Archive News from March 2008

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

There is a full Rowing Service archive index online.

Monday 31st March 2008

Former St Hugh's College Oxford rower Anthony Taylor (UK) has just finished rowing the Atlantic solo despite a capsize, several tanker near-misses, whale visits and the odd lost oar. Scary diary entries on the link, promises his sister.
Boat Race headlines - Heavy hitters help Oxford find rhythm in the nick of time (Chris Dodd, Independent), Prime of Nick Brodie urges Oxford to Boat Race victory (Patrick Kidd, The Times), Oxford coach delighted with success of plan (John Goodbody, Sunday Times), The Boat Race is a rite of spring that fascinates through its ageless virtues (Matt Dickinson, The Times), Change of course (Martin Cross, Guardian - this is a drastic oversimplification, more on this later), Cox turns complete circle and makes Oxford into home bankers (Paul Weaver, Guardian), Odds stack up to defy brave Cambridge (James Cracknell, Telegraph), Shouting match brings out the best in Oxford (RQ, Telegraph), Oxford's third win in five years (WorldRowing, FISA), Nick is head over heels (This is Wiltshire, UK), Bow-ing out at hte top (Swindon Advertiser, UK), When the way forwards is to go backwards (Daily Mail, UK), Scott is proud of Light Blues despite defeat (Worcester News, UK), Brodie toasts sweet success (Oxford Mail, UK).
Other rowing news - Six York soldiers stage charity rowing marathon (York Press, UK), Grab the Olympic dream says Archibald (Coleraine Today, UK), Retrial to begin in EMU death (DetNews, USA), Local after world title (Mudgeee Guardian and Gulgong Advertiser, Australia), Rowing in uncharted waters (Delaware News Journal, USA), Rowed trip - Colin & Julie Angus' Scotland to Syria journey (Los Angeles Times, USA), German athletes explore Olympic protest options (syndicated), Ready oar not (Annapolis Capital, USA), Fundraiser has international flair (PhillyBurbs, USA).
Sunday 30th March 2008
Boat Race headlines - Oxford win 154th University Boat Race (the Observer's wire news story: annoyingly there is no sign of Dan Topolski's piece online), Oxford power to Boat Race victory (Martin Gough & Sam Lyon, BBC), Oxford tops Cambridge in annual boat race (Ottawa Citizen, Canada), Brodie tastes success at last (This is Wiltshire, UK), Oxford power to victory over Cambridge in 2008 Boat Race (In The News, UK), Oxford make size count (The Times, UK - may be hard to load as their server has been over-busy for most of today), Row rage wins day for Oxford (RQ, Sunday Telegraph, UK), no visible article online from the Independent's Chris Dodd, though he did file one, Favourite battles wind to win (Press Association, UK), Oxford triumph in the Boat Race (Sporting Life, UK), Boat Race victory for Oxford (ITN News, UK), Oxford win Boat Race (BBC News, UK), Cambridge water torture as Oxford cruise to victory (Peter Higgs, Mail on Sunday, UK), Boat Race provides tide of emotion (Martin Gough, BBC, UK), Brodie banking on retirement (Sporting Life, UK). And the official race report.
ITV (UK) have watch the Boat Race again on their TV replay website - you may need to install an extra application to help your browser load the video footage.
From yesterday, Boat Race latest (The Spoof satire piece, UK), Dead-heat punt is a sure way to sink (David McGovern, The Mirror, UK).
- the Russian rowing federation has elected Leonid Drachevsky as its new president, unanimously, and sacked 16 members of staff and coaches, in its attempt to get FISA to allow its crews to compete in Beijing. Former rower Drachevsky has been FISA vice-president, was the first vice-president of FISU, was for two years Russia's ambassador to Poland, and headed up the working party which held the elections. There is a more detailed profile here.
The Tideway Slug has linked up a YouTube clip of the rowing Maltesers advert from 1981. See the Slug explanation for background detail. However, the other YouTube clip mentioned has been removed by the posting user.
In other news, Fighting back (Guardian, UK) has a story about Mark Pollock, former TCD oarsman, Jacks take home regatta by storm (Times-Standard, USA), A 'stroke' of genius (Eureka Reporter, USA), Spending doesn't add up at St Mary's College (Washington Post, USA), Athletics competes for a bigger share of corporate life (News OK, USA), Letter: Rowing club explains (Hudson Star Observer, UK), North Wales rower ready for Beijing Olympics (Daily Post, UK), For rowing's stars, a hall of their own (New York Times, USA), plus lots of college sport stories on CSTV (USA). Generally I don't link squad-generated college PR stories as there are so many of them at this time of year. Also see Row2k for the latest US college news.
Saturday 29th March 2008
Late update - results. Oxford won the 154th Boat Race by 6 lengths on a slack tide, the slowest since 1947. Details: Milepost Oxford 4min 09sec, Cambridge 4-10; Hammersmith Bridge Cambridge 7-34, Oxford 7-35; Chiswick Steps Oxford 12-16.5, Cambridge 12-19.5; Barnes Bridge Oxford 17-14, Cambridge 17-30; finish Oxford 20-53, Cambridge 21-15. Isis won the reserves race by 3.5 lengths half an hour earlier. Reserves details: Milepost Goldie 4-09, Isis 4-10; Hammersmith Bridge Isis 7-32, Goldie 7-33; Chiswick Steps Isis 12-12, Goldie 12-17; Barnes Bridge Isis 17-12, Goldie 17-30; Finish Isis 20-43, Goldie 20-54.
Today's Boat Race headlines - Light Blues can ride white horses to victory (Chris Dodd, Independent, UK), Bookmakers experiencing sinking feeling (Patrick Kidd, The Times, UK), At 36, old man of the river gives fresh hope to ageing athletes (Robert Booth, Guardian, UK), Brodie can switch on the Oxford power and come to a watery end (Martin Cross, Guardian, UK), Mike Wherley out to destroy Cambridge (James Cracknell, Telegraph, UK), The race of their rowing lives (James Cracknell, Telegraph, UK), Boat Race marathon for Peter Drury on ITV too (Sarah Edworthy, Telegraph, UK), Choppy water means plain sailing for Oxford (Rachel Quarrell, Telegraph, UK), We're so proud of him, say rower's mother and father (Worcester News, UK), Rowers prepare for university boat race (Kent News, UK), Putney, Chiswick pair ready for Boat Race (Richmond and Twickenham Times, UK), Sinking fears for 154th Boat Race (BBC News, UK), Boat race rivals prepare to battle crosswind (Patrick Sawer, Telegraph, UK), Can Nick bow out in style? (Swindon Advertiser, UK), Light Blues seek patriotic support (Sporting Life, UK), If it's rough then the Dark Blues are ready (Alan Fraser, Daily Mail, UK).
Those able to watch TV do look at the ITV special - soon after the start of the programme (I've been told about 4:10pm) they do a segment on the 'Engelmann affair' which apparently includes Thorsten himself speaking publicly about it for the first time.
There will be a later update to the Rowing Voice, published yesterday - the results section is deliberately short at the moment so I will be reissuing with a complete set up to the end of March, probably Monday.
Friday 28th March 2008
Boat Race news - Monaghan slips into light blue boat with ease (Chris Dodd, Independent, UK), Preparations for the Boat Race (Guardian photo-essay, UK), Withdrawal of Shane O'Mara is forced by heart fears (Patrick Kidd, The Times, UK), More controversy at the Boat race (Rod Gilmour, Telegraph blog, UK), Telegraph TV: Cracknell's Boat Race (Telegraph video, UK), The lure of a Blue is academic (Rachel Quarrell, Telegraph, UK), Marvelling at mishaps of the Boat Race (In Sport blog, Telegraph, UK), 1978 Boat Race: the day my heart sank (Mark Bathurst, Telegraph, UK), Cambridge bid for Boat Race double (Channel 4 News, UK), Marsland thrives on Boat Race challenge (Wimbledon Guardian, UK), Boat Racers ready for rough water (Sporting Life, UK), Camera corps provides POV for Thames Boat Race (Broadcast Engineering, USA), Oxford the favourite for Boat Race, with weather the concern (International Herald Tribune, France), Oxford v Cambridge Boat Race: the betting (Jackpot, UK), Oxford wary of wounded Cambridge (Martin Gough, BBC, UK), Hope floats for Row Idol and the sunken Boat Race (Anorak satire, UK).
Other rowing headlines - Drysdale still unhappy with Rowing New Zealand (Radio New Zealand, NZ), Rowing trials at Rawal Lake (Associated Press, Pakistan), Rockford crew team starts season strong (Rockford Independent, UK), The unsinkable Kristina Macdonald (The Province, Canada), Racer rowers head south for Spring Break road trip (Murray State News, USA), Rowers aim to break record for charity (Chester Standard, UK), Romero's tale of two world titles (BBC, UK, typical of many headlines about Rebecca after her wchs win last night), Blenheim club stalwart gave top service to rowing (Marlborough Express, NZ), Record bid a test of mind and body (Waikato Times, NZ), London calling, money or no money (The Province, Canada), Artist rows with the punches (Vancouver Courier, Canada), Determined to make a splash (Vancouver Province, Canada).
Been tied up getting the latest Rowing Voice issue out (UK). More updates tomorrow.
Thursday 27th March 2008
Boat Race news - O'Mara misses out for Cambridge (Martin Cross, Guardian), Cambridge replaces Shane O'Mara with Ryan Monaghan in Boat Race crew (Chronicle Journal, Canada), Stroke of bad luck for American (Sporting Life, UK), Brodie's Boat Race warning (Gazette & Herald, UK), O'Mara withdraws from Cambridge team (Patrick Kidd, The Times, UK), Cambridge loses Shane O'Mara to illness (RQ, Telegraph). To those grunting about my heinous mistake under 2007 in the timeline (Cambridge were not the heaviest crew last year) and separating the 2003 events into two years, I can only plead mitigation that today's Telegraph Boat Race supplement, a big pull-out not online but published today, was put together between last Friday, when we got the final go-ahead, and Tuesday, and I was marshalling a huge mass of facts for it. - RQ
The Boat Race mobile competition (UK) is running again this year - text the word race to 80880 (standard network rate) and enter a prize draw for a ticket to watch the 2009 race from one of the following launches. Click link above for more.
Wallingford Regatta (4th May, Dorney, UK) is now open on OARA. Entries are due to close on Wednesday 23rd April but 100 entries were received in the first 48 hours so they may close earlier if full.
The poster for the Oxford City Bumping Races (26th April, UK) is now online, together with the 2007 results. The rules of racing and other information will be posted on the CORC events page later.
Westover and Bournemouth RC (UK) are looking for support as they plan a charity expedition to Morocco on the Tour de Fez.
An interview with Rebecca Romero in a cycling magazine where she describes GB Rowing as a bit like a dictatorship....
Other rowing headlines - Competitive rowing group proposes club site at park (Pittsburgh Post Gazette, USA), Boat subsidy keeps sports fee increases at bay (University Daily Kansan, USA), Cream of the crop honoured at annual gala (Western Gazette, Canada), Five-year reign for golden girl (Mosman Daily, Australia), Tomkins unhappy over 'unfair' suits (Daily Telegraph, Australia).
Wednesday 26th March 2008
BREAKING BOAT RACE NEWS: Shane O'Mara is ill, and the Cambridge coaches have been advised by the doctor that he will definitely not be well enough to row on Saturday. As a result Ryan Monaghan has been promoted from the stroke seat of Goldie to the Blue Boat, and provisionally will stroke, though they are having a shake-down outing tonight to see how the boat feels and work out if they need to make any other crew order changes. Spare Richard Stutt is moving up into Goldie.
Boat Race headlines (all UK unless otherwise shown): Weight of history behind Oxford (Martin Cross, Guardian), Cambridge make light of Boat Race weights (Patrick Kidd, The Times), Oxford prepared to pull weight amid choppy waters (Chris Dodd, Independent), Boat Race heading into stormy waters (Daily Express), Why I love the Boat Race (an excellent piece from Martin Gough, BBC), Stormy meeting expected in Boat Race (Sporting Life), When Britain's biggest brains go into battle (Sportingo, Israel), Boat Race betting (Betting Choice, UK), Weight factor favours Oxford (icWales), Oxford ponder weighty matters (RQ, Telegraph).
Could be interesting weather on Saturday for the Boat Race (UK) - the current forecasts are suggesting a strong southerly or southwesterly wind which will give trouble along Corney Reach again. Mind you, all forecasts have been changing rapidly the last two weeks so we'll need to wait a bit to see if it changes.
For full Boat Race (and Isis v Goldie) betting odds see Oddschecker (UK).
Other rowing news: Rowing team's boats capsize on East Fork Lake (WKRC TV, USA), High school rowing team capsizes on Harsha Lake (WCPO News, USA), You know that expression about being snakebit...? (San Diego Union Tribune, USA), Olympic-sized inspiration; champion rower encourages girls to find the right sport (Timmins Press, Canada), Local views sought on waterfront plan (Bunbury Mail, Australia), Battle for Head of the River (Bundaberg NewsMail, Australia), Steve Redgrave to carry flame despite protests (Telegraph, UK), Sound body, sound mind (a piece on Katherine Grainger not written by Mike Haggerty - shock!, Edinburgh Journal, UK), Greek rower Papas (sic) aims for first Olympics in Beijing (Xinhua, China), Several rescued from lake after boat capsize (WLWT, USA with a corrected headline), Super singles at rowing club (Evesham Journal, UK), Rower Fitzsimons in GB call-up (Hunts Post, UK), Pair prepare for charity row race (Redditch Advertiser, UK), Young rowing talent triumphs in Twizel (Nelson Mail, NZ), Kuwait's coaches conference (WorldRowing, FISA), Genazzano girls beat adversity (Progress Leader, Australia), NSRWA to sponsor kayak and rowing expo March 29 (Norwell Mariner, USA), Sam Williams wishes for early release (BYM News, Spain), Smoke on the water as team sets the pace (Dominion Post, NZ), Rowing trials at Rawal Lake on Thursday (Associated Press of Pakistan, Pakistan), Men's rowing to honor Robert M. Hick with boat naming (SU Athletics, USA).
Tuesday 25th March 2008
Sorry no update - was flat to the floor busy all day. Just Boat Race headlines from Tuesday's papers, then: Mike Wherley aims to make use of experience for Oxford (Patrick Kidd, The Times), Presidents forgo paddles in the Boat Race (RQ, Telegraph, UK).
Monday 24th March 2008
SportUK.TV has their special Henley Races coverage (UK) online now, and clips are also showing regularly on Setanta Sports News, a digital rolling sports news channel which is free-to-air. Should be available on Sky 435, Virgin 538, or online at the link above, but I'm pretty sure you need a Top-Up subscription to see it on Freeview. Mac users may find accessing the file online difficult - make sure you have a copy of the Windows Media Player application, then start it up ond open the URL http://play.www.setanta.servecast.net/setanta/uk/asx/SetantaSportsNews.asx to see the channel on your computer.
HBR results in full (Fawley times in brackets): Nephthys rowed over in 6:29 (3:43); OUWBC beat CUWBC by 1/2 length in 6:39 (3-45) to 6:40 (3:47); CUWLRC beat OUWLRC by 1/3 length in 7:01 (4:00) to 7:02 (4:01); Osiris beat Blondie easily in 7:09 (4:09) to 7:31 (4:22); OULRC beat CULRC by 2.5 lengths in 6-15 (3:32.5) to 6:24 (3:33). More information about the races Henley Boat Races website. Press links - Oxford hold off Cambridge challenge to give Shore the perfect send-off (Chris Dodd, Independent), Oxford women lead the way (The Times), Oxford win Francombe Cup (RQ, Telegraph).
Men's Boat Race headlines - Cambridge cox seeks more Boat Race success (Marcus Leroux, The Times, UK), Bowden's boys aim to turn the tide after bitter defeat (Dan Topolski, Observer, UK), Mike Wherley, oldest man to row in the Boat Race (John Goodbody, Sunday Times, UK), Holland defends annual row (Nick Townsend, Independent on Sunday, UK), The first, and only, dead heat (Herald, UK), Hitlist: epic boat races (The Times, UK), Oxon's new Blues are raring to go (Mike Rosewell, Oxford Mail, UK), Defender of the faith keeps Boat Race above water (Financial Times, UK), Caught in time (The Times, UK), Veteran Mike Wherley breaks Thames barrier (RQ, Sunday Telegraph, UK. Weirdly a sentence was inexplicably changed to make less sense. My original copy read: 'He cites the several world and Olympic champions rowing well into their late thirties.' [Mike and I had been talking about the likes of Tomkins, Lipa and Jaanson]. Go figure why it was altered.)
Hunting headlines, I discovered this - 'Another thing to fall', an excerpt from a new book by detective story writer Laura Lippman. I hadn't spotted the Tess Monaghan series, but it looks as if there are probably regular rowing mentions, since the heroine of the books is a sculler. Bet the author is too.
A website for Mason Designs (UK) who sell a lot of rowing jewellery.
The Art of Rowing (USA) is having a big sale, with money off many of their products.
(Posted Saturday) - Rowing Voice Vol 2 issue 2 coming soon. The copy deadline for the Rowing Voice approaches - the next issue will come out at the end of this week. Email us now with anything you want included.
- Features, race reports, entries for photograph of the month, obituaries or other announcements. See also the guidance notes on how to contribute or advertise.
Deadline 10pm Tuesday 25th March for all copy, though we may be able to arrange a slightly later deadline if we know for certain something specific is coming in..
Today's other rowing headlines - Rowing rivalry brewing as Red and Blue get better of St Joes (Daily Pennsylvanian, USA), Olympic memory: Roger Jackson (Vancouver Sun, Canada), Longboats an opportunity to row back in time (Times Colonist, Canada), Accardo joins Sonoma State crew team (Napa Valley Register, USA), Candrea finalist for top US Olympic coach (Tucson Citizen, USA, also shortlisted is Tom Terhaar), Rower 'goes green' across the Atlantic Ocean (SFCPressPoint press release, USA), Downtown Trillium grants announced (Bulletin, Canada), Matla'a and Qasimi prevail in heats (Gulf News, Dubai, about the skiff-like traditional rowing), Wisconsin helped develop Grand Canyon explorer (On Milwaukee, USA, about John Wesley Powell), UPS grad trades oars for pedals (News Tribune, USA, about Jordan Hanssen now cycling across Australia before trying more rowing challenges), De Manio's rowing pupils remember coach's discipline and impact (Sarasota Herald-Tribune, USA), Games playing (Toronto Sun, Canada, quoting Marnie McBean and Buffy Williams), Banner year ahead - high hopes surround Greenwich Crew teams (Greenwich Post, USA), It's me versus Rowing NZ - round three (Stuff, NZ), A Beijing boycott won't work (Lord Colin Moynihan in the Times, UK), St Augustine Prep crew hosts regatta on Lake Lenape today (Press of Atlantic City, USA), Plying the oars on Boggy Bayou (Northwest Florida Daily News, USA), Waddell gets to the heart of the matter (Waikato Times, NZ), Sun legend George Gross dies (Edmonton Sun, Canada), Rower to attempt world record (Bedford Today, UK), Rowing record kicked into touch (Ipswich Evening Star, UK), Rowers win permit extension (Marin Independent-Journal, USA), Crews can look forward to all-state regatta (Grosse Ile Camera, USA), Sewickley rowing group proposes club site at park (Pittsburgh Post Gazette, USA), Rowing title for college boy Jake (Exmouth Journal, UK), Beccles and Bungay Challenge underway (Beccles and Bungay Journal, UK), Busy day on the Dee (Chester Evening Leader, UK), Morpeth oarsman on the brink of glory (Morpeth Herald, UK), Double first in sight for Rebecca (Mail on Sunday).
Also a feature on former oarswoman Rebecca Romero - Rebecca Romero making cycling history (Telegraph).
Sunday 23rd March 2008
HENLEY BOAT RACES SCHEDULE SHUFFLE. Conditions at Henley are very good at the moment (morning) but the wind is set to swing round and become more northerly as the day goes on. As a result, the Women's Blue Boat race has been moved forward to 2pm, swapping with their reserves Blondie and Osiris, who will now race at 3pm, to give the Blues the best chance of good conditions. The lightweights have decided not to switch any of their races round, so the rest of the programme goes as planned.
And as posted last night, Lion Meadow in Henley has been cleared for parking tomorrow at the Henley Boat Races (UK) so spectators may park there as usual.
A new sports equipment site, Outdoor Athlete, has just launched (UK), the aim of which is to offer rowers the most up-to-date technology in sports clothing and training equipment, including ideas borrowed from other sports.
Saturday 22nd March 2008
Due to the filming of the Henley Boat Races this year (UK, see 20th March news item), a DVD of the races will be available to buy. Pre-orders can be made via Rock The Boat and the price will be �17.99 plus �2 p&p (may be more for overseas orders). Profits from the sales will all go to support the races, which are run on a very tight budget and tend to make a loss if the weather is bad and income from spectators is low.
Friday 21st March 2008
Due to the recent rain, there is a slight chance that some of the parking space for the Henley Boat Races (UK) on Sunday 23rd March will be fenced off to protect the grass. Spectators planning to come to the races should check again here for the latest information before leaving home (update either Saturday night or Sunday morning). Note that if you haven't been for a couple of years, there is parking in Lion Meadow and refreshments are now served throughout the afternoon at Remenham Farm, not at Remenham Club.
Following the cancellation of the East Midlands Junior Head (UK) last wekeend, the Lincoln Rowing Centre has decided to open its forthcoming head (Sat 29th March) to include J12, J13 and J14 events, originally not included. Entries on OARA only and close at midday this coming Saturday - information on the official website.
TalkRowing (UK) are giving away a copy of Miles Davenport's 'The Nuts and Bolts Guide to Rigging'. Entries close on April 15th.
There's a notice on the Scottish ARA news page (Scotland, UK) about a meeting on 26th March regarding Glasgow 2014, ie the Commonwealths, and how the Scottish Sports Association can use it to create a lasting legacy for sport in the country. Mike Morrice will be attending and wants ideas/feedback by 25th March please.
Thursday 20th March 2008
So, double world champion Pete Reed is the latest top rower to set up his own website (UK). It's a well-designed and user-friendly one with an outline training calendar, press cuttings, etc, and some fun polls (eg 'Does Pete have too much on his plate? - yes, how does he keep up or no, he's an Olympian, make him work'). Pete intends to update the blog about once a month or whenever he has something big to write about, and the gallery provides an unintentionally hilarious survey of the many hairstyles of his pairs partner Hodgey.... (there's one where I swear he looks like Boris Johnson).
The BBC (UK) has posted the end section of the Top Gear does Ground Force on Steve Redgrave video on YouTube - in fact the whole programme is there in four chunks.
Applications will be open soon for the next Alec Hodges Summer Sculling Course at Tideway Scullers (UK), which will run from 4th-8th August inclusive. Another mention will go up here when the application form is ready - it's a very popular course, and sells out fast.
Also from Scullers (UK), details of their new boatshed plans, for which the club has just been granted planning permission. The links are to PDF files of the plans.
The online TV site Sport UK TV is covering the Henley Boat Races (UK) this year in a first, and also sending their footage to Setanta Sports News. Those with digital TV access may already be able to see a short clip on the news programme, but there are also online clips on the Sport UK TV website Women's Boat Race section. As-live footage of all the races will be broadcast online from Monday 24th March onwards, so keep checking the link.
Note that the Thames kayaking rowers challenge (UK) in memory of Oliver Griffin begins tomorrow morning, at 6am. They'll be kayaking through quite bad wind, according to the forecasts - good luck to them. Link is to their JustGiving page if you want to support their effort.
Rowing headlines - Libyan team for rowing participates in the international round in Tunisia (Libyan Jamahiriya Broadcasting Corporation, don't be put off by the yachting illustration, this is a real rowing regatta), Rugby players rowing to beat record (Ipswich Evening Star, UK), Robinson cut from Beijing rowing crews (Marlborough Express, NZ), US Bank's about to come down (Lake Oswego Review, USA), Arklow man scales the highest peak in Africa (Wicklow People, Ireland), Boosters will pay rent for storage shed (Hudson Star Observer, USA, peripherally about rowing), 'Little and large' show (Waikato Times, NZ), Rowers impress at nationals (Murray Valley Standard, Australia), a press release on the Canadian Sport Awards (CNW Telbec, Canada), Waddell confident of Olympic performance (Radio New Zealand, NZ), Rower to watch - Kyle Browne (Washington Post, USA), IOC to allow inhaler use due to bad air (USA Today, USA), Rowing title for Jake - time now to take to water (Devon 24, UK), ITV faces fight for Boat Race (The Times, UK), Cohen to team up with Waddell in Beijing for double sculls (Southland Times, NZ), Waddell has confidence in partner (TVNZ, NZ), Green coach (Philadelphia City Paper, USA), Waterford Boat Club receive trophy won in 1880 (Waterford Today, Ireland), Bailey edged into second in Boston (Malvern Gazette, UK), Trott's Olympic dreams dashed (Stuff, NZ), Waddell says heart not an issue (New Zealand Herald, NZ), Rower displaced by Waddell says he 'never got a chance' (Stuff, NZ), County women pick up two world silver medals (Worcester News, UK), Tom after fast boat to China (icWales, UK), Pelly set to compete in the Boat Race (Kent Online, UK), Smithsonian official who kept rowing into his 80s (Chicago Tribune, USA), and an article (UK) suggesting that the origins of the Devizes to Westminster canoe race were actually in a skiff challenge.
Wednesday 19th March 2008
The NZ M2x for the Olympics has been confirmed as Nathan Cohen and Rob Waddell. See here for the official Rowing NZ press release.
On Row2k, USRowing wins arbitration case involving selection procedures. See also the full text of the arbitration decision (PDF format).
Photographs from yesterday's Henley Boat Races Challenge (UK) are going up on BigBlade throughout the next couple of days. For those who like form guides, CUWBC were marginally heavier at 74.5kg average to OUWBC's 72.8kg average. OUWBC are taller by a fraction - 5 foot 10 to CUWBC's 5 foot 8, averages again. Not that either stat has been much of a predictor in the past for the women's boat race. Crew line-ups on the official website.
OARA is open for entries to the Ponteland Junior Head (UK, Word poster).
Early information online for Bewdley Regatta (UK), with a funky animated 'advert' displayed using YouTube. Smart stuff.
Pinsent and Beresford have already made it into the Telegraph's list of Greatest British Olympians (UK) - which I am pretty sure is an ongoing list being steadily built up, and will be added to more, as there are many big names missing.
Rowing in the news - Waddell secures Olympic rowing berth (Radio New Zealand, NZ), Growth by different strokes (NewsOK, USA), Waddell Beijing-bound after lengthy talks (New Zealand Herald, NZ), Town center may draw rowing facility (Bradenton Herald, USA), Local rowers not sinking but winning (Los Angeles Times, USA), Golden guy (Murray Valley Standard, Australia), Waddell included in Olympic rowing team (Stuff, NZ), Medal hauls a pointer to more rowing success (Waikato Times, NZ), Newbury clocks miles for poverty (Newbury Weekly News, UK), Kinross' Kosarac stars all alone (Orange Central Western Daily, Australia), Lower Templestowe rower glides to triple gold (Manningham Leander, Australia), Paralympic rower inspires disabled youngsters (Kent Online, UK), Waddell lays cards on table (Southland Times, NZ), Townsville rower brings home sculls gold (Townsville Bulletin, Australia), Waddell 'not dictating terms' (Stuff, NZ), Drysdale vs Waddell brings rowing to the fore (WorldRowing, FISA), Family mourns one sailor as other remains missing (Examiner, USA).
A obituary for Dr David Challinor, who died this week aged 87, and was rowing under Potomac colours at the Head of the Charles until he was 84 (Washington Post, USA).
Tuesday 18th March 2008
The Women's Head charity prize draw closing date has been extended to 31st March, to allow more clubs to enter and raise funds for the Breast Cancer Haven (UK).
Gippsland Grammar (Australia), winners of schoolboy quads at the recent Australian National Championships, will be advertising for their regular gap year coaches (August 2008 to March 2009) again soon. The official information isn't quite ready yet but those impatient to find out more could contact frank dot stone at gippslandgs dot vic dot edu dot au straight away.
Pictures from BigBlade of the conditions on Corney Reach on Sunday when the Vet's Head cancellation decision was being made (UK).
Colin Percy took pictures of the WeHORR awards ceremony last week (UK) - pictures are in finish order as per the overall results, but with schools winners Headington not pictured.
News from the States that former Marin rower Anthony John Harrow has been lost during a sailing race together with his crewmate Matthew Gale (San Francisco Chronicle). Tony Harrow was born in the UK but moved to the USA 45 years ago. See also Love of water united Marin victims in yacht race (Marin Independent-Journal, USA).
Rowing headlines - Farrugia attends BOA seminar in London (Times of Malta, Malta), Lake Stevens rowing team a major player in the Northwest (HeraldNet, USA), Bluestreak Wireless cosponsors National Boatbuilding Competition (Village Soup, USA), Agee to give rowing the old college try at Clemson (Hilton Head Island Packet, USA), Waddell puts his case for selection (Newstalk ZB, NZ), College rowers in impressive form (Marlborough Express, NZ), Stirling effort to refloat dream (Daily Post, NZ), Back on water and blitzing her rivals (Daily Examiner, Australia), Shooting told to fire up progress for 2012 (one example of a standard press-release story from the UK sports pages), Waddell makes Olympic bid (TVNZ, NZ), Rowers building core strength (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, USA), Silken Laumann's varied workouts need more structure (Globe and Mail, Canada), Schools, clubs, firms turn out for Sport Relief (Suffolk Free Press, UK), City gets a clean sweep (Falcon RC mentioned in the Oxford Mail, UK), Sydney Rowing Club (bar review in the Sydney Morning Herald, Australia).
Monday 17th March 2008
Head of the River results (UK) - finish order, alphabetically, by crew number, by status and by trophy.
HORR pictures from BigBlade, Nature's Images, Dodsworld, RowPhoto (UK).
RowTV has clips from the Head of the River (UK).
The Vesta Veterans Head (UK) had to be cancelled in conditions very similar to last year's Head of the River, prevailing while the final preparations were being made. The link above is to the Head page on the Vesta website, which includes an explanation and apology. No race fees can be refunded but next year's entry fee may be lowered if a surplus can be carried over after paying costs.
Can a contact from Strathclyde University please contact Si Hislop of Imperial as he has your missing oar.
Results from the Scottish Schools Head (UK, PDF format).
A newcomer on the blog and web-board scheme - Rowing Illustrated (USA) has stories and messageboards. Set up by Sean Wolf, I think to help fill the gap left by the RowersWorld website crash. Note that the RowersWorld boards are up and running again now, but all the old posts have been lost.
A website for Hammerswing (USA) clothing for rowers.
Oariginals, founded by three rowing artists (USA) sells rowing notepaper, cards, prints etc.
A link to the Rowing24/7 website (USA), aptly named because it provides products for those who think about rowing all the time.
And more merchandise from the rather gloriously named Rowers Gone Bad (Canada). They sell bamboo-fabric products, very innovative, but are currently only accepting orders from the USA and Canada.
A website for Tyne United (UK), founded 11 months ago.
The 2008 Thomas Keller award finalists were announced on Friday by FISA - the nominees are Derek Porter (CAN), Elisabeta Lipa (ROM), Jean-Christophe Rolland (FRA), James Cracknell (GBR) and Katrin Rutschow-Stomporowski (GER). The medal will be awarded on 1st June at the second World Cup of the season, in Lucerne.
Rowing in the press this weekend - Pulling her weight (John Goodbody, Sunday Times, UK), Leander still head of the river (RQ, Sunday Telegraph, UK), Leander repeat their title on the Thames (Dan Topolski, Observer, UK), Rowers follow the sun to Columbia (The State, USA), Extra-oar-dinary (Gisborne Herald, NZ), Hutchins, Collegiate dominate (Mercury, Australia), Burnham Sailing Club members 'stick their oar in' for charity (Burnham-on-Sea, UK), Grammar eight goes back-to-back in Head of the River (Geelong Advertiser, Australia), Collegiate U-18 girls in top form (Wanganui Chronicle, NZ), Viewers left furious after Top Gear garden stunt (Glasgow Sunday Mail, UK, abut a trick played on Steve Redgrave), Sir Steve's garden gets trashed for charity (Bucks Free Press, UK), Group focuses on improving Robinson Lake (Munster Times, USA), History of rowing in Austin dates back more than 100 years (Austin 360, USA), Scotch wins fifth straight Head of the River (The Age, Australia), Pidgen competes at ergometer event (Orillia Packet & Times, Canada), Chesterfield girl is world's fastest rower (Brattleboro Reformer, USA), Rain in forecast to quicken pace (Augusta Chronicle, USA), Scotch win Head of River (Daily Telegraph, Australia), Nation's best, all in a row (Tampa Tribune, USA), Cathedral Schol underway with two wins (Hereford Times, UK), Attack ends Middlesborough rower's Olympic dream (GazetteLive, UK), Stallard fourth in GB trials (Herts 24, UK), Julie and Colin begin 'rowed trip' (John O'Groat Journal, UK), Rowers prepare for challenge (Wicklow People, Ireland), Tees rowers' capital event (GazetteLive, UK), Oarsmen ready to row (This is Local London, UK), Olympic medallist launches sports marketing consultancy company (Marketing Week, UK), Alex eyes a place in Beijing (Cotswold Journal, UK), College rowers from around country converge on Seddon Channel (Tampa Tribune, USA), HHH crew team back after year on dry land (Hilton Head Island Packet, USA), Lymm quartet among North of England winners (Northwich Guardian, UK), My Weekend: Chris Hall (The Times, UK), UNC rowers' coach says Vandermere area fine for training (New Bern Sun Journal, USA), WSU crew hits the Columbia River (KEPR, USA), India's star rowers train on stinking drain (Hindustan Times, India), Rowing her way to the top (Kilgore News Herald, USA), Men's crew gets back on the water (Williams Record, USA), King's show their class with a nap hand of successes (Chester Evening Leader, UK), Naming delay prolongs agony (Southland Times, NZ).
Thursday 13th March 2008
Two downloads from BUSA (UK), the BUSA Regatta provisional schedule and 2008 EUSA selection policy (both downloadable Word files). I also picked up some details about the GBR WURCs selection system while in Hazewinkel - those students who are not U23 but eligible for WURCs have been added to the 12th-13th April U23 trials at Caversham, for a dual selection. GB Rowing are involved in the WURCs selection this year. U23s can do WURCs or EUSA too, but nobody selected for WURCs will be able to do EUSA because the two are so close together in dates. EUSA selection is based on the BUSA Regatta and the responsibility of the BUSA panel.
The provisional draw for the Scottish Schools Head (PDF, UK) is online.
FISA's Athlete in Focus this month is New Zealand's Eric Murray.
Rowing headlines - Team Canada eager to shine on UVic turf (Times Colonist, Canada), Officials hold groundbreaking ceremony for new boathouse (Iowa Press Citizen, USA), River rowing moves indoors for off season (Red Bank Hub, USA), Shhh.... it's meant to be a secret (Stuff, NZ), Hundreds of Falun Gong adherents arrested in 'preparation' for Olympics (Canada Free Press, Canada), Oar-some start to year (Maitland Mercury, Australia), D.C. firefighters make water rescue (a picture story on the March 1st swamping, Firehouse.com, USA), It's a family affair at indoor event (Evesham Journal, UK), Hospital leading way on diabetes (This is Dorset, UK), Rate hike, rowing on city's agenda (Oak Ridger, USA), Award for boys (Evesham Journal, UK), China doesn't expect most Olympic gold medals (China Daily, China), Evans takes up crew at Drexel (Tunkhannock New Age Examiner, USA), China in his hand (Coleraine Today, Northern Ireland), Canoeists, rowers eye last Olympic qualifiers (VietNamNet Bridge, Vietnam), Angry Kiwi kayakers protest weedy course (The Age, Australia, about Penrith), SRA rower to attend Harvard (Glens Falls Post-Star, USA), Golden Cox in national debut (Bundaberg NewsMail, Australia), Shrewsbury storm to special hat-trick (RQ & GD, Telegraph, UK), CHS rowing now varsity sport (Dearborn Press and Guide, USA), Rower awaits word on Olympic bid (Stuff, NZ), Kinross' bold showing (Orange Central Western Daily, Australia), Boat Race founders launched (Ely Standard slideshow, UK), WSU rowers practice in Tri-Cities (Mid Columbia Tri City Herald, USA), Meet the new British 'Bachelor' (abc13, USA), Evesham girls bag junior title (Worcester News, UK), Gregory hopeful of Olympic place (Worcester News, UK), Schoolboy Callum wins silver at Nationals (Grantham Today, UK), Rowing champ aims for summit (Dorset Echo, UK), Callum rows to national silver medal (Melton Today, UK), Welsh women celebrate their ingenuity (icWales, UK), Waddell will have to wait longer for Beijing decision (Dominion Post, NZ), Saturday fire caused by kerosene heater (Herald-Times, USA), Canadian authors embark on 7,000-km human-powered journey to connect ancestral roots (NewsWire, Canada).
Wednesday 12th March 2008
Nutters ahoy (UK): on Friday 21st March four friends from Burway Rowing Club are planning to kayak the non-tidal Thames from near the source to Teddington Lock. They intend to do it non-stop (no sleeping until they've finished) and with no support: all their kit and supplies aboard their two 2-man kayaks. The intention is for these experienced rowers to raise funds for the NSPCC in memory of their friend Oliver Griffin, who died recently, and they say "we thought we'd give the other side (kayaking) a go because it would be nice to see where we were going for a change". They're after two things - your support via their JustGiving website and also any information on whether the Thames has been rowed or kayaked under these circumstances before (ie no support team, all supplies with them, non-stop). Answers to Richard Ellera.
FISA has named the event juries for the remaining 2008 events (following an earlier bulletin). Also, Asian Olympic qualification regatta approaching and US Rowing continues diversity theme.
The GB International Rowing Supporters Club (UK) has just 12 places remaining for the Olympic regatta (trip dates 6th-20th August). Details: Heathrow-Beijing return on Air China, Sino Swiss Hotel, breakfast and coach transfers between venue, hotel and airport included, 13 nights hotel, �3275 per person based on a twin room. FISA Family & Friends grandstand tickets available at an extra cost, but only to supporters confirmed on the accommodation package. They have also arranged accommodation packages for the junior/non-Olympic Worlds in Linz (Word file, contains contact details).
Need a special present for a rower? Annie Collenette has designed and cast a limited edition (50 only) of model pewter sculls, precisely to 1/16 scale, and with proper moving oarlocks. They're �195 each plus postage and packing, and you can see various views, plus contact details, on this PDF. Annie is also going to have a stall with the sculls outside Vesta RC this weekend, and one of the models is currently displayed in the upstairs cabinet at Leander Club.
The PDF poster for Birmingham Regatta (UK) is online.
Camera corps rows with 'Oxbridge' for boat race (4RFV.co.uk).
Weird stuff: Ferret race helps rowing club (Hertfordshire Mercury, UK, including a video clip).
Tuesday 11th March 2008
Birmingham Rowing Club (UK) have given their website a makeover, including a partial club history still being completed.
Results from the CRA Winter League (UK).
Monday 10th March 2008
OK, I've finally got the updated Hazewinkel trials report up (UK). More withdrawals from the finals.
Results from Kingston Head (UK).
Also results from Avon County Head (UK).
The Cambridge Champs Junior Sculling Head results are in a downloadable Excel file format (UK).
From last week, long course and short course results from Gloucester Head (UK).
Results from Hammersmith Head (UK).
Drama on the River Severn (Worcester News, UK), about a collision between two eights.
Morning and afternoon results from the North of England Head (UK, Excel format). Or, actually, those are the links from the website but I can't find the files - there doesn't seem to be a problem with the filename or logical location of the files, so I presume someone at the club hasn't managed to upload them yet. Hopefully these links will start working - if not try the main head page again in a day or two.
GB senior trials news pieces - Olympic hope for Tom James (icWales, UK), Illness blights crew selection (BBC Sport, UK), but I only managed to get a few words in the Telegraph round-up on this busy weekend. The Times and the Guardian both have a press-release-generated paragraph or two. Also, Duo set their sights on GB place (Widnes & Runcorn World, UK), Stallard faces GB trial (Herts 24, UK), Gold or bust for rower Andrew (This is Local London, UK), Triggs Hodge won't play politics (This is Local London, UK), Grainger wins seventh national title (Bucks Free Press, UK).
Other rowing headlines - Aggar impresses at British trials (BBC Sport, UK on the Paralympic trials), Four Nigerian rowers for Cairo meet (The Tide, Nigeria), Steve's hospice row (Pontefract and Castleford Express, UK), Pass this easy test and we'll find the right sport for you (The Australian, Australia, and yes it's a joke), Welcome to the club, guys (The Age, Australia), Weighty question (Arkansas Democrat Gazette, USA), Generations of rowers back on the water (Corvallis Gazette Times, USA), Students praised for making boathouse a reality (University Daily Kansan, USA), Rowing team excels in Heart of England regatta (Austin American-Statesman, USA), Marlborough trio selected by NZ rowing (Marlborough Express, NZ), SA team too strong (Adelaide Advertiser, Australia), Atlantic rowers clinch province's top sports award (Dispatch Online, South Africa), 'Disappointed, not heartbroken' (Gisborne Herald, NZ), Rowing group eager to hit the water (Hamilton Journal News, USA), Women rowers to make sport history (PA, UK), Sally laid back about first medal (Fox Sports, Australia), Sally Robbins returns to shore with smile and medal (Melbourne Herald Sun, Australia), Blues eight spoil Tomkins and Ginn's farewell (Daily Telegraph, Australia), Collegiate on course one week out from champs (Wanganui Chronicle, New Zealand), Oarsome chance for Kent pair (YourCanterbury, UK), Police investigate suspicious fire (Herald-Times, USA, about a fire at the Indiana University boathouse, but subscription required), NSW break Vic's King's Cup stranglehold (The Age, Australia), Row, row, row for fitness in East Huntingdon (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, USA), Unlike college boathouse, River Center draws no fire (Washington Post, USA), Oxford and Cambridge notch warm-up victories (Sunday Telegraph, UK), Rowing over in a heartbeat (Stuff, NZ), Bunch of wet nurses turned me right off (Stuff, NZ), Waddell is hot to Trott (NZ Herald, NZ), Port's world rowing banners are in a sad state (St Catherine's Standard, Canada), Financing pursued for movie (Bismarck Tribune, USA), Canada's athletes pass along 'the magic' (Toronto Star, Canada), Rowing facility under way (Lawrence Journal World, USA), Olympic spots for Haigh and Drysdale (TV3 News, NZ), EL rowers did not get invite (Dispatch Online, South Africa), James Cracknell cracks African epic (Telegraph, UK), Savage redemption for Robbins (Fox Sports, Australia), Tassie rowers triumph (Mercury, Australia), BDO Stoy Hayward (The Times, UK, part of a 100-best-companies series), James Cracks Africa challenge (The Sun, UK, with video clips of Cracknell and Walliams).
Sunday 9th March 2008
On-the-spot reports from the GB final trials in Hazewinkel. Unlike some other countries selection will not just depend on these, which is fortunate since several big names (including Houghton, Wells, Josh West, Goodsell, Lindsay-Fynn and various others) are not able to race. Still, enough remaining to be pretty interesting.
Friday 7th March 2008
The majority of New Zealand's Olympic team has been announced. Drysdale for the M1x, and Waddell is still trialling with Nathan Cohen and Matthew Trott for the M2x, to be announced later.
Sorry - forgot to post the link on Wednesday - Schools Head results (UK). The long start course was shortened due to bad weather at the start - the crews rowed downstream and began racing on the Chiswick Eyot reach.
A new website for George Sims (UK), sole agents for Croker Oars in the UK. They also sell Holey Soles Shoes, heart rate monitors, and some Coolmax clothing.
Information for Strathyclyde Park Regatta (Scotland, UK).
The Schuylkill Navy (USA) has posted a big collection of photos from their 150th anniversary banquet. Link is to the front page (redesigned for this special year) and the complete collection is here.
The ARA (UK) is reminding members that membership fees go up on 1st April. Those renewing online before then can do so at the old rate - not sure if this applies to those renewing offline.
Rowing headlines - Waddell could be part of Olympic team (Radio NZ, NZ), Shelby Farms' potential master plans unveiled Thurs (Memphis Daily News, USA), Waddell not prepared to abandon Olympic dreams (New Zealand Herald, NZ), Sam halfway in Atlantic challenge (Wiltshire Times, UK), What a couple of swells (Sheffield Telegraph, UK), Rowing team 'treated like a varsity sport' (Daily Northwestern, USA), Atlantic rowers in line for top EC award (Dispatch Online, South Africa), Drysdale qualifies for Beijing (Sports Illustrated, UK), Sport's true genius revealed (Manawatu Standard, NZ), Call of the water: rowing provies all-body workout (Miami Herald, USA), Waddell keeps Olympic dream alive (TV3, NZ), Hore big hope for two finals (Mercury, Australia), Drysdale gets nod as Olympic squad named (NZ Herald, NZ), Three Aussies in Oxbridge boat race (The Age, Australia), Rs. 19.42 for sports and games (Hindu, India), Athlete diary - Adam Kreek: an Olympian's nightmare - injury (CBC News, Canada), County rowers tackling big trials (Worcester News, UK), Stallard faces GB trial (Times24, UK), Duo set their sights on GB place (Northwich Guardian, UK), LaCava takes first in CRASH-B (Weston Forum, USA), A bigger boat is not all we will need (This is Aberdeen, UK), Building up for Olympic shot (Salford Advertiser, UK), Norwalk rowers benefit from training in Florida (Stamford Advocate, USA), Pippa Savage's singles shot (Courier Mail, Australia), Young rowers make a splash indoors (South Manchester Reporter, UK), No wet feet for the rowers going the distance in aid of Sport Relief (Haverhill Echo, UK), Grainger: rowing to Beijing Olympics (Maidenhead Advertiser, UK), Former Crosby school rowing coach is mourned (icSefton and West Lancs, UK), Rowers' good form continues at Erne Head of the River (Coleraine Today, Northern Ireland, UK), Robbins impresses in single sculls (ABC Online, Australia), Suffolk man breaks transatlantic rwcord (East Anglian Daily Times, UK), McLaughlin to steer Ottawa Rowing Club (Ottawa Citizen, Canada), Push for club crew makes waves in rowing ranks (Yale Daily News, USA), Paly seniors join thousands at Boston's 43rd Head of the Charles (Paly Voice, USA - a bit late perhaps?), Hadlee's heart goes out to Waddell (Stuff, NZ), No risk in picking Waddell says doctor (NZ Herald, NZ), Waddell to be guest at Lawlink conference (Gisborne Herald, NZ), Austria's greatest batsman (Southern Highlands News, Australia), Captivating duel attracts our rowing rookies (MyTown Bay of Plenty, NZ), Heart broken (Dominion Post, NZ), Duo combines on senior project to raise funds for crew team (Folsom Telegraph, USA).
Thursday 6th March 2008
Sad news (Ukraine) - I'm told that double Olympic medallist ('52, '56) Dr Igor Yemchuk has died in Kiev aged 78. He was heavily involved in the sport as rower, coach, FISA umpire and scientist, and was named "the 8th Ukrainian Rowing conscience", according to my informant. Thanks GO.
Results from the National Junior Indoor Championships (UK) should be up fairly soon.
Boat Race headlines (UK) - and I'm stewing about a few things. Boat Race hits rough water over international crews (Martin Cross, Guardian - Crossy you're ignoring the fact that even if Szczyrba is in the Cambridge crew, there will still be one fewer overseas Blue than last year), Mike Wherley becomes old man of Boat Race (Patrick Kidd, The Times), Experience could tell for Brodie (This is Wiltshire), Female cox looking for second success (Sporting Life - by the way though this story is correct about Cambridge, Sue Brown steered Oxford to successive wins in '81 and '82), Scott in Boat Race call for Light Blues (Worcester News), At only 36, rower makes history at 179-year-old race (Sports Illustrated - this one is factually wrong, see later comment), Wherley ready for senior role (Sporting Life), Wherley is oldest Boat Race rower (BBC Sport - and this one is wrong as well), Veteran Olympian set for Oxford bow (Sporting Life), Oxford lines up oldest rower for Boat Race (Guardian, UK), Cambridge crew gives Boat Race a London edge (This is London), Oxford call on Brodie (Swindon Advertiser), and Mike Wherley ready for Boat Race history (Rachel Quarrell, Telegraph. OK, to put the record straight, Mike's not the oldest competitor in the race - that was 38-year-old cox Andy Probert in 1992. I know that, you all know that (so don't write in to me!). Because of that, and perhaps because I do take coxes seriously, I wasn't going to make it the main focus of my piece, but the desk wanted to rewrite - fair enough, score one for their better journalistic instincts. I did ask them to make sure they included mention of Probert, but it was ignored. And factually the Telegraph piece isn't wrong, just perhaps a little bit misleading to those who don't understand the fact that coxes also compete in the race and that 'row' is used broadly by our sport. So put a comment on the article if you want to groan about it.)
Wednesday 5th March 2008
The New Zealand singles trial soap opera took yet another turn yesterday/today (depending on your time zone), with both blasting hard off the start, Waddell fractionally ahead before Drysdale moved into a strong lead. But Waddell then slowed right down after 300m, and following the race, explained that he had had a return of his heart problem - atrial fibrillation - and had to take it easy. TVNZ has now posted the full race video which should be visible to those who couldn't see it last night, as it now plays via Flash as well as media players.
NZ rowing headlines - Drysdale: I knew there was something amiss (with Waddell) (New Zealand Herald), Justice demands that Drysdale goes to Beijing (NZ Herald), Waddell reveals heart problem in decider (Stuff), Mahe Drysdale after the race (Stuff video clip), Take winner or be sued (Stuff), Drysdale's winning moment (Stuff), Drysdale blitzes Waddell in decider (TVNZ), Bittersweet end as rowing giants clash (TVNZ), What is atrial fibrilliation - the heart condition affecting Waddell? (TVNZ), Waddell unsure of what future holds (Radio New Zealand), Drysdale tones down criticism of trial process following win (Radio NZ), Rowing NZ up a creek without a paddle? (Hawke's Bay Today), Victory for Drysdale on Karapiro (NZ City), Mighty Mahe (Waikato Times, NZ), NZ spoilt with Olympic rowing options (The Age, Australia), Rob Waddell's heartbreaking Olympic trial (TV3 News), Drysdale beats ailing Waddell in rowing showdown (Guardian, UK, via Reuters). A rec.sport.rowing newsgroup poster pointed out that former Olympic champion and Waddell's rival Xeno Mueller had the same heart problem (link is to Xeno's blog, with several recent updates).
The Australian National Championships are this week - main site here and more on the Rowing NSW website. Plus highlight clips on YouTube.
Today see the combined Boat Race Challenge and national junior indoor rowing championships (UK) at the Battersea Evolution site in London. Challenge is at 11:55, just in time for the lunchtime newsfeeds if they fancy taking it.
Cambridge Rowing Shells (UK) has gone into voluntary liquidation - a liquidator was appointed on 20th February 2008.
Very good news for once (UK) - Parents' delight as Matthew brought back from the dead (Reading Evening Post).
Other rowing news - Talented youngster to represent WA (Bunbury Mail, Australia), Local rowers to take on Murray (Victor Harbor Times, Australia), Simply oarsome - Rabjohns eyes Beijing Olympics (Goulburn Post, Australia), Tassie rowers turn up the heat (Mercury, Australia), Camps with eye on medal (Calcutta Telegraph, India), Juniors rule at Class Day regatta (Penn Athletics, USA), Repair work to be done on Laval Rowing Club facillty (Courrier Laval, Canada), Friends face oarsome challenge (Oxford Mail, UK), Demo of rowing gear for paraplegics (The Engineer, UK), City hikes rental rate at marina (Oak Ridger, USA).
Also, James Cracknell run down, but still riding (interview by Sarah Edworthy, Telegraph, UK), and Crackers' video diaries (also Telegraph, UK - see the list below the current one for other video clips).
Tuesday 4th March 2008
Link to the live streaming in NZ - click here and then on Race Three LIVE. Waddell vs Drysdale for the Beijing Olympic spot in New Zealand, 9am Wednesday local time, 8pm Tuesday GMT. The coverage on TV1 is also via the live stream of their breakfast show. Update 8:15 GMT - it is likely that a certain British contingent keen to hear the result may have wiped out the TVNZ feed, since though it originally loaded, it seemed to freeze up at about one minute to go until the race. However, NZ radio news gave the result - a win for Mahe Drysdale by 20 seconds - and there is now a short report online too. No doubt more will follow on the Rowing NZ website very soon, and you may also find early accounts of the race on some of the NZ news websites listed below in today's press links. Thanks ATH and co.....
Last night's update from New Zealand - The weather is terrible at Karapiro Lake, and the scheduled M1x race (meant for 9am NZ time today) was postponed to 9am Wednesday local time, which is 8pm GMT on Tuesday 4th March. See the Rowing NZ website for the latest news. There's a picture of the current conditions at the lake here.
The final Cambridge Evening News piece on the Lent Bumps (UK).
And a video of chaos on the Cam (UK, Windows Media Player format), on the camToo website which is campaigning for an extra relief channel. The video is several different clips joined together.
News from the Thames Regional Council of the Hammersmith Junior Rowing Centre, aka the Hammersmith & Fulham Community rowing centre (UK). The scheme involves a new development on the north bank of the Thames just downstream from Hammersmith Bridge, not quite opposite the Harrods Depository flats, and aims to increase both junior and adult participation in rowing in the area, as well as establish a west London base for adaptive rowers. More information including details of who is backing the scheme, on the link.
Results from the National Junior Sculling Head yesterday (UK) on the Mikrotime website.
Details of today's Schools' Head (UK).
Provisional crew lists for the 2008 Henley Boat Races (UK) have been published.
Rowing headlines - Marlow rowers' golden hat-trick (Maidenhead Advertiser, UK), Olympic training sites named (Reading Evening Post, UK), City venues to host Olympic training (Glasgow Evening Times, UK), Weight training might aid runners (The Ledger, USA), Rowers thrown into Potomac after boats capsize (Georgetown University The Hoys, USA, not a new story but more on the old), Waddell-Drysdale race delayed for a day (Radio New Zealand, NZ), Savage strengthens single scull claims (The Age, Australia), Wind sees rowing showdown postponed (Stuff, NZ), Deciding duel knocked back a day (Dominion Post, NZ), Olympic battle put on hold (TVNZ, NZ), Kansas rowing boathouse groundbreaking ceremony set for March 7 (CSTV, UK), Who is Dmitry Medvedev? (Russia Today, Russia), Cracknell cranks it up (Bike Radar, UK), Trial win may not ensure selection (New Zealand Herald, NZ), One race to go, but both men can go (The Press, NZ, and now I'm getting bored - will only add more links to this story if they're different), Luini heads Italian sculling challenge (WorldRowing, FISA).
Monday 3rd March 2008
Two pieces of sad news (UK) - we have had reports over the weekend of the deaths of Betty Humphries (late wife of Frank, and stalwart part of the Durham Regatta organising team) and long-time rowing devotee Tony Owen.
It's all been happening in New Zealand, where Mahe Drysdale won the first and Rob Waddell the second of a best-of-three trial for the Olympic NZL M1x spot. Other factors such as erg and physiology tests will also be taken into account, with the third race at 9am on Tuesday in New Zealand (tonight European time), but the announcement not necessarily before this coming Friday. See Rowing New Zealand's latest news page for the most current updates including pictures. It's been announced that TV One in NZ will televise the third race live, after unprecedented public interest. Press links on the story, NZ unless otherwise shown - Waddell and Drysdale due to go head-to-head in final battle (TV3), Drysdale confident he can beat Waddell at grand finale (TV3), D-day looms for Waddell and Drysdale (TVNZ), Waddell squares up series (NZ Herald, including a video clip), Drysdale believes he's in the right headspace (Newstalk ZB), Waddell keeps Olympic dream alive (Marlborough Express), Drysdale takes first blood in scullers' selection contest (Guardian, UK), Waddell squares the ledger (Waikato Times), Rowing head sure trials format right (Waikato Times), Drysdale left to rue slow start at Lake Karapiro (Newstalk ZB), Waddell rows to one all (Melissa Bray, WorldRowing, FISA), Waddell forces Olympic decider (Stuff), Beat that! Drysdale one-up in Olympic row-off (Dominion Post, with a rather over-eager headline), We all love a winner - especially one who gets beaten (New Zealand Herald), Drysdale could claim single sculls Beijing berth today (Radio New Zealand), Drysdale buries the self-doubt (New Zealand Herald), Drysdale draws first blood (The Press), One nil to the world champion (The Press), Doubt dogs Drysdale (Newstalk ZB), Drysdale's battle with Waddell attracts just a handful of spectators (TV3, with video clip), Round one to Drysdale (Melissa Bray, WorldRowing, FISA). The story is also heading the list of TV3's 'most watched' video clips.
If you want to watch the race, try the TVNZ website, though I am not sure which exact page yet - may be ONE SPORT ondemand or may be off the main TV1 News website. Time of the race is 9am Tuesday NZL, which should be 8pm GMT.
The Women's Eights Head (UK) has results in time order, by division, alphabetically and veterans after adjustment for handicaps (all PDF format).
Women's Head press and resources (UK) - Oxford University head of the class (RQ, Telegraph), a bit in the Times Sport in Brief, a YouTube video on RowTV of most of the top crews starting, and photos from BigBlade, JET Photographic, Nature's Images, Rachel Clarke, Photoshop, and no doubt most of the other professional photographers.
Row and Roll (Australia) a new rowbike style invention which claims to be much more effective than previous land-rowing vehicles. Such issues have come up before - search on 'rowbike' and similar for related links.
A page for the Glasgow RC silver anniversary regatta (Scotland, UK), celebrating their jubilee on April 5th. They describe the course as 'straight-ish, starting at Cowan's bend and finishing just upstream of the GRC boathouse, about 1150m, it will offer a gentle transition from Head racing to the main regatta season." See this link for a map.
More on the Lent bumps (UK) - 1st & 3rd Headship to come under fire (Cambridge Evening News).
RowMart (USA) is a rowing clothing company set up by rower and graphic designer, Angel Cruz, with some highly original designs, and also various other gifts/products such as postcards, mugs, bags and aprons.
A link to an advert for a coach looking for a UK position by autumn 2008.
More rowing news - Rowing coach is pulled to safety after wind and waves capsize boats (Washington Post, USA), 17 rowers rescued from Potomac River (Examiner, USA), Georgetown crews dumped into Potomac (ABC 7 News, USA), Rowers race for winter fun off Hull (Enterprise News, USA), It's Christmas for Rachel - two months late (Bolton News, UK), A day in the life of the President (Newsday, Trinidad & Tobago), Four in-a-row for Methodist Ladies College (Geelong Advertiser, Australia), Beijing dream burns bright for Helene Raynsford (The Times, UK), Eastern Bay rower represents New Zealand (1XX Whakatana, NZ), China outstrips available water supply (Salt Lake Tribune, USA), Body is missing boater (Seattle Intelligencer, USA), Tom Daley and Kenneth Lester: the boy wonders (The Times, UK), All aboard with record-breaking oarsman Stuart (Denbighshire Free Press, UK), Hutchins powers home (The Mercury, Australia), Rabjohns the driving force (Sydney Morning Herald, Australia), Snow days are work days for tough rowers (Flyer News, USA), Vic earns gold at indoor rowing championships (Strand, Canada), Citizen Kain (The Bulletin, USA), Ocean crossing to aid human rights museum (Winnipeg Free Press, Canada), Student saves boy, dog from river (OSU Lantern, USA), Gaffes are damaging Britain's reputation, says top Olympic official (Daily Mail, UK), Local rower has big showing in competition (Akron Leader, USA), Intrepid nurse rows the Atlantic (Express & Star, UK).