Archive News from March 2007

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

Friday 30th March 2007
• Plea for help at the Vet's Head (UK) - "Derby Rowing Club are competing in the Veteran's Head to be held this weekend 1st April 07, our current cox has just advised me he will not be able to make it!!!!! We are looking for a competent person to cox a very fast Vet E 8. We need them to be at Thames Tradesmen RC at 10:00 Sunday morning. Could anyone who can help please contact Peter Holland-Lloyd. Thanks."
• And one for the Head of the River (31st March, UK) - "York Uni are looking for someone to cox their men's novice boat at the Eights Head this weekend. Anyone interested should contact Sam Bacon on 07875 502642."
• Lots of information on the Two Cities Boat Race (Manchester v Salford Universities, Saturday May 12th, UK). The dedicated website includes press releases, details of the day, video clips from last year and directions etc.
• FISA's second circular of the year is available to download, including forms for the 2007 Congress, exam, seminar and clinic information, the provisional programme for the inaugural European championships, and the results of last year's anti-doping survey (PDF). The largest number of tests was done on Chinese athletes, 432 in all, mostly out of competition by the Chinese national federation.
• A PDF flyer for the 2007 Boat Race Bash at Isle of Ely Rowing Club on 7th April (UK).
• The new carbon-fibre/aluminium StreetRower Pro has been launched. Video clips etc. on the website (UK). The Pro will be visiting Putney Embankment on Saturday 31st March from about noon, for anyone who wants to take a look.
• The poster for Tees Regatta (19th May, UK) is available in Powerpoint or PDF formats. Closing date 9pm Thursday 10th May.
• The poster for Ponteland Junior Head (14th April, UK) is up and entries offline open until Monday 9th April. The poster can be downloaded for printing (Word format) and there is also a please read file for competitors.
• The notice for Bideford Head Race (12th May, UK) is up, and entries close 1st May.
• The ARA has updated its online child protection information (UK).
• Looking ahead, BBC Radio 4 are doing a programme on the 1987 Oxford Mutiny at 10:30-11:00 BST (GMT+1) on Saturday 7th April. (It's 20 years on from the story most famously told in True Blue, for those who don't know). What is billed as James Cracknell is almost certainly wrong - I know the producer interviewed a lot of the people directly and peripherally involved in the Mutiny, so it should be a wide-ranging programme. JC may contribute but he won't be the only one.
• Rowing in the news - U rowers enjoying new practice boathouse (Minnesota Daily, USA - does this mean they have a racing boathouse too?!), It's back to school for Olympic rower Matt (Hexham Courant, UK), Oars poised (Worcester Telegram, USA), City stars show they do have a heart (Norwich Evening News, UK), Highest number of Blues awarded for 57 years (Scoop, NZ), Big reputation for little cup (Waikato Times, NZ), HBHS eight ready for cup final attack (Waikato Times, NZ), Boat Race saying rings true for Pinsent (Guardian, UK), Admirable Nelson (Newswire, NZ), Breast cancer survivors learn "We can row" (Warwick Advertiser, USA), Down by the river, a pitch that swims (MediaCorp, Singapore), Date for world's coolest marathon approaches (Competitor Magazine - Ali Gill is taking part), MRC prepares for spring with 'strongest team' ever (Norwalk Citizen, USA), Rowing legend oars in funds for family charity (Peterborough Evening Telegraph, UK), Workers take on rowing challenge (BBC News, UK), Fired-up Eyres secret weapon for Trinity (West Australian, Australia), We're just in time! (icCheshire Online, UK), Ross rowers receive top club accolade (Hereford Times, UK), Great expectation (icCheshire Online, UK), Shunyi Olympic Park almost ready (CCTV, China), Blues given a rough time (Oxford Times, UK), Rowers need £20k for urgent repairs (Abingdon Herald, UK).

  Thursday 29th March 2007

• Calling Henley Boat Races alumni - if any OU/CU women and lightweight alumni who are going to the Henley Boat Races (UK) on Sunday 1st April are free to help for a couple of hours on Sunday morning, that would be great. Jobs are to assist preparations for sponsorship branding, eg stuffing fliers in programmes and putting up posters around the course. If you would like to help, and could be in Henley by around 11am on Sunday, please contact Naomi Pollock, giving your name and mobile number. Thanks very much.
• Last night's Boat Race news: Cambridge change cox (UK). Newspaper articles: Cambridge change cox for big race (Martin Cross, Guardian), Cambridge make late Boat Race switch (RQ, Telegraph).
• Details of the Marlow Spring Regatta (UK) are online, including the PDF poster. The regatta is organised in three 'waves' with no more than one entry per wave-session permitted, to allow easy doubling-up. Online entries via OARA preferred until 1pm 29th April.
• Information about Chiswick Regatta (5th May, UK) also online. Entries are now open via OARA or conventional means. Closing date Saturday 28th April at 10pm, though there is a facility for 'late entries' in person/by phone to Quintin - see the link for details.
• A 55-year-old man impaled in a rowing accident (New England Journal of Medicine, USA). This isn't a news story, it's a medical write-up of a case which happened more than a year ago, with an emphasis on the treatment and how they dealt with the injury.
• From FISA, What the rowers want, the results of last summer's athlete survey at the World Rowing Championships. The full report is available as a PDF file.
• Rowing headlines: Adaptive learning in Brazil, racing in Italy (WorldRowing, FISA), Boat Race crew train on Dee (Wrexham Evening Leader, UK), It's just healthy competition (Republican-American, USA), Campaigners hail heart appeal (Norfolk Eastern Daily Press, UK), Now that their feet are wet, county rowers on upswing (St Petersburg Times, USA), Community to have say on dredging plan (ABC Regional Online, Australia), Decades of experience giving Oamaru support (Waikato Times, NZ), Sacred Heart, Dio make semis (Waikato Times, NZ), Top young rower taking charge (Waikato Times, NZ), Runner made an oarsome decision (Hawke's Bay Today, NZ), Row ends for Rowers (Mosman Daily, Australia), Agnes Irwin crew has new style, lofty goals for 2007 (Evening Bulletin, USA), Gisborne crews into semis at Maadi Cup (Gisborne Herald, NZ), Romero is starting in just the right position (James Cracknell, Telegraph, UK), Berwick pair off to good start (Berwick Today, UK), Two eights battle rough conditions for final places (New Zealand Herald, NZ), Maadi Cup rowing success continues (Marlborough Express, NZ), Local crews into A-finals (Timaru Herald, NZ), Rowing, variety show part of Hancock school events (Daily Mining Gazette, USA), Rowers give boost to third world water projects (Cambridge Evening News, UK), Tideway test for Worcester crews (Worcester News, UK), In memory of Emma (Daily Telegraph, Australia), Rowing glory for KGS girls (This is Local London, UK), High school sculler on track for rowing gold (Wanganui Chronicle, NZ).

  Wednesday 28th March 2007

• Courtesy of La Slug (UK), the story of a rowing submarine (PDF format). Pictures of it causing traffic chaos in Richmond on the Tideway Slug. The Slug also has details of Barnes Bridge closures this month.
• Details of advance booking or registering to receive the slides from the Rowperfect seminar (Friday 30th March, London, UK) are online.
• The Boat Race forum is up and running again this year (UK).
• A reminder of the national junior indoor rowing championships being held at Hammersmith Town Hall (London, UK) today.
• This year's Ball Cup North (UK) will be held at Warrington Rowing Club on Wednesday 9th May. The course is short - approx. 500m - with 2 or 3 lanes depending on entries. The aim is to let smaller clubs have a go and as such they don't expect to see entries from junior who have won medals at national standard events. Entries from J13-J18 in all sculling events, plus coxed fours. The plan is to make the event as cheap as possible so that athletes can double up. The event is non-ARA so no need to have ARA numbers, and medals will be forthcoming for events with enough entries. Those in the area who want to enter should email Richard Sinnott of WRC by 8pm on Friday 4th May. The Ball Cup South is a similar closed regatta and scheduled for Sunday 13th May (not sure where).
• News and results of the Tayforth Boat Race (Dundee University beat Stirling University in both races) are online.
• Rowing news: Wild weather strikes southern California (Casper State Tribune and syndicated, USA), On top of the water (Duke Chronicle, USA), Ex-rugby star helps to set up cancer charity (icSurrey Online, UK), Rutgers to ax 6 sports despite funding pledges (North Jersey.com, USA), City locked in struggle for marina (Alameda Times-Star, USA), Skills get rower a Michigan State scholarship (Hamilton Spectator, Canada), Last two places taken for final of AON Maadi Cup (Scoop, NZ), Hamilton Boys' eight into final (Waikato Times, NZ), Nelson team score prized oar from Waikato (Waikato Times, NZ), River pollution leaves kayaker disillusioned (Waikato Times, NZ), Pair smash record during heats (Nelson Mail, NZ), Authorities rescue UCI rowing team (a different angle on the weather story, ABC7, USA), BRC for 175th section (Brockville Recorder and Times, Canada), Christ's quickest eight in Maadi Cup heats (New Zealand Herald, NZ), Independence day celebration in city (Daily Star, Bangladesh), Southland crews performing well at school rowing champs (Southland Times, NZ), College rowers surge ahead at Maadi Cup (Marlborough Express, NZ), Two Rockford girls row to victory (Grand Rapids Press, USA).

  Tuesday 27th March 2007

• Sad news (Switzerland): - Swiss world champion and Diamond Sculls winner Martin Studach died of a heart attack last Saturday on Zurich Lake while double-sculling with Heini Fischer. He was 62. More information from Heini here on Swiss Rowing (in Swiss-German).
• A poster for Abingdon Head (22nd April, UK). Entries close at noon on Sunday 14th April, and note that there is a 20% discount for those who pay in advance.
• Evesham RC (UK) have put up a poster for their Main and Sprint Regatta (5th-6th May) in PDF format. The sprint regatta includes an adaptive event, with an early closing date so that those entering can properly be accommodated. The club is also looking to recruit more senior men. Contact them via the club's website.
• An interesting thread on the Cambridge Rowing Lake (UK) on the rec.sport.rowing newsgroup.
• More links from the Maadi Cup (New Zealand).
• New found passion (Andrew Longmore on Rebecca Romero in the Sunday Times, UK).

  Monday 26th March 2007

• Sad news (UK): - Cambridge UBC tell me that Nigel Utley, Goldie 1965, died suddenly on Sunday 18th March. There will be a service of remembrance for him at Kelvedon Parish Church near Colchester at 3pm on Thursday 29th March 2007.
• News, results and photos from the Maadi Cup (New Zealand).
• FISA have gone environmental and are not sending out their 2007 events bulletin by post. Instead people can download the overall bulletin and specific Cup/championships details from this page.
• Also from FISA, ice no hindrance to rowing (note, don't try this in a fine shell...)
• The attacks on the towpath at Oxford (UK) continue: yesterday a 6'3"-ish heavyweight rower was attacked by a group of several boys. He escaped relatively unscathed with just a few bruises, but it could have been much worse. The police have been informed and think they have a lead, but locals are advised to avoid the towpath, particularly if alone at night.
• A useful website for recovered heart patient athletes (UK).
• The Boat Race website (UK) has brief reports on the fixtures held this weekend. In the newspapers: Boat Race pressure piles on Cambridge (Martin Cross, Guardian) and a tiny snippet in the Monday and Sunday Times's. But BLOODY BLOODY Telegraph - they've subbed my piece for today to make it look as if Cambridge raced twice. Naturally it was Cambridge racing on Friday and Oxford racing on Saturday. Grrrrrrrr. Why bloody ask for 250 words and then snip it to 154 words, in the process moving round several paragraphs pointlessly so that it makes no sense. Idiots. Cretins.
• The Women's Head crews (UK) did well - so far £7000 raised for the Breast Cancer Haven, and counting. Anyone who wants to donate to one of the crews with a JustGiving page should be able to find them here.
• Results from Kingston Head (UK) in PDF format - eights and fours results separately.
• Southampton Small & River Head results (UK) are in Excel format. Naturally the times should not have "am" appended to them - they're just hrs/mins/secs (or mins/secs for the actual results, in the 'race time' column).
• Provisional results for the Champion of the Thames Junior Sculling Head (UK) are also available in Excel format.
• Results of the North of England Head (UK) are in JPG format, and one which might not load into all browsers. If not, download the files and double-click, and they should launch. Division 1 and division 2 results separately.
• Rowing headlines: Details of Dickinson investigation revealed (Eastern Echo, USA), Officials dedicate new marina docks (Oak Ridger, USA), Niche sports online (Rocky Mountain News, USA), Green group to fight against Lake Wendouree hotel plan (ABC Regional Online, Australia), Some observations about the various rumours surrounding Davies Park (Westender, Australia), Secret weapon to stop UK's athletes wilting (Telegraph, UK), Leon Taylor on verge of a Great Britain call (Bedford Today, UK, with a few rather interesting inaccuracies in the first few paragraphs), Home bay advantage (Eureka Reporter, USA), GU earns 2nd Fawley Cup victory (Spokesman Review, USA), 'Cliffs in danger of collapse' (Western Australia Post Newspapers, Australia), Upton RC seeks beginner rowers for river event (Malvern Gazette, UK), With help of young, fiery coach, Huskies crew is on the rise (Seattle Times, USA), Qatar International Regatta gets underway today (Gulf Times, Qatar), 'We'll break lake speed limit in fight to abolish it' (News & Star, UK), Scotch win is simply four-some (The Age, Australia), Flexi Rose does the splits at 92 (syndicated, New Zealand), Connellsville native living a dream as RMU rowing coach (Uniontown Herald Standard, USA), Shrewsbury School rowers repeat victory (North Shropshire Chronicle, UK), Rowing challenge issued by local club (Comox Valley Record, Canada), Rowers welcome new docks (Knoxville News Sentinel, USA), Traditional rivals fight to be crowned king (New Zealand Herald, NZ), City schools have high hopes for regatta (Timaru Herald, NZ), Hamilton wins two at Augusta Invite (NCAA Sports, USA), Tu_Fin lets you walk on water without divine intervention (a weird invention from Gizmodo, Hungary), Atlantic rower to speak (Flint Journal, USA), Boathouse offers free rowing lesson (KSWO, USA), Radley and Abingdon head the honours (Oxford Times, UK).

  Friday 23rd March 2007

• The Thames Regional Rowing Council (UK) are reminding everyone likely to be on the Tideway in the next few weeks of the rules, particularly when training rather than racing. All visiting clubs must be aware of the changes to circulation in the last 18 months. Clubs are advised to take a good look at the PLA's large PDF poster and the TRRC's navigation page, before going afloat. If in doubt about anything please contact the TRRC Safety Advisor.
• Tideway warning: CUBC vs Molesey at 15:45 today, OUBC vs Leander at 16:00 tomorrow, with supporters' launches.
• The warning I gave yesterday about FISA Masters boat hire may have resulted from an injudicious 'copy and paste' from the Scottish Masters in 2005 (when it was reasonable for UK/Ireland clubs to bring their own boats). People wishing to hire from the 2007 Croatian organisers are advised to contact them and check specifically what this year's conditions are. It's more likely that mainland Europe crews will be the ones to miss out, this time.
• WaterRower (UK/Germany) is launching We-Row, with a forum, £5 a month personal online trainers, and a few other interactive features. Beta-version for now.
• A cleaner Tideway by 2020? London plans 2 billion pound sewer to clean Thames (Bloomberg.com). Thanks DG.
• A reminder of the Boat Race WAP service and competition (UK) - note that you can enter the latter with a normal non-WAP phone just by sending a text.
• The Chester River Rowing Club (USA) has altered its website to www.chesterriverrowingclub.com. Nice people - they describe the Rowing Service as "may be the mother ship of rowing information". Aaahh.
• How to volunteer for London 2012 if you are interested (UK). No actual signing-up yet, bar just 'being interested'.
• A rowing defence (UK): Pembroke College Oxford's W1 side of the story of why they ended up wrapped round Putney Bridge during the WeHORR. "After crossing the finishing line and winding down, the crew in front of us had stopped rowing entirely, forcing us to hold it up to avoid a collision. As we held it up, the crew began to row off again, but we had turned slightly towards the central pillar and, despite getting people on stroke side to row on in an attempt to point in the proper direction, after having raced for 4 1/2 miles they didn't have to strength to push against the sidewind that blew us further into trouble. If the other crews had obeyed the rules which clearly state that you can't stop at the finish line and must keep rowing, we would have been fine. The reason we were slightly further away from the black buoy as I would have liked was because we were overtaking a crew coming into the finishing line, so had to pull over slightly to manage it." (From the cox. Who added that he was somewhat bemused at the lack of sanctions against the crew which was stationary in front of them, but keen to draw a line under the whole thing now.)
• Rowing in the news - Judge hears testimony in EMU slaying (Grand Rapids Press, USA), Skibbereen rowing club concerned about new watersports development (Southern Star, Ireland), Pieces of eight (icBerkshire, UK), Quartet earn their pieces of silver in Eton race (Northwich Guardian, UK), Despite club sports deal Brandeis crew team to lose boathouse (Brandeis Hoot, USA), Editorial: Why is the crew team up the creek without a boathouse? (Brandeis Hoot, USA), Let's rock'n (Eureka Reporter, USA), Murray Bridge rowers successful at school state championship regatta (Murray Valley Standard, Australia), Somers finishes in top ten at event (Ardmore Main Line Life, USA), Deepening could see our lake return to its former glory (Bendigo Weekly, Australia), Rowing entwined with World Water Day (WorldRowing, FISA), Second Tunis Lake international rowing regatta to kick off March 31st (Magharebia, Tunisia), Town challenge beetles along (Beccles and Bungay Journal, UK), Masters of the Harlem River (a nice historical piece from IvyLeagueSports, USA), Town 'failing to grasp' Olympic opportunities (a town councillor with a very thin grasp of geography in the Harlow Star, UK), Strokes toward success (Duke Chronicle, USA), Make priorities (Ely Standard, UK).

  Thursday 22nd March 2007

• A warning to those from the UK and Ireland thinking of going to the World Masters - boat hire is unlikely to be available to your clubs. According to the boat hire information (PDF format), first priority will be given to those travelling furthest to get to the regatta (eg other continents), followed by those from mainland Europe. UK and Irish crews are specifically told that boats will not normally be hired to them, unless they become available once entries are in. It's worth any potential competitors reading the eligibility section (end of that document) carefully - it's in both English and German.
• From Rowing Canada Aviron (Canada), Adaptive athletes to receive carding for the first time (that's funding, to the rest of us). And a report on the recent national junior team training camp.
• The poster for Northwich Spring Head is up (UK, PDF format). The organisers point out that although it's on the same day as the Boat Race, the Head should be finished by the time things start in London, the bar will be open, the TV on, and a sweepstake running in the clubhouse.
• News from Wales (UK): "The WARA now has a new website at www.walesrowing.com. The home page at the old site www.wara.org.uk is set to forward automatically to the new site (as are requests for information about the Welsh Open Championships). This arrangement will remain in place for a short while. Please update links asap. All Home International athlete registration should now be done through the new site."
• The Maadi Cup is about to get underway (March 26th, New Zealand) - there's a preview on the front of the Rowing NZ page today.
• RowTV has put up clips of the first 100 crews under Hammersmith Bridge in the Women's Head (UK).
• In the news - Boat race blues (a letter in the Times, UK), a fine obituary of Alan Watson (Times, UK), Cycling event added to summer roster (Chicago Tribune, USA, and with relevance to rowing), Juniors are among best in country (the Maidenhead Advertiser comes over all modest, UK), Would three world medallists help Cambridge win this year? (Consultant News, UK), A crew of one (Rochester R News, USA), Maadi 2007 all set to go (Newswire, NZ), Amy's army makes advances in donor search (PIttsburgh Live, USA), Rowing to christen boat in honor of former Governor Ann Richards (Texas Sports, USA), Five countries in international regatta (Prensa Latina, Cuba), Head of the river race attracts 115 entries (Chester Standard, UK), Sailing regatta on lake (NW Evening Mail, UK, again rowing-relevant), Crews in form to pass Eton exam (icCheshire Online, UK), EMU vigil remembers Dickinson (Ann Arbor News, USA), a photo from a caption competition (BBC Berkshire, UK), Rowing club's quartet are best in country (more shy and retiring modesty from the Evesham Journal, UK), Rowers pipe in a Cornish pasty (Dorset Echo, UK), Rowers busy collecting trophies (Hunts Post, UK).

  Wednesday 21st March 2007

• UK cancellation: - The organisers of Henley Junior Head (UK, rescheduled to 25th March from an earlier postponement) have decided to completely cancel this weekend's race. They say: "The Henley stretch is currently on amber (boards) and the river level has risen in the past 24 hours. With more rain forecast and with the current high water table in the Thames Valley it is unlikely that we would be able to run a competitive event on the stretch this weekend."
• A free link to a guy who has taken pictures of as many northeastern (UK) crews as possible from the Women's Head, partly because for once he doesn't seem to be seeking to make money out of the snaps.
• The poster for Leicester Regatta (22nd April, UK) is online, and OARA entries open on 1st April. The organisers say there is secure overnight trailer parking available from anyone coming direct from the junior inter-regional regatta the day before Leicester.
• From FISA, Azerbaijan rowing on the road to rebuilding.
• This year's world club coastal championships are being held from 19th-21st October in Mandelieu-la-Napoule, in the bay close to the canal/river where the Kelly Challenge Cup and Cannes-Mandelieu sprints are raced each August. Brilliant news - it's a lovely little town with a very well-organised rowing club, and situated enticingly close to the bright lights of the Cannes coast. The official website has just opened up and does a great job with preliminary information including an innovative overhead photograph of the area which will make those planning to attend much more aware of where facilities are. The only quibble is that some of the English pages (it's dual French-English) are not yet in place, but no doubt that will be fixed soon.
• While we're at it there's a site for the World Masters Regatta (6th-9th September, Zagreb, Croatia), but quite a bit of the information is yet to be put in place.
• Wandering around the Rowing South Africa website checking to see if there was anything new that I should put up, and I discovered their federation hierarchy page. An extremely practical, visual, clear way of laying out how the federation works, and making areas with more info below them clickable is inspired - no need for endless texty menus and five moves to get to the right bit. Good work - and something other national federations might learn from.
• Rowing headlines for the wrong reason - Ukraine arrests Belarus national rowing team training in Pridnestrovie (Tiraspol Times & Weekly Review, Moldova). There's more flack from AOL's Sports Frog (USA). The most disappointing thing about the whole news story is how many of the 15-odd online reports used at least one kayak picture to illustrate it. We presume they _are_ rowers, partly because the Belarussian national canoeing federation is not quite as successful as their rowing counterparts.
• Other rowing news - Rowing team wins silently (State Hornet, USA, yes I know it's collegiate, but I liked the headline), Is dredging in Laguna Lake's future? (San Luis Obispo Tribune, USA), Marr boys to stay 'brothers in amas' (Daily Post, NZ), Students do well in regatta (Warrnambool Standard, Australia), Factor in HBHS eight (Waikato Times, NZ), Gold for men of many talents (Adelaide Advertiser, Australia), Boat thefts scupper top team's race bid (Peterborough Evening News, UK), Boat building made optional (Gloucester Daily Times, USA), Rowers keep their cool (third item, Viet Nam News, Vietnam).

  Tuesday 20th March 2007

• From last weekend, results, photos and reports on the Heineken Roeivierkamp website (Holland), with more on NLRoei. The event included the first two rounds of the KNSRB Sprint Klassement, which continues in June, July and September. For Brits, UL men beat IC men (4th and 6th respectively), largely through an 11-second difference in the 5000m. The coverage is also enlivened by Nereus' crab of the day movie.
• Nothing on the official TRRC website yet, but La Slug notes that the Environment Agency has got the Thames Regional Rowing Council to agree to extend the ARA three-letter, three-number boat coding system currently used on the Tideway, along the whole length of the non-tidal Thames. There should be a grace period until September to get it organised, but note that it will also apply to any visiting shells, wherever they come from and whatever they are doing on the Thames.
• Club-specific coverage of the Women's Head (UK) from the BBC Berkshire website, including audio clips.
• Details of Rowperfect's annual seminar (UK) are on the news page including how to book. Guest speaker this year is Reading RC coach Jim Flood, the subject coaching. Friday 30th March at 7pm at King's College School boathouse in Putney.
• In the news: Drop-in boat-building classes offered at Heritage Center (Gloucester Daily Times, USA), St Austell brewer to complete charity row around Cornwall (The Publican, UK), A veteran in the boat (The Daily Texan, USA), Sibling rowers from Corona take same path (Press-Enterprise, USA), Pulling power (Guardian, UK), Local boat crew enters SLSA hall of fame (ABC Regional Online, Australia), Rowers 'conquer the world' in ergathon (Willamette University Athletics, USA), Season opening regatta cancelled due to inclement weather (CSTV.com, USA), Bailey sends the records tumbling (Malvern Gazette, UK), BLG scoops CC accountant for non-lawyer CEO position (The Lawyer, UK).

  Monday 19th March 2007

• Results of the Women's Eights Head (UK) are up in time order, alphabetically, by division and the handicap-adjusted veteran times. The Marlow/Rebecca/Tideway Scullers/Thames composite which started 191 won.
• Results of the Yorkshire Head (UK, PDF format).
• Having played fair on Saturday, the weather turned nasty for Sunday's Hammersmith Head (UK) and it was cancelled due to high winds.
• So was Newark Junior Head, for the same reason (UK).
• True to their boast, Gloucester managed to run their head (UK): results are online.
• NERN's Ken Hastie (UK) has put online in Word format the ARA Equality Action Plan, also apparently available from the ARA website but I haven't yet found it.
• The poster for Poplar Regatta (UK) is online in HTML format, Word and PDF.
• Rowing headlines - Rowing club's amazing year (Bexhill Observer, UK), James sculls to success (Huntingdon Today, UK), Pulling together (San Diego Union Tribune, USA), Tide rowing beats Cincinnati (Tuscaloosa News, USA), Marin rowers swamp foes (Marin Independent-Journal, USA), Duo makes it to African coast in boat (Times of India, India), Memory of Zayed donated to Abu Dhabi's planned maritime museum (AME Info press release, United Arab Emirates), VIPs soar to new heights (Scoop, NZ), Grainger and Bishop enjoy winning return (Rachel Quarrell, Telegraph, UK), Boat that helped raise funds for cancer research on show (Gulf News, United Arab Emirates), Working out the rights and wrongs (halfway down, typical rowing machine mistakes, The Peninsula, Qatar), Falmouth rowing event is no April Fool's joke (This is Cornwall, UK), City engineer first Indian to cross ocean in paddle boat (The Tribune, India), Wal wants to be biggest winner (Adelaide Advertiser, Australia), MLC has great day with 15 finals victories (Geelong Advertiser, Australia), Web creates buzz for small theaters (NorthJersey.com, USA), UT's second varsity 8+ shines in scrimmage (Knoxville News Sentinel, USA), On golden pond (Toronto Sun and others, Canada), Eight push the boat out for RNLI (This is Devon, UK), Schools put their oars in for Head of the River (Sunshine Coast Daily, Australia), Grammar, Terrace share the honours (Sunshine Coast Daily, Australia), Row your boat (News.com, Australia), SLDC set to climb down over lake charges proposal (NW Evening Mail, UK), Free time: solid opposition to charging boat users (News & Star, UK), Shock jocks' legal battles hig Macquarie profit (News.com, Australia), It is an honour to be rowing for Oxford (Javno, Croatia), Veterans in vintage form (icCheshireOnline, UK). And CSTV's crew page has a pile of stories about US collegiate rowing, many with illustrations.

  Friday 16th March 2007

• A reminder that crews racing the Women's Head tomorrow (UK) can make donations of money they have raised to the Breast Cancer Haven to be entered into the prize draw for a Rowperfect erg and a set of Magik oarlocks. There is a Justgiving donations page or crews can set up their own: a number have links from the BCH donors page, of which the top rowing fundraisers are Reading RC.
• Results from the junior sculling head (UK) on Mikrotime.
• And provisional results from yesterday's Tideway Schools' Head (UK) also up.
• Wallingford Regatta (UK, 6th May) is now accepting entries solely via OARA. Entries close on Wednesday 25th April but the regatta is very likely to be oversubscribed well before that, so later entries, even before that date, cannot be guaranteed. More information on the link above.
• A coxing conference is being held in Warwick on Sunday April 22nd (UK) - more or less a repeat of one held a couple of years ago. See this webpage for more details, plus the downloadable poster and reservation form in both PDF and Word formats. The same page will be used for future updates. Closing date 13th April.
• A preview of the Women's Head on a private blog (UK).
• Over the 26th-28th May Bank Holiday weekend (UK) a charity rowing event is being held, from the Isle of Man to Walney Island in aid of St Mary's Hospice. The trip has not been done by rowing boat before. More details on the link.
• Rowing newslinks: Tomkins ignites spark at Australian Rowing Championships (WorldRowing, FISA), Rowers left high and dry (Courier Mail, Australia), Calvin's our top sportsman (Wanganui Chronicle, NZ), Fish & Game paddles up the wrong creek (Concord Monitor, USA), Two Strokes boats row to victory (Contra Costa Times, USA), A university is accused of hushing up a murder (Chronicle of Higher Education, USA, requires registration), Sports day boosts celebrations (Oxford Mail, UK), Rowing season set to begin (Bellingham Herald, USA), Ice, broken rudder fail to sink Belle East (Village Soup Belfast, USA), Oarsome McRae (Murray Valley Standard, Australia), Regatta time! (Metro Spirit, USA), Bionic woman pulling in the right direction for Beijing (The Times, UK), Lady Vol rowing team gets top 10 ranking (WBIR-TV, USA), O'Shaughnessy part of big rowing rivalry (Brockville Recorder and Times, Canada), MRC rowers sail through erg championships (Norwalk Citizen, USA), Jolly boating venue (Leigh Today, UK), Girls are among medals (icCheshire Online, UK), Candlelight vigil planned to remember Dickinson (Ann Arbor News, USA), Rowers shatter records, prep for season (Murray State News, USA), Andalucia competition winner (NEC Harlequins, UK, glad to see our Olympic medallists being worked hard while on training camp in Seville), Pair hot hopes for world games (Evesham Journal, UK), Student critical after being crushed by tree in Hamilton (actually a brief note of a crew capsized during high winds, about halfway down the piece: Stuff, NZ), Lifeboats prepared to deal with high tide (Wimbledon Guardian, UK), Hereford kayakers take on world's best in New Zealand (Hereford Times reporting on Crackers' Coast to Coast race, UK), Solo rower (Sky News, Australia), Dutch man sets out to row across Pacific from Peru to Australia (International Herald Tribune), HVGS rowers put on splendid show at Penrith (Maitland Mercury, Australia), 2007 Two Cities boat race announced (Manchester.com, UK), James sees winter out in style (Hunts Post, UK), River chance (Belfast Telegraph, Northern Ireland).

  Thursday 15th March 2007

• The draw for Hammersmith Head (UK) is online.
• The poster for Ponteland Junior Head (UK is up in Word format.
• FISA have announced the juries for 2007, including the 2007 World Cups, Pan-Am Games, African qualifying event, Under-23 championships, 2007 juniors, 2007 worlds, 2007 masters, European and coastal championships, and the 2008 Olympics and Paralympics. The file is in PDF format.

  Wednesday 14th March 2007

• Results of the Scottish Schools' Head (Scotland, UK) in PDF format. The course was shortened.
• Results from Runcorn Spring Eights (Word format, UK).
• City of Bristol Head results (UK, also available in Excel).
• Various coaching openings being advertised on the ARA (UK): places on the Henley Stewards' Trust scholarship programme (closing date 31st May); two community sports coaches at London Youth Rowing (closing date 29th March with interviews on 3rd April); and the deadline for the sports competition managers for the Olympics in 2012 has been extended to 30th March.
• The date for the 154th Boat Race (UK) has been announced as Saturday 29th March 2008, at 17:15. It's an odd year - Olympics so it suits everyone to have an early schedule, while Easter is playing ball by being Sunday 23rd March, very early. The Head of the River Race will be on Saturday 15th March 2008, so there's no clash there.
• The reservation deadline for the Schuylkill Navy Banquet (March 24th, USA) is today - forms applying for tickets need to be put in the mail and postmarked today at the latest in order to be successful.
• Law firm Ashurst has just agreed to sponsor the new national indoor junior champs (UK), and will help large groups and those far away with a cash advance to support their travel costs. Talk to London Youth Rowing directly for details if you are entering and might be eligible.
• In April and May, in Henley (UK), OUBC coach Derek Clark is holding a 'mind-body mastery' training course, said to help coaches get better results. There's a 35% early booking discount for anyone who pays in full before 30th March. Full details on his commercial website.
• Rowing press links - By McGeorge, she's got it (Daily Post, NZ, which along the way gives some interesting insights into how the NZL squad train), Shore eight leaves wake (North Shore Times, Australia), Pambula A crew named branch champions (Merimbula News Weekly, Australia), An oarsome nationals (Orange Central Western Daily, Australia), Eastern Bay secondary schools row to victory at North Island Champs (1XX Whakatane, NZ), Coast snares GPS Boys regatta series (Sunshine Coast Daily, Australia), Manchester v Salford... locking oars for 36 years (University of Manchester press release, UK), Army proves big pull at Braehead (Paisley Daily Express, UK), Dark Blues taking science on board (Oxford Mail, UK), Yea for yoga (Fort Wayne News Sentinel, USA, and it is about rowing), Bewl Bridge rowers set (This is Kent, UK), Extreme line-up unveiled for Watergate Bay (This is Cornwall, UK), Geelong College rower in a class of her own (Geelong Advertiser, Australia).

  Tuesday 13th March 2007

• Tonight at Molesey Boat Club (UK), Becoming a Champion, a talk by Olympic champions Greg and Jonny Searle (link is to a JPG poster on the Gorilla's Nest website). Bargain price - two HRR Stewards for a fiver, and free pizza thrown in.
• The Xpress BC trailer (UK) was stolen from outside the Cambridge Racing Shells unit in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, on the afternoon of 11th March along with a CRS 4+ and 8+ which were tied on to it at the time (see picture). If anyone should hear or see anything in connection with this could they please email one of Richard Funnell (Xpress), J Martin or Gunther at CRS Rowing.
• A new online magazine called the Rowing Voice (UK), first issue out today. When you get to the download page, it's in PDF format and about 7.2 MB in size.
• Draw for the Yorkshire Head (UK, PDF format) is up.
• FISA have chosen the shortlist for the Thomas Keller medal: Rob Waddell (NZL), Mike McKay (Australia), Katrin Rutschow-Stomporowski (Germany), Constantina Burcica (Romania) and Jean-Christophe Rolland (France). Slightly oddly describing it as 'the Thomi' (are they going for the cute personalised factor, a la Grammy, Emmy and Oscar?), they announce that the decision will be made public in July for presentation of the medal at the Lucerne World Cup.
• Details of the Tayforth Boat Race between the universities of Stirling and Dundee (Scotland, UK). The date has now been finalised as 25th March, over a winding 3km course for which the start and finish lines are just 5 minutes walk apart, I hear.
• Jesus College Cambridge (UK) are looking for a new coach/boatman. Deadline for applications is Wednesday 18th April.
• The fourth British Universities Rowing newsletter of the year is out (UK, Word format) - details of QUEST2012 funded by TASS to find female rowers, race reports etc. The entry information for the BUSA Regatta in May is also online (Word format).
• Crew lists for the Henley Boat Races (UK, 1st April) are online. However, there is one mistake: Nephthys will be rowing over at 1:30pm - their private match against an alumni crew will take place earlier in the day.
• Oxford University Women's Lightweights (UK) are asking old members of their club to contact them to update their archives. See link for details.
• Boat Race Challenge press - Pole realises dream for Oxford (Rachel Quarrell's much-mangled piece in the Daily Telegraph, UK), Multinational forces set to cross swords in the Boat Race (Chris Dodd, Independent, UK), Olympic lure leads to record foreign influx (John Goodbody and Mike Rosewell, The Times, UK), Stray dolphin signals the return of student japes (Patrick Kidd, The Times, UK, though the Cambridge rowers told me yesterday they'd named the dolphin 'Kosmo' after his donor), Oxford call up Pole star (Oxford Mail, UK), Brits lose out in Boat Race (This is London, UK), Brodie maps out role with Dark Blues (Sporting Life, UK), Oxford plot Boat Race victory (Sporting Life, UK), 2007 Boat Race crews announced (Row2k, USA), James to stick with five Blues (Cambridge Evening News, UK), West returns for Cambridge (Martin Cross, Guardian, the first person to define Cambridge as the favourites - despite much comment from the coaches and Presidents, nobody other than the Boat Race press office has really marked their cards.)
• Other rowing headlines - Prince Albert joins own rowing challenge (WorldRowing, FISA), Rowing for life (Fortnightly Tenerife News, Spain), Thousands walk across dried Lake Wendouree (ABC Regional Online, Australia), Hell, high water and a spot of Jaws (Fortnightly Tenerife News, Spain), Rowing men take silver in capital championships (News Shopper, UK), Phoenix rowers shine in the USA heat (News Shopper, UK), Collegiate rowers race up and down Hillsborough River (Tampa Bay's 10, USA), Estropadak - fixed thwart rowing boat races (EiTB, Spain), Traveling to the entrepreneurial promised land (Technician Online, USA), Army invites comment on rowing club (Connecticut Post, USA), Olympic dream on course (Warrnambool Standard, Australia), Trautvetter emulates Twigg (Hawke's Bay Today, New Zealand), Bay rower makes elite eight (MyTown Bay of Plenty, NZ), Rowed to Wigan Pier (Wigan Observer, UK), Christchurch Games group lobbies MPs (The Press, NZ), 5000 cross Ballarat's lake before water returns (The Age, Australia), Row, row, row your boat across Atlantic (the Norwich Evening News gets all original on the headline front, UK), Wanganui rowing coach lands plum role (Wanganui Chronicle, USA), Alabama rowing races Bucknell in spring opener (Tuscaloosa News, USA), Rowers take silver (Waterfront Online, UK), Tomkins one of our best (ABC Online, Australia).

  Monday 12th March 2007

• Weybridge Veterans & Juniors Head (UK) has been cancelled due largely to the small number of entries but also the ongoing concerns about river conditions, with the Thames still very high and fast. All entry cheques will be destroyed, and the organisers hope to see competitors at either the Walton & Weybridge Regatta, the Weybridge Silver Sculls, or next year's Head.
• Start list for the Schools' Head, Tideway version (UK) on Thursday. Also available in Excel.
• The poster for Chester-le-Street Regatta (UK) is up on their new website - http://www.clsarc.org/.
• M4- world champion and national treasure (UK) Andrew Triggs-Hodge is circulating a petition to get the British government to make April 23rd, St. George's Day, the English saint's day, a public holiday. Apparently a minimum of 500,000 votes is needed to give the idea substance. Heaven only knows what Jurgen Grobler has planned for the boys in the way of St. George's Day training, but if you want to help Hodgey (and yourself) have a lie-in then visit this link and vote accordingly (link itself is not a vote).
• A new club beautifully located - Lakeland RC (UK). All very early days, but they hope to get on the water at Windermere in a few weeks time. Any club - whether north-west England or not - who would like to go for an inaugural row with them in April should email the club, as should prospective members.
• Boat Racery - ITV name Boat Race presenter, Oxford race twice against the Americans, winning the second comfortably (UK). The formal Challenge is being held this morning at Winchester House, Putney.
• Rowing in the news - Salem's loss proves crucial as Blues slip (Cambridge cox Russ Glenn in the Cambridge Evening News, UK. For those who like omens, OUBC cox Colin Moynihan lost his boxing Varsity fight many years ago, just before steering the Dark Blues to a Boat Race victory); Nyack rowers to benefit children with respiratory ailments (Remote Access, USA), Reticent chemical weapons crusader who changed the world (The Australian, Australia), Tomkins and Ginn rekindle glory days (AOC, Australia), Victoria reign supreme with King's Cup (AOC, Australia), Tomkins lifts for the Big V (Melbourne Herald Sun, Australia), Tom throws down gauntlet (icWales, UK), Clemson rower Fishel right at home in pond (Aiken Standard, USA), Vics' dominance continues (The Age, Australia), Augusta among top training sites (Augusta Chronicle, USA).

  Friday 9th March 2007

• Late update (UK): - The Scullery Head has changed venue to Dorney Lake - details here (Word format).
• The start order for the (men's) Head of the River (UK) is out. Cambridge's Blue Boat starts at number 11, just behind the Oxford Brookes top boat, though slightly oddly I can find no mention of Goldie, either under their own name or the CUBC one, and they were apparently going to enter.
• The provisional draw for Runcorn Spring Eights Head (UK, Word format).
• As spotted by RSR readers - Instructional Rowing Video, aka Lower Merion High School, an erg instruction leaflet, a Concept 2 and a dozen glowsticks. Play on his-res with the sound on to see if you agree with their technique, though your ears may fall off with sheer boredom.
• Oarsport (UK) are now offering free flights to the USA and Europe, and golf/hotel/theatre breaks, for online orders of ten or more sweep oars, or four or more pairs of sculls. More details on the Oarsport special offers page.
• Fanatic Sport & Leisure (UK) have become the sole UK agent for clothing and products from Canadian company RegattaSport. The deal includes the dragon-boating lines as well as the rowing clothing.
• Sports drink TAUT are sponsoring a 'Taut 100' initiative to pick out talented young athletes, and the latest (February) winner is 16-year-old Maidenhead rower Phil Clapp, who won the recent GB junior trials. Matt Pinsent is one of the judging panel, though they've been admirably even-handed in their choices between sports so far.
• Coming up on the distant horizon - the River and Rowing Musuem (UK) is hosting a talk by Mike Spracklen, current Canadian and former GB and US coach, on Saturday 8th September 2007. Then on Saturday 20th October 2007, the RRM is hosting a Rowing History Forum with a variety of subjects, with a reception and dinner. More details on both events coming later on the RRM website.
• Rowing headlines: Trimming down to beef up chances (Hawke's Bay Today, NZ), Chicago's Olympic bid 2016 (Chicago Business, USA, full story here), Wilson crashes onto elite rowing scene (Half Moon Bay Review and Pescadero Pebble, USA), Harried rower may 'desert' Orissa (Statesman, India), Veteran back in eight for Munich return (New Zealand Herald, NZ), Investigations continue (Eastern Echo, USA), Kent students float Medway boat race (Guardian, UK), Bailey adds fifth title at worlds (Worcester News, UK), Two Southlanders named in squad (Southland Times, NZ), Hellstrom back in black (Marlborough Express, NZ), Tomkins, Drew savour runaway heat win (Melbourne Herald Sun, Australia), Kent universities set up rival boat race (Boats and Outboards, UK), Regatta to turn Leigh into Henley (Manchester Evening News, UK), Pinsent backs Clapp to star at 2012 Olympics (Maidenhead Advertiser, UK), Record breakers have got bottle! (Ely Standard, UK), New Zealand first to select rowing squad (WorldRowing, FISA), UVic rowers in fine form (Victoria Times Colonist, Canada).

  Thursday 8th March 2007

• Very sad news (UK): - former rower David 'DJ' Jones, from Henley, died last Friday in a car accident. I picked it up because of this article in the Oxford Mail, which mentions his time as a GB junior and winning the Fawley at Henley Royal Regatta, while a schoolboy at Windsor Boys' in the early 1990s.
• And in the same vein, missed at the end of February (UK), former Newcastle RGS and NUBC cox Nick Scott died on 23rd January. A short profile on the NE Rowing news page. Friends who had not heard may like to know that a Justgiving page has been set up in his memory, to donate to Oxfam. The original target of £3000 has been more than doubled, and the family are now looking for a good project. The page stays open until 28th March. Comments from donors at the foot of the page.
• Men's eight named for rowing worlds - and the rest of the team (Stuff, NZ). Official press release here (Rowing NZ). Is New Zealand the first nation to confirm its team for the summer? Certainly the first big nation. Under-23s also included. It will surprise nobody who watched his antics at the recent NZ championships that Nathan Cohen has made it into the Kiwis' M2x with his crewmate Matt Trott. The Evers-Swindell twins have been split into different crews - no, just kidding, they're still in the women's double, and all the other 2005 champions remain in the same boats. Made you look, though.
• One American state has just passed a regulation requiring rowers who are out without a coach between the start of October and end of May, to wear a personal flotation device. Connecticut to require PFD for winter rowing (Row2k, USA).
• A follow-up to yesterday's news about the Boat Race being shown live in the USA. Apparently ESPN classic (US cable channel which may be available in other countries) is showing ten Boat Races back to back on 7th April, and have been interviewing old Blues so it could be quite an interesting show. This may be something to do with the fact that it is 20 years since the Boat Race Mutiny - get ready for more special features nearer the race.
• Jurgen Grobler receives honorary OBE from Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell (Media Newswire press release, UK).
• Steve Gunn is speaking about GB rowing technique and coaching (UK) on Tuesday 27th March at 8pm in the Russell Hotel, Maidstone. Details here from the ARA.
• Rowing news: A new vision (Texas Sports, USA, about a club for visually impaired rowers), Gattinoni wins Italian sculling challenge (WorldRowing, FISA), Notable athletes involved in organ donation (Sports news gets grizly, USA), Athletes air concerns to UC (Harvard Crimson, USA), Number of female coaches lagging (Globe and Mail, Canada), Ocean-crossing rowboat on display at MOSI (Bradenton Herald, USA), Kiwi eight off to Munich (TVNZ, NZ), Tomkins back in the boat with Ginn (ABC Online, Australia), USOC committee impressed, but questions loom (Chicago Tribune, USA), Robbins' rowing bid (Sky News Australia, Australia), Mild winter, but rivers are still frozen (Tiraspol Times, Moldova), Big pay-off (Warrnambool Standard, Australia), Leading women in Turkish sports (Today's Zaman, Turkey).
• Very old news from November - Bronze medal-winning Olympic rower, coach dies (ESPN, USA - Matthew Fillip 'Fil' Leanderson).

  Wednesday 7th March 2007

• UK message from Reading University BC: "It is with great regret that we have had to cancel this year's Reading University Head of the River due to the unsafe river conditions. We have not banked any of the entry fees and all the cheques will be destroyed - so full refund of entry fees. It was a record entry and we hope that the weather is kinder to us for next year's race on 23rd February 2008. The website will be updated tomorrow."
• Along similar lines, the organisers of the National Junior Sculling Head (UK) are considering a move to a different venue, possibly the Royal Docks (long enough) or Dorney Lake (shorter but more accessible especially during weekdays). They promise an update on the official website by the afternoon of Friday 9th March.
• Pictures from the Boustead Cup (UK) are now online. Bigger copies available from the owner if needed.
• The men's Boat Race (UK) is unusually active this year. They're going all modern-technology with the introduction of a texting service - receive crew lists and updates straight to your mobile, if you want them. The same link includes a text-in competition (at the hefty fee of £1.50 plus network charges) if you fancy winning a seat in one of the flotilla launches on Boat Race Day. (Hint - ask which launch: some of them aren't close enough to see much of the action...)
• Not content with one news story a day, the Boat Race has also announced a new deal to show the Race live on US TV on 7th April: the first time this has happened. The race has been shown taped before, usually in late April or May, but not live. The network is ESPNU, a 24-hour college sports channel, and may be part of some premium sports packages.
• From way back in January, results of the Maidstone Invicta Small Boats Head (UK).
• Ruth Hatton is coordinating the Thames Downriver team for the Junior Inter-Regional Regatta (UK) later this year. She has written to all the junior squads and schools in the region this week asking for confirmation of which crews are being suggested from which clubs, by Friday 9th March. If you're in the region and haven't had the email, or it might have gone to the wrong person, contact Ruth directly. Note that LEH, SPS boys, Hampton, Westminster and St George's have already confirmed to her that they're not going.
• Missed on Monday, Germany's best taken to the limit by Cambridge (Mike Rosewell, The Times, UK). More sport headlines featuring rowing: Cambridge's multi-sport Californian dreaming of double Blue (The Times, UK), Crews fly the flag for Teeside (icNewcastle, UK), Canoe believe it? (Bedford Today, UK), Fundraisers are helping hospice (icCheshire Online, UK), Ginn, Free leave Tomkins in distance (The Australian, Australia), Back on dry land (Gazette and Herald, UK), New faces on way for Rowing NZ (Newstalk ZB, NZ), Ginn, Free take out coxless pairs crown (Radio Australia, Australia), South Islands a huge learning curve (Ashburton Guardian, NZ), On the row again (State Hornet, USA), Medaris claims rowing world championship (Blue Mountains Gazette, Australia), Ginn and Free triumph, Tomkins a puffed fourth (the AOC being mean, if accurate, in Australia), Crew team raises funds with 'Erg-a-thon' (UDaily, USA), College rowers get among medals (Marlborough Express, NZ), Isle of Mam (NW Evening Mail, UK), Rowing runs aground as union funding dries up (The Australian, Australia), Changing sports midstream (The Age, Australia).
• A quick note that CSTV Sport (USA) is now carrying a lot more rowing this year, mostly US collegiate press releases. May be worth a regular check by those interested or who don't want to visit Row2k - as a matter of policy I don't generally duplicate and carry the morass of US student rowing coverage, since Ed does a more than good job for the addicts.

  Tuesday 6th March 2007

• The draw for Reading University Head (UK) is online. With the Thames still in full flood, the decision over whether or not it will go ahead will be taken some time on Wednesday.
• From FISA, Cambridge steps towards Boat Race. There's also a report on the official Boat Race site (UK).
• The Women's Eights Head draw (UK) is online.
• More results from the Australian national championships (Australia), including a preview of the M2- final (Ginn & Free vs Tomkins & Conrad). Tomkins' quote of the day - "Let me tell you, when I line up against Ginn there's going to be fireworks".
• Results of the South Africa national championships held last weekend (RSA).
• I missed the news that Dick Offer, former Kingston RC president and patriarch of a rowing family, died recently. There's a good obituary in the Surrey Comet (UK).
• During a thread on the rec.sport.rowing newsgroup, one writer posted a very useful summary of the process of sealing currently open compartments: what it cost, how the club did it, how long it took and pitfalls. Handy stuff.
• Don't make excuses - make it happen!, a review of former rower Mark Pollock's book 'Making It Happen' in the Irish press.
• On the ARA website (UK), a notice about the change to coaching awards, details of Clubmark accreditation, details of a British Waterways meeting at Gloucester on 16th April and an ARA website survey which is offering a copy of the "Rowing Faster" book as draw prize for those who respond. Shame the website editor thinks it's been written by 'Volker Molte' (it is, of course, the legendary Volker Nolte.)
• Rowing in the news: Bears poised to add to their history of winning (Daily Californian, USA), Kanav selected for national rowing camp (Chandigarh Newsline, India), Quest for gold worth P250m (a brief mention in the Manila Standard Today, Philippines), Beltz rows to national title success (ABC Regional Online, Australia), VP: No cover-up in EMU death (Detroit News, USA), Surf boat crew has wild ride (Daily Mercury, Australia), Good sports come out of sports camp (a mention of Camp Argo in the Toronto Town Crier, Canada), Successes from Oxford Brookes (Oxford Times, UK), Trinity rule the roost in Lents (Cambridge Evening News, UK), Robbins takes first step in long road back (The Age, Australia), World champs are just too strong (icWales, UK), Village people in rowing marathon (Blackpool Today, UK), Seafront site in front of Rooke will make way for urban development (Panorama, UK), St. Augustine, Eustace capture rowing crowns (Cherry Hill Courier Post, USA), Ryde RC in line for top award (Isle of Wight County Press, UK), Strong winds force national rowing champs delay (ABC, Australia), Hist-oar-ymakers (Gisborne Herald, NZ), Lakeside rower's ability might carry him to China (Augusta Chronicle, USA), Clapp the February winner (Sky Sports, UK), Strike up the bands for multi-layered Springfest (Limerick Post, Ireland), Ex-Navy hero joins adventure crew to smash rowing record (Edinburgh Evening News, Scotland), Trouble on the docks (Beaver County Times, USA), Molesey Boat Club has big plans (Esher News & Mail, UK), Young rower makes Picton proud (Marlborough Express, NZ), Rowing's golden girl left in the lurch (Hindu, India), Atlantic rowing dream is shattered by cruel weather (Exmouth Herald, UK), Rowing club wins outdoor licence (Vancouver Province, Canada), Club of the year wins 16 Head of the Mersey races (Northwich Guardian, UK), Federal govt grants 47 million to facilities for the Pan Am Games (People's Daily, China, but about a news story in Rio de Janeiro), Boxing cox aims to deal double blow (Telegraph, UK), Tough conditions at 'Bridge rowing regatta (Murray Valley Standard, Australia), UP rowers in an upbeat mood (Lucknow Newsline, India), Oar-some (Royston Crow, UK), Indoor rower Brian, 61, wins world crown (This is Gloucestershire, UK), Harvard rowers grow bigger, better hearts (Harvard Gazette, USA), Mayors get set for towns challenge (Beccles & Bungay Journal, UK), Internet campaign (North-West Evening Mail, UK), Young rower has the Wright stuff (Marlborough Express, NZ), Sports Ministry takes Orissa rowing queen for a ride (Kalinga Times, India), UK Sport under fire over drug-test policy (The Times, UK), Women second and third at Worcester Head (Hereford Today, UK).
• Spotted in Explorers' Web, which keeps an eye on ocean rows: "Ocean rowers banned from Canary islands? The Ocean rowing community is increasingly concerned about recent actions by Spanish authorities, apparently banning some rowing boats from departing the Canary Islands on Atlantic crossings, under unclear allegations. Victor Gavrishev, from Kyrgyzstan, had to abort his attempt to row from La Gomera to Antigua after two confrontations with Spanish maritime authorities. Now he plans to take his case all the way to the European court. "
• Taking place on Sunday at the Vale Farm Sports Centre in Wembley, the indoor rowing trials for the London Youth Games (UK): children from school years 11 and under (years not age, note) can contact Paul Coates on 020-8424-1069 or by email via paul.coates@harrow.gov.uk. Full details on the Games on the link above.

  Monday 5th March 2007

• The Australian National Championships (Australia) are happening this week on Nagambie Lakes, Victoria, but are suffering a bit from extreme weather. Results, reports and pictures on the link above.
• The ARA's list of suspended clubs (UK) is still being updated bit by bit as forms are found, audits submitted or resubmitted, apologies made on whichever side, etc. Those not crossed out are however not able to race, and are almost certainly rowing uninsured at the moment, so should take action.
• For those who wish to go to Alan Watson's funeral in Norwich on Thursday and are living in London or en route between the two (UK), see this link for a possible minibus hire option.
• First and Third Trinity (Cambridge, UK) rather appropriately has full bumps tables for the Cambridge Lent Bumps in diagrammatic format (see foot of page for tables) as well as joyous descriptions from members and alumni of how they achieved their double headship last week.
• Results from the Tyne Head (UK) on Saturday.
• Results and second division pictures from the Aberdeen Eights Head on Saturday (Scotland).
• Results of the Northern Region JIRR assessment (UK, Excel format) are online.
• Details and entry forms for Strathclyde Park Regatta (Scotland) are now on the Scottish Rowing news page - see right-hand links box.
• Birmingham Regatta (UK, 28th April) is open for entries: it's a primary regatta with all events non-qualifying, so winners don't have to see their points total rise.
• A Melboure Australia oarswoman is travelling in Costa Rica, Honduras, Guatemala, Mexico, Cuba, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina and Chile (in that order) over the next 4 months, and would love to hear from any club able to give her a row while she's on her travels. She's in Costa Rica at the moment. Contacts from those countries who can help should email Emily Considine directly.
• The poster for Gloucester Head (UK, 18th March, poster PDF format). Entries close on 11th March and the race is on still water, not a river, and apparently never cancelled due to flooding.

  Friday 2nd March 2007

• Weybridge Veterans & Juniors Head (UK, 18th March) is open for business, with reduced fees this year. Closing date Sunday 11th March at noon.
• Photos of Clyd/Clydesdale RC members racing in Spain at the Internacional De Remo do Ribeiro in Galicia.
• Burway Head (UK) cancelled due to high stream.
• From the Cambridge Evening News, FAT catch Caius to unlock Head chance.

  Thursday 1st March 2007

• Important UK: - At some point yesterday afternoon a list of clubs suspended from the ARA (UK) due to lack of submission of a safety audit was published on the ARA website. It may be necessary for some who think they have submitted the audit and should not be on the list, to prove so. This may affect entries for all the upcoming Heads including those on the Tideway. Only a very small handful of clubs in the Thames region are in this situation (the TRRC section of the page is currently marked 'tba'). Those listed and planning to race this weekend or soon are advised to get it sorted out immediately.
• Crews in the UK are reminded that the domestic closing date for the men's Head of the River (UK) is 5pm on Friday 2nd March (tomorrow). This is a change from the previous date of a Saturday evening, so your entries need to be in before the cut-off to be valid. Entries are via OARA only, see HORR website for other information.
• Cambridge spring preparation surprise from the Boat Race (UK).
• Portora Royal School (Northern Ireland) are recruiting seven new teachers for the 2007-8 academic year, and would like some of them to be able to contribute to coaching rowing. See the full advertisement here (MS Word format). Closing date for applications is Tuesday 13th March 2007.
• Since one of the rowing members of staff at Canford School (UK) is moving on, they are looking for a new biology teacher, preferably one who can also coach rowing to J15/J16 boys and girls. Contact Ian Dryden for more about the rowing side, and the biology side of the post will go up on the school website at some point.
• RowTV (UK) has produced a DVD called "The Road to Henley: Thames Challenge Cup", with clips of all the 2006 races, presentation, and a full race from 2004 shot from the umpire's launch.
• Cambridge Rowing Shells (UK, mentioned in November) have an alternative address at www.advantagebydesign.co.uk.
• Rowing in the news: NZ nationals tough for Drysdale (WorldRowing, FISA), Spring menu catering to area schools' tastes (TCPalm, Florida), Athletes of all ages hooked on rowing (Tallahassee Democrat, USA), Brian's on top of the world as he breaks record (Swindon Advertiser, UK), Bad weather ends Dom's dream (Exmouth Journal, UK), Olympic hopes (Warrnambool Standard, Australia), Sir Steve calls for budget solution (This is London, UK), St Neot's duo achieve GB progress (Hunts Post, UK), Will the water be unnaturally blue? (Fort Worth Weekly, USA), Funding boost for top Irish athletes (Irish Examiner, Ireland), European dreams to fuel brothers at championships (Southland Times, NZ), Erne Head celebrates 50 (Fermanagh Herald, Northern Ireland), Oarsome defection (last item, The Australian, Australia), Georgia, Georgia Tech ready to showcase crew skills (Gwinnett Daily Post, USA), Rowbike: this looks like fun (Fit Sugar, USA), Women second and third at Worcester Head (Hereford Times, UK).
• Mentioned in this letter from the Marblehead Reporter (USA), a compulsory rowing test as part of a PE course....