Archive News from November 2007

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

There is a full Rowing Service archive index online.

Thursday 29th November 2007

Imperial College BC (UK) are advertising for a new Head of Rowing (Word document). Closing date for applications is Wednesday 19th December 2007.
According to a source... "Bournemouth UniversityBC have finally done it - got naked! In order to raise money for club funds and their University charities, they have put together a 2008 calendar. Further information and details on how to order from the BUBC website (UK).
A reminder that entries for Monmouth Winter Head (UK) close on Monday 3rd December at 6pm.
Zambia rowing revival (WorldRowing, FISA).
Wednesday 28th November 2007
Results of last weekend's Hel van het Noorden ("Hell of the North", the Dutch selection trials), are under Uitslagen (see here and here for the two division results in PDF format). Pictures on the NLRoei gallery (Netherlands), which also has a full report in Dutch. According to my correspondent, "strong and cold northwesterly winds were blowing. Diederik Simon came too close to the bank, and found himself swimming..." (Thanks KV).
Not directly rowing, but connected. A UK reader writes: "It would be great to get some support for the RNLI from the rowing community - up in the North we have a fantastic Dracula Drop bungee jump in Whitby harbour on Sat 26th April 2008, as well as the chance to both abseil and zipslide from the top of Baitings Dam in West Yorks (21/22 June 08). To fit in with summer training, we also have guaranteed places at the Tamworth 10km run (Sun 4th May) and the Great Manchester Run (Sun 18th May) - and of course the big one, the Great North Run (Sun 5th Oct). Full details can be found on the RNLI website, by emailing events_n@rnli.org.uk or by calling 0161 787 8779."
Tuesday 27th November 2007
Rating40, a new internet forum for global discussion, based in New Zealand but open to all.
This Paralympic press release confirms that FISA has officially joined the IPC, after this weekend's annual general assembly.
The Northern Rowing Council's annual club development conference (UK) will be held at Durham ARC on Sunday 20th January 2008. Details via the regional development officers, speakers to be announced later.
The draw for Wycliffe Small Boats Head (UK) is online, in their usual multiple formats. PDF-reader required for most files, and competitor instructions are also online. Warning re: parking - apparently the car parking field is soft after the recent rain, so please will competitors arrive in the minimum possible number of cars. Thanks.
Rutherford Head start order, instructions etc. available as downloads from the NE Rowing news page (UK). Excel, Word and PDF formats variously.
Start order and competitor information for Hampton Head (UK) will be on Hampton School's rowing pages some time this afternoon.
PhotoShop snappers (UK) were the official event photographers for Marlow Fours & Pairs Head and have their albums online. They donated Ł50 to the event to help lower costs to competitors.
Secret to success - a good personality (from the latest Time Magazine, global).
Other headlines catching up from the last couple of weeks. In reverse date order - BBC to follow Britain's Olympic hopefuls in documentary series "Olympic Dreams" (Indian Television news), Official recognition for veteran journalist (PR-Inside press release, Europe), British indoor rowing eyes junior boom (World Rowing, FISA), Four pack their bags for Beijing, but they will carry a heavy load (The Age, Australia), Arthur's turn to be guest of honour (Limerick Post, Ireland), Ocean Summit first boat to pass scrutineering (BYM News, Spain), Tim puts survival skills to the test with Atlantic challenge (Northern Echo, UK), Early nod for Olympic rowers (ABC Online, Australia), Maori sporting heroes take the world by storm (Scoop, NZ), GCG-11 win PU inter-collegiate rowing championships (Chandigarh Newsline, India), No sport too tough for McKay (Armidale Express, Australia), Happy landings for rowers (Oxford Mail, UK), Finalists for the Courier-Mail Konica Minolta Queensland Sports Star awards (News.com, Australia), Aramoho keeps hold on trophy (Tarankai Daily News, NZ), Students start rowing club at the University of Minnesota (WKBT, USA), Ripley quick to hail beating cancer as his greatest victory (Independent, UK), RGU to pass on rowing skills (This is Aberdeen, UK).
Monday 26th November 2007
A daughter writes...: Laura Holtz, daughter of Carl Holtz (USA), sent the Rowing Service this comment. "For some reason the entire section of Wikipedia devoted to my father's rowing career has been deleted by someone. I have tried to reconstruct it, but my knowledge of his years as a champion rower is limited. Can people who know please take a moment to supplement the rowing information on my father's online Wikipedia page? Thank you, Laura Holtz." Late update from RQ - Several people have written saying she should look at the 'history' tab on the Wikipedia page. I have passed this message on so please do not bother suggesting it again.
Lightweight super-coach Robin Williams (GBR) is speaking at Durham Amateur RC (UK) on the evening of Thursday 6th December, on "Technique as applied to the GB squad", with particular emphasis on lightweights. Those interested in going should contact regional team leader Rob Cree for full details. (Information has already been circulated to the local clubs).
Ok, this one is mental. An operation called Pimp Your Baselayer (UK) sells customised baselayer clothing for athletes. They were working at the British Indoor Rowing Champs, taking a load of orders for t-shirts and baselayers with rowers' times and places printed on them, post-racing. However, quite a lot of tops were left at the stand at the end of the day, already pid for, but not collected. If this was you, please visit the PYBL website (link above) and contact them to say where your shirt should be sent.
Results from the Head of the Yarra in Melbourne this weekend (Australia).
Rock The Boat and Clearwater Athletic are running two more Christmas shops (UK). The first is on Saturday 1st December at Grosvenor RC in Chester, and the second at Agecroft (Salford Quays) on Sunday 2nd December.
A gallery of photos from the Marlow Fours and Pairs Head (UK) is now online at Victor Images. A special offer is running from now until midnight tonight: if readers enter the code MARLOW42 before adding photos to their shopping cart, they will receive a 15% discount on their purchases. Get your orders in before midnight....
And the Marlow results are in time order and division order (both PDF) on the MRC website. Because of the time constraints on having to leave Dorney so swiftly, winners are asked to contact the organiser on mrc_2007_lds@btinternet.com to arrange collection of their prizes.
Results from the Glasgow Fours Head (Scotland, UK) division 1, division 2, by category and the points competition (all PDFs).
Websites for South African rowing clubs: South African Schools' Rowing Union, St Benedict's College and Wemmer Pan RC (all RSA).
Another press release from the camToo project (UK).
Friday 23rd November 2007
Late UK updates
Evesham Head has been cancelled. The organisers say: "It was a close call but this morning's assessment was that there were too many risks and we could not guarantee a safe event. The river is still above the staging and is flowing fast. A hard frost is forecast. We would not be able to check the course was safe before Saturday morning, etc, etc. Just too many issues! Our year is complete."
Kingston Small Boats Head has been cancelled. From the organisers: "On further examination of the situation this morning, river conditions have worsened overnight and are not expected to improve. The marshalling area in particular would be hazardous, and the Committee have decided to cancel this year`s event on safety grounds. We apologise for the disappointment and any inconvenience this causes, but hope entrants will understand the situation. Entry fees will be returned. We are also grateful for the support this year, with a big entry having been received."
And the Christ Church Regatta has been cancelled in Oxford for similar reasons.
The Glasgow Fours Head is however going ahead.
Final instructions for Marlow Fours & Pairs, which has been moved to Dorney Lake, are now online (see link).
Thursday 22nd November 2007
Wednesday night late update re: Marlow Fours & Pairs Head (UK) - The event has been moved to Dorney Lake, but the times of the two divisions have had to be brought forward because of two other (non-rowing) events already booked in. The course will be approximately 1900 metres. ALL CARS AND TRAILERS must leave Dorney by 12:45 to allow the 300 other competitors for the 10km run to arrive and park. The first division will thus start at 10:00am, and the second at 11:15am. All boats will need to be off the water by 12 noon and loaded immediately onto the trailers. Competing clubs are asked to acknowledge that they have received this information by emailing mrc_2007_lds@btinternet.com. More details will be issued via the Marlow website when arrangements have been finalised.
The Thames Regional Rowing Council has awarded its Tideway Rowing Code prizes (UK). Fat cheques to those clubs who had the least disciplinary points last season relative to their number of rowers. More information on the link.
Also on the TRRC website, two coaches wanted for after-school indoor rowing programmes in Hammersmith (UK). The posts are paid and part-time.
New junior rowing programme in Sheffield (ARA, UK).
A news video clip about Waddell and Drysdale (see yesterday's top news, NZ).
Results from Trafford Head (UK, PDF format).
And results for Dart-Totnes Mini-Head (UK, Excel format).
Results from the Inverness Fours and Small Boats Heads (UK) on the IRC events page. The results can be seen online, printed by position, and ordered several ways, as well as downloaded as a .csv file.
Friends of former rowers Mark and Victoria Fangen-Hall will know that they run Chalet Amaryllis, an Alpine ski and mountain activity chalet in Samoens on the border of France and Switzerland, just to the east of Geneva. They are now taking bookings for the 2008 ski season, but also run summer and autumn/spring activity holidays with a wide range of pursuits. Mark is now a BASI Level 2 ski instructor so can offer in-house ski lessons as part of the winter package. Special Rowing Service offer - Anyone who can quote this news item on booking for winter 2008 will qualify for an immediate 10% reduction for the person who organises the group, and further discounts for rowers may be possible depending on dates and group size (the chalet sleeps 14). See the website for further details.
Details of the 2008 FISA Rowing Tour, on the Saar and Moselle in April-May. The website is in German and English, illustrated with lots of photographs. There are also flyers to download with a summary of the tour information. The tour is requesting that bookings be made by 28th December 2007.
Wednesday 21st November 2007
NZL Sydney Olympic champion Rob Waddell is back! Or at least he might be - he's not sure he can do the Olympic trials and fit in America's Cup commitments, but he is training, and has recently beat Mahe Drysdale's understudies, Nathan Cohen and Joseph Sullivan. See Drysdale wary of Waddell's comeback (Stuff, NZ), and Drysdale v Waddell for Beijing? (NZ City, NZ). The NZ City article sounds more informed of the details, and its content suggests Waddell in a double might be a strong option if Drysdale does keep the singles slot.
The provisional draw for Kingston Small Boats Head (UK) is out. A note on the draw page and the front page of the website confirms that since Teddington Lock is currently on red boards, they will make the decision over whether to run or not, on Thursday. Further information will be posted on the KRC website after that.
In a similar vein, the organisers of Marlow Fours & Pairs Head (UK) are watching the stream, and are expecting to update their website on Friday and Saturday. If the event is cancelled they say that OARA will not be used to make refunds. If they are warranted through cancellation clubs will be asked to send their name and address for refunds to this email address.
The draw for Glasgow Fours Head is online.
Details of Burway Small Boats Head (UK, 8th Dec) are online in Word format.
A reminder of the entry criteria for the GB December senior trials (PDF, UK). Entries need to be in by December 4th to assessments@gbrowing.org.uk.
From way back in October, results from Division 1 and Division 2 of the Nottingham Autumn Heads (UK, PDF format both links).
A website for Stourport Juniors, who have their own online presence (UK). Only a few months out of date, which we should forgive them for since they've probably been busy at school since August. Some fantastic pictures of the 2007 floods, though.
A rather superb special edition newsletter from Medway Towns this summer, showing pictures and photographs of the work on their new boathouse. The official opening should be happening in 2008, marking the 50th anniversary of the founding of the club from the merger of Medway RC and Chatham and Gillingham RC.
Tuesday 20th November 2007
On the Tideway Slug this morning (UK), a description of the Friends of Longridge campaign to save the boathouse and site currently used by SW Borlase School, Marlow's head races and the GB women and lightweights for their steady-state training. Longridge will be appearing on the People's Millions programme on Monday November 26th, up against Basingstoke Choral Society to try and bag a grant of Ł90,000 to help develop the site so that more people can use it. The decision will be made by a phone vote, opening at 9am on the morning of Monday 26th, and is a straight choice between the two charities. Rowers who ring up could make a direct difference to the Longridge project.
Also on the Slug, a most amusing photo-story about the GB M4- and some under-dressed dragonboaters (scroll down to "Sisterhood put a twist on 2008" for the story.) More about the calendar ("The Art of Sport") and the GB dragonboaters at their website.
The draw for the Scullers Head (UK, Dec 1st) is out - sadly no Mahe Drysdale, though I know he was originally intending to defend his title. Collection points for numbers are given - competitors please check they are correct. Further information and lightweight weigh-in limits on the main Scullers Head page.
Michael Asher has published his invaluable Tideway Tide predictions for Mortlake and Kew (UK). This year he's done both a 7-day-week and a Tue/Thu/Sat/Sun version, both downloadable as either PDF or Excel. Give the guy a medal.
A website for Norwalk Leander RC (Connecticut, USA).
The juniors at Reading RC (UK) completed their "Row the Channel" event for Children in Need on Sunday in the wind and rain and would like to thank all those who have supported them in their efforts. Just over Ł1000 has been raised so far on their JustGiving website and with sponsored money still to collect they hope to raise between Ł1500 and Ł2000 (three to four times the original target). If you have not yet had the chance to make your donation to Children in Need and would like to contribute, please click on the link above.
The draw for Evesham Head of the Avon (UK) is online in by event and by division format (both PDFs). The organisers say - "As it's 2007 and Evesham the river is high. Competitors should check the Evesham website on Friday afternoon to confirm that the event is going to run." Competitors also please note that divisions are now at 10, 12 and 2, ie each is 15 minutes earlier than planned on the poster. Boating for the first division will start at 8:45am as it is the largest.
Haven't had enough indoor-champs punishment yet after last weekend? Then try the Dutch Indoor Rowing Champs on 8th December (Amsterdam, Holland). Foreign competitors are welcome and lots of Brits competed last year. For help arranging it you can email the organisers on nkir@nereus.nl.
Entries are open for Monmouth Winter Head (UK, Dec 9th, GIF poster).
The latest Cambridge Sporting Lakes newsletter (PDF, UK) is out.
Monday 19th November 2007
The start order for Marlow Fours & Pairs Head (UK) is online. Competitors are asked to note that the start time for Division 2 has been brought forward to 1:30 (one hour earlier than originally planned) so that boats which need to can pass through Marlow Lock before it closes. The old race information page has been updated with the 2007 safety plan - direct link to the 2007 info index here - including notes to competitors, map, etc.
Full results/roundup from the British Indoor Championships yesterday (UK) on the C2 website. A few stroke graphs aren't yet available, but most are now in place. Note that if you want the race analyses, don't do the search on and individual and click on the event link from the search results page - for some reason it isn't hooked up yet. Instead, check their event and then find that event on the main results index page, from which the results are indeed available, together with analyses. The search is useful to find plain times and events, though.
From last week, Gunn takes up World Class Start reins (British International Rowing press release, UK).
Junior results from Boston on Saturday (where they just nipped in and got the trials done between weather fronts): Division 1, JM18, and Division 2, JW18 plus JM16 and JW16.
York are claiming "record speed of results publication" for their Small Boats Head yesterday - online within 3 hours from the presentations.
Results from the Cambridge Winter Head (UK, Excel download). Also available in PDF format.
And results from the Norfolk Sculls (UK, Excel format).
Results from the Henley Sculls (UK) are online as HTML. Click at the bottom of the page to see different divisions in either time or event order. Senior team prizes went to Henley & Marlow (M & W) while the junior ones went to Windsor Boys School and Headington School (JM, JW respectively).
Pictures from Cantabrigian's sponsored row in September (UK) are online.
Sunday 18th November 2007
I am going up to Birmingham for the British Indoor Rowing Championships (UK) and will put up an online updating page to add news through most of the day (starting around 11am). Also note that the Concept 2 site itself is this year offering an excellent mobile phone results service, where you can sign up to have results for a specific competitor texted to your mobile for free. They will also be doing their usual online reports, perhaps photos, and results, throughout the competition. Later updated - I don't think I can beat the C2 site and won't try to this time - they have plenty of details and are keeping it well updated. I'll only add any messages here if something odd happens. See the reports page for the latest news. The one thing they haven't put down is that in race 11, which was meant to include the adaptive rowers, the machines hadn't been reset from 3 minutes (for the juniors before them) to 1000m (the Paralympic distance). This was only realised halfway through their race, so they were stopped, given a decent rest, and restarted. Lactate hell! All did very well, though looked even more exhausted than usual as they finished their pieces. There were also two rather funny restarts in the men's open race, first Matt Langridge busting off a bit early, then Ric Egington. Much pantomime disgust from the others, but the third start was clean, and Graham Benton won his fourth title by a mile. Nigel Mayglothling and Martin Cross were storming about the floor doing their usual superb commentary job, and some of the most intense racing was in the BUSA categories, which are attracting more entries now that the day ends with the team events.
Friday 16th November 2007
A reminder that entries for Marlow Fours & Pairs Head (UK) must be in by noon tomorrow (17th Nov) and can be made via OARA only.
Entries for Rutherford Head (1st Dec, UK) close on Saturday 24th November and are also only accepted via OARA. Payment can be by cheque or online, and must be received by Monday 26th Nov for your entry to be accepted.
Entries are open for the North East Indoor Rowing Champs (UK, Wednesday 5th December) in Durham. The entry/information pack is online as a PDF, racing runs from 1pm onwards and work/school schedules can be accommodated for most classes. Winners take home a prize woolly hat. I gather that you need to be a Durham University member to log in to the information - perhaps the organisers could post a more public version for non-student rowers in the area who intend to compete?
Thursday 15th November 2007
RowTV (UK) has a video of the Fours Head starts on YouTube (link is to the RowTV homepage where the video is also shown, or the direct link is http://www.youtube.com/RowTvNews). The video plays continuously for over an hour, or you can use the images along the bottom of it to select batches of starts in order. A very nifty system, and webmasters or bloggers can click on the "menu" for the clip to show code for embedding either the video itself or a link to the host site, onto their websites. RowTV would like reader feedback/suggestions.
Wednesday 14th November 2007
More from FISA on their 2007 award winners.
Those needing to contact the Amateur Rowing Association (England, UK) should note that they are phasing out the old 0870 numbers from 1st January 2008. The direct-dial numbers, tel 020-8-237-6700 and fax 020-8-237-6749, are already in action, and will overlap with the 0870 ones until the New Year.
The draws for the Inverness races this weekend (Scotland UK, sponsored by Morrison Construction) are out in PDF, Excel, and Open Office formats. Competitors are also asked to read the Essential Information sheet (PDF).
Results from the Aberdeen Fours & Small Boats Head (UK).
Results of the Teddington Sculls (UK) on the Walbrook website in several sort forms.
Results of the Bristol Ariel Head (UK) are online in Word and Excel formats.
Results of the Stourport Small Boats Head last Sunday (UK). Note that this page is generic for events, not specific to these results, so they may move to another address in time.
Spotted by an RSR reader, Paula Radcliffe and the boxers a class apart - Seb Coe waxing lyrical in the Telegraph on how few GB sportspeople are world class (no he doesn't mention rowing, but that was my correspondent's point...)
An update on Dave Martin (see penultimate item yesterday) - he is in Stoke Mandeville Hospital, St Andrew's Ward, if any of his friends want to get in touch.
Tuesday 13th November 2007
Entries are open on OARA for the Wycliffe Small Boats Head (Sat 1st December, UK). There is an error - anyone attempting to enter the Women's Senior 3 4x- event will be asked to put in a cox. Don't worry about this, just add a name from the club to keep the computer system happy, but the organisers know about the problem and will regard it as coxless. Note that entries are already 50% filled after being open for 4 days.
Rowing in Bangor (Seren, the University of Bangor publication, Wales, UK). PDF format for the article.
Laser Team rowing, a report on the 'Sailability' challenge of a bundle of yachtsmen rowing most of the Thames in three chunks back in October (UK).
Not sure how I've not spotted this website before, but Remenham Club has its own pages now (UK), with information about both the club and the annual Remenham Challenge in the New Year.
Mortlake Anglian & Alpha (UK) have a handy mileage chart showing how far from their clubhouse to various places on the Tideway in both miles and km.
Rock The Boat (UK) are holding their Christmas Shops at two clubs this weekend. Cambridge '99 play host to them on Saturday 17th November (11am onwards) while Upper Thames host on Sunday 18th November (10am onwards) with Spartan and other suppliers possibly also present (tbc). Both clubs get a commission on any sales on the day.
Pangbourne Sculls results (UK) can also be downloaded in PDF format from the PCBC front page.
Recent news - Dave Martin adventure ends in disaster, news about a Spears Rowing Club (UK) member in South Africa. Fortunately not fatal, but serious.
A website for the Trafalgar Rowing Centre (London, UK), whose facilities play host to Curlew and Globe RCs at various times.
Monday 12th November 2007
Results of Pangbourne Sculls (UK) were up on Mikrotime's website by Saturday evening.
From last weekend, the Veteran Fours Head results (UK).
Entry information for the Hampton Small Boats Head (UK, 1st December) is online. OARA is NOT being used for this event, and entries should be posted (plus cheque, with backup emails where necessary).
Results of the Wear Scullers Head (UK).
The results of Northwich Autumn Head (UK, a week ago) are on the Northwich RC website (Excel format).
Rowing Canada Aviron (CAN) has announced the list of athletes invited to its pre-Olympic camps.
FISA has announced its 2007 award winners. Female Crew of the Year are the GBR W4x (Katherine Grainger, Fran Houghton, Debbie Flood and Annie Vernon), with their coach Paul Thompson receiving Coach of the Year. Male Crew of the Year were the AUS M2- (Drew Ginn and Duncan Free), and the Distinguished Service award went to FISA Umpiring Commission member Michel Doutre.
British oarswomen finally reap their reward (Rachel Q, Telegraph).
There is a possibility that a rower on the Thames (UK) may have contracted Weil's disease (from leptospirosis) through infected water having entered a cut on the hand. The club concerned is dealing with the issue, but all Thames rowers (and in fact all river rowers) please take care. Keep cuts and torn skin covered, do not swallow water, and wash well before eating or putting fingers in mouth, after being in contact with the river or bank. Footwear is strongly advised to minimise the chance of cuts, and shower soon after contact with the river if at all possible. Contact your doctor if you have flu-like symptoms and make sure they know you train on the river and that leptospirosis could be a risk.
Vesta RC (UK) is having a few odd problems with their website. Some visitors to the usual URL, www.vrc.org.uk may not see the page they expect. The club is looking into it, but the cause is not entirely clear. If you have trouble, first try their alternative address, http://vrc.org.uk/ as it works just as well (perhaps better). Then also let the Vesta webmaster know via webmaster@vrc.org.uk so that they can pinpoint the problem. The closing date for the 2007 Scullers Head, run by Vesta, is Saturday 18th November. Information on the website.
Friday 9th November 2007
Very sad news (UK) - Alec Hodges, coach at Tideway Scullers, passed away at midday yesterday. The 80-year-old stalwart of the club had been taken into hospital for an aneurysm a few weeks ago and never recovered. he died yesterday of cardiac arrest while the hospital staff were investigating a sudden drop in his blood pressure. Memorial details to follow in due course. TSS have described him as the grandfather of the club on their website and have set up a tribute page online for people who knew Alec to contribute to.
Can anyone who knows how to calculate the flow of rivers over weirs please contact Richard Moseley of camToo (UK).
Spotted by an Oxford rower, a cheap and cheerful stopwatch and ratewatch (UK).
Thursday 8th November 2007
The start order for Wear Long Distance Sculls (UK) is online (Excel format).
Advance information for Glasgow Fours Head (24th Nov, UK) is online. Entries open via its dedicated online system on Sunday 11th November. Please note that due to building work by the GRC clubhouse, there will be limited space for boats on the grass around the club. Anyone wishing to boat from GRC should contact the club first.
While the normal Oxford University Rowing Clubs (OURCs) website is out of action, the alternative address, www.ourcs.co.uk, should work (UK).
From FISA, Netherlands plan new rowing course and Canadian rowing nationals test Beijing hopefuls. The FISA coaching conference is taking place in Budapest this weekend. This month's featured athlete is Amber Bradley. And the world best times list has been updated.
Not directly to do with rowing, but the camToo campaign (UK) is asking its supporters to sign an online petition to save trees along Milton Road in Cambridge which has implications for camToo's alternative bus route into Cambridge.
Wednesday 7th November 2007
Marlow Fours and Pairs Head (UK) is open for entries on OARA.
The poster for the Head of the Float (8th Dec, UK) is online (PDF format). Entries via OARA by 5pm on Saturday 1st December.
London Corinthian Sailing Club (UK) is running the RYA full day basic first aid course on Sat Nov 24th at Linden House in London (Sons of the Thames club house). Cost is Ł89 for the day. All rowers welcome - the course is aimed at recreational water users and has an empahasis on hypothermia and drowning. Please contact Ben Young by 9th Nov if you are interested.
Tuesday 6th November 2007
A correspondent is trying to identify what a set of icons/pictograms, which are actually printer's blocks, were used for. The small Monotype pictures were used in the 1930s or later, possibly for printed results or fixture lists. These come from Heffer's in Cambridge, but were on general release to any printer, so could have been used anywhere in the UK and possibly beyond. If anyone has any examples of these in use in a real document, or other archival information about their use, please contact David Bolton of the Alembi Press, Oxford (UK). Thanks.
More from Sports Mind Skills (Australia) - Self-talk for sport about how to become more mentally positive, realistic, calm and focused. Usual downloadable samples (some free, some not) and the full downloadable package which you can burn to CD.
The start list for Pangbourne Sculls (UK), along with "a wealth of useless information" (according to the race organiser!) can be downloaded from the Pangbourne College Boat Club website.
Details of Cambridge Winter Head are on the Cantabrigian website (UK).
From yesterday's Guardian, Let four go for Beijing gold, West urges head coach (Martin Cross, UK).
Monday 5th November 2007
The Fours Head website is now back in action (UK) - results in finishing order, by event, in alphabetical order, pennant winners with photos, pennant times, and penalties and DSQ's. The many crews who went time-only because of too many substitutions or similar problems are listed on the main results page. Also this year the by-event lists with crew names.
However, I notice that the server has slowed down again, so I've put up the main files (not quite all, but the important ones) in a separate mirror directory on the Rowing Service, which should help spread the load. I don't expect to update these unless told I should by the organisers, so minor tweaks (eg the winning crews' coaches) won't be done.
Fours Head press (UK) - Tideway in full flow (Dan Topolski, Observer), Hennessy calls shots (Rachel Quarrell, Telegraph).
The agenda for tomorrow's Northern Rowing Council AGM (UK) is online (Word format).
The digital pitch meter mentioned last week can also be obtained under the title 'bevel box' from Axminster Power Tool Centre, and under the name 'digital angle gauge' from various sources on eBay. Choice may be determined by postage, perhaps. (Thanks PR).
A website for RowEd, previous RowEd Australia, an online and offline coaching support and education service. Shame they don't identify who the "three successful rowing coaches" who founded it are, but there are plenty of interesting items, including coaching/mentoring of coaches, 'Dr Rowing' (Andy Anderson may be interested in the use of that name), rowing presentations, and a series of booklets called The Good Coxswain which break coxing down into very small bite-size chunks, rather like learning to scuba dive. The samples can be read online - you can zoom in if need be - though be warned that they are very general, so plenty of specific local knowledge will need to be added when coaching coxes.
Details of Henley Sculls (17th November, UK) are online. Word required for the downloads.
Being launched by Sir Steve Redgrave on Wednesday, the Green Barge Company (UK), aiming to provide sustainable transport for the London Olympics, particularly during the next few years while so much building is going to be happening. They aim to get building materials to and from Olympic venue sites without clogging up the roads. River users perhaps be warned?
The results of Hylton Scullers Head (UK) are online.
Press releases and summaries from the Canadian National Rowing Championships (Canada) on RCA.
Also from Canada, information on rowing and the Child Fitness tax credit, which seems like a neat way to get families more into organised sport.
Wallingford Head (UK) is now open on OARA with online payment. Entries close at 9pm on Friday 30th November, and the first 130 paid entries in each division will be accepted.
A reader found "an expensive-looking Polar heart rate monitor watch" in Furnivall Gardens on Saturday at the Fours Head (UK). It's been handed in to a Furnivall SC committee member so contact them if you think it's yours.
Looking ahead, details of the 2008 Head of the River Race (men's 8+, 15th March, UK) are online. Entries for overseas crews run from 1st to 18th January 2008, and entries for domestic clubs from 19th January to 15th February 2008. See the link for more details and warnings of what not to get wrong.
Rowing in the news - Oceans apart (Observer last week, UK), No consideration for others (Montreal Gazette, Canada), World champions and Olympians have strong showing at rowing nationals (Brandon Sun, Canada), Crew program underway in Polpis (Nantucket Island Inquirer, USA), 'Row Hard, No Excuses' (Nantucket Island Inquirer, USA), Island joins nationwide tribute to Halberstam (Nantucket Island Inquirer, USA), Trent rowers bring home bronze and silver (Kawartha Media Group, Canada), BC well represented at national championships (Times Colonist, Canada), Behind the scenes at Head of the Hooch (WDEF News, USA), Wounded troops aim for Paralympic gold (The Times, UK), Western men crowned national rowing champions (LondonTopic, Canada), Rower bounces back with world record attempt (South Devon Herald Express, UK), Grants given to worthy clubs (Peterborough Evening Telegraph, UK), Nigel sticks his oar in for charity (This is Gloucestershire, UK), Sporting hero from 1900s honoured with new road (Irish Independent, Ireland), Women's rowing wins OUAs (Queen's Journal, Canada), Atlantic Six launches ocean rowing record (BYM News press release, Spain), Adaptive rowing debuts at Asian Rowing Championships (WorldRowing, FISA), Record attempt for Molesey rower (Wimbledon Guardian, UK), Marines set for ocean rowing race challenge (Express & Echo, UK), Company floats new design with UBC Boathouse (Journal of Commerce, Canada), Chinese rowing seeks Olympic breakthrough (Xinhua, China), Rowers to take on Cal Sag (Chicago Daily Southtown, USA), World junior silverists win men's pair, single sculls at City Games (People's Daily Online, China, with an interestingly translated headline!), There's some real dirt hanging over the Beijing Olympics (Northern Advocate, NZ), World junior champions win women's four and quad at City Games (People's Daily Online, China), Rent-A-Rower helps Purdue Crew (Journal and Courier, USA), 105 days at sea with your mum: fun or folly? (PR-USA press release, Bulgaria), Regattas left high and dry (Wimmera Mail Times, Australia), BRC crew earns gold (Brockville Recorder and Times, Canada), Assumption rowing showing commitment in 2007 (Le Provacteur, USA), Head of River success for St Ives rower (Town Crier, UK), Broadwater crew performs well in Head of the James (Tasley Eastern Shore News, USA). A reminder that I don't list the (now many) stories on CSTV's crew pages (USA) on these headlines. The updates come regularly during the US university crew season, with some good stories.
Saturday 3rd November 2007
The Fours Head race organisers say please will you STOP trying to access the website to find out the provisional results: as a result of all the hits they can't get online at the moment to actually put the files up. Give it a rest, go and get drunk, and they will be up in due course. (filed Saturday 4pm). I will make a link here when the file is finally up.
8pm update: I've mirrored the PDF files Liz has on the Tideway Slug, on the Rowing Service server - time order and by event (PDF files). Time-only and disqualified crews have been removed, and the Tees M2x mistake has been corrected. Hopefully more than one version online will allow everyone to see the results.

Thursday 1st November 2007
A reminder that the British Indoor Rowing Champs (Sunday 18th November, UK) online entry deadline is 5pm this coming Friday (2nd November). Postal entries must have already been received by last Friday.
Oarsport (UK) are now stocking two new products: the Rigger Jigger and a nifty digital pitchmeter.
The newest rowing club in the world? Oshkosh RC (USA), started a few months ago in Wisconsin.
And a new basic website for an older club: Lancaster John O'Gaunt RC (UK).
The finalists for the Sport Auckland awards (NZL) have been announced. Rowers shortlisted include John White for Coach of the Year, Juliette Haigh and Nicky Coles for Team of the Year, Henry Poor for Junior Sportsman of the Year, and (of course) triple world champion Mahe Drysdale for Sportsman of the Year.
On 18th November the junior squad at Reading Rowing Club (UK) will be 'rowing the Channel' on ergs in aid of the BBC's Children in Need appeal. See the link for more information or donate via their JustGiving page. Great plan, and I bet they smash their target of Ł500.
As discussed on the rec.sport.rowing newsgroup, the Association of Rowing Coaches of South Africa blogspot (RSA). The blog archive (halfway down the right-hand side) contains masses of useful and interesting articles, while the current one is a reprint of a piece called "Rowing the Mahon way" last published in 2005.
The start order, competitors' instructions and safety instructions for Hylton Scullers Head (UK) are online (Excel, Word and Word respectively).
The RowZone, a new 'indoor rowing studio' in Philadelphia (USA). The claim is that the 45-minute class (a mix of rowing and other exercises) burns 800 calories.
From Row2k (USA), Fish Story, the tale of the Head of the Fish race and its eponymous trophies. Brilliant.
Today Victor Mooney, who plans to row the Atlantic to raise Aids awareness, will have his oars signed by members of the US Congress (press release, USA). The Goree Challenge starts on 1st December (World Aids Day), and involves two separate rows: Senegal to the Caribbean and then up to New York, followed by Djibouti to the United Arab Emirates. All the publicity is aimed at raising Aids awareness.
A website for the Columbus Run, Leven Brown's projects, including a 'La Mondiale' Atlantic record attempt. Since it's due to go off this month, hopefully the website will be updated shortly.
News headlines catch-up. Yesterday - Road closures for Head of the Hooch (WRCB-TV. USA), Atlantic rowers aim for record (Dorset Echo, UK), Rowing ceremony a success (The Nationalist, Ireland), Rowing great James Tomkins clings to Beijing dream (Melbourne Herald Sun, Australia), Wuhan, Guangzhou dominate rowing events at Chinese City Games (People's Daily Online, China), 2000 rowers reflects China's sorry plight (Xinhua Net, China, ending with some interesting speculations), Here we flow! Showdown on the river (Hunts Post, UK), Eight ladies all in a row (Folsom Telegraph, UK), Broadwater crew performs well in Head of the James (Tasley Eastern Shore News, USA), Under-16s girls crew best at championship (Maitland Mercury, Australia), School's scullers' success (Orange Central Western Daily, Australia), Scotiabank gets on board to support B.C. man in 5,500 kilometre solo Atlantic rowing race (CNW press release, Canada), Men take home third straight gold at OUA finals (Western Gazette, Canada), Rowing program hones teenage athletes (Annapolis Capital, USA), Aggar's path to success (BBC Sport, UK), Rowers pick up their silverware (South Devon Herald Express, UK), Viet Nam row to the top at regional event (Vietnam News, Vietnam, for once accurately mixing rowing and canoeing terms to describe two events), Queens man to row 8000 miles across Atlantic to fight AIDS (New York Daily News, USA), Local rowers compete in regatta on Charles River (HeraldNet, USA), Guerette finishes second at the 2007 BKW-Armadacup in Switzerland (behind Karsten). Drysdale won the men's race. More to be caught up later.