We are very lucky at Broxbourne to have such a fantastic range of boats for our members to use. Now that the summer season is coming to a close it is time to give the boats their annual clean and service. This helps to keep our boats in good working order and was completed very successfully last year. Each boat will need to be thoroughly cleaned and any repairs, however small or trivial, can be addressed. Now is your chance to point out that pair of shoes or wobbly seat that has been annoying you!
This is obviously a huge job, so we need to enlist your help in completing this task. Each squad has been allocated boats to clean and check over, so please see your vice-captain or squad co-ordinator to see how you can help out, they have all been provided with lists of boats and instructions. Dave will also be on hand to provide parts or guidance. Whilst we appreciate that this may interfere with some rowing or socialising time, it is important to reduce large repair costs in the future and allow us to continue to expand our fleet.
Your help with this is very much appreciated.
Many thanks
Michelle (Captain) on behalf of the Rowing Committee.
So far the post of coxing co-ordinator has not been filled on the rowing committee. It would be great to have someone fill this role for the forthcoming year. If you are interested get in touch with Michelle (captain@broxbournerowingclub.org) or Craig.
Coxing Co-ordinator
Current post holder: vacant
Role: This is a trial role and is designed to see if we can resolve the ongoing lack of coxes and training at the club. Although the post holder would not have a formal vote on the committee he/she the post holder would help the vice-captains with the recruitment and training of coxes.
After a few non-starts due to Peterborough-like weather conditions, Neil will finally row a very small boat over a very large lake tomorrow (76km’s!!). Please support him if you can. It’s for a very good cause! Details can be found at Neil’s justgiving website. Good luck Neil!
The weather this Saturday made Peterborough Summer an interesting event this year! During the first rounds of races that morning, in proper down-pours, both WIM3.2x crews (Sarah/Lizzie and Angela/Louise) unfortunately got knocked out in their heats. However, the WIM3.4+ of Katie, Charlotte W and two of our vacation students Charlotte L and Sarah M-P, stormed through their heat!
The day progressed with mixed success. The WIM3.4x- (Sarah G, Lizzy, Anne-Marie and Amanda) put up a good fight but were pipped to the post by Staines and Oxford City in their heat. The IM1.2x of Tom Jenkins and Robin Mould made it to the repechage. Tom suffered some back problems during their second race though, after he was hit by an 8 during training last week, so they didn’t make it through to the final. However, a good effort from the both given Tom’s injury and the fact they originally wanted to race IM2.
Steve, Graham, Matt and Dominic were racing IM3.4+ but didn’t make it to the final. They were back racing on Sunday also (although I don’t know the outcomes for Sunday!). The WNov.8+ all had a good close racing against City of Cambridge losing by no more than a length – well done to Belinda, Sue, Helen, Emma, Chloe, Penny, Jane, Liz and cox Ollie. Well done also to Helen who braved the single in the Women’s Novice category. She made it to the rep but after close encounters with waves, buoys and swans, she didn’t quite make it to the final!
Congratulations of the day go to Hugo and Andy who won in their MasD pair. The WIM3.4+ also repeated their success from the heat in both the semi and the final. So, congratulations also go to that crew, especially to Charlotte W who lost her novices!
It’s been a fair while since I was last asked to write some words; I’ve now been to a number of regattas and ingested a fair few cups of tea yet I still have not found myself behind the oar of a boat.
So I’ve been thinking, what makes a good regatta? A few old chaps dressed up to the nines with megaphones; a guy with binoculars trying to work out what’s going on (the commentator); the cost effective tea and cakes stall; the obligatory burger bar wafting the tasty smell of fried onions with the sole purpose of annoying the rowers on the water. And, of course, a varied selection of clubs and crews trying not to take people out whilst carrying their boats and oars about the place.
In all these regattas I can’t help thinking that some rowing clubs need to put in a bit more effort with their boats (especially the clubs with lots of cash). It’s all well and good having a sizeable clubhouse and the latest Janousek. But that’s not enough; everyone has a reasonable looking boat. What’s the differentiator in making the crew really feel at home in the boat? I mean, where are the alloy riggers, the metallic painted hull? And inside the boat, the chrome footplates, the oak veneer runners, the leather-trim seat pads. The piece de resistance? Blue under-boat lighting. After all, nothing says ‘I’m going to win this race in style’ than blue under-boat lighting.
A bit more effort needed I fancy.
Well back off to the clubhouse to read my copy of Which? Boat. Or perhaps I’ll have a go on the erg to get myself ready for the water? Cup of tea on standby, please!
Bob
