Friday 28th November 2008
- Nick and Adam from the new company Stitch Clothing (UK) will be visiting Oxford on Monday 1st December, to meet local clubs and colleges interested in customised kit. They will be at the Bungalow in Iffley Road between 11am and 5pm. Email adam@stitch.cc to arrange an appointment or drop in.
- The Head of the Yarra, (Australia) is this coming Saturday. Start list and media information on the link.
- The next ARA Council meeting is this Saturday, 29th November (UK). Related, an article from the latest Voice issue about how the Council and its divisional representatives operate. Free to download (2.6MB PDF file).
- A PDF poster for the South of England Indoor Rowing Championships (UK), run by Hinksey Sculling School at the Park Sports Centre in Oxford, on Sunday 1st February 2009.
- A website for Murray Edwards College BC (UK - formerly known as New Hall).
Thursday 27th November 2008
- Walton Small Boats Head (UK) is now open for entries on OARA as well as by traditional methods. Details on the club website>
- There's a new website for Ocean Thunder Europe, the surf rowing extravaganza (information from UKSRL, UK). Videos from the 2008 event are included, and next year's event will be in Biarritz.
- On 7th December, Elise Laverick (GBR W2x), Gearoid Towey (IRL LM4-) and Tom Killick (past captain of LRC) will be taking part in a sponsored 30-mile extreme run across the West Sussex Downs (UK). They are raising money for a children's hospice, Chestnut Tree House, for children 0-19 with life-limiting conditions. Donations welcomed to their Justgiving page.
Wednesday 26th November 2008
- The start order for Wallingford Head (UK) has been published. Race numbers will be added later when all scratchings have been taken care of. The organisers say - "The river conditions are favourable at present, though the weather forecast for the weekend is for very cold air temperatures. Please bring LOTS of layers! Hot drinks will be on sale from 7:30am, along with the obligatory bacon butties."
- There is also a message on the Wallingford Head page (UK) about the race's senior umpire walking the Thames path for charity.
- On the BBC, Grainger ready to aim for London 2012 - a link to a long radio interview, with something of a scoop.
- Competitors in the Rutherford Head (UK) should read the documentation on the NERN news page.
Tuesday 25th November 2008
- The results for the University of Bristol Head Race (UK) are out (Excel format). (Sorry - put up draw link by mistake yesterday).
- The ARA (UK) has just launched RowSafe - see the home page for more details.
- The last few days of Row4Kids are happening (UK), with lots of prizes still to win.
- The draw for the Scullers Head (UK) is now out.
- Northern Regional Council awards (UK) - Devt coach of the year Bill Parker, senior coach of the year Angelo Savarino, junior coach of the year Andy Clarke, personal impact on the region Andrew Bryant, club stalwart Fred Snowdon, and team award the Durham Amateur coaching team.
- In yesterday's Guardian, Leander prevented from competing in Henley events (Martin Cross, UK).
- A rather useful website called BookkooB (UK), which does a neat job of searching the whole of t'Internet for books you want to buy, and collating the prices and delivery details for quick comparison. See a search on 'rowing' for books with that word in the title, and click on any book to see how the comparison data works. Searches can be done on title, author or ISBN.
Monday 24th November 2008
- Rowing Voice issue 2:11 is now out - Andy Holmes on backsplash, Patrick Kidd on being a novice, a delve into the workings of the ARA Council, and what happened at the Fours Head. News, racing, results, calendar, some great photographs, a Rant on looking after your equipment, and why 'The Wonder Crew' is worth reading - but not necessarily for its accuracy. Plus trouble at Caversham - how a local group is trying to push BIRO into letting the GB rowing lake be used for community access. voice.rowingservice.com - £3 an issue or £20 for an annual subscription, including daily updates from the world championships.
- The Rowing Voice is also now available from Rock The Boat and Rowperfect for those who prefer not to use Paypal, though the direct subcription via the Voice website is instantaneously set up while the other versions may take a day or two, and certainly several hours, to organise. Subscriptions from any source can always be made and then converted to somebody else's name, if you wish to give it as a Christmas gift.
- The RowTV Fours Head coverage has been re-indexed to find clips more easily.
- Oarsport have the 2008 Olympic and Paralympic DVD for sale now from their usual website. They also have the 2009 FISA Rowing Calendar, and plenty of copies of the 2007 Munich World Champinoships DVD: all good Christmas presents.
Friday 21st November 2008
- Message from the Marlow Fours & Pairs Head (UK). "I have been watching the forecast for the past few days on Metcheck and it has consistently shown better conditions on Sunday than Saturday, although there is a suggestion of snow on Saturday evening. I am advising clubs to check our website on Saturday evening in case we decide to cancel. We will, of course, take a view on Sunday before allowing crews to boat. We don't want a repeat of the
National Schools Regatta."
Thursday 20th November 2008
- Aussie Olympic champion Drew Ginn has put some old YouTubed rowing clips up on his blog, including the phenomenal 1994 M2- worlds race. Wait for the short interview with the winners at the end - fun to watch now that the years they're trying to predict have happened... Oh, and happy birthday, Drew.
Wednesday 19th November 2008
- A reminder that entries for the Scullers Head (Saturday 6th Dec, London, UK) close this Saturday (22nd Nov). OARA entries are preferred, but standard
paper entries are accepted - more details at http://vrc.org.uk/sh. Any questions to scullers.head@vrc.org.uk.
- In the absence of any sign of Team Durham sticking this on their website, the PDF posters for the North-East Schools Indoor Champs (2nd Dec) and North-East Indoor Champs (3rd Dec, both UK).
Tuesday 18th November 2008
- Entries for the Wycliffe Small Boats Head (UK) are now open on OARA. Entries close at 1pm on Thursday 27th November, and are already more than two-thirds full.
- The provisional start order and extra competitor information for the Marlow Fours and Pairs Head (UK) have been posted, mostly as PDF files. Clubs and crews are asked to note the following remarks from the organisers: "The entrance gate to Dorney Lake site will open not earlier than 7.00 a.m. on Sunday. Please do not bring your trailers or cars too early because of potential congestion on the approach road to the main gate. If your crews are training on the lake on Saturday 22nd you MUST notify the duty manager who will arrange for you to park your trailer in accordance with our parking plan for the day. Otherwise your trailer must be taken off site. In view of the recent wet weather, ALL VEHICLES MUST PARK AS DIRECTED BY OUR PARKING TEAM.
We must draw your attention to the strict rule about cycling. There will be a one-way system in operation and ALL CYCLISTS must follow this and pay particular attention when following their crew during the race. There will be pedestrians along the course and cyclists must be alert to the risk of collision and the possibility of injury. A supporter was seriously injured at Marlow Regatta this year and we do not want a repeat of this."
- Results and photos from the Eastern region small boats head are up at the Isle of Ely website (UK).
- The River and Rowing Museum (UK) is running another Friends evening with speakers, like last year's Singular Scullers night. This time Olympic medallists Steve Williams, Fran Houghton and Tom Aggar will all be speaking about their experiences in China this August. See the poster (PDF).
- GB lightweight men's doubles coach Darren Whiter is giving a talk at Star Club on 27th November (UK). See details on this poster (Word format).
- The Northern Region's club development conference (UK) is on Sunday 18th January 2009 at Durham University. Applications can now be made using this downloadable Word form which also has more detailed information.
- Eastern region junior trials (UK) are taking place at Broxbourne RC on November 30th, ahead of selection for the inter-regional races. See the region's event page for more details. Closing date for applications is Friday 21st November.
- A revised link for the Upper Arlington High School Crew (USA).
Monday 17th November 2008
- The Silver Skiff results are out (ITA). Website in both Italian and English. Open Winners were Mahe Drysdale (men) and Mirka Knapkova (women).
- Former rower Mark Pollock, who went unexpectedly blind midway through his time at university, is now off to the South Pole as part of the same race which includes Ben Fogle and James Cracknell. Mark's team are doing something different - they want to take a flag with as many pictures as possible on it to the Pole, and are inviting readers to upload pictures of themselves or their family/friends, for free. No obligation. See their website for more information.
- Jeremy Martin is working with the ARA to try to start up rowing in Essex at the Lakeside Watersports Centre, where there is a sheltered lake and great facilities. He would love to hear from anybody who would like to get involved (email jeremy at martinfamily dot freeserve dot co dot uk).
- Davies RowTech (UK) is back in full-time operation after a move of some parts of the business. They can now do most repairs, and expect to have all current RateMeters for sale shortly. Their Rating Stopwatch is once again available to order. They do not yet have an amplifier for sale, but will do repairs where possible. They are not anything to do with RowData.
- A reminder of the Northern Rowing Council AGM this Tuesday (18th November) in Chester le Street. 7pm light buffet, 7:30pm for the meeting. Local rowers invited to attend (UK).
- Entries for Rutherford Head close at 6pm on Saturday 22nd November, with payments required by Monday 24th November (UK).
- The breakaway group British Universities Rowing (run by most of the mob who used to run BUSA before last year's changes) is hosting its first solo event of the season as the BUR Splash 'n Dash. See the events page for details. It's at Nottingham, for those who don't know where the NWSC is.
- Silverskiff swells in size (WorldRowing, FISA).
Thursday 13th November 2008
- Salt Photography (UK) - a rower who is also a photographer - took pictures of the entire Fours Head from Chiswich Pier, broken into groups of 50 crews, plus a set of coxswain photos (not every boat).
- With red boards on the Thames the Marlow Fours and Pairs Head would like to remind competitors that entries for their 23rd November event at Dorney close at 3pm on Saturday 15th November on OARA (UK). If it is over-subscribed and they have to reject entries this will be done on the basis of date/time entered, and paid/unpaid.
- A website for the Rowing Repair Center (USA) - with locations at Oak Ridge, Tennessee and Mount Shasta, California.
- This month's Athlete in Focus (FISA) is Ramon di Clemente.
- Clips from the Fours Head (UK) on RowTV.
- The posters for the Welsh Schools Indoor Rowing Championships (Friday 5th December) and Welsh Indoor Rowing Championships (Saturday 6th December) are online. PDF format both posters, deadlines are 30th Nov (schools entries) and 29th Nov (open entries), location Cardiff Bay Water Activity Centre.
- A site for 'The River Thames and boaty things' (UK). Not new, but fun for local rowers.
- Rowing headlines - Is Koch plan best use of Boathouse? (Wichita Eagle, USA), Row, row, row ya scull, gently down the Tweed (Tweed Shire Echo Community News, Australia), Thirty line up for sporting evening (Marlborough Express, NZ), Tideway Scullers pull out victories (Dan Topolski, Observer, UK), Ulmer aids Waddell in pursuit of sporting comeback (Stuff, NZ, about Rob's wife Sonia), Adventurer to row solo for disabled veterans (MarketWatch, USA), Vehicles vandalised in Belleek and Enniskillen (Fermanagh Herald, Northern Ireland), Rowers in danger of losing Argo Pond (Ann Arbor News, USA), Westminster pull in the trophy (Hounslow Chronicle, UK), Rowing plans for Children in Need (Exmouth Herald, UK), Rower Anthony is a record breaker (Northampton Chronicle & Echo, UK), Rowing classic goes to midweek (Ballarat Courier, Australia), Double Olympic gold medallist Steve Williams visits Immanuel College in Bushey (Watford Observer, UK), For some, Olympic medal takes a lifetime (Times Colonist, Canada), Olympic presence in Terrace (Terrace Standard, Canada), Tough going for G'town rowers (Herald Eastern Cape, South Africa), Residents unhappy with park proposals (Daytona Beach News-Journal, USA), Lake Chabot dock for oarsmen under consideration by county (EbPublishing.com, USA), Bunbury rowers preparing for Youth Olympics (Bunbury Mail, Western Australia), Ryerson's six million dollar man (The Eye Opener, USA), First cycling, now rowing... does adventurer's career await? (The Herald, Scotland, UK), Canada's military soldiers on despite horrendous injuries (Montreal Gazette, Canada), Indian rowers ride high at Asian junior champs (WorldRowing, FISA), Olympic champ gets key to the city (Belleville Intelligencer, Canada), Well-known Sault businessman dies (Sault Star, Canada), India bags two golds (Hindu, India), Ocean race record plan for rowers (BBC News, UK), Rowing for gold (Trinity News, Ireland), Dining regatta (Charlottesville News, USA), Leadership masterclass for Antarctic adventurer (University of Ulster news, Northern Ireland), European regatta victory for Rock team (The Cornishman, UK), Light Blues are on the up - Baker (Cambridge Evening News, UK), Rower makes a big splash (Selby Times, UK), Golden time with Wetzel (StarPhoenix, Canada).
- Also, Nuclear sub leak in yachting river (Yachting Monthly, UK). I don't know if this is in the section of the river used by rowers - it may not be - but it's worth checking if you're in that area. There is no danger from tritium unless it's absorbed by inhalation/ingestion or through the skin, and I imagine the spill will dissipate to a safe level pretty soon. Update - I gather the Tamar if rowable at that location is only so in large sea-going boats, so this may only affect coastal/gig/whalerboat rowing if there has been any. I'd imagine it's unlikely to be a problem by now. Thanks EC.
Wednesday 12th November 2008
- A link for the River User Groups of the Thames (UK). Not all entirely up to date, but RUGs are good places to discuss points of dispute between rowers and other river users.
Tuesday 11th November 2008
- The World Rowing awards were given out on Saturday (FISA).
- The results from the Veteran Fours Head (UK) are online.
- The Star/St Neot's WJ4x entry in the Fours Head (UK) has had its penalty abolished, which means they are now winners of the junior women's quads. The pennant winners page has been updated.
Monday 10th November 2008
- Want your club in the Rowing Voice? Issue 2:11 is coming out this week: the copy deadline for club and personal submissions is 9am Tuesday 11th November. Email to voice@rowingservice.com before then. Classified ads - free for up to 30 words. News items - 200 words or less. Letters - welcomed on any subject of interest to rowing readers. Box ads, also accepted. See the Voice copy page for more details. Anyone wishing to contribute a feature or obituary this time please email as soon as possible today to discuss details.
- Sad news - former Guy's/UL/Tyrian cox Fred Moorhouse died on 28th October. His funeral will be held at St Joseph's, Retford, at 11am on 11th November 2008. Moorhouse also coxed the Guy's crew which set the Oxford to London record in 1974.
- And Croatian rower Milienko Finderle Fifi, a former member of the FISA Council, died on 31st October 2008 aged 78 due to bone cancer.
- A PDF poster for the Head of the Float (6th December, UK). Closing date is 5pm on Saturday 29th November, entries on OARA only.
- Having sold their manufacturing side of the business, Spartan Clothing (UK) is now concentrating solely on the supply of embroidered and printed clothing, with a new website at www.spartan-clothing.com. They would like to thank all their customers.
- The Eastern Regional Rowing Council AGM has been moved back a week (UK). It will now take place on Wednesday 26th November at St Neot's RC, start time 8pm.
- The Pangbourne Sculls results (UK) are online courtesy of Mikrotime.
Saturday 8th November 2008
- While I'm still steadily getting older links in, Liz Wray is busily updating the Fours Head website. A provisional finishing order is already up, the results in more detail are about to go online, and fairly soon you can expect winners lists and all the rest of the stats.
- Results from the Hylton Long Distance Sculls (UK).
Friday 7th November 2008
- An urgent request for a Fours Head cox (UK).
- Quite a few crews have pulled out of tomorrow's Fours Head (UK) or had to go time-only with too many subs. See the draw page for the latest start order (PDF format) and other information including crew lists for all categories.
- One of the teams entering the Indian Ocean race next year is Row4Charity. The crew are running an online quiz on Wednesday 26th November, between 8pm and 9:30pm GMT. Registration should be completed before 24th November in order to enter.
Thursday 6th November 2008
- Reed to continue to London 2012 - usual press conference nonsense. It's not as if he hadn't already said it... Anyway, BIRO's gone all funky with the photographs of their great Olympians, so you may want to click on the link anyway.
- A tribute to former Poplar rower Joanna Brown, who died in an accidental fall in Siberia in August, on a trekking holiday with a friend after watching the rowing at the Olympics.
- The Thames Regional Rowing Council advice on Tideway steering has been revised.
Wednesday 5th November 2008
- The results for Glasgow Fours Head (Scotland, UK) are online, including points totals for the various clubs. All results files in PDF format.
- Results from the Dee Head (UK) are up.
- A website for Boatbags.biz, making boat bags and outside rack covers in the UK for all boat types from singles to eights.
- Results of the Docklands Head are up (UK, PDF format).
- Start order and marshalling instructions for the Fours Head (UK) are online. The Fours Head has a rule that all crews must carry a copy of the marshalling instructions with them in the boat.
- Results of the Teeds Scullers Head (UK) are up.
Tuesday 4th November 2008
- Regions of the ARA (UK) are seeking nominations for the ARA's Coach of the Year awards. See the ARA website for information including a downloadble form in PDF or Word format. Nominations must be received by the ARA from the regions by Wednesday 26th November, which means regions should receive the forms no later than 10 days before (some deadlines may be earlier - check your regional news).
- Ian Shore is one of three people shortlisted for the Wales Coach of the Year (UK).
- The start order for Pangbourne Junior Sculls (UK) is online.
- Marlow Fours and Pairs Head entries are live on OARA now (UK). Enquiries to mrc2008mfp@btinternet.com.
- The start order for Hylton Long Distance Sculls (UK) is online in Excel format, with the instructions for competitors also online.
Monday 3rd November 2008
- There's a natty new website for Cambois Rowing Club (on the Wansbeck just north of Newcastle, UK). Neat and functional
- Evesham Head (UK) is open on OARA. The race is on Saturday 29th November - the organiser says "always has been, despite other dates being published...."
- The poster for Monmouth Winter Head (UK, PDF format) is online, together with their standard head entry form (Word format).
