Dear oarsfolks of Bristol,
the funniest thing that has happened for ages is upon us - Morgan is running a half-marathon! Please sponsor him at the link below, he's raising money for a very good cause:
http://www.justgiving.com/morganspecht
If he raises £800, he has promised to run in a Bristol racing lycra. That's surely worth a bob or two!
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Wednesday, July 09, 2008
No comment
Just... No.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/surf_nation/2008/07/are-speedos-a-g.html
*Warning: The above link is not safe for work/home/your eyes*
http://timesonline.typepad.com/surf_nation/2008/07/are-speedos-a-g.html
*Warning: The above link is not safe for work/home/your eyes*
Thursday, July 03, 2008
Maundy Thursday
Oarsfolk of Bristol, for another year CBRC’s Henley Royal Regatta campaign is over. Both crews were knocked out on the Wednesday by some classy opposition.
The ‘B’ crew entertained first, with a quick start that gave Belfast a scare, before the Ulstermen gradually edged away to produce a 2 ¼ length deserved victory. Rumour has it that the ‘B’ crew improved rapidly in the days leading up to HRR, taking all challengers off the stake boat on practice starts, and retaining their coveted title of being ‘unbeaten as far as the Temple’! The crew were pleased with their row and have enjoyed their season. Their photos and footage on rowtv always seem to indicate a highly agreeable, technical crew, but ultimately without the raw power to really challenge the best (although if wind power is what you’re after, middle four can always be relied upon. Another curry anyone?).
The ‘A’ crew raced in the afternoon in a clash with one of the favourites Leander Club. And the boys gave them a great battle, going down by 2 lengths in one of the events quickest races of the day. The A crew have put in an awful lot of time and effort into their HRR campaign and it was no fluke that they pushed Leander all the way. Many punters on the bank raised impressed eyebrows to see our boys more than hold their own, and in the post-race handshakes the Leander crew knew they’d been in a race.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Well hung, drawn...
but by no means quartered (no, I know it doesn't make sense really. But I couldn't think of anything else with "draw" in it...)
Henley Qualifiers. Been and gone. Dealt with. Smashed to bits by both the 1st 8 and the sculling 8.
The Friday night action didn't disappoint. The 1st 8 set off behind Christchurch, with the scullers the next crew off after that. The wind, being an ever present joy this summer, made its presence known just after the Temple and continued to bounce around pretty much all the way down the course.
But after months on the docks with the gorge funnelling the channel wind and CoBRC being the gust-masters they are, both crews romped home inside the qualifying time.
After a jubilant evening on the town (more so than others in some cases) crews waited with baited breathe for the draw on Saturday afternoon.
As follows:
City of Bristol A vs. Leander
City of Bristol B vs. Belfast.
Provisional race times are out, with the Scullers on at 10:30am and the 1st 8 at 3pm.
Sufficed to say no-one will forget where they were when they heard that two City of Bristol 8s had stormed through to Thursday at Henley!
Henley Qualifiers. Been and gone. Dealt with. Smashed to bits by both the 1st 8 and the sculling 8.
The Friday night action didn't disappoint. The 1st 8 set off behind Christchurch, with the scullers the next crew off after that. The wind, being an ever present joy this summer, made its presence known just after the Temple and continued to bounce around pretty much all the way down the course.
But after months on the docks with the gorge funnelling the channel wind and CoBRC being the gust-masters they are, both crews romped home inside the qualifying time.
After a jubilant evening on the town (more so than others in some cases) crews waited with baited breathe for the draw on Saturday afternoon.
As follows:
City of Bristol A vs. Leander
City of Bristol B vs. Belfast.
Provisional race times are out, with the Scullers on at 10:30am and the 1st 8 at 3pm.
Sufficed to say no-one will forget where they were when they heard that two City of Bristol 8s had stormed through to Thursday at Henley!
Friday, June 27, 2008
Friday night out on the town
Not long now till the Bristol lads do their little time trials.
Good luck boys.
Good luck boys.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Reaching Out, Touching Me, Touching You
Whilst the Henley crews were up on the Feeder on Tuesday night, a large proportion of Bristol's inhabitants stepped out to run for British Heart Foundation. When the fun and games were over it was just the paddlers that were still active on the docks, or so we thought...
As regulars will have seen, the surfboat (Sweet Caroline) is often practising its bizarre 180 degree spins down by the Lloyds building. Little did they know that the DJ from BHF Run HQ was partial to a bit of the Honorable President himself, and the sound of Neil Diamond flowed forth from their PA.
It is rare that rowers grab the full attention of the early evening masses, but even the diners in The Olive Shed were swaying their arms in time!
As regulars will have seen, the surfboat (Sweet Caroline) is often practising its bizarre 180 degree spins down by the Lloyds building. Little did they know that the DJ from BHF Run HQ was partial to a bit of the Honorable President himself, and the sound of Neil Diamond flowed forth from their PA.
It is rare that rowers grab the full attention of the early evening masses, but even the diners in The Olive Shed were swaying their arms in time!
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Far too eager Beever
How does he find time what with work and Henley training?
I think Rhiannon might have to have a quiet word...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7472988.stm
But then again he's always been controversial.
I think Rhiannon might have to have a quiet word...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7472988.stm
But then again he's always been controversial.
What a lovely Pair
News has filtered through the haze of early season Pimms of a fine pair, seen joggling back and forth quickly and in time with a nice rhythm. Not so little Billyboy Downey and his chum and bowman extraordinaire Sean have set a first and done themselves and the club proud by spanking a number of other crews good and proper.
The lads won Senior 2 coxless pairs at Marlow on Sunday in appalling conditions. This apparently after Billy was reprimanded on the start line by an official for swigging on his water bottle and gazing wistfully into the distance. A couple of gleaming medals and a plaque are now safe and sound in Bristol.
Well done lads. Something for the rest of the club to live up to next year.
And if anyone wants an insight into how such a thing can come to pass, have a look at this little chap from a couple of years back. Proof that WeightGain2000 really works.
And through the hiss and static on the grapevine... News is coming in about an epidemic of coughs, colds and runny noses. Apparently there's a good deal of sniffing going on down the club.
The lads won Senior 2 coxless pairs at Marlow on Sunday in appalling conditions. This apparently after Billy was reprimanded on the start line by an official for swigging on his water bottle and gazing wistfully into the distance. A couple of gleaming medals and a plaque are now safe and sound in Bristol.
Well done lads. Something for the rest of the club to live up to next year.
And if anyone wants an insight into how such a thing can come to pass, have a look at this little chap from a couple of years back. Proof that WeightGain2000 really works.
And through the hiss and static on the grapevine... News is coming in about an epidemic of coughs, colds and runny noses. Apparently there's a good deal of sniffing going on down the club.
Ladies that Row
Being a butch manly man and not one to attend such functions that have the word "Women's" in the title, I inadvertently overlooked the fact that there were lots of birds in spandex getting sweaty all at the same time last week. So it's up to Dr K to fill us all in:
A rather successful Women's Henley
The 'serious' competitive season for the women's squad traditionally ends with Women's Henley. After a succession of disappointments, the four crews entered (another record for CoBRC?) were determined to set the record straight.
Friday saw qualifying races for the Intermediate 8 (our novices, from cox to bow Kathryn, Caya, Caroline B, Anne, Naomi, Lucy, Emma D, Amy and Emily K), the Intermediate 4 (our top crew: Diego, Rachael, Jihan, Bekki and Emma W) and the Senior 4 (Emily A, Tracy, Zoe, Caroline R and Bronny). No disappointments here, as all three crews rowed their socks off and secured their places in the regatta proper.
First round races also took place on Friday for both intermediate crews. The four saw off Bristol Uni with a solid row, proving themselves as a class act in the field, and re-affirming our position as the best of the south west. The eight (novices, remember!) excelled themselves yet again. Despite coming off worse at the start, they kept their heads and stormed through Upper Thames (just as they passed their own clubhouse, I am told) to come home with an impressive victory.
This meant a real treat for CoBRC fans, as no less than FOUR crews (with the addition of Nadia in the lightweight 1x) would be racing on Saturday!
Nadia committed to her strongest possible row, yet lost out to a sculler from Exeter Uni by just 3 lengths. We applaud her dedication and hope she's been treating herself with plenty of cakes now that the scales are less important!
The intermediate four drew York City who they'd been close to before, and pulled out all the stops to try and beat them. Despite having half a length lead after their blistering start, the southerners had to concede to the northerners, who were the eventual runners up. Another unrepresentative result for CoBRC (but at least it wasn't the first round this year!)
The senior 4 (weighing an estimated half as much as their rather beastly opponents from Newcastle University) were also disappointed, but remained upbeat since even qualifying at senior status is an achievement in itself. Check them out looking rather tidy in the time trials: http://www.rowtv.co.uk/ (I assume other videos will follow).
A pre-race disaster struck for the novices, when Emily was signed off at the 11th hour. Their cox, Kathryn, bravely jumped into the bow seat at the last minute (despite not having rowed for a couple of months due to coxing duties) and James jumped in to the coxes seat (I doubt he regarded this as a hardship!) The plucky lasses gave their all, but Osiris A were just too strong and eventually went on to win the event.
I would not wish to end on a negative note! This is the biggest regatta in the women's calendar and to have 4 crews very much 'on the pace' is a fantastic result for our little club. VERY WELL DONE to you all, and I will be there next year with bells on! Here's to a summer of fun, pots, and soggy ex-novices.....
Captain K.
Well done all you luverly ladies. Now you can all have a rest and get back to sunbathing on the landing stage for all the poor lads who are still training their not-so-little socks off.
A rather successful Women's Henley
The 'serious' competitive season for the women's squad traditionally ends with Women's Henley. After a succession of disappointments, the four crews entered (another record for CoBRC?) were determined to set the record straight.
Friday saw qualifying races for the Intermediate 8 (our novices, from cox to bow Kathryn, Caya, Caroline B, Anne, Naomi, Lucy, Emma D, Amy and Emily K), the Intermediate 4 (our top crew: Diego, Rachael, Jihan, Bekki and Emma W) and the Senior 4 (Emily A, Tracy, Zoe, Caroline R and Bronny). No disappointments here, as all three crews rowed their socks off and secured their places in the regatta proper.
First round races also took place on Friday for both intermediate crews. The four saw off Bristol Uni with a solid row, proving themselves as a class act in the field, and re-affirming our position as the best of the south west. The eight (novices, remember!) excelled themselves yet again. Despite coming off worse at the start, they kept their heads and stormed through Upper Thames (just as they passed their own clubhouse, I am told) to come home with an impressive victory.
This meant a real treat for CoBRC fans, as no less than FOUR crews (with the addition of Nadia in the lightweight 1x) would be racing on Saturday!
Nadia committed to her strongest possible row, yet lost out to a sculler from Exeter Uni by just 3 lengths. We applaud her dedication and hope she's been treating herself with plenty of cakes now that the scales are less important!
The intermediate four drew York City who they'd been close to before, and pulled out all the stops to try and beat them. Despite having half a length lead after their blistering start, the southerners had to concede to the northerners, who were the eventual runners up. Another unrepresentative result for CoBRC (but at least it wasn't the first round this year!)
The senior 4 (weighing an estimated half as much as their rather beastly opponents from Newcastle University) were also disappointed, but remained upbeat since even qualifying at senior status is an achievement in itself. Check them out looking rather tidy in the time trials: http://www.rowtv.co.uk/ (I assume other videos will follow).
A pre-race disaster struck for the novices, when Emily was signed off at the 11th hour. Their cox, Kathryn, bravely jumped into the bow seat at the last minute (despite not having rowed for a couple of months due to coxing duties) and James jumped in to the coxes seat (I doubt he regarded this as a hardship!) The plucky lasses gave their all, but Osiris A were just too strong and eventually went on to win the event.
I would not wish to end on a negative note! This is the biggest regatta in the women's calendar and to have 4 crews very much 'on the pace' is a fantastic result for our little club. VERY WELL DONE to you all, and I will be there next year with bells on! Here's to a summer of fun, pots, and soggy ex-novices.....
Captain K.
Well done all you luverly ladies. Now you can all have a rest and get back to sunbathing on the landing stage for all the poor lads who are still training their not-so-little socks off.
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