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Junior News
Latest news from Niall Darroch, our Junior Development Officer:
16 May 2012
Castle Semple Regatta
Unfortunately we will not be sending junior crews to this regatta as we can't find subs to make up the crews. Captain of the senior women, Sarah Williams, tried to get subs in for the WNov4x+ but there are no spare people, and I didn't think there was a junior sub we could have taken from the three juniors already going to sit in the WJ16 double. Obviously this is not the best situation, but we are better to know this now rather than on Saturday morning! This means that the Saturday rowing session will be on as usual - 11am at the gym and 12noon on the water.
Fundraising 3rd June
The Junior rowing fundraiser will be a bag pack event at Asda Chesser on 3rd June. It is vitally important that all Juniors attend as this is a major way we will be gathering funds for new equipment etc. We'd also be really keen to have parents volunteering to supervise as the store requires a certain ratio of adults to juniors. Let me know when you can make it to this important event.
Scottish Championships 9 - 10 June
Please email me by the end of the week at the very latest if you want to take part in this. So far I have Beth, Lena and Neilia all confirmed. It's my hope we can put out a big boat (4+, 4x or even 8+) from the girls side. It would also be excellent if we could see some boys’ crews on the water as well.
Licences
If you want to race, get a race licence! Here is the link: download the form and notes before filling in and bringing, with the appropriate cheque, to the boathouse. These applications take an awful long time to process; be on the safe side and get yours in three weeks before you want to race.
Volunteers’ rota:
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Thurs 17 May 5pm Sat 19 May 11am/12 Sun 20 May 11am/12noon Tues 22 May 5pm |
Niall Sarah Whitley, Niall Ellie, ??? Niall |
09 May 2012
Open Day
This Sunday coming (ie 13th May) will be Boathouse Open day from 12 noon, which will be an opportunity for parents, friends and senior club members to get to know what goes into Junior rowing, more info on volunteering etc. The 12noon rowing session will continue as normal - but there will be people about to talk to parents etc while the junior rowers are on the water. I have it on good authority there may be home baking!
Castle Semple Regatta
The next regatta is Castle Semple but, unfortunately, numbers are much reduced due to exams. So far we can only field a girls’ coxed quad (Annie, Antonia, Skye, Neilia) and a WJ16 double (Skye, Neilia). If you can get out in these crews, please try to do so. If anyone else wants to take part, please email me by tomorrow morning (ie Thursday 10th) at the very latest.
Hopefully the regatta after Semple (Scot Champs, on 9-10 June) will be a bit clearer of the exam minefield!
It's all Greek to me
Those at the gym listened to me babbling about a quote from Aristotle (Greek Philosopher) that I think applies very well to rowing. After some searching, I finally have the exact wording:
"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit."
How does this apply to us when we are training and racing? What it means is that someone who is good at rowing does not just turn up and try really hard on the day. They have developed good habits, over a long time, of paying attention to their technique, training regularly, pushing hard during pieces, eating well and getting good sleep. So, make sure your habits lead you towards excellence!
Volunteers’ rota
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Thurs 10 May 5pm Sat 12 May 11am/12 Sun 13 May 11am/12noon Tues 15 May 5pm |
Niall Calum, Niall Sarah Williams, Becca Niall
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03 May 2012
Strathclyde Park Regatta results
SPR at the weekend was a great success. On Saturday, Matthew did really well to get through his heat into the final of Men's Novice single. Beth had a mid-race equipment failure which she sorted -- with very quick thinking - and went on to second place in WJ18 1x. Just imagine if her rigger was in place the whole way! The top girls’ four of Beth, Lena, Neilia and Kirsten (coxed by Matthew) were 3rd in WJ18 4+, beating local rivals Watsons but losing to two strong Aberdeen Schools crews. Neilia and Kirsten had a great race in WNov2x, but were squeezed into third place in their heat, meaning they did not progress to the final.
On Sunday, the WJ15 4x+ of Skye, Antonia, Annie and Lizzie (coxed by Matthew) did very well just to get attached and aligned in extremely blowy conditions at the 1k start, and made their way down the course successfully - all I ever ask of people in their first race! A number of crews were disqualified that day because of failure to get attached, so great work from these stars of the future. Our WJ18 4x were second behind a rapid composite from Glasgow/Castle Semple. Another second for Beth who did Women's R2 doubles with Caitlin from Castle Semple, being pipped at the finish by a powerful Aberdeen Uni crew. In the last race for the juniors, Lena and Beth won WJ18 2x by a country mile.
All the juniors did really well at working together, being on time, doing what was asked and a big thank you to the volunteers and parents who supported them on both days. Your input really does make a difference, whether it's rigging a boat, coaching advice, helping carry equipment or just an encouraging wave. That is, a wave of the hand: I think there were more than enough waves in the loch.
Full results are available here.
Next race
Castle Semple Regatta is the next on the horizon. It is a one day regatta, all 1000m racing, multi-lane and a tonne of fun. It's on May 19th, so let me know as quickly as possible if you are up for racing; I hope we can put out several crews of all ages for this regatta.
Open Day
The open day will now be on Sunday 13th May, rather than this Sunday. We've moved it to this date to ensure there will be as many committee people as possible about to chat to your parents about what goes on.
Volunteers’ rota
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Thurs 3May 5pm Sat 5 May 11am/12 Sun 6 May 12noon Tues 8 May 5pm |
Niall John Munro, Becca Niall, Sarah Williams Niall |
25 April 2012
Strathclyde Park Regatta
First, as is normal when there is a regatta on elsewhere, there will be NO CANAL SESSIONS this Saturday or Sunday (April 28 - 29). However, everyone is welcome to come along to Strathclyde Park to see what a big regatta is like and cheer on their club mates! The postcode is ML1 3ED.
The provisional draw (ie order of racing) is available here. Keep an eye on this site and emails in case there are any changes.
You will see that some of the races are heats - that means there are more entrants than the eight lane course can take at one time! In order to reach the final, you have to be in the first two or three of your heat (noted beside your names).
Saturday
0915 MNov 1x Matthew. Heat, 2 to final at 1005
(1005 MNov1x Final Matthew)
1025 MNov2x Neilia, Kirsten. Heat, 2 to final at 1730
1145 WJ18 4+ Beth, Lena, Neilia, Kirsten, Matthew
1250 WJ18 1x Beth
(1730 Wnov 2x Final Neilia, Kirsten)
Sunday
0920 WJ15 4x+ Skye, Antonia, Annie, Lizzie cox Matthew. Heat, 3 to Final at 1020
(1020 WJ15 4x+ Final Skye, Antonia, Annie, Lizzie cox Matthew)
1140 WJ18 4x Beth, Kirsten, Neilia, Lena
1425 WJ18 2x Beth, Lena, Neilia, Kirsten
1545 WNov 4x+ Connie. Heat, 3 to final at 1640
(1640 WNov4x+ Final)
I am glad that those who are racing got the chance to practice at the park last weekend - thanks indeed to the adults in the club who helped. I will attach a full description of how to get the most out of a regatta to the weekly email (which will give you handy hints of what to do and where to be to make the most of it). In general, bring lots of kit for all weathers, listen to what the coaches/coxes say and make sure you have a means of telling the time so you aren't late!
Next race
More multi-lane action beckons at Castle Semple Regatta is on 19th May. Please let me know as soon as possible if you are up for this fun race.
Boathouse Open Day
Sunday May 6th. It's an open day for all at the club as well as parents, brothers and sisters etc to get an idea of what rowing's all about. It will start after the normal rowing session.
Volunteers’ rota
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Thurs 26 April 5pm Sat 28 April 11am/12 Sun 29 April 12noon Tues 1 May 5pm |
Niall No canal session, SPR No canal session, SPR Niall |
18 April 2012
Strathclyde Park trip this Sunday
This Sunday the more experienced junior members of the club will be joining the adults at Strathclyde Park to have a practice on the water they will be racing on next week. Thanks indeed to Sarah (Williams!) and other adult members of the club who will be keeping a friendly eye on the juniors for this. The best information I have at the moment is that we will be departing the boathouse at 9am; I will pass on info on exact timings as I get it.
The Sunday canal session will still be on at 12 noon. Please note there will be NO GYM SESSION at 11am that Sunday as those who would be doing it will be away.
Boathouse familiarity day
Also, to make you aware that Sunday 6th May will be a kind of Open day, which will be an opportunity for parents and juniors to get to know what goes into rowing and looking after the boats etc. I have it on good authority there may be home baking! This will take place after the normal rowing session - ie from 1:30pm.
Looking after the boats
I know we are all very good at this but just a wee prompt that we should be taking great care when moving boats about. Scrapes and bashes do not need to happen if we are careful; no one wants boats off the water while they join the queue for repair. I am confident in the juniors’ boat handling abilities on and off the water, so let's make sure we keep these high standards.
Facebook group
Finally, a reminder that SABC is on FB. This can be a good source of chat and pictures etc. Just click on the Facebook buttons on this website!
Volunteers’ rota
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Thurs 19 April 5pm Sat 21 April 11am/12 Sun 22 April 12noon Tues 24 April 5pm |
Niall Sarah, Calum Niall at Canal, Sarah Williams etc at SCP Niall |
12 April 2012
Strathclyde Park - final call
The junior entry for this event (April 28 - 29) has to be submitted by this Friday. If you are not on the list below, I don't have confirmation from you that you want to race:
SATURDAY
WJ4+ Simmonds, Reid, Pallot, Vipond, Leffek (cox) (Carpe Diem)
WJ1x Simmonds (65kg Wintech 1x)
WNov2x Pallot, Vipond (Jim Fergusson)
WJ14 4x+ Kerrigan, Fletcher, Buchan, Donaldson, Leffek or Reid (cox) (Castle 4x+)
SUNDAY
WJ4x Simmonds, Vipond, Pallot, Reid (Delphi or Park Boat)
WJ2x Simmonds, Reid (Katherine Grainger)
WJ2x Pallot, Vipond (Jim Fergusson)
WNov4x+ Kerrigan, Fletcher, Buchan, Longmate, TBA cox (Castle) OR Longmate in WN4x+
Half confirmed : MN2x Leffek and Nelson (Sunday). I know Matthew is available, but Finn has not confirmed if he is due to exams etc. Finn please get in touch! Failing that, the entry will be MN1x Leffek on the Saturday.
If I have made any mistakes, please let me know as soon as possible.
Strathclyde Park practice session
The adults in the club are practicing regularly at the Park. Next weekend (either Sat 21 or Sun 22 April), I'd expect all crews who are racing - in fact all experienced juniors - to go to the Park if at all possible. I will let you know the confirmed date as soon as I have it. It would be really useful to see the venue you are racing in before the big day.
If this practice is on Sunday 22nd, the canal session will be on as usual, so the beginners and new rowers will not miss out.
Boat Race analysis
Many of you will have watched the dramatic boat race last weekend. Lots of people will have an opinion on the protester, who was at fault for the clash, the causes of the bowman's collapse (he has subsequently recovered), etc. I will restrict myself to the rowing! If you watch the first section of the race, Oxford, the lighter crew, were rowing more neatly and efficiently. This meant that they were able to stay level with their bigger, stronger opposition whose technique was pretty ragged sometimes. After the clash and broken blade, Cambridge knew they had it in the bag - and their blade-work improved markedly, the whole thing looked much more flowing and smooth. What we can learn from this is that:
1) The crew that can row efficiently can be just as fast as a stronger crew who are not as neat
2) Relaxation - mental and physical - improves boat speed
Last but not least - a previous race where someone went beyond the point of exhaustion featured actor Hugh Laurie. Watch for the bowman nearest the camera as they cross the line, apparently he blew up with about a mile to go and was only able to flop his blade into and out the water in time but with zero power.
Volunteers’ rota
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Thurs 12 April 5pm Sat 14 April 11am/12 Sun 15 April 11am/12 Tues 17 April 5pm |
Niall Sarah, Calum Neil, Niall Niall |
04 April 2012
Strathclyde Park Regatta and other races
Let me know as quickly as possible if you are interested in racing at this event. Other races over the summer can be found here. We will be going to Castle Semple, Scottish Rowing Championships, and Nithsdale Regatta. Also, selected crews will travel to Henley Women's Regatta and British Rowing Championships.
The Boat Race
Some of you might be aware that two southern universities are having a rowing race this Saturday.
The Xchanging Boat Race, between the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, starts at 2:15pm. So, you can come along to training watch the race afterwards. In previous years the event has been shown in the Kilted Pig on the big screens, but I don't know if that is happening this year. The full programme, including the build-up which normally has good segments on how the crews train, will also be on the BBC website if you can't catch it live.
Volunteers’ rota
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Thurs 5 April 5pm Sat 7 April 11am/12 Sun 8 April 11am/12 Tues 10 April 5pm |
Niall Niall Becca, Niall Niall |
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