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Captain’s Update – 20th October

Hi All,

Two lovely events to report on this week:
Pairs Head on Saturday 10th was a great success, thank you to all of you who gave your time.  The water conditions were horrible, but the crowd on the hard were very jolly, and the cakes were spectacular.  We raised £450.  It was lovely to see so many old friends, both on the water and off.   Congratulations to all 6 crews who raced – it was a tough one (remembering always that DNF beats DNS!) with special mentions for Jackie Darling who won WMas F/G, and to Emilie and Lucy who came 7/14 in their WIM 2-.
Pairs Head Prize Giving is this Saturday 24th, with special guest Andy Triggs Hodge.  If you are able to come down please join us.  The Pairs Head Committee bought us a new boat – which was raced by Sarah P and Katy B – and will be named at Prize Giving.  Lunch at 1:00, followed by boat naming and prizes.  See you there!
On Sunday we had the GFAR Graduation, celebrating with a BBQ on the lawn for all the BBL and Cygnet newbies, thanks to Sian, Ania and Michelle for providing delicious food, and a very generous donation from The Ginger Pig in Barnes.
This course has been phenomenally successful, with record numbers signing up and staying, and Sian’s matchless organisation has provided them with a very thorough introduction to rowing and the Tideway.  They will now join the Novice Squad, and we look forward to seeing them out on the water regularly.  Thank you to all who helped with coaching, coxing, boat sitting and imparting wisdom – I’m delighted to see the results of your expertise!
Next up is Fours Head on Saturday 7th November at 12.45, and Vets Fours Head on Sunday 8th November at 13.45. 
If you could help with marshalling or launch driving on the Sunday (Briefing at Pier House at 12.00) please let me know, and please respond to requests for help with boating and catering on both days.  We have 5 crews entered over the weekend at the moment – fingers crossed they all get to race!
We continue to be very busy, with 4 or 5 intermediate crews out regularly four times a week and a Novice Squad of about 30 training enthusiastically on land and on the water thanks to our dedicated coaching team.  Mark has galvanised us into action, and as well as training hard we are reviewing our equipment, sorting boat rigging, mending leaks (!) and overhauling blades.
Marvellous!
Jo
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Captain’s Update – 23rd September

Hi All,

Just a quick update this week after Sculling Camp, and looking forward to Pairs Head in a couple of weeks (with the Rhine Marathon in between!).

The sun shone, all day long, and Cygnets Bungalow at Shepperton was the place to be last weekend!  Stu and Helena ran an expert Saturday Skulling Skool, with only one unintentional** swim (well – can you stand up in a scull?) and Anna Costantini was Most Improved with a scull all the way down The Cut and back.  Brilliant!  As you know, it’s what happens off the water as well as on that makes for a successful time, and from the attached photo you can see that all was well!  Thanks to all of you who helped – cooking, washing up, carrying, de rigging, loading, driving, testing the Tunnocks (repeatedly), and playing host to our visitors – many of whom were so enchanted they are ready to sign up for the real thing on the Tideway.

Talking of which – Mark is still driving us up and down, up and down every session, training hard for Pairs Head on Saturday 10th. Bets are on for the fastest WIM2 2- (Em and Lucy or Clemmy and Cara) and for the fastest WMasB 2x (Sarah P and Katy or Bec and Sharon).  (Lucky for those of us in a category on our own!)  Ha Ha!
If you haven’t found a job yet Sarah Powell needs a couple of people to help set up the start and finish points in the morning and after that it will be cakes and catering.
Then we can relax, and if you haven’t signed up yet for Cygnets Henley Lunch on Saturday 24th now’s the time to do it – we are all invited.
See you soon!
Jo

**I suspect both of Tom’s swims were intentional

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Captain’s Update – 16th September

Oh I love all this rowing!

We have 6 crews training for Pairs Head, as well as a regular squad of 12 or more filling an 8 and a 4x nearly every outing this week – a veritable Barnes Bridge Ladies Flotilla!  The Novice squad is still as keen as mustard, fighting to get in the shed (yes, really) and not minding when they actually have to train otw in the rain.  The GFAR course is still going strong, with 3 groups training at every session.
Many thanks to all of you who are helping with erg demos, tank demos, coxing the Novices, sitting the Novices, Coaching the Novices and just smiling and being lovely.  I have heard many comments about what a friendly and welcoming Club we are. Hurrah!
This weekend is Sculling Camp down at Cygnets Bungalow in Shepperton and I look forward to seeing many of you there – on the bank and in the river!
Circuits will start again next Tuesday evening 22nd 7pm at Cavendish School in Edensor Road. Same venue, new trainer.  We are sorry to see Greg go, but delighted to welcome Maxi to the front of the hall.  Expect new and different abuse as you struggle with the dreaded burpees.
Check this out ladies!
A totally new race format has landed;  Andy Triggs Hodge is organising an event for scullers on Sunday 11th October at Osterly Park. Preliminary races in the morning, with knockout rounds in the afternoon between 1 and 3pm.  Singles and pairs, 3 side by side, every 2 minutes.  Should be fun – go see (or better still – race!)
The BBL Pairs Head is still to come on Saturday10th October – you have received requests for launch driving  from Sue Cole and for Parking/ Boating marshalls from Nick Bates. Look out for a chance to join the timing team or help with catering.
And finally we have all been cordially invited to join Cygnets for the Cygnets Henley Lunch on Saturday 24th October at Leander Club.
Happy Days!
Jo
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Captain’s Update – 8th September

What a weekend!

Firstly congratulations to Lucy Fry who got married on Saturday!  What a beautiful bride……
On Sunday the Boathouse was buzzing with acitivity!  We had Novice and Intermediate Outings on a misty river, an Open Morning for the new GFAR course which started on Monday (16 women and 11 men!), and a very productive Boat fix day.  Thank you to everybody who pitched in, particularly to Sian who has been working tirelessly to set up the GFAR course, and to Mark who stayed for hours replacing gates, checking pitches and adjusting rigging.  Best of all we had sunshine, and many went on to have lunch at the Sun Inn (where else).
So – (here we go again) – all of this activity means a lot more work; if we are going to recruit new members from the GFAR course we need to show them a good time.  We have 3 groups to manage, and we need friendly people to help them through their paces. If you are able to help out with circuit training or an erg/tank session pease let Sian know
And – (there is more) – we have a large (and enthusiastic) Novice Squad, and an even larger Intermediate Squad – and to manage outings we need coxes.  If any of you fancy coming down once in a while to cox, or to sit a boat full of nervous new rowers, please let me know. There is always post outing cake on offer!
Pairs Head is fast approaching.  We have 6 BBL crews going head to head (bow to stern), we have a new Filippi double being delivered just in time (currently at the World Champs), and we need (yet more) volunteers.  First request is for experienced launch drivers – please let Sue Cole know if you can help out
Finally – thank you to all of you who came to the New Season Meeting last Thursday.  It was a fantastic turnout, and we covered a lot of useful things (notes attached).  Mark introduced himself, and spoke about his goals for BBL, then took us through some core weight training in the shed.
And one more thing (oh no) – thanks to Ali Elliott the Club makes about £800 a year selling boat lights.  Is there anyone out there (who works in a post office?) who could take on the simple task of packing and posting these lights?
That’s quite enough for now – volunteer overload.
Jo