News Archive 2010
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Henley
Regatta Picnic - Meet by the riverbank in
Henley (near The Barn) from 10.00am, Pimms & picnic to
share.
A great day out watching the world’s best rowers in action.
- Friday 1st July -
Please let
Kay know if you’re coming along |
GGBC riverside picnic - great weather,
great company, great rowing |
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 Royal Barge
gets helping hand from GGBC..... picture
the scene... Child Beale boat show, thousands of eager boat
lovers lining the bank, and a huge 10 man rowing boat to
propel around the lake..... definitely a job for the GGBC
crews.The boat wasn't quite what we are used to.... fixed
seats, huge oars, minimal stroke length, and sat side by
side (ideal for chatting).
Saturday went without a hitch - superb weather - but
Sunday was rather damp! All crews rose to the challenge and
we even did a couple of laps of honour to round off the
event.
Many thanks to Edward for inviting us to row...
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Regatta Crew
T-Shirts - GGBC have negotiated a very special
deal for our crews this year...... Cavaliers of Reading are
doing a cut price deal just for our crews. Choice of logos
on the front plus your crew name on the rear..... a great
way to celebrate the regatta and your crew's achievements.
Full range of colours and sizes
Choice of stunning logos
Just
download the form, choose your colour, sizes, logo and
add your crew name....and send it off to Cavaliers - Look as
good as you row..... |
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GoRow proves
a great success - 12 total beginners visited the
club on Saturday....and left just a few hours later having
competed on both the ergs and fine eights! A fantastic
achievement that involved a great deal of stamina and mental
concentration.... The session started with a safety brief,
and some expert DVD instruction on the basic stroke....then
straight onto the ergs for some one to one tuition.
 In
no time our participants were rowing on the machines in
perfect time......so we introduced the 'hang and suspend
exercise to increase the stroke power.
How important that extra power was soon became apparent -
It was out onto the lawn for the famous GGBC erging
challenge. A team relay over 1600m. The competitive element
soon became to the fore......with each crew member keen not
to let their team down. A very close race and an excellent
warm-up for the main event.
Erging Champions
First tentative strokes
At GGBC we value skill as well as
speed....so with this in mind our crews took their first few
strokes in an eight. Under the expert guidance of Matt and
Chris the crews they soon progressed.....and were in no time
rowing as a crew....although the timing was somewhat
individual! |
Crews competition in the fewest strokes skill test
.... looking impressive
Head to head racing over 500m was the final
challenge..... a racing start, and firm pressure. A close
race right to the line, a no one caught a crab!
The winning crew
Winning head to head crew celebrate
The top 'Chopping' crew - great skills....no speed!
A really enjoyable afternoon on the river -
new skills , new friends, some great teamwork and a
fantastic Stu BBQ! Many thanks to Stu and the GGBC
volunteers for all their hard work.
If you'd like to be part of the next GoRow
event please
drop us a line. |
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Learn2Rowers make the grade -
12 beginners set out on the latest Learn2Row course in
April....and after just seven gruelling sessions they all
graduated in style.... a fantastic achievement.
From humble beginnings in the rowing tank at Oxford
the crews progressed under the watchful eye of coaches Stu
and Geoff.
Confidence drills are a key aspect of the course....but I
don't recall hands free rowing being part of British Rowing
Technique! |
The final session - head to head racing over a 500m course -
more tension than an Olympic final!
The Winning crew celebrate ..... but at GGBC everyone is
a winner. The next Learn2Row course is already
underway....if you'd like to join at a future course then
please
email. |
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Learn2Rowers graduate in style |
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Regatta Posters now Available for Download -
featuring superb original artwork by club member Bexy
Butcher
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Bexy's original artwork |
Poster 1 -
A4,
A3
Mole & Toad |
Poster 2 -
A4,
A3
Ratty & Badger |
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Car Stickers and fliers too....
Car Stickers -
A4 |
Flier -
A4 |
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Regatta Entries - Last few
entries being accepted for coxed 4 events. The entry system
remains active, but we have a limit of 50 crews, and once we
exceed this we will have to suspend entries, and possibly
place crews on a waiting list. Plenty of Dongola and Single
Scull entries available! STOP PRESS
- Restricted four entries are now CLOSED...we've reached 50
crews. |
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Want to
give rowing a go? Come and
join our GoRow day on:
Saturday 4th June, 2pm-6pm
This
course provides the ideal opportunity to get to grips with
the basics of rowing and to have some fun on the river. The
event is aimed at complete beginners who want to give rowing
a go.
In four
hours you'll be fast tracked through the basic technique
using rowing machines through to rowing in a four or eight. Just £15 reserves you a place on what is
bound to be a very popular event. For more details see our
GoRow web
page.
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UPDATE -
Fully booked with a waiting list! We hope to run a second
GoRow day in the summer.
Email to be added to our mailing list |
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Coupe de Dames / Messieurs -
8th & 9th October 2011. We've been invited once again to
compete in this annual event in sunny Angers, France. It's a
great weekend of rowing, parties, sight seeing and lots of
fun and laughter....and we are slowly creeping up the
rankings! |
If you'd like to come along please
drop us a line ASAP.....we'd like to get the travel
arrangements and hotels booked now so we can concentrate on
training for the big event. Full details can be found
here ... |
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COXES WANTED - we have
enthusiastic crews that need someone to steer them in the
right direction. If you'd like to cox at one of the Thames
valley's leading recreational clubs we'd be very happy to
hear from you. We don't require 5 days per week
commitment.....just one or two outings would be fantastic.
If you have experience and want to step down a level from
the rigors of competitive rowing or would like to learn the
craft of coxing from scratch we definitely have a need for
you.
We can offer you subsidised membership, quality
equipment, and a chance to make a real difference to our
diverse and every enthusiastic membership...... and of
course the opportunity to join our crews on our
international trips to compete in France!
GGBC can boast a current GB cox within it's membership so
there's definitely scope to reach the top!
If you're interested please
email |
Coxes - we need your help.... |
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Round the Island Head - highly
competitive.....and a little further than many of our rowers
expected (particularly those who didn't realise it was RTIH!).
6 scratch fours set off....and all returned - eventually!
Crew 1 setting off - and getting a well deserved third place
Crew 2 - Annie, Lisa, Sally & Roxane set the early pace
with an impress time of 11:55....only to be just beaten by
crew 3 - Jo, Emily, Sally & Lorraine. Crew 3 looked
confident that they'd done enough.....when the final crew
set off at an impressive rate. Crew six had a perfect turn
at the island and stormed home in just 10:48....over a
minute faster!
Winning crew - Sarah, Neil, Alastair and Fen
(parenthood is obviously a great way to keep fit!) |
Erg challenge in action.....looking good
The 1 minute erging competition was hotly
contended - Annie just retaining her title with 288m, with
Emily a close second at 283m. The guys managed a respectable
348m top score.....
No Round the Island event is complete without the
customary South African style BBQ....thanks to Stu. Superb
fuel for top athletes....and GGBC member alike.
Relaxing at the end of the day - the Cowen family +
Catherine
Thanks to everyone for come along - it was another great
event - impressive rowing, superb food and most importantly
excellent company. |
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Zac Purchase - Olympic GOLD
medallist and two times World Champion to present prizes at
this year's regatta.
 Zac
is one of Britain’s most talented and
inspirational athletes. He has has won a string
of titles throughout his 7 year career with Team
GB, making him the most successful British
Lightweight rower in history. At just 22
he won Team GB’s first Lightweight Olympic Gold
Medal in the Men’s Lightweight Double Sculls
with his rowing partner Mark Hunter in Beijing,
after an undefeated 2008 season.
Zac is on course for another successful World
Championship campaign in the build up to the
London 2012 Olympics. Learn more about Zac and
his progress during the year at
www.zacpurchase.com.
Come and meet Zac at the regatta.....and be
inspired.
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Regatta Gazebo Bookings - Every popular this a a great way to
book a prime spot on the river bank and buy your tickets in
advance. The gazebo pitches line the regatta course and give
families and friends and great base for the big day.
Email gazebo@goringgapbc.org.uk ......Last few available
Second Spring Course
28th May - 18 June
Book NOW to
avoid disappointment
FULLY BOOKED |
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Want to
give rowing a go? Come and
join our GoRow day on:
Saturday 4th June, 2pm-6pm
This
course provides the ideal opportunity to get to grips with
the basics of rowing and to have some fun on the river. The
event is aimed at complete beginners who want to give rowing
a go.
In four
hours you'll be fast tracked through the basic technique
using rowing machines through to rowing in a four or eight.
|
Just £15 reserves you a place on what is
bound to be a very popular event. For more details see our
GoRow web
page. |
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 Fancy
a Bike Ride? - then why not join the UptonnoGood
mountain bike event - 18th June 2011
For more details contact
info@uptonogood.org.uk
or visit the website
www.uptonogood.org.uk
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5 mile “little wheels” ride is
intended for families with young budding cyclists.
12 mile family ride is intended for
the families with older children
25 mile leisure ride includes some of
the best riding in the area
45 mile endurance ride is for
experienced riders wanting a full day in the saddle. |
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Pilates Course full...... a
dozen GGBC members have signed-up for a gruelling hour of
core strengthening exercises each Monday evening - they
should be easy to spot....they'll be the one who are finding
it hard to walk without pain! Just kidding..... come the
regatta you'll see 'six-packs' galore!
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Local Sporting Celebrity to
present prizes at Goring & Streatley Regatta....
Log on again soon to get full details! ...or if you can't
wait download a flier below! |
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Regatta Entry Opens - Get your
crews together for some intensive pre-regatta training and
the excitement of competing on the big day. Click on the box
below to enter the regatta:
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Advanced Tickets Sales - buy
your regatta tickets at a bargain price.....
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 The Round the Island Head
- is an annual event that no member should miss. This
year's spring event is to be held on
Sunday 15th May
at the Oratory Boathouse, from 10am-2pm.
This is a 'scratch' event - all crews are drawn out of the
hat on the day - so there's no need to find a crew.....just
turn up a row! The boats are the stable fours used at
the regatta.
The race is a timed event, the start and finish are at the
boathouse - all you need to do is row to the island, turn,
and row back. The best crews manage this in around 10
minutes. There's also an erg challenge....and of course the
famous Stu BBQ.
What better way to meet all your friends at the boat club
and enjoy the river?
Can you beat the record time set last year of 9min 19sec....
I doubt it but we'll have fun trying!
See you all there... |
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Bob Bushell becomes a Quad......
the newly refurbished Janousak 4+ has now been transformed
to a coxed quad thanks to the purchase a set of second-hand
riggers. This 85kg boat should compliment the existing 65kg
wooden quad and provide an excellent base for perfecting
those sculling skills. |
Touring Weekend - Sat 21st -
Sunday 22nd May. We've had lots of interest but there's
still room for a few more. If you fancy a couple of days on
the river and a night under the stars then get in touch -
email |
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Pilates - REVISED
DATES - GGBC has been running
a Pilates class for over a year....it's a fantastic way to
keep your core in tip top condition!
We're hoping to continue after Easter -
10 weeks starting on
MONDAY 9th May
7-8pm @ Goring Heath Village Hall
If you're interested in joining the class
drop us a line ASAP.
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Second Spring Course
28th May - 18 June
Book NOW to
avoid disappointment
Still a few places left |
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Dates for the Diary - lots of
exciting events to look forward to......
Regatta Entries open 2nd May - Now's the time to select
that winning crew and get ready to start training....
Round the Island Head Sunday 15th May - Our ever
popular scratch event racing against the clock.
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Touring Weekend
- Sat 21st - Sunday
22nd May – a trip up river to Moulsford and back with
overnight camping on an island.
Summer Ceildh - Saturday 11th June - tickets now on
sale Henley Regatta - Friday 1st July |
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Easter Sunday Launch
- the big day arrived, the sun shone, and a magnificent boat
was successfully craned into the river. Over 200 people
celebrated Iain Tolhurst's fantastic achievement.
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Extra Rowing - with Easter
Sunday out of boaunds this week we're organising an addition
club session on Easter Monday. Club session kicks off at
10am.....if we get enough people we might take an eight to
Goring and back.
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Boat Launching
- you may have noticed a new arrival at the boathouse.....a
rather impressive sailing boat! Well it's not a new GGBC
addition (if only) but the culmination of 12 years hard work
by Iain Tolhurst. The boat is due to be 'launched' on Easter
Sunday with the aid of a 100 ton crane .... due to the
health and safety concerns all rowing will be cancelled and
the site will be shut for the day.
Boathouse Site
CLOSED EASTER SUNDAY
There will be no access but there should be
great views from the opposite bank! Any questions, please
contact Iain Tolhurst, the boat owner, at
tolhurstorganic@yahoo.co.uk
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All set to take to the water on Easter Sunday |
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Learn2Row Course prove as popular as ever!
- the spring L2R starting on 23rd April is fully
booked......which we realise is a great disappointment to
many budding rowers. The demand for the GGBC courses has
once again outstripped the available places.....but don't
despair!
We are happy to announce a
Second Spring Learn2Row Course!
The course runs from 28th May through to 18th
June....every Saturday 10-12:30 & Wednesday evening
6-8pm.
Included is full GGBC membership....so there's a fully
summer to enjoy your new found sport! |
Second Spring Course!!
Book NOW to
avoid disappointment
UPDATE - 2 place snapped up already!
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Another 'New' Boat in the boathouse?
- not quite..... but she looks brand new! Bob Bushnell is
another boat that has been sidelined for a while whilst she
gets a broken rib repaired and a fully overhaul......But no
one expected a full professional respray!
Thanks to the efforts of Karen and Karl she now looks
superb. Still lots of work to complete the project but she
should be ready to take to the water in a couple of weeks.
Bob is a cox four Janousek - a really nice boat for the more
experience members and a great boat to progress to from the
restricted fours.
If anyone has a set of sculling riggers for a 1984 Jano we'd
love to hear from you..... she'd make a great coxed quad. |
Bob in action some time ago - can you name the cox and crew? |
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Jolly Roger takes to the water
- club members were keen to take out the 'new' boat and
enjoy the spring sunshine....the verdit - a superb craft!
Trolley and Cover bought with a generous grant
from the Waterways Trust |
Kirsten, Ros and a top cox take to the water |
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Explore
Rowing Summer Series events
- Row yourself to the home
of the World Rowing Junior
Championships on this
two-day challenge, rowing
from Reading to Dorney. It
will be a matter of strategy
as times will be accrued
over the length of the
journey and over several
sprint stages.
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Where Reading to Dorney
When 5 and
6 August
How far 24mi / 39km |
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 An
Old Friend returns - after an absence of 2 years
one of the club's oldest boats, a tub pair, returned to the
club . She has been lovingly restored to superb condition by
club member Roger Moore..... shown left reviewing his handy
work.
The only problem was how to get the boat from Ewelme to
Pangbourne..... the answer was simple.... row it.
No small task - Ewelme is 2 miles from the river! - but
15 miles, 4 locks and 4 hours later the boat was safely at
the boathouse..... |
We can report
that she is a great boat to row - fast and responsive but
also stable .... a great boat in which to start rowing or
work on technique or tour.
The tub being
manoeuvred into one of the many locks on the journey. We
also had Julia coxing.....but obviously someone had to
operate the locks and take the pictures..
The boat also has a new launch trolley and cover thanks
to the Waterways Trust grant.
And her name......... '~ JOLLY ROGER ~' ... take her for
a spin soon. |
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Row2Win course finishes on a high
- after weeks of high intensity training and expert advice
the Row2Win crew were ready to put into practice all their
new found skills. Guest coach John Truswell from Maidenhead
RC was on hand to provide the crews with advice on race
strategy and planning...... it certainly paid off. The
crew worked through a carefully constructed warm-up regime,
turned at Pangbourne meadow, and then repeated their usual
2000m course down to Mapledurham....... the result was a new
record time of just 7min 40 sec.....some 25 second faster
than their previous best! An outstanding result....come
Angers in October they should be flying over the 15km course
in less than a hour!
Many thanks to all who helped with another highly
successful course - in particular our guest coaches whose
advice was invaluable. |
Of course there were the much prized Row2Win mugs for
all....
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Regatta Gazebo Pitches
Booking now open
Reserve your pitch today
Email Nick at
Gazebo@goringgapbc.org.uk
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Waterways Trust Grant - GGBC
have been very fortunate to receive a fantastic grant from
the Waterways Trust. We've purchased a trolley and cover for
the old GGBC tub (lovingly restored by Roger), some extra
life jackets, and the boat trailer recently purchase from
Tiffin School. |
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 Exciting
New Social Event - Goring Tennis Club and GGBC
have joined forces to put on a spectacular........
Summer Ceildh
Saturday 11th June
7:30-11:30
Goring Village Hall.
Includes supper and of course access to a
licensed bar.
Tickets are just £15 and can be obtained
from Sys or
Ros |
Learn2Row as popular as
ever... after just three days 6 of the 12 L2R places
have already been snapped up....don't hesitate send off your
application form now.
Update - Fully Booked |
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Sport England Survey - every
wondered how rowing compares to other national sports? Well
you can now find out - see their finding
here |
MiLifestyle - GGBC can offer corporate membership to
MiLifestyle - access to gyms, swimming pools, racket sports,
cycling, athletics etc run by Reading Borough Council - see
poster for fully details. |
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Row2Win course producing great results
- After 8 weeks of strenuous training and some expert
coaching the octuple is really starting to move at speed.
This new boat is proving very popular and should provide the
basis of some excellent scullers within the club. Many thanks to
Anne Richardson and Fraser Brown for their expert guest
coach appearances.... it's always useful to have a fresh
pair of eyes reviewing the crew's performance.
Our ultimate goal is to compete.....but unfortunately
octuples are not raced in the UK! However they are very
popular in France - so we'll be training through out
the year for our annual trip to Angers or Paris (any excuse
for a weekend away!).
Just a couple more session to go..... so don't be alarmed
if you're walking along Pangbourne meadow and a blurs of
blades glide past at breakneck speed....it's just a Row2Win
crew in action. |
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Regatta 'Call for entries' poster download
- now available..... time to encourage your friends and
colleagues to form a crew for this years regatta. Print off
a copy and display at work, at the gym etc. Entries open
online 2nd May 
Poster
1,
2,
3,
4,
5 |
British Summertime - with the
clocks going forward so the Thursday club sessions get
underway. Thursday 5:30/6pm
- dusk
It's time to put all that winter training to
good use....and get into a boat and row! Hope to see you on
the river soon. |
GGBC Erge
Champion - club secretary Karen Ruffler is a
winner......of a top erging competition in Windsor. Up
against some top rowers from the forces Karen managed to
beat all comers with a spectacular 295m in just one minute.
Obviously all that Row2Win training and letter writing
has toned Karen's body to perfection..... |
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NOTE -
2011 Regatta Date Change - Sat 23rd July |
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Learn2Row
course open for bookings - The spring 2011 L2R
course has been finalised and will run from the 23rd April
to 14th May - every Saturday morning and Wednesday evening.
It's bound to be popular so get your application in the post
now to avoid disappointment.
Click
here for full details
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Club member runs for WaterAid -
Nicola Stilwell is training hard to raise money in the
Reading Half Marathon in March.
If you'd like to help her fund raising activities please
go to
http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/NicolaStilwell
Nicola is a regular at our Pilates sessions ..... so
we're hoping her super core strength will bring her home in
record time. |
More Fund raising
- Sonning Common Primary School is organising
its 5th annual charity bike ride on Sunday 3rd April
2010. Among the charities is the Sue Ryder
Hospice. 100% of the entry fees are donated to the
nominated charities.
Choose from 6, 12 and 20 mile
marshalled routes, a supervised playground cycle and a
buggy friendly health walk. Register online at
www.onyourbikesonningcommon.co.uk. Ride entries are
£5 pp in advance or £7 pp on the day. Great fun for the
whole family.”
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Row2Win course
participants show great potential - Three
sessions into the intensive Row2Win course and already the
crews are bonding nicely. For many it's their first
experience of sculling let alone rowing in an octuple .....
so the progress is impressive to say the least.
The course sessions are structured to give
an hour of intensive coaching exercises followed by an hour
of vigorous pieces at race pace.... technique and fitness
are both essential in this course.
Our expert team of coaches are on hand to
guide the crews - be it in the super fast octuple or a
technical session in the tub under the watchful eye of
Stuart.
An integral part of the course in good
technique and as part of the fine tuning process we always
visit the rowing tank to brush up on the basics.
Tim showing how it should be done in the tank.
Combine all this with a mid session break
for tea, coffee and an energy giving bacon roll and you have
the perfect way to keep fit, enjoy the river and meet new
friends. |
Row2Win crew enjoying the winter sunshine.
The octuple in full flow |
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Row2Win - Last chance to join this ever
popular course - What better way to start the New
Year than get a regular workout on the river? Not only that
but also have some top quality coaching thrown in! The
course already has a good number of members signed
up.....but there's always room for more.
This year we intend to use the newly acquired octuple scull
for the course - a super fast boat and great fun to row.
It's also an excellent way to learn the sculling stroke
..... without fear of an early bath. |
Now's the time to act......give it a go,
it's great fun! |
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---------HAPPY
NEW YEAR------- |