We have 140 members, family and friends joining us at Henley on Saturday to celebrate our anniversary row past. There are nine long-standing members representing the club in the row past who have been selected from the wide range of squads that make up the club, and for the support and dedication they have given to the club over many years.
Rowing really is a sport for life, something anyone can do their whole life or can come back to later in life or just start later in life, Broxbourne Rowing Club a club for all and for life.
Bow – Jim Brandon: Has been rowing at BRC approaching 60 years, from his early years, winning in crew rowing and sculling. He remains a keen member of the club and can often be seen training on the ergo, if not out on the water, or helping around the club.
2 – Anthony Stokes: Initially rowed in the west country and then joined BRC in 1993 aged 52, having had a 25 year lay off from rowing. In the last 29 years, he has won 26 international gold medals at World and European Masters Championships. At 81, he is the oldest racing member of the club. He is currently rowing and racing in an octogenarian crew with two Olympians. He was also President for six years.
3 – Chris Moody: Started as a chauffeur and assistant boat carrier for his sons Richard and Patrick. He was asked to cox a boat of beginners. He said, “I had helmed sailing dinghies, so I pretended not to be nervous and had a go. When the crew span the boat, it rolled horribly from side to side. I asked them not to lift their hands up and down. The rolling stopped. I was hooked. I had said something that made a difference. I have been trying to say things that will make a difference ever since.” Chris has led the club’s adult learn to row programme for many years, introducing hundreds of people to the sport.
4 – Chris Lawn: Learnt to row in Cambridge with 1st & 3rd Trinity in 1964. He competed in a college four at Henley in 1965 and rowed Head of the River in the May Bumps in 1966. In 2010, he returned to rowing, joining BRC, after a 44-year gap in which he played rugby and ran (on the track). He organised outings and tours for the Recreational Rowing Group for several years prior to 2019, showing it is never too late to come back or to start rowing.
5 – Andy Kelly: Rowing is a sport for life. Andy joined the club aged 11 and has been a club member ever since; 52 years and counting. He has many wins, including World and European Masters Championships. He regularly races in rowing and sculling, and is occasionally persuaded to cox, where his experience is invaluable. He has also overseen house and grounds at the club for many years.
6 – Katie Ball: Began rowing at BRC and was highly successful as a junior, with wins including National Junior Championships (1979 & 1980) and the Women’s Pennant at the Scullers’ Head in 1981. Katie represented Great Britain at 3 junior and 2 senior World Championships, and the 1984 Olympics in the four. Katie is one of three juniors from the club who have gone on to represent Great Britain at the Olympics (Tom Stallard, 2008 & Rowan McKellar, 2020). Katie had a break from rowing for a number of years, during which she was a founding member of Saracens Women’s Rugby, until rowing drew her back in, becoming a popular and galvanising coach for BRC women, where she has made an enormous difference.
7 – Amanda Hosking: Was the first female Captain and President at BRC, which she has done twice for a total of 12 years, overseeing significant fundraising and investment in the club’s facilities. Amanda learnt to row at university and won as a senior at Bradford and the Lea before joining BRC 20 years ago. She is a relative newcomer compared to some other crew members. Amanda regularly races as a master, getting to the final of Henley Masters last year (WD4x), and often competes with today’s cox, with whom she won the WEHORR pennant (2008) and two golds at BR Masters Champs this year.
8 – Sarah Richardson: Learnt to row while a student at the Royal Veterinary College because “it looked like the members had fun.” She rowed for a year with King’s College and has rowed and raced as a senior and master for BRC since. She was women’s Vice Captain for a year and recently married another popular club member doctor Dan.
Cox – Sarah Gilliver: Learned to row at university in York and first rowed at Broxbourne 20 years ago. Chris Moody was one of her coaches and after winning her novices at Bedford she has gone on to win various events including Provincial Club Pennant at Women’s Head of the River Race (2008) and 2 gold medals (WD4x & WD8+) at this year’s British Rowing Masters Championships. She has been women’s Vice Captain, Club Captain, and Safety Advisor.
]]>We are looking for individuals with a passion for rowing to join our team of Junior Coaches. You should enjoy working with teenagers and want to share your love of the sport with them. You will coach/support land and water training sessions following the training programme set by our head Junior Coach. Junior training sessions typically run weekend mornings and also early evenings during the week; as part of the volunteer Junior Coaching Team, it will be up to you how much or how little time you are able to offer as a volunteer.
Whilst no rowing or coaching experience is necessary as we will support your development, the following would be beneficial
As a Broxbourne Volunteer Coach the club would be able to offer the following (in agreement with the Club Captain):
All regular coaching positions require an Enhanced DBS check and two references to be carried out, alongside completion of the Safeguarding and Protecting Children course, and three British Rowing online training modules.
If you are interested, please contact our Captain, Russell, via the email captain@broxbournerowingclub.org
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The full dates of the course will be published as soon as the necessary arrangements have been made.
The first 4 weeks will introduce you to Rowing, and the final 4 weeks you will develop skills in Sculling.
The cost of the course is £160, or £120 if you are aged 18 – 24. You can book onto the course by making payment via bank transfer direct to the club (Broxbourne Rowing Club sort code 20-20-37 account no. 00234095) please include L2R and your name as reference, once you have paid please fill in our online learn to row application form, using the below link.
As mentioned, there is usually a maximum number of 16 places on the course (but this may well be reduced), and once the number of participants is reached we will not be able to accept anyone else and the website will be updated. If you are not able to get on this course or make these dates you can complete the expression of Interest form on the Learn to Row page and you will be added to our waitlist and notified of our next course.
The course is aimed at men and women who are looking for a new challenge and want to learn to row. If you have played other competitive sports or regularly attend a gym and want to test yourself in a team environment, then rowing is the sport for you. Or if you’re new to sport and fitness and want to learn a new skill in a friendly and supportive environment, then come along.
The course is an introduction, we will teach you the core rowing and sculling technique while working on your rowing fitness. Sessions will take place on the land and river, and you will always be supervised by a coach who will lead the sessions. The course is an introduction and will hopefully whet your appetite to continue learning to row. There is no obligation to continue or sign-up as a member after the course but we hope you will have enjoyed your time enough that you are interested in joining one of our squads to develop your rowing further.
Please be at the club by 11:00 (if the car park is full, there is additional free public parking across the river) when you arrive ask for Chris Moody, Paul Breheny or learn to row.
You must be able to swim. Please wear warm but flexible clothes e.g. tracksuit, leggings, shorts, fleece, t-shirt, waterproof top depending on the weather, layers are good.
The first weekend we will show you around the club, get you to practice in the gym, bank tub and if possible take you for a short outing in a boat.
Please read the additional information about rowing and our beginners course. https://broxbournerowingclub.org/learn-to-row/
Following the course, if you want to continue you will be able to join the club and we will help you select the best group for you to train with depending on your aspirations.
If you have further questions please email secretary@broxbournerowingclub.org all welcome.
]]>The commitment for the course is currently Saturday 10 – 11am on the water, to be extended as the course and skills progress, and Ergo training on Thursday’s 7- 8pm to build stamina and strength.
The first course started on 1st February 2020, and we would hope to roll it out every two months or so to bring people through to Squads sooner. The cost of the course is £73.80, two months’ club membership.
If you are interested, please complete Learn to Row application form (link below) AND make payment for the course. following which our Club Captain, Russell Theobald, will be in touch.
]]>13th July
Junior Squad So we are out in the middle of the Arabian sea so no fun stop offs this week but lots of rowing so good practise. Unfortunately for us, from June to August the winds flow from the Indian Peninsula’s south western region. Lots of algae sargassopsis zanardinni which is endemic to the Arabian Sea. We have seen lots of marine life tuna, sardines, billfish, moonfish, green turtles, hawksbill turtles, dugongs, blue whales, humpback whales, Minke whales, sperm whales, and orca whales. No Sharks yet.
Rec Squad We managed a massive number of kilometres last week and at last got on dry land at the Marquesas islands in French Polynesia. By Friday, we were 560k on route for Tahiti but now there are fabulous islands to rest on during our route. Fabulous to be on dry land again after the main bit of the Pacific and now we feel we are on our way ‘home’ again. Luckily, we are all old enough to appreciate the cocktails!
Malcolm has worn out his turbo trainer, and everyone is really looking forward to more water time. A bit of canoeing has gone on plus some sculling. Best success story is Ruth learning to ride a bike!
30th July
Junior Squad Sorry we have not had an update for 2 weeks but we had a very long stretch in the Arabian Sea. But now have managed 2 stop offs first one was to Kochi in India. We went for a stroll along Marine Drive. For breakfast we had Puttu and Kadala curry. Puttu is a preparation of ground rice, layered with coconut shavings (and sometimes banana), and then steamed; while Kadala curry comprises kala chana or black chickpeas cooked in roasted coconut gravy. As we love an opportunity for a row, we went out on Vembanad Lake which is the longest lake in India.
Next we headed to Columbo in Sri Lanka. We visited the Gangaramaya (Vihara) Buddhist Temple and luckily for us another lake to row on, Lake Beira. We had plenty of tea and lots of nice food including Roti, Lamprais and Kottu.
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This document has been put together in agreement with the management and rowing committee while restrictions are in place and will be updated as and when restrictions are lifted, is subject to change at the club’s discretion, and will be reviewed on a weekly basis.
If you or anyone in your household are experiencing any Covid symptoms please do not attend the club and follow the government guidelines on self-isolation.
All Members attend the club at their own risk and their own choice
To go www.fitclub.me
Make sure you have signed up and asked to join Broxbourne Rowing Club
5th June
Junior Squad This week it was very hot in the Mediterranean. First stop this week was Malta, where we had some Fenek and a glass of Kinnie. Did you know that for the country’s bravery in the Second World War, Malta was awarded the George Cross by King George VI.
Then off to Bengazi where we had a row under the Jeliana Bridge that connects Jeliana with the city centre and old town. And enjoyed some Bazin and a cup of Benghazi tea. Now heading for the Suez Canal.
Rec Squad We had a good week too enjoying the Caribbean and Costa Rica after such a long time in the empty Atlantic. A bit of relaxation of lockdown has helped people to get out more now.
After Costa Rica we went down the Panama Canal which is $55,000 to go down but we managed it. We are now just over 100k on our way towards Hawaii it will then be more fun with all the islands there.
12th June
Rec Squad I hope you have had a good time progressing towards Tokyo and hopefully managed more water time. We have done well but frustratingly did not quite make the Galápagos Islands by last night although pretty much there now And could see it.
The Pacific is enormous and covers 30% of the earths surface so this bit will take some time but once we get to Hawaii will be about half way round!
Junior Squad
Exciting that you are nearly at the Galapagos.
We (23 in the group Juniors/Coaches) have started our trip in the Suez canal dodging the ships and have reached Suez. The Suez Canal is an open cut and without locks. We had a day trip to Cairo and had a row on the Nile. Then a visit to Giza to see the Pyramids. Plenty of good food and drink. Especially like the Sa‘idi tea and Basbousa, a dessert made from semolina and soaked in syrup. Off to the Red Sea next week.
19th June
Rec Squad
We enjoyed the wildlife on Galápagos Islands, and are now crossing the Pacific, named by Magellan in 1521 Mar Pacifico. That is Portuguese for peaceful sea. It is the deepest and biggest ocean covering 30% of the earths surface. It has 25,000 islands And we are now heading for the Marquesas island in French Polynesia
Junior Squad Great to see all the wildlife and you are enjoying the wonders of the Pacific. The Red Sea is a lot longer than anticipated but we have had a good week. We headed from Suez town to Wadi Gemal National Park. At the park we enjoyed the 450 species of coral and 1200 species of fish. Inland we got to see a green turtle, and then a camel trek to see some Dorcas gazelle and Nubia Ibex. So definitely worth the trip.
Then on to Port Sudan, we skipped visiting the Oil refinery and did some more snorkelling and then a trip to Sesibi Temple. We have enjoyed some Miris which is a stew made from sheep’s fat, onions, and dried okra. Some of us adults, tried some local Gin called Araqi which you will never get in Sainsburys as it illegally brewed made from dates. Next week the second half of the Red Sea and onto the Gulf of Aden. Enjoy your week
27th June
Junior Squad This week the 2nd leg of our Red Sea row brought us to Djibouti. We went for a trip to Lac Assal, the lowest point in Africa and saltier than the Dead Sea. We tried some Fah-fah (Goat stew) and the local coffee buna with cinnamon, cardamom and cloves.
Now off into the Gulf of Aden a lot of water ahead of us.
Rec Squad We did well covering 1238 kilometres but that did not quite get us to La Marquesas in French Polynesia or across the date line. Very tempting to hang out a sail and use the trade winds but just resisted.
Bit boring this section so looking forward to the first sight of land. We will be doing the reverse of yours eventually
Keeping a record of activities, members send their individual reports to Noelle’s inbox, which surely must be bursting at the seams, for her to tally up, and record and measure, the distance covered before reporting back on how far they had travelled, which exciting island they could see, which country they were close to, or, with great excitement, which port they had reached.
Come late April, the Juniors wanted in too, and ably coxed by Mick, they joined the Race in early May, only, as you will see as the diary continues, took a slight detour (!) in the opposite direction to Tokyo … the shorter distance apparently …
This is a record of their travels in May …
4th May
Rec Squad
We stopped at Sandbanks in Dorset, Lands End then on to Cork so we could avoid the Bay of Biscay. Next Baiona in Spain, Porto, Lisbon and Portamao in Portugal clocking up just over 2,800k to get to Tenerife. We are now heading for Tortola on the BVIs.
8th May
Rec Squad Motivation still high albeit we can’t see anything as quarter of the way across the Atlantic
Junior Squad Over 600km and have just left a stop off at Guernsey (great weather) and now out in the Celtic sea deciding our next route.
15th May
Junior Squad This week we headed to Bilbao and had a great time at the Guggenheim. Interesting fact Athletic Bilbao is the only European football club to exclusively sign local players.
Then we were off to Porto, no Port for the Juniors obviously but had a quick row on the Duoro. Another fact we learned Gustav Eiffel was involved in the constructions of two of Porto’s bridges. Now on our way to Gibraltar.
22nd May
Rec Squad We are finding the Atlantic tough and a bit boring but are now only 601.49 K from Tortola. We can’t wait to get to those iced coconut cocktails and rum punch. Might spend a day or two on the beach.
Junior Squad
Juniors are all well and are heading the opposite direction to Tokyo so we can compare different stop off points. This week we got to Gibraltar where we saw the Barbary macaques, one of whom stole a pair of sunglasses (evidence attached). Interesting facts, it has no rivers or streams and John Lennon and Yoko Ono got married there.
Then onto Almeria where with any drink, non alcoholic for the crew, tapas was free. Now off to Algiers.
29th May
Junior Squad Another great week for the juniors: first stop was Algiers. The city takes its name (Arabic: “The Islands”) from several small islands that formerly existed in the bay. Where we had some couscous, a Mazagran (Algerian iced coffee) and some Deglet nour (Dates) for the journey. Then off to Tunis, which was once home to Carthage and much of the city is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Founded in 698 Al-Zaytuna Mosque is one of the world’s oldest.
Now off to Malta
Rec Squad Malta is lovely. (Short and sweet weekly update … can only assume perhaps they were still on the beach?)
The following is effective from Friday 15th May 2020 until further notice.
If you or anyone in your household are experiencing any Covid symptoms, do not attend the club, and follow the government guidelines on self-isolation.
All Members attend the club at their own risk and at their own choice, and must adhere to Government Guidelines at all times.
As supervision is required, the times below have been allocated for our Junior Squad only
Saturday 11am – 1pm
Sunday 1pm – 3pm
Tuesday 5pm – 7pm
Wednesday 5pm – 7pm
Friday 5pm – 7 pm
If you have any questions on the above guidance please do NOT hesitate to contact a member of either the Management or Rowing Committee.
*In the event of an Emergency the club house may be accessed.
Boat Booking
In order to book boats, please use the fitclub app or contact your VCC, alternatively please contact the Captain. We will be trialling a new boat booking system, the www.fitclub.me application. We would ask that all members sign up and join Broxbourne Rowing Club . If you need help with this, please do not hesitate to contact the Captain at captain@broxbournerowingclub.org or speak to your Vice Captain.
We hope you are all well and that the impact of the pandemic is not too great for you. All the best Broxbourne Rowing Club Management Committee |
We set off from BRC rowing down the Lea to the Thames and then out to the sea. We then rowed the English Channel to Lands End and carried on to reach Cork by Wednesday 22nd April.
Gradually we were supported by more and more Friday Rowers, Tourers, Recreational rowers and even Learn to Row. We now have 26 adding to the distance on ergos, bikes, running, walking etc Some have clocked up well over 300k individually and the newest recruit is on just 2.6K but all are enthusiastically doing mileage even Chris Moody who cannot leave his house.
We are now just short of Tenerife having done a total of 2,852.84 Kilometres. Tomorrow we will launch out across the Atlantic.
We have visited Sandbanks in Dorset, Cork in Ireland, Baiona in Spain, Porto, Lisbon and Portamao in Portugal with photos on the way!
We will not stop until all are able to row on the Lea even if some can add real water time in before others.