Monday 31st October 2005
- Details of the next Thames Regional Rowing Council meeting (UK).
- Results of the Hylton Scullers Head (UK) are online.
- And for the Marlow LDS and Novice Head (UK).
- Draw for the Fours Head (UK) is out.
- Evesham Rowing Club (UK) have details of their Head race (Sat 26th November) and Lottery grant for refurbishment.
Friday 28th October 2005
- On Row2k, Body of Jim Runsdorf recovered - memorial service draws thousands (USA). A blogspot for friends to share memories of him has been organised. Short pieces in The Journal, the New York Daily News, KATC and the New York Times (all USA).
- The starting area for the Hylton Scullers Head (UK) has been reorganised. Details online here (MS Word format, all competitors please read).
- Entries for Monmouth's rescheduled Autumn Head on Sunday, November 6, close
at noon this Sunday, October 30 (UK). Details on the Monmouth RC website.
- There's been some discussion on the newsgroups of this photo from Row2k's Head of the Charles coverage (USA). The thing that gets me is how it's just about the least ideal rig possible for the Charles course, which involves a sharp strokeside (port side) turn beside Cambridge Boat Club, at the Eliot Bridge. Perhaps the bowsiders (starboard) were _really_ strong...
- The NRC AGM (UK) is at 7pm on Wednesday November 2nd, at Chester le Street RC beside Durham County Cricket Ground. Includes a short presentation on a proposed change to the regional structure, and Coach of the Year awards to regional winners.
- Two great features online at the moment about rowing characters - The Big Interview: Andy Ripley (Sunday Times, UK), with a neat mention of TSS stalwart Robert Rakison... And how I rebuilt my life the day I went blind about former TCD rower Mark Pollock, in the Belfast Telegraph (Ireland). If ever a guy deserved to have people buy his new book it's Mark. I still don't understand why BIRO isn't begging him on hands and knees to get re-involved with the adaptive rowing 4+ crew: he's an excellent rower by sighted or adaptive standards, who would have stroked the 2003 AM4+ entry had he not been ill just before the regatta.
Thursday 27th October 2005
- From Rowing Canada Aviron, Rowing remembers Mark Lowry and Rowing team reps visit 2008 Olympic site.
- News of the ARA Coach of the Year awards (UK) - nominations are due in by 30th November.
- CamToo (UK) has been offered a Sports Marketing Trust Award for market research to help the project. More details on the official website (link is to an MS Word format document).
- Slovenia's Luka Spik and Iztok Cop designated 2005 FISA Male Rowing Crew of the Year, from the obvious source.
- A Thames Regional Rowing seminar on Wednesday 2nd November - Neuro-Linguistic Programming: the perfect tool for do-it-yourself sports psychology (MS Word format, UK). Speaker is Phil Jarrett, location Henley College at 7:30pm.
- NERowing in the UK has a PDF safety protocol file for rowing in the region now uploaded on its site. Filesize is 450Kb.
Wednesday 26th October 2005
- From World Rowing (FISA), Richard Tonks to receive the FISA Coach of the Year Award. Plus, in other FISA stories, Movie looks inside the rower's mind and Rowing results from China's National Games, Course records fall at Armada Cup, The Boat Race, research and Sebastian Thormann, Development camp for women planned and Tufte tops own challenge.
- Entry list and start order for the Hylton Scullers Head (UK, Excel format).
- Marlow LDS Championship Sculls and Novices Head start order and competitor information (UK) online too.
- The Atlantic Rowing Race website is up and running, with news also carried on the Ocean Rowing Society website. The race starts on 27th November.
- An update from the Thames Regional Rowing Council on Tideway navigation and the PLA review.
Tuesday 25th October 2005
- A belated link to the openweight and lightweight GB first open trials results from the weekend (UK). Winners were Ian Lawson (senior men), Alice Freeman (senior women), Tim Male (ltwt men) and Laura Ralston (ltwt women) respectively.
- The University of Cape Town Rowing Club (South Africa) has a new webpage.
- Results of the Weybridge Silver Sculls (UK) are online, and also by category.
- A dreadful accident in New York (USA) - headlines include Rockland man involved in boat collision (The Journal, USA), Dedicated oarsmen take a lethal turn (New York Times, USA), Rower is lost as shell and motorboat collide (New York Times, USA), Search continues for missing rower (New York Newsday, USA), Rescuers search NYC river after crash (Guardian, UK and global syndication), Rescuers search river after crew accident (New York Newsday, USA), Crew boat collides with a small craft (7Online.com, USA). Most have slightly different perspectives and background details.
- And an obituary for Mark Lowry (Globe and Mail, Canada), a senior sports administrator who died on Saturday after two years fighting pancreatic cancer. Plus COC mourns death of executive Director of Sport Lowry (Skipressworld, Canada).
- CUWBC (UK) has organised a kit sale today from 2:30pm to 7pm in the School of Pythagoras Building, St. John's College, Cambridge. Open to all, not just students, with suppliers Crewroom, Godfrey, Reeds of Cambridge, Rock the Boat, Spartan and Sub Zero attending. Directions in a MS Word map here.
Monday 24th October 2005
- The Head of the River Fours (UK) became oversubscribed at lunchtime yesterday and has closed its entry list. This is the earliest this has ever happened. A note will go up on the official website confirming this, shortly.
- The Scottish ARA has just released its official selection policy (Word format download) for the 2006 Home International and Commonwealth regattas. Scotland (Strathclyde) is hosting the 2006 Commonwealth Regatta (probably the first weekend in August), while the main Commonwealth Games take place in Australia (Melbourne) earlier in the year. As I have reminded readers before, this is because Melbourne, despite being a keen rowing city and having included rowing in its bid for the Commonwealths, dropped it out later after securing the Games. It's time for this to stop - either venues include the sport (and stick to their guns) or they admit it's not for them, and don't muck about during the bid process. The 2010 CW Games are in New Delhi, rowing-less, but at least they didn't pretend they were interested in hosting it. Ok, rant over. RQ
- Results of the Wear Sculling Head (UK).
- And of the Cambridge Autumn Head (UK).
- www.philwortleyphotography.co.uk has photographs from the Reading Small Boats Head (UK).
- Draw for the Dee Autumn Head (UK) is online.
- Coach of the Year nominations in the northern region of England (UK) close today - clubs should contact Alan Granlund (see your regional information for address/email) to propose your favourite coaches.
- The Harry Mahon Cancer Research Trust website has been updated with more recent news and results, and an account of exactly where the funds have been spent so far. The HMCRT specialises in funding pieces of equipment used in research by the cancer research teams at the Oxford hospitals, where Harry was treated.
- A story of a shark (thanks MW).
Friday 21st October 2005
- The Head of the Charles website (USA) has had a refit: lost the rather pretty autumn leaves, but on the plus side it is now much better organised and quick to load, as well as being incredibly informative. The regatta is this weekend: results usually go up really fast. An extra sprint race is being held this time, at 2pm today, 330m and involving Leander, Cambridge University (both UK), and Harvard and Northeastern Universities (both USA). Backed by Virgin Atlantic Airways, it's the "Row Jet Set, Row" Sprint, over the final 330m of the Charles course.
- A reminder to those planning to take part that the closing deadline for the British Indoor Rowing Champs (UK) is Friday Oct 28th for postal entries and 9am on Monday Oct 31st for online entries. The link is to the online entry form. This year the competition is compulsory for national squad athletes and all those receiving grant funding.
- Huntingdon Boat Club's Head (UK) is on Sat 29th Oct, over 4500m. They ask any crews entering to ensure that postal entries are received at HBC by 18:00 on Monday 24th October or emailed to adamsaac@lineone.net.
- The Wear start order (UK, Excel format) has been amended. Competitors' instructions available in Word format (follow the link).
- Oarsport (UK) have launched RowLog, an online utility allowing rowers to log all their training (water or not) on a secure basis.
- A reply from the organisers of the D'Inverno sul Po about Mason Durant's letter earlier in the week.
- USRowing has announced that it will move its headquarters from Indianapolis to Mercer County (NJ) in 2006, to consolidate with the national team training center.
- The date for the 6th E.ON Hanse-Cup (Germany) has been set as October 6th-8th 2006.
Thursday 20th October 2005
- NLRoei has 150 photos of the Armada Cup (Switzerland).
- Italian crews won the XX Triangular Match and COTRAO Trophy last weekend. Results, photos etc. on the official website (Italy).
- Start order for this Saturday's Wear Scullers Head (UK, Excel format) is now online. Two divisions due to a large entry - check which one you're in if competing.
- And the draw for the Cambridge Autumn Head (UK).
- New website, www.ndrow.org, for North Dakota (State University) Rowing (USA).
- Connect2Image has pix from div 1 of the Worcester Autumn Head (UK).
Wednesday 19th October 2005
- A notice about a community rowing coach in Bradford (UK, Word format).
Tuesday 18th October 2005
- The UK Sculling League now has a sponsor, league table and is organised to start. The CrewRoom will be providing kit to the winners.
- Following up on yesterday's Sunday Times Sportswoman of the Year news, people may register a single free online vote if they wish. Use the link (UK).
- Start order for the Weybridge Silver Sculls (UK) is online.
- A letter from a Rowing Service reader about the D'Inverno sul Po race mentioned recently.
- It's been pointed out to me that the successful candidate for the British Olympic Association chairmanship, Lord Colin Moynihan, is also President of the Welsh Amateur Rowing Association.
Monday 17th October 2005
- Bucknell University Men's Crew have an official website with a second 'crew association' website (USA).
- A short sad piece in the Calcutta Telegraph - Coach drowns in Hussain Sagar (India).
- Two-times world champion Katherine Grainger is one of six shortlisted for the Sunday Times Sportswoman of the Year (UK). A full press release and voting instructions for this prestigious award is online here. Briefly, if you want to vote for her, text 2 to 86122, or call 09015-000-064 and follow instructions.
- So the Chinese 10th National Games have now taken place (cited as the reason they didn't attend the World Champs). A piece in the People's Daily (China).
- Results of the Tyne Scullers Head (UK).
- And of the Pairs Head (UK) - results are downloadable in Excel format.
- And of the Northwich Head (UK).
- And from the Bedford Autumn Fours and SBH in time order and by event (UK). According to the ever-resourceful webmaster, "popular 'show blade colours' gimmick available at the click of a button"...
- Applications have opened for a Community Sports Coach at Durham ARC (UK), closing date 1st November. The large MS Word format advert can be downloaded from this link.
- Details of the Southampton Scullers Head (UK, 6th Nov) on the Soton Coalporters website.
Friday 14th October 2005
- The D'Inverno sul Po (5th March in Turin, Italy) website has been updated for 2006, with over 700 photos of the 2005 race too. Free of charge accommodation for 4th March 2006 is offered to all foreign participants and there are some 8+ shells available to borrow.
- I gather on BBC 4 (UK) on Tuesday 18th October at 9pm BST there is a programme called "A Very British Olympics" with footage/interviews about the 14th Olympic Games in 1948 including Burnell and Bushnell winning the double sculls.
- Entries are open online for the Upper Thames Small Boats Head (UK).
- Godfrey Sports weekly update: new gilet and rugby shirt colours, and a limited edition black and grey G2.
Thursday 13th October 2005
- The dedicated Tiffin Small Boats Head website (UK) has the draw for this weekend's race, and a link to the weather forecast. A particularly good event website - simple, quick to load, and including safety plans, maps and a page of information for spectators.
- The draw for Reading Small Boats Head (UK) is also up.
- Rowperfect UK are looking for UK clubs willing to take part in a product test for Regatta Magazine on the RPRS with new MKIV touch screen interface. The clubs would borrow a Rowperfect Rowing Simulator from them for a fortnight, with the principal training groups using it regularly for that time, before journalist Peter Crush interviews the coaches and athletes for the article. They need clubs where a cross-section of athletes from novice to experienced and children to veteran can take part in the trial. To put your club forward send an email to Rowperfect UK.
- Davies RowTech (UK) has opened its new website at www.daviesrowtech.co.uk with up to date prices. The old site will stay open a while longer, but links should be changed.
Wednesday 12th October 2005
- This weekend a triangular international match will take place on Lake Candia, northwest Italy, between Piedmont (Italy), Suisse Romade (Switzerland) and Dauphine Savoie (France) for the XX Triangular Match. A second race, for the CO.TR.A.O Trophy, will take place on the Sunday. Information, entry list and draw on the Canottaggio Piemonte website (Italy).
- An announcement of Concept 2's Freshers' Challenge (UK) - already mentioned earlier this summer - has been posted on the BUSA website. Full details online.
- An error has been found in Mortlake's Tidal Projection chart for Sunday 16th October, ie this coming Sunday. Correct information is posted at the top of the Mortlake Anglian & Alpha homepage (UK).
- Start order for the Tyne Long Distance Sculls (UK) is online (Excel format).
- OARA entries are now open for Marlow LDS and Marlow Novice Head (UK).
- The full Blockley 2nd inquest verdict has been published on the Blockley Memorial website (UK).
- A heartfelt plea (UK) - "Clyde A.R.C. have lost a set of pairs riggers for our lightweight pair. They are Carl Douglas Aerowings and have a serial Number 98519 and may have some blue tape left on them. They could have been lost anywhere between Cardiff where the boat was at HIR/EUSA and the FISA Masters at Strathclyde Park as it has travelled on a number of trailers between these regatta's. If anyone has picked them up anywhere could they please e-mail me at Graeme_D@(NOSPAM)hotmail.co.uk".
- CamToo (UK) is apparently about to get official recognition following an agreement with Cambridge City Council that it can be mentioned in the local development plan. Details on the website.
Monday 10th October 2005
- Nereus (Holland) held its 120th anniversary Amsterdam Sprints on the Amstel this weekend, over 250m. The men's senior final was contested between Jurrien Rom Colthoff (NED M8+) and Mahe Drysdale (NZL M1x world champion). I'm told by NLRoei that Rom Colthoff took a clear lead in the first 100m but stopped rowing two strokes too early because he thought he'd already won, letting Drysdale through....! A photo of the night-time finish here and the main photo album here.
- The draw for Northwich Autumn Head (UK) is online.
- Results of the Wansbeck Scullers Head (UK) and photos. And there's an Excel spreadsheet of the results analysing the single sculler results by percentage times compared with the winner.
- Photos of the Wallingford LDS (UK).
- Information on the 3rd Euro Masters regatta (Munich 2006, Germany) is online in English and German.
- Jonny Cantwell's RowingBoatLights website (Australia) has been updated. Love the Ronseal-like naming strategy (UK in-joke).
- I don't seem to have included RowMart before - a rowing clothing/accessories company set up by a rower who is a graphic designer (USA).
- Peach Innovations (Cambridge, UK) sells sophisticated instruments for measuring rowing power output, matching force curves to video and quantifying technical improvements.
Saturday 8th October 2005
- The Blockley second inquest verdict is out - the coroner recorded a narrative verdict, allowing him to discuss several issues at length without singling out a reason leading to the death. There is heavy criticism of several people involved. There are detailed reports in the Times online, in today's Times newspaper, on the BBC website and in today's Telegraph (all UK). The Google newsgroup thread with Leo's parents notes on the final verdict is here.
Friday 7th October 2005
- The UK Junior Rowing Commission is seeking the views of those involved in UK junior competition (clubs and schools) about the Schools Head and the National Championships junior categories. There is a printable Word questionnaire which all those with relevant views are encouraged to fill in and return to Ruth Hatton (JRC Chair) before 31st October 2005.
- WAGS (the Wilts, Avon, Glos & Somerset region in the UK) are holding an extraordinary regional meeting on Monday 10th October, at which the regional rowing council executive committee are resigning en masse in protest about several issues. A full copy of the letter circulated to the relevant clubs and responses from interested readers can be found here on the rec.sport.rowing Google Groups thread. The same material can be read through any newsgroup reader.
- The students' response: a letter from the President of Edinburgh University BC (UK) following the press report in the Scotsman on Monday.
- Wansbeck LDS start order (Excel format, UK) is online.
- The Northern Rowing Council AGM will take place at 7pm on Wednesday 2nd November at Chester le Street Rowing Club beside the Durham county cricket ground (UK). All welcome, will include election of new officers and coach of the year/regional achievement awards.
- Details of the Wycliffe Small Boats Head (3rd Dec, UK) are up on the Wycliffe Sculling Centre website. Direct link here.
- The first 2006 nude rowing calendar (from Ashland Rowing Club, Oregon, USA) is out.
Thursday 6th October 2005
- Details of the Central England rowing conference have been updated to include approximate timings (UK). Bookings before 14th Oct get a discount and free prize draw entry.
- The Harry Mahon Cancer Research Trust website has been updated with news of John O'Loghlen's attempt at the Kinabalu Mountain Run (results available shortly). People who want to donate to the Trust founded in memory of internationally renowned coach Harry Mahon may do so online through a secure link on the site.
- Olympic silver medallist cox Lord Colin Moynihan (formerly known as 'the Miniature for Sport' when he had the portfolio under a previous Conservative government) has won the election to become the new British Olympic Association Chairman. Loads of UK links on the press page.
Wednesday 5th October 2005
- The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has approved and published its 2006 List of Prohibited Substances and Methods. The link includes the 2006 Monitoring Program and a summary of the major modifications.
- Latest Blockley inquest news - Rowing coach had 'no idea of safety role' (Telegraph, UK).
- Results for Rob Roy's 2005 Small Boats Head (Cambridge, UK) are online. They're also hosting the Cambridge Autumn Head (22nd Oct) and will be holding an impromptu club dinner the same day. Any Robs members who have lost touch and want to come along should email Holly Parker on holomir[at]gmail{dot}com.
- Start order for the Wallingford Long Distance Sculls (UK) is up. They have had to turn away more than 250 entries and will race the remaining 550 in two divisions at 12:00 and 3:30pm (second division now half an hour later).
- Things are hotting up for the BKW-ArmadaCup, a 9km mass-start race finishing at Bern Rowing Club (Oct 15th, Switzerland). The start order is online, and is led off by Elia Luini, with other big names including Luka Spik, Donovan Cech, Jan Herzog, Leonardo Pettinari, Steve Tucker, Robert Sens, Ekaterina Karsten, Peggy Waleska, Marit van Eupen, Michelle Guerette and Stefano Basalini taking part in the singles categories.
Tuesday 4th October 2005
- Leo Blockley's parents, Jane and Steve, have produced a 'Cold Water Survival' document, in Word and PDF formats, with some very sensible advice, including Jane's as a doctor.
- Results from the Rowers' Revenge Triathlon (UK). A race report will follow shortly on the official site.
- Another NYM runner - "To keep him occupied whilst weekend shifts as a junior doctor prevent him from regular rowing, former Manchester University Boat Club President and University Rowing League organiser Gareth Wynne is running the New York Marathon in aid of Asthma UK. Any sponsorship would be much appreciated on their JustGiving page (UK).
Monday 3rd October 2005
- Results of the Berwick Scullers Head (UK) are up.
- Photos from NLRoei of Olaf Tufte doing the 'Farmer Challenge'. From the looks of the last picture, he won it. More on the front page of NLRoei (in Dutch).
- Entries are open for Tees Small Boats Head (UK), and being accepted on OARA.
- UK: There will be an open meeting at 6:30pm on Thursday 6th October entitled "Your tidal Thames - today and tomorrow", at the Museum in Docklands, no. 1 warehouse, West India Quay, Hertsmere Road. Anyone who wants to raise matters with the PLA is invited and they're already planning to discuss safety, and recreational watersports.
- UK rowers Cornelius Frey and Charlie Duffield are running the New York Marathon on 6th November for national UK disabled children's charity Whizz Kidz. They have a fundraising page on JustGiving with more details.
- FISA tell me they are trying to change the use of their name to 'World Rowing' much more globally, with the exception of internal governance issues. So, on the "World Rowing website', Rowing's many modes compete this weekend, New Chair for FISA's Adaptive Rowing Commission, Tunisia hosts the 6th African rowing championship, Polish juniors top the Baltic Cup and Highlighting rowing in Turkey.
