Ice Skating anyone...?

Wallingford am results 4s

Wallingford am results 8s

Wallingford

Although Burway has been cancelled today it looks like Wallingford is going ahead.   As ever, the biggest battle at this time of year is keeping all the boys fit and healthy, and the cold weather and slippery conditions haven't helped.  Colts will field two eights in the J16 category in the afternoon division (unfortunately we've had to scratch one).  Upper Boats had planned to field two fours in the morning and afternoon from boys at the top end of the squad, with two eights in Intermediate 3 in the afternoon.  This will probably have to change a little, but hopefully not beyond scratching one of the fours in the afternoon.

If you're planning to come and support and if this 'thaw' continues, it will be very wet under foot by the river I suspect.  Wellies and flasks the order of the day!

Ed Nainby-Luxmoore wins award

Congratulations to Ed on winning the OCS Young Sports Person Award for 2010, which will provide a generous grant towards him pursuing his future ambitions in rowing.

Links to two articles (one on the BR site and one on OCS' site):
http://www.britishrowing.org/news/gb-rowing-teams-nainby-luxmoore-wins-ocs-sports-person-award

http://www.ocs.co.uk/

Braving the cold...

This weekend saw just the Junior Colts racing, at Hampton Small Boats Head.  Their top quad and double were respectably placed in the middle of their respective divisions.  Others were lower down, but then we are always playing 'catch up' in E block at this time of year, racing crews who have rowed for twice as long as us or even more.  This small group who have learnt the head racing ropes will have invaluable experience when joined by their rugby and soccer playing counterparts next half.

 

Meantime, Upper Boats have been touring the estate, rowing the Hudson VIIIs back to the Lake from Masters, where we were based before the Head of the Charles.  As the cold gains a grip it's into the big boats and on with the miles for Colts and Upper Boats, prior to racing at Wallingford this weekend (details on website).

A fine winter's day at the Lake

Remaining winter racing

This Saturday Junior Colts will race at Hampton, and a week on Sunday, Colts and Upper Boats will race at Wallingford (which might actually happen this year).  As ever, directions and links to draws can be found on our website, via the link above.

GB Early ID trials

No doubt the boys will be relieved to have got this out of the way for another year.  Let's face it, it's never a highlight.  Boston (Lincs) is about one of the least attractive parts of the country (unless you have an interest in the history of Bomber Command or fenland drainage) though we have now found excellent accommodation.  Sculling doesn't normally play to our strenghts either.  And it's a day off Short Leave for the boys...

However, results were fairly encouraging and compare favourably with a couple of years ago (this trial was cancelled last year).  Congratulations to Luke Briggs on coming 29th (Constantine was only 20th in C Block).  Otherwise, experience suggests that at least four other boys will have done enough to keep themselves in contention in the GB selection stakes. 

Earlier in the week, three boys went to the U23 trials, where Ed Nainby-Luxmoore showed well.  Will Locke launched his bid for the 2012 swimming team.  Further events await these three at the end of the half.

A good weekend's racing

So, the turbulent conditions of the past week subsided to provide excellent head racing conditions this weekend.

At Pangbourne on Saturday an Upper Boats group of 2nd and 3rd VIII boys held off some strong competition to win the J4x, posting the fastest time of the day.  The coxed four was 4th behind Hampton's 2nd VIII and a four from Teddies.

Colts had some very encouraging results, with their best quad coming second; there may have been some interesting timing here, as the order of 2nd, 3rd and 4th (all Eton boats) didn't look right to the eye.

Junior Colts raced at just their second event, all now getting to grips with the business of head racing.  Wilf Woolf led the group, with a very respectable result.

On Sunday, at the Fours' Head, it looks like we have won the reintroduced Junior Coxed Fours (which has been a favourite stamping ground of Eton crews in the past).  A presentation ceremony at the Fuller's Brewery awaits these boys!  Our other two coxed fours (both in IM24+) raced well too, and have fared well against their respective school competitors.

The delights of the GB Early ID trial in Boston Lincs now await 8 Upper Boats boys over Short Leave.

Then it's Hampton Small Boats Head for Junior Colts, and eights at Wallingford for Upper Boats and Colts.

Weekend 13/14 Nov

This weekend will see the whole club racing.

Upper Boats will send three coxed fours to the Fours' Head, racing in J4+ and IM2 4+.  The reintroduction of J4+ represents an exciting chance to test ourselves against other schools who will feature strongly this season, even if not all our boys are eligible.

At Pangbourne, the remaining Upper Boats will race in two quads and a coxed four, with the top quad leading off the division - a stern test for some of our second VIII contenders.

Colts will race in their own age group in quads, and at J18 level in coxed fours (that being the only sweep event).  Junior Colts will race in their singles; as ever, this is a small group with most playing rugby or football at this stage. 

It should be an exciting weekend of racing and a good test of how the winter training is going; fingers crossed for some good results.

Henley 2010

Test Post 2

From JRBS

Test post

First direct blog post