Thursday 22 November 2012

Cambridge Head, 17th November 2012

Both the boys and girls Junior quads were entered in for the Cambridge Winter Head with some trepidation on Saturday.

On the previous occasion, on their first attempt in the Cambridge Autumn regatta, the boys made a slight detour via the bank, and the girls hadn't raced together before at all... There was also the fact that they were racing at WJ18 and J18 level, with four of the crew being underage.

We needn't have worried, however. Both came back in high spirits, with a win in their respective events, beating several Cambridge based and University crews into the bargain.

The trophies will be sent on to them shortly... A classy hip flask each apparently. Congratulations to them all, as well as coach James, who is as pleased as the fruit punch they will put in the flasks!

We also had the company of the early bird Senior IV, in their first outing, who came a creditable third in their class.  It needn't be mentioned how many entries there were, surely.

WJ18  4x  Megan, Katy, Olivia & Izzy

J18  4x  Chris, Simon, Dylan & Kyle


Report from: Julian Haywood Smith

Thursday 8 November 2012

Norfolk Sculls Results

Congratulations to all 9 Deben Racers who took part in this event, on a beautiful stretch of the river Yare in Norwich. The trailer took a full capacity 9 boats to the race, sadly 2 were unused as Spencer and Megan both succumbed to a nasty bug the day before.

The honours went to Katy and Olivia in winning their first pot in the Novice category in the Short Course, and only the second time they have raced together. They beat 5 other crews from Norwich, Beccles and Ely in the process. 
Simon came very close to winning his Novice 1x category, in his first ever race in a single, coming equal second, only 9 seconds behind the winning Beccles rower who was familiar with the river.

Chris and Kyle came 1st and 2nd respectively in their singles, but were the only two entrants, so could not claim a pot.

Izzy came 2nd in her singles event, and the Junior double of Chris and Kyle showed the very experienced Senior double, Michael and Neil, how speedy they have become since they were paired together only last Summer, coming 2nd in their event to a very classy Norwich double.
(Full report, as well as other essential information for racers can be found on the DRC racing GroupSpace - click here)
Julian Haywood Smith (Juniors Secretary)

Monday 5 November 2012

Circuits are back!

This year Nick Redman and John Cross have organised the sessions which are to take place at:

Farlingaye School on Wednesday evenings starting on 7 November

Never done circuits before? Don't be put off by thinking they are too hard, or that you're not fit enough - everyone can do as much or as little as they feel able!

Most sessions will be in the gym (though during school exams we will be moved into the fitness suite). Please ask around the club if you are new to circuits and not sure where to find the gym.

As before, the plan is to assemble in the gym around 6:30pm. Those who wish can go out for a run.  Others must warm up in the gym. 

Attendance will cost £20 per half term (or £3 per session).

The sessions will focus mostly on moving body weight, though for the heroic ones small weights will be available. After a warm down in the gym, sessions will close at 8:00pm.

Doing regular land training will pay dividends when we get on the river.  Nick and John ask that you bring appropriate music to encourage us during the sessions.

Forthcoming Socials

Have fun and support the club by attending and offering to help with the forthcoming social events and contact Sue Stockton for more information:

·        2nd December: stall at the Christmas Market in the Thoroughfair, Woodbridge, for selling Deben calendars
·        14th December: Club Party with licenced Bar.  Please see poster in clubhouse for more details
·        29th December: post-rowing Mince Pies and Mulled Wine at the clubhouse
·        January : video night aimed at the juniors - aimed at a night to fit in around exams and 18th parties)
·        February: pub night - To be arranged, half term looks good!
·        March: Fish and Chip Quiz Supper

Friday 14 September 2012

Greg Searle Event Cancelled

Unfortunately, due to other commitments, Greg has had to cancel his visit to Woodbridge and sends his apologies

Tuesday 11 September 2012

Club Racing Update

From Mike Fisher, racing captain:

This is a DRC racing update, aimed at making sure everyone knows where DRC is planning to compete over the next few months. I hope this will encourage more people to get involved in racing – maybe sharing organisation/boat transport and providing support from the bank.

As we move into Autumn, there are several opportunities for racing, not too far away. Whether you are an experienced competitor or not – junior, senior or masters – if you can cope with conditions on the Deben, there's no reason not to give it a try.

Head races, against the clock over longer distances, give everyone the chance of a good outing in new surroundings and to see how they measure up against similar crews from other clubs. Ideal for gaining experience and fitness over the winter!

A full list of races in the Eastern Region for September–November is available from the calendar at www.britishrowing.org which has lots of information on events and racing in general.

So far, crews from DRC have entered, or are planning to enter:
9 Sept.  Cambridge Autumn Regatta (Junior quad, 3 Junior doubles, 4 Junior singles, 1 Women's single)
29 Sept.  Yare Cup (Juniors, events tbc)
3 Nov.  Norfolk Sculls (Neil Cawthorn and Michael Streat)
   
There are also two coxed fours (sweep) with ambitions to do the Cambridge Winter League, at least.

Please let me know if I've missed anyone with plans already and I'll include in the next update, or sooner if I know of people interested in joining an event.
If you're interested in getting involved in competing for DRC, please get in touch. I'm sure there will be no shortage of advice and encouragement from other members of the club.

Mike

Friday 7 September 2012

Row for Gold Update

 Hello,

Like many other rowing clubs around the country, DRC has recently witnessed a huge wave of interest in the sport stemming from the Olympics. We have had over 60 enquiries and more than 30 people have already completed taster sessions.

This is wonderful!! We are still keen to hear from more potential new members, and to do our bit in helping to deliver the 'Olympic legacy'  to the next generation of sportsmen and women.

That said, we are a small club and the influx of new members presents its own unique challenges for us. Therefore, we will now be operating a waiting list system and everyone interested in having a go should contact William (07771 664463) in order to register their interest. Places for taster sessions and Learn to Row courses will then be allocated on a first come, first served basis according to the order on the waiting list. The club rows and trains throughout the year, so there is no disadvantage in attending a taster course later this year.

We look forward to seeing you at the club soon!

Thursday 9 August 2012

You too can be an Olympic Rower!

Following on from the phenomenal success of Team GB at Eton Dorney, Deben Rowing Club is enjoying a tremendous surge in enquiries from potential members looking to join the club and learn to row. In order to accommodate all those who would like to find out more about this great sport, special taster sessions are being arranged to introduce the club to prospective members.

Please contact William Notcutt on 07771 664463 for more details.

These taster sessions cost £10 and have about an hour’s duration. During this session you will cover some basics on the use of indoor rowing machines, the rowing stroke and (weather permitting) get afloat in a stable training boat.

If you're still keen after that, the formal 'Learn to Row' course costs £80 and last for 8 sessions of about 2 hours duration.

We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Tuesday 17 July 2012

Deben Radio Pageant Show

Catherine Larner rounded up some of those who took part in the Thames Jubilee Pageant to put together a series of interviews about their experiences. To listen, please click here.


Thursday 7 June 2012

DRC at the Diamond Jubilee Pageant

On 3rd June 2012, two coxed Explore quads from Deben Rowing Club had the pleasure of taking part in the Thames Pageant to mark the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II.

Adding a mast
The preparations for the Pageant took some weeks -  firstly putting in the application, then selecting the crews and thinking about the positions we should all row in, working through lots of paperwork, not to mention what kit we should wear and how we should decorate our boats for the big event. Mark and Terry soon stepped to the fore with the suggestion that masts could be attached to each boat. From these we could then proudly fly our Pageant Pennant, as well as our fantastic DRC bunting (thank you Mrs Cooper!).

Most of us travelled down on Saturday, and our boats were dropped off at Thames RC in Putney, our boating point. Some camped in Chiswick overnight, while others stayed with friends or in hotels. As the rain poured down in the evening, we all hoped the weather would improve the following day.
Both DRC crews and coxes

Alas, Sunday morning also dawned grey and chilly, but down on the river bank in Putney there was still a great sense of excitement in the air. All of the participating boats had to be checked by the scrutineers, and then we had to put our masts, bunting and pennants up, as well as stowing away extra layers and emergency rations to last us through five or more hours on the water. Next to us, a women's crew from Henley were even putting together some flower arrangements to go on the bows of their boat - I hope the Queen appreciated them!

Boating at Putney
The river frontage was packed with spectators, rowers, dragon boats, press and even Boris Johnson was there being interviewed. Finally after hours of waiting, we were able to launch Deben Explorer and Pageant Explorer and head off with all of the other man-powered boats to our mustering point near Wandsworth bridge.

We had to wait for about an hour as the other boats in our 'squadron' also congregated, and as we waited for The Queen and other royals to board Spirit of Chartwell. This was our chance to chat to the other rowers, take some photos, have a snack and give a wave to those on the banks. At 2.15pm, with a whistle and a large puff of steam, the Princess Elizabeth engine started the proceedings and a great cheer rose up. We manned our oars and started to row up to just beyond Albert Bridge where The Queen was waiting, with the floating belfry and the royal barge, Glorianna, leading the way. There was an atmosphere of eager anticipation as we all rowed and paddled along trying to keep to the speed limit of 4 knots staying with the other Explore boats. It was amazing to be among such a variety of different vessels and there was a real buzz amongst us, with the steady beats of the drums on the dragon boats coming up behind us only adding to the excitement.

Glorianna
 Soon we drew up level with Spirit of Chartwell on the opposite side of the river. Unfortunately there was too much of a gap between us and the front for us to hear the call of "toss your oars", but we certainly heard the cheers that followed. I contented myself with giving the Queen a big smile, even though she was too far away to have been able to see it!


Terry, Pete, Regine, Megan and Malcolm
Until this point, all of the boats had tried to stick to the original formation, but as we started to pull away again and went through points where the river narrowed or under the smaller bridges, things became increasingly chaotic. A good humour was maintained by all, however, and Terry and Catherine did a wonderful job of guiding us along despite the fact that they could often barely be heard above the noise of the crowds on the banks and the horns and drums calling to each other from the boats on the river.

There was a real sense among all of the boats that we were part of something special, and passing by many of the famous sites of London did nothing to dispel that feeling. It's not everyday that you get to row almost underneath the London Eye, through Westminster, along the Southbank, past Tate Modern and St Paul's Cathedral, through the central arch of Tower Bridge and practically under the bows of HMS Belfast - I enjoyed every minute of it. There were always so many things to look at both on and off the river, as well as the vast crowds of people watching and holding parties on their balconies, that there was never a moment to feel tired or think about aching muscles.

Catherine, Mark, Niall, Anna and Will

The official finish of the Pageant was at Tower Bridge, but we still had another couple of miles to row until we got to London Yard where we could disembark. As we rowed past the beautiful ships in the 'Avenue of Sails', the weather took a turn for the worse and the rain started to pour down. Either Mark had his eye on his dry clothes and a cup of tea, or he was determined to beat the other DRC crew back, but suddenly I felt the pace being lifted above the genteel 4 knots that we had been doing previously. As the river widened and the rain poured, so the waves suddenly seemed choppier and there was little comfort to be gleaned from the sight of the top of Canary Wharf disappearing into the cloud.

Still, row on we must, and row on we did, drawing solace from the fact that we were getting closer to Glorianna and the floating belfry. There will still sights to be seen - the Cutty Sark and Maritime Museum in Greenwich - and perhaps most movingly, there were still people cheering us on, even though there was not much to see. If those on the banks huddled under their umbrellas felt there was still something to cheer about, then we must all have done our bit to make a truly special occasion come to life.

One DRC crew can be seen in the foreground 
of this image from The Telegraph
Thank you to everyone who made it happen.

Text: Anna Morton

Photos: Anna Morton, Neil Emms, Simon Stocker and The Telegraph.

See also:

The Thames Jubilee Pageant

British Rowing

Iplayer footage


Wednesday 6 June 2012

Walton Small Boats

I'm afraid this post should have been added in some time ago, but I must have had computer problems, so it got saved as a draft - sorry Emilie and Spence!

Chris Jillings reports:

Hot on the heels of scooping her amazing national title at the Scullers Head, Emile collected her second win in as many weeks at the prestigious Walton Small Boats' Head just a little further up the Thames from her previous victory. Emilie and Spence both raced twice on the day, with Spence improving the most from the previous week, beating half the field at IM3 and finishing close to the top of the Novice scullers. Emilie was 4th W Novice but won the Masters Novice handicap event by some considerable margin after battling with a Women's IM3 down the entire 3k course, eventually squeezing past and inching away to a three length lead in the last 1000m. Her time would have also won W IM3 as well. Conditions on the day were near perfect, not too cold but with a gentle tail breeze for most of the course and only little bumpy water in the normally difficult home straight.

Radio Suffolk Pageant Interview

Just before two DRC crews headed down to London for the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant, Catherine Larner and Will Notcutt were interviewed on Radio Suffolk.

To hear what they said, please click on the link below:

Thursday 12 April 2012

Suffolk Indoor Rowing Champs. 2012

Hello everyone!

As you know the Suffolk Indoor Rowing Championship took place last Saturday. Thanks to all those who came and 'beasted' themselves - it was impressive to see the effort and commitment of all who rose to the challenge.

In the senior section, honours go to Chris Game and Emilie Wix. Well done to you both.

We also had class wins for Joseph Brierley, Rosie Streat, Olivia Haywood Smith, Dylan Ward, Katy Wilkinson-Selter, Megan Stocker, Louise Rickard, Steve Cooper, Regine Watts, Michael Streat, Sue Stockton, Caroline Huddy, Ken Anderson, John Churcher, Emilie Wix, and Alaistair Humphrey.

Click here for a link to the results. Many thanks to Michael S. for co-ordinating these.

Finally thanks to Sue, Ken, Chris and all the other organisers and helpers on the day - if nobody does it, nothing happens!

Regards

Steve C.
Club Secretary

Triumph for Holly Game and the Cambridge University Women's Boat Club

On the 25 of March, Holly Game (seat 5) rowing in The Woman's Boat race at Henley won against Oxford in dramatic style.

After leading by 2 lengths Cambridge's no 2 caught a crab, allowing Oxford to catch up and leaving the result down to a sprint for the line.

See the following link for a description of the race:
http://www.henleyboatraces.com/news/race-report-2012/

Pictures of the Crab:
http://www.girtoncollegeboatclub.com/node/99

Video of overtaking Oxford:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbXl7tUSWLA&feature=related




Holly is now back at Cambridge training for the Cambridge Small Boats regatta, where she will be competing in a pair, and for the British Universities regatta where she will be competing in the 8 and 4. Holly is hoping to trial for Team GB next year and wants to improve her sculling over the summer with the help of DRC.

Monday 27 February 2012

Club member Holly Game selected for Cambridge Blue Boat


After trialling since September, Holly Game has been selected for a seat in the Cambridge University Women’s Boat Club (CUWBC) Blue Boat which will race the Oxford University Women’s Boat Club in the prestigious rowing race at Henley in March. Trialling has involved 4 hours of exercise a day with 5am starts during term time, 6 hour sessions on the Ouse at Ely on Saturdays and Sundays, and a training camp at Soustons in south-west France.

For further information see :- http://www.cuwbc.org/

Holly is shown here at stroke in the Fairbairns race in November.