Category: Captain’s Log

An extra update this week – so much to say!

Christmas party
7 December at a venue in Barnes – save the date!  Also, advance notice that we are planning to run a fundraising event early next year – with some top sporting guests  thanks to John Inverdale.  More details to follow …

Safety reporting

Since last week’s safety briefing, I have been in 3 reportable incidents that were entirely not my fault (am I the bringing of bad luck? Who can say).  Anyway, if you are involved in anything – whether you are at fault or not, please let me know, so I can report it and so we can consider whether there’s anything we need to review as a club (maybe not letting me out  in boats any more)

Sculling pod
As suggested by Sarah, we’re planning to make it easier for people to go out in sculling pods.  I will be setting up a sculling mailing list, so if anyone is going out in a single and fancies company they can let other scullers know, and an online sign-up sheet, so you can sign up and indicate which boat you are planning to use. Please let me know if you would like to be added to the mailing list and to have access to the sign-up sheet.

Weights

A few more at weights this week, but would be good to see more of you – intermediates, Happy Mondays and novices.  Kevin is going to struggle to make 9.30 on Sundays and has suggested he could come on Saturdays. I have set up a survey here -please vote to indicate which day you could do (if you could do both, please indicate).  Weights are a great part of training and strongly recommended.   We’ll take a decision next Sunday, so please let me know if you have a preference by then.

Development squad
We are setting up a development squad, as part of the intermediate squad.  This will be focused on equipping new intermediate rowers with  technique and base fitness, but will be open to all rowers who want to progress into (or in)  the intermediate squad but want more targeted coaching.  Training sessions will be at the same time as the rest of the intermediate squad.  Please let me know if you have any questions.

Pairs head – Sunday 13 October

Good luck to Sharon+Kate, Clemmy+Abby, Nic+Lucy and Zoe+Annabelle competing in Sunday’s pairs head.  Recent Sunday morning time trials suggest there should be some exciting BBL racing.

The race starts at 11.15 –  all club members are encouraged to come down to the boathouse on Sunday morning to cheer the BB ladies on, soak up the race day atmosphere, and sell a sandwich or two to hungry rowers – which brings me on to …

Catering
Thanks to those of you have volunteered.  I’ve added a sign up sheet on google docs – link here. Please put your name next to the slots you can do, to help Claire with assigning tasks.   And don’t forget to bake a cake and bring it down to the club – cakes are as important as ergs for BB Ladies!

Timing
Sarah and Zoe are on the hunt for timing volunteers – please email Zoe  zoeguiniven at gmail.com   if you can help (and only if you also promise to make a cake!)

Phew! Think that is all – have a good week!

Katy

A short one, I think, this week. Not that we haven’t all been busy – we’ve done erg tests, been first aid trained by Dave, eaten a lot of flapjack after outings, and raced each other up and down the Tideway.

Pairs head Coming up on 13 October – thanks to everyone who have volunteered to help. Clare (novice captain) has offered to coordinate activities – watch this space for a rota.

Rhine marathon
A group of intrepid Barnes Bridgers are off to race down the Rhine – and maybe sample some of the local beverages – next weekend. Having taken the almost unprecedented step of actually training for the Rhine Marathon, I am sure they will do us proud.

Safety briefing
We have safety briefing from the TRRC / PLA this Tuesday (1 October) at 8.30pm, after circuits, in the bar. If you haven’t already done so, could you let me know if you can’t make this. I strongly urge all active members of the club to attend.

Locking up
Apparently a passing Cygnet found the clubhouse today left with the lights on (including in the ladies changing rooms) and the shed unlocked. If you are the last to leave, please make sure that all lights (in the clubhouse and boatshop) are turned off, windows are shut and shed, boatshop and clubhouse are locked. If you’re not sure how to do this – ask!

Have a great week.

Katy

I’m sending this report a little early, just in  case I get blown off a Scottish hillside this weekend. Here’s hoping the BBLers off to sculling camp get better weather.

World masters rowing championships in Varese

What better way to start the season than with news of rowing success. Some fantastic results from BBLers competing at the world masters championships in Varese.

Jackie Darling Wins:  the G4+ / F8+ / F2x, 2nd places in G2- / G4-/ E8-

Lesley Baguely Win: D4+ / E4- / C4- / F8+ 2nd place in E8+

Chrissie Richardson Win: A8+ (and possibly in mixed racing on the Sunday)

Zoe Guiniven Win: C4-, 2nd place in E8+

According to roving reporter Zoe it was beautifully hot and sunny in the lovely Lago de Varese in northern Italy.  The regatta was efficiently run and many new friends were made, especially from other clubs on the tideway.  Next year the regatta is in Ballarat, Melbourne.  2015 is a lot more accessible, in Hazewinkel, Belgium

Congratulations all!

Squad meeting

Thanks to everyone who came to the squad meeting the other night.  Just to recap, the training schedule looks like this:

Monday: dedicated Happy Mondays water session; novice ergs

Tuesday: dedicated intermediate outings (until end Sept);  Circuits (from 24 September – details to follow) EVERYONE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND

Wednesday: novice outings;  intermediate / happy Mondays ergs

Thursday: general intermediate / HM outings until end of Sept; Dedicated intermediate squad outings from end of Sept.

As we explained at the meeting, we are dropping a mid-week outing over the winter, to make it easier for everyone to commit to the training plan, so would hope to see everyone down for ergs / circuits as well as the water outings.

Safety briefing

The PLA will be coming to give a safety briefing at 8.30pm on 1 October (after circuits). All active  members must attend  – we spend a lot of time in small boats or out in the dark, and need to make sure we all know what to do to be safe.

Pairs head catering

There’s been no response to my request for volunteers to help with the catering for the Pairs Head on 13 October.  This is a BBL-run event and a great opportunity to raise funds to pay for boats and coaching.

Please could you let me know if you can help – either in advance, by buying food and coordinating volunteers, or on the day by making sandwiches or helping on the stall. We will also be looking to people to bake cakes to sell on the day.

Lots of us have benefitted from other people giving up their time to volunteer at the club – helping with the catering at head races is a great way to put something back. Looking forward to hearing from you all!

And finally, congratulations to coach Jo and husband Ed on the arrival of Freya Louise last week. Hopefully there’ll be some baby photos before too long. Now, how to fit a child seat in a coaching launch …

Have a great – and hopefully not too wet – weekend.

Katy

I’m very excited to be typing my first BBL news.   As Sarah said, I’ve been at the club for a few years now, and I’m really pleased that I now get to put a bit back into the club I’ve got so much out of.   I’m not sure I’m going to be able to implement all the plans for improvement we’ve discussed over the years (I see now that a club goat isn’t strictly practical), but if I can build even a little on the fantastic work done by Jenny and then Sarah, I’ll be really happy.

New season
The new season meeting is on 12 September at 7pm.  It’s a chance for the captains and coaches to set out plans for the new season and for you to ask any questions you might have.   Ahead of the meeting, we’ll be sending out a feedback form, to get your thoughts on your goals for the year ahead.

Key dates for the diary:

• Pairs Head – 13 October.  This is the only self-selecting race of the year, so let me know if you and a partner want to race (or let me know if you want to race and haven’t found anyone, and we can try a little matchmaking)
• Scullers Head – 16 November – note much earlier date than in previous years
• Fours Head – 30 November
• Vets Fours Head – 1 December
• Women Eights Head – 15 March

We might also try and slip in a couple of small boat head races before the end of the year – more details at the new season meeting.

Volunteering

The pairs, hours and eights head are also key fundraising opportunities for us, when the BBLRC catering arm swings into operation.    This relies on club members stepping up to volunteer –  and we will be on the look-out for people not  to wield the BBQ tongs, but also to mastermind operations.   Let me know if you think you fancy being a catering supremo.

Sculling camp
Weekend of 14/15 September.  A great opportunity to scull on mostly flat water – or sit in the sun and drink tea.   Contact Matt Byne for more details or check out the Facebook event https://www.facebook.com/events/220881058066282/

Weights
Weights sessions are still continuing on a fortnightly basis – dates on the website.  We’re really lucky to have a dedicated weights coach, but it is really only worthwhile if we get the numbers, so use it or lose it.

Other news
You’ll have hopefully  seen the picture of Coach Jenny at her wedding just over a week ago – she really did look that lovely, and the cake really did have rowing boat on it!   Congratulations to Jenny and Garry!

Good luck to all the BBLRCers racing at the World Rowing Masters Regatta in Varese at the end of the week.  Looking forward to  the race reports.

Katy