Archive News from July 2009

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

Friday 31st July 2009
• Athletes selected for the GB team for EUSA (UK) are reminded that their kit needs to be ordered by 7pm on Saturday 1st August to ensure they have something to wear at the EUSA championships. All kit will be sent to James Lee (BUCS) for distribution at the regatta, but athletes must make the orders individually via Rock The Boat's website - select 'EUSA kit 2009' from the left-hand menu on the site. Coaches and AU reps have been told but not all seem to have passed the message on yet....
• A poster for Warwick Regatta (primary, UK), for which entries are now open on OARA. Note that OARA does not accept entries for the 'New Rower' events and so these must be done by email.
• Darren Rhodes has organised a petition to the Prime Minister (UK) about the sewage being pumped into the Tideway (UK). See also Surfers Against Sewage for general information about water pollution, and their campaigns on rivers, especially the River Thames (its local branch = RATS - Rowers Against Thames Sewage).
• Former Goldie cox and Betfair co-founder Mark Davies is going to abseil off the roof of the Betfair building by the Thames (UK) on 14th August to raise money for SPARKS. See his JustGiving page for more details.
• The GB team for the Coupe has been announced (UK).
• Details of a Level 2 coaching course (UK, PDF format) being run in October in York. It will be cancelled if numbers are insufficient.
• COMPETITION TO WIN A FREE REGATTA TRIP - LAST DAY TO ENTER. (As listed 11 days ago), the Bremer Achter Cup (Germany, 12th-13th September) is this year inviting entries for a free, all-expenses paid trip to the regatta (excluding travel to/from Bremen). The link is to the general invitation, which is for up to 50 eights to row 4.2km on the Saturday followed by a sprint 400m knock-out with crews seeded from their Saturday results. If you are a club or university crew from anywhere in the world and would like to win a free stay in Bremen and entry to the regatta, visit the competition entry page and answer the four simple quiz questions there. The competition closes on 31st July 2009 and one women's and one men's crew will win a free stay and entry to the regatta: the winners will be announced by 5th August latest. Routine entries for the regatta can be made until 3rd September via the official website.

  Thursday 30th July 2009

• The website for the Coupe de la Jeunesse this year in Vichy (France, website in English and French). It's a great little website, looks very efficient (so hope for the results, then). However, they have used Ewoud Dronkert's excellent animations and contrary to his standard request, have not credited him. Naughty naughty.
• While we're at it, the website for the world junior championships in Brive (France, website in French and English).
• Rowing headlines - Olympic champion James targets 2010 rowing comeback (MoreThanTheGames, UK), USC recruit has heart condition (LA Times, USA, not specifically about rowing, but includes the snippet that men's and women's rowing are amongst the five sports UC Irvine will cut, effective this Saturday), Rowers set to arrive in Sea Isle City on Saturday (Press of Atlantic City, USA), Fran Nicholls hoping to become Christine Ohuruogu of rowing (Telegraph quarterly supplement, UK), Derby club win six (This is Derbyshire, UK), Wicks rowed into teammates' hearts (Rochester Post-Bulletin, USA), Medford High crew get boost from ExpertTowing (Medford Wicked Local, USA), Modesto's Cafaro will row for title (Modesto Bee, USA), State budget cuts strike down 5 UC Irvine sports (LA Times, the story in full).

  Wednesday 29th July 2009

• For those not at the Under-23 world cahmpionships in Racice last weekend, the Czech TV station which videoed it has put up online coverage. Visit this page and the TV will stream into Quicktime or a similar player. It starts looking like it will be only a few minutes long, and mostly about the Czech sculler Jitka Antosova, but then just carries on streaming all the Olympic-class A-finals, though there doesn't seem to be a way to skip between chapters/races. There's a similar tranche of coverage from the semi-finals.
• Raw sewage in the Thames Tideway (press release, Thames Regaionl Rowing Council, UK).
• Belatedly linking the Scottish Home International team twitter from last weekend (UK). Plenty of twitpics too.
• The new Tyne United Small Boats Head (UK) will take place on 31st October, on the same day as the Tyne LDS, with start times to be confirmed shortly.
• Richard Mortimer has added more photos of the aftermath of the floods at Durham (UK).
• A blog from the Cambridge Town Bumps (UK). And the last report, Head girls make it a big night for the City slickers (Cambridge Evening News, UK).

  Tuesday 28th July 2009

• Rowing headslines - Sponsorship row erupts over 2012 funds (Guardian, UK), New champ's parents 'very proud' (Stuff, NZ), Crews star in town regatta (Berrow's Journal, UK), Top athletes to get more (Stuff, NZ), USOC honors 2 Oklahoma training sites (USA Today, USA), Magnificent £10k gift in memory of Tom, 26 (Cambridge Evening News, UK), Germany relishes under-23 rowing (WorldRowing, FISA), Physical exercise helps beat cancer (The Med Guru, India), Row2k interview - Leanne Crain (Row2k, USA), Wonderful Copenhagen (Melbourne Community Voice, Australia), Rowing, cycling welcome Sparc boost (Yahoo! Xtra, NZ), Gold medals for Queensland rowing champ Angus (Goondiwindi Argus, Australia), USOC announces new US Olympic and Paralympic training sites in Oklahoma (press release, USA), Rowing club wins 16 divisions at RowOntario meet (St Catharine's Standard, Canada), Row for the Cure (Park Record, USA), AECOM's man muscles his way through UK challenge (H&V.net, UK), Big splash for rowers (Peterborough Examiner, Canada), South Niagara wins seven gold medals (Welland Tribune, Canada), Spectators to receive free admission (at the Henley T&V, Henley Standard, UK - and I should think so!), Charity teams take to the water (Advertiser 24, UK), Round, Relph on top of world (Cambridge Evening News, UK), Villager makes sporting history (This is East Grinstead, UK), How is progress towards London 2012 going? (Independent, UK), Devery Karz earns silver medal at U23 world championships (Salem News, USA), Obituary: Eads Johnson Jr (New Canaan Advertiser, USA), Water in her blood (Aurora, Canada), the driving force (Aurora, Canada), Headed to water (Aurora, Canada), Princeton's Jordan retires as men's heavyweight coach (Ivy League Sports, USA), Stanford athletes earn medals at world rowing championships (Palo Alto Online, USA), Sullivan wins third title (New Zealand Herald, NZ), Beijing heroes - where are they now? (MoreThanTheGames, UK), Mohsen Shadi bags Iran 1st world rowing gold (PressTV, Iran), City golden girls win Home International (Peterborough Today, UK), Orillia Rowing Club competitors paddle to success at area regattas (Orillia Packet & Times, Canada), Help me find Wrexham's local heroes (Tom James, Wrexham Chronicle, UK), Golden day (Henley Standard, UK), Two silvers but Gemma and Daisy go so close (Henley Standard, UK), Novice crews take a dip at fun regatta (Henley Standard, UK), Four strangers row the Atlantic (Southern Daily Echo, UK), Washington rower wins silver at world championships (Seattle Times, USA), Rowing to raise cash for injured (This is Hampshire, UK), Rowing quartet on top of the world (Marlborough Express, NZ), Duncan rower Michael Braithwaite third in world regatta (Times Colonist, Canada), Goodsell believes she and Hosking will go the distance (MoreThanTheGames, UK), Reed and Triggs Hodge happy to be underdogs ahead of world champs (MoreThanTheGames, UK), St Neots rower is golden girl of the water (Hunts Post, UK), James Cracknell and Rebecca Romero aiming at LeJog tandem record (BikeRadar, UK), Rowers on banana boat help raise cash (Whitby Gazette, UK), Mary Washington hires Delaware assistant to coach rowing team (Fredericksburg.com, USA), Parkite sculls to worlds (Park Record, USA), Gold for Portora in junior events of National Championships (Fermanagh Herald, Ireland), Jade Uru: world champion (Southland Times, NZ). Sad news (USA) - >Former rower Cheryl Wick (ex-U Minnesota) died unexpectedly of a cardiac arrhythmia on Friday 24 July. An , and an article in the GopherSports website too.

  Friday 24th July 2009

• Rowing jobs - Director of rowing for Kingston RC (UK) and Coleraine Academical Institution (Ireland) needs a part-time rowing coach.
• 99 not flaky as they rise to the Head (a somewhat contrived - but unusual - headline from the Cambridge Evening News covering the Town Bumps, UK).
• Information on the ARA's Explore Rowing scheme (UK), aimed at getting new recreational rowers into the sport. Matched funding for buying 'stable' boats, some coaching funding, and admin support: must include equipment suitable for adaptive rowers. See the club information leaflet for more details.

  Thursday 23rd July 2009

• Usual FISA stuff happening at the under-23 worlds - results race by race, entries and summary lists/startlists, live racetracker etc. The finals will not be televised on FISA TV.
• I'm running a Rowing Voice twitter service from the course at the U23s this week.
• Also see the official under-23 worlds website for information and updates including direct links to many of the FISA documents.
• Flat to let beside Hammersmith Bridge (UK) - see this notice.
• Henley RC (UK) are running a Henley Town & Visitors' Regatta after-party - theme apparently "Fur, feathers, rubber, leather". Plus jelly wrestling. Henley RC, Wargrave Road, Henley, starting Saturday 1st August at 7pm. They say it finishes at 10am on Sunday 2nd August: sounds ambitious! A survivors' photo will be mandatory, clearly. HRC members £25, all others £30, ticket includes all you can drink, barbecue, late-night disco, camping spot if required, and a "hangover-curing BBQ breakfast". To book a ticket speak to Tom Cannon or Bethan Thomas.
• City, Cantabs lay down marker for rivals (Cambridge Evening News, UK).

  Wednesday 22nd July 2009

• Rowing Voice deadlines - issue 3-5 (bumper club issue plus Lucerne World Cup) will come out next week. The deadline for copy - letters, news, gossip, pictures, rants, classifieds (free up to 30 words), adverts, etc - is 6pm BST (= GMT+1) on Monday 27th July. Contact RQ if you have any queries.
• Voice 3-6 has a copy deadline of Monday 10th August or later if we have pre-arranged what you want to send.

  Monday 20th July 2009

• Sad news (UK) - Staines BC stalwart (ex-cox, coach, and recently runner-up in the Exceptional Service to Sport Awards at Spelthorne) Ted Dyos died peacefully at St Peter's Hospital on Saturday evening after a short illness. Further information about funeral arrangements will be posted on the Staines BC website later.
• COMPETITION TO WIN A REGATTA TRIP - the Bremer Achter Cup (Germany, 12th-13th September) is this year inviting entries for a free, all-expenses paid trip to the regatta (excluding travel to/from Bremen). The link is to the general invitation, which is for up to 50 eights to row 4.2km on the Saturday followed by a sprint 400m knock-out with crews seeded from their Saturday results. If you are a club or university crew from anywhere in the world and would like to win a free stay in Bremen and entry to the regatta, visit the competition entry page and answer the four simple quiz questions there. The competition closes on 31st July 2009 and one women's and one men's crew will win a free stay and entry to the regatta: the winners will be announced by 5th August latest. Routine entries for the regatta can be made until 3rd September via the official website.
• Richard Mortimer has pictures of the huge flooding at Durham ARC (UK) on Saturday, when flash rainstorms hit the county. Miraculously (in fact due to the indefatigable volunteers) the boat club was cleared up in time for a wedding reception booked in that evening. Four albums showing the boathouse inside, outside the boathouse, along the river and at Durham racecourse.
• Update on Geoff and Victoria Wilkinson's funeral (UK) - confirmation that only family should attend the burial (it's a small churchyard) but all are welcome at Kirkwelpington Village Hall afterwards. Family flowers only, others are requested to send donations to the North East Air Ambulance in lieu of flowers please.
• The Nat Champs results service (UK) may be the quickest way to find a specific race/crew, or see the full results files from Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
• Former Cambridge President John Carver (UK) is flying and cycling a 'Flyke' from Land's End to John O'Groats this summer to raise £10,000 for diabetes research. See the BBC's newsclip about it and his JustGiving page, plus his personal website.
• Final update from Sarah Winckless and Victoria Wood's Huntington's campaign (UK) - the grand total raised for the Huntington's Alliance is £32176.05, most of it online. They say - "We have run out of ways to express our thanks and how moved we have been by this, but we are bursting with gratitude." They blew the original £10k in ten days target to bits and have been delighted to see people still donating despite JustGiving's problems on HWR weekend - "Rowers do not give up, that's for sure", they say. The site will remain open until mid-September in case anyone else wishes to donate, but this is the main end-point, and Sarah and Victoria would like to say enormous thanks to every single person who donated.
• Results from Molesey Regatta (UK, PDF format).
• And results from Bedford Quarts Sprint Regatta (UK, proprietary sortable/hyperlinked results format).
• Results from Kingston Amateur Regatta (UK, also using the Bedford results system).
• A report of the Guernsey offshore regatta (UK, ARA).
• FISA's Athlete in Focus this month is Susan Francis (USA).
• Regatta Radio feedback - listeners to RR 87.7FM (UK) during Henley Royal are requested to help improve the station further by filling in the feedback questionnaire, if they have a few minutes. Thank you.

  Sunday 19th July 2009

• Twittering commentary from the Nat Champs (UK) today on http://twitter.com/natchamps09.
• Active Tools are showing their new instant-feedback video goggles, developed jointly with Valery Kleshnev, and their adjustable length rowing shoes, at the Nat Champs RowShow in Nottingham.

  Friday 17th July 2009

• The funeral service for Geoff and Victoria Wilkinson will take place at Hexham Abbey on Wednesday 22 July at 11:00am (UK). Father and daughter will then be buried together in the Kirkwhelpington village churchyard. This is a small churchyard so Kate Wilkinson has requested only family and close friends please.
• Details of Maidenhead Regatta (August 8th, UK) are online - entries through OARA. Since the first schedule went up they have added Vet B/C/D eights and changed the women's veteran quads to coxless.
• The UK Nat Champs (UK) start today, with full details on the website. On Sunday 19th I will be doing live-written commentary on all finals from noon - link to go up shortly.
• The senior GB team has been selected (UK). See also Britain name world championship team (RQ, Telegraph, UK), Britain shake up team for Poznan (Chris Dodd, Independent, UK).
• And the under-23 GB team.
• The under-23 worlds timetable has been updated now that the full entry lists are out. See the second link as the competition progresses, for start and results lists.
• Results from Henley Veterans Regatta (UK).

  Wednesday 15th July 2009

• Even sadder news - Vicki Wilkinson of Tyne and Ponteland High School rowing clubs (UK) has died after being in a critical condition since Sunday (see yesterday's link). From the NERowing list email: "Their Laser Stratos capsized and Vicki became trapped under the boat in the rigging. Geoff was thrown clear from the boat during the capsize but when he realised Vicki had not surfaced, he swam under the boat to release her but also found himself in diificulties. Geoff died at the scene and Vicki was rushed by Air Ambulance to hospital where she remained in a critical condition and sadly passed away on Tuesday." Updates will be posted if there is anything that friends and sympathisers can do. There is also a report on the BBC News website, and others on Google News.
• Voice 3-4 now out (Henley Royal edition) - Pimms, booms and records tumbling, the Henley Royal Regatta 2009 Rowing Voice bumper issue is out, with event-by-event reporting from three of Britain's most passionate rowing journalists. Agecroft's first trophy, Eton completing the triple, and the clash of internationals over the 1908 and 1948 Olympic course summed up in an epic Diamond Sculls Challenge. Christopher Dodd meets the 1959 Harvard Grand crew, and talks to the 1989 Notts County Ladies' Plate eight about their epic re-row. Hammer Smith gathers the gossip and holds forth about the definition of 'British' while Barrie Robinson rants about rowing websites. Plus a memorable picture of the month from Marianne Hansen. This issue £3, or sign up for a £20 subscription to cover the whole year.

  Tuesday 14th July 2009

• Two more bits of very sad news (UK) - on the eve of Henley Veteran Regatta last week, Harry Harvey, co-founder of the event, died of a sudden heart attack. Amongst many roles in rowing, Harvey was involved in creating the veteran handicap system, and many tributes were paid to him at Henley Veterans when his death was announced.
• And a shock tragedy in Northumberland (UK) - former Hexham BC captain Geoff Wilkinson died on Sunday in a yachting accident when his sailing boat flipped over. He was trying to rescue his daughter Victoria, who is a member of Tyne and Ponteland clubs, and had become entangled in the rigging of the capsized boat. She is critically ill in hospital.
• Warrington Regatta (UK, PDF file) is open for entries on OARA. As well as the Rock The Boat prizes for some mixed quads categories, they will be running a North of England Mixed Crews Victor Ludorum.
• Shimano now has a website for its SRD600 rowing products (headquarters Japan), with an online store coming in September.
• Various headlines - Beth Rodford's BBC blog (BBC Sport, UK), Mark Hunter announces return (Henley Standard, UK), Novel idea puts the raunch into regatta (Henley Standard, UK), New business inspired by love of rowing (Henley Standard, UK), Bob Hewitt: this lightweight won't be beaten (Andrew Longmore, Sunday Times, UK), Rowing for hospice (Halifax Courier, UK), Men's four lead the way for Britain's rowing team in Lucerne (Rachel Q, Telegraph, UK), James Cracknell: Small Talk (Guardian, UK).
• More worthwhile ex-OUBC insanity - triple Blue Boris Mavra is swimming the Channel on 30th July in aid of the Willow Foundation which helps seriously ill adults.

  Monday 13th July 2009

• Dreadful news (Netherlands) - last week there was a terrible accident in the Czech Republic in which Martijn Zondervan (aged 24) and Vincent de Gans (aged 21) of the Proteus-Eretes freshmen lightweight eight, were killed when the vehicle they were in was hit by a train. Their cox, Malou Janssen, is still critical in hospital. A condolences site has been opened, and the Dutch women's eight raced with black ribbons on Sunday in Lucerne, in honour of the rowers. Links courtesy of NLRoei.
• Belatedly, Tom Metcalf of Thames RC won the Doggett's Coat & Badge Race last Friday (UK).

  Saturday 11th July 2009

• SportTip (Switzerland) are trying to run betting at the Lucerne world cup. Not sure I understand their system for betting/odds - they are allowing bets to be placed at the course and online right up until the start of each race, but it seems largely to be based on who will win golds on Sunday.
• Today's press links - Olympic champion collects OBE (Worthing Herald, UK), Ex-rowing champion is no humble pie maker (The Australian, Australia), Grainger impresses at World Cup in Lucerne (MoreThanTheGames, UK), MC adds to women's crew staff (Marietta Times, USA), Grainger among Brits to progress (SportingLife, UK), Grainger through to Lucerne semis (BBC Sport, UK), Meningitis claims life of trainee doctor (New Zealand Herald, about Zac Gravatt, NZ), Becki sets sights on dream Olympic trip (The Star, UK), Great Britain make charge for finals at Lucerne World Cup regatta (RQ, Telegraph, UK), Katherine Grainger win justifies decision to miss Henley (Patrick Kidd, The Times, UK), Casey earns semi berth and world ticket (RTJ, Irish Independent, Ireland).
• Regatta Radio feedback - listeners to RR 87.7FM (UK) during Henley Royal are requested to help improve the station further by filling in the feedback questionnaire, if they have a few minutes. Thank you.

  Friday 10th July 2009

• I've been a bit slack in putting up Row2k's Henley coverage (USA) - sorry. Great stuff, loads of pictures, reports from Liz Wray,
• Lucerne coverage: entry lists, results lists and startlists etc from the WorldRowing index, the live RaceTracker (FISA), live video streaming.
• Katrin Boron awarded the Thomas Keller Medal (FISA). She will be presented with it on Sunday in Lucerne.
• Rowing news - Greves on duty in World Cup bid (Mike Rosewell, Oxford TImes, UK), Page and Hayden retain title (Isle of Wight County Press, UK), Katherine Robinson '09 qualifies for U23 world championships (iBerkshires.com, USA), Vesta celebrate rowing first (Wimbledon Guardian, UK), Rival clubs all set for battle (Burton Mail, UK), Life goes on, out of Olympic spotlight (Annie Vernon's blog on the BBC, UK), Page and Hayden retain title (Isle of Wight County Press, UK), British rowing crews playing game of catch-up with Kiwis out in front (RQ, Telegraph, UK), Grainger facing toughest test yet (Mike Haggerty, Press and Journal, UK), World Cup glory in Cowburn's sights (Worcester News, UK).
• Older links from earlier in the week - Redgrave: London is in the bag... so now let's take on the world (Independent, UK), Barton helps Exeter set Henley standard (South Devon Herald Express, UK), Hat-trick for Henley (Henley Standard, UK), Memorial row for tragic lock-keeper (Henley Standard, UK), Team N.B. shoots for 10 medals (Telegraph-Journal, Canada), Rower Cracknell impresses on British triathlon debut (MoreThanTheGames, UK), Toon rowing girls put in oarsome display (Chronicle Live, UK), Ocean Angels set sights on race record (Wales Online, UK), Elation and relief as Indian Ocean rowers located (New Zealand Herald, NZ), Six establishments branded 'poor' (Henley Standard, including the RRM, UK), Success for Henley rowing club juniors (Henley Standard, UK), Shirt-sleeve order as crowds swelter (Henley Standard, UK), Langridge hails power of Brits at Henley (MoreThanTheGames, UK), Junior indoor rowers set sights on Olympics (Galloway Gazette, UK), Isis and Brookes grab the glory (Mike Rosewell, Oxford Mail, UK), St Neots rowers win selection for international duty (Cambs24, UK), Rowers set for a busy summer (Canada.com, Canada), Kelowna rower earns Team Canada spot (BC Local News, Canada), Rowing club proposes Lake Karapiro rival (Hawke's Bay Today, NZ), Rowers sing praises of Olympics (Marlborough Express, NZ), Ultimate teamwork experience (Florida Today, USA), Plan for Olympics channel generates controversy (Los Angeles Times, USA), Olympic stars in race for a green 2012 Games (Metro, UK), Oarsmen up for charity challenge (Bolton News, UK), River is branded 'an open sewer' (Tottenham, Wood Green & Edmonton Journal, UK), Indoor rowing centre in B.C. draws new wave to sport (Canada.com, Canada), Long wait over (Salford Advertiser, UK), Man attempts world rowing record from St. John's to Britain (The Telegram, USA).

  Thursday 9th July 2009

• The provisional draw for the Nat Champs (UK) will change, but for now it's up at the official website (PDF format) - keep checking for changes in the next 10 days.
• City of Oxford (UK) is having a naming ceremony for their new men's VIII this Saturday (11th July, 4pm) at the club. The boat was funded by a kind donation from Lawrence Belcher, the club President and member of Neptune RC 1863 from which City of Oxford was formed. Lawrence would like to invite anyone who has had an association with Neptune RC, or the early days of City of Oxford, or who rowed with or knew him when he was active at the club. He is now in his early nineties and his donation coincides with his 75th year of involvement with rowing. All with such links are welcome.
• A link to a PDF of an article on Tyne United RC (UK).

  Tuesday 7th July 2009

• The 'Univ Dinosaurs' (Olympic M8+ silver cox Acer Nethercott, Tom Walker & Howat Duncan) successfully did the south of France Ironman Triathlon a week ago, to raise money for the Oxford Cardiac Campaign. Their link on the new JustGiving site is here - if you need encouragement, Acer's bike chain snapped during a steep hill-climb, so he carried his bike for a while on foot before getting the chain rejoined, and then carried on for 100km with only the three smallest cogs on his back wheel useable, before completing the triathlon with a marathon run. His two partners in crime had medical issues to overcome too, but all three finished. As I said, nutters. They thoroughly deserve support for this - their target of £3,500 is nearly achieved, but it would be great to boost it higher.
• The official site for the 2009 world rowing championships in Poznan (Poland, in English).
• More pictures from the German U23 and junior championships (Germany).
• The organisers of the Tyne At Home regatta (UK) are looking for expressions of interest, since it has been moved to the bank holiday weekend (last weekend in August). Can clubs who want to attend please contact Tyne RC within the next fortnight so that they can see if there will be enough interest to go ahead.
• Photos from Henley Royal Regatta (UK) up on BigBlade, JET Photographic, Wokingham Photographic (qualifying only at present, being updated). Nothing from Nature's Images yet (coming), and Birdman has qualifying also, and will have the rest up at the end of the week. On a less specialist note, the Guardian HRR photo gallery has caught a more important crew than it realises, if I'm right that this is Eton.
• Guest of a Guest website (USA) also has some excellent pictures from the Row2k website: not sure whether they're breaching copyright or not... (Ed?)

  Monday 6th July 2009

• With the close of Henley Royal Regatta, Regatta Radio is off-air again, but the website will stay up, and has a big collection of audio clips - Sunday's should be added soon - as well as features, particularly the Remenham Centenary. Shiplake Primary School won both the boys' and girls' ergo competition.
• Regatta Radio feedback - once again the Rowing Service is running an independent feedback questionnaire for RR. It is quite lengthy, but all the feedback has been incredibly helpful in previous years and has guided the RR team to developing the radio station to its current point. Comments will be anonymously collated and used to make changes for 2010. If you have time, please do fill this in. The form will remain online for at least a month.
• The winner of Mystic Henley (UK) this year was 'Oxford Oracle', also known as Andy Green, the coach of OUWBC, who correctly picked a phenomenal 16 out of the 19 winning crews. The Regatta Radio hamper is on its way. 'Kara' and 'Voar22' picked 14/19, three people picked 13/19, and quite a few 12 or 11. Visit the site next June for Mystic Henley 2010.
• The provisional programme (PDF file) and entries (index, all files PDF) for Lucerne Regatta later this week, are online (FISA).
• Entries are now open for Oxford City Royal Regatta (UK).
• Pictures from the German junior & U23 championships two weeks ago (Germany).
• A new business called RowCo, making rowing cards, gifts and clothing (UK).
• HRR headlines - Campbell beaten by rival Drysdale (Martin Gough, BBC Sport, UK), Walsh claims Henley first and Irish crews do themselves proud in the main (Liam Gorman, Irish Times, Ireland), Alan Campbell fights back to edge out Olaf Tufte at Henley (Dan Topolski, Observer, UK), Drysdale buzzing ahead of Henley regatta (Yahoo News Thursday, UK), Grainger set for new Henley role (BBC Sport, UK), British pair suffer Henley defeat (Martin Gough, BBC Sport, UK), New Zealand and Great Britain triumph at Henley (Patrick Kidd, The Times, UK), Sculler goes for Henley treble (John Goodbody, Sunday Times, UK), Mahe Drysdale wins Diamond Sculls (Chris Dodd, Independent, UK), Kiwis blow away British challenge (RQ, Telegraph, UK), Kiwis win four golds (New Zealand Herald getting it slightly wrong, NZ), Nottingham and Union miss out in Henley final (This is Nottingham, UK), Olympic hopeful rowers take early step towards 2012 (Australian Olympic Committee, Australia), Reed and Hodge come up short (RQ, Sunday Telegraph, UK), Hodge and Reed want revenge (RQ, Telegraph, UK), Isis leave it late for victory (RQ, Telegraph, UK), Action matches the Henley heat (RQ, Telegraph, UK), Students test the water at Henley Royal Regatta (RQ, Telegraph, UK), Irish crews rally to go on hot streak in regatta (Robert Treharne Jones, Irish Independent, Ireland), Thames Cup launches Henley Royal Regatta (RQ, Telegraph, UK), Eton College catch the eye at Henley (Patrick Kidd, The Times, UK), Henley Regatta dress code relaxed for first time since 1976 (Telegraph, UK), Chinese put their oar in at Henley (Patrick Kidd, The Times, UK), Student falls foul of Henley Royal Regatta dress code wearing Ascot outfit (Telegraph, UK - sounds like a put-up job to me), and the same story in the Daily Mail. By the way, here are the Royal Enclosure guidelines at Ascot, which suggest that she was not telling the truth about being let in there with her orange dress, even though their rules about hemlines are a little less draconian. (thanks RJP for the links).
• I'll do a non-HRR press round-up later this week.

  Friday 3rd July 2009

• IMPORTANT HRR NEWS - the fireworks display has been completely cancelled. This is not a joke or spoof. The Chairman of the Regatta, Mike Sweeney, just confirmed it to me. He said that the Stewards' Enclosures will close as usual at 8pm on Saturday 4th July, but although no new cars may be driven in late in the evening, Lion Meadow and Butler's Field will remain open to parties and barbecues etc as usual. The Henley Standard and the official fireworks pages will carry the news soon. At the moment there is no plan to change the time at which Henley Bridge will close (9:30pm).
• Mystic Henley is now closed to new entries and no crew choices may be changed. The leaderboard will continue to be updated every evening as the events progress, and registered users may post comments and support for crews on the message wall.
• Regatta Radio on Twitter (UK).
• Prehistoric bloodsucker in Thames (BBC News, UK, glad they didn't publish that before the Henley Swim last Sunday).