Latest Rowing News from The Rowing Service

BRITISH 4-, 8+ and 4x MAKE HISTORY IN SYDNEY
Relive it on the Rowing Service Olympic website

December 18th 2002

• Late FISA news - Lightweight Rowers Reassured. My only query would be: what will they try and chop next? Rowing already has one of the largest teams (if not the largest, AFAI can recall), particularly when you consider that unlike track&field, all the events are quite similar. It is therefore considered fair game when the IOC is talking about cutting athlete numbers to help include new sports..... I'd be surprised if the argument is wholly won.
• Virus warnings - there are a couple of new variants on the old themes, eg mass-mailing, faked "from" addresses, .scr and .pif attachments, and almost all of them exploiting the standard holes in Outlook Express. Visit Symantec's website, Norton or similar, if you use O.E., and do not open or autoexec. any attachments until you are _quite_ sure what they are, regardless of the apparent subject or sender.
• From last week's Sunday Times (UK), Fame & Fortune: Oarsman splashes out on a fast car (may require registration).
• French ocean rower Anne Quemere was forced to come back to shore recently when hit by severe storms, but aims to restart her trip this weekend. More on the Ocean Rowing Society website.
• A website for Dutch boatbuilders Lambrechtsen&Meijer, address H.Bulthuisweg 23, 8606 KB Sneek, Netherlands, tel 0031 515 411244.
• In the press: Records fall at Welsh indoors (The Westland Mail, UK), No Games for Halifax (Halifax Daily News, Canada - this may mean CG rowing for 2010 since the bid is based partly on St. C's?), Medals galore in Cardiff (This is Worcester, UK), KC men set boat building record at competition (Camden Chronicle Independent, USA), Rowing final runs into controversy (The Times of India), Services men sweep rowing event (Outlook India), Waved away (Seattle Times, USA, halfway down and of interest to buoyancy experts).

  December 16th 2002

• Press links: Top honour for rowing coach Mike (Cambridge Evening News, UK), Punjab foursome simply awesome (The Hindu, India 3 weeks back), Olympic hero in tribute to Tyne rowers (icNewcastle, UK), Slate wins rowing honour (Kingston Whig Standard, Canada), Gurpreet makes waves, retains title (Outlook India), Redgrave goes for gold in the fashion industry (Kingston Guardian, UK), Tasmanian Rowers Competitive (ABC Regional, Australia), Athletics has now surged past football in popularity (Daily Telegraph, UK), Bdos takes on first Atlantic challenge (Barbados Advocate), Rowers collide at national trials (Queensland Sunday Mail, Australia).

  December 14th 2002

• Results from the 2nd British senior trials (UK) today.

  December 13th 2002

• Draw for the Tideway Small Boats Head (UK) now out.
• UK/Irish notice: "The Bluecoat Club is holding its 2002 Dinner on the 1st February 2003 in the Incorporated Law Society of Ireland, (the old King's Hospital), Blackhall Place, Dublin 7 at 7.30 p.m. Tickets (and/or further information) may be obtained from John Aiken. Tickets are priced at €50.00".
• The ARA has put up a notice of the Coaches of the Year (UK).
• In the news: Happy Holli bounces back (Mirror, UK - a bit marginal but see last para: it will be interesting to watch that), Teams for Aussie youth festival named (NZ Herald), Time the executive put some of the cash towards other sports (Glasgow Herald, Scotland), Tara an Olympian in the making (Kangaroo Island Islander, Australia), Rick Shalvoy's Card is in the Sound (Glen Cove Record Pilot, USA, about the Snow Row 2002), Three Rivers Rowing named best US club (Pittsburgh Post Gazette, USA), Rowing without equipment (Times of India in Hyderabad), Avon's medal flood (The Bath Chronicle, UK), Duncan stars for Bath (The Bath Chronicle, UK).

  December 12th 2002

• Hunt-Davis promoted, Brit Cup demoted, my report on the Henley Stewards' Meeting (UK) since the only other piece in the papers is Henley gives £250,000 to steward fund (Mike Rosewell, The Times) - mine and Chris Dodd's articles were sliced down to very brief snippets.s.
• An urgent UK plea: "Steps borrowed/taken between midday Sun 1st Dec and early Sat 7th Dec. Trailer parked close to the entrance to the trailer park at Dorney - De Graaf - belonging to Sir William Borlase School Boat Club. If they have appeared on your trailer please return as loading with kids now very difficult. Please contact CharlotteMHill@aol.com." (What Charlotte doesn't say is that the school is unlikely to stump up for new steps, so please help her out and give them back!).
• RemCatalunya website has photos and results from the recent Spanish Erg Championships.
• Recent press clippings: Probably ready, possibly able, but is Britain willing? (The Glasgow Herald, Scotland), Battle of the bulk (Ithaca Times, USA), Sculler Chris proves hes a bit of oar-right (Paisley Daily Express, Scotland), Farquharson will row at University of Washington (Mississauga News, Canada), Anglers and boaters in harmony (Norfolk Eastern Daily Press, UK - "boaters"?!), Flood study stops rowing course (The Border Mail, Australia), Rowing cup win for Norwich crew (Norfolk Eastern Daily Press, UK), London an Olympic favourite (News Interactive, Australia), Huge budget blow-out for riverside project (Brisbane Courier Mail, Australia), Town Lake classes drawing kids, adults (The Arizona Republic, USA), `I saw engine pieces flying past' (syndicated story including a girls rowing squad, NZ), Adventurer Tells of Sharks, Squalls (The Moscow Times, Russia), Beerline chic: Staircase, boathouse with park will dress up area (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, USA), Waddell: I'd love to row at two more Olympics (NZ Stuff).

  December 11th 2002

• Results of Newark Small Boats Head (UK) on the Newark website.
• A piece I wanted to link before, but there wasn't much online, reports the story of Dragon School Head of Rowing Michael Righton leaping to the rescue at Dorney Lake (UK). Thanks to my source...
• An interesting piece in the Westmorland Gazette (UK) about Cambridge University's training camp.

  December 7th 2002

• Two days ago, Frenchwoman Anne Quemere left Le Gomera headed for Guadaloupe across the Atlantic ocean. More details and updates on the OCean Rowing Society website.
• Vesta Rowing Club (UK) have (miserably) had to change their results from the Scullers Head. It appears that while their timing was accurate, J16 sculler Josh Davidson was mixed up with someone else crossing the finish at the same time and looking similar, so he has now dropped back 50 seconds. He still wins by a fair distance though.
• Entries for the North of England Triathlon run by Agecroft RC (UK) close tomrorow (Sunday 9th). See the website or email Denis O'Neill.

  December 5th 2002

• RowTV's latest newsletter (UK) is up, with details of a 'Henley Champions' videoclip archive.
• Press links from recent days: Morgan Stanley hosts rowing challenge (The Wharf, UK), Council Discusses Cayuga Lake Work (Cornell Daily Sun, USA), Greeks racing against the clock (James Cracknell, UK), IOC Puts Off Decision on Ditching Sports (Duluth News Tribune, USA), We're losing the plot over our obsession to win every game going (Sydney Morning Herald, Australia - not a rowing-specific link but an interesting theme), Navy get sports associations (Daily Times of Nigeria, interesting..!), Carlow lady is champion of the world at 72 (The Nationalist, Ireland), All we want for Xmas is Olympics (syndicated piece, UK).
• Warrington Head of the Mersey (UK) has been moved: it will now take place on Sunday 9th February 2003 and not the weekend before as originally planned.
• The latest Naked Rowing Calendar comes from City of Oxford (UK) - there is a little taster online here.
• Exeter RC's Head Race (UK) will have results on this website after the race on Sunday 15th December, apparently.
• RemCatalunya has pictures of the Spanish junior national team training camp in Seville recently.
• Oarsport (see advert above right) have just launched the NK "SpeedCoach Gold". It isn't available until February 2003 but you can pre-order on the website. Details from link.

  December 4th 2002

• Wallingford Head (UK) is still currently going ahead this Sunday, but novice and Senior 4 entries have been removed, and crews are advised not to use inexperienced coxes, as the stream is still strong. Final decision will be made on Friday.
• Because the UK national newspapers collectively decided not to print the OUBC Trial Eight crew lists, here they are.
• The Women's Eights Head (UK) is now taking online entries for the 2003 race: close of entries 4pm on 23rd February and race date 15th March at 2pm (correction to date). If you would like to be sent paper entry forms, pleaes contact Entries Sec: Mrs S Malt, 5 Gladwyn Road, Putney, SW15 1JY, Tel: 020 8785 2247  or e-mail EntrySec@wehorr.org.
• It looks as if Sir Steve Redgrave's revamped website is now up and running properly.
• Glasgow RC (Scotland) have also revamped their site for Christmas.
• Irish outfit The Water Edge have pictures and results from the Irish Erg Champs on their website, as well as some video clips.
• And Jet Photographic (UK) has pictures from the Scullers' Head.
• A website for Liangjin Shells from the Hangzhou Liangjin Boat Company in China (exports to the West).

  December 3rd 2002

• Russian Fedor Konyukhov has set a new record for solo rowing East to West across the Atlantic, which he has just finished, in 46 days and 4 hours. There is a letter from him on the Ocean Rowing website, translated into English.
• Australian photographers HebFotos have a selection of pix from the World Masters Games in Ballarat, Australia, as well as the Seville World Championships, on their website. Well worth a visit.
• Results from Saturday's Glasgow Fours Head (Scotland) division 1 and division 2 on the SARA website.
• From FISA, Olympic Solidarity Coaching Seminar Held in Singapore and Kenyan Rower and Coach Granted Olympic Scholarships.
• UK press links from the last two days - Lightweight triumph for Male (Rachel Quarrell, Telegraph), Smith guides Health home (Chris Dodd, Independent), Smith's crew in good health (Rachel Quarrell, Telegraph). Poor Mike Rosewell's been seeing his Times articles shredded to terse paragraphs recently.
• And belated stuff from Saturday: Flood aiming for Houghton (Rachel Quarrell, Telegraph). Plus My Sport: Steven Redgrave.

  December 2nd 2002

• OUBC's trial eights this morning for those who find themselves near Putney, London (UK). Race start time is 10:30am.
• Results of Saturday's Rutherford Head (UK) now up.
• Details of next year's Thames Region Umpires Training (UK) on David Biddulph's website.

  December 1st 2002

• I was very sad to hear of Thames RC member Gerry Blanchard's death last week: his funeral takes place at 1pm this Thursday (5th December) at Christ Church, Copse Hill, Wimbledon, London (UK), and then at Thames RC on the Embankment afterwards. Friends welcome.
• Results for the Scullers Head (UK) now up - they say provisional but are increasingly likely to be final.
• Henley Women's Regatta (UK) have this year's rule changes online.

  November 29th 2002

• The Tideway (UK) will be closed to navigation from 20:00-21:00 between Hammersmith Pier and the Milepost on Thursday 12th December, for a fireworks display. River users are reminded that the PLA will be out before and after the event, so do check you have the correct lights on and are obeying the navigation patterns, and leave plenty of time to get back before the closure, allowing for a possibly extra-busy river. As my correspondent suggests: "In hand delivering a notice regarding night time rowing, the PLA are making it clear that they are not happy with the number of crews out in the dark on their river. It is probable that they are looking for any excuse to ban all night time rowing. Let us not give them one."
• Walton Rowing Club (UK) have decided to postpone their small boats head to 2003: date to be confirmed. More details on the club website.
• The organisers of the Evesham Head (UK) tell me with relief that their landing stage has now emerged from the Avon floods, and the river is safe to go ahead with the event tomorrow.
• The UK University Rowing League website has undergone a lengthy facelift and been relaunched. Get your challenges in now...
• The Seville 2002 World Championships on DVD is available from FISA (different continents) or in the UK from Oarsport.
• Details of tomorrow's UK Scullers Head online.
• Press cuttings: Medal Haul For Mcgaul At Birmingham Indoor Event (Bath Chronicle, UK), Young athletes recognised with regional awards (Melbourne Standard, AUS), Merri hopes for sports centre (Melbourne Standard, AUS), Moving time for Bronze Age dwellings at Olympic rowing center (AP, syndicated), Paddle pop's hard row to hoe (another yucky title from the Melbourne Herald Sun, AUS), Strathclyde rowing (Wishaw Press, UK), World economic crisis hitting sport - Rogge (Independent Online, RSA and syndicated).

  November 27th 2002

• Southampton Coalporters RC's new website address is at www.coalporters.org (UK).
• The Thames Regional Rowing Council AGM (UK) is being held tonight at Kingston RC, 7:30pm. All clubs and events on the Thames should have received invites and can send a representative. Topics for discussion include the competition structure, regional 5-year plan, safety, recreational rowing, and the EA document I linked on Monday. If you don't tell the RRC, they can't tell the ARA Executive what they want....
• A change to the link for Houston Rowing Club (USA).
• Start order for the Rutherford Head (UK) now posted.
• Press links: Melanie Makes A Splash Indoors (Exeter Express and Echo, UK), Journalists put their best oars forward for charity gig (Hold the Front Page, UK), Sagamore Rowing Association 6th Annual Frostbite Regatta (Oyster Bay Enterprise Pilot, USA), Rowing for a wish (Murray Valley Standard, Australia), An oar inspiring success for Rachel (Border Telegraph, UK), School hosts fair (Wandsworth Borough Guardian, UK), Modern Pentathlon, Baseball Look Set to Stay (syndicated IOC news from USA).

  November 25th 2002

• News from the Ocean Rowing Society that epileptic Briton Andrew Halsey has departed on his Pacific solo row attempt, leaving La Punta Yacht Club in Calleo, Peru, bound for Australia. The East-West Atlantic attempt by Russian Fedor Konukhov looks on to set a new record: the current best solo crossing time is 57 days (Emmanuel Coindre's E-W crossing), and Konukhov looks likely to land in the first day or two of December, which will give him a new mark of 46/47 days.
• The (UK) Environment Agency report I mentioned on November 21st, below, has been tracked down by a kind and keen Rowing Service reader. The consultation message is here and the report itself in PDF format here.
• Entries for the Wycliffe Small Boats Head (UK) are now closed.
• RemCatalunya in Spain has results and photos from the weekend's local racing.
• Results from last Saturday's Clydesdale Scullers Head are in MS Excel format on the SARA website (Scotland).
• A link for Rudergesellschaft Wiking e.V., Berline (Germany).
• From several correspondents on the international rec.sport.rowing newsgroup, a link to the British Pathe News archive, which includes quite a lot of rowing clips, especially early Oxford-Cambridge Boat Races.
• More discussion on the "CamToo" river link website - it now has the support of all three local Cambridge MP's (UK).

  November 23rd 2002

• Loughborough Students RC has a new webpage at www.lsrc.info (UK).
• Following up a post from a reader of this page on rec.sport.rowing, there is an interesting article on the decline of VO2max with age, from Peak Performance Online.
• The Crew Room, a UK rowing wear shop (Putney, London), has picked up one of the funky new web addresses, and can now be found at www.crewroom.biz.
• The Northern Rowing Council AGM (UK) is on Friday Dec. 6th at the River Tees Watersports Centre, Stockton, with a bar and free buffet. Regional Achievement Awards will be presented.

  November 21st 2002

• Something for chunks of the UK: The Environment Agency is devising a waterways strategy called Water Vision, and they want input. Perhaps this is a way to discuss lock management and sluice design? No sign of the actual strategy (supposedly published yesterday) online, but you should be able to get it from your local navigation officer, and then, as they invite, get commenting!
• A US headline from yesterday about Olympic medallist Sebastian Bea's Pan-Am admin mix-up: Rowing team member loses eligibility over paperwork (AP wire, FoxSports).
• Other news today: Port officials approve plan to change bay-front Chart House (San Diego Union Tribune, USA), Mt. Laurel woman rows her way to silver at British championship (Burlington County Times News, USA), Rowing association request gets favorable advisory opinio (The Saratogian, USA), Henderson is fighting mad (Toronto Sun, Canada), Cool products for a hot summer (Manufacturing ad-feature, Australia), Cambridge Tales: No student is an island (Malay Mail, syndicated), Local rowers best college teams (Menlo Park Almanac, USA), Rare duck on Spring Creek. (Orange Central Western Daily, Australia), Indoor rowers keep event success all in the family (Cambridge Evening News, UK), Oakland Strokes make strong showing at Seattle regatta (Walnut Creek Journal, USA). And don't be put off by this one - Former Nordstrom Chief Dies of Heart Attack (DM News, USA). Another obituary here.
• The multilingual rowing dictionary has moved homes to a new URL.

  November 20th 2002

• Another regrettable UK cancellation: this time of Hampton Small Boats Head (Sat. 23rd). "Another victim of adverse fluvial and metereological conditions", say the organisers...
• Entries for Evesham Head (UK) close this coming Sunday at noon. Details on the Evesham website. Apparently "the river is still a little high but with a bit of luck we will be OK." They will let me know if it needs to be cancelled.
• The information about the next GB trials is up online (UK): please read carefully if you are planning to compete.
• The BBC is inviting votes for the Sports Personality of the Year (UK) again: time to take your pick.

  November 19th 2002

• Alison Faiers of BUSA asks that all UK university rowing club captains go and see their Athletics Union President or Sports Officer asap, to collect a questionnaire she's sent out about the BUSA regatta. She needs responses back by Thursday 28th November. Any problems getting it, please contact her at Alison (at) busa.org.uk.
• A website for RG-Aquarius, in the Netherlands.
• A new photographic venture in Ireland is called The Water Edge, founded by two oarsmen with an archive of photos from the last five years. They're keen to get feedback on their site, so do email them if you have suggestions.
• The Welsh Rowing Association is putting together their first plans for this year's Home Countries (2003, in Cork). They can accept athletes for the team who have Welsh parents or grandparents, so if you are eligible and interested, please email chief coach Damian Hammond for registration and training/selection information.
• In the news, Riverboat leading parade (very festive, Montgomery Advertiser, USA), Rowing icon honoured for Canada's turnaround (Times Colonist, Canada), Exercise, Weight Control, And Exhilarating Fun (Internet Wire, USA - a bit dodgy!).
• The UK junior trials results are out on the ARA website, which entertainingly describes them as the 'junior trails'....
• The site also has details of the Clubmark scheme, Molesey's £216,300 Lottery award, and the UK K BBC North West sports awards.
• The ARA also has an incorrect link to the UK SportsAid foundation, a charity which helps talented able and disabled sportspeople. The foundation is setting up an Alumni organisation, so if you've benefited in the past, get in touch with them.

  November 18th 2002

• Sally Causby and Amber Halliday (AUS LW2x) won the 2002 "Rower of the Year" awards this weekend, with Vicki Roberts also honoured. Views from the winners on www.auslightychicks.org.
• As noticed on the rec.sport.rowing international newsgroup, the Despair.com website features a number of rowing-related pictures. To find them, visit the search page and type coxswains into the search box.
• UK press links: Schroeder delivers on early promise (Hugh Matheson, Independent), 'It's written on people's faces if they are strong' (Greg Searle, Independent on America's Cup sailing), Schroeder hits the right note (Times Sport in Brief), Telegraph Sports Round-up (half of which I didn't write).
• Other press links: Grammar girls in easy Tamar win (Tasmania Examiner, AUS), Victoria rower Carli Halpenny wins British Indoor rowing event (Ottawa Citizen), Canadian rowing coach wins international award (CBC.ca), Fund-raisers held for Italy quake victims (European & Pacific Stars & Stripes), Sport New Brunswick will roll out its red carpet tonight (Canada East), Simsbury novice rowers race to victory at Lake Quinsigamond (Farmington Valley Post, USA), High rise, low profile (Newark Star Ledger, USA), IOC to decide on sports Olympic future (ABC interview with Kevin Gosper, Australia).

  November 17th 2002

• The Rowing Service commentary team was in action for the British Indoor Rowing Championships.
• Full list of winners from the BIRC's. Full results and photos on the Concept2 UK website.
• FISA announced the winners of the FISA international rowing awards at the World Rowing Forum this weekend. CAN M8+ coach Mike Spracklen won Coach of the Year 2002 for his tenth-anniversary men's eights win, Rumiana Neykova (BUL1x) was awarded Female Rower/Crew 2002 for her superb return to form (and better) after the birth of her first child, and Matthew Pinsent and James Cracknell won Male Rower/Crew 2002. Denis Oswald presented the 2002 FISA Distinguished Service to Rowing award to boatbuilder Klaus Filter of Germany for his work in the FISA materials commission and boat collection program.

  November 15th 2002

• York Small Boats Head (UK) has been cancelled: the EA's latest forecast is that the River Ouse level will still be too high to race on Sunday. The event is postponed to Sunday 24th November. Competitors should contact the organisers on or before Monday 18th if they wish to withdraw any or all entries from the rescheduled race (refunds will be given).
• News in that 57-year-old Stein Hoff has landed in Guyana after rowing the Atlantic east-west, crossing in 96 days, 12 hours, 45 minutes. This is the first crossing from mainland Europe to another mainland continent: see the Ocean Rowing Society for more details.
• A new website and URL for North Shore Rowing Club, on the Lane Cove River in Sydney, Australia. This is a masters club with a growing junior posse.
• A UK warning, to anyone planning to use the Tideway this weekend due to flooding elsewhere. Apparently it's vastly overcrowded, which on its own means that inexperienced Tideway users MUST make sure they are properly briefed on where to be on the stream, and obey local customs about crossing points and overtaking. Added to that, though, the landwater coming down means that for a couple of hours after low tide the river is still flowing out in many areas: it takes longer for the tide to effectively turn in such conditions. This morning at 7:30am the tide began to come in at Putney while it was still flowing out strongly at Kew. In between were confusing conditions, during which the accepted policy is "stick right" and keep looking around, to avoid collisions. Note also that the river can be rising (due to an incoming tide) while the surface water is still slack or flowing out. Navigation depends only on the latter. Low tide at Hammersmith is predicted for around 7:15am tomorrow, so take care.
• Draw for the Newark Small Boats Head (UK) is on the Newark RC website.
• If I recall aright, First Coast Promotions (who do rowing jewellery) have moved about online quite a lot. Their current address is www.sportsgifts4u.com.
• On 21st November Dundee University BC (UK) will be staging a 24-hour indoor rowing marathon to raise money for Breast Cancer Research Scotland. A team of eight will row in half-hour shifts, and expect to row a distance equivalent from Dundee to Durham. More information on the website or from Dave Shea, men's captain (07811 880239). Donations, which will go to BCRS, gratefully accepted.

  November 14th 2002

• Late UK news: Due to strong river conditions, the Tiffin Small Boats Head has on November 16th has been cancelled. It has been rescheduled for Saturday 18th January 2003.
• UK: Four's Head update. The organisers of the Four's Head have announced that the Reading University S2+ crew has been disqualified - they have admitted that the crew which rowed was not the one entered. As a result Imperial College S2+ (crew VII) wins the pennant, despite incurring a 7-second penalty for aggressive and dangerous steering.
• The Clydesdale Head (Scotland), originally cancelled due to flood water, has been rearranged to 23rd November.
• From the York SBH organisers (UK) on 13th November: "In view of today's rainfall, the forecast rainfall and the current level of the river Ouse, it is possible that the event will be postponed to 24th November or run on 17th November without certain categories. A final decision will be made late afternoon on Friday 15th November."
• The UK Thames region training day has had to be cancelled, but the organiser has a request from a sculler hoping to get their boat back to London.
• An urgent notice (UK): "Needed urgently, for charity rowing expedition, Mondego 525 or similar, in good working order, for immediate purchase. Please contact Gordon Reid."
• Rowing in the news: Hammond aims at Olympics (icWales, as Damian Hammond is named Welsh Coach of the Year), City students score in regional school sports awards (Melbourne Standard, Australia), Norwegian Rows Portugal-South America Solo (The Learning Channel), Respected community worker dies (Hobart Mercury obituary of Geoff Sorell, Australia), Best wins bronze at indoor rowing (Buckinghamshire Free Press, UK), Visitors take titles at Inverness Fours Head (Inverness Courier, Scotland), New directors for Snowsports GB (IfYouSki.com, congratulations Fred Scarlett), Waka Ama hits the water (New Zealand Herald), Rower Fleming strikes gold (Cambridge Evening News, UK), Modest Redgrave unsure (Sportal, UK), a snippet from the Iraq Daily on the Iraqi RF, New boathouse will benefit city, college crew teams (The Tartan, PA, USA), For a $400 investment (Lowell Sun, MA, USA), Brock men capture national rowing title (St. Catharines Standard, Canada), Redgrave gives thumbs up to VISA (Sportal, UK).

  November 12th 2002

• Starting a series running all this week - a preview of the Open Men's category at this weekend's British Indoor Rowing Champs. There will also be live online commentary provided at the event, throughout the day.
• A website for Davies RowTech, UK suppliers of rowing electronic equipment. If you have trouble seeing anything on the home page (as my browser did) then use the contacts page to get into the site.
• Results of the Westminster Healthcare Inverness Fours Head are on the SARA website (Scotland).
• The 2003 South Coast Rowing Championships (UK) now have their own website.

  November 11th 2002

• Marlow Fours and Pairs Head, scheduled for 17th November (UK) has been cancelled due to high dangerous stream and a forecast of more rain to come. All entry fees will be refunded.
• Rowing headlines - US Rowing honors Michigan graduate (Michigan Daily, USA), Frostbite rowing event draws young competitors (Seattle Times, USA), Project to reinforce dam extends controversy of past 50 years (Topeka Capital Journal, USA), Penalties cost Augusta team in the end (Augusta Chronicle, USA), Rowing: Record Tees race entry (Middlesborough Evening Gazette, UK).
• There are still some tickets avaialble for Bill Mason's retirement party on 30th November at the Hilton Olympia, Kensington, London (UK). Tickets are single £50, double £90 - contact Peter Holt ('phone 07968 058988).
• Results of the Tees Scullers Head and Small Boats Head up on the NERN website (UK).
• The AGM of the English Northern Rowing Council will take place at 7pm on Friday 6th December at the River Tees Water Sports Centre, Stockton-on-Tees (UK). Members of the NRC region outside 50 miles will be able to claim a travel subsidy, and all members are welcome, though chairman Alan Granlund would like to hear from them for catering purposes.
• RowTV, which specialises in streaming clips of competitions which can be provided in mpg2, screensaver, or customised CD/DVD formats, is inviting feedback from those who signed up for the "free offer" CD's this August. Contact David Flook with your comments and suggestions - this can also be used by those who have just visited the clip site itself.
• Agecroft RC is running a rowers' triathlon on Sunday 15th December this year in Salford Quays, Manchester. See the website for more detail (UK).
• I've added a link to the companies page for Stanley & Thomas, a Windsor-based boatyard which is a sister company to J Sutton Oars & Sculls (UK).

  November 8th 2002

• The Pangbourne Junior Sculls (UK) this weekend have been cancelled, due to red board conditions and more rain expected.
• Today's press links - Junior club has momentum (Augusta Chronicle, USA), Lawson retains title by steering wily course (Chris Dodd, Independent, UK), Rowing becomes Callen's calling (Garden City Telegram, USA), Leading Scottish city rowers head north for fours competition (Highland News, Scotland), Lawson takes short cut to success (Mike Rosewell, The Times, UK). My bit in the Telegraph doesn't seem to be there, but then the paper had a computer problem which hit most of the afternoon.
• For those who don't usually read the rec.sport.rowing global newsgroup, this thread is well worth a giggle: Rowing widow.....

  November 7th 2002

• Ian Lawson won his second successive Wingfields championship today (UK) in one of the slowest times on record, due to a Thames Barrier closure which rendered the Putney to Mortlake course virtually streamless. Mark Hunter passed Richard Ockendon late in the race to grab second, while Alan Campbell did well to finish only a minute behind these experienced scullers, and Richard Wilder was NSO.
• Change of date: Huntingdon Boat Club's head race (UK) will be on 30th November this year, not 23rd as stated in the ARA calendar. Distance 4500m, plus a mini-head of 2km for juniors. Entries to Edward Adams, HBC head secretary.
• JET Photographic has pictures from the Four's Head online now.
• Start order for the Westminster Healthcare Inverness Fours Head (Scotland) is up on the SARA website.
• David Biddulph has put up details of a UK General Training Day on November 16th at Dorney Lake.
• Press links - Waterfront Park officials settle with landowners (Courier-Journal, USA), Error on the Thames sees Dart Totness drop 32 places (Torquay Herald Express, UK), Gilbert'S 50-Year Effort Rewarded (Torquay Herald Express, UK), Tallen receives belated gold medal (Kingston Whig Standard, Canada), SEA Games to be used for grooming athletes (The Star, Malaysia), Principal has all her students oar-struck (Frankston Journal, Australia), Progress for the Frank Lloyd Wright boathouse (WKBW, USA), Report that champions Olympic bid (Newham Recorder, London, UK).
• While trawling for press links, I was astonished to realise that there is a rowing community in Alaska - not sure what kind of boats. This link has details of the Juneau Rowing Club meeting coming up next week there, while the Alaska Sports Digest has more reports.

  November 5th 2002

• Russian Fyodor Konyukhov is crossing the Atlantic at the moment - I'd put a link to the Ocean Rowing Society coverage but its website is currently unavailable. English Pravda has an article though, Sharks pursued traveller Fyodor Konyukhov's boat for 2 days, while the Exeter Express has Russian adventurer starts Atlantic journey (UK). I wasn't at all sure about the Russian claims that it's the first solo rowing Atlantic 'marathon', but it turns out the article was chopped - the important point is by a Russian....
• Also in the news, Sue Mott suggests in the Telegraph that Prince William should lead the London 2012 Olympic bid (UK), Activists Oppose Westside Stadium (Newsday, USA), 119th District Race Coming Down To Wire (WSTM-TV, a neat little rowing link to politics, USA), Planners recommend moving up rowing funds (Oak Ridger, USA). As you may have realised, I don't tend to link more than one version of a syndicated story, neither do I link any of the US university crew news websites - it's just too much self-generated publicity, and those interested will know where to look already for the likes of GoStanford.com etc.
• FISA have an extended report on the South East Asian Games 2003: Rowing Included story.
• Starting orders for the Tees Scullers Head and Tees Small Boats Head (UK) are up and can also be accessed from the highly worthwhile North East Rowing News website.

  November 4th 2002

• Results for the Veteran Fours Head (UK) are now out.
• And for the Kingston Small Boats Head (UK).
• The Berwick Scullers Head (UK) was cancelled on Saturday due to poor water conditions in the starting area.
• UK press links - Leander in display of dominance (Mike Rosewell, The Times), Leander seize chance (Chris Dodd, Independent), Leander stay at head (Rachel Quarrell, Telegraph).
• Hackette says sorry... - My apologies to IC and London, since I managed to get wrong information into my Telegraph piece today. Apparently universities and colleges don't count as 'clubs' for the Langridge prize, so it is London who won that trophy at the Four's Head, for being the fastest non-elite Tideway _club_. And I also managed to miss a substitution in Leander's women's quad. It's been a good day...
• Other press links - Millvale hopes new boathouse, park will become hot spot for river... (Pittsburgh Post Gazette, USA), San Francisco loses its bid to vie for the 2012 Olympics (Sacramento Bee, USA, syndicated), Spirit of '96 lives on at Lanier (Gainesville Times, USA), It's Pride vs. Gridlock as City Looks to Olympics (New York Times, USA), Olympic decision is a loss for whole region (Times Star, western USA), Redgrave warns over delay to Games bid (Sunday Times, UK yesterday), Runners lead the pack for NCAA's top woman (USA Today), Regatta pulls season's plug (Rochester Democrat & Chronicle, USA), Gaels' rowers win 14 medals (Kingston Whig-Standard, Canada).
• I'm particularly pleased to see the article Rowing world at her feet (Brisbane Courier Mail, Australia) about Marguerite Houston, since I had the pleasure of sitting next to her delightful parents in the stands at the Under-23 World Championships, in the middle of the Aussie support pack.

  November 3rd 2002

• Four's Head results (UK) now out (hit refresh if you don't see them). If you are still having problems, try the specific frame links - in time order, by event, in alphabetical order. They are simple HTML files but large, so they will take a while to download - be patient.

  November 2nd 2002

• I gather that Master Justin Neely, webmaster for the Veteran Four's Head (UK), is away, so late updates to their information may be given to me.
• From the UK papers, Wooge hoping to be top of his class (Mike Rosewell, The Times), Irish pair part of promising alliance (Rachel Quarrell, Telegraph).
• Around the world, Land deal opens way for Wright boathouse (Buffalo News, USA), Rowers ready to ride the 'Hooch (Gainesville Times, USA), Area sculling team competes in N.Y. (Berkshire Eagle, USA).

  November 1st 2002

• Information for the Hampton Small Boats Head (UK) is online now.
• With the Four's Head happening tomorrow in the UK, here is an Excel file of the 2001 results (corrected link), since the organisers have now removed them from the web. [This file will stay unless the original is reinstated.]
• UK Sport has started Matt Wells Athens diary (UK).
• Twickenham RC (UK) has published a link to the Richmond tide tables (link is for all UK tides too) as a warning, because this winter some very high tides are predicted some days.
• There is talk of the new UK ARA water safety code (which will go into force in April 2003) being published on their wesbste some time between now and then.
• An article in the IRN: Troubled Waters, by Chris Milliman and Sybrand Treffers, on Zimbabwean lightweights Lancaster and Simpson.
• According to the Indy, London is about to bid for the 2012 Olympics.
• An odd little story - Late brother inspires Wilde Lake star (Howard County Times, USA). Not all about rowing, but interesting.

  October 31st 2002

• News around the world: Rigby thrilled by city's chance to host Commonwealth rowing (Canada.com), Rower's eyes set on gold (London Sports, syndicated, Canada), Curran is Head of the field in Boston (Belfast Telegraph, Ireladn), Classic boats given to rowing club (Peninsula Daily News, USA), Rowing Association set to open Millvale facility (Pittsburgh Business Times, USA), Hobson Bay sewer pipe decision (Scoop, New Zealand), Simply oarsome effort (Penrith Star, Australia), Top young rower eyes Athens 2004 (St. George Sutherland Leader, Australia), Yahya wants to help MWSC promote water-based sports (The Star, Malaysia), Rowers' rescue seen as raising awareness of child health (Stuff, New Zealand).

  October 29th 2002

• Ok, I've finally done it. The UK noticeboard is now updated. I've split it into sections (self-explanatory) and have not included the most recent week, so notices posted since 20th October need not be reposted - I will put them up before the weekend. The board is NOT automatic since it would otherwise be horribly abused (you've no idea how much dross I remove, including spam-posts) and I do not edit out spelling mistakes etc! Rachel.
• Start order for the Berwick Scullers Head (UK) is now up.
• A website for Australian kit-manufacturers Rowbust (like the name!).
• Curlew Rowing Club in the UK is recruiting new members - those interested can see the website (link above) or email Ray Cassidy.

  October 28th 2002

• Thankfully, the two missing New Zealand rowers have been found and are fine, after the failure of their comms equipment. From NZ Stuff, Self-discipline and army survival skills saved rowers, and Rower's rescue may cost family their home.
• I see some weird things in my trawl round the newswires, but this one is just plain ridiculous. In a piece entitled Indiana native has oars in the water, eyes on gold, a syndicated US newswire piece by someone called Gregg Sims eulogises the achievements of American silver medallist Dan Beery, and his colleagues in the US 2+ this year. So far so good, but it's when Sims starts going on about how another medal finish for the crew will get the trio selected for the Olympics in the M2+ that I start wondering what he's on. Presumably Beery is well aware it's no longer an Olympic class and that he'll have to get into another boat to go to Athens....!
• Other news stories - County unveils laundry list of projects for review (The Olympian, WA USA), 'Nothing short of miraculous' (Paul Pronovost, Cape Cod Chronicle, on Emmanuel Coindre), Gravel pit could be developers' gold mine (Buckinghamshire Free Press, UK), S.F., N.Y. plans for 2012 Olympics near photo finish (Contra Costa Times, USA), Regatta makes Glebe debut (Tasmania Examiner, Australia), Former Olympic rower now pulls for Kyoto pact (Kingston Whig Standard, Canada), Rowers plan for new home (The Saratogian, NY, USA). The Toronto Sun (Canada) had a piece on Saturday called Lend Him Your Oars, about the changing ethnicity and socio-economic variety of rowing, but they've removed their free online archive.
• An obituary in the Seattle Times (USA) for Rusty Wailes, double Olympic champion, who had a heart attack while rowing two weeks ago.
• For those after a different type of morning sports read, Olympic rowing champion Greg Searle writes in the Independent today: Switch the sandpaper, speed up the boat, about his experiences with GBR Challenge in the America's Cup.
• Results for the Dee Autumn Head are online (UK).
• An email address for Corunha Rowing Club in the northwest of Spain - clubrega@clubregatasperillo.com.
• Results for the Wansbeck Scullers Head (UK) are out.

  October 25th 2002

• Late update - Emmanuel Coindre has become the first person to cross the Atlantic West-East and survive on the winter sea beyond the start of October. He crossed the official finish line, off Cap Ouessant, at 13:56 GMT today, and is being towed into port (landfall is not necessary if conditions are too difficult). This makes Coindre the second person to successfully row the Atlantic solo in both directions - see the Ocean Rowing Society website for the official records and more stories.
• Worrying news of the Tasman Sea charity row: Hope not lost for missing rowers (Xtra News, New Zealand).
• Various other press links: Rowing Association set to open Millvale facility (Pittsburgh Business Times, USA), Matthew Pinsent sails with GBR Challenge training session (Yachts & Yachting Online, UK), Hayley, Anna go take your best shots (Way More Sports.com, Canada - under Chasing Dragons, and yes it is relevant), Standing room only for Exeter star performer (Express & Echo, UK), Reservoir plan held (Express Telegraph, Melbourne Australia).
• Details of the Rutherford Head (UK) are online.
• Mercantile Boat Club's website (Australia) has had an extensive update.
• JET Photographic has photos from the Head of the Charles now online and ready to order.

  October 24th 2002

• Transatlantic rower Emmanuel Coindre is now less than 200 miles from land, the only question being whether he will make landfall in Britain or France. The Cape Cod Chronicle is following his efforts and has the latest story, Capsized French rower bruised but undaunted today, and there are more details on the Ocean Rowing Society website.
• British Olympian and leg-end Tim Foster is allegedly in the running for New Woman Magazine's 'Most Eligible Bachelor' award, though I think it's in the print edition only. Not sure a magazine with articles entitled "step-by-step pole dancing' is really Tim's cup of tea, but if you want to check out the online edition, it's here.
• The UK ARA website has a flurry of updates, including details of the Rowing Foundation, FISA junior coaches' conference, a coaching development vacancy, junior coaching bursaries and world champion Ed Coode launching Clubmark in Dovers, amongst other snippets. The ARA is also encouraging clubs to send in their club wins form so that they can be properly listed in the forthcoming Almanack.
• Other rowing headlines - Nova Scotia coaches up for national award (Halifax issue of Canada.com - go Chantelle!), Redgrave tops poll of British sporting legends (Paul Kelso, Guardian, UK), Rowing club hails top man Allan (Highland News, Scotland), Rent-a-Rower helps team earn money for program (Purdue Exponent, USA), Largest rowing medal scoop (Bunbury Mail, Australia), Loving the log jam on the Charles (Cambridge Chronicle, USA), More intense exercise benefit the heart (Health and Age, Switzerland), Jackson will head committee to pick city to bid on 2010 Commonwealth Games (Canada.com). Perhaps that last means we will finally see rowing part of the main Games, as opposed to relegated to a subsidiary competition, after being used to clinch bids and then dropped like a hot potato.
• NZ boatbuilders KIRS have a new website which isn't quite finished but appears to be their only online version.
• Christchurch School boat club Virginia (USA) has an amended web address.

  October 22nd 2002

• Marcel Hacker talks about psycho-terror, and poker on the water, in 'Man Child', an interview by Dutch journalist Sybrand Treffers (in English).
• Summer Programs on the River is an American outfit offering 1-4 week sailing, rowing and multisport camps.
• Tees RC (UK) is offering a new long-distance Small Boats Head this year.
• FISA has just announced the passing of its Honorary Secretary General, Charles Riolo.

  October 21st 2002

• Results from the first British squad time trial (existing GB vests exempted) on the ARA website.
• Start order for this weekend's Wansbeck Scullers Head (UK) now up.
• Full Head of the Charles results (USA) all up.
• Frank Porter, who competed, wrote an excellent piece entitled Shall I bond with my boat today? just before the weekend.
• The Supersprint Rowing Game scoreboard is now fixed, with older scores now archived so that they don't clog the system. For those interested in the SuRo events themselves, there has been a hiatus while a couple of planned international events had to be cancelled, but regional SuRo sprints are now being reconsidered. Anyone who is interested in holding a Supersprint Rowing format event can contact the organisers on enquiries@su-ro.com - while the format is fixed, it is easy to set up locally and you'll get help and advice from Sir Steve himself, amongst others.
• Results for the Tyne Scullers Head (UK) are now online.
• Amongst other pieces on the ABC Australia news site over the weekend was Rowers' tribute to Tim Hawkins - I think the page may have been removed: at least it's currently unavailable, but just in case they restore it I include the link.
• RowPerfect Australia are holding the 2002 RP Classic Ergometer Championships in Riverview, NSW, this coming Sunday. Entries close today at 5pm BST, but those unable to attend in person can enter the virtual regatta by downloading their competition row files from the Rowperfect interface, and sending them to the regatta organisers by email. The contact point for this in the UK is info@rowperfect.co.uk.
• Results for the Upper Thames Fours & Pairs Head (UK) are on the Mikrotime website.

  October 18th 2002

• Draw, details and later results for the Head of the Charles this weekend in Boston all online.
• The draw for the Tribesman October Time Trials (Ireland) is online, and also at the IARU site and www.Irishrowing.com.
• The head coach of the Temple University women's squad (Philadelphia, USA) is able to offer several athlete scholarships to female athletes with a 7:30 or better erg score in the last year. Start date for the scholarships is January 2003, though, so this is only for those wishing to begin soon. Contact Chris Deatrick (phone Stateside (215)317-1953).
• Sweat Technologies (Australia) have released version 1.0 of their iCoach for Rowing programme.

  October 17th 2002

• Draw for the Upper Thames Small Boats Head (UK) is now up.
• The website www.row4kidz.org has the story of a two-man team attempting to row from Sydney to Auckland across the Tasman Sea, to raise awareness and money for a neonatal intensive care unit at Kidz First Hospital in Auckland (NZ).
• Entries for the Cambridge Autumn Head (UK) close this coming Monday.
• From Australia, Family now accepts son is dead (re: Tim Hawkins). More on Rowing Australia, and in the Melbourne Age newspaper. Very sad news.
• Plea on several behalfs, including my own, to Ronald Janssens: can we get your database system working again? If you need help hosting it please get in touch, but at the moment it has been inaccessible for more than a year, which is a great shame.

• October 16th 2002

• Draw for the Marlow Long Distance Sculls on the club website in plain format (UK).
• Out of respect to the Australian National Day of Mourning to be held on 20th October, it has been decided to postpone the Adelaide Rowing Club Opening Day events.

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