Archive News from May 2008

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

Saturday 31st May 2008
• Message from Australia about gap-year jobs: "Gippsland Grammar is again looking for experienced and enthusiastic rowers to fill rowing GAP positions at the school for the 2008-2009 season. Our programme is primarily sculling so sculling experience would be an advantage. With the help of some excellent Gappies over past years our programme has gone from strength to strength. Our senior boys were 2008 National Champions in the Schoolboy 4x. The school provides accommodation and meals as well as a small weekly allowance. We would prefer more mature people who would like a GAP after completing University studies or the like. However we would consider any application on merit. Coaching experience would be advantageous as would a driver's licence. There are opportunities to continue sculling, and to compete in domestic regattas, as well as the Australian National Championships, during your time in Australia. For further details contact Frank Stone on the following email address, fj.stone(at)internode(dot)on(dot)net."
• Last couple of days press links - Men's eight dominates in pre-Olympic build-up (Times Colonist, Canada), Canadian men storm into World Cup final (Calgary Herald, Canada), Rower pays tribute to local legends (Telegraph-Journal, Canada, about Ed Winchester, with a short profile too), Canadian rowers send a message (Toronto Star, Canada), UW varsity four wins at women's nationals, makes grand final (Everett Herald, USA), Lightweight four take small step towards Olympic dream (Robert Treharne-Jones, Irish Independent, Ireland), Loggers women earn spot in the grand final (News Tribune, USA), Harvard make early splash (Boston Globe, USA), Pacific row: Roz Savage ponders on Greek mythology (BYM News, Spain), Five appointed to represent Broads users (Lowestoft Journal, UK), Cienfugos, Cuba boosts nautical sports (Cuba Headlines, Cuba), (untitled, about Matt Wells) (Journal Live, UK), A real team player (Corvallis Gazette Times, USA), UW, WSU move on to semifinals (Seattle Times, USA), Stanford reach NCAA rowing semifinals (Sacramento Bee, USA), WSU boats advance at NCAA finals (Spokesman Review, USA), New Bedford whaleboats to hit the Charles (South Coast Today, USA), Dream still alive (Radio Sport, NZ), Triple Crown not Crossley's priority (St Catherine's Standard, Canada), Brock coach recruits rowers (St Catherine's Standard, Canada), Rowing bonds Dirk's family (St Catherine's Standard, Canada), Another chance at the Lucerne rowing world cup (WorldRowing, FISA), Canada's day at the rowing world cup (WorldRowing, FISA), Waddell back to old form at world cup (Otago Daily Times, NZ), Purchase storms through his heat (Nick Hartland, Worcester News, UK), Win for NZ men's double rowers (Newstalk ZB, NZ), Evers-Swindells out of world cup (Stuff, NZ), Hughes competing at rowing world cup in Switzerland (Ludington Daily News, USA), Delta rowers close in style (Surrey Now, Canada), Men's eight look to put 'scare' into opposition (Toronto Star, Canada), Coleraine men progress (Belfast Newsletter, Northern Ireland), Winning start for Britain (Virgin Media Sport, UK), Fasten your seatbelt - rower set for flight to Beijing (Tasmania Examiner, Australia), Irish rowers competing in world cup (RTE, Ireland), CEO who almost wasn't (Financial Mail, South Africa, about a former junior rower, Richard Pike), National medal joy (Widnes and Runcorn World, UK), Georgian Bay Rowing Club team set to make a splash (Midland Free Press, Canada), Volunteers make a splash at Schoolboy (Welland Tribune, Canada), Look past the four in Lucerne (BBC Sport, UK), Royal Chester conquer the Thames in style (Ellesmere Port Standard, UK), Hard work worthwhile as veterans make history (Chester Chronicle, UK), Would you dare to bare your BUM? (Reading Evening Post, featuring rower Bradley Whale, UK).
• Also, Switch a 'motivator' for crews (Stuff, NZ, a few days ago). I subsequently investigated this for the Telegraph, and sent in the following, which may have gone into Friday's paper (it wasn't online, but then the brief parts never are): A row has broken out over August accommodation for some of the Olympic rowing teams, after New Zealand's crews were bumped out of the hotel they had already booked, just minutes from the Shun-yi rowing course. The hotel, the Eastern Garden International Convention Center, has also been booked by GB Rowing, but team manager David Tanner was out in Beijing less than a fortnight ago, and says there is nothing to worry about. "There have been discussions about the hotel, but GB Rowing has a contract with them", he said. "There is no indication at the moment that this won't be honoured." The British Olympic Association is the lead organiser of Olympic accommodation, and booked the Eastern Garden at Tanner's request, after the junior rowing team trialled it successfully last August during the test regatta. The hotel is just 3km by empty road from the entrance to the course, and crews can be with their boats within a few minutes of leaving their rooms.
• Going back a bit, O'Connor ready to ride crest of wave so that British crew all pull together (long feature in the Independent on Sunday, three weeks ago).

  Friday 30th May 2008

• Sad news (UK) - Steve Chasey, a long-standing member of Kingston RC, passed away on Monday night. The funeral is at 2:20 in Kingston Crematorium on Wednesday 4th June, and afterwards at KRC. See the club's website news for more details.
• The re-runs of some of the cancelled Nat Schools events will be held at a special Eton Schools Regatta on Saturday 7th June at Dorney Lake. It's not an NSR, and no NSR medals will be awarded, but it may fill the hole left by the original cancellation. Details on the link, which is a Word poster.
• Lucerne World Cup starts today - the FISA website has the live online racetracker, commentary, results and start sheets etc.
• Just been told I'm getting 100 words in the Daily Telegraph tomorrow - even less than usual, in other words. Readers who care about this feel free to discuss it with them via sportletters@telegraph.co.uk - you can write 'not for publication' if you mark it so, clearly.
• On Sunday June 1st the Radley Wives are running the Ox5RUN at Bleheim Palace in aid of the Oxford Children's Hospital Campaign (UK). The JR children's hospital has particularly helped a child from the Radley community, and there is a very strong rowing connection. The link is to the JustGiving page where secure online donations can be made, tax-efficient if you're a UK taxpayer.
• Entries are open for the Barnes & Mortlake Regatta (UK), for those not going to Reading Regatta. Entries by email, post, telephone or fax, and details on the Mortlake website above. Closing date is 11am on Sunday 8th June at Ibis Boat House, the home of Mortlake Anglian & Alpha. Entries may be made in person on that date.
• The results of Monmouth Regatta (UK) are online.
• Met update - the entry draws etc were all emailed to club administrators, not posted - badger your club rep or the entries secretary if you don't have them. This includes unique car parking passes, again emailed separately to each club.
• A plea to find some Croker oars to loan for Henley Women's Regatta on the RS noticeboard.

  Thursday 29th May 2008

• The Sports Injury Bulletin website/newsletter has published four free reports: knee pain, Achilles tendonitis, core stability and shoulder injuries. Note that I can't guarantee the legitimacy of this source, having not checked it out in full, but they do seem to know what they're talking about..
• Sneaked out quietly earlier this week on the official site, Chief coach to leave Cambridge University Boat Club (UK).

  Wednesday 28th May 2008

• The 2008 Thomas Keller medal will be awarded to Romanian legend Elisabeta Lipa at the Lucerne World Cup (FISA).
• Also from FISA, Rowing to the Middle East, Duisburg prepares rowers for second Rowing World Cup, Lake Rotsee welcomes 38 nations to Rowing World Cup II.
• The Duisburg regatta website is available in German and English, with results, video stream and radio broadcast (do they mean commentary?). Sunday's results are under 'live results'.
• Portora Royal School in Enniskillen (Northern Ireland) has a job for an assistant rowing coach from Jan-July 2009. No closing date given. File is in Word format.
• The ticketing sections of the World Under-23s and Senior & Junior world championships this year are now open to buy grandstand places. No special provision has been made for FISA Friends & Family.
• A request from Henley Women's Regatta, to 2007 HWR competitors. "If any of you have some good quality (2MB) plus pictures of your crews from 2007 - racing or 'arty' style shots that you would give permission to use free of charge in the HWR programme, please can you email them to Juliet Machan before 1 June 2008. Thanks." (NB you must have the copyright of the photos if you are going to let HWR use them for their programme.)
• I hadn't realised that WCSN's FISA footage of the 2008 World Cups (taken from the host broadcaster for the regatta, with Hugh Matheson commentating, is now free to watch on-demand worldwide (possibly for quite a long time), not just outside Europe. (It was planned, but I hadn't checked). Anyway, visit the rowing index page for the links, and you will just need to use your email address and invent a password to create a registration to view the coverage. Lucerne world cup will be broadcast live online through this link on finals day. With the right browser you can also freeze-frame the streaming footage. Safari users may find Firefox better allows you to watch full-screen (could depend on your operating system).

  Tuesday 27th May 2008

• The Metropolitan Regatta website (UK) has the draws for Saturday's and Sunday's racing, but I gather there may be problems with postal delivery of the information (or they aren't posting it), so crews should download everything.
• More YouTube footage of the National Schools Regatta (UK), with a funky sound-track.
• Videos of Oxford summer eights on YouTube include the Saturday M1 division (UK). Can't see any footage of the Saturday W1 division.

  Monday 26th May 2008

• The draw for today's Northwich Regatta (UK) is online in Excel format.
• OARA is open for Durham Regatta (UK). On the Saturday evening, the regatta entrance fee will be waived from 5pm onwards to allow free entry to the Durham Illuminate Festival, which ends with a pyrotechnic display.
• Whitgift School in south Croydon (UK) is looking for a 'charismatic and ambitious part-time rowing coach and administrator'. Details on the link.
• Number 34 on AOL's hottest Olympians - looking very red carpet but not particularly beach (thanks KG).
• Photos, articles and results from the international Wedau Regatta (Duisburg, Germany).
• The German rowing federation is looking for a new Head coach - a new position within their set-up.
• Links to all German regatta results.
• Hexham Regatta is now open for entries on OARA (UK).
• The poster for Berwick Regatta (UK) is online.
• A long article about Michelle Guerette (USA) in the New York Times.
• The Regatta Radio website (UK) has been updated for this year. The usual pictures of the site slowly being built are already starting to go up. (As I make the link it's probably at least a week out of date, since the finish end of the course has already been started now. More pictures coming later).

  Sunday 25th May 2008

• Right, catch-up time. Lots here, in no particular order.
• Yesterday saw swampings and very rough conditions at the second day of the National Schools Regatta (UK), resulting in the rest of racing being cancelled. There is a plan to try and hold an alternative regatta for at least the championship events on Saturday 7th June, to be confirmed. A few specific notices about clear-up admin on the NSR website. Friday results will be up from Tuesday 27th May.
• Pictures from the National Schools trouble on Saturday - 'grumpysculler' and a couple of interesting ones here and here. There will be photos on this site at some point.
• Video footage from National Schools Saturday - here.
• Oxford student posts 'happy slapping' video on Facebook (UK, naughty naughty. McFarland is an ex-Pembroke rower, Brodie and Groshong are at Catz, and coxed OUBC/OULRC respectively this year.)
• Oxford summer Eights week completed yesterday before the rain set in (UK) - see the main regatta index for start and finish orders and bumps blogs. Pix and videos may follow. Photographs from BigBlade, Stroke Shot and Jet Photographic. Stroke Shot are providing high-resolution digital photos to raise money for charity - last year they raised hundreds of pounds. Donations should be a minimum of £3 and will go via Justgiving to Toynbee Hall in London, or Cancer Research UK (links are to the donation pages). All donations will be matched by Aspect Capital Ltd.
• Two members of the Australian team are writing blogs this summer - James Chapman and the Australian women's eight.
• Those who may be able to row for Wales (UK) this summer (eg Home Countries) should note that registration for women closes on the last day of Henley Women's Regatta and for men on the last day of Henley Royal Regatta. Details of eligibility and forms etc at the link.
• Welsh trials results (UK) for women and men in Excel format.
• Results of Clydesdale Regatta (Scotland, UK) in Excel format.
• There are a load of rowers in the Lloyds TSB/Sportsaid Local Heroes project - hover over the map to see individuals - there isn't one clear list.
• The start orders for Cambridge's May Bumps are now out - men's and women's. Getting on races are on 6th June.
• From two weeks ago, University boat race hit by 'cheating' row (Bristol Evening Post, UK).
• The Sykes Racing 2008 Rowing Australia Coaches Conference (Australia) will include Paul Thompson amongst the guest speakers. The theme this year is 'looking for breakthroughs.
• The poster for Nithsdale Regatta (UK, Word format) is online.

  Friday 23rd May 2008

• Ok so great plans came to nothing (blame Oxford bumps men's division 1 - I had no free time and less sleep). I'll try again later.

  Thursday 22nd May 2008

• Been a tad busy - big update coming tonight.
• Meanwhile, Ukrainian rower receives 2-year ban from FISA, and the Lucerne World Cup entries and provisional timetable (PDF the latter, and links to PDFs in the former page). Not quite such a big entry as last Cup regatta.
• The Rowing Voice vol 2 issue 4 is out - just a quick Munich update. The post-Lucerne one will be much bigger, combining Lucerne news with other news, articles, classifieds etc. Closing date for copy 30th May 2008.

  Monday 19th May 2008

• The ARA has an advert for a rowing talent development coach (UK). Closing date is Friday 13th June.
• Results from Castle Semple Regatta (UK, Excel format).
• FISA stories from last week - Australia owns the eight, Great Britain start the rowing season on top, and Rowing for his life at the South American masters champs.

  Saturday 17th May 2008

• Last chance to get news, letters, classified ads (up to 30 words free), articles etc into the update edition of the Rowing Voice about to be published. Email me today for inclusion.

  Friday 16th May 2008

• The draw for Chester Regatta (UK) is online, together with race instructions etc (all PDFs). Chester, like Tees, will also be wanting to see the ARA cards of all qualifying winners, whatever the event.
• The draw for Tees Regatta (UK) should now be final, with a number of changes having been made. Events affected include 4, 11, 22, 25, 36, 52, 85 and 86 - mostly slight alterations due to scratchings or race time changes.
• MPS Composites (France) have had what I think is a website change - www.mpscomposites.com is the new address, with email mps.composites@free.fr. They make coastal rowing boats and fine shells, and also sell pontoons. Website in French, with English and Spanish versions coming soon (in place, but no copy in the pages yet).
• Rowing Canada Aviron has announced a sponsorship of their Beijing team by pain-killer brand Tylenol (Canada).
• A nice preview of the CAN M8+ which is coming to Lucerne - a video clip on the Toronto Star website. There's a lot of visible hunger to win in that crew at the moment....
• Marlow Regatta (21st-22nd June, UK) is now open for entries on OARA, once again a 2-day regatta despite being listed as 1-day on the ARA website. The events for Saturday have been revised, with a number withdrawn, and on Sunday senior 3 club and student coxed fours have been merged and adaptive events withdrawn. Course-side parking on Sunday is first-come, first-served.
• RowTV (UK) is starting to try out high-definition filming and streaming, with round-ups of some racing at Bedford. Lower-resolution clips from Bedford Regatta are on the RowTV YouTube website.

  Thursday 15th May 2008

• Robert Treharne Jones is coordinating the commentary team for Regatta Radio, which is at Henley Royal for its third year running. He is inviting applications from knowledgeable rowing people who are interested in doing commentary throughout the Royal Regatta this year. "The plan is to extend coverage of racing with more bankside commentary positions and coverage of more races. Candidates for the role will need a fair amount of rowing knowledge, but no previous experience of commentary is necessary - we will be holding training sessions in advance of the regatta, so all that is required is the enthusiasm to learn. Those involved won't have to commit to more than one or two sessions, although anyone wishing to do more will be very welcome!" Expressions of interest please to Robert via phone (07798 925 699) or email. Note that the Regatta Radio frequency will be changing this year - there will be an announcement when it is confirmed. Online streaming is once again expected.
• A new type of rowing group: Wave Rowers (USA). This is an open-water group which meets on the first Sunday of each month around Chesapeake Bay. On 4th May they had 22 shells in the water on Harness Creek off South River near Annapolis, Maryland, and there are now 60-odd members of the group. The aim is to car-top their 1x and 2x to events, and they bring a small number of spare boats which can be used to teach newcomers. No fees, and the goal is just to have a good time rowing. To see more about the group and sign up, visit this website.
• Draw and event instructions for Tees Regatta (UK) are on the regatta website in various formats. Important - note that they will be insisting on seeing the ARA cards of all qualifying-event winners, both juniors and seniors, and will not start the presentation until all cards have been clipped. Also, Empacher slots will be required for numbers, and there will not be any spare slots available on the day.
• The poster for Tyne At Home Regatta (UK) is online. Entries via OARA only, closing at noon on Sunday 25th May.
• The River & Rowing Museum in Henley (UK) is showing an exhibition of Gollon at Henley, a display on the theme of 'beauty and sport' by artist Chris Gollon. The main work is a painting of Henley Royal Regatta, and the exhibition includes his preliminary drawings and studies.
• A Banyoles MasterFest (Spain) is being held on 19th-20th July 2008, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of rowing at Amics Del Rem, a local club on the Banyoles lake. Website in English, Spanish and Catalan.
• Durham University (UK) are running two sculling camps this summer in August: details on the link. They will also be handing out leaflets about the camps from their usual stand behind the finish tower at National Schools.
• Also from Durham, a report on the 2008 Northumbria Boat Race, where they won all four events.

  Wednesday 14th May 2008

• Six crews had to retire from the Celtic Challenge in bad weather on Sunday 4th May (UK). Arklow Ladies won: details here.
• Poster and information on the Bradford Sprint Regatta (UK) is now online (PDF format). Three divisions, doubling within divisions of either rowers or equipment is not allowed. Open for entries on OARA, closes 3pm on Sunday 15th June.

  Tuesday 13th May 2008

• Results for Bedford Regatta (UK) are online.
• A reminder that entries for Twickenham Regatta, including the new lightweight sculling events, close at midnight on Saturday 17th May. Entries via OARA.
• The poster for Hexham Regatta (UK) is online in PDF and Word formats.
• A notice that Egham Regatta (UK) has gone all 21st century and started accepting entries only via OARA (now open). Cheques should still be sent to the entries secretary - no online payment. B events have been added for J14, J15 and J16 4x+ girls and boys, and the entry fees have gone up to 8 pounds a seat barring coxswains, due to an increase in the price of tankards. Closing date is Sunday 22nd June at noon.
• NLroei (Netherlands) has a big gallery of pictures from Gent Regatta last weekend. Print orders can now be fulfilled in just a few days.
• Results from Gent Regatta (Belgium).

  Monday 12th May 2008

• Langstone Cutters won the London to Paris rowing race (UK/France) - news and photographs on the official site. Combined times for the several legs were Langstone Cutters 95hrs 16mins 51secs, and Le Figarow 104hrs, 15mins and 58secs.
• The results of Poplar Regatta (UK) are online in PDF format.
• Jessica Simpson meets London Rowing Club (EntertainmentWise, UK). Mad.

  Friday 9th May 2008

• Apologies for the lack of updates, been a bit busy...
• RowingVoice volume 2 number 3 is now out - see the Voice website for details of how to get it.
• The poster for Durham Regatta (14th-15th June, UK), with all sorts of summer festivities taking place in and around the event.
• The poster for Berwick Regatta (21st June, UK) is online, and entries will open on OARA on 1st June.
• The Rowing Inkling prediction markets (UK) are open for the Munich World Cup regatta so that users can login and trade on the results of the regatta. Planned future markets include the remaining world cups, the Olympics, HRR, HWR, the Met and Marlow. Other regattas and specific events at the above regattas may be added upon request.
• The date has already been flagged up, but just a reminder that Lougborough Regatta (UK) is operating as a separate event from the Veteran Championships this year, and entries close at 18:00 on 4th June, under OARA (which is now open). The move to its own day has made many new events available at the regatta, including veteran novices (a full range) and several new junior events. See link above for more.
• Langstone Cutters won the London to Paris Rowing Race (UK-France).
• Help (UK): "Have you a wreck or an unwanted stern section for disposal? The River & Rowing Museum is desperate to find 3.5 metres of cox-and-stroke seat for its In the Cox's Seat display, which simulates coxing a race on the Henley course through a 360-degree vision helmet. The seat is required for a portable version which, it is hoped, will take to the road before this year's Henley. Offers to Andrew Brown at andrew.brown@rrm.co.uk."
• Help 2 (UK): "Could anyone please lend Weyfarers Rowing Club a trailer to collect four touring boats from Ireland on either 23/24 May or 30 May/1 June? Being large, the boats don't fit on most trailers designed for racing boats. The trailer needs to have a central pylon with arms at least 90 cm long and 50 cm vertical spacing between the arms. The club would be very grateful if anyone can help. Please contact John Turnbull on 07771 807993 or email weyfarers@aol.com."
• A reminder of a few German rowing links - the Deutschland Achter (German M8+), the Frauen Achter (Ger W8+ and related classes), and interviews with Jutta Lau, GER woemn's sculling coach and Lothar Trawiel, GER men's sculling coach. The annual touring rowers' AGM will take place in September in Berlin. (Thanks SK).
• Oars at the ready: 12th University Boat Race promises to be a classic - a press release from Newcastle University about this year's Northern Universities Boat Race (Sunday 11th May, UK).

  Wednesday 7th May 2008

• Injury hiccough for men's four (GB Rowing, UK) - TJ out and Tom Lucy into the M4- for Munich. Lesser-used-spelling credits to press officer Caroline Searle, nice one. The press release includes the confirmed M8+ and M2-'s lineups. Tom Lucy was originally entered in a pair with Olly Moore before this happened.
• A press release from Rowing Canada Aviron (Canada, PDF format) announcing the selection of their first crews for this season. They're going to Lucerne, with some staying in Europe for the Poznan world cup and/or Olympic qualification regatta.
• The draw and timetable for Borne @ Chiswick Regatta (UK) are online, both in PDF format. The information can also be accessed through the old Borne page on the Mortlake Anglian & Alpha website.
• The Saturday and Sunday draws for Durham City Regatta (UK) are online (HTML). Attendees please note that the grass area where trailers are usually parked is still growing, so please use the main car park for trailers, and cars with boats on top should park at the top of the racecourse adjacent to the marshalling area. Campers are welcome on the grass behind the clubhouse - please let the organisers know in advance if hot breakfasts will be required (now that's service).
• Results from Merseyside Regatta (UK) are online in both straight results format and laid out in the programme order (both PDF).
• The Silver Rudder races between Clyde ARC and St Andrew BC (UK) is being revived. Link is to the website for the event being held on 17th May during the Castle Semple Regatta, and includes a video trailer.
• Monmouth Regatta (UK, 24-25 May) is open for entries via OARA. Sprint on Saturday followed by 1500m on Sunday, a straight river course. Details on the Monmouth RC website.
• RowTV (UK) is starting to carry video clips of the UK summer regattas.
• Not normally something I'd do on this page, but there has been a minor flood of positive comments about Wallingford Regatta and in particular their quick results service (UK) so here are a couple which are representative: "Just to let you know I used the results service at Dorney on a mobile - worked great. Results within minutes of the end of races (before the crews had returned the boats to racks) - the way forward for events! PS sent a thankyou to W'ford organisers for a great day's racing: the regatta continues to innovate beyond all others, even doing pre-registration of crews by sending out crew numbers before the day)." And "I would like to confirm that the Wallingford results service worked brilliantly for those with mobile phones. I was racing throughout the day and it was actually quicker to access the website from my phone than to go to the results marquee to see the results. It was also well designed so that it costs very little to access. Perhaps all regattas should have such systems!" 10/10 to WRC.

  Tuesday 6th May 2008

• The Saturday and Sunday draws for Shrewsbury Regatta (UK) are online in PDF format. Competitors and spectators are advised not to drive through the centre of town, since some roads are shut and some one-way streets have had their direction reversed by the council. See this page for maps, advice and directions.
• The draw for Poplar Regatta (UK) is out in PDF format. See the main regatta website for other information including competitor instructions.
• Updates from the London to Paris race, in which Langstone Cutters are leading.
• There was a piece in a Norwegian paper yesterday apparently, entitled "Farewell to the single life", in which Olaf Tufte confirms he's marrying his partner Aina in October and is also looking for an oarsman partner who is driven enough to double with him after Beijing. "Everyone is a possible just so long as they are bothered to train. Talent is the most overplayed word I know', says Tufte. He singled and doubled last weekend at the Norske Studenters Roklub Arung Regatta - full results here in Excel format (NOR).
• Apparently there are plenty more Olympic rowing photos in the various summer Olympic reports published by the IOC after each Games.
• Thought I'd put this link up, but can't find it - Time to lay off Sally: rowing row highlights callous side of punishing sport (Sydney Morning Herald, Australia). May already be online under a different title, but I'm linking it again just in case I did forget to list it.

  Monday 5th May 2008

• Wallingford Regatta's dedicated instant results service worked exceptionally well on the web yesterday (UK), and is probably the fastest way to be sure you can find all the results for a club, event or by specific race number. (Anyone try it on a mobile phone?) The full results page is also available in HTML, with PDF and CSV formats to follow probably some time today.
• Evesham results are out - results Saturday morning and Saturday afternoon with Saturday winners morning and afternoon also separately posted. Look at the regatta index page for more results later (UK, all PDF).
• BUSA results (in part, UK) - results for the first day of racing, Saturday, are already out, though no sign of Sunday's yet. Check back to the BUSA rowing page for updates later.
• Results from Munich Junior Regatta (Germany).
• Picked up on the IOC website, a series of pictures of rowing at the Games. Not chronological, and perhaps the most disturbing is number 28 - if that's a laurel wreath then I wonder how they got them home, let alone on their heads... Gives the lie to the idea that the laurel wreath was a Hitler re-invention though, doesn't it? There are also seven video clips in the IOC rowing collection, though it's a bit embarrassing that so many of them are of either Redgrave or Pinsent.
• The London to Paris rowing race is in France by now - updates on the main website.
• Chester Regatta results in PDF and Word formats (UK).
• Results from Hammersmith Amateur (UK).
• Results from Strathclyde Park Regatta (UK, PDF format).
• A reminder that Tees Regatta (UK) closes at 9pm on Thursday 8th May. Entries via OARA are preferred, but could also be accepted by post or email (no telephone entries).
• Results of Lea Spring Regatta (UK) in PDF and Word format.
• Ramon di Clemente and Donovan Cech (South Africa) are no longer rowing together: Cech having been lost from the squad due to a persistent injury. More detail in Rowing up a new storm (The Times, South Africa).
• Other rowing in the news - Crew team rescued in Lloyd Harbor (Newsday, USA), Radnor coxswain motivates freshman four to victory (Philelphia Inquirer, USA, yet another American journalist falling in love with coxes doing their job), Rowing program sends youths soaring (Baltimore Examiner, USA), Either oar (Dayton Beach News-Journal, USA), RailCorp manager admits stashing cash (ABC Online, Australia - not about rowing directly, but look where he hid his dollars....), Underdone Drysdale trying to make up for lost time (New Zealand Herald, NZ), Real-time report: Olympic ticket-ordering system (The Atlantic, USA, about trying to order rowing tickets for Beijing), A late surge lifts Harvard (Boston Globe, USA), At Windermere Cup, a new kind of rowing rivalry (Seattle Times, USA), Washington sweeps at Windermere Cup (Seattle Times, USA), Poughkeepsie rowers shine at Triangulars (Poughkeepsie Journal, USA), Saratoga, Burnt Hills win (Albany Times Union, USA), Kurlycheck takes a different path (Tampa Tribune, USA), Rowers enjoy the Masters (Aiken Standard, USA), Rockford teams capture titles (Grand Rapids Press, USA), Readers' comments: truth about Athens anger (Sunday Times, Australia), Lidaywa bags silver in Africa championship (Daily Nation, Kenya), Sally sold us down the river (Daily Telegraph, Australia), Racing doubles island population (BBC Sport, UK), Marlow rowers set for Olympics (Maidenhead Advertiser, UK).

  Saturday 3rd May 2008

• Rowing headlines - Rowing's sweet spot (London Free Press, Canada), Martin not missing the boat as part of Drake crew team (Bellevue Leader, USA), Laumann helps push the fun side of sport (Ottawa Citizen, Canada), Rowers honour student (Journal Live, UK), Regatta on tap for today (Aiken Standard, USA), 'Underemployed' not always counted (Philadelphia Inquirer, USA), Kelly Foster is back where she belongs (Everett Herald, USA), Center director draws from lifelong disability (Marin Independent Journal, USA), Teams hope to pull a fast one (Tampa Tribune, USA), Boating rush? It's Montlake Cut (Seattle Post Intelligencer, USA), Twins focus on Beijing but... waters not always calm (Waikato Times, NZ), MSU changes NCAA sports program lineup (WNGO, USA), They're putting their oars in (Bromsgrove Advertiser, UK), Row, row, row your boat admirably out of Murray (Murray State News, USA), Olympian still shaken by ripples of failure (The Australian, Australia), Society approved for facility (Leduc Representative, Canada), Kate's triumph against cancer (Hexham Courant, UK), Universal boost for regatta (Dorset Echo, UK), Celtic Challenge (Wicklow People, Ireland), Soldiers work out for the vets (Basingstoke Gazette, UK), All eyes on the Avon as Evesham Regatta goes ahead (Evesham Journal, UK), Rowers in slide to record books (Chester Chronicle, UK), Boat named after college (Chester Chronicle, UK), Fox River 'just not safe' (Appleton Post Crescent, USA), Oar-some charity challenge (Chester Chronicle, UK), Wow factor: developer seeks approval for iconic building (Limerick Leader, Ireland), Evers-Swindell twins gearing to defend title (TV3 News, NZ), Rowing championships set for Sunday (Philadelphia Inquirer, USA), Even-keeled coach leads UW rowers (Seattle Times, USA), An Olympic legacy: Canadian teams keep the torch burning on Lanier (Gainesville Times, USA), Rower Manjeet gets warm welcome (Punjab Newsline, India), Hanson and Brockton women to compete for world rowing title (Enterprise News, USA), Rowers prepare to take on world (Marlborough Express, NZ), Olivia to row for nation (Mosman Daily, Australia), Sculls pairing pushes Waddell harder (Waikato Times, NZ), Sydney Harbour tragedy lesson for Tasmania (ABC Tasmania, Australia, not directly about rowing but with relevance), Evers-Swindells rule out Beijing flag bearing role (New Zealand Herald, NZ), Austinites focus on Waller Creek Tunnel changes (KXAN-TV, USA), Island lakes take the cake (The Martlet, Canada), Washington rowing continues to roll off wins (International Herald Tribune), Robbins says she 'pushed too hard' (Scopical, Australia), Seattle rower 10 days from world record (Seattle Post Intelligencer blog, USA), Purchase has place at regatta (Worcester News, UK), Boathouse land now known as Rotary Park (WGRZ-TV, USA), Sacred Heart rowers shine (Auckland Stuff, NZ), From rowing to rugby (Press, NZ), 10 hours of racing in tomorrow's River Bann showpiece (Portadown Today, Ireland), Shortest race throws up a conundrum for crews (Guernsey Press and Star, UK), Robbins finally answers that question (The Australian, Australia), Wayland-Weston crew making great strides (Wayland Town Crier, USA), Sarah's success in marathon effort (Suffolk Free Press, UK), Cummins in Darlington & China support St Teresa's Hospice (Newton Press, UK), Club offers paddlers chance to hone skills (Great Falls Tribune, USA), Rowers ready to compete for Journal's cup (Evesham Journal, UK), Stroke, stroke (Louisville Courier-Journal, USA), Challenge on Tyne is issued (Journal Live, UK), Boat honour (Murray Vallen Standard, Australia), Dave's oar-some achievement (Manchester Online, UK), Crew notebook (Press of Atlantic City, USA), Their weekend gig: racing gigs (Boston Globe, USA), Jenny's a rising star (Suffolmk Free Press, UK), US Rowing's small boats make big strides with Guerette (USA Today, USA), Waddell confident health woes sorted (Marlborough Express, NZ), Rower in spotlight at famed London race (Capital Times, USA), Scotland hosts largest university regatta in Europe (BUSA, UK).

  Friday 2nd May 2008

• Due to fast stream conditions and the forecast of rain over the weekend, Marlow Spring Regatta has been moved to Dorney Lake. The programme of racing will be as published: an updated safety plan, instructions to crews etc. will be posted on the regatta website later. The organisers regret that they will have to make a charge for parking but boat trailers and crew buses will be exempt.
• The body of Maximilian, the 12-year-old lost in an accident in Leipzig (Germany) just under three weeks ago, has been found. This article from LVZ online has more. Translation to follow shortly (I've got it, just got to format for the web).
• The drawfor Bedford Regatta (10th May, UK) is now available. Entries were closed two days early due to reaching full capacity.
• The results from Chester le Street Regatta are online in PDF and Word/RTF format (UK).
• Henley Women's Regatta (20th-22nd June, UK) is now open for entries via their own online system. Closing date 2nd June at 2pm. The organisers would also like to draw attention to the late change to the rule regarding previous competitors in Home Countries Regattas entering intermediate events. This now reads: "No crew shall contain any oarswoman, who has, in the last 5 years,......e) Raced in a senior event or won a junior event at a Home Countries regatta in the relevant discipline". This brings the rule into line with others in the section. There's also something about "combining lightweight events under elite and senior categories" which I am pretty sure just refers to how you make the entries, not that the lightweight events are disappearing (they are still listed in the full qualification rules).
• The age-category calculator on the Vet Champs website (UK) is now working on all browser types, and presumably is quite useful for other events too.
• From the ARA, Sir Steve Redgrave honours David Sherriff (UK).
• Video clip: Local Manchester TV Channel M presenters row with Salford and Manchester universities (UK).

  Thursday 1st May 2008

• The entry lists and provisional timetable for the Munich World Cup next week are out (FISA).
• FISA recent articles - Asia's turn for Olympic qualification, 23 rowers qualify for Beijing Olympics, High stakes for first Rowing World Cup of 2008, Piecing together Australia's rowing team, First for Oppelt at German national championships.
• Belsize Architects (UK), who designed the new University College boathouse in Oxford, also designed a new look for the Lea Rowing Club. See their website - click on Boathouse for Univ, and Lea RC for the London project. Above both big pictures there are thumbnails which give you other views and plans.
• The London to Paris rowing race begins on Friday 2nd May (UK/France).
• The Question of Sport edition with Katherine Grainger is now online (UK, may only be available to those with a UK IP address).
• Bristol Avon at Saltford Regatta (UK) is open for entries on OARA. The whole thing has altered from previous years - new date, new location and new course. This time it's being held on the Head course, at Avon County RC in Saltford, between Bath and Bristol, over 1000m.
• The poster is up for Barnes & Mortlake Regatta (UK, 14th June).
• GB team press from today - Partridge culled from men's four (Martin Cross, Guardian), Jurgen Grobler aims for improved cup with change to the coxless four (Patrick Kidd, The Times), Tom James earns place in flagship boat for Beijing (Patrick Kidd, The Times), New blow for Partridge (Frank Malley, Sporting Life), GB unveil new-look coxless four (Martin Gough, BBC, with a video clip from Steve Redgrave), James looks to be on board for Beijing Olympics (icWales, UK), Alex Partridge suffers Olympic woe again (RQ, Telegraph, but something of a mishmash between what I wrote and the official press release).