Games (Row2k, USA), Pit possibility condemned (Oxford Mail, UK), Cancer gives teacher a reason to ride (Watertown TAB & Press, USA), Two more gold medals to Cubans in rowing (Cuba Headlines, Cuba), Portora only club from north to record wins at Irish Rowing Championships (Fermanagh Herald, Northern Ireland), Rowing to the rescue: Daniel Klassen goes from overweight student to scholarship rower (Welland Tribune, Canada), Muckross make the right waves (The Kingdom, Ireland), Roundup (Ondrej Synek gets a mention in the Prague Post, Czech Republic).

  Thursday 19th July 2007

• Urgent UK notice: "Tees Rowing Club (or possibly Yarm School) mislaid eight seats belonging to a borrowed Sim's eight whilst at Henley Royal Regatta. Has anyone come across a black bin bag containing said seats? If so, please contact David Cooper, 0788 1894495."
• The official GB team press release - Selectors confident of Partridge fitness (BIRO, UK).
• I haven't seen any sign of the British U23 team release from yesterday online, so here it is.

  Wednesday 18th July 2007

• UK notice: "Lost blades at Kingston regatta (Sunday). I have lost a pair of Croker blades - yellow handles, plain white spoon with 'Ellie Quarrington' written in black pen on the pink part of the blade. I think that another club may have picked them up by accident from the boating area. If you have them, could you please call Mark Quarrington on 07850 005812."
• After yesterday's Boat Race news, the official press release is now online. Also, Cambridge see red (Rachel Quarrell, Telegraph, UK), German case of the Blues (Irish Independent), German rower loses prestigious Cambridge University title for leaving course early (International Herald Tribune), Rower denied award for boat race (Independent Online, South Africa), and a bit in the Times Brief column (The Times, UK).
• The website MySportsPlanner.com (origin in the Netherlands but now in English too) allows teams/squads/crews to run online scheduling. Used by around 70% of Dutch rowing clubs (information supplied by the founder, a rower from the Netherlands).
• Talk Rowing, the UK discussion forum, has relaunched with a slight redesign, and various new features including photo galleries and e-cards.
• Headlines - Canadians shoot, row to podium (Daily News, Canada), Club's super six are climbing Brit parade (Hunts Post, UK), Robinson crew-so (Hunts Post, UK), KU boathouse along Kaw gets go-ahead (Lawrence Journal World, USA), Rowers battle weather, rough water to win (Regina Leader-Post, Canada), Row for silver (Vancouver Post, Canada), Rower rises to the top (Toronto Star, Canada), Colour him gold (Times Colonist, Canada), Two is terrific, but eight would be better (Canoe.ca, Canada), Canada claims two gold (Ottawa Citizen, Canada), Rowing redemption (Toronto Sun, Canada), Hoskins mines silver in choppy rowing waters (Edmonton Sun, Canada), Golden oars lead the way (24 Hours Vancouver, Canada), 24 seconds with Nathalie Maurer (24 Hours Vancouver, Canada), Chris Jarvis strikes gold (St Catharine's Standard, Canada), Chile grabs early gold in Pan Am Games (Santiago Times, Chile), Water proves fine at Wasilia Lake for rowing's largest state event (Anchorage Daily News, Alaska, USA), Rower scores first local Pan Am gold (Mississauga News, Canada), Brentwood's role in Henley finish one for the ages (Cowichan Valley News Leader, Canada), Golden wonder (Redditch Advertiser, UK), Boatie fury at 4-knot 'crawl' (Gold Coast Bulletin, Australia), Oar-some effort from cancer charity rowers (Peterborough Evening Telegraph, UK), Rowers ready for Munich (Village Voice, Australia), EMU victim had lofty goals, father says (Livingston Daily, USA), Rowers pulling for Connecticut River (The Republican, USA), Rowers pulling for clean river (The Republican, USA), Going for Georgia gold: state event brings rowers back to Lake Lanier (Gainesville Times, USA), On lookout for potential Olympians (Gulf News, United Arab Emirates).
• Press link missed a few days ago - Sculls head for gold (Andrew Longmore, Sunday Times, UK).

  Tuesday 17th July 2007

• Late update - Thorsten Engelmann denied a Blue. The Boat Race today released an announcement that Thorsten Engelmann, Cambridge's winning Boat Race stroke, has not been put forward to the CU Blues Committee to receive a Blue, thought to be the first time in Boat Race history that this has not happened. The reason is because he dropped out of his course a few weeks after the race, and has returned to Germany to train full-time with the German national squad. He was sitting at 6 in the GER M8+ which finished second to Canada last weekend in Lucerne. CUBC and OUBC expect students to finish their degrees, and to be full-time students, although graduates have more latitude since they have more freedom to arrange their own work time. Engelmann was in the second year of a three-year economics BA when he resigned from St Edmund's College.
• Precision Sport (UK) decided last week to make their software freely available, rather than the £150/time it usually costs. This means unregistered users can now play back example files. Precision Sport produces performance-related rowing electronics, measuring and showing the shapes, balance and dynamics of the catch. Funky stuff.
• The poster for Peterborough Summer Regatta (UK) is online. New events this year such as Veteran Novice.
• Henley Veteran Regatta gets a favourable mention in Children denied the joys of competition (Jim White, Telegraph, UK).

  Monday 16th July 2007

• Rowing Voice issue 3 published. The third issue of the Rowing Voice magazine is now online, a Henley Royal special.
• Urgent notice (UK): "Thames RC has lost a pair of sculling blades at Henley Veterans and suspect they may have been loaded onto the wrong trailer or van. They are Concept 2 blades with white spoons painted with?the red and lack of Thames and the name Rayner written on the looms. Please conact Pauline Rayner on 020 8876 4647 if you have seen these blades."
• "Derby Rowing club are looking to join forces with any UK club, preferably in the midlands, planning to compete at this years FISA Veteran Regatta to be held in Zagreb Croatia, to transport an Eight, a coxed & coxless Four, a pair and 12 blades. Please contact Peter Holland-Lloyd, Vice Capt Veterans on peterhl29@hotmail.com before 25th July 2007."
• Lucerne headlines - Britons end German domination with first success in World Cup (Mike Rosewell, The Times, UK), Lightweights anchor GB's maiden World Cup victory (Chris Dodd, Independent, UK), Lightweight four and women's quad put Britain on top of the world (Martin Cross, Guardian, UK), No joy for Irish hopefuls in World Cup regatta (Robert Treharne Jones, Irish Independent), Britain rule the World Cup waves (Rachel Quarrell, Telegraph, UK), Well done, now do it in Munich (James Cracknell, Telegraph, UK), and for a while rowing was the lead story for Telegraph Sport Online. Even now it's top of the Other Sport index page with an extra picture of the GBR champion LM4-. Plus, Great Britain secure first World Cup trophy (BBC News, UK).

  Sunday 15th July 2007

• The BBC (UK) is apparently showing two different terrestrial programmes today so that they can cover all the GB-interest World Cup races - see below for revised details.
• Press links - Women lead way in Lucerne (Rachel Quarrell, Sunday Telegraph, UK), Britain poised to take German crown (Dan Topolski, Observer, UK), Shallop pulls into Annapolis (Baltimore Sun, USA), Following sister's lead pays off in a big way (Ann Arbor News, USA), Rowers beat statistics (Newstalk ZB, NZ), New Zealand coxless four inflict loss on world champs (Radio New Zealand, NZ), Clapp: Henley win was better than I dreamed (Bucks Free Press, UK), Good start for Canada (Chronicle Herald, Canada), Men's eights on a roll (Times Colonist, Canada), Athlete revives Olympic dream (Times Colonist, Canada), Quinella for New Zealand (TVNZ, NZ), Seven New Zealand boats make the finals at Rowing World Cup event (Radio New Zealand, NZ), Duncan Grant earns gold (TV3 News, NZ), Grant secures NZ's first rowing gold (NZ City, NZ), Sculler braced against siege (New Zealand Herald, NZ), Olympian leads rowing program (Richmond Review, Canada), Currie could enjoy taste of success in Lucerne (icWales, UK), USRowing announces 2007 under-23 world championships roster (Row2k, USA, which also has various Lucerne and Pan-Am articles). And coverage also on the FISA website.
• And from SailWorld, Mahe's Mailbag, the super-sculler sounding off about various things including the deadly FISA quarter-finals.

  Saturday 14th July 2007

• Breaking news (UK) - Redgrave, McNuff, Beattie and Kennedy-Burns (with Martin Cross coaching) beat UL Tyrian in the final of the men's Vet C coxless fours at Henley Veteran's Regatta earlier today, by a length and a quarter, time 3:18. Picture here.
• Rowing for the masses - pictures by Sophia Hasou, the Slovenian official photographer, of various international events this season.
• BBC coverage tomorrow of the World Cup (UK) is mostly on BBCi throughout the day, but with an hour 11:30-12:30 BST (GMT+1) on BBC2 which is going to include the M4- but miss the later finals. A different programme will be shown from midnight to 1am which will include the finals the earlier programme could not cover, as well as rounding up all the day's action. Here's a little secret - the BBC is doing it from the UK, they won't be in Lucerne at all, so if you see nice views of the Rotsee behind John Inverdale or Sir Steve, it's not because they're there..... Eurosport are also covering it from the UK, with a highlight programme at (provisionally) 11:30am BST on Monday 16th July. There is always pay-channel WCSN online via the FISA site if you can afford or get it (doesn't work everywhere). Radio Five Live (693 & 909 AM) are running intermittent coverage throughout their day's broadcasting.
• Croker Oars has a new agent in Spain/Portugal - www.croker.es.
• Lost Blades (UK): A number of blades were left at Reading Amateur Regatta on 16 & 17th June. If you think these are yours, please contact the organisers through the website.
• Thames RC (UK) is also advertising a men's head coach position - which is separate from the women's coaching vacancy, though people can apply for both posts if they want. Contact is once again club captain Emma James, and the closing date is 10th August.
• Press links - Campbell excels as Britons put cup in sight (Chris Dodd, Independent, UK), Great Britain set for maiden World Cup win (Mike Rosewell, The Times, UK), British four struggle to fly without winged Partridge (Martin Cross, Guardian, UK), Coxless four excels as British make inroads (Rachel Quarrell, Telegraph, UK), Irish up against it in Lucerne (Robert Treharne Jones, Irish Independent), NZ rowers show form at world champs (Stuff, NZ, who get the prize for the most irrelevant headline), Delight for Brit crews (icNewcastle, UK), Huskies juggle their crew coaching assignments (Heraldnet, USA), Critical day for rowers (Newstalk ZB, NZ), Lawrence rower swamps opponents at Sunflower State Games (Topeka Capital Journal, USA), Rules of the river (Washington Post, USA), Kenyan woman rower eyes on Beijing Olympics (People's Daily Online, China), Rowing can be enjoyed by young and old (Western Star, Canada), Small boats show their form in Lucerne (New Zealand Herald, NZ), Row, row, row (and row and row) your boat across the Pacific (NewsBlog, with the most irritating headline of the day), Rowing begins Saturday at 2007 Pan American Games (Row2k, USA), Faubion family of Felicity all in the same boat (Community Press, UK), Keen to get started on 3600-mile row (Malvern Gazette, UK), Canada's men's eight into World Cup rowing semis (syndicated, Canada), Rowers prepare for big weekend (Kamloops This Week, Canada), Duddy secures semi-final spot (RTE, Ireland), Swans move aside, many oars are moving fast (WorldRowing, FISA), Family heritage puts Hoskins in boat (Canada.com, Canada), Right royal result for Broxbourne crews at Henley (Herts Essex News, UK), Welsh oarsman blacks out (icWales, UK), Thames no barrier for history makers (icCheshire Online, UK), Row, row, row your boat.... for 7 miles (oh no not again, from the Asbury Park Press, USA), Redgrave rows at veteran Regatta (BBC Berkshire, UK), Long Island or bust for Greenwich crew (Greenwich Post, USA), Drysdale slips in form (NZ City, NZ).

  Friday 13th July 2007

• The third World Cup begins today - results tracker, reports, etc from World Rowing. Racing begins at 8:30am today local time (CET = GMT+2) and goes on until 7:30pm, with a break from 2:30 to 4pm. After withdrawals there are five straight finals - W4-, M4+, LW4x, LM8+ and W8+. All the non-Olympic A- and B-finals are being held on Saturday, with the Olympic events on Sunday.
• Marlow Regatta (UK) is after feedback before their wash-up meeting next week. They would like to know what they could do better, what was good about the regatta, was it worth having racing on the Sunday, and other than the weather what changes could be made? Answers to marketing@themarlowregatta.com.
• On the intermittent subject of rowers in adverts, this Crunchy Nut Cornflakes advert on YouTube features a bundle of rowers, at least one of which is a real oarsman (5-man Robin Dowell, finalist in the Visitors' M4- at Henley last week). We think the rest are probably Agecroft too - anyone care to name and shame?
• Recent UK press links - How one young rower provided an answer to a weighty problem facing politicians (Owen Slot, The Times), Britain eye world title (Rachel Quarrell, Telegraph), Great Britain rowers on top of the world (Mike Rosewell, The Times), Redgrave risks being shot at back in a boat (Martin Cross, Guardian).

  Thursday 12th July 2007

• News from NZ - the Karapiro 2010 World Championships website has been launched.
• A website for Staines Regatta (UK). They are presenting quart pots to the winners of the mixed eights eent this year, with clubs invited to double up their regular entries into mixed combinations.
• And the draw for the Bedford Quarts Sprint (UK).
• Mason Designs (UK), hand-made jewellery with a full rowing collection, made by an ex-oarswoman now turned coach. Includes other sporting designs too.
• Belated news (UK) - Former London RC oarsman and 1950's Goblets winner John Harvey Pinches MC died peacefully at home on 2nd July aged 91. There is going to be a private cremation, and then a public service of thanksgiving at Holy Cross Church, Ramsbury, on Monday 23rd July (3pm).

  Wednesday 11th July 2007

• A group of oarsmen from Bournemouth University (UK) are cycling from Land's End to John O'Groats from 23rd July, to raise money for Julia's House. The charity supports kids that have a short life expectancy or a life-shortening illness. Donations can be made via their JustGiving page.
• RowTV has Henley Royal finals online, with the semi's coming soon. There was a trial boat-tent TV service this year, and video on demand for crews wanting to watch previous races.

  Tuesday 10th July 2007

• Simon Tarrant successfully StreetRowed from London to Henley on Friday 6th July, raising money for charity. He left Westminster at 8:30am just as the excitement was beginning for the official Tour de France opening, and arrived in Henley at 1:30pm. Strong headwind all the way, more details on the StreetRower news page (UK).
• Looking ahead to this weekend's third World Cup, in Lucerne, the entries, timetable etc. are all available on FISA's website (link is direct to the Lucerne index). This time nearly all the 'international' (ie non-Olympic) events are also happening, though there are straight finals in W4-, M4+, LM8+ and LW4x, as expected. The W8+ is also a straight final, which must be annoying for those participating. No Chinese entries this time, bar their women's single sculler.
• FISA articles - The sea is waiting, coastal rowing is ready, Rob Waddell, from rowing to sailing, Tenth Rowing World Cup season ends next weekend in Lucerne, Switzerland, Campbell's the rowing man at Henley.
• Details of the European Cup for fixed-seat rowing in Bogliasco, Italy (in Italian).
• The latest Surf Rowing League report (UK).

  Monday 9th July 2007

• We have a winner for Mystic Henley (UK) - a peek at the league table shows one person on 14 correctly predicted wins out of the 19 events, with one behind on 13 and a handful on 12. Well done everyone.
• I have put up an expanded Regatta Radio questionnaire. It would be helpful if people who listened to the station during Henley Royal could fill it in. The station will continue to broadcast on 106 FM in Henley until the end of July 15th, covering the local Henley Festival, and other important events taking place around the town in the next week. Coverage of Veteran's Henley is being considered - watch this space for news.
• Henley Royal headlines - Campbell clinches win at Henley (BBC Sport, UK), Campbell outsparkles rival in 'toughest' Diamond race (Chris Dodd, Independent, UK), Campbell claims Diamond edge (Mike Rosewell, The Times, UK), Campbell and Shrewsbury light up finals (Rachel Quarrell, Telegraph, UK), Diamond draw gives Campbell cutting edge over Drysdale (Martin Cross, Guardian, UK), Canadian men's eight win Henley Grand Challenge Cup (Waterloo Record, Canada), Campbell in a Henley double win (Charlie Charlton, Belfast Telegraph, Northern Ireland), Ladies Plate victory goes to Harvard (Boston Globe, USA), Sculls make bright start (Fox Sports, Australia), Royal victory for Australian rowers (Australian Olympic Committee press release, Australia), reports from Row2k (USA), SA pair in 3rd oarsome win at Henley regatta (Sunday Times, South Africa), Harvard, Cal-Berkeley win at Henley regatta (syndicated, USA), Canadian men's eight win final at Henley Regatta (Toronto Star, Canada), Campbell excels himself (Sporting Life, UK).
• From earlier in the week, Harvard defeats Brown at Henley Royal Regatta (Concord Monitor, USA), Harvard men advance to the elite eights final (Boston Globe, USA), Harvard advances to Ladies' final at Henley (New York Times, USA), Hodge sets pace for home crews (Dan Topolski, Observer, UK), Reed gears up for Beijing challenge (Sporting Life, UK), Canadian boat crews momves to Henley Royal Regatta (sic, Toronto Star, Canada), Goldsack and O'Hanlon excel as wind makes for tough going (Mike Rosewell, The Times, UK), Canadian pair pushes into semifinals (Times Colonist, Canada), Irish sink as Henley hots up (Irish Independent, Ireland), Four US universities in Temple Cup semifinals for student eights (San Diego Union Tribune, USA), Drysdale throws weight around to show off credentials (Chris Dodd, Independent, UK), James thrown lifeline (icWales, UK), American crews continue to dominate at Henley Royal Regatta (San Diego Union Tribune, USA), Campbell and fours lead British hopes (Rachel Quarrell, Sunday Telegraph, UK), Raiders in line for trophy haul (Rachel Quarrell, Telegraph, UK), Goblets blown wide open (RQ, Telegraph, UK), High winds give crews tough start (RQ, Telegraph, UK), Crews set for windy start (RQ, Telegraph, UK). And loads of stuff on Row2k's Henley Royal coverage (USA). More later.
• Other rowing news - Oar-der! Lawyers ready to row (Brisbane Times, Australia), UAE rowers going for gold at World Masters in Zagreb (Gulf News, United Arab Emirates), Movers and shakers (Portsmouth Herald News, USA), Phillips Academy rowers finish 2d in Henley Regatta (that's the women's regatta, Boston Globe, USA), Mahe's mailbag: a good day at the Bosbaan (Sail World, Australia) and more later.

  Friday 6th July 2007

• Burton Regatta cancelled due to the flood water covering the meadows. See the above link or the regatta press release (PDF).
• The draw for Talkin Tarn Regatta (7th July, UK) is online. They are after more volunteer commentators so anyone who fancies doing a stint should get in touch either beforehand or on the day.
• A new UK photographer covering rowing and other sporting events - Photoshop Event Photography.
• National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG) at Henley - their 1987 Thames Cup winning crew will be doing a row-over on Saturday 7th during the HRR tea-break, to celebrate 20 years since the first Henley win for the club. Details here for any alumni at the Regatta. Also Boyle Brothers row into history books in the Galway Advertiser, and also see clip one and clip two on YouTube.
• Bewdley Regatta (UK) is open for business - entries open on OARA and close at 6pm on Friday 20th July.
• Henley Town and Visitors' Regatta (UK) is also open, only on OARA.
• Details of Maidenhead Regatta (UK, PDF) online.
• Portuguese rowing online (mostly in Portuguese) - LastStroke.com.
• Trent Rowing Club's website (UK) has been relaunched under www.TrentRC.org.

  Thursday 5th July 2007

• Sorry about the lack of updates - I've not been getting online during the day in the press box at Henley (wireless snarl-ups) so it's been hard to get time to sort this page out while doing everything else.
• Mystic Henley last chance - you have until 8pm or thereabouts on Thursday to change your Mystic Henley predictions, before we freeze it and see who will win. I have emailed everyone who had invalid entries due to picking crews who had withdrawn before the qualifiers - these must be corrected before we freeze the competition tonight. Several selected crews have gone out in the last couple of days, and others shown unusual speed, so get changing your choices quickly!
• The poster for Tees Primary and Adaptive Regatta (UK, PDF) is online.
• Details of Thames Rowing Club's new women's head coach job (UK, PDF). Closing date is 25th July. General contact for more information is Thames captain Emma James on captain@thamesrc.co.uk - but probably best to wait until after Henley Royal has finished as she's away for that.

  Tuesday 3rd July 2007

• Some moron on www.talkrowing.co.uk has been trying to spread the rumour that the Thames has burst its banks and HRR is off. Nope, not true. As of this morning the river is just as it has been the last few days, running high and fast but perfectly rowable. The only warning I'd give is that parking in Lion Meadow might be hard to get out of at the end of the day if it doesn't dry up a bit - Wednesday and Thursday spectators could be best off getting a lift/train/bus to the regatta rather than parking as usual.

  Monday 2nd July 2007

• Regatta Radio (UK) is now streaming properly. Use http://s4.webradioworld.net:8020 in RealPlayer if the direct link on the front page doesn't automatically launch it.
• Those planning to go to Henley Royal this week (UK) might like some warning about the conditions. A Rowing Service reader took these pictures of the boat tents area and down by the Barn Bar at Remenham Farm (pictures launch in new windows) which suggest that wellies ought to be the favourite form of footwear this week.
• Wednesday's timetable of racing at Henley (UK) is online now.
• A reminder to entrants in Mystic Henley (UK) that if they picked crews which have now withdrawn (such as the German or GB men's eights, the GB women's quad, Ms Neykova, the GB M2x and M2- or any one of several club crews) then they need to choose again. Their picks are still showing in the league table but their entries are invalid without 19 viable choices. Entries in this situation are listed here.
• Henley headlines - Henley denied top Britain crews (Mike Rosewell, The Times), Australian eight lead Henley's overseas raiding party (Chris Dodd, Independent on Sunday, UK), Henley plays it safe (Rachel Quarrell, Telegraph, UK), Weather woes and withdrawals hit event (Rachel Quarrell, Sunday Telegraph, UK), Seven year itch: Redgrave to race again (Response press release, UK, about Vet's Henley), Twenty-five years of fun (Reading Evening Post, UK).
• Other headlines - Rowing old-timers duel in a class of their own (Philadelphia Inquirer, USA), Leak forces French rower back to shore (Cape Cod Times, USA), Degree honour for Olympian Redgrave (Midlothian Advertiser, UK), Sailing classroom visits Whaling City (South Coast Today, USA, and yes it is about rowing), Row hard no excuses (Film Critic.com, USA), Rowing restoration (Gainesville Times, USA), Toledo Rowing Club to hold camp at International Park (Toledo Blade, USA), 100 days of solitude: Graham Walters and Puffin (All at Sea, USA), Colombo fancied to repeat last year's success (Sunday Observer, Sri Lanka), Two EL men to row across the Atlantic Ocean (Dispatch Online, South Africa), Area rowers have productive season (Ann Arbor News, USA), Rowing opens doors for local youth (Baltimore Examiner, USA), Sabah sets up committee for sustainable development of islands (The Star, Malaysia), Clemson replaces fired rowing coach (Charleston Post Courier, USA), Star track: Johnny Forrest (Daily Press, USA), SCAD adds lacrosse, drops rowing (Savannah Morning News, USA), Tough guys take Marlow by storm (icBerkshire, UK), Loveday twins take gold at Marlow regatta (Maidenhead Advertiser, UK).