Final Newsletter in 2014

Transcription

1 Final Newsletter in 2014 From the Committee Comrades, it has been a hectic racing season and now we can all relax. Congratulations to all crews participating in our local and interstate regattas. Commercial Rowing Club would like to wish everyone a safe and happy Christmas. A big thankyou to our outgoing Committee members whose stewardship during 2014 has placed the club in an enviable position ready for the new committee to keep up the good work for Thankyou, John Horrocks - President Mary Fenn - Vice President Penny Dixon - Captain John McGuiness - Boat Captain Jo Cook - Rowing Captain John Velosa - Treasurer Mary Fenn - Membership Secretary Steve Monkman - Secretary Kate Beddoes - Regatta Secretary Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Date Claimers for 2015 Sculling Camp at Murwillumbah - Sat 21 and Sun 22 February. Depending on interest, this will be for 1 or 2 days and members will have the opportunity to try small boat sculling on a calm and attractive river. Members who want to become more comfortable with single sculling or improve their skills and technique are encouraged to come along. An asking for expressions of interest will be sent out after Christmas. Regattas The last regatta of the year, the Maroochy Sprint regatta was held at Kawana on 7 December and a small contingent of CRC and ACU athletes attended. 2015: The first regatta of the year on the Australia Day weekend is the State Championships at Bucca Weir near Bundaberg where we anticipate a number of members including schoolgirls, youth men and young female Masters will be flying the Commercial flag. Sat 31 January Murwillumbah (1000m and 2000m) Sun 8 March Urban Rowing at Coomera (1000m) Mon 23 Sun 28 March Australian National Championships at SIRC, Penrith Sat 11 April Brisbane & GPS at Coomera Sat 9,10 May Qld Masters Championships, Coomera Thurs 28 Sun 31 May - Australian Masters Championships, Sydney If you d like to give racing a go, please talk to any of the experienced members and coaches around the club who can give you some guidance on how it all works. We enjoy seeing new members get the racing bug so get in touch. Inside this issue Final Newsletter... 1 Date Claimers for News from around the Club... 2 Head of the Charles... 2 Head of the Yarra Maroochy River Sprint Regatta... 3 Changes around the Shed... 3 Competitive Junior Women's Squad.. 4 Schoolgirl Development Squad... 4 A Little bit of History... 4 Meet the Members... 5 All New Member Information... 5 FISA World Masters,2014 Ballarat Boats and all thing Rowing... 8 Coaches Corner Next Edition... 9 CRC Committee & Contacts... 9 Upcoming Events Queensland State Championships - 24th & 25th January 2015 Bucca Weir, Bundaberg Tweed Heads Regatta - 31st January 2015 Murwillumbah Urban Rowing Regatta - 8th February 2015 Coomera, Gold Coast Australian National Championships - 23rd 29th March 2015 SIRC. Penrith Brisbane & GPS Regatta - 11th April 2015 Coomera, Gold Coast QLD Masters Championships - 9th & 10th May 2015 Coomera, Gold Coast Australian Masters Championships - 28th-31st May 2015 Sydney September 2014

2 News From Around the Club Head of the Charles Eighteen rowers from Queensland attended the largest head race in the world in Boston in October. We raced 4 fours, 2 mixed quads and a mixed double. The women's fours placed 21st (comprising Jen Hart and Jo Cook in a Townsville & JCU crew), 22nd (the CRC crew of Maddy Martin, Barb Hall, Pascale Cox, Terry Forward) and 23rd (the Rivercity Womens crew) out of 55 crews in the Senior Womens Fours. We then raced in Philadelphia the following weekend with the T&JCU crew winning silver in the same division. Some had the privilege of meeting and speaking with Sir Steve Redgrave, Kim Crow, Mahe Drysdale, Ondrej Synek and Kjetil Borch in Philadelphia - a fantastic experience. After such an exciting and challenging campaign in North America, a few of us decided belatedly to put a mixed crew in the HOTY on the proviso that there would be no training and we would source a boat in Melbourne. We managed both and had a delightful row coming 7th out of 19 crews. A satisfying end to a busy year. Jo Cook, Megan Daley, Jen Hart, Lisa Daley, Arieanto Sutrisno (Rutgers Uni) who claimed Silver in the Women Masters 4+ at the Head of the Schuylkill Regatta, Philadelphia. Head of the Yarra Congratulations to all Commercial rowers who competed in the Head of the Yarra where there was a record of 220 boats entered. All five crews rowed creditably with the crew stroked by Jenny Brock coming third in the Women's Masters D category. Many thanks to all those who made it possible for five Commercial crews to boat crews in Melbourne well done on a safe and enjoyable campaign. Head of the Yarra Stories Terry (bow), Pascal, Barbara, and Maddy (stroke) Racing hard in HOC, finishing 23rd out of 55 boats. Mary Fenn The outcome of the Masters Women's D head race in Melbourne culminated in 3rd place for the all-commercial crew. This years campaign was another unique experience for this squad of seasoned vets. Starting out with well over 12 rowers vying for a seat it was just 6 weeks out from the event that the final crew was settled. We were favoured with 2 coaches who each added distinctive coaching styles to improve boat run and speed. We were blessed again with the "Princess of the Yarra" coxswain, Penny Dixon. Her experience, skills and talents are consistently pleasing to all the crew. As all who have raced the Yarra know it is a tough race from first stroke to last with the final straight requiring everyone to empty their fuel tank. Our crew was no different - we deserved the beer and the free tram ride back to Mercantile RC courtesy of the new Labour government. There's nothing quite like a night on the town after a campaign where each rower gives their best to the team to get more from themselves and more from the boat. Peter Richards The CRC Reds travelled to Melbourne full of vim and vigour determined to conquer the big bend and other obstacles. The Friday involved a gentle and at times interesting row from Hawthorne RC to the City. Tash Halloran our cox was on her first Yarra campaign and quickly seized the moment by perfecting the big bend on her third attempt. On race day she negotiated it like a veteran. The crew were determined to produce their best on race day so enjoyed a night of carb loading at an inner city Italian Restaurant with other CRC members. There has been some suggestion that the Reds as the crew now likes to be known, may have been over enthusiastic carb loaders on the Friday evening. The only reason that the crew remained for so long at the restaurant just to be clear- is daylight saving. Back to the rowing. The race itself produced many highlights the most surprising being the speed with which it seemed it was over. Our time was not as competitive as we would have liked but the boat was balanced and the stroke smooth. Yet again the crew insisted on re hydrating as a matter of urgency so as soon as the boat oars etc was loaded that process commenced. The CRC Reds want to thank those who have coached us Brian Parmenter, John Mc Guinness, Michael Malakellis and Lachie Balfour. Also thanks those who organised boats trailers etc for the Yarra. 2

3 William O Chee My men s crew must take the prize for the most weight loss. I lost almost 12kg from my normal weight to get down to 60kg as shown by the photo on the morning of the race (I would have been 59.9kg, had I taken off the socks!). Unfortunately, poor Matt Killer Kilmartin lost 7kg during the week of the race, as he had a stomach flu! By the way, it was my last race as a cox, and my son, Orlando s, first Head of the Yarra. It was also the last race for CRC for Tim Gunthorpe, who has been in the last four Yarra crews. He is moving to Melbourne in February. Jeff Overington, who has stroked the crew for the last two years is also completing his CRC career, as he is returning to Canada in the New Year. Killer and Mac Hamilton are planning an assault on Henley in July. We are looking for two additional rowers who would be able to make the trip to row in either the Britannia Cup (4+) or the Wyfold Challenge Cup (4-). Ann Hewitt HOT HOT HOT Pre HOTY Party On a stinker of a hot night, our ladies crew gathered together with cox, coach & partners to celebrate 3 months of HOTY preparation. Coach Bill O Chee is constantly reminding us that 8 rowing is all about the team and not the individual. This evening was all about strengthening the team spirit. It was also a nice chance for partners to meet each other and get to know the crew. When we next frock up in less than a week, it will all be over and we will again gather to celebrate, hopefully in a cooler climate. POST SCRIPT - HOTY UPDATE Well frock up we did and how we celebrated a wonderful and warm weekend in Melbourne. Danced up a storm at the QLD Rowing After Party! After our initial disappointment with having to yield twice for far too long for a much slower crew, we finished our campaign on a high and thrilled with how we raced. Up against those young ladies in the Open Division, we certainly showed that age was no barrier if the preparation was done. Cox Dickie guided and encouraged us, stroke Kylie set a cracking steady pace, bowside dug deep round that big bend, stroke side matched the effort until there was nothing left for the last turn and coach Bill was there to cheer us across the line. It will be a long 12 months until we can turn it on again William Caldwell The CRC Women s crew had a very good race at the Head of the Yarra. Their boat was a mainly lightweight combination, racing against much heavier composite opposition, handpicked and as we found out, and crewed mainly by rowers likely to make up the Victorian and NSW State 8 s. To achieve a 3rd place, against this opposition with a very limited preparation, with personnel away, and injury problems thrown in, was a very creditable performance for which the rowers and cox can be proud of. Maroochy River Sprint Regatta The Maroochy River Sprint Regatta was well attended by Commercial Rowing Club. Held on 7th December 2014, it was seen as a great success for the club with Commercial finishing on top of the medal tally with a grand total of 17 medals, compiling of 8 Gold, 5 Silver and 4 Bronze. Well done to all that attended, this was a great way to finish the year. Changes Around the Shed Wall fans Those who use the ergs and gym area downstairs will notice wall fans have been installed. The two wall fans and one floor fan have replaced the old pedestal fans, which have been assessed as unsuitable for that use. Please note that the wall fans must be turned off and on at the wall switch please. Australian Catholic University Rowing Club Commercial is proud to support the fledgling ACU Rowing squad that is currently training out of the CRC shed. The athletes are training for various regattas in the lead up to the University Games next year. The squad includes Sam Gaffney and the coach is Sam s father, Terry. We wish them well and please make them feel welcome around the shed. 3

4 CRC Competitive Junior Women s Squad The squad has picked up their training since the end of the BSRA season in the winter months. A number of girls have also joined to increase the numbers to 10, including our cox, Claire Bacon. The squad trains three mornings a week on the water, plus one evening for gym training. Regular testing insures the girls can monitor their fitness development. Ergometer times are coming down for those that do attend training. Following the success of the winter camp held at Maclean in June, we are attending another in the first week of the school holidays. Unfortunately, leadership camps for some of the squad has limited the attendance numbers. Those that can attend, will be working hard over the four days to prepare themselves for the major regattas in 2015, the Queensland Championships at Bundaberg and the Australian Championships in Sydney. Head of the Brisbane With the squad goal to compete as often as possible, the girls entered the Head of the Brisbane in the Schoolgirls 4x+. Unfortunately they were the only schoolgirls crew entered. They completed the course rowing strongly at the finish. The crew consisted on Kate Johnson, Maddie Wightman, Zara Hepple and Ashleigh Mulholland and coxed by Claire Bacon. We thank Christian Oneto of Nudgee College for loaning us a coxed quad. With these younger girls competing in championship quad events, a competition quality coxed quad should be on the wish list for the club. All their quad races at coxed. We also need to develop coxes. A coxed quad would give them experience at training. Tweed Heads/Murwillumbah Regatta The squad makes every effort to attend as many Queensland Premiership Point Score regattas as possible to represent Commercial Rowing Club. Following on from their success at the Pine Rivers Regatta, 5 girls attended the Tweed Heads/Murwillumbah Regatta on the Tweed River; Kate Johnson, Maddie Wightman, Zara Hepple, Isabel Johnston, Georgia Beecraft and Tess Heath competed in nine events with four wins, four seconds and a third. Every girl won at least one race, with Maddie getting a trifecta with wins in the 1x, 2x and 4x. The most impressive race on the day was the G 3/4 4x with a 3 boat length win for Kate Johnson, Tess Heath, Georgia Beecraft and Maddie Wightman. Championship Regattas The two major regattas next year are the Queensland Championships in Bundaberg and the Australian Championships in Penrith. These are the main focus of this squad. Last year, some of them competed for the first time in State and National Championship Regattas. It was a positive experience for them, but now the girls goals have shifted from experience to results. Training will increase when the school year concludes to ensure these goals are met. Schoolgirl Development Squads There are two squads of schoolgirls spending their school off season at CRC to improve their technical ability. One squad attends training on Tuesday mornings under the supervision of John McGuinness and Lachy Balfour. The other is a Sunday programme with John, Lachy, Noel Johnson and Kate Johnson taking on a large squad of up to 20 schoolgirls. The girls who attend Sunday sessions will also attend training on Thursday mornings when school holidays commence. You will see them arriving at 7:00 am when most of you will be heading off to work. Many thanks to John, Lachy, Noel and Kate for assisting with this large squad of schoolgirls. It wouldn t be possible to safely supervise this number of young rowers without your help. Although many of these girls will not continue rowing at CRC when they leave school, some will and they will contribute to the racing history of the club at State, National and International level in the future. A Little bit of History Champion Queensland Eight Queensland 1962 King s Cup Crew - Lake Wendoree, Victoria You may recognize some of the other club members beside Steve. Ken Monk and Roy Hinchy were also members of the club, along with Dennis Donnelly, the coach. 4 W. Bennett (Cox), K. (Ken) Monk (Stroke), S. (Steve) Hinchy (7), R. Harmsworth (6), A. Higgins (5), T, Clarke (4), J. Love (3), R (Roy). Hinchy (2), G. Angus (Bow) Coach J.D. (Dennis) Donnelly, Reserve. Phil Clutterbuck, Manager R. Lyndon

5 Meet the Members Peter Toon Introduction: Peter Toon is a well qualified and experienced coach who has been a member of commercial for some years now. During his time with us he has coached several masters women's crews to success in national and international events including a winning Head of the Yarra crew in In more recent years he displayed his skill taking junior girls from non rowing schools and teaching them to row. After just a couple of years several of these girls have developed to participate competitively at National level. He currently runs a committed squad of junior girls who benefit greatly from his experience, passion and commitment to coaching and Commercial. 1. A vivid childhood memory is living on my father s ship travelling to England and watching the Coronation of QE II on Television. 2. The best advice my parents gave me was my father taught me to respect women, even my sister. 3. The thing I fear most is letting someone down. 4. My guiltiest pleasure is sleeping after coaching in the morning. 5. My first job was postman in Woolloongabba during school holidays. 6. My first rowing memory is watching the Head of the River on the Milton Reach on the bank in front of the Regatta Hotel. 7. The best thing I ve ever done was marrying Lindy 8. A song that gives me goose bumps is Irish Call sung before an Irish Rugby Test Match. 9. The question I m most often asked is do you have a spanner. 10. My best holiday was driving trip through Italy with Lindy. Not without some minor tense moments with directions, but outweighed by many wonderful days. 11. m most contented when I can assist someone to row better and gain confidence in all aspects of their lives. 12. My secret skill is sailing through a storm. 13. My association with CRC began In 2007 when asked by John Bowes to assist him coaching a large squad of young women. 14. My proudest moment was when my son, Michael was informed that he was selected in the 2004 Athens Olympics. 15. Proudest rowing achievement as a CRC member was watching Christine Taylor and Mary Fenn win the Australian Master s Championships Women s Pair at Ballarat in 2012 Attention all new members All new members (with the exception of Learn to Row and Juniors) are required to attend an Induction / orientation Session as part of their Membership Obligations. This short session occurs periodically during the year on a Saturday morning between 0700 and It assists new and renewing members gain familiarity with the Club and the associated equipment, your responsibilities as Members, and a good opportunity to meet other new members and the Committee. If you have not attended a session yet can you please book in for the next session by ing membersecretary@commercialrowing.co m. The dates for 2015 are: These inductions promise to be more fun than a late evening boat unloading, after a regatta. Book What occurs at 4:00 in the morning before a tough rowing regime. We often have a little concert in the club house to calm our nerves and could really do with a little coaching on this score. There is a notable exception - BOB LACK who is the singer and on the other end of the camera. I will have to get a shot of Bob in full tilt at yodelling as he pushes off the pontoon. Of course there is Warwick Marler who also couldn't be in attendance that morning. Wazza's musical expertise was sorely missed as I believe he was honing his skills in preparation for quaffing a bottle of wine that evening (he really needs some coaching). now, seats are limited. February 7th March 28th June 13th August 8th October 17th December 5th 5

6 FISA World Masters 2014, Ballarat Fleur Sriggs 2014 was my first FISA World Masters event and was special for me for a number of reasons. Julia and the 1956 Olympics The regatta was visited by our recent PM, Julia Gillard. She came to open the refurbished Olympic monument at the finish end of the course. Ballarat was the host city for rowing for the 1956 Olympic games. Having the FISA World Masters in Ballarat provided a wonderful opportunity for athletes from the 1956 games to reunite and reminisce. There were enough 1956 Olympians to boat two eights for a row past on Friday: a crew from Japan, and a mixed crew of Australians and other nations. These Olympians are now all in their 80s (except for the young John Jenkinson, only 70!, he was 14 in 1956 and as coxwain of the Australian 4+ the youngest athlete at those games). The Olympians memories of 1956 were sharp and they said the lake was just how it was in 1956 lumpy, bumpy and windy. Rowing is an outdoors sport Lumpy, bumpy and windy is how many Commercial Rowing Club (CRC) masters also remember Ballarat. Most recently from the CRC trip to the 2012 Australian Masters Championship regatta, where many events were either blown away or washed out and subsequently cancelled. But, this year Ballarat showed that it is much like most other regatta courses: variable conditions, some days good, some not so: Thursday 9 October 2014 was calm (flat like a millpond) in the morning, windy in the middle of the day, then calm in the evening. Friday 10 October 2014 was windy all day. A competitor capsized (happened to be the chairman of the FISA Masters Commission) and a delay to racing was called just as Christine was due to start her sculls race. Racing resumed after an hour. The water was no better. Christine, failing to account for a sculler in the far and slightly more sheltered lane, came second - a great effort since her primary attentions were on staying in the boat. Conditions remained tricky for the rest of the day; some races were held in the blocks for over 10 minutes as crews struggled to get straight and stay attached. On a positive note, there were no further casualties and no races cancelled. Saturday 11 October 2014 was calm again, and calm all day. With only a half-day of racing scheduled many took the opportunity to relax, peruse the merchandise tents and soak up the international atmosphere. The lake in all its moods (foggy, flat, windy, sunny) was very beautiful. In spring, Lake Wendouree s willows lime green leaves are busting out of grey buds, the street trees are covered in masses of pink and white blossom, the air is fresh and the grass green, and there are clutches of fluffy cygnets being fussed over by protective black pens (mother swans). It felt great to be involved in an outdoors sport at this venue at this time of year. The Beanie If one was prepared for all weather and remained good humoured about the challenging conditions that presented from time to time, the windy day rowing was much fun. Being prepared isn t always easy, it s difficult packing for colder climes from Brisbane - where all you really ever need for rowing is a zootie, hat and socks. Fortunately, against my better judgement at the time, I packed lots of warm and wind-proof stuff and even threw in a beanie at the last minute. Ridiculous! I said to myself, But, doesn t take up much space. Well, what a fabulous thing that beanie turned out to be: did I receive many lovely compliments about my head-wear on the chilly Friday? YES, did it keep my noggan toasty? YES, did it make people laugh and in that way warm the cockles their hearts on that cold morning? YES. Such a hit it was that my beanie and Christine and I made the local Saturday paper! 6

7 LEGENDS Another highlight of the trip was rowing with the Canberra Rowing Club (Canberra) crews. Canberra basically hosted us for the duration and we benefited from their careful organisation of boats, trailers, accommodation and coaching. Craig Muller (1984 OGM8+ bronze medallist) was our coach for the weekend and was splendidly supportive and professional and fun to have around. Canberra lent us boats for all our races and not just any boats we rowed in Anne Charleton s The beanie and the photo that made the paper. pair/double Heaven which was the boat that Kate Slatter and Megan Still rowed to win Australia s first women s Olympic gold medal in Atlanta, Anne also let me race her single, which was previously owned by Bruce Hick. Bruce is a Queenslander (Rock Hampton) by origin. He partnered CRC s Gary Lynagh in the early 1990 s. Together they were World Champions in 91 (MLW4x), 92 (MLW2x), and 93 (MLW2x) and won two more World Championship medals together: silver in 94 (MLW4-), bronze in 1990 (MLW4x). Bruce also won a World Championship silver medal in 99 (also MLW2x) and World and Olympic bronze medals in 95 and 96 (both MLW2x). I felt pretty special to be rowing in boats with this kind of pedigree. Legends of the sport (and their ghosts and boats) were everywhere, and it is one of the really nice things about rowing masters that legends and novices and everyone in between are thrown together to mingle, row, socialise and have a good time. A nice illustration of this is the Italian crew of current elite athlete and four time World Champion Elia Luini, 35 (who had just raced as part of the Italian lightweight four at the 2014 senior World Championships in Amsterdam).racing with his novice partner Alessandro Gorini in the B2x. They didn t win, but they were happy with the experience: Luini commenting that [he] should ve known better than to underestimate Masters in Varese, the Masters are always first on the water!. And so it is world over our CRC masters sometimes hit the water in the very wee small hours of the morning (sometimes in the 3 s - the evidence is in on the boat sign out sheets! Bob Lack). Officialdom The officials were dressed immaculately, and their formality and accents made it feel truly international (even though I only had to take a domestic flight to get there!). Favourite things for officials to inspect prior to boating were: heel tie downs (involving tape measure and robust tug), bung-holes (sealed) and accreditation (to be carried at all times, including racing). These checks were designed, no doubt, to ensure that if one were swamped: one could get out of the boat, the boat would float and even if one were suffering hypothermia and stutter incoherently, you could still be ID d you from your accreditation. All very sensible. Unfortunately one of our Canberra friends, Danielle Jolley, managed to evade inspection before her sculling event and, having neglected to secure her bow section bung-hole, raced with a boat full of water. It s hard work carrying 50 litres of water in your boat in a race and this cost her the race. Always check your own equipment before you race (bung holes, nuts and bolts, shoes, heels, oars). Winners The FISA masters format is to award winner s medals to every race winner, but no silver or bronze. You ll recall that the boats we were in - that they kind of knew how to win races.. Christine and I are pleased to report that the boats continued their winning form; we came away with winner s medals in our A2x, B2x and B2-. I also won races in the C2x and C1x. 7

8 Boats and all things Rowing Boat Roster and booking system Please take note of the following: You must obtain approval via the boat booking system to use any boat currently categorized as 2000m. These are restricted boats and only able to be used by approved members If you require a boat on a regular basis, please use the on-line booking process If you require a boat for a single use, then you can choose not to book the boat (this excludes the 2000m restricted boats, you must seek approval via the booking system) If you no longer require the use of a booked boat please boatcaptain@commercialrowing.com All boat bookings will be removed every two months unless you boatcaptain@commercialrowing.com to confirm your bookings you will be advised by when this is to occur Please do not book more than one boat in any one session for the just in case more or less of the crew turn up situation Boat Maintenance and Repairs To ensure that you have an enjoyable and dry row please do a quick check of the following on your boat before you take it to the pontoon: Check all rigger nuts are tight including the nuts on the top and bottom of the pin (where the gate is attached to the rigger) Check that all 3 attachments of the foot stretcher are in position and tight (but able to be moved if necessary) Check your seat moves freely up and down the slides and is hooked onto the slide If you have a steering rudder, check that it moves with the foot steering mechanism Check for holes in the hull Logging Repairs If any repairs or maintenance issues are identified, please do not take the boat out unless those issues can be rectified. Record the issue in the maintenance log on the bench and tell Jo, John, Ross or JB about it. Please do not remove the item from the boat and leave it on the bench with no identification or explanatory note the volunteers responsible for boat maintenance haven t recently acquired intuitive or ESP skills! Many thanks for your cooperation with the above. Coaches Corner Question: My right oar (scull) often makes a splooshy noise. What might that be? - Obviously it's partially due to boat trim but what about the difference in body dynamics (drive phase and recovery) due to change in seat packers (6mm, 12mm and 18mm)? Answer (Fleur Spriggs): Assuming the set up is symmetrical (i.e. span, in board, oar lengths), this problem basically comes down to dexterity and boat feel. As a sculler you need to develop good blade work in both hands. Its common when starting out for this to take some time. Most of your life you have been left or right handed. In a sculling boat you need for both hands to be equal - you can t afford for one to be dominant. If you are right handed, you will probably pull through a little stronger with your right hand. if that is the case and you are getting to the finish with the right hand earlier than the left hand, the splooshy noise might be due to turning out early. if the noise if happening at the catch it might be from placing more aggressively, if its happening mid drive it might be from pulling through faster. Often it is the dominant hand that takes longer to forge the correct technique. This is because it is that hand that already has strength and patterns (writing, eating, and is dominant in sports like tennis etc.) that might not work for sculling. Now - if you re left handed, well - sploosh mooosh! At the end of the day my tip is to work really hard on feeling the water through the stroke, feel that the oars are driving symmetrically and that you are entering and leaving the water at the same time with both blades. You might need to to practice some lighter pressures to get the feeling - its ok to do some technical work - you don t have to punish yourself every stroke. Try not to practice in an eddy on the river - but if you are in an eddy (and lets face it, most days you will be) at least be aware of what the water is doing and develop enough sensitivity to adjust your drive to make sure your oars are in and out together on both sides. Answer (Peter Toon): The splooshy noise may be the release. Does this happen as the blade comes out of the water at the end of the drive? If that s the noise you describe, it is a common fault. It is caused by feathering the blade out of the water before it is released, thus dragging the blade from the water and having it remain in contact with the water s surface, or close to it. The solution is to perform the back turn before feathering. Your puddle should be a round one, not one that has a tadpole tail on it. The solution is to row with a delayed release, or better still, square blade. If you're not comfortable with square blade rowing, try one square and one feather, but be sure to lift the blade up on the feather as you would at square blade and not allow it to fall back close to the water s surface. As you become more proficient, you can let your blades be carried lower on the recovery, in about 10 years. 8

9 Next Edition Contributions for the next edition of the CRC Newsletter would be most welcome. Please news items, photographs or ideas you may have for the Club Newsletter to: Club Improvements Do you have some good ideas for improvements around the club? Contact Steve Take a look at the New Commercial Rowing Club Committee below! CRC Committee & Contacts Club President - Penny Dixon president@commercialrowing.com Vice President - Jonathan Brett chairman@commercialrowing.com Club Captain - Jo Cook captain@commercialrowing.com Treasurer - Steve Monkman treasurer@commercialrowing.com Secretary - Fleur Spriggs secretary@commercialrowing.com Boat Captain - John McGuiness boatcaptain@commercialrowing.com Rowing Captain - Ross Kynaston rowingcaptain@commercialrowing.com Membership Secretary - Mary Fenn membersecretary@commercialrowing.com Regatta Secretary - Kate Beddoes rowingsecretary@commercialrowing.com Coaches Corner (continued) Answer (Andrew Abazza): In my view it is body dynamics and should not be resolved by readjustment of the equipment - all other things being equal which they are plainly not. Right arm hang is common amongst bow side rowers: er which side do you row on is as obvious as - well obvious. When translated to a sculling boat it will mean the right arm is slightly longer than the left in reach. So too (in the old days (of carrying heavy school bags) usually resulting in the right arm being a little longer or hanging a little lower. The correction is in posture in the boat - sitting up and no dropping of the right hand. Simple arm swing exercises may also help perhaps windmills or if that fails long sessions on stroke side in a sweep boat. Question: What to consider when setting the height of your feet (on the footplate) in sweep boats (or sculling for that matter)? Answer (Peter Toon): Foot stretcher heights affect the leg drive. The more horizontal the feet, the stronger you can apply the power to the foot stretcher. However, there are limitations to how high you can set your feet, because for every adjustment you make to your boat, there are both positive and negative repercussions. The negative for high feet is an inability to compress at the catch. Try standing up from a low seat compared to a stool. As you get older, you become less flexible, so you don t have the flexibility in your ankles to compress your trunk up against your thighs at the catch. The solution is to lower your feet. A better solution is to become disciplined in increasing your flexibility with a regular stretching regime. A good rule of thumb is to set your feet so that at the catch, your knee is level with your arm pit. Your knee should be tucked up under your shoulder. Naturally a taller athlete will have their feet lower to allow them to comfortably compress at the catch with their shins vertical. There are also variations in trunk height and legs. Some tall athletes may have short legs and long trunks. These athletes can raise their feet. To determine where you need to position your feet requires someone to observe you from outside the boat. You can make your own decisions by watching a video or photo shot taken by someone following you from the side. Answer (Bill O Chee): The height of the feet on the stretcher is often treated by modern coaches as a matter of personal preference. The great 'Jumbo' Edwards, though, pointed out this is intimately related to the height of the work (i.e. the height of the bottom of the gate above the seat). This is what he said: A few years ago it was normal for the seats to be 8 inches above the heels. Because the less you elevate the height of the crew the greater will be the stability of the boat, you can with advantage lower the height of the seat to 7½ inches above the heels. But you reduce the seaworthiness of the eight, because you must reduce the height of the saxboard by ½ an inch to get the necessary clearance for the oar handle coming forward. Greater accuracy of the blade handle will be required to row the blade through only just covered, the oar meeting the water at a lesser angle of depression than of yore. If you lower the seat by ½ an inch, you must slide ½ an inch farther through the work in order that the oar may enter the water at the same angle as before. Given few of us have the luxury of specifying the height of the saxboards we want in our boat, changing the height of the feet relative to the seat will normally be considered in the context of changing the degree of compression the oarsman achieves at frontstops. The lower the feet, the easier it is for the oarsman to slide through the work (i.e. travel past the pin at the catch). This can be advantageous to rowers who have short legs, and would otherwise be short at the catch, but it comes at the expense of length at the back end of the stroke. Another factor to be considered is that lowering the feet may cause the slides to be more likely to bite into the calves at the finish. But if the feet are too high, it is easy to come off the seat too much in the power phase. The CRC would also like to acknowledge RQ and Daniella Serra s invaluable contributions to the publication of our Newsletter. 9