Archive News from May 2007

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

Thursday 31st May 2007
• There is Eurosport coverage of the World Cup from 07:45-09:00 on Tuesday 5th June - probably highlights, from the sound of it.
• From FISA, African rowing advances, President backs new Belarus rowing course, Who to watch at the first World Cup.
• An article about north-east England success at National Schools (UK).
• The draws for division 1 and division 2 of Hexham Regatta (UK, PDF format) are now on the Hexham website.

  Wednesday 30th May 2007

• Looking ahead to the World Cup this weekend, the BBC (UK) has coverage on BBC2 from 14:00-15:00 on Sunday 3rd June, with extra coverage on BBCi for those digital people who can get it (ie Sky/Freeview and perhaps some other cable companies) from 10:00-11:00 and 12:25-15:00 on the same day. Otherwise Eurosport Europe and Eurosport UK should both have coverage, either live, or in the evenings/on Monday, but I can't get their horrible website to work so you'll have to try and find it for yourselves. FISA also run coverage online for those readers allowed to receive it.
• The Saturday bumps, bumps charts, Saturday finishing order and by-college statistics from Oxford's Summer Eights last week are now online.
• Maidstone Invicta would like to thank those who have helped them with support, advice and encouragement in the last couple of months, culminating in their first ever men's 8+ win last weekend (beat City of Bristol at Twickenham Regatta). I won't add all in detail - personal thanks to John Clayton, Major Schofield, Terry Hunter, Ray Cassidy, Chris Kendall and Will Rand, and thanks also to the MI committee, Army RC, Curlew, PBD, Bristol Ariel, Molesey, Westminster Sch, Reading University and Furnivall SC. If the club wants more perhaps it will post a proper article in full on their website and I will link it!

  Tuesday 29th May 2007

• A pile of information on this weekend's upcoming Metropolitan Regatta (UK), with draws, rules, instructions etc on the official website. In particular, the Saturday and Sunday draw files are in PDF format. They are specifically asking that everyone report to check-in (the main registration) one hour before the first race in their first event - that's the first race of the whole event, not your crew's first race. And bring your ARA cards so that you can take medals home with you on the day. The more race committees have to spend sending medals out in the post, the more entry fees are going to go up, for all regattas....
• The Rowing Inkling online 'trading' site is running a market on the Met Regatta and on the World Cup (UK).
• Not so gently down the stream (blog entry from Thursday 24th May): blog commentary from John Denham MP (UK) on his first rowing outing in 33 years, with Southampton Coalporters RC.
• Rowing Canada's Linz World Cup preview (Canada, in French and English).

  Friday 25th May 2007

• The poster for Tyne At Home Regatta (UK) is up on the Tyne website. Entry deadlines are Saturday 9th June for postal and 7pm Sunday 10th June for OARA, email and by hand.
• Ryde Rowing Club (UK) won the Central Counci for Physical Recreation's Sports Club of the Year award a couple of weeks ago, at the finalists' ceremony in London. Well done!
• The London to Paris Rowing Race 2008 website is now open for entries. The race is likely to be in May 2008, in watermen's cutters, and they're hoping to have crews signed up by September 2007. Plenty of information on the official website.
• Just a few more tdays to apply for a Nancy Ovens/SkillsActive coaching bursary (UK), designed to help those coaching juniors (paid or volunteer) to spend a few months break from work to enhance their skills and qualifications. Closing date Tuesday 29th June.
• Clubs and individuals have until 11th June to nominate UK rowers for the ARA's Volunteer of the Year Awards, in several categories.

  Thursday 24th May 2007

• Results, photos, bumps etc from Oxford Summer Eights (UK), which started yesterday. Currently Magdalen men and Teddy Hall women are still head of the river.
• Aberdyfi Rowing Club (Wales, UK) has a new website, with information about the Celtic longboats and sea-going yoles that they row.
• From FISA, Huge field for first Rowing World Cup, along with the entry lists by event and by national federation, and the full draft timetable (all PDF files). The individual event entries by boat type can also be downloaded, a quick way to see who's in which crews racing each other. There is an official Linz website in both German and English.
• The formal BIRO press release about the remaining British crews is out (UK).

  Wednesday 23rd May 2007

• Sad and unexpected news (UK): - "An enormous shock to Bedford Rowing Club as we hear that Dick Garrett, Club Captain from 1999-2003, suddenly died of a heart attack on Tuesday 22 May, having collapsed the day before without any prior warning of problems. Dick will be well known to a number of rowers across the country as a very active veteran rowing member. Dick had been a member of many clubs as a veteran in recent years, including Upper Thames and Wallingford as well as his main club, Bedford. The rowing community of Bedford is shocked by this sudden and totally unexpected loss of one of its main characters. Further details will be posted on the Bedford website as soon as they are known."
• Results from Chester Regatta (UK) are up - both the results alone, and the draw with results, in PDF format.
• OARA is open for entries for Marlow Regatta (UK) - both days. The Sunday morning events will be 2km in various elite, U23 and lightweight classes, while the Sunday afternoon events will be S4 up to S1, plus adaptive, over 1km.
• ARA rules (UK) - from yesterday's mention of the new J14/WJ14 rules about not racing higher than one age category above, it emerges that this new rule specifically does not apply to coxes, who can continue to cox any crew.
• Tyne At Home Regatta (UK) has been given permission to change its regatta date to avoid bad tides and National Schools. The new date is Saturday 16th June, starting after lunch to row on an incoming tide. Poster coming soon.
• Burway RC (UK) raced at the South Ball Cup at Dorney recently, and think they left a pair of blades behind. A pair of Concept big blades with blue handles and blue spoons, with a white sleeve on which "Jack Barrett" is printed. Anyone with information can contact Jack by email or on 07871632555.
• FISA articles: Showing signs for the season at Huegelregatta, Fixed seat rowing goes to the next level, Classification workshops expand adaptive rowing, Masters rowing booming in Japan, Watch out double, Porter and Wetzel are back, Rowing added to blind Olympics, Danish lightweights feeling positive.
• The spring newsletter for Cambridge Sport Lakes (UK, PDF format) is online.

  Tuesday 22nd May 2007

• Molesey Boat Club (UK) are looking to make two appointments this summer: a director of rowing to oversee the entire club (focus: high performance), and a development coach to work with the juniors and freshers. Both to start in July: details on the (Word) link above. Contact mbccaptain@moleseyboatclub.org for more information.
• Strokeshot (UK) is going to run a charity photographic service at Summer Eights (Oxford) this year. Don't be put off by the unlinked front page - updates coming shortly. The plan is that anyone who wants one of the images they snap from Eights will just have to donate £2.50 or more to one of their nominated charities (Cancer Research UK, Interact Worldwide, or Toynbee Hall), through the special JustGiving pages that Strokeshot are going to set up. If they do so, one of the founders' employers, Softwire Technology Ltd, will match the donations up to a combined limit of £1000 total. Strokeshot are also able to accept other match-donors who will be mentioned on the website. For information contact partner@strokeshot.co.uk.
• Ken Hastie of NERN (UK) has put up the ARA rules of racing changes for 2007 (PDF format). The biggest one is that J14 and WJ14 juniors are not allowed to race in senior events, nor to race in events more than one age category above their own. Qualifying wins at J18 and J16 (and women's equivalents) count as a novice win.
• Leander Club (UK) is holding a GB juniors reunion on Thursday 5th July at 6:30pm, to mark the 40th anniversary of the first FISA world junior event. All athletes who have ever represented Great Britain at a junior world championship or a Coupe de la Jeunesse event are invited, together with coaches and partners. Membership of Leander is not necessary to attend the reunion, and complimentary badges will be available. There is a limited number of places so ex-juniors are encouraged to apply early. Contact Robert Treharne Jones on 01491-575782 or by email.

  Monday 21st May 2007

• Sad and shocking news (Canada) - long-time supporter of Canadian rowing Glen Davis was murdered in Toronto on Friday: the investigation into his death is still going on. There will be a private funeral service. There is a good tribute on the RCA pages.
• Rowing Canada also has an announcement about the annual junior CanAmMex Regatta, this year held as part of the St Catharines Invitational Regatta on 21st July in Ontario, Canada.
• The draw files for the National Schools Regatta (UK) is now up.
• Results for Oxford Eights Week rowing on (UK) are up on the Eights index page at OURCs and the official Wednesday starting order will be out shortly.
• Saturday's and Sunday's results from Essen HugelRegatta (Germany, PDF format) are online.
• Results from Putney Town Regatta (UK).
• The results from Borne at Chiswick Regatta (UK, Word format).
• Results of Maidenhead Junior Regatta (UK, PDF format).
• Remenham Farm (Henley, UK) is running its usual raft of facilities for Henley Royal Regatta in July, including the start grandstand, various bars/car parks/enclosures, and the campsites running also through Henley Women's Regatta and Henley Veterans. Full details on the first link above.
• Twickenham RC (UK) has an opening for a part-time paid junior rowing coach.
• North-east England news: "http://www.northeastengland.co.uk/page/news/article.cfm?articleId=2272">New kits show off rowers passion for North East England (UK).

  Friday 19th May 2007

• Henley Royal news - Regatta Radio is back (UK) and an even bigger operation this year. They plan to be broadcasting continuously from 27th June to 15th July, including everything from Henley Royal qualifiers to the post-HRR Festival. As last year, it will be possible to listen live online, with the FM broadcasting radius about 6 miles. The website's site progress page has a rotating series of pictures showing how far the Royal Regatta has got constructing this year's course and facilities.
• The online ticket system for the World U23 championships (Scotland, July) is up and running. They have had a very heavy demand for 4-day (full-regatta) grandstand tickets and have fewer than 500 grandstand tickets remaining. Priority will continue to be given to the 4-day bookings. People wanting a place in the covered grandstand are urged to book as soon as possible in order to avoid disappointment.
• Lost in Ghent: New Wave tells me that during Ghent Regatta last weekend someone from the UK bought one official event t-shirt and paid for another to be printed. They paid for both but then left before collecting the second shirt. If the person concerned can ring Karon on 07963 046 038 and tell her the size of the shirt, she will arrange to send it to them.
• While I'm on the subject, the Ghent results were online straight away (Belgium).
• The draw for Castle Semple Regatta (UK, PDF format) is online.
• The draw for Tees Regatta (UK) has been revised and the new version is on the Tees RC website.
• The website for Egham Regatta (1st July, UK) has been updated, including details of the fully junior event. Entries close at midday on Sunday 24th June. Hard copies are being snailed out to local schools and clubs this weekend.

  Thursday 18th May 2007

• Bradford Spring Regatta (UK) is open on OARA, with entries also via email or telephone. Note the date was changed this year to 23rd June, not its usual May date. Senior 3 events are open to adjacent regions only, by invitation. Payment cannot be made via OARA due to the discount system the regatta operates, and playboat entries also can't be made by OARA because they don't need ARA membership to take part.
• The Tees Regatta website (UK) has details of the event and race summaries, safety instructions and other helpful details, all in both Word/Powerpoint and PDF formats. The regatta notes that they "will be insisting on seeing the ARA cards of all qualifying winners, both juniors and seniors. The prize presentation shall not start until all event winners' cards have been clipped." They are also using Empacher-type bow-numbers, which clubs need to make sure they have suitable slots for.
• A plea for any rowing legal eagles (UK-specific). Richard Moseley in Cambridge would like to know the following: a) who owns the water in a river that is also a navigation? b) who owns the air above the water of such a river? The issue is overhanging trees which are both a navigation and flood risk: who should cut them back and do they need to ask permission from the owners of such trees. Answers on an e-postcard to rowmoseley@hotmail.com.
• The draw for Chester Regatta (UK, PDF format) is out.
• Reading University (UK) has done a report on their activities at BUSA.
• Someone has put part of Redgrave and Holmes winning the M2- final in Seoul 1988 on YouTube with a funky soundtrack: looks like filmed from a video. The link has various other rowing clips listed, some from the same poster. Very naughty breach of copyright of course, but fun to watch. One of the best is the Dutch 1996 M8+, and a former national squad cox has posted both their Olympic-winning final and a bit of the famous training video of them on the Bosbaan.
• British Universities Rowing (BUR) have published their reggata (sic) report and results (UK, Word format) on the Concept 2 universities site. Durham won the Victor Ludorum with 837pts, followed by Newcastle (517pts) and Birmingham (394pts).

  Wednesday 16th May 2007

• Bedford Regatta (UK) would like to hear from anyone who has further information about the collision between two crews at the recent regatta. Those who can help please fill in the online incident form. Photos and video clips can be sent to the race secretary. Bedford Regatta say: "Three of the eight and four of the quad sustained injuries in the collision. Our information is that two of the eight are suffering the effects of concussion; the girls in the quad are all well. The girl who sustained a head injury - which caused some understandable concern to those witnessing the incident - made a remarkable recovery after first aid treatment on site and was able to go to a PE session at school on Monday."

  Tuesday 15th May 2007

• Late update: - A Henley-on-Thames resident has a very comfortable double room for rent in a flat, during the week of Henley Women's Regatta (UK). The current occupant is looking to let the room on a shared basis for two people for most of the week leading up to and including the regatta. Anyone who is interested should contact Shona directly on shona.darcy@gmail.com or phone her on 07813 024 046, as soon as possible as she's keen to make a quick decision.
• University of London BC (UK) would like to warn all Tideway users that their hospital bumps racing will take place from 24th-26th May, from Brentford to Mortlake Anglian & Alpha, on the ebb tide in the afternoons.
• I've been sent this Powerpoint file of the Oarsome Foursomen's Goulburn Valley advert (Australia) by an anonymous donor... The format probably needs the latest Powerpoint version to run properly. NB file is large - nearly 2MB.
• And Gippsland Grammar School (Australia), which has been employing young Rowing Service readers and other rowers for many years, also has openings. They are looking for "experienced and enthusiastic rowers to fill rowing gap-year positions for 2007-8. Sculling experience would be an advantage as that's their main focus. The school provides accommodation, meals and a small weekly allowance. They are particularly interested in more mature rowers who would like to take a gap-year after university. Coaching experience and a driver's licence advantageous. There will be opportunities to continue sculling and compete while coaching in Australia. For more information contact Frank Stone via frank.stone(at)gippslandgs.vic.edu.au."
• Entries for Monmouth Regatta (26th-27th May, UK) close at noon on Sunday 20th May. Entries should be emailed to Andrew Barnett or posted to him c/o Howgill Barn, Weston-Under-Penyard, Ross-on-Wye, HR97PQ. More information on the link above.
• The result of the men's Walter Scott Edinburgh-Glasgow University Boat Race (UK) was a win for Glasgow which was not so much a boat race, more a street fight (writes a local reporter. The two eights clashed repeatedly down the course, and on a corner, one clash ejected an Edinburgh rower from the boat. He was pulled on board the Glasgow boat for safety, but dived back in to return to his crew before a restart was arranged. Glasgow won the restart but a disqualification was on the finish, for the earlier incident. The DSQ'd crew turned out to be Edinburgh, so Glasgow retain the title they won last year. Edinburgh won the women's top race and both second-crew races. Pictures on the Clyde gallery. There's also an extra picture on Scottish Rowing of the rower being flipped out.
• Results of Bedford Regatta (UK).
• Durham University's report on their boat race with Newcastle (UK).
• The Welsh Open Regatta on Saturday (UK) was cancelled due to high winds (up to 50mph gusts), leaving 201 crews and scullers on the bank of the Welsh national course at Cardiff Bay.
• Swedish international Paul Rosenquist has his own website in English, mostly a blog about his experiences training and racing on the world circuit.
• A website for Cambridge Rowing Club, Ontario (Canada).

  Monday 14th May 2007

• Newcastle vs Durham university boat race: two wins each, full results and press release on the Newcastle site (UK) and no doubt something similar going up for Durham.
• The results for Poplar Regatta (UK, PDF format) are online.
• OARA is now open for Loughborough Regatta (UK). Closing date is 13:00 on 9th June. Any queries contact LBCRegatta@hotmail.co.uk.
• The poster for Hexham Regatta (UK) is now online. The link goes to the main regatta page with PDFs of the poster, safety information etc.
• UL are holding another party (UK), this time for their annual Hospital Bumps. See this JPG for details. Saturday 26th May, "will be better than the UL beach party..." Entry £5 and all drinks £1.50.

  Friday 11th May 2007

• The fun and games with Australia's top coxless fours rumbles on - I've been sent this picture of an AUS M4- (Sydney?) getting all excited about being presented with their medals by HRH Princess Anne. But that wasn't what we were after - instead the prize catch would be any video clip of the TV advert from which this image is a still - clearly exceptional material which should not be lost to humanity. Ho ho ho.
• Globe Rowing Club (UK) are holding a special Chairman's Dinner aimed at past members, on Friday 15th June at the Clarendon Hotel, Blackheath.
• OARA is now open to take entries for this year's Vet Champs (UK, 17th June). Written entries are accepted as well, full details on the official website. closing date is noon, 9th June.
• Results from last weekend's Perth to Freemantle head race (Australia). Apparently conditions were superb.

  Thursday 10th May 2007

• Canada is sending a 12-boat team to the first World Cup Regatta in Linz next month (French/English press release, Canada).
• This year Oxford University's Summer Eights is running an SMS-update service (UK). Those who want to receive regular SMS updates of the results should sign up to a service called Twitter, and add ourcs as a friend. See this page for help and relevant links. The results, sent out after each division, will be provisional only, until confirmed on the official website at the end of each day's racing. The Twitter system allows you to text 'off' to a number to temporarily disable the messages, and 'on' again when you want them back, so users will be able to turn it on for an hour or two just for the divisions they're interested in. Sending 'get ourcs' will collect all the updates you've missed. See the Twitter help page (the OURCs link to it at a different URL isn't working) for more details.

  Wednesday 9th May 2007

• More on the "rowers should be ashamed of themselves" thread (see NZ link yesterday) - we are hunting a copy of the Oarsome Foursome Goulburn Valley Gold advert, sadly not visible online (Australia). Anyone who can find a clip please let us know, since this worst adverts article makes it sound mouthwatering.... Sold a lot of fruit though, apparently.
• Details of the draws (main and sprint), notes to competitors and emergency instructions for Shrewsbury Regatta (UK) are on the main regatta page of Pengwern website. All in PDF format.
• The draw is also up for Bedford Regatta (UK), with safety, circulation and map documents up on the regatta information page. As usual, if you click on a club or category on the draw page, it gives you a quick precis of all the first races for that club's crews or all the races for that event - a very useful system.
• The draws for Saturday and Sunday at Durham City Regatta (UK) are available.
• Robin Poke has written Peter Antonie: Out Of His Shell (PDF format, Australia), a book about the Aussie rowing legend. Order details on page two.
• Durham University BC (UK) have a vacancy for a Talent Development Coach, closing date 15th June 2007. There is also a press release about Durham at BUSA.
• Details of two-day Northwich Regatta online (UK) including the regatta poster (PDF format). Entries are now open on OARA, closing at 3pm on Sunday 20th May.
• Photographs from the recent TSG Barony Cup (Scotland, UK). Strathclyde University graduates are in pink and the current students in polka dots. Graduates won W8+ and mixed 8+, the students the M8+.

  Tuesday 8th May 2007

• Before BUSA are able to put them up, the BUSA Regatta results (UK) in plain text format. They're Sat/Sun/Mon in race order heats/reps/semis/finals, so just scroll down to get to the second and third day. C (Concept 2) Freshers' events were also held, as were Sprints on Sunday (same headings for the events, but much shorter times, unsurprisingly.) Names, especially of scullers, are not available.
• Results of the Munich Junior International Regatta (Germany, last weekend) are online.
• Results of the Marlow Spring Regatta (UK) are online. Due to the blustery conditions all 1x, J2x and J13 events were cancelled, from 15:30 onwards.
• Trailer help? (UK) - "Mersey Rowing Club have some time in the last month had a boat trailer stolen from the grounds of Runcorn RC (who were kindly looking after it for us, as we have no space at our own boathouse). Could any readers who hear or see anything that might relate to our stolen trailer contact either Andy Coyne or Ian Marr? It's quite an old trailer so it's probably been stolen for scrap, butyou never know what might turn up. Thanks."
• The draw for Poplar Regatta (UK, PDF format) is now out. Spectators are apparently very welcome since "there is a bar, catering and plenty of parking".
• As is the draw for the inaugural Welsh Open Championships (UK).
• Dug up by an observant international rower, this pair of MPG videos featuring the Evers-Swindell sisters advertising NZ beef and lamb. Definitely pushing Andy Triggs Hodge off the top spot in the "cheesiest advert by a rower" league. Click on "download" to the right of the Beef and Lamb recipes to see the videos.
• A preview of the 2007 Newcastle vs Durham University Boat Race (UK, 13th May).

  Monday 7th May 2007

• The full results from Wallingford Regatta (UK) are online already.
• Evesham Regatta has Saturday's results and a separate list of Saturday's winners (UK, both Excel format) on its results page, presumably Sunday's sprint results coming later.
• Unfortunately the Viking Shield regatta at Herne Bay (coastal, UK) was cancelled due to bad weather - wind, I suspect. The Shield will now be contested at the Herne Bay Regatta on Sunday 1st July.
• The poster/prospectus for Durham Regatta (UK) is online, including the entries and events pages. Closing date is 10am on Saturday 2nd June, and OARA opens in about a week.
• From FISA, University sculling awakens in the US.
• Newslinks - People still advised to avoid Hudson after sewage spill (Remote Access, USA), KU hopes to build boathouse on Kaw (Lawrence Journal World, USA), Local junior rower chosen for national team camp (Eureka Reporter, USA), After son's death, settlement calls for tighter safety rules (WDBJ7.com, USA), Turkish adventurer ready to cross Pacific by rowboat (Today's Zaman, Turkey), Away they row (Capital News 9, USA), Rowing aims at growing (Northwest Herald, USA), Waterways get a spring cleaning (Columbus Dispatch, USA), Robbery victim's superglue terror (Independent Online, South Africa), a mention of Leander Club in this piece by and about Jilly Cooper (Daily Mail, UK), Masters regatta links fellow rowers (Aiken Standard, USA), Crew club raises annual funds on Litchfield Green (Torrington Register Citizen, USA), Traditional rowing races a great success (Khaleej Times, United Arab Emirates), Bath rower sets his sights on solo world record (This is Bath, UK), Rowing groups face stricter safety regulations (Washington Post, USA), Old man river (Sydney Morning Herald, Australia), Yarm amongst nation's best (icNewcastle, UK), Knebworth student to row in North's Boat Race (Welwyn & Hatfield Times, UK), Where are they now? (Sydney Morning Herald, on the retired members of the various Oarsome Foursomes, Australia), Ageless Tomkins simply oarsome (The Age, Australia), Rochester women rowers lead Gophers (Post-Bulletin, USA), Baby, it's cold outside (Victoria Times Colonist, Canada), Prison officer to row across Indian Ocean (Dorset Echo, UK), Windermere Cup tough to handicap (Seattle Times, USA), Saratoa gets two wins in rowing sectionals (Glens Falls Post-Star, USA), Local crews earn medals at state championships (Tallahassee.com, USA), The 'awesome' world of UW rowing coach Bob Ernst (King5, USA), LB team rows to the top (Long Beach Press-Telegram, USA), 'U' celebrates new boathouse (WCCO, USA), Tankards galore for Grosvenor girls (icCheshire Online, UK), 10ft rowing boat stolen from roof (Nelson Leader, UK), Student Austin in North's boat race (This is Lancashire, UK), Boat Race challenge for Perth student (Perthshire Advertiser, UK), Rower comes on strong in two years (Canoe, Canada), Rowing into the spotlight (The Olympian, USA), Cards' Carney returns home (Worcester Telegram, USA), Snyder steers a straight line (Seattle Times, USA), Practice, teamwork and learning is key (sic, Princeton Packet, USA), Saunders was heart and soul of Canadian rowing (Hamilton Spectator, Canada), Rowers claim 3 medals at Midwest Championships (Murray State News, USA), 15 sets of siblings, 1 sport, 1 program (Poughkeepsie Journal, USA), UMW sophomore places fourth at championships (Free Lance-Star, USA), Jones comments on Coates were 'honestly held' opinion (ABC Online, Australia), Woman calls the shots for top-ranked UW men's crew (Seattle Post Intelligencer, USA), Public hearing tonight on future of Pier 40 (NY1, USA).
• Also, Ambition and pride the driving forces on Brennan's road from Iraq to Beijing (Matthew Pinsent, The Times, UK, a particularly good piece.) And at the foot it says that there is a full interview on this story during Inside Sport on BBC1 from 23:05 to 23:45 tonight (BST = GMT+1). Related, Battle for London 2012 gold (Simon Hart, Sunday Telegraph, UK).

  Friday 4th May 2007

• A press release for Poplar Regatta (UK). Safety instructions and competitors' notes are on the website but not the draw quite yet.
• Entries are now open for Monmouth's two-day regatta (UK, 26th-27th May). Saturday/Sunday 750m/1500m, with Hereford Regatta on the following Bank Holiday Monday. Entries by email or by post to Andrew Barnett c/o Howgill Barn, Weston-Under-Penyard, Ross-on-Wye, HR97PQ. Entries close at noon on Sunday 20th May, more details on the club's website.
• The Blades Retail Cafe (Nottingham, UK) would like to remind visitors and competitors going to the BUSA Regatta this weekend that their paninis, jacket potatoes, baguettes, sandwiches and fresh Illy coffee is just a couple of minutes cycle/drive from Holme Pierrepont. They have free internet access for laptop users, and desktop computers that customers spending £3 or more are able to borrow.
• From FISA, China continues rowing coxswain craze, Ramping up rowing to Beijing, and Hungary to host FISA Coaches Conference.

  Thursday 3rd May 2007

• The provisional draw, safety plan and circulation pattern for Merseyside Regatta (UK) are out, all in PDF format.
• The draw for Evesham Regatta (UK, various Excel files) is online.
• Apparently the Bridgnorth Regatta scheduled by the ARA for 9th June (UK) is not happening. However, there is a Fun Regatta planned at the club in September.
• UK competitors are reminded that the closing date for Durham City Regatta (12th-13th May, UK) is 6pm on Friday 4th May, and that no late entries will be accepted.
• The Go With the Flow Oxfordshire waterways festival, running April to October (UK), has a special event on Bank Holiday Monday 7th May. The Open River day includes an official opening at 12 noon by David Suchet at Falcon, Oxford, followed by all sorts of racing, have-a-go sessions for rowing and canoeing, etc. See the calendar page on the official website, for details.
• Twickenham Regatta (UK) is on Saturday 26th May this year - a change from the previously advertised date. Entries now open via OARA, categories from J16 to Vet F offered. Closing date Saturday 19th May. Competitors are promised "an excellent BBQ and Pimms bar"...
• New club seeks new members (UK): "Lower Thames RC is based at Dauntless boatyard Canvey Island Essex. The club has built two 26ft four oared gigs, which are regularly out on Benfleet creek in all conditions. We hope to build a third gig this summer. Prospective members may wish to know that we often get very muddy and those persons allergic to fibreglass resin, sandpaper, paint & beer need not apply. Facilities are very limited and when the chairman (Keith Webster) likened the yard toilets to the black hole of Calcutta, he was told the black hole was much better..."
• CUBC (UK) is going to Essen Regatta this year and will have space for boats and passengers in their trailer and van. Contact Rob Baker if you want to join them.
• A letter about Cambridge rowing (top link) has been sent to the local political parties ahead of today's local elections in the area (UK). The various responses are listed below the letter. There's also a mention of it in the Cambridge Evening News.
• Ever seen the scoop arm of a digger being used to row a barge along a river? You have now (Dumpert site, Netherlands, needs high-speed access).
• Call for letters/news (UK-based) - the Rowing Voice is heading towards the publication of its second issue. If you have something you would like to contribute, or have a letter brewing you'd like to get off your chest, visit the link above for guidelines as to length. Contributions to the letters page, and classified ads (30 words max, free) are particularly welcomed. Contributions can be from anyone, anywhere, but please bear in mind the UK focus of most of our readers. Submission deadline 6pm Friday 4th May for all material.

  Wednesday 2nd May 2007

• I've corrected yesterday's Birmingham Regatta results link (UK) - I'd picked up 2006's by accident. The 2007 results are here.
• Tideway Scullers (UK) are holding another of their super-raffles as part of their 50th birthday celebrations, with a Filippi Italia S 1x as the grand prize. Details on the link above. Tickets can be bought from the TSS clubhouse direct, or from any TSS members at any regattas the men, women or juniors are attending this season. The draw is on 24th July during the TSS AGM.
• This year's Edinburgh-Glasgow University Boat Race (Scotland) is part of the 150th Anniversary Clydesdale Regatta. The Boat Race has a new website.
• A cycling news story with comments on rowing included (BBC, UK).
• The final arrangements and information for the BUSA Regatta (UK, 5th-7th May) are up on the C2 Universities page. Competitors please read.
• Big rowing job: - Bedford Modern School (UK) is looking for a new Director of Rowing (click right-lower link on the page which loads the PDF). Closing date is Friday 8th June 2007.

  Tuesday 1st May 2007

• Results of Birmingham Regatta (UK) are online in PDF format. The organisers found five pairs of sculls while tidying up the trailer park. If anyone is missing some please contact regatta secretary Chris Anton via the website details.
• The draw for Marlow Spring Regatta (UK) is online. Racing will run from 8am until about 6:30pm.
• The closing date for Borne @ Chiswick Regatta (UK, 12th May) is Saturday 5th May for receipt of postal entries. No telephone entries, but OARA is being used. Entries may be delivered by hand to Mortlake Anglian and Alpha BC by 10 am on Sunday 6th May.
• Closing date for Bedford Regatta (UK) is Wednesday 2nd May. Entries by post or via OARA.
• Chester Regatta (UK, 19th May) is now open for entries on OARA. Closing date 6pm on Sunday 13th May. They're offering a victor ludorum trophy to each of the senior and junior events, and say if there are requests for any events not listed on the poster please email entries secretary Peter English and he will add them if appropriate.
• A reminder of the two posts available at Cambridge Sport Lakes (UK). I think these are the same as advertised before, but the closing date is now 2nd July 2007.
• Battle of the river reaches - this map of the Dee at Grosvenor RC is argued to be as good as the Weaver (see yesterday's news) "with the bonus that our boats don't turn strange colours from the chemicals", says the correspondent.
• In the Irish Times, Jahrling causes surprise in dropping men's double (Ireland). An interesting decision.