Cygnet Weekly Update: Monday 29th Sept 2014

Evenin' All,

A busy weekend at the boathouse.  Boats of various sizes going out on the water, enjoying the late summer sun.

Sunday also saw a successful Open Morning, in conjunction with Barnes Bridge Ladies.  Aimed primarily at recent graduates joining the civil service, there were 20+ fresh-faced new-comers being shown around.  Some had rowed before, some hadn't, but all were keen, helped by the sunshine and by the evident effort that had gone into the day.  Many thanks to those that were around to welcome them - in particular to Sue for a couple of coaching stints in the tank, and Stu for making the whole thing run like clockwork.  We will be endeavouring to capture that enthusiasm, so please say hello as and when you see new faces around the club.

This week is the final ramping-up/ tapering-off/ dawning realisation of what's in store this weekend.  Closest to home is the best race of the winter season: the Pairs Head.  Despite the clash with the Rhine, this year we've got the Cygnet flag flying proudly in three boats:

Crew 219: IM2.2- Bart & Gav
Crew 267: Mx.Mas.B/C.2x Sid & Bec (composite with Barnes Bridge Ladies)
Crew 515: Mas.G/H.2x Neil J (composite with AK)

BBL crews are racing at numbers 400, 434, 470, and 495.

Race starts at 1pm, so if you're around, do come down to the club to cheer them on.  There will also almost certainly be some catering set up by Barnes Bridge Ladies, and no doubt some opportunities to 'volunteer' to help out, particularly around boating time.

This Saturday is also the Rhine Marathon, where we have a fantastic 25 oarsmen and women from both clubs hitting Dusseldorf hard, sweeping, sculling, seegigging, beer-carrying.  You will be hearing all about it shortly.

This week
Tues - Squad Erg Night - 20mins, followed by 16mins.  5'5'5'5' r16/18/20/18. Then 4'4'4'4' r18/20/22/20.

Thurs - Circuits.  7.00pm at the club, or 7.15pm (sharp) at the school.  Bring a towel and a water bottle.

Thurs - is also post-circuits food.  Sarah T is cooking, so please let her know if you're sticking around, as per Stu's email

It would be fair to say that numbers showing up to last week's Squad Erg and Circuits were not fantastic.  And most of those that did, did both.  And as a consequence those few are well on their way to becoming massively fit and powerful, beautifully balanced, coordinated Adonises.  And the rest of you will wither and fade and lose races.  Unless you do this week's erg and circuits, in which case you should be okay.

This weekend

We will try and work out outings, but given the Pairs Head on Saturday, and the fact that all the club captaincy, the coach, chairman, secretary, water safety advisor, and social secretary are in Germany, that may not happen.  Watch this space.

Given the above, if anything urgent arises this weekend, please let Bart know (except for the hour or so he's on the water for the Pairs Head, during which time you'll have to sort it out yourself).

Further Ahead

Sat 25th Oct is the Henley Leander lunch - be there if you can.

Sat 1st and Sun 2nd Nov are the Fours Head Races - we're finalising crews and will be confirming this week, as we need to get entries in.

That's all for now.

D