Thursday 30th November 2006
- Due to stream conditions, the Hampton Small Boats Head (UK) has been cancelled.
- Wallingford Head (UK) on Sunday is definitely cancelled. From the club: "Even before our planned inspection on Thursday evening, the river has broken its banks at Wallingford, and we are advised that there is no prospect of the stream slackening, or any of the access and boating areas being usable. So, regretfully, we have taken the decision to cancel the 2006 Head Race. No cheques have been cashed, and all will be ceremonially destroyed, so you will have full refunds. What a shame; it promised to be a very competitive day."
Wednesday 29th November 2006
- The draw for Rutherford Head (UK, Excel format) is online.
- The Hanlan Boat Club and University of Toronto (Canada) seek a combined head coach. See the job advert (MS Word format) - closing date 15th December. Questions can go to Gary Stinson.
- Another rowing organisation which doesn't seem able to put its own news up on its own site. The latest Cambridge Sport Lakes newsletter (UK, PDF format) is available.
- ARA clubs (UK) need to get their water safety audit in before 31st December - see the links on the page for the relevant online methods. It would be sensible for everyone sending by email to keep a copy to prove when it was sent, and for those filling in forms online to take a screenshot of the page, preferably with the computer's date and time showing.
- From FISA, Rowing marks 150 years in Portugal and Water and tbe Beijing rowing course - the Chinese have put the water in! Complete with an illustrative photograph of the lake and a picture of Matt Smith overtopping Svetla Otzetova and the local project bosses.
- The Cincinnati Enquirer (USA) says that "The University of Cincinnati will add women's lacrosse and discontinue its women's rowing program at the conclusion of its traditional season in the spring of 2007." Shame.
- Other news - Native islanders to have boating-center plan input (Hilton Head Island Packet, USA), Rowing club won't give up the ship (San Diego Union Tribune, USA), Down Under trip for Jacqui (Hunts Post, UK), Famous rower Roz refused club membership (Portsmouth News, UK), Once is not enough for this trans-Atlantic escapade (Seattle Times, USA), Crew strives towards perfection in difficult sport (The Lariat, USA), Rotorua girls enjoy their comfy win (Daily Post, NZ), Top honour for Punjabi University rowers (Chandigarh Newsline, India), Station Maine, island rowers excel in Icebreaker Regatta (Knox VillageSoup, USA), The tide is turning for the rowers (CNN-IBN, India), Rowers find welcoming waters, homes in area (Princeton Packet, USA), Evers-Swindell twins out of Jury Cup (Wanganui Chronicle, NZ), Rowing without getting soaking (News Shopper, UK), Rowers may get home (Daily Iowan, USA), Putting the wind up sailing (Shetland Marine News, UK - peripheral, but rowing is included.)
- And New appraoches to instrument design (New York Times, USA - what Echo Rowing recreational shellbuilder Douglas Martin gets up to in his spare time).
Tuesday 28th November 2006
- The 2007 Scottish selection policy (Scotland, UK, in Word format) has just been published on the Scottish rowing website. Triallists note that registration and an erg test must be completed by 9th December.
- Beats me why Rowing NZ can't put this online themselves, but here is a Word press release and sample picture about a new Rowing New Zealand calendar being launched by Rob Waddell's mum and Darnelle Timbs' mum in aid of the NZ Rowing Foundation. Postcards are also planned.
- Available from John Bailey of Southampton ARC (UK), "Rowing the Crest of the Waves", a history of rowing in Southampton and the Hants and Dorset Amateur Rowing Association, from 1856-2000. For copies, contact John as above.
- Pete Reed tells me his lungs have been retested at the UK's Olympic Institute, and are now measured at 11.68 litres (total lung capacity). See here for the original feature. Tangentially, the OMI website carries the story of Matt Wells' 2005-6 rehabilitation from injury as one of its features.
Monday 27th November 2006
- The ARA (UK) has released a brief statement following Saturday's Council meeting. A bit more comment on the rec.sport.rowing newsgroup thread (or at least there will be when Google Groups has caught up with a couple of weekend postings). There is a short overview on the Tideway Slug today too (article entitled "The price of performance").
- The Tideway Slug (UK) also has a pertinent piece about the Performing Rights Society dunning UK clubs for playing music in gyms, bars, etc. And a link to the CASC music survey aiming to collect evidence on behalf of CCPR about how non-profit-making sports clubs use music, to support a case that club PRS fees should not be exorbitant. For those who take the time to fill the survey in, it would be a good idea to make the use of your AV equipment clear, ie whether you just accompany erg sessions with music or sometimes hold parties, as well as how income derived from music-related activities is used.
- The ARA (UK) is looking for a part-time doctor for the GB adaptive squad and the Central Council for Physical Recreation is looking for looking for an outdoor policy officer (PDF on the ARA website). The basic details on music for members' clubs is here on the PRS website, but note that there are specific subsections for different types of clubs, so you would need to get in touch with them to establish how much a licence would cost you. If you don't get a licence and need to, then you are liable legally. See the PRS legal section.
- Local CDO Jo Atkinson has done a report on the Birmingham Schools Indoor Championship on the ARA website (UK).
- Matt Smith (FISA) tells me that instead of the Asian Games course being reduced to 1000m, it was always that length, since Doha doesn't have enough space for a 2km course. (Just goes to show local news sources don't always know what they're talking about). The regatta begins on 3rd December, with finals 6th and 7th - results will be here on the official site when it gets going. At present there are 20 countries listed as taking part in the rowing.
- Rowing headlines around the world - POC chief wants bigger incentives for amateur athletes (Balita, Philippines), Secretary of State announces $959,000 in grants for waterfront revitalization in Buffalo (Empire, USA), Jury Cup not without its problems (Wanganui Chronicle, NZ), Rowers tired of harassment (Wanganui Chronicle, NZ), Ken powers to top 10 championship finish (Whitby Today, UK), Olympian urgents business chiefs to go for gold in 2012 (Northern Echo, UK), Delighted Debbie scoops a silver (Dorset Echo, UK), Value for money in the AU? (a pair of thoughtful pieces in the Wessex Scene, UK), Paralympics venue plan unveiled (BBC Sport, UK), Canada's new government announces the creation of Podium Canada (press release, with CAN Olympian Dr. Roger Jackson the first CEO), Get a slice of Olympic pie (Peterborough Evening Telegraph, UK), First step towards rowing club merger (Wanganui Chronicle, NZ), Oarsome effort results in medals (icCheshire Online, UK), Rowers pull out all the stops (icCheshire Online, UK), Gobind Sagar Lake, a favourite dumping ground in Himachel Pradesh (Daily India, India), Former captains honoured (Bucks Free Press, UK).
Saturday 25th November 2006
- Late update: Marlow Fours and Pairs Head has been completely cancelled due to stream, weather and boating conditions.
- More UK cancellations: Burway, Star and Glasgow heads are also off due to weather conditions. The Glasgow Fours Head has been rescheduled for 9th December.
Friday 24th November 2006
- The weather's hit Britain. Evesham's Head of the Avon (UK) due to take place on Saturday has been cancelled because of a high and fast river with strong winds forecast.
- Competitors for the Marlow Fours and Pairs head race (UK) this weekend are advised to check the events website for updates about the river conditions. If a fast stream persists the event may be reduced or cancelled.
- More cancellations - Christ Church novice regatta in Oxford (UK) has just been called off after two days of racing, due to high stream conditions.
- From FISA, Good fortune for Uruguay at South American Games.
- A group of Oxford students (UK) are doing a Hands Up for Darfur erg rowathon from 10am to 6pm on Sunday 26th November at the Longbridges boathouse on the Isis. Visitors and donors welcome, and Sunday newspapers and snacks will be available.
- Oarsport (UK) tell me they have quite a few odd sweep oars left over from splitting sets up. They need to clear them out to make room for new stock, and are offering to help complete sets or replace breakages for a reduced price of £150+VAT (usually £190+VAT). Clubs should contact them via the website with requirements, and they will have a hunt round and see what they can find.
- RowTV has clips from the Fours Head (UK) online now, taken off Hammersmith Bridge. A lovely shot of Scowlers still going past the Pink Palace is about a minute in on the first clip, after some shots of ducks, spectators and marshals footling about waiting for it to start.
- Somehow omitted earlier in the week, the Fours Head crew names and photos list (UK).
- Rowers who cross-train in Richmond Park (London, UK) be warned that there has been police attention on unsafe cycling in the area recently. It might be a good idea not to overtake motor vehicles who are sticking to the 20mph speed limit, nor to ride in big groups, for a while. Speed traps are being considered, and cycling club London Dynamo, who are attempting to smooth things over agreeably, have asked for considerate, cautious and lawful behaviour from cyclists.
- Rowing in the newspapers: Eating disorder warning to young sports stars (Norwich Evening News, UK), Mill site homes draw a line-up (Globe and Mail, Canada), Beijing suburbs to have state-of-the-art water sports venue (syndicated, China), Big changes proposed for George Lane Park (High River Times, Canada), Westporter Hamlin wins Head of the Charles regatta (Westport-News, USA - go Charlie!), Conditions in Doha helpful for Phuttharaksa (Nation Multimedia, Thailand), Plan for CCTV cameras to be extended to quay (Dorset Echo, UK), Susie celebrates silver medal at huge event (Hereford Times, UK), Cambridge pair's no-show escalates funding dispute (Guardian Unlimited, UK), Queensland rowers challenge Victoria (UQ News, Australia), Gold medal performance by Ben Houlison (Lithgow Mercury, Australia), Hingham Sports Partnership gets it done - again! (Hingham Journal, USA), Maritime Rowing wins gold for third year straight (Norwalk Citizen, USA), Pensioners' silver glory (Weston & Somerset Mercury, UK), Silva gunning for gold (Eurosport, France), Richmond's plan for rowing tank riles other sports groups (Vancouver Province, Canada), Olympians return to Ballarat to reminisce (Milton Ulladulla Times, Australia).
Thursday 23rd November 2006
- Sad UK news: "It is with great sadness that we inform you that Derek Ritson, a long-standing member of Talkin Tarn ARC, died unexpectedly on 21st
November 2006. His funeral will be held at the Crematorium in Carlisle at 11am
on Wednesday 29 November 2006."
- A plea for help (from Poland): "My name is Michal Stawowski, a rower of Polish national crew (8+). A few weeks ago I graduated from the University of Kazimierz Wielki in Bydgoszcz which gives me opportunity to open a
rowing section for youngsters in my rowing club AZS-UMK Torun (87-100 Torun, street Ks. Popieuszki 1, Poland). In Poland we dont have many suppliers for rowing equipment and my section doesnt even have oars yet. Because of that I found a lot of clubs in UK which have old, significantly shabby rowing shells and oars. My truck will visit Great Britain between 27-th and 30-th of December just to collect or buy for a symbolic price old rowing shells or oars. If there is such a possibility that in your club there is an old ruined shell that you would like to get rid of, could you please contact me by e-mail and I'll contact you. Please do not treat this as a stupid SPAM. Give Polish kids a chance to start adventure with a professional sport."
- Entries for the Wycliffe Small Boats Head on 2nd December (UK) are now closed, after being oversubscribed.
- "Cotswold Rowing Club (UK) in partnership with the Cotswold Water Park are pressing ahead with plans for a 1500m rowing lake and hope to have this in service with some supporting infrastructure by mid 2007. If any clubs have boats, blades, racking, launches, buildings and other equipment that are serviceable, but surplus to requirements, please contact Terry Hardie or Robin Walker. Please direct membership enquiries to Terry Hardie."
- Oarsport (UK) now has the official Eton 2006 World Championships DVD for sale on their site.
- A website for the Goree Challenge (USA, ocean rowing project in aid of AIDS). There will be a press conference at City Hall, New York (USA) on Sunday 26th November at 3pm local time.
Wednesday 22nd November 2006
- The start order and competitor information for Marlow Fours and Pairs Head this weekend is now online.
- A page about Peter Reed (UK) on the Sporting Excellence bit of the Nailsworth town website. Peter's mother is apparently the town's Mayor.
- Heather Dunsdon has an original rudder from the Merton Eight of 1936 (I presume Merton College, Oxford - UK). The rowers' names and weights and the cox's name are inscribed, and the steering ropes are also attached. Sounds like a cox's trophy from a blades crew. If anyone is interested in purchasing it (the college? an alumnus?) then please call Heather on 07796928617.
- UK Sport at the centre of funding fight (Chris Dodd, Independent, UK), Funds issue may force Britons out of Boat Race (John Goodbody, The Times, UK), Boat Race pair pay price of ambition (Rachel Quarrell, Telegraph, UK. The subs cut a major paragraph in which I pointed out that although restrictions on funding may be fair if they can't train centrally, students are the most squeezed of all with no time in which to earn extra cash to help their funds, and rising tuition fees. If the new system continues, it may be hard for them to cope if they make the transition to the national senior squad midway through their undergraduate degree.)
Tuesday 21st November 2006
- The Rames Guyane ocean rowing race has started, east-west from Saint Louis, Senegal, to Saint Laurent, French Guyana. The rowers are two days in by now.
- From FISA, Sculling rivals join for course record, Winter racing in Spain, National day for eights.
- Rowing in the news - Old boathouse at Ditto to be leveled ahead of schedule (Huntsville Times, Canada), Olympic medal hopes dig in oars over grant cuts (Martin Cross, Guardian, UK), Hunter from Maryland drowns on way to W. Virginia (ABC 7 News, USA - not strictly rowing but relevant), Happy days are here again! (Kolkata Newsline, India), Crane tips over at Conn College (The Day, USA), Sports minister and BUSA back groundbreaking university sports programme (BUSA news, UK), We got couple counselling to keep on rowing (Telegraph, UK), Couple starts youth rowing club (syndicated, USA), Another sprint regatta in rowing club pipeline (Gisborne Herald, NZ), USRowing holds November small boat regatta (Row2k, USA), Tugun sneak in for upset surfboat victory (Gold Coast Bulletin, Australia), Redefining retirement: Bill Feaster, 60, of Gainesville (Gainesville Sun, USA), Hidden talent (The Nation, Sri Lanka), Restoring a Wright: Buffalo resurrects its architectural heritage (Pittsburgh Post Gazette, USA), Final salute (obituary of Captain Edward Davis, Lancaster Online, USA), Lagoon closed as search for rogue sea lion continues (San Francisco Chronicle, USA), Swimmers bitten by sea lion at SF aquatic park (CBS 5, USA), Bronzed Barnes (Horsham Today, UK), Atlantic heroes Paul and Tori dedicated book to Linda (Limerick Post, Ireland), Elementary for Watson (icBerkshire, UK), Betenson bronze (This is Wiltshire, UK), Punjab introduces cash award policy for sports men (Punjab Newsline, India), Tomkins and Ginn reunite (Melbourne Herald Sun, Australia), Golds galore for Bedfordshire rowers (Bedford Today, UK), Tomkins considers Oarsome comeback (Sydney Morning Herald, Australia), CRD to clarify Elk Lake rowing rules (Victoria Times Colonist, Canada), Seattle storms spoil Strokes' weekend away (Contra Costa Times, USA), Damian sets sights on Paralympic Games (West Sussex Observer, UK), Rowers go indoors to keep their stroke (Albany Times Union, USA), Lucky seven for Roger (Isle of Wight County Press, UK), Warrington crews make a splash indoors (Widnes and Runcorn World, UK), The row house (Sydney Morning Herald, Australia), Transatlantic rower James Cracknell reveals hidden depths (Personnel Today, UK), Iran's rower aim to rock the boat at Asian Games (Daily Times, Pakistan).
Monday 20th November 2006
- UK plea for help: Travelling back from the Fours Head on the A1 at the weekend, just outside Edinburgh the EUBC trailer flipped over in high winds. It, together with the wreckage of several shells including their top four 4+s, is being recovered from the roadside. EUBC would be extremely grateful for any offers of help with trailing and equipment while they're sorting out their own fleet. They had intended to attend Glasgow Fours Head and Rutherford Head during the next two weekends, along with a training camp on the Tyne in early January. Offers of loans of fours, blades etc. would be most appreciated. Could anyone able to help please email either David Anderson (men's captain, s0459213@sms.ed.ac.uk) or Richard Lawrence (boatman, s0341897@sms.ed.ac.uk).
- A new website for the Community Amateur Sports Club scheme (CASC) which allows sports clubs to benefit from business tax relief and from Gift Aid (the latter even if they're not a registered charity, which is a big bonus).
- Results of the York City Small Boats Head (UK) with an intriguing message about why they were delayed from going online yesterday.
- And PDF results of the C round of the Isis Winter League (on the Isis, UK). IWL A in October was cancelled: IWL B results are here from last week. The course is from Donnington Bridge to a point near the Rowing On finish line.
Sunday 19th November 2006
- Fours Head results (UK): plain text file with times, a PDF in finishing order, a PDF of results by event, a PDF of results in alphabetical order, the list of pennant winners, and penalties list. Crews who raced for time only are listed on the main results indexc page.
Friday 17th November 2006
- A notice for the North East Indoor Rowing Championships (UK) at Durham University on Wednesday December 6th, 1pm. Entries close 26th November. I hope the allcomers and perhaps veteran events will be timed to allow those at work to join in...
Thursday 16th November 2006
- From FISA, Drysdale disrupts Scandinavian affair, Three in a row for Benton at the British Champs, and Season review triggers Dutch coaching changes.
- A website for Cambridge Rowing Shells Ltd (UK). UK-built shells computer-designed by Gunther Borutta, and with self-bailing incorporated.
- Iran women to rock the boat at Asian Games (Stuart Williams, Middle East Times, Iran).
- Newsbite - Norwegian king is awarded honorary degree (BBC, UK).
- Drysdale and Karsten set new records at Silver Skiff (Alberto Graziano on the Rowing Service). Also Mahe's race has a silver lining (from Rowing New Zealand).
- From the NE Rowing group (UK), a summary of the recent Northern Rowing Council meeting including new officers elected, and rowing awards.
Wednesday 15th November 2006
- Tom Blaylock is doing a 100km sponsored erg this Friday for Children in Need (UK). If anyone would like to sponsor him please visit this link and follow the instructions. Every penny given goes to support disadvantaged children and young people in the UK. No administrative or promotional costs are paid for out of money raised by donations.
- Spark Fun Electronics and In2Rowing (USA) are releasing two new electronic products: the In2 Trinity (for coxes) and In2 Solo (for coxless boats). Built-in GPS gives boat speed and there is mention of measuring the shell check too (interesting). A short PDF press release is also on the site.
- A website for the Shanghai Pei Sheng Boat Corporation Ltd (China), in Mandarin and English. No sign of visible prices. Note that 'racing boat' means rowing boat, as opposed to dragonboat, kayak etc.
- Phil Clapp of Maidenhead RC (UK) has been nominated for the BBC Young Person Sports Personality of the Year. BBC shot some footage at the club last weekend, which will be shown this coming Saturday on BBC 2 at 11:45am, apparently.
Tuesday 14th November 2006
- A memorial service for Isabel and David Cazes will be held at 11am on
Monday 27 November 2006 at St Mary's church, Henley-on-Thames (UK).
- The GB junior trials results division one and division two (UK) are now online.
- A website for the Rowing Club de Strasbourg (France), in French only.
Monday 13th November 2006
- For British Indoor Champs information (UK) see yesterday's news.
- The GB junior trials (UK) took place on Saturday 11th at Boston, over a shortened (2.5km) stretch because of poor conditions at the top end of the course. The links to the results files have been put up by Boston RC on their new domain name, but as I have already pointed out to a couple of the club contacts, the filenames must be wrong or not yet online. Here are the links in case this is corrected before I next update: division one and division two.
- For the SilverSkiff and Kinderskiff results from this weekend in Turin (Italy) see the Silverskiff home page, click on Italian or English to choose your language, and then see the 'ranking' header as appropriate. Adult men's and women's winners were Mahe Drysdale (next four Karonen, Tufte, Luini and Tucker), and Ekaterina Karsten (next four Guerette, Nordahl - well done Marianne! - Bascelli and Hofmann).
- Results from Kingston Small Boats Head (UK).
- Mikrotime has results from the Pangbourne Junior Head (UK).
- Results from the Inverness Fours and Small Boats Heads on the Inverness RC results page (Scotland) in different formats.
- Results from yesterday's Stourport Small Boats Head are up on the Stourport home page (UK). Quick work.
- And those from the Trafford Head on Saturday (UK) are also up (PDF format).
- And the Cambridge Winter Head results are also online (UK). Has everybody been incredibly efficient this weekend, by any chance?
- Poplar have stuck the results of their Docklands Head up in PDF format where the draw used to be - even cannier.
- Corrected repost of an earlier notice: Tom Cronin says Reading Rowing Club (UK) picked up a set of sculls at Henley Small Boats Head by accident. If someone can tell him the make and markings they will return them.
- On 19th November Richard McElroy will attempt to cycle 1,200km solo and unsupported through Oman in aid of the Harry Mahon Cancer Research Trust (UK). The Trust has now raised over £30,000 for cancer research: details on the HMCRT's website as above.
- From the BBC website: Allister Bowtell. Sculptor and prop-maker has died aged 66. "Allister Bowtell is best known as the creator of the Cybermen for Dr. Who and Rod Hull's Emu. He made many weird and wonderful props for Monty Python's Flying Circus, the Goodies and Viv Stanshall's cult film Sir Henry at Rawlinson's End. The sculptor - who was said to resemble the legendary cricketer WG Grace - was also chairman of the Chelsea Arts Club and vice president of the Vesta Rowing Club. He held renowned parties on Boat Race Day. On Last Word, Matthew Bannister speaks to movie art director Don Grant and Vernon Bohay Nowell, Bowetell's prop-making partner, to recall the eccentric experience of working with him. Allister Bowtell was born 2nd June 1940. He died 20th September 2006." Click the link to see the Last Word website and listen again to the Bowtell edition (valid until Friday this week only).
- For those interested in surfboat rowing in the UK, the UK Surf Rowers League is holding an AGM on Sunday 19th November at 2pm at the RNLI Support Centre in Wadebridge, Cornwall. For information about the UKSRL see their website, and note that Twickenham RC runs surfboat rowing in London.
Sunday 12th November 2006
- The Rowing Service is doing a regularly-updating results summary from the British Indoor Rowing Championships 2006, happening today in Birmingham. C2 UK are doing race reports and detailed results on the event website, which also holds the press releases. Traditionalists will be pleased to hear that the championships organisers and competitors (in the main hall at least) observed the Remembrance Day 2-minute silence earlier this morning.
- Results of the Wear Long Distance Sculls (UK) are out.
Friday 10th November 2006
- Entries are now open for the Wycliffe Small Boats Head on 2nd December (UK). Entries only via OARA, and note that the last 5 years have been oversubscribed, with 25% of entries taken for this year's event already by this morning.
- Monmouth RC (UK) are holding a Winter Head on Sunday December 10th, not January 28th as reported in this month's Rowing and Regatta Magazine. Two divisions, one of 2300m, the other of 4000m, river conditions permitting. Full details here on the club website.
- Liverpool Victoria RC (UK) are running a Head of the Float on 9th December. Link is to a PDF poster for the event.
- OARA is open for entries from the Marlow Fours and Pairs Head (UK) on 26th November.
- Details of the BUSA Splash & Dash are up on the C2 Universities subsite (UK). The date is Saturday 9th December, NOT the date given in R&R Magazine (again!).
- More UK notices online.
- An update on Jane Rumball's Row Against Cancer fund-raising (Canada).
- Details of Durham ARC's buy a brick scheme (Word format) for their new boathouse (UK). Each donor gets two lines of text on their brick, which will be put into a dedicated visible bit of the outside of the new building.
Thursday 9th November 2006
- Sad news from earlier this week (Germany): Two rowers die in boat accident (in German - see Babelfish for a rough translation).
- From the Burton Mail (UK): Ferry man receives award from police.
- The Rowing Service's spy in London, the rarely-seen Putney Winkle, was invited to the All-Party Parliamentary Rowing Group reception yesterday. Grazing gleefully on House of Commons scones, strawberries and cream, La Winkle discovered that just before Henley Royal Regatta 2007 there will be a Lords versus Commons race on the Thames outside the Palace of Westminster.
Wednesday 8th November 2006
- Backlog clearing - loads of UK notices. More tomorrow or Friday.
Tuesday 7th November 2006
- Tom Cronin says Reading Rowing Club (UK) picked up a set of sculls at Henley Small Boats Head by accident. If someone can tell him the make and markings they will return them.
- The start order for Wear Scullers Head (UK) is online in Excel format. The organisers will be observing the traditional Remembrance Day 2-minute silence at the start of the event so crews are asked to make sure they are boated on time to help the officials stay silent.
- The NRC Regional Umpire Commission Chairman's report (UK, Word format) is online at the Northern Rowing Council website.
- The Canadian National Championships results for Monday's heats and reps (PDF format).
- A bit more on the FISA award winners (see Monday's news).
- The NSPCC National Training Centre (UK) is running a workshop in event planning involving young people on Monday 11th December.
- And in more news from the ARA (UK), Runcorn RC has bagged itself a peppercorn-rent boathouse on land from INEOS Fluor, or will have by next summer. Good work. More details about the project and its current status on the club's website.
- The ARA (UK) is after a new publications officer.
Monday 6th November 2006
- FISA announcements - the winners of the FISA Awards for 2006 are Ekaterina Karsten (female crew of the year), the Polish M4x - Konrad Wasielewski, Marke Kolbowicz, Michal Jelinksi and Adam Korol (male crew of the year), Gianni Postiglione - Greece's technical director (coach of the year) and Penny Chuter (FISA distinguished service award). Congratulations to all.
- Results of the Hylton Scullers Head (UK) are online.
- The draw for the Fours Head (UK) has been finalised.
- Results of Canada's National Championship time-trials are available as a PDF file. Winners were M Prince (LW1x), K Light & M Howard (M2-), and D Marquardt & J Rumball (W2-). Other classes with fewer than 18 entries didn't need to have a time-trial.
- The draw for the Docklands Head (UK) is out, in PDF format.
- On the Northern Rowing Council site (UK) the Junior Commissioner report and RSA report are now available in Word format.
- Biorower (Austria) say they have cut their prices on the S1 and R2 models by 25% from now until December.
- Quikky Games (UK) have released their Bumps and Oarsome rowing board games in a new tin format for Christmas. Precise link here. The inventors encourage users to change the formal rules, which is probably a good idea as they're rather five-year-old in nature.
Saturday 4th November 2006
- UK sad news: "City of Oxford Rowing Club sadly announces the death of Paul Hiscock - oarsman, ex-Club Captain and coach. Paul was born in Oxford and joined Hannington Rowing Club in 1964, age 16. He continued to row for the club until City of Oxford Rowing Club was formed from the amalgamation of Hannington RC and Neptune RC in 1968.He rowed with City of Oxford RC and then spent time in Spain and Holland. On returning to the UK he reappeared at CORC and began coaching. Paul is remembered by all at CORC for his wisdom, humour, an excellent eye for the sport and a joyous appreciation of the social side of rowing. He shared every high and low of the club in his own irreverent way, and was an institution at events from Henley and Ghent, to Hereford regatta and dark cold days at the Wycliffe heads. We will all miss him very much.Paul' funeral will take place on Friday 10th November 2006 at 12 noon at Oxford Crematorium in Bayswater Road, Headington, Oxford OX3 9RZ. Paul's brother Peter and his sister-in-law Cathy would like to extend an invitation to everyone to come along to City of Oxford Rowing Club after the service for an opportunity to join together to remember Paul. It is the family's wishes that a fund is set up to enable a boat to be purchased for his beloved Club. Anyone who wishes to send flowers are welcome, but alternatively donations to the fund may be made on the day or through cheques made payable to CORC, marked `Paul Hiscock fund', and sent to City of Oxford Rowing Club, City Boathouse, Meadow Lane, Oxford OX4 4BL."
Friday 3rd November 2006
- A few bits of information from the Thames Regional Rowing Council (UK) - concern over MK 1 oarlocks.
- On the Rowing Canada Aviron website, a preview of the national championships, which unlike some countries is timed to include the national squad triallists, details of the $10,000 (CAN) prize purse on offer, and the Canadian Nat Champs draw (PDF).
- The Rowing Canada jobs page has details of various posts, including a national domestic development officer. Details also in French.
- The first British University Rowing newsletter (MS Word format) can be downloaded from Concept 2's University sub-site (UK).
- Another press release about the 3rd meeting of the Societa Centenare of Pallanza (Italy).
- In the UK, the Northern Rowing Council AGM notice, NRC's Coaching Development Officer's report, NRC Div Rep's report, NRC Coaching Commissioner's report, and the NRC Treasurer's report. All in MS Word format apart from the Treasurer's report, which is more suitably an Excel spreadsheet.
Thursday 2nd November 2006
- "A meeting of all those interested in rowing in the Lake District (UK) will be held in the heart of the Lake District on Saturday 11th November 2006 in the evening. For further details contact Roger or Sue Heise (roger.heise(at)heise-data(dot)de or sue.heise(at)heise-data(dot)de) by Wednesday 8th November."
- Results from Huntingdon Head (UK, Excel format). At least, I think they're this year's results, but not certain.
- From FISA, more news from around the world: Taking rowing into Tokyo City, Records fall in Lake Geneva tour and Hylton LDS draw (UK) first published yesterday has been amended with some minor corrections. Competitors who have already looked are advised to check it again.
Wednesday 1st November 2006
- The Scullers Head (UK, 12:30 December 2nd) is open for entries. The organisers say "Come and race the famous Mortlake to Putney course - on your own so you don't have to share the glory - or the pain!" Entry forms on the Vesta website or via OARA. Closing date is Saturday 18th November, ie Fours Head day.
- Start order for the Hylton Long Distance Sculls (UK) is online in Excel format.
- Wallingford Head (UK, 3rd December) is now accepting entries via OARA (only). The event was oversubscribed last year and the first 130 paid OARA entries in each division will be accepted. Enquiries to entries@wallingford.rowing.org.uk.
