IN, OUT, IN OUT....
The stream on the Tideway was doing peculiar things during the Goldie and Cambridge races at the weekend.

Although the tide turned about 11:00, it only came in for around 45 mins before the PLA shut the Thames barrier and it started running out again. The resulting mass of water moving up and down the river meant that the boats moored at Putney changed direction five times in two hours and at several points there was no noticable stream at all.

The Goldie vs UL and Blue boat vs large, tasty German crew races continued as if the tide was coming in, even though it wasn't... something which, if the rain continues over the next month, could well happen on race day (no record times this year then).

Not sure what happened with UL, but the CUBC / German squad results can be found in full at the boatrace website
Cambridge bested by Germany - but only just.

Oxford are playing with some American's next weekend (about 4pm).

YOU DON'T WANNA DO THAT
Burway may have been cancelled at the weekend, but the rescheduled Head of the Taff went ahead on Saturday, though we suspect that at least one crew is wishing it hadn't.

The attached photos show the Swansea University quad that drifted onto the bridge during the event... The crew ended up in the water drifting past the Millennium Stadium with their boat smashed in half.

Happily all four were safely rescued, but it was none too warm to go swimming.

Pics taken by Matthew Stott of Monmouth Rowing Club.

DEWAR SHIELD RESULTS
Meanwhile on the Tideway, Auriol Kensington collected their 5th consecutive overall win in the Dewar shield, with Sons in second place and a man-free Furnivall in 3rd.

The weather was rather nice, the beer at the AK bar was even better, and there were guest appearances by Pangbourne and MAA on the day.

Full results can be found on the AK website at
www.akrowing.com

Some random pics

DISAFFLIATION UPDATE
Now with added Thames Region...

Suspension of Clubs without Safety Audits 2007

Also, some clarity from the ARA on what this actually means for insurance...

ARA members are, in fact, individually registered (and insured) provided their membership is paid up - and therefore not affected.

Whilst ARA Events are insurered through the ARA, individual clubs are not, however, clubs are required by the Water Safety Code to have appropriate Third Party Public Liability insurance for their activities.

(though I assume an insurance company's desire to pay up may be dampened if they find out a club isn't complying with the governing body's saftey requirements..?)

Full details of ARA insurance are on the website.

SCULLDUGGERY
Rumour has it that the National Junior Sculling head is planning to take a decision on whether to:

A) run the race at Henley as planned and risk be cancelled due to river conditions
B) move to Docks or
C) move to Dorney

The decision will apparently be made by next Friday (9th)

WELL I NEVER
Almost forgot about this one, but readers may be interested to know the results from some important research carried out at the recent LRC dinner...

Apparently it takes between three and four pints of Snakebite to fill the Thames Cup - (not sure how much metal dissolved in the process though)

THE SPANISH INQUISITION...
The Descenso de Remo do Ribeiro in Northern Spain, is a head race for men’s eights and women’s quads, which runs over a 6.5km course down the River Mino and into the reservoir of Castrelo de Mino, where the Galician Watersports Centre is situated.

A crack team of Scottish rowers from Clyde ARC and Clydesdale ARC recently spurned the joys of the Scottish Clydesdale 4's and 8's head to partake in the Descenso and uphold British honour against the Russian and Romanian National Squads... (ahem).

Well, It was a hard choice, but somebody had to do it…

The team were staying in the same hotel as the large Eastern Europeans, and it wasn't long before the Scots-women found themselves the object of some amusement - not only because the Romanian men seemed to have been lonely for quite some time, but also because the Romanian women couldn’t quite understand why the Scottish team should have 2 female athletes and a choice of 4 coxes for the men... On being told that the four coxn’s actually consisted of one cox, one coach and two lwt athletes to make up the quad, their disbelief was palpable.

The day of the race saw the boating area alive with press and TV cameramen mingling with the competitors. The Scots boated in Empachers (kindly supplied by the Portuguese) and the girls rowed past the Romanians on the way to the start, giving them false hope in their technical superiority and the notion that size would prove immaterial.

In contrast to head races in the UK, the race commenced from a standing start. The girls had a great row, overhauling a French crew on the outside of a bend but, alas, the Easties had the last laugh as their weight and strength advantage paid off in the headwind.

The commentator was heard enthusiastically mentioning the team from Escozia as the ladies streaked over the finish line and coverage of the race was provided to Spanish TV via helicopter which circled the crews as they raced down the second straight – certainly a new experience for most athletes.

The boys were off next, and springing into action their lack of coxbox became somewhat irrelevant as Airwolf hovered overhead for the first kilometre of the race, close enough to make communication impossible, but too high to provide an effective tailwind.

Starting in the top section, in the thick of the National/Top Club crews, the Scots were hunted down by the selected French team, but held them off until the final 1000M of the course, a buoyed section that could be extended to encompass a six lane regatta. The auld alliance fought bowball to bowball, crossing the line together

The results came quickly showing that the Clyde Men's crew had come a credible 10th but, amazingly they had beaten the Russians! (Actually, so had everyone -- as they’d been disqualified...).

The Russian women were not so accomodating and refused to roll over in the same way, instead surging to victory over the Romanians by 3 secs and the Scottish Clyde/Clydesdale crew in third by a "little more".

Sharing the honours with the Russian women's quad (two of whom were in the ill-fated World Championships 4x) must have been quite an experience. As well as the novel pronunciation of their names, they received specially struck medals and an event specific trophy. The unique medal ceremony, complete with traditional Galician pipe band (all dressed in Queen Victoria black lace widow stylee outfits) allowed full opportunity for an en masse photo shoot before being whisked off for "food and fraternisation", which was surprisingly unexciting and sober

Many of the international teams were also there, and the Scots' appearance in Kilts caused a real stir. There were numerous photo calls from people keen to prove that men from Scotland actually do wear skirts in public, whilst the women wear trousers... A round of Crazy Golf was similarly transformed into a spectator sport, as bemused locals got a taste of those from the home of Golf deal with water hazards involving Plastic Whales (?).

All in all a very successful trip, though the wisdom of Solomon must now be applied to where the trophy should be kept - Clyde or Clydesdale..?

Some entertaining photos of the experience can be seen at
nialldarroch3081.fotopic.net/c1220888.html

WEYBRIDGE VET AND JUNIOR HEAD
Weather permitting, the Weybridge Veterans & Junior Head is due to take place on Sunday 18th March with divisions at 10:30 and 12:00

Entries are accepted for Eights, Fours (Coxed & Coxless) and Quads (Coxed & Coxless) at a cost of £6.50 per competitor per event (coxes free) Fees have been reduced this year!!

Closing date for entries is Sunday 11th March at 12:00.

more info at www.weybridge.rowing.org.uk

BRONZE AND SILVER - LAST CHANCE
As part of the transfer to the UK Coaching Certificate scheme, the ARA Bronze and Silver Awards have now been phased out.

Candidates who have attended Bronze Award courses but not completed a video and training plan for assessment are still invited to submit material for assessment. Those who have attended Silver awards who need to submit training plans or race profiles are also invited to send in these materials for assessment.

These should be sent before July 2007 to:

The ARA Coaching Secretary,
6 Lower Mall,
Hammersmith W6 9DJ.
The Coaching Secretary can also supply blank training plan assessment sheets (for Bronze videos), for those candidates who no longer have them to hand.

Please note that if outstanding submissions are not made before July 2007 these will become void and candidates will need to register for the UKCC L3 award to continue on the coach education pathway.

NAMED AND SHAMED
The Hammersmith mafia have published a list of clubs which have now been suspended for failing to submit their Safety Audit for 2006 - 2007, which was due 31st December 2006.

The Eastern Region appears to have won the "lets stop all possible rowing" award, and their (long) list includes such worthies as CUWBC, Cantabs, Star and every club which has ever existed in Bedford, ever (well, all except Bedford Modern School)

As the ban means that the listed clubs are no longer able to partake in ANY ARA competitions, it could well cause havoc with any HORR and WEHORR aspirations held by the guilty...

Suspension of Clubs without Safety Audits 2007

I imagine the fingers of blame will be pointing in numerous directions over the next few weeks, but in the mean time, if your club is on the list, tell your captain to pull his/her finger out and talk to your Div Rep / Regional Water Safety Adviser, ASAP.

SUMMER OF SPORT
London Summer of Sport is now open to applications for support funding for Sport Events in summer of 2007. These events should be designed to introduce new participants to sport, and funding will cover the cost of Hire of Facilities and payment to coaches.

Funding is normally limited to £500 per event, but you can apply for a variety of events. Schemes can be organised by Governing Bodies or Clubs. So it's well worth getting involved as a way of recruiting new members.

See www.london.gov.uk/summer-of-sport
for more details and application forms.

MORE DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
The River and Rowing Museum will be staging a Rowing History Forum on Saturday 20 October 2007.

Speakers will cover a variety of topics concerned with the history and culture of rowing, from grand themes to small projects.

The programme will follow the successful formula of forums in the US organised by the Friends of Rowing History and a reception and dinner on the evening beforehand and dinner after the forum are optional extras.

For further info or to suggest of topics to be covered, please contact Michael Rowe on +44 (0)1491 415643 or michael.rowe@rrm.co.uk

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
Greg and Jonny Searle will be giving a "Becoming a Champion" talk and Q&A session at Molesey BC on Tues 13th March at 8.30pm.

£5 to get in, the bar (staffed by World Medallist and Solo Ocean rower Chris Martin) will be open and you even get free pizza.

All are welcome no need to pre book!

WASHED OFF
It appears that Burway Head is the latest event on the Upper Thames to fall foul of the fast water conditions, as Saturday's race has been cancelled.
www.burwayrc.co.uk

At least the residents at Iffley Special School have come up with an alternative pastime to Torpids:
Isis Level 'Futures'

(Though I can't help think the whole exercise is just an excuse to use the warning at the bottom of the page.)

VETS SHORTEN UP
Although the race takes place on April 1st, the 2007 Vet's head shortened course is no joke.

This year's course, from Hammersmith Bridge to Chiswick Bridge is a direct result of having to run the race on the flood tide and is a reaction to the difficulties organisers would face in marshalling crews below Putney and Fulham bridges.

Readers may well remember the problems of the Vets 2004 Swimathon, which happened the last time the race was run on a flood tide, and given the state of the river, the likely volunteer force available for deployment along with the the opinions of the PLA, the Thames Region and the various other bodies that regulate and oversee the Tideway, the shorter race is felt to be the best compromise.

Organisers are keen to point out that it was a tough decision to make and will be for this one year only - they normally aim to run the race on the ebb tide, but we didn't feel that people would want to race at four in the afternoon.

LIGHT BLUES CHANGE TACTICS
An interesting development from the CUBC camp in their preparation for this year's boat race, as coach Duncan Holland, has announced that the Light Blues will race in this year's Head of the River Race on March 31st - just seven days before the boatrace.

Both the Blue boat and the reserve crew Goldie will race, breaking with Cambridge's more recent traditions of preparing in Nottingham before moving to the Thames for the final week. CUBC have not entered a crew in the Head of the River Race since 1992.

The official announcement of the 2007 Boat Race crews will take place on the morning of March 12th, but the crew is likely to include German world champions Thorsten Engelmann and Sebastian Schulte as well as Kieran West and Tom James.

The crew will no doubt provide good competition for Leander, who go off head, however the HORR rules on new entrants would indicate that the CUBC crew will be given a start position somewhere around about no 50, so sadly the highly entertaining cat and mouse tactics evident at the front of the 2006 HOR4s won't be repeated.

UNITED HOSPITALS HEAD RACE
Looks like it could get quite busy near Chiswick bridge on Saturday afternoon, for as well as the Dewar Shield races (see below), the United Hopsitals Head Race will be taking place on Saturday 3rd March at 4pm.

Thirty boats will be racing from the pink lodge to MAA boathouse.

Organisers are hoping that any disruption will be kept to a minimum , but as always the co-operation, and patience of other river users will be greatly appreciated!

THE KOSHER BADGE
A bit of a heads up for Tideway crews, that the AK/Funeral/Sons grudge match aka the Dewar Shield is due to take place this coming Saturday afternoon.

The race, will be over a course from Chiswick to Hammersmith Bridges and crews are aiming to be in position at 15:30 with a 15:40 start time. No Notice to Mariners is in place for the race, so it will be done within the normal navigation rules.

Orgainsers are expecting around 6 men's and 6 women's eights from AK, FSC and Sons - with the added bonus of the FSC womens first boat (technically an FSC/AK compo) taking on MAA in a time only match during the event.

MVH '07
The Molesey Vets head went ahead on Saturday (albeit minus the Remenham Challenge division) despite the river going on red flag about an hour before crews were due to boat. Some careful contingency planning from the organisers and the considered opinions of at least two FISA umpires meant that alternative arrangements for returning crews were put in place quickly and communicated to crews at the coxn's meeting.

It never fails to amaze how the boats with defective heel restraints / bowballs frequently contain experienced umpires who really should know better (you know who you are) but in the end everything on the water ran to plan and the competitors retired to that natural haunt of veterans - the bar - to await the results.

Alas, the whole of the Upper Thames is now under red board conditions and with more rain expected tomorrow & later in the week, is likely to remain so for some time - which doesn't bode well for Torpids or any other upriver head races...

Full results at www.moleseyboatclub.org/mar/mvh_results.htm
(presented in extra big font for half blind elderly people, or so it would appear...)

And a few pics (click to enlarge)

...NOW YOU DON'T
It would seem that we may have a miscreant with a taste for aluminium launches on the prowl - for Kings College have informed me they they too have had an aluminium launch shell go missing recently - this time from outside Tideway Scullers.

Again, it appears to have either been stolen or thrown in the river.

This one was labelled 'KCL 902' - if anyone has any info, please contact tom on tom@theboatclub.org.uk

GAPS IN THE TIME SPACE CONTINUUM...
(queue twilight zone music - click HERE )

Yes faithful reader, we bring you more curious tales of things lost and found...

Mysterious goings-on were afoot at the Hammersmith Women's and Junior's Head on Sunday... for although organisers had three independent observers in different locations writing down the start order, none of them saw the Emanuel school A crew start.... yet they were definitely seen to finish & their number identified at this point.

To confuse matters even more, ESBC coach Richard Marriott was heard swearing that they had started and that he had proof in the form of a video, however, a source who has seen the footage confided to the slug that the video footage was far from conclusive.

Clearly the ESBC crew were afloat at some stage during the proceedings - given that they were seen to finish, yet it would clearly be odd if all 3 observers missed them at the start, seeing as they didn't miss any of the others.

Using the tried and tested theory of Occam's razor, we are therefore left with two possible alternatives:

  1. The crew and coach were momentarily abducted by aliens just as they were approaching the start line, and, after numerous experiments of an unpleasant nature, were returned to the Thames halfway down the course with their minds wiped and fake video footage inserted to fool them all

  2. They all passed through a gap in the time space continuum somewhere in the vicinity of Chiswick bridge, appearing in a parallel universe where they started in an alternate version of the Head, and indeed where even now parallel organisers are wondering how two ESBC crews could have been recorded starting when only one finished...
Of course, there has been some speculation that, being late to the start, the crew simply turned too early and joined in with racing crews after the timing point, but that's clearly far too preposterous a scenario to ever be possible - I mean they'd never make that mistake on their home water, would they...?

Full results (with times) are now available at www.akrowing.com.

NOW YOU SEE IT...
An aluminium launch belonging to RUMS Boat Club mysteriously went missing during the week from their base at the Uni of London boathouse in Chiswick.

Whilst the club is reluctant to jump to the conclusion that it has been stolen or thrown into the river by tomfoolers, they are unable to find any other logical reason for its disappearance.

The Slug has been assured that the boat has not been the victim of the recent king tides - it was stored upside down and above the high water mark and RUMS suggests that other clubs should be careful to secure launches left outside boathouses.

If anyone sees an unaccompanied launch with ARA / PLA registration RUM 010 bearing the name 'Rum Row' beached or floating on the Tideway (or for sale on ebay... ED), please contact Chris O'Hara on 07808 164 642.'

EH?
Suspended Above Icy Water, Facing the Demons Within
GETTING BETTER...
The Environment Agency have just published a report which shows that last year 278 Boats were checked and found not to have Navigation Licences... this is a significant improvement on the previous year when 624 Boats were found not to have licences.

Cautions were issued to 178 boat owners - followed by 33 prosecutions to date.

If you row on the Thames above Teddington lock, please ensure that all boats are registered and be aware that the licences must be displayed - and that goes for Tideway crews who are only up visiting for specific events.

For unpowered vessels it's 25 quid a boat for the whole of 2007; £6 for a day pass or £11 for 31 days (n.b. you can't mix and match) - you can either download a registration form from the EA website, or by popping in to visit your friendly neighbourhood lock-keeper (Teddington or above).

See the EA link above for coaching launch costs.

I's DOTTED AND T'S CROSSED
Two events in the Thames region which were due to take place this weekend have had the plug pulled at the last minute by the Regional Council, for failing to provide adequate safety documentation by the required date (i.e. a full month before the race).

In the case of the Henley Junior head, paperwork was submitted a mere five days before the race date. The Remenham Challenge also came a cropper, though in slghtly more confusing circumstances -- after being cancelled earlier this year due to river conditions at Kingston, it was re-planned as an extra division, tagged onto the end of the Molesey vets head (which does have approval to run). Unfortunately, it appears that MVH paperwork failed to mention anything about the Remenham event (which has it's own insurance as a closed event) and no separate safety documentation was submitted for approval, so the region had no choice but to say 'no'. However, I'm assured by the Remenham Challenge that (in the words of the Governor of California), they'll be back.

This may all seem all a bit over the top, but alas it looks likely that safety regualtions are only going to get tighter over the coming years - especially as the ARA is due a long visit from RoSPA sometime soon....

It's always regretable when events that have had considerable time invested into their organisation are prevented from going ahead because a deadline was missed... crews are pissed off, organisers frustrated and somebody somewhere has to foot the bill... so if you are responsible for organising ANY rowing event, Private, closed or open - make sure you know what you have to submit and the date it must be in by.

If in doubt, contact your Div Rep or RWSA...

RISEN FROM THE MELTED PLASTIC...
ERB may be no more, but it seems that Eric and some of his collegues, along with Steve Pitcher, rigger guru, will at least live to fix boats again -- this time under the guise of ES Rowing Services Ltd, Eric's newly formed company which will "focus on providing an all-round service to the rowing world, specialising in boat repairs and the supply of rowing spares, racking, pontoons, coaching launches and more".

ESRS will take in all makes of boat for repair (Empacher, Filippi, Aylings, Sims and Janousek etc) and are planning to continue with the old ERB weekly trailer collection from the Tideway / Thames Valley areas, with similar arrangements to the rest of England and Scotland on a monthly basis.

For now they will continue to be based at the Eton yard in Brocas street, Eton but rumour on the towpath has it that although they will eventually be moving closer to Dorney, they won't be relocating to the lake itself.

MILK IT IF YOU CAN
It's good to see a couple of rowing clubs learning from Matthew Pinsent's money making schemes and exploiting the Corportate regatta cash cow for themselves.

Trafford and Mersey rowing clubs, have got together to put on the "North of England Corporate regatta", which will run at Pennington Flash, Manchester on 16th June and have roped in Jurgen Grobler and James Cracknell as part of the package on offer. In fact, looking at their flyer, the format is almost identical to Pinsent's (which is now entering its third year):- Crews will be coxed fours who get four weekly training sessions of 90mins, followed by a regatta in which they're all guaranteed three races.

The main difference is the cost - a 'mere' £2500 a crew for the Manchester event against £3500+VAT for the dorney lake version, still not cheap it's true, but at least Trafford and Mersey will get something out of it to put back into the sport.

It's also reassuring to see that the Northern Corporate Regatta will be run under ARA rules and confirm to the water safety code, something I'm not sure Pinsent's event takes particular trouble with...

OPERATION KINKY - TRC WIMMIN RAISE THE STAKES
As regular readers may remember, this time last year the London RC boys broke into the TRC women's changing rooms and gave every girl at Thames a Valentine’s card and left them a massive box of chocolates. So this year, the girls in Red, White and Black, figured they should do something in return for their romantic neighbours...

Showing true TRC grit, they went sex shop shopping on Saturday in seedy Soho and bought various ‘toys’ for the LRC boys including: a blowup wife; red fluffy handcuffs; a cock-ring; a willy whistle; boob magnets; a dick measuring stick; willy warmers and a one-night-stand kit!

They then rang Paul "the Impaler" Reedy after shopping, and he let them into the changing rooms that very evening. Once in, they decorated the place with 75 balloons, loads of streamers and heart glitter. The ‘toys’ were wrapped up in a big box along with a giant card signed by all the girls.

Not content with this gesture of love to LRC, they also decorated the Thames boys changing rooms and gave them a big card and a box of heart-shaped red satin chocolates.

The TRC boys are "a little tamer" then the boys in blue, so the girlies were scared the men would take the ‘toys’ the wrong way... which is why they went for chocolates with them. The TRC boys are always complaining that the Thames girls love the LRC boys (and not them), so they hope that this gesture will prove that they love them too.. after all they are their home boys! Mind you, some of them have been complaining that they didn’t get ‘toys’…

See below for some photos of Operation Kinky in action -- taken in the LRC changing rooms.

The response for the LRC men, was also quite impressive!!!! (p.s. Sheena - he kept the hat on!)

Going... Going... Gone!...

ROWING ROMANCE
As Valentine's day is upon us, I suppose I might as well wheel out one I prepared earlier...

www.twrc.rowing.org.uk/books/rr.htm

(Nothing like re-cycling one's ancient content...)

KEW II
A member of Richmond Borough Council’s Planning Committee who was one of the nine councillors that adjudicated on the Kew Marine application last Thursday evening, and who also rows at TwRC, has contacted me about the process and would like to refute the comments made in the previous article, with the following responses:
  1. "The Planning Committee did not ignore representations from local residents and TRRC - all local residents views and those of the TRRC were considered in great detail in coming to our decision. Everyone who wanted to was given an opportunity to appear in person and speak at Thursday’s hearing.

  2. "We did not ignore the representations from the Environment Agency (EA) - but included, as a condition of granting planning permission, a very strict requirement that the EA's rules must be followed. If they are not, planning permission can be revoked."

  3. " We have not said that it is up to the Port of London Authority (PLA) to decide what is moored at Kew Marine just to pass the buck - it is absolutely not up to Richmond Council to enforce safety regulations on the tideway: that is for the PLA and the PLA only. We have no jurisdiction to decide what is and what is not moored but the PLA does and it will make any decisions necessary to ensure the safety of river users navigating close to the Surrey foreshore. All the Planning Committee had to be satisfied of was that whatever is eventually moored at Kew Marine will be controlled from a safety perspective, which it most definitely will be. We would also have objected if the EA has told us that there would be an unacceptable impact on the environment, which they did not. "
Hopefully this means that there are adequate measures in place to ensure that the developement doesn't turn into a safety nightmare for rowers on the stretch, though I know the TRRC are still planning to talk to the PLA just to make sure...
STUDENTS TODAY
Well I never...

UNIVICITY!

BOUSTEAD CUP
The boys in blue achieved a convincing clean sweep at the 50th Boustead Cup on Sunday. Conditions were good this year, resulting in fast times across all the races, though it didn't seem to reduce the usual frantic flag waving from the Umpires.

London won the toss and chose Surrey. Their first crew hit a strong rhythm early on in the race and had gained clear water by Barnes Bridge which they continued to extend, passing the University Stone at Putney 30 seconds ahead of Thames.

At a ceremony afterwards at Thames, the trophy was presented by Nicholas Boustead and his wife Sarah. Thames captain Emma James gracefully congratulated the LRC crews and the London captain Tom Killick.

There was one small victory for Thames... their novice men won their race easily after the London novices failed to show on the start (er....)

RESULTS

First eights LRC (Surrey) beat TRC (Middlesex) by 30 seconds. Time: 17:26

Second Eights: LRC (Middlesex) beat TRC (Surrey) by 13 seconds. Time: 17:49

Third Eights: LRC (Surrey) beat LRC (Middlesex) by 56 seconds. Time: 17:51

The overall tally for the event now rests at 27 wins for London to 23 wins for Thames.

Photos from the day can be seen at
www.flickr.com:80/photos/djstapley/sets/72157594529967085/

KEW MARINE UPDATE
Apparently Richmond Council ignored all representations from local residents, the EA and the TRRC and approved the application for the extension to Kew Marine (see below) on Thursday night.

Basically they have thrown the ball into the PLA's court, by saying that it is up to the PLA to decide what can be moored there.

ONLINE NAME AND SHAME, NAT JIRCS AND COACHING QUALS
Lots of updates on the Thames regional website, so rather than going to the effort of repeating it all here, why don't you just have a gander for yourself...
(n.b. it's probably worth paying particular attention to the details on the new online incident reporting system.)

www.thames-rrc.org

GET OUT OF THE WAY...
The Emergency Workers (Obstruction) Act 2006 comes into force under a Commencement Order on the 20 February 2007.

The Act makes it an offence to obstruct or hinder persons from the following services who are responding to emergency circumstances:

  • the Fire and Rescue Service (including any Crown employees carrying out that function),
  • Ambulance Service,
  • NHS transport of organs,
  • the Coastguard,
    RNLI and other vessel rescue service.

    Section 2 of the Act is worth noting as it provides an offence of obstructing or hindering a person who is assisting an emergency worker from the above services responding to an emergency situation, so if you see the RNLI or fireboat in the distance with blue lights flashing, get out of the way quick (normally a good idea anyway).

    Less obviously, it could also include the Police and the PLA when they are called upon to help out in SAR situations. Essentially if they have their sirens and blue flashers going, there can now be legal implications for not shifting out of the way, and it's unlikely that any court of law will accept the, "I was in the middle of a piece your honour..." defence.

    Read the details at www.opsi.gov.uk/ACTS/acts2006/ukpga_20060039_en.pdf

    • PRETTY!
    We like these. Veh nice.

    www.flickr.com/photos/kayodeok/sets/72057594100953922/

    THE CROATS ARE COMING
    Having recently gained recognition on the FISA calendar after only three years in existence, the British Universities BUR BUSA Head of the River race will see its first International guests competing along with more than 200 other crews over the 5km River Trent course in Nottingham, on February 25

    Croatia are amongst the top rowing nations, so the presence of the Zagreb student mens eight (under the direction of lead coach Josip Kostelic) is a major coup for the event. The Zagreb crew will line up against the lead British universities at a time when their Jarun Lake in Zagreb is usually frozen over. However, they will have more seasonal home-advantage in 2008 when the EUSA European Universities Regatta will be held on the Jarun.

    Croatia have been regular medal winners at international championships so the Zagreb crews will be sure of a warm welcome in Nottingham when they come up against Oxford Brookes, the reigning BUSA and Henley Royal student champions and European silver medal winners in 2006.

    Brookes will field an "all-international" crew to defend their title, but may also be under pressure in the Mens Eights from Imperial College and Newcastle who both have several internationals available to them; as well as from the still-improving European bronze-medal mens crew from Bristol.

    The women's events will be no less competitive, with Durham and Imperial looking most likely to lock horns at the top of the eights, while Birmingham, West of England and Nottingham are the dark-horses in the fours events.

    To date the British Universities Head has seen only a domestic entry, but one that has featured World medallists every year, growing in entry size from 68 crews in 2004, through 170 in 2005 to 286 in 2006. While not quite in the same league as the Universities Regatta in early May, which is the largest UK rowing event (over 940 crews raced in 2006), the continued growth of the "little-brother" Head is especially pleasing for BUR.

    This year, entries are restricted to eights and fours, racing being held in two divisions at 11am and 3pm to create better conditions for the crews.

    As British Universities Rowing (who organise the event) hope to see an increasing number of international crews racing at the Head in the coming years, it looks like from now on the key battle for the British crews is going to be keeping the title of "fastest university crew" safe in British hands...

    HAIRY MOOBS
    Completely un-rowing related (so far), but I must admit that I am sorely tempted to submit a few pics from the Thames gym on a Tuesday evening, as a suitable revenge for having to watch topless male erging....

    heh, heh, heh...

    www.manboobs.co.uk/

    BOATMAN / COACH WANTED
    The boatman at Emmanuel College, Cambridge has recently retired after 30 years in the post, and the college is looking for a replacement of the highest calibre.

    If you think this is the opportunity for you, further details and an application form are available from:
    Mike Gross, The Bursar, Emmanuel College, Cambridge, CB2 3AP.
    Tel: 01223 334225 Email: mjg10@emma.cam.ac.uk.

    The deadline for applications is 19th February, ideally to begin work Easter 2007.

    THAMES VALLEY TRIAL HEAD '07
    The concept of running a head race on a 2k course may be an odd one to those who associate head racing with long distances, but the experience of this year's Thames Valley Trial Head which took place on Sunday 4th February at Dorney Lake, would imply that it's a popular one with the masses.

    From a record entry of 425 crews (a large proportion of which were junior crews, some racing for the first time), a total of 383 completed the course in cold but bright conditions, while a large crowd of spectators gathered on the tow path to watch them race down the 1,900m course.

    New to the event this year were crews racing in coastal boats from Herne Bay, Southampton ARC, Bexhill, Sheffield Hallam University, Hertfordshire University and Southampton Coalporters. The fastest coastal coxed four on the day were the crew from Herne Bay ARC, followed 14 seconds later by their 2nd crew. Sheffield Hallam University won the Women's coastal coxed fours and mens coxless pairs.

    Southampton University produced the fastest time of the day winning the Senior 3 eights category in 6mins 19.6sec. The fastest women's eight was from Marlow winning in 7min 1.4sec, followed by the Maidenhead Juniors.

    Southampton Coalporters took the Veteran handicap eights.

    The large contingent from the south coast also won novice eights (Southampton University), Novice coxed fours (Southampton Solent RC), Veteran Singles (BTC Southampton) and men's and women's coastal singles and men's doubles (Bexhill).

    Windsor Boys School had the fastest quadruple scull, winning senior 3 in 6m42.6 seconds. They were quickly followed by Marlow 6m44.2 (J16 4x winners) and RGS High Wycombe 6m44.7 (J18 4x winners).

    Full results are available from www.marlowregatta.org.uk

    SIRC
    The organisers of the Southern Indoor rowing champs have managed to get coverage from the BBC on the BBC hampshire website, with potential for follow up on tv and radio.

    Southern Indoors Rowing Championships
    (complete with a random pic of Biff looking very demure...)

    Entries close on the 8th feb and the competition is on the 17th February . More information on entries etc can be found at:
    www.southernirc.co.uk

    LBRUT-UP?
    Rumour would have it that Richmond Council looks likely to pass the planning application to extend the grotty pier, on the bank upriver of Kew Bridge, by 27.4 metres. It will inevitably be used for houseboats as the owners have been caught out offering houseboat moorings.

    The Council apparently claim that planning permission will not needed for houseboats once the owners have the pontoons.

    Anyone who has already put in an objection should have received an invitation to speak at the planning meting. If you have, please make sure you attend as We need eloquent people to put our case.

    Full details on the scheme and comments (both for and against) made by residents groups and local clubs etc, can be read on the LBRUT website via the link below.
    Landing Stage, Bush Road, Kew - Ref 06/2716/FUL

    FUN IN THE SUN
    Henley Rowing Club recently enjoyed a week of Sun, Sangria and Seat Racing in Seville. The Camp was apparently very productive (as you can see from the attached photos).

    Those with eagle eyes will be able to spot FISA umpire and Henley Steward John Friend, dominating the infamous HRC Tiger Bong.

    What a legend!

    CLUB WELFARE OFFICER SEMINARS
    The Thames Regional Rowing Council has organised two free Club Welfare seminars in March, one at Maidenhead and one at TSS.

    The seminars which will be run by Annamarie Phelps (ARA Child Protection Officer), are open to all -- Whether you are: a long-standing CWO; someone who has recently taken up that position in your club; or a Club officer with specific interest in this area.

    Details on how to sign up can be found on the TRRC website.

    BOUSTEAD CUP
    The annual LRC / Thames grudge match (a.k.a. the Boustead cup) is scheduled to take place next Sunday, 11th Feb. There will be three races between Mortlake and Putney starting at approximately 1130, 1140 and 1150. Racing is expected to be completed by approximately 1210.

    The crews have permission from the PLA to take the racing line (see the Notice to Mariners below), and will be accompanied by a number of launches, so bear this in mind if you're planning to be on the water at this time and, if they do appear on the horizon heading towards you, it's probably best to get out of their way...

    NOTICE TO MARINERS No.U1 of 2007

    BOAT RACE FIXTURES
    And while I'm on the subject of private matches taking the racing line - a few more dates for your diary.

    The following races are planned by the Cambridge and Oxford squads as part of their usual pre-boatrace training.

    DateTimeClubOpposition
    Saturday 3 March12:20GoldieTBC
    Saturday 3 March12:50CUBCGerman National Squad
    Saturday 10 March15:40IsisTBC
    Saturday 10 March16:00OUBCUS Crew
    Friday 23 March15:45CUBCMolesey BC
    Saturday 24 March15:25GoldieTBC
    Saturday 24 March15:40IsisLeander
    Saturday 24 March16:00OUBCLeander

    EIRCs
    The English Indoor Rowing Champs took place at the Velodrome in Manchester on Sunday - and for once it was sensible to be racing indoors (considering just how cold and wet it was outside).

    The event which was organised by Hollingworth Lake, had a record entry (perhaps because folks are frustrated with not getting to race on the water) with entrants aged from 9 to 91.

    Nik Fleming from Champions of the Thames (who obviously has masochistic tendencies), won the 30-39 age group in 6.05 and then after a 10 minute rest won the Open category in 6.04 in a v close race.

    Nige Mayglothling on commentary went supersonic as usual, getting far too excited and generating most of the atmosphere on his own! While the Manchester Uni men provided much entertainment for those waiting to race, with their warm up exercises -- which are getting close to rivalling those of the Durham Uni women.... although no-one has yet risen to the challenge of topping the DUBC girls' ministry of silly walks impressions!

    Reports also indicate that Simon Darnbrough was seen limping around with a pain in the proverbial (in this case literally - the result of a trapped nerve) - poor thing!

    Full results are on the concept2 site
    www.concept2.co.uk/racing/result.php?race=englishirc2007

    OLD BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
    The Veterans' Rowing Commission are proposing to organise a Veteran Training day at Holme Pierrepont in June and are looking for input and a view of possible numbers.

    More details and info on how to express an interest, can be found on the
    TRRC website

    THE BOMBING RUN
    A pictorial guide to the Bombing Run.. a joint LRC and Thames social dreamed up by ACM Muller
    (photos Courtesy of the Victorious Green Squad) - click to enlarge:


    1. Get orders and move out

    2. Visit pubs

    3. Get public transport

    4. Drink

    5. Drink

    6. Drink

    7. Run like Anneka Rice

    8. Drink

    9. Drink

    10. Swap clothes

    11. Drink

    12. Four Man Base Trafalger Square

    13. Celebrate victory

    14. Eat while other teams catch up

    15. Party

    16. Empty your pockets the following morning and cry...

    BEST ERG EXCUSE...?
    Whilst the Thames Novice men were busy winning their first head race on Saturday, one of their number Frenchman Cyrille Martin, (who's currently in South Africa), managed to upstage their success with some news of his own.

    It would seem that during a visit to the Lions and Rhino Park in Jo'burg, he managed to get bitten by a six month old lion cub and had to get medical treatment because the injury to his chest.

    As Cyrille put it "it was a pain to try to ergo yesterday night, but I can't blaim the lion cub: he just wanted to play !"

    RUSSIAN DRUG BUST
    Good news for the GB quad, but a sad development for the sport.

    Russian rowers loose gold medals after positive drug test

    The British quad now receive gold, while Australia and Germany will move up to second and third, respectively.

    QUINTIN HEAD '07
    Sixty one crews entered and all turned up to race in the Quintin head, which took place on Saturday in rather nice conditions (though the fast stream was making marshalling at the start "interesting" for some crews). The race was the first event to be run under the new Tideway Code (i.e. without a river closure) and in general all went very well, but there are a few things of note to record; Full results are available at:
    www.quintinboatclub.org/Head/QuintinHeadResults.htm
    WET LETTUCE
    Those of an observant nature may have noticed that a police car has been positioned on Putney embankment over the last week. The reason for this additional presence being the high tides and the inordinately large number of people who've had their cars drowned - the police have been reminding people parking on the embankment that tides can go up as well as down.

    The additional warning however came slightly too late for certain members of the GB women's squad, training out of Thames, and just to make the point that even the most paranoid of tide-watchers can get caught unawares, poor Ron Needs' brand new motor was one of the victims.

    FYI - Apparently diced raw onions spread around the car will help to gets rid of that "dead-thing Thames smell" if it gets wet...

    BRIDGE BASHING
    A warning to those on the Tideway to be careful in the current strong stream conditions - especially when the wind is up, as even the most experienced crew can easily be taken by surprise.

    Reports suggest that a quad from Mortlake got rather wet after hitting Barnes Bridge on Sunday when the swirl off the bridge caught them out. Happily all four crew members were rescued by an accompanying launch, but not without a little drama - as the boat broke between the bow seat and the two seat, and one crew member was swept a few yards down stream.

    As this can happen to crews with experienced steers who know the Tideway, clubs visting from up-river who are unfamiliar with the vagaries of tidal water should be doubly careful and pay particular heed to the non-stopping zones around the bridges.

    Be careful.

    WEHoRR
    The website online entries system for the women's head is now live and taking entries for the race on Saturday 17th March, 2007. The site address is www.wehorr.org.uk

    Entries close on Sunday 25th February at midnight... Book early to avoid disappointment!

    Following user feedback from the 2006 race, the organisers have improved the entry system to make it more user friendly and it now even helps calculate the Veteran category automatically as part of the system.

    The race is again supporting the Breast Cancer Haven charity with a prize draw for any crew or club raising over £30 for the charity.

    For ideas on how to raise funds, as well as a free fundraising pack visit www.breastcancerhaven.org.uk/events and click on Women's Eight Head of the River Race. Your support will make such a difference, last year crews raised over £10,000 and this year we are hoping to raise even more. So please get involved.

    The lucky winners will get a set of Magik Oarlocks for their boat – kindly sponsored by Rowperfect UK

    HOR4S
    Sidney Clay, who has been president of the Head of the River Fours since 1991, passed away earlier this month. An obituary for Sid, who put an awful lot into rowing behind the scenes, can be read on the HOR4s website.

    Also up are the official photos from the December prizegiving at Fullers Griffin Brewery.

    www.hor4s.org.uk

    CALLING EX-GROSVENOR ROWERS
    Grosvenor Rowing Club, Chester has just started a major fundraising effort.

    Ex-members, friends and supporters who want to help, make a donation, join the 200 club, send ideas etc. should contact the fundraising group at grcfund@yahoo.co.uk.

    THE ETON REVIEW
    Eton College Services Limited, have apparently employed Grant Thornton's Strategic Services Group to manage a review of Eton Racing Boat's current operations and activities on behalf of the college.

    This is being done with the aim of assessing the best options for the future. ERB's current operations include the manufacture of their range of racing boats; the Matt Wood spares and rigger manufacturing unit; and an extensive repair service (see www.etonracingboats.co.uk).

    Staff, customers and other valued relationships of ERB will be consulted and kept informed during the review to ensure that commitments are met and that useful opportunities are explored.

    MAIDSTONE SBH
    Despite all the cancellations due to weather conditions last weekend, there was some good news for rowers in Maidstone, Kent, at the weekend -- when the Maidstone SBH finally went ahead after being rescheduled from December.

    Around 150 crews took part in 3 divisions and there were only two capsizes - a coxed quad (?!?) with a broken fin, and unconfirmed reports of a double.

    It was a beautiful sunny day with blue sky, warmish in the sun, flowing but not over-flowing river, good catering, prompt results, nice medals .... indeed, all fairly good tempered!

    No doubt full results will appear on the website in time:
    www.maidstone-rowing.org.uk

    JUNIOR NAT CHAMPS
    If you have a view on the events offered to juniors at National Championships and the possibility of Junior Commission organising a separate Championships for Juniors, please fill in the form on the TRRC website ASAP.

    Junior Rowing Survey

    A HENLEY NEW YEAR
    We're happy to be able to bring you a fine selection of highly dodgy pics from Henley Rowing Club's 'White Men Can't Jump' NYE party. The party was a great success and in attendance were members of Marlow, Leander, Brookes, Upper Thames, UL and IC to name a few. Following the success of this, plans are already in place for a much bigger summer party at HRC.

    The main events of the evening included HRC's captain and Head coach Ian 'Dessie' Desmond on the guitar belting out 60's classics and 80's Hair Metal cover band 'Youth Gone Wild', consisting of Thames Tradesmen's rower Robert Friend on vocals and Bass, Oxford Brookes and Great Britain Rower Ryan Davies on the Drums and Henley Rowing Club's very own Jonny Smith-Willis on lead Guitar.

    Thanks to everyone who attended for making it such an awesome evening, no funds were raised, no fire extinguishers were left untouched and most of the £1800 worth of alcohol was consumed!

    Thanks are also due to Charlie and Rob Friend and Jonny Smith-Willis for organising it.



    TRIATHLON SUCCESS!
    A follow up to the article on the rowers going for places at the Triathalon Academy...

    I'm happy to be able to report that Katharine Vile (ULBC/Molesey); Tristan Shipsides (TTRC) and Louis Verdi (ex-St Pauls) have all gained a place! (The fourth available spot went to a runner).

    Thanks to all who voted (that'll teach them to open it up to e-mail!!!)

    www.thelondontriathlon.com/TriAcademywinners.html

    COX WANTED
    The Old Men of TSS have a squad of around 20 Veteran Oarsmen, all keen to race in the pursuit of Glory and Silverware. However they only have one coxswain and as he is deserting them for the Ski Slopes,they have nobody to cox at Kingston and Vesta Veterans.

    They would like to put out a plea for any cox who fancies early morning starts (normally meet @ 0730), coxing a disciplined (mostly) bunch of young old men, an unlimited supply of coffee/tea and the occasional cake after the outing and a very good chance of winning a pot or two.

    Some Tideway experience would be useful but they are more than happy to initiate an Up River cox to the mysteries of the Tidal thames.

    Anybody interested should contact David by phone or Email.

    davidhudson41@btinternet,com
    Mobile: 07763 943193

    GIRLS (AND BOYS) ON FILM
    As part of Volunteering Week from the 8th - 14th January 2007, the London Youth Rowing film will be shown on the Community Channel - Sky Digital channel 539 and on freeview 87 between 6am and 9am -- during five half hour programmes called V for Volunteer).

    As The London Youth Rowing charity is part of Episode 2, the film will be shown on Tuesday 9th January at 6.30am, 10.30am, 18.30pm and 22.30pm, and again on Sunday 14th January at 14.00pm.

    If you miss it or need more information about LYR go to www.londonyouthrowing.com . Copies of the film are also available --just e-mail Matt Rostron on mrostron@londonyouthrowing.com

    WHOOPS...
    Picture the scene, 7am Sunday morning and members of an un-named Tideway club are endeavouring to attach an engine to a coaching launch, in readiness for their hard-working (hah...ED) coach, when one of said members, steps into the vessel, upsetting the balance...

    Alas, at this point, the laws of physics take over followed closely by several hundred squids worth of equipment jettisoning itself off the pontoon and into 5 foot of polluted tideway slime - when it twas immediately feared ne'er to be seen again...

    Having apprised the situation -- with the benefit of lower tide, our intrepid hero deigns to return to the scene of the misfortune two hours later, to see what the fates have left...

    It soon becomes obvious that the engine has not moved far from the pontoon, and in fact, the pontoon (having lowered with the tide) is now resting upon it in a vice-like manner. With the aid of a car jack (generously provided by a lovely ex-lwt squad member); a couple of rocks; a bit of scaffolding and a large piece of random metal, the (slightly squished) engine was eventually retrieved and attahced to to a launch.

    Despite initial signs that the drowned equipment had survived its ordeal at the bottom of the Thames, it soon changed its mind, and the coach was left swearing on the flats further downstream... Said engine is now resting resting upside-down in a bowl of water, awaiting the attentions of Chas Newens.

    you have been warned.

    JUNIOR COACH NEEDED
    Thames RC is expanding its Junior section and needs an enthusiastic and experienced person to manage the group. There are currently 2 or 3 regular coaching assistants and the group consists of about 15 Juniors, both boys and girls aged between 11 and 16.

    The group meet once a week on a Saturday afternoon for a session on the water. The group has access to a large number of boats and all the land training equipment at Thames (soon to include a rowing tank), but needs the input of a qualified coach (IA/ Level 2 or above) to help them achieve racing success and to allow the group to take on new members.

    The coach would be expected to attend every Saturday session where possible. Expenses will be paid and full support will be provided for the administration side of the group.

    If you are interested in providing the coaching input to this group – then please contact the Captain (Emma James) on captain@thamesrc.co.uk.

    ROAST PIG?
    It would appear that things got a little hot at Leander on Saturday night, after there was a fire in the crew room (apparently a self combusting computer), no major damage but the first floor was heavily smoke logged -- I'm told it's now "a bit smelly" and parts may need re-decorating.

    The police have been called in to investigate, just incase it might be linked to a fire at the club last month (which is also thought to have been accidental).

    As it appears to have been electrics related, it's unlikely someone has it in for the pink palace... Mind you, Leander has recently had one of its renowned culls of under-performing oarsmen - and a round of "pink postcards" (pink xmas cards shurely?... ED) were sent out following the December trials.

    LEVEL 2 COACHING MANUAL 1953
    ... or "how to be a gallant winner"

    We know that you're always looking for alternative insights into training which can be applied to your own approach to rowing and coaching. Well reproduced here for your education and entertainment is a memorandum on the Conibeare style of rowing - with a note of its practical application by Staines BC in the season 1953-4.

    Memorandum on the Conibeare style of rowing (PDF file)

    To give you an insight into the treat that awaits - the summary is rather good:

    1. Hook on with knees together and hands together
    2. Great crescendo of power
    3. All hell at the finish
    4. Out of bow and round the turn
    5. Shove on the brakes
    6. Heads up and feather late
    I especially like the author's view on "light paddling". Can't all be bad mind, as Brian Griffin who is referred to in the text went on to win the Wyfold with The Royal Engineers, though as one reader points out
    "The fact that the RAF won 2 events (albeit 2nd tier ones) at Henley in 1953 might have as much to do with the fact that many considered them professionals, having been posted there so that they could row, as it had to do with their rowing style. They were booed by the crowd."

    Anyway, I'm sure this will be debated at the National Coaching Conference...

    VESTA DO SOME ARM
    The Vesta x-mas party got down to some serious business when the boys decided to go for an arm wrestling session. Damage to the surroundings was only avoided through an inspired use of coxswains - placing one at each end of the table to hold it down.

    A selection of pics can be found on
    Yahoo! photos

    LONDON LOSES THE DUKES HEAD CUP TO THAMES
    Picture the scene.

    It's Sunday afternoon and after their respective Christmas races, most people from London and Thames are having a quiet drink at the Dukes (alternated with the odd round of Jaggermeister & Redbull).

    Suddenly, out of nowhere, the Thames Social Secretary throws down the gauntlet.
    "London, we challenge you to a duel... pick six of your best men and two of your women, and we will have a strawpedos drink-off!"

    The challenge is accepted. Drinks are ordered. London scrambles to locate their two only women present. As the teams line up and face each other, the atmosphere is tense. It’s the Boustead Cup all over again (as you can tell from the attached photo of the "start").

    "Are you ready? Go!"

    The noise is deafening, shouts for "Looooondon" and Thames, Thames, Thames fill the air. The roar is louder than having London and Thames racing each other past Remenham.

    Thames takes an early lead as London struggles to finish its second bottle. Yes, Thames have been taking their strawpedos training seriously this year -- so it’s with a certain ease that they step up their rate to 2 bottles per minute. The boys in blue make a desperate push for the line, but the mighty Thames girls hold their ground firmly.

    The end result is a Thames victory by two clear bottles. Mayhem ensues.

    SATURDAY NIGHT WITH THE BOYS IN BLUE
    Cab ride to the Swan: £17

    Entry to the Swan: £6

    Round of Jagerbombs: £20

    Watching Sparrow singing on Youtube: Priceless

    www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTs7J3FoeVU

    There really are somethings that money just can't buy...

    LRC CHRISTMAS CRABS
    Well, they were using a KCS 8x and were all somewhat hung-over from Saturday evening's activities...

    Lots more pics on www.flickr.com

    GONE TO THE DOGS?
    I'm sure there's a caption competition in there somewhere...

    images.thesun.co.uk/picture/0,,2006571336,00.jpg

    PORK AND CHEESE
    Most of the club in Red, White and Black turned out for their xmas pudding eights races on Sunday morning, racing a course from Wandsworth bridge to the club's mobile phone mast (shurely flag pole?...Ed).

    Whilst it was suggested in some quarters, that the event was merely a cunning ploy to clear the boat house of every vessel larger than a pair, so it could be given a seasonal spring clean, this theory was soon disregarded due to an obvious absence of cleaning - though the infamous 12 oar did get it's second bath of the year.

    The boats, crewed by a selection of nuns, fairies, fame-wannabes and an 8ft tall Slyvester the cat (who was suffering from heat stroke by the end of the race) managed to get out of the way before the boys in blue started their version - well, all except one crew who failed to make it to the start after losing about 6 inches of their bows on the Black Buoy's big brother - which is located en route to Wandsworth bridge and is cunningly disguised as... er, a large black buoy.

    As one conversation summarised:
    "It's massive, how can you miss it?"
    "he didn't... that's the problem"

    Oh dear...

    AND NOW THE SERIOUS STUFF
    As the end of the year approaches, a reminder from the Women's Eights Head committee...

    You may, or may not be aware that the Women's Head has a Club pennant which - if the overall winner is a Composite crew - is presented to the fastest crew from a single British Club (excluding universities, colleges or schools, National and similar associations) .

    To qualify for the Club pennant in the 2007 race, all rowers in the crew must have been fully paid-up members of the club that they are representing by 1st January 2007. So, if you're planning to race in the Women's Head and you're not yet a paid up member of the club you expect to race with - then get signed up with them before the end of December, or your crew won't be eligible for the Club Pennant.

    A further word of advice to clubs: in due course when you make the entry, only tick the box to enter the Club Pennant if the crew is eligible. If someone isn't eligible - don't tick the box! And if you later have to field a substitute who is ineligible for the Pennant, tell the Entries Secretary and WITHDRAW from the Pennant - you'll still be allowed to race and still be eligible for the status pennants (Senior 1, Senior 2 etc).

    The committee will be making eligibility checks - so don't try to bluff it and risk disqualification.

    Finall (to avoid confusion), a bit of background: the idea of the Club Pennant is to have a prize for crews that are genuinely drawn from one club; the 1st January rule was designed so that rentacrews, ringers and de facto composites are not eligible. Again for clarity, the distinction is between Club and Composite, it is NOT between Club and International.

    Current GB squad members are perfectly eligible to compete for the Club Pennant.

    Full detail on pennants and rules is available on the Women's Head website at
    www.wehorr.org/class-crit.html

    Any questions, contact the Entries Secretary, James Elder at entrysec@wehorr.org"

    GOING FOR GOLD?
    The attached photo shows one of our ex-Olympians apparently coming out of retirement to "go for gold" one last time at a recent Goldfinger Party.

    Can you tell who it is?

    (hint, make sure you're looking at the right person...)

    PICTURE PERFECT
    Peter Spurrier has some great shots of the GB squad invite sculling day at Caversham lake last month on the Intersport site. These include some of the rowing centre at Caversham and a few male sweep rowers looking unconfortable in sculling boats.

    There's also a small selection of pics from the Indoor rowing champs - worth a look for the one of Keiran West mid erg, if nothing else!

    http://archive.intersport-images.com

    CALENDAR BOYS
    The University of Bristol have taken a much more arty approach for their 2007 calendar - none of this nekkid malarky (much to everyone's relief), oh no no, after all that's been done to death...

    Ultimately its the chance for rowers to own a decent bit of rowing art and help others out at the same time and it's all yours for a mere six quid plus p&p -- the money raised doesn't just go to the boat club but also to worthwhile charities locally through Bristol University's "Raising and Giving" department who are responsible for that side of things...

    Details and images from the calendar can be found at photographer Hamish Roots' website:
    www.lightoverwater.co.uk

    Just hit F5 and a new picture will randomly appear...magic!

    Veh nice... and I even spotted a few familar ex-LRC faces in there.

    FOUR WHAT IT'S WORTH
    The Fuller's HOR4s prizegiving, which took place last Thursday in the Hock cellar at the Griffin Brewery, was rather well attended this year. The good turn out was due in part to the late date of the ceremony, but in the main was probably down to Fuller's generous hospitality (lets face it a free bar always adds to the atmosphere of such occasions).

    Though most of the GB men's sweep squad members couldn't make it in the end, the only crews who didn't have some representation on the night were Agecroft (well, Manchester is a bit far to travel for one evening); Cambridge (who were tucked up in bed in advance of their trial 8's races the following day), and Molesey (who apparently can't face travelling as far into London as the South circular after dark - that or they just don't like free beer... Ahem.)

    True to their club ethos, Scrubbers got well into the spirit of the event, being first in and last out -- though with Cop back in Slovenia and Mahe having to leave the country following the XXX party last weekend (talking of which - if anyone has those photos of Alan showing off his Portrush tan in a pair of speedos, please, drop me a note...), the head crew were represented by Mssrs Hennessey and Campbell, with added drinking support from a selection of TSS coaches.

    The top placed women's quad were all in attendance along with coach Miles F-T, and the Brookes locusts were out in force, salivating over the food as soon as it appeared - egged on by Peter-Peter-Mini-Cheese-Cake-Eater Haining, who's inability to let covered food lie, must surely be down to some deep psychological trauma inflicted on his psyche from years of lightweight rowing.

    A few pics from the evening can be seen below, and you can expect the offical prizegiving pics to appear on the HOR4s website over the next day or so.


    As far as the race goes you can expect a few changes to the entries process next year. Confirmed is that Women's Elite 4+ is being dropped and replaced by Women's S2 4-, a change that's been needed for some time and which should be well received.

    As to whether Fuller's can be persuaded to donate a firkin of beer to the fastest men's crew and women's crew in 2007 is yet to be confirmed, but might just prove to be something worth training for...

    TRIAL EIGHTS
    If you're curious to know what went on at the Ox-Cam Trial eights races last week, then there are fairly comprehensive write ups and crew lists from both days on the boatrace website -- It looks like the light blues got the better weather.

    Oxford: Sickle win Oxford trial

    Cambridge: Cambridge crews tussle for victory

    FAST AND FURIOUS
    Whilst up-river Thames events were forced to cancel this weekend, the Scullers head took advantage of the Tideway's ability to swallow extra land water and went ahead on Saturday afternoon in fast but pretty good racing conditions.

    There were six swimmers this year - three going in before the race started, one of whom managed to get back in the boat pretty quickly. However, the main casualties seemed to be the plastic bow numbers (all to easily knocked off while marshalling) which caused a few problems for the timing team but nothing unsurmountable.

    With the GB squad absent on training camp (a slightly sore point for the organisers who moved the event from March to November a couple of years ago so the squad could take part) the race was dominated by Tideway Scullers, who won 13 of the 36 categories. Mahe Drysdale continued his winning streak, overtaking fellow scrubber Tom Gale before Barnes bridge and winning ME and the overall event by a clear 25 seconds. Second placed was Tim Male who won the Elite lwt event.

    Lwt Jen Goldsack picked up the Women's Elite pennant, coming a very respectable 81st overall and securing one of Wallingford's five wins. The women's Elite lwt event went to London's Laura Ralston who came 85th overall.

    Of the 398 entries, 327 started - not bad considering the forecast conditions. There were a few steering issues evident in the fast stream with scullers being pushed wide round the bends by the water. This had one odd side effect - the eddies round the bridge butresses were actually pushing sculls away from, so those taking a close line found themselves being lifted sideways by the water.

    Full results are available on the Vesta website
    www.vrc.org.uk/sh/results/index.phtml?year=2006&order=finish

    and there's a selection of pics ( mainly of LRC / Thames + a few others in the top 200 taken from Hammersmith Bridge) at:
    www.flickr.com/photos/41116168@N00/sets/72157594402127171/

    If you want a full size copy of any of the pics, email Dave at the address on the website and he'll forward them on to you.

    It's worthy of note that the fourth photo is, in fa.bct, a very rare sighting of both the Treasurer and membership secretary from the club in red, white and black... perhaps they were stood on Hammersmith Bridge together checking up on whether people racing in club colours had paid up their subs??

    UP-RIVER ANTICS
    All those organising regattas or head races on the non-tidal Thames (i.e. above Teddington Lock) during 2007 should make sure they have completed and returned the linked form to the Environment Agency.

    Events on the Non-Tidal River Thames, 2007 Events listing

    The details of your race will then appear on their rather useful Visit Thames website.

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