Published byo Rowing w Ink i n www.rowingservice.com/voice g oice 1: 26 August4 2007 CONTENTS RGreat and good in Munich 1-4 V Support the Voice 2 World champs explained 3 Hammer Smith in Beijing 5-6 D-Day in Sudbury 7-9 News 9-12 Enclsure in the Sky 10-11 A row on the Nile 12 Mad about a buoy 13 Fours Head changes 13 Rant 14 Holiday Planner 14

The Voice in Munich. Keep up with the worlds: regular results, forecast, tips, news and views. Rowing Voice live from the world championships starting Richard Chambers, James Clarke, James Linsday-Fynn and Paul Mattick celebrate Britain’s on Monday 27 August. first lightweight coxless fours gold for fifteen years, in Lucerne. Photo: Peter Spurrier.

RowingVoice is pub- lished by Rowing Ink. Great and good in Munich Your guide to the 2007 rowing world Editors Rachel Quarrell Event — men’s double scull M2x and Christopher Dodd championships: Christopher Dodd and Crew — Matt Wells/Steve Rowbotham. Rachel Quarrell give you the form for Main rivals — Estonia, Slovenia. © RowingVoice™ the British crews most likely to reach the Racing record 2007 — World Cups: Matt Wells A-finals in Germany. and Steve Rowbotham won their heats and semis All rights reserved. outright in all three world cups. In finals they Material may not be were 1st in Linz and 2nd in Amsterdam and Event — men’s lightweight four LM4- reproduced in any media Lucerne. Crew — Richard Chambers/James Lindsay-Fynn/ without written permis- Comment — In Amsterdam and Lucerne the sion of RowingVoice Paul Mattick/James Clarke. Brits were second to the Estonians Endrekson and Main rivals — China (and all mentioned below). 41-year-old Jaanson, the latter a singles world Contact: voice@ Racing record 2007 — World Cups: Linz, 1st rowingservice.com champion in 1991 and silver medallist in the in heat and semi, 3rd in final. Amsterdam, 1st in single in Athens 2004. The Estonians are great heat, 2nd in semi and final. Lucerne. 1st all the tel 07710-538114 tacticians and racers and will take some beating, fax 0870-164-1650 way. especially if Matt and Steve rely on their very fast Comment — In days of yore GB dominated second half. Former world champs Spik and Cop lightweight fours (and eights), and this crew hope Published irregularly. of Slovenia could not cope with the Estonians to restore that prowess. They have improved either, nor could current champs France. GB in since Linz where China and Italy beat them, and Our grateful thanks to the medal zone. Amsterdam where Netherlands bested them in Number in event — 27 Peter Spurrier/ the semi and China in the final. In Lucerne they Number to qualify for Olympics — 11 Intersport Images, beat the Dutch and the Italians as well as France, David Wasse, Andy Cox Canada and Australia in a race with three seconds and Paul Azzopardi/ encompassing the first five. But China was not Event — men’s eight M8+ Crew — Tom Parker/Tom Stallard/Tom Lucy/ BigBlade for photo- present. As with open fours, this is a nerve-rack- ingly difficult event. GB on the gold standard. Tom Solesbury/Josh West/Ric Egington/Robin graphic contributions in Number in event — 27 Bourne-Taylor/Alastair Heathcote/cox Acer this issue. Number to qualify for Olympics — 11 Nethercott. Main rivals — Canada, US, China, Germany. Hammer Smith goes to China: Beijing in pictures pages 5-6 » 26 August 2007 page 2 Ro w i n g Voice Racing record 2007 — World Cups: Linz, 3rd more measured and less predictable approach. Support in heat, 2nd in rep, 5th in final. Amsterdam, This has led him to win six world cup heats and 2nd in heat and rep, 3rd in final. Lucerne, 2nd second round races outright. In Linz he was in heat and rep, 4th in final. beaten by Synek in the final, in Amsterdam by Comment — The eight has had several Synek, Tufte, Hacker, Drysdale and Karonen, changes in line-up owing to illness, injury and and in Lucerne by Tufte in the semi and Drys- Ro w i n g inconsistency. Good early races in Linz led to dale in the final. He narrowly beat Drysdale in a disappointing final, beaten by Canada, China, the Diamonds. Everyone mentioned is danger- Belarus, Belgium and Russia. A kick up the ous. Tufte is Olympic champion, Drysdale backside came in Amsterdam when chief coach world champion, Marcel Hacker (Germany) We hopeV youoice have enjoyed Grobler put his four and pair into a super eight unpredictable but sometimes brilliant, Synek this and the previous three who won the final and spurred the GB eight to the most improved and consistent. There’s al- issues of the Rowing Voice an inspiring performance. They were beaten ways the chance of a newcomer making waves, we have published this by Poland in their heat and China in the rep too, like Campbell did last year. The medal year. We very much want before pushing the GB super eight hard in the zone has about seven people in it. to continue publishing the final, second most of the way until China came Number in event — 32 magazine. However, both through into second. In Lucerne they were Number to qualify for Olympics — 11 of us are freelance journal- second to Canada in the semi and fourth to ists who need to make a Canada, Germany and Russia in the final. Aus- Event — Women’s quadruple scull W4x living, as do the profession- tralia with the legendary Jimmy Tomkins in the Crew — Annie Vernon/Debbie Flood/Fran al photographers who have seven seat did not overtly impress; the US will Houghton/Katherine Grainger (picture, below). contributed pictures. make their debut in Munich with rumours of Main rivals — China, Germany. very fast times on home waters. Qualification We are seeking advertis- Racing record 2007 — World Cups: Linz, 1st for the Olympics looks likely, but close. ing, but that alone will not in heat and final. Amsterdam, 1st in heat, 2nd Number in event — 16 cover costs, particularly in final. Lucerne, 1st in heat, 1st in final. Number to qualify for Olympics — 7 to begin with. Eventually Comment — Annie Vernon joined the world we’re going to have to champions Debbie Flood, Fran Houghton and charge a subscription as Event — men’s single sculls M1x Katherine Grainger in place of Sarah Winck- well. Crew — Alan Campbell. less this season. The join appears seamless. Main rivals — Ondrej Synek (Czech Rep), The crew fell foul of the Chinese in Amster- Before that we are asking Mahe Drysdale (NZ), Olaf Tufte (Norway). dam, a regatta where the giant that hosts next those who have read and Racing record 2007 — World Cups: Linz, 1st year’s Olympics revealed a very strong hand. enjoyed the first three is- in heat and semi, 2nd in final. Amsterdam, 1st But GB beat China three weeks beforehand in sues if they would consider in heat and quarter, 3rd in semi, 6th in final. Linz. Germany has the evergreen Katrin Boron making a donation to our Lucerne, 1st in heat and quarter, 2nd in semi aboard, so can never be written off. Romania, costs. and final. third in Lucerne, cannot be written off either, If so, please visit www. Comment — Campbell is in arguably the although the Russians appear to be sunk after rowingservice.com/voice toughest event, and has changed his 2006 race their positive dope test at Eton 2006, after and click on the dona- pattern of charging in the last 500 metres to a which they lost their crown. GB sniffing gold tions button you will see again. there.. This will allow you Number in event — 13 to make a secure dona- Number to qualify for Olympics — 7 tion via PayPal (you do not need to be a member) in Event — men’s coxless pair M2- any standard currency. We Crew — Colin Smith/Matt Langridge. suggest £2 per issue, or the Main rivals — Australia, New Zealand, South equivalent. Africa, Croatia, Canada. Racing record 2007 — 1st in all races to bag Although much on the Web gold in Linz, gold in the eight in Amsterdam, is zero cost to the consum- 11th in Lucerne. er, the concept does not Comment — Don’t be fooled by the Lucerne work well for a low-circula- result - Langridge was ill with a mystery tion specialist magazine. breathing problem. He’s been on training If you have already given a camps since then, but the announcement of the donation, rest assured your pair in the confirmed team suggests the doctors help is much appreciated. have sorted this out. Smith rowed the pair with Either way, thank you very Tom James last year (6th at the worlds) while much indeed for your sup- Langridge was in the eight, but this duo is part port. of Jurgen Grobler’s masterplan to qualify all the men’s sweep boats for Beijing. Racing Chris Dodd and tends to be dominated by the Aussies, but most Rachel Quarrell The women’s quad. Photo: Peter Spurrier of those likely to reach the A-final are former Fours, doubles and eights - world champs preview continued pp 3-4 » 26 August 2007 page 3 Ro w i n g Voice Repechage system, 2007 version: 7-8 entries: two heats (1 from each through to final), then rep (4 through), final. 9-12 entries: two heats (1 through), two reps (2 through), final. 13-15 entries: three heats (3 through), one rep (3 through), semis, final. 16-18 entries: three heats (2 through), two reps (3 through), semis, final. 19-20 entries: four heats (2 through), two reps (2 through), semis, final. Andrew Triggs Hodge, Steve Williams, Peter Reed and Tom James (subbing for Alex 21-24 entries: four heats Partridge) cool off after coming second in Lucerne. Photo: Peter Spurrier. (1 through), four reps (2 medallists and anything could happen. Verdict: 2nd in the semi and final. through), semis, final. as long as there are no medical problems, a mi- Comment — Selection was the issue in the nor medal might just be possible for a fast pair. winter, with all, but particularly Partridge, 25-30 entries: six heats Number in event — 24 pushed to the limit to justify their crew place. (top 24 through), four quar- Number to qualify for Olympics — 11 You might expect such a process to harden and ters (3 through), semis, final. strengthen the crew, who certainly began the 31-36 entries: six heats Event — men’s lightweight double LM2x season looking better than ever. They saw off (top 24 through), quarters, Crew — Zac Purchase/Mark Hunter. a challenge from the Dutch in Linz, then had semis, final. Main rivals — Denmark, Italy. the fun of winning gold in the maxi-eight three weeks later. But just as the temperature turned Racing record 2007 — Linz and Amsterdam Weather forecast: 1st in all early races then 2nd in final; Lucerne up in Lucerne, with the Kiwis and Dutch very 1st in the heat, 2nd in the semi, 3rd in the final. strong, Partridge’s injury forced a sub both Sun 26: 26deg, light winds Comment — This is Purchase and Hunter’s there and in Henley. An unfit James, though Mon 27: 25deg, light winds first season together - last year Purchase chased skilful, may have accounted for the four’s close Tue 28: 21deg, cloudy, vari- and caught his world singles title and record Lucerne losses to first New Zealand then Hol- able ENE winds. while Hunter was in the double with James land, but USA and Canada bring untried and Wed 29: 26deg, cloudy, Lindsay-Fynn. These two were streaks ahead reputedly fast crews to the worlds. Olympic increasing slight SSW winds. of the rest at GB trials and the combination goes qualification, barring accidents, seems inevita- Thu 30: 12deg, rain, cooler fast: straight away they were top-league play- ble, but the Brits will have to produce their best with slight NE winds. ers. World champions Denmark are back again yet to claim gold too. Fri 31: 17deg, showers, NNE Number in event and looking even more impossible to beat. The — 24 slight winds. Danes have taken all three cup golds, the Brits Number to qualify for Olympics — 11 Sat 1: 20deg, cloudy, very two silvers before being caught out by Hungary light N winds. in Lucerne and shoved down a notch. Purchase Event — women’s double scull W2x Sun 2: 17deg, cloudy, sunny and Hunter are aiming for gold but a lower Crew — Elise Laverick/Anna Bebington. intervals, mod. N winds.. medal looks more feasible. Expect qualification: Main rivals — Australia, New Zealand, Ger- an A-final place should be obligatory, but there many, Italy. Champs on UK TV: might also be a medal to look for. Racing record 2007 — No-show in Linz and Number in event — 33 Amsterdam, 4th (just) in the Lucerne final after BBC: likely to be on the Number to qualify for Olympics — 11 coming 2nd in the heat and semi. finals days (Saturday 1 Comment — Laverick and Bebington have and Sunday 2 September). Schedule will be published Event — men’s coxless four M4- lurked beneath the radar this summer: a per- after Sunday 26 August. Crew — Steve Williams/Peter Reed/Alex Par- sistent injury for Bebington kept them back in England for the first two World Cups. They tridge/Andy Triggs Hodge. Eurosport: finally used their passports to make their debut Main rivals — Holland, New Zealand, maybe Thu 30 August 08:45-11:30 in Lucerne where, despite it being their first the USA. Fri 31 August: 13:30-15:00 event of the season, they finished just 0.01 Racing record 2007 — unbeaten until Lucerne Sat 1 and Sun 2 September: seconds off Italy’s bronze medal. That was (fours and eights gold in Linz and Amsterdam live coverage, times tbc. respectively). Won their Lucerne heat, but then only a length behind former world champions World champs preview continued: adaptive crews page 4 » 26 August 2007 page 4 Ro w i n g Voice Adaptive crews Events — Mixed coxed four (LTA4+), arms-only women’s singles (AW1x), arms-only men’s singles (AM1x), mixed trunk and arms double (TA2x) Crews —LTAMx4+ Naomi Riches/Alistair McKean/Alan Crowther/Vicki Hansford/cox Another adaptive gold, in Eton, September 2006. Photo: Peter Spurrier. Alan (Woody) Sherman (see New Zealand, but neither Australia (reigning Number to qualify for Olympics — 8 picture, right); AW1x Helene champs) nor China were present. Both oars- Raynsford; AM1x Tom Aggar; women have form in doubles, Laverick an Event — women’s pair W2- TA2x Karen Cromie/James Olympic bronze and Bebington fourth at last Roberts. Crew — Natasha Howard/Natasha Page. year’s worlds with Annie Vernon. Lack of race Main rivals — Canada, China, New Zealand, Main rivals — For the four, time together will be their weak spot, but an A- Germany. Holland and Canada. Wom- final place and Olympic qualification are both Racing record 2007 — World Cup: 5th in en’s singles, USA, Poland and likely, and they are sniffing at the medals. Linz, 10th in Amsterdam (both with Knowles Number in event Canada. — 17 instead of Howard), 4th in Lucerne as full crew. Number to qualify for Olympics — 8 Comment — Qualifying the pair is one of the Racing record— The four and main aims of the GB women’s squad, and the women’s single are defending Event — men’s lightweight pair LM2- latest combo (a pair of Tashes) makes a good world champions. Crew — Matt Beechey/Danny Harte. stab at that. Fourth in Lucerne was much better Comment — Getting to Main rivals — Italy. than earlier on, though still way off the pace set Beijing isn’t likely to be hard Racing record 2007 — World Cup: Linz, 1st in by winners New Zealand. The pair will benefit for Britain’s adaptives, but heat, 2nd in semi, 3rd in final. Amsterdam, 1st where the eight suffers, from having fewer top the field is trying to close in in final. Lucerne, 1st in heat, 2nd in final. crews to race since most of the early Cup com- on the champions. The four Comment — Beechey and Harte were beaten petitors are now in their country’s eights. (in various forms) have found by Italy and Netherlands in the first world Number in event — 13 collecting golds a bit of a cup, and Italy again in the final at Lucerne. In Number to qualify for Olympics — 8 doddle: they’ve been world Amsterdam there was a straight final between champions four years run- three boats, won by the Brits over Denmark Event — women’s eight W8+ ning, and were streaks ahead and Belgium. Lucerne was a tougher meet, with Crew — Carla Ashford/Baz Moffat/Alice of the field at the Amsterdam Germany and Australia close. GB in the medal Freeman/Louisa Reeve/Beth Rodford/Alison world cup. One day things zone. Knowles/Katie Greves/Jess Eddie/cox Caroline Number in event are going to get tougher, but — 13 O’Connor. it may not be this year, even Number to qualify for Olympics — none (a Main rivals — Romania, China, Holland, though the Dutch are strongly non-Olympic event). Germany, USA, Canada, Australia. targeting this event. Mean- Racing record 2007 — Silver in Linz, 5th in while Raynsford was a superb Event — women’s lightweight double LW2x Amsterdam, 4th in Lucerne. find who shot straight to the Crew — Helen Casey/Hester Goodsell. Comment — There’s no question: the only top last year, and has all the Main rivals — China, Denmark, Germany, thing on this crew’s mind is Beijing. Not determination needed to do it Roumania, Australia. that they won’t be hunting medals, but if they again in Munich. GB Rowing Racing record 2007 — 7th in Linz, 5th in Am- qualify, they will also be near the podium. The will be hoping Tom Aggar, a sterdam and Lucerne. biggest ask in the entire squad: on a good day new recruit, can do the same Comment — Concentrating on qualifying they’re just about quick enough, but will have in the men’s single, while for Beijing will be Casey and Goodsell’s first to pull out a storming repechage to bring home the double aim to better their aim at their debut worlds in this partnership. the goods. They’ll be taking hope from being sixth place last year in Eton. Casey’s been in the double for years, Goodsell so close to Germany in Linz, though the Dutch Unusually everyone will have graduated up from lower boats this season. have moved past them since then and world to race heats, semis and finals They’ve got a bit of flair, and their boat goes at champions USA will be favourites in Munich. with a much bigger entry than least as fast as previous combinations, but the The British mix has changed several times this ever before (62 adaptive crews line between third and tenth is pretty fine in this summer: Natasha Page is now in the pair, and from a massive 23 countries). category, the only Olympic lightweight wom- Georgina Menheneott now in the four. For the Number in event — 12 and en’s class. Casey’s best result was a doubles eight, what marks the worlds is that for the first 17 for the singles, 18 doubles, bronze in long-ago 2002, Goodsell has taken time they will be competing against all their 15 fours bronze in the light quad the last two years, but rivals at once, and with none doubling up on Number to qualify for this is a big step up. Results have been improv- the same day, as they do during World Cups. Paralympics — 8 crews in ing throughout the season, though, and making Number in event — 10 each event. the A-final is realistic. Number to qualify for Olympics — A rather Number in event — 19 brutal 5 Beijing in pictures and Shunyi scenes - Hammer Smith in China pp 5-6 » 26 August 2007 page 5 Ro w i n g Voice

Mighty miracle in the making Hammer Smith’s guide to Olympic rowing in Beijing, with additional reporting by Bei Jing and photographs from Rac Quel

The astonishing new Shunyi rowing and canoeing course in the Chinese capital, Beijing, was contructed by a Above, security fence at Shunyi million workers over three months and completed on rowing course the day before the junior world championships opened on 8th August. This was a year to the day before the Left: insignia for access zones Olympic regatta is due to start in 2008, and was used 1-9 by the blazerati of FISA and the commissars of British rowing, led by Chairman Di, as a test for the whole dog’s Below: Commissar Tanner bollocks. Hotel and Compound It came complete with an army of volunteers and an accreditation system of previously unknown complex- ity (and that’s saying something – Ed). Briefly, there are nine traditional Chinese animal figures denoting areas of access, so the more you can get stamped on your ID the more places you can go. The name of the game next year Headmaster’s Study will to get to as many of the parts that are not stamped on your accreditation as you can, the ultimate being the control tower which requires all nine. This should be relatively simple as there will only be about 100,000 volunteer officials supervised by 10,000 police to control the check points, not to mention the People’s Army gar- rison in the vicinity. Public health warning: If you do succeed in reaching the top of the tower, you will most likely be shot. Hammer Smith

Repechages at the National Championships: RANT page 14 » 25 August 2007 page 6 Ro w i n g Voice

Above: Moat at the Forbidden City, with People’s Army airborne Below: Kiss and Cry zone

Above: There are nine million bicycles in Beijing

Above: Athletes’ village Right: Regatta Control and FISA HQ

Diary of a determined Regatta Secretary: Sudbury despatches pp 7-8 » 26 August 2007 page 7 Ro w i n g Voice In the trenches Trevor Chambers (TC) gets busy building Sudbury Interna- tional Regatta’s landing stages. Saturday 28th July, D -7 days. aving been generously H“awarded” the role of land- ing-stage architect solely on the strength of having been injured due to poor landing stages a few years ago, I begin by finding the scaffolding clips, carefully hidden out of the way in the boathouse since last year. Use copious amounts of WD-40 and elbow-grease to free off the nuts. Break handles of the bin they were all in when trying to lift it to put it away as it was “a bit Crowds enjoying the sun at Sudbury International Regatta 2007. Photos: David Wasse heavy”. Those at the club know I say that with understated off- Count-down to Sudbury D-Day handedness... The following is an account of the trials and o Received several grovelling apologies and Sunday 29th July, D -6 days. tribulations leading up to the 2007 Sudbury promises to complete task before end of Update landing stage construc- Regatta, one of the few to go ahead successfully weekend. tion guide with amendments in England following the massive floods of late based on last year. July and early August. Saturday 28th July, D -7 days. Marvel that the back-of-an-en- o [AB] AM – buy new mobile as old one dying. velope where I had made those Three stalwarts of Sudbury RC - Andrew Blit PM – new one fails with keys not working. notes has turned up in my euphe- [AB], Tricia McGrillen [TMcG] and Trevor Aieeeeee. Oh well. mistically-titled “filing system”. Chambers [TC] - contributed to this collective o [TMcG] Three working parties out on river, Make mental note to update regatta diary. Left, TC takes to the trenches as reed cutting will soon be completed. immediately after the regatta architect of a grand new landing stage. Sunday 29th July, D -6 days. this year rather than chance it a o [AB] Entries so far for 58 different events. second time. Wednesday 18th July, D-Day -17 days. And that doesn’t count the entries for the events One of our Vets, retired, has o [AB] Three entries so far, including two from we don’t run. Only 21 actual matches though! the luxury of time and has been Wales. Well, we are Sudbury International o Am considering offering to race off some coming up with new ideas. Regatta after all... WJ14s against a W Vet D crew. Tempting. It’s They look very clever, just wish Thursday 26th July, D -9 days. good to see so many people want to come back I could claim to understand o [TMcG] Arrange to hire hedge cutter to cut to race, including old friends (Veteran I in one them: how can we know that reed encroaching on river. Need working party case) and enemies. Apparently a sculler took the numbered scaffolding poles – call previously put out to members by email umbrage about a remark I made last year about are numbered in the right order? largely ignored. ‘brute force’ not necessarily being the answer. Maybe I am just being blinded o [AB] The umpire’s rota has reached Draft 3. (“He continues to get bigger but our job as by the intimidating spreadsheet, On Tuesday I was struggling to make ends meet coaches is to broaden his horizons and XXX so decide to play along and see with too many volunteers but (fortunately?) has set about the task by entering him with a what happens. two have had to pull out, including the Heir Young Lady (XXX’s daughter) so he can show Wednesday 1st August, D -3 Presumptive to the Chairmanship of the a caring, sharing side to his sculling”). days. Regatta Committee. Gavin will just have to o Acquire new new mobile with fancy touch After work, hot-foot it to the club “succeed himself”. Again. Have corrected the screen oo er. Bin full again. Damn. Re-read to oversee the start of the landing random spelling of names therein and removed RQ’s guidance notes for this piece. Shouldn’t stage construction. anomalies such as non-existent umpire being have used ‘damn’. Bugger. Note use of the word “oversee”... at both start and finish simultaneously. Only Monday 30th July, D -5 days. this, I keep telling myself, means one complaint so far – that we are too well o [TC] Lull before the storm, in terms of regatta that I can direct others and in organised this year. preparations. Focus on trying to do enough particular get someone else to be o Bin is full, needs emptying. Again. at work so that the rest of the week is less the one in the river getting bitten, Friday 27th July, D -8 days. stressful. Fail. wet, muddy and cold building o [TMcG] Threw toys out of pram, sent email to o [TMcG] Reminder sent out re: building of the scaffolding frame on which all members, subject “last night’s non-event”. landing stages on evening of D-3 & D-2, help the extra stages depend. News from BUSA, Bradford and the Pacific pages 9-10 » 26 August 2007 page 8 Ro w i n g Voice All has to wait after the discov- needed. Also reminder re: security required in sculler. Either way we have a true Masters ery that before going off on a marquee over D-1 and D-Day nights. event. sculling training camp Sam had o Response re: security for D-Day, nothing for o We don’t have opposition for Weybridge’s not managed to bring the tractor D-1. J14 boys double nor their women’s J14 quad. down to trim the banks, due o [AB] More than 50 separate mails. Some But somehow they come up with three mixed to the rain and softness of the changes, some duplicates. The Flying Mollison doubles from that. Not sure how they did it. ground . Brothers appear to want to race themselves. Not going to ask. Landing stage area currently oc- o Sadly no opposition for the Vet I. Also the o Some fairly tasty racing on the cards, Vet cupied by 4ft nettles. Sum total caring, sharing youth has, apparently, bailed Ds against senior 2s, nippy juniors against of the tools suitable to attack out. Shame that. inexperienced but HUGE men, that sort of them with: a Stanley knife, a o Buy bigger bin. thing. broken scythe, a pair of secateurs o All things considered the draw goes pretty – that’s it. Tuesday 31st July, D -4 days. Draw day. well, all done, including prettifying for the o Rosemary goes home for the [TMcG] Chased promised entries to dragon programme by 6pm. BEAT THAT. gardening tools and finally we boating event – numbers down on last year. can make a start. Panic. Wednesday 1st August, D -3 days. uch later than planned, o [TC] As is traditional, arrive to find myself o [AB] Just waiting for all the clashes we the thorny question immediately playing catch up as Andrew have missed to be reported to us. “When I Mof who is going to & Alex have been up for hours. As the day win my first two races I shall have a clash.” get in the river. The trench foot I unfolds we remember all the “gotchas”, and the Believable. contracted last year took months smooth process hums along. Not for us a Grand o Mail received from XXX RC: “Our entries to go away so I have no great Challenge Cup at the Town Hall, though we like secretary has gone on holiday and we don’t desire to go waist deep in water to think that we have our finger on the pulse know who is racing in what”. Five phone (and ankle deep in mud) again. of the rowing world albeit at ever so slightly a calls from very apologetic co-ordinator from However, there are only three of different level from the Henley Stewards. YYY BC, none of which are any problem us, and I am the only one who o Find suspiciously few obvious doubling-up whatsoever. has done this before so I have to issues on the first (or indeed subsequent) passes, o [TMcG] Yet another attempt to get rest of do it after all. and after the usual merging of some events it’s programme in order to take to printers. Failed Our regatta secretary knows all looking good. miserably due to work commitments. people in high places - or, since o Do usual trick of reformatting the draw from o Managed to get away in time to assemble the people in question are in HTML into Word for the programme-printers, with small select band for building landing the sub-aqua club, maybe that and make another mental note to ask Simon to stages (see inset). Used scuba-diving dry suits should be people in low places amend his program so that this job is easier. this year to prevent recurrence of last year’s - so we have a secret weapon this o Have made this mental note annually for trench foot, caused by standing in mud on year - a dry suit. years... bottom of river for several hours. I fight my way into this - to some o [AB] Two Vet H scullers have emerged like o Send blast round about response re: lack of sniggering about tight rubber wrinkly butterflies. Or they may be the same security for D-1. clothing - and going. I marvel Thursday 2nd August, D -2 days. at the complete waterproofness. o [AB] Silence, which is very worrying. The light fades. We haven’t got Fortunately broken at 3:30pm by sculler very far. having to bail out with dodgy back. Cripes. Thursday 2nd August, D -2 o [TMcG] Still month-end problems at work, days. unable to get away to help with landing stages. Pick up from where we left off, Finished work at 22:25. and good progress is made. Dav- Friday 3rd August, D -1 day. id’s ideas prove to be more effec- o [AB] Happy morning trying to look busy on tive than their description, and by Regatta Meadow – accidentally get involved last light we have recovered and with armoured electric cable which is too are slightly ahead of schedule. much like hard work. The teenage hoodie underage o Adjourn home to check validity of ARA drinkers loiter around but don’t forms thus far submitted. Some ‘interesting’ cause any trouble... anomalies emerge such as men’s Vet D double Friday 3rd August, D -1 day. containing young lady. Hmmm. ...or so I thought... Turn up at o Attempt to kill printer by printing off Control 8am to finish off securing the documentation and commit social suicide by planks and general fine-tuning, to blagging rest of family into allocating the crew find the oiks have undone a load numbers, “they love it really”. of the boards and thrown them o New bin too heavy to lift. into the river. o [TMcG] Take programme to printers. Unbelievable! They were so Assemble at regatta field to move sundry brash, having sat there and marquees, tents, gazebos, transport fridges, freezers, children’s play equipment, sink, Rowing on the Nile near the Pyramids of Egypt page 11 » 26 August 2007 page 9 Ro w i n g Voice tables etc. from club to field. Visit printers re: become so. Quite quickly. Umpires arrive and watched us building them all programme, back to regatta field to site mobile in good humour. Crews register – 3 separate night, and cannot have had any loos, PA, arrange working party to run water ladies declare themselves to be tearfully concern at to my ability to recog- pipes and electricity cable over from club house. grateful for my help in accepting their entry nize them. They’d better hope I o Arrange collection of rolls for BBQ. Set money. Tea is brewed despite leak in tea tent do not see them, as there may be up kitchen & bar area, also control tent with and we’re off. 5 minutes late on the first race an impromptu swimming lesson computer etc. Organise & collect jigsaw on doesn’t bode well, but we’re back on track coming up... hire to complete final touches to landing stages. almost immediately. We recover and the landing Straw bales used for seating arrive. o The morning passes with precious little stages are soon finished. Only o Pressgang two club members into being drama. A couple of hysterical ladies and a marquee, control-tent, water security tonight. grumpy sculler (hit the bank) but not a lot else. cables, and an armoured 3-phase o Visit printers who’ve got in a muddle over Worryingly smooth! electricity cable to go. The latter programme. o Fortunately in mid-afternoon we have the lives on a reel in the boathouse, o Back to regatta field to arrange for pit to be classic occurrence. Lea crews have done well, and needs to unrolled and dug for sink outflows. Check with suppliers that they’re racing in 4 out of the next 3 divisions. dragged across to the meadow. pots are on their way. They want to re-arrange a race against Poplar. Unrolling it always makes me o Visit local cash ‘n carry to pick required goods Poplar, however, are in 5 of the next 4 but feel like what I imagine Roman and arrange for them to deliver. BBQ on hire may be able to move if Maidstone will play. slaves felt like. arrives. Local brewery arrives with beers! Cash Maidstone are happy but only if Sudbury can Finish unrolling, and emerge ‘n carry delivery arrives – sort supplies. move their VIII..... blinking into the bright sunshine o Arrange for rolls to be filled, clingfilmed and o They sort themselves out without my from the dark recesses of the labelled. Phone printers re: programme. Await interference and we finish almost EXACTLY boathouse, sweating buckets. evening security: home by 9pm. on time, thanks in no small measure to our own Saturday 4th August, D-Day. o Printers deliver programmes at 9:15pm. Vet VIII rowing into the weeds. I am as burnt Everything goes well, carry- Collapse in heap with glass of wine. as toast and have been on my feet for 12 hours ing on the theme which has (owing to the schoolboy error of not pinching been present all week. Dare we Saturday 4th August, D-Day. sufficient chairs). God BLESS the umpires, o [AB] Portentous music, muffled timpani believe that we really are getting competitors and all club members who kept quite good at this lark? The build rolls.... Actually nasty hard work loading car up their cool while all about them (ie me) were with pooter and Control Tent nonsense. Forget up to and the running of the losing theirs. regatta are good fun, in a “once a scales. Arrive 6:55 am and NO-ONE is there. o [TMcG] Sun hot, wind cooling, racing good, o year kind of way”. Find one willing worker (appropriately named programme running to time. Beer, Pimms Will) who helps take prophylactic covers off It’s not exactly a Royal event & BBQ selling well. SRC ladies win lots of (the best patron we can boast is control tent while I genuflect to the goddess races, all’s right with the world! of radio microphones and set up the comms. I a Lord of the realm) but good could have his babies but he is not willing. Odd Sunday 5th August, D-Day + 1. nonetheless, and it’s very satisfy- chap really. o [AB] Drink wine donated by grateful entry ing that so many competitors o First crews try to register at 7:55 and we’re not ladies. took the trouble to tell us that quiiiiiiiiiite ready.... But strangely enough, we o Consider how to empty bin. they had enjoyed their day. Ne w s Bradford new head Bradford on Avon RC’s new Rowers on the high seas addition to the racing calendar, their autumn head race, will be It’s a surprisingly quiet time on the world’s big On 2nd January 2008 the second John Fairfax held on Saturday 15th Septem- waves at present. Nevertheless there are three Atlantic Rowing Regatta (Gran Canaria to ber, over approx. 1500 metres rowers on the Pacific Ocean: Roz Savage (11 Antigua in 1x, 2x, 3x and 4x) will start. upstream. days out, California to Australia); Ralph Tujin (161 days out, Peru to Cairns Australia); and Er- For those interested, the last in a series of They are starting with an den Eruc (44 days out, California to Australia). ocean-rowing seminars will take place at the invitation-only event while Southampton Boat Show on September 14th: they test their space and facili- oming up in November we have Leven details from www.oceanrowing.com. ties available, though in future Brown’s attempt to beat the team and it looks set to become a small overall Atlantic crossing record, in the open head race. shellC which did it last time, La Mondiale (pic- tured, right). If that works, he plans to break Four divisions, maximum 30 the Pacific record in 2008 and the Indian Ocean boats in each, and maybe a record in 2009. La Mondiale will be racing cross-country run for those against a crew of four in a multihull ocean who want Sunday exertcise. rowboat, ORCA, which is the first of its type to Those interested should con- make the attempt. There will be a further run at tact Donal Casey via email: the team record by Simon Chalk in December [email protected]. 2007. The Enclosure in the Sky page 9 » 26 August 2007 page 9 Ro w i n g Voice Virtual BUSA Th e En c l o s u r e in t h e Sk y BUSA are launching a new indoor racing programme for Pinches, purveyor of medals universities this coming season, lthough he was a successful oarsman, title at the Games. Their gold medals were starting officially at the end of a decorated soldier and an author on manufactured by Pinches’ own firm, which had September 2007. The six-event heraldry, John Pinches was perhaps been commissioned by the London Olympic SUPER8s series will see online best-knownA for administering his family’s organisers to provide medals for all the rowing and live head-to-head erg races medal-making business, which produced orders events. taking place from October to and decorations for overseas governments, February, followed by two live commemorative issues for much of the inches was captain of London Rowing finals in March. Commonwealth, and badges and insignia in Club in 1952 and did much to revive Britain. The business, which was founded its standard after the War. Ebullient and All races are just 1km, and large Penthusiastic, with a hearty laugh, he would in London by Pinches’ great-great uncle numbers of BUSA points are on sometimes urge his own crews along by offer to teams (of eight com- in 1840, had a distinguished reputation for manufacturing medals and metallic art until it shouting “Faster, Faster” as he himself strained petitors) who do well. The first at the oars. He continued rowing competitively (October) round is online only, was sold to the Franklin Mint of Philadelphia, USA, in 1969. until he was 60 years-old, his last victory being and needs no special equipment. at Tours in France in an international veterans’ Rowers race 1km whenever they Born in Chelsea of an artistic family, Pinches regatta in 1976. As an international coach, he like, and log their times on an had joined the business after being educated at attended world and European championships, entry form which has to be in by the Chelsea Polytechnic and then undergoing as well as the 1960 Olympics in Rome, when 2nd November. two years’ engineering training with a London he was advising the coxless and coxed fours. Round 2 is live: eight ergs firm. Initially commissioned in the Second World War into the Duke of Wellington’s After the sale of the family firm in 1969, he hooked up together for a sprint and his wife, Rosemary, moved to Wiltshire. 1km, at the British Indoor Regiment, he was transferred to the R.E.M.E. because of his engineering qualifications. She had worked at the Royal College of Arms Champs in Birmingham on and subsequently had established her own November 18th. Rounds 3 and e served in North Africa, Palestine, heraldry and genealogy business, Heraldry 4 are also online in early 2008, Greece and Italy. On September 22, Today, in 1954. Together they wrote The then the top 16 teams are invited 1943, the British Army’s advance north Royal Heraldry of England in 1974 and then, to Sheffield for the March finals. wasH held up in Salerno by a lorry and anti-tank subsequently, he was the author, among other Full information at http://www. gun, which had broken down and was blocking books, of European Nobility and Heraldry concept2.co.uk/universities/ a bridge. Under enemy fire, with the parapet in 1994. He is survived by his wife and two Keep talking largely destroyed and so making him an easy daughters. target, Pinches pulled a heavy winch rope The online forum board Talk single-handed across the bridge to the damaged John Pinches, MC, oarsman, soldier, medallist Rowing, www.talkrowing.co.uk, vehicle. After securing the rope, he ran back to and author, born on April 9, 1916, and died on was relaunched over the sum- his men and ensured the obstacles were towed July 2, 2007, aged 91. mer, with a new look and site away. Pinches received the Military Cross — John Goodbody. design plus extra features such for his exploit. He subsequently served in the First published in the Times. as an RSS feed, photo gallery, occupation of Austria before being demobilised blogs and product reviews. as Lieutenant-Colonel. In Memoriam: Old posts from the last year have His rowing career had been flourishing before In April, former Emanuel School and Civil been reinstated, and the forum the War. He was a member of the London Service/Cygnet boatman Roy Davis. search system is now working Rowing Club crews, which won events at 19 May, Chris Lewis, former President (1979- very well to find expired topics. Henley for four successive years from 1935, 1991) of Cantabrigian RC, after a long illness. Beware of the usual morass of including the Grand Challenge Cup, the leading 21 May, Bill Richardson of Bradford on Avon kindergarten nonsense and filth race for eights at the Regatta, in 1938. In Rowing Club, after a short and sudden illness. on some boards, though, at least 1947, together with Edward Sturges, he won In May, former Bedford RC President John until the moderators see it. Un- the Silver Goblets for pairs, after a semi-final Smith, and Nottingham & Union member fortunately most public forum victory over Thames by six feet, one of the most Harry Billyeard. boards in rowing seem destined memorable at the Regatta of that decade. 10 June, former Clydesdale RC member Mary to be taken over by the toddler Collins, junior national champion in 1975, mentalities from time to time. He was later approached by the Amateur Rowing Association (ARA) to ask if he peacefully after a long illness. 26 June, Kingston RC and Skiff Club member Voice worlds updates would make up a crew with Richard Burnell, subsequently rowing correspondent for The Bryan ‘Jonesey’ Jones, suddenly. The Rowing Voice will be pro- Times and The Sunday Times, for the 1948 In June, Remenham Club Hon Treasurer ducing regular updates from the Olympics, which were to be held on the Henley Ralph Scott. world championships in Munich course. However, Pinches said he would only 2 July, London RC stalwart and Goblets win- during the week of 26th August do so if there were proper trials, something ner John Pinches, peacefully at home. to 2nd September. Check back that was not customary in that era. The ARA In August, Bob Robinson, Leander Club jani- every couple of days for the declined. Instead, it paired Burnell with Bert tor and John Scott, Leander house manager of latest news. Bushnell, who subsequently won the pairs Leander from 1972-1979. More obituaries and news page 11 » 26 August 2007 page 11 Ro w i n g Voice McBUSA or bust? Allister Bowtell, sculptor, Following the announcement earlier this season that the Not- tingham national watersports model maker, oarsman centre at Holme Pierrepont was llister Bowtell, who died of prostate cancer counteract the neighbourly blast of Capital Radio. already booked up by another last SEptember aged 66, was a fine sculp- He lectured part time at Wimbledon School of sport for next year’s BUSA Ator, an exuberant model maker for televi- Art (1966-70) and the London College of Print- dates (3-5 May 2008), specula- sion and films, and a larger than life character who ing (197478). He was production designer of the tion has been rife within the became a stalwart of the boat club at Chelsea Arts film Sir Henry at Rawlinson’s End (1980), made student rowing community as Club, and a vice-president of Vesta. When chair- by Vivian Stanshall of the Bonzo Dog Doo Dah to where their favourite BUSA man of Chelsea Arts, he achieved the feat of being Band. He endeared himself to the cast - including pot-fest will end up. hauled before his own disciplinary committee. He Trevor Howard, the star - by carrying an emergen- was also a leading light of the London Sketch Club. cy basket of drinks for anyone overcome by thirst. Unfortunately there are limited numbers of multi-lane lakes His best-known recent work was the bronze he advent of computer simulation greatly which can accommodate the sculpture of two children playing, commissioned reduced the demand for TV props, but vast numbers of students, by the Cadogan Estate for the Sloane Square TAllister’s career as a serious sculptor ex- boats and trailers involved in a refurbishment in London. He made the statues of panded around this time. He worked in terracotta, fully-fledged regatta, and none Melpomene and Euterpe for Oxford’s Bodleian bronze, wood, fibreglass and resin. He had many of them is as central as Not- Library. In contrast, for television he made models private and public commissions, and was elected tingham. for Dr Who, including the original cybermen, and to the Royal Society of British Sculptors in 2001. an edible bunch of flowers for Benny Hill. He made Nigel Mayglothling, Chairman Rod Hull’s emu, and Tweedledum and Tweedledee For his last six months he was in and out of Trinity of BUR (British Universities for Jonathan Miller’s Alice. He made props for Hospice, Clapham, where he held court for his Rowing), has started contract Monty Python and The Goodies, and body moulds friends from a room decorated with his postcards discussions with Strathclyde for The Joys of Sex. of nude royals. He was generous, a gentleman, Park, Glasgow’s international- lived life to the full, smoked and was up for most standard rowing lake, raising the is most notorious commission was a things of a bibulous nature. More than 200 friends possibility that the regatta might 3.3 metre (10ft) penis for the Raymond saw him off, following his hearse along Putney temporarily shift north of the HRevuebar; the girls had to dance around it. embankment. Border. It was made in a friend’s back garden in Putney as there was no room in his studio, and when finished, Allister Edmund Ross Bowtell, sculptor, film de- Apparently the canny potential it was too heavy to lift. It had to be made lighter by signer and model maker, born June 2 1940; died hosts have spotted the impact removing the armature inside it, but Allister was too September 20 2006. a 1000-entry, three-day regatta can have on the local economy. large to do this himself. A slim art student wriggled — Caroline Richmond It remains to be seen if ceilidhs inside the model and dislodged the material. She Previously published in the Guardian then needed assistance in getting out - which was, and bagpipes will be enough to as Allister so aptly remarked, an unusual case of lure all the southern universities getting the girl out of the phallus. They then had Jonesey remembered up to Scotland for a full bank to load the item on a lorry. A specially hired crane holiday in the middle of the summer examination term. hauled the mighty replica over the rooftops, causing ingston Rowing Club and the Skiff a stir. It was said property prices rose in Putney that Club suffered a sad loss in June with day. the sudden death of Bryan Jones, Cotswold lake brewing Allister was born in Sheen, Surrey, the son of a knownK to one and all affectionately simply as A new water facility is being doctor. He took after his maternal grandfather, Al- ‘Jonesey;. developed at Cleveland Lakes in the Cotswolds, with hopes lardice Arnott, who had been Lily Langtry’s private Jonesey had been a member of the tgwo clubs that it can first be used in April secretary. His mother died when he was six months for fifty years, going back to their days at the 2008. British Universities old, killed by the only bomb that fell on the suburb. Albany boathouse on the Lower Ham Road. Rowing has been liaising with She had put Allister under the stairs, and he was un- He will be remembered for many things, but Aggregate Industries, who are scathed. He was educated at King’s College school, particularly for htis unquenchable enthusiasm extracting gravel from the site, Wimbledon, where he excelled at art. Breaking his on the river and unique camaraderi in the bar and the Cotswolds Water Park accountancy articles, he become a trainee TV cam- off it. He was part of the ‘Leviathan’ group Society, to turn the lake into a eraman with Rediffusion before entering Chelsea as recently as June 2007, and was often seen proper rowing and sporting fa- Art School as a mature student in 1961 . with a wing-mirror on his cap steering a cox- cility. 2km of rowable water is less four or pair with his friend Dennis Moore. He shared a small house, Bleak House, in Putney, envisaged, with the potential to on the Thames embankment, and when he needed In addition to his efforts on the water, he was turn it into a six-lane racing and help he employed regulars from the Bricklayers also a keen cyclist and runner, sharing all these training location which would Arms, He rowed for the Vesta Rowing Club and activities with blind members of the club. He be available to visiting crews for gave legendary parties on Boat Race day. will be greatly missed and fondly rmemebered. the 2012 Olympics. Canoeing He later moved to a workshop under the railway and dragon-boating clubs have arches in Putney, playing Verdi and Wagner to —from Richard Rowland and David Biddulph also been consulted.

Messing about in Giza page 12 » 26 August 2007 page 12 Ro w i n g Voice Engelmann out A row on the Nile

Kathleen Saville and her late husband umpteenth time, I wonder why a woman just can’t Curtis rowed the Atlantic from row a boat in this country without some sort of Casablanca to Antigua in 1981 and the comment from the surrounding shore. Pacific from Peru to Australia in 1984. Clumps of water lilies float by the boat. A working felucca crosses the river ahead of me, She now lives in Cairo and rows twice a ferrying people to the Giza side from Gezira week on the more placid Nile waters. Island. I row on, entranced by the smooth motion of the oars: in and out of the water. The waves are he Egyptian Rowing Club is on the west minimal with barely a ripple. bank of the Nile in the Cairo suburb of With perfect timing, just Doqqi. It is one of many Nile-side sporting Then, 25 minutes later, I reach Midan Kit Kat. Tand social clubs. To the northeast by five miles, is As I row alongside the old wooden houseboats, after the publication of the third issue of the Row- the Giza Plateau where the Old Kingdom pyramids evocative of times past with their faded exteriors, ing Voice, the news that of Kheops, Khefren, Kufu and their assorted I imagine scenes from Naguib Mahfouz’s Adrift Thorsten Engelmann, the mustabas are located. I’m not rowing exactly in on the Nile. I look to see the bohemian water stroke of the winning 2007 the shadow of the great pyramids but they aren’t pipe smokers on lattice balconies of the two story Cambridge Blue Boat and too far away. The taxi to the ERC goes along the houseboats as I paddle past. The river is narrow heaviest man ever to row Nile on the island of Gezira where I teach at the at this point because Gezira Island intersects the in the Boat Race, was to be American University in Cairo. We pass the great river and divides the Nile into a calm, flat-water denied his Blue. The tall mosque in Midan Kit Kat on the Giza side and canal where I am rowing, and a mid-size river German’s sin was to drop many old houseboats that are tied up along the with regular boat traffic on the other side. The out of his BA course a Giza shoreline and are still in use. current feels strangely lethargic at this point in the river. couple of weeks after this The Egyptian Rowing Club consists of two year’s race. He informed buildings; a modern one with a marble facade and pposite a rowing club with Empacher Cambridge’s coach, an old floating wooden boathouse. Below the open eights lying in slings on the docks on Duncan Holland, of his dining terrace in the modern building, in a garage- Gezira island, I decide to turn around and plans when Holland was like area, is where some of the newer fiberglass startO rowing back to the ERC. Off my port oar is a visiting the German trials racing shells are housed. The older rowing shells, strange black fuzzy thing in the water. On closer to see how Engelmann and mainly wood, are in the attached blue and white, inspection, I see it is a man’s wig! A toupee, Sebastian Schulte were two story wooden boathouse. When I come into perhaps? I imagine the circumstances of its arrival doing. (6 and 5 in the Ger- club, I head for the wooden boathouse looking for into the waters of the Nile: a man strolling with man men’s eight now.). Magdy, one of the boat club assistants. I check his wife or girlfriend one hot summer’s evening Engelmann earned a Light with Magdy that a boat is available and that he can when suddenly a gust of wind lifts the toupee off Blue with 2006 Cam- help me get it on the water. Mohamed, the keeper and he is cooler than he wants to be on top. of keys, unlocks the women’s locker room where bridge crew. This year As I anticipate, the row back is hard. The ‘canoe’ I change. the 26-year-old had been is an antique by any rower’s standard. The canoe’s studying economics as hen I come out, Magdy is pulling the overlapping board design tracks well in the a mature undergraduate ‘canoe’ out for me with a helper. I carry passive flow of river water, but I feel the weight when he took the deci- my own oars. Initially I didn’t like the of each nail and board as I push the oar handles sion to drop out, no doubt Widea of someone carrying my boat and holding it over my knees and drop the blades in the water. related to his Olympic for me while I got in. But I’ve changed. Is it going Here is where the real workout begins. ambitions with Germany. with the culture? Besides, the canoe is an old When I get back to the boat club, hot and tired, lapstrake rowing shell that weighs a lot, and the Cambridge University Magdy and his assistant are waiting to grab my dock is high above the Nile. Boat Club chose to show starboard oar. I undo the port oarlock, put my their displeasure at his The current flows north at a fairly strong pace. right foot on the footrest and lift myself up and breach of the race’s guide- One could almost sit and steer a rowboat and out of the boat. How many times have I done that lines – that all competitors easily arrive at Midan Kit Kat not long after over the years? I carry my oars into the boathouse should be in statu pupillari someone who is rowing. I have to keep this in while Magdy follows with the canoe. and committed to their mind, because the row back to the ERC can be After a coldwater shower in the dark recesses of courses – by denying him hard and long against the north flowing current. his 2007 Blue. There was the women’s changing room, I go topside for a tall something of a quiet furore All my years of rowing in college and at the lemonade and Egyptian baladi salad. While the after this was announced, Narragansett Boat Club in Rhode Island come call to prayer echoes in the background, perhaps with members of Oxford back to me as I row along. Despite all the miles from the mosque in Midan Kit Kat, I have lunch University Boat Club I’ve rowed in singles, I still like the double and overlooking the Nile in the bright sunshine of the questioning the validity of four better. The current whips under the bridges afternoon. After I finish lunch, I wave goodbye the 2007 race. A footnote as I head towards Kit Kat. Occasionally a kissy to Magdy and company, pick up my workout bag is likely to be added to the sound reaches me from the bridges. I don’t even and head out to the Metro for home. race records. have to look to know who and why. For the ©Kathleen Saville, Maadi June 2007 Surf rowing - why? Two flatwater rowers explain page 13 » 26 August 2007 page 13 Ro w i n g Voice Be careful when entering the Fours Head reminder to those plan- Aning to enter the Fours Head on 3rd November: the entry rules have changed this year. In order to preserve fair competi- tion while maintaining the atmosphere of the current event, the organ- isers have toughened up Mad about a buoy the eligibility. Andy Cox investigates what on earth makes starts (jumping into a stationary boat), turns and otherwise sensible rowers take to the surf o No senior internation- the finish (leaping out of the boat and sprinting to als of the last four years a flag.) We also had safety instruction concerning can enter anything other oing for a row on the river with friends: what to do if the boat rolled over.” than Elite events; hard work, for sure, but not exactly life- o all sweep crews in threatening. So what possesses otherwise Saturday was race day and there was plenty of every standard must sensibleG people to race a boat weighing over 200kg surf with sets just over head height. “I didn’t have at least two points out through heaving surf, turn a buoy on the distant expect the racing to be so intense,” he admits. “It per crew both when horizon, and compound the lunacy by trying to catch was a lot harder than I anticipated and the heats entered and on race day, and then ride a wave back into the beach? came around much quicker – by the end of the day, it had taken its toll.” while SARA clubs must Saturday 28 July saw the UK Open Surfboat provide evidence of Championships held at Saunton Sands on the What about being in surf? “It makes for standard; beautiful north Devon coast. Among the 36 entered adrenaline-packed, really close racing. If a boat o women’s elite coxed teams were the usual suspects from the various Surf starts to pull away, I expected it would stay ahead fours are scrapped, to be Life Saving Clubs (SLSCs). What may come as a as it wouldn’t be possible to row it down. It only replaced with women’s surprise was that roughly a third of the crews came takes one big wave, however, for first place to senior 2 coxless fours; from established and respected flat water clubs, become last place. There was absolute carnage o no composites in sen- including Marlow, Molesey, Nottingham & Union out there at times.” ior 3 coxed events; o all coxes must be born and Cambridge CCAT. What were they doing there? e accepts there is a whole new skill set in 1991 or earlier unless to learn. “I hadn’t anticipated just how Flo Davey-Atlee began her rowing career in they receive permission critical the turns can be. The boats turn surfboats. This year, she raced in the Blue Boat for to race under-age. Oxford and trialled for the GB U23 team. Home is in reallyH quickly and obviously, the sooner you can o And there will no row around the buoy to catch a wave in, the better Cornwall, however, which means that in the summer longer be any opportu- your chances of winning. The other thing that months she competes for Perranporth SLSC and nity to declare subs at caught me out was jumping out of the boat at the is uniquely qualified to offer an opinion: “Rowing Thames RC: all those end and sprinting up the beach to the finish flag. in surf gives you a completely different kind of wishing to substitute on In one race, my legs were just shot to pieces and I adrenaline kick to the speed of flat water rowing. It’s the day must do so in did a face-plant in the sea. Thankfully, so did the really exciting, every race is different. It’s a whole person at Chiswick Pier. new challenge.” She pauses, considering the issue, guy I was racing.” Coaches are reminded before adding: “There’s also the whole lifestyle What chance the sport becoming more popular that they must have de- thing, hanging out at the beach. It’s just fun.” for flat water clubs especially given the moves to clared cox substitutions bring over to Europe the best professional teams he acknowledges that there is a greater chance as well: any undeclared from Australia who race in the Ocean Thunder of injury. “When the surf is over head height, subs will be disqualified series? With a televised contest mooted for I’ll always wear a helmet but it’s the risk that and the club’s eligibility Smakes it fun.” She agrees that if you want to race a September 2008 in Biarritz, south-west France, to enter the 2008 race would there be interest in becoming involved? surfboat, you just have to accept that there will be may be impaired. the odd bump and bruise. Flo does not take much convincing. “I’d love to The 2007 Fours Head is be part of that.” As for Ed: “There’s always been a Ed Boyns is a member of Molesey Boat Club and at 10:30am on Saturday special rivalry between the Aussies and the Poms, trialled for the GB lightweight senior team earlier 3rd November. Entries regardless of the context in which it is set. The this year. He also raced at Saunton as a member of may close early if 550 Aussies consider themselves the best surf rowers the Twickenham RC and Molesey Convicts crew. paid OARA entries are in the world because of the sport’s popularity in “The whole weekend was just brilliant and different received before the their country, but every dog has its day and Brits to what I expected. On the Friday, the novices were closing date. taken to some flat water and shown the basic drills of thrive as underdogs. I’d love to be involved.”

Voice Rant and Holiday Planner page 14 » 26 August 2007 page 14 Ro w i n g Voice HOLIDAY PLANNER RANT August 25 Gloucester Regatta REPECHAGES IN THE DOCK 25 Torbay Royal Regatta “A question to the organisers of this year’s National 26 Bristol Avon Regatta Championships in Nottingham: why do you run a repechage 26 Ross Veteran & Junior Regatta system? Is it to allow the slower crews in the semi-finals a 26 Port of Bideford Regatta second chance to be soundly beaten in the final, or is it to 26 Aberdeen Sprint Regatta ensure that the six fastest crews contest the final? If the 26-Sep 2 World Champs/Olympic qualifying, Munich answer is the latter, which it surely must be, then one has to 27 Ross Regatta ask why, following the abandonment of racing on Friday, you 27 Northampton Regatta peremptorily cancelled the repechages for places in semi-finals 30 Port of Dartmouth Royal Regatta that had already taken place during the white horse conditions September of the morning. 1 North of England Sprint Champs It would be helpful perhaps to recap the events prior to the 2 Lea Autumn Regatta abandonment of racing. For the whole of the morning, the 6-8 EUSA championships, Girona skies had been grey and there had been a strong following 6-9 World Masters, Zagreb wind causing white horses to run down the entire course. At 8 Great River Race, London lunchtime, however, the wind increased markedly and was 8 South Coast Championships, Dorney joined by torrential rain. The course then settled into rolling 8 Worcester Autumn Regatta waves that were large enough so that on occasion one could 8 Mike Spracklen lecture, River & Rowing Museum see daylight beneath the hulls of the boats racing. The events 15 Bradford Autumn Regatta being rowed in these appalling conditions were the WJ14 and 16 Boston Marathon (Lincs) WJ15 coxed quads. 16 Upton Regatta & Head 21-23 European Championships, Poznan It is a great credit to all the girls in these crews that they 22 Isis Sculls battled valiantly through the conditions and for the most part 22 Stirling Head reached the finish without major mishap. There were of course 22 Stourport Vets & Juniors Head exceptions and the second semi-final of the WJ15 4x+, during 22 Yare Cup which Henley had established a lead of four or five lengths over 22 York Sprint Regatta the rest of the field at 1500 meters, was one such example. 23 Monmouth Autumn Head It was at this point in the race that a particularly high roller 29 Wallingford Long Distance Sculls caused one of the girls to lose her blade handle altogether 29 Durham Primary Regatta resulting in the boat coming to an abrupt halt with the scull 29 Itchen Junior Regatta lodged vertically in the air. It took almost half a minute of 30 Maidstone Sculling Head struggling for the blade to be retrieved, after which the crew charged off in pursuit only to be beaten into third (and thus Look ahead into a repechage) by just three seconds. Soon after (perhaps 6 Oct Pairs Head (13:30) precipitated by this incident) racing was suspended and then 20 Rowing History Forum, River & Rowing Museum abandoned for the day. 25 Oct Wingfield Sculls, Tideway 3 Nov Fours Head (10:30) The Henley girls were of course downcast, but not distraught. They were confident that they would get to the final through 2008 the repechage. After all, the repechage system was designed 1 Mar Women’s Eights Head (10:00) specifically for situations such as this, wasn’t it? You can 4 Mar Schools’ Head, London imagine therefore the girls’ horror on hearing later that 5 Mar National Junior Sculling Head, Henley evening that there was to be no repechage. Instead the two 15 Mar Head of the River Race (9:30) fastest losers (both of course from the other semi-final) were to 23 Mar Henley Boat Races go through. 29 Mar Oxford v Cambridge Boat Race (17:15) I know that the National Championship organisers would say 3-5 May BUSA Regatta, venue tba that they had to make compromises. And they obviously did 9-11 May World Cup no. 1, Munich have to cut inessential races and make others into timed 23-25 May National Schools Regatta, Nottm eliminators to accommodate all the races that had been missed. 30 May-1 Jun World Cup no. 2, Poznan But surely they should not have cut the repechages for races 15-18 Jun Final Olympic qualif. regatta that had already been rowed on the basis that there was a 20-22 World Cup no. 3, Lucerne repechage? Doing this just shows the repechage system to be 20-22 Jun Henley Women’s Regatta the charade it is. To be fair to everyone, the system should 2-6 Jul Henley Royal Regatta either be scrapped and replaced with timed eliminators, or be 17-20 World Under-23 Champs, Brandenburg made to work as it was surely intended.” 18-20 Jul Nat Champs, Nottm 22-27 Jul World junior & non-Oly Champs, Linz Graham Lloyd contributed this issue’s RANT. To have a go 9-17 Aug Olympic Regatta, Beijing too, email [email protected]. Kindly keep it short.

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