She can also cook a mean quiche

Votes in, texts counted, but without a hint of the winner being picked before the show had ended:

The winner is CBRC's Jane Hall! ARA Volunteer of the Year 2008

Here's what the committee had to say about her.

Not content with all that work Jane also found time to play with Dom and not two weeks back produced the newest member of CBRC: little Rosemary Megan Hall (although apparently she's going to have trouble fitting into the shoes).



Congrats to Jane, and also Jane and Dom (to be fair, he did help a bit).

promoting diversity

Dear Bristol folk,
it has been once again drawn to my attention that to address you all as 'oarsfolk' is no longer appropriate. It seems that CBRC's diversity policies are reaching far and wide these days - mountain bikers, runners, triathletes. What next, (pub)golf? Now, it seems one of our most stalwart members has put down her blade to take to the saddle. She still needs the lycra though...

It's a marathon not a sprint

Report from one of our intrepid marathoneers:

Weather was good for a spot of rowing in a ditch in Lincolnshire. Womens VIII best COBRC time took longer driving home than it took to row the 50K. A wrong turning & an M6 delay, organisation had nothing to do with it! The battleship just fitted in the Dyke. Crusher in next with a respectable 4.18 but with women, juniors & vets in front and Nadia only 4 minutes behind. Junior j16's averaging at J14 4X- at 4.39 clear winners in their category. Sophie Dun the bravest of all coming in around the five hours. Sore arses, sore hands and T shirts for all. Hanham may see more COBRC crews training for next year.

Any photos??

Has Gurt died?

Oarsfolk of Bristol, good morning to one and all. Gurt has reached a crossroads in his career. At a time when corner shops are closing, Tescos are springing up everywhere. The local cinema is closed, the multiplex booms. Folks, Facebook is killing me, see you all in hell! I feel snubbed, not invited to the party, with no place in the modern world. Randy has taken up patchwork, Reet has re-joined Gala Bingo. The irony is I have a truly incredible story to break to you. Who wants to hear it?? BetLush offers the following story characters:

Jimmy & Lauren Evens
Morgan and a local farmyard 2-1
Colin's sandwich 4-1
Naomi's head scarf incident 8-1
Diego and his bent rudder 11-1

Any takers?

Big hug to all
Gurt (considering coming back)

Bums away...

With a large contingent of CBRC heading down to Perranporth this weekend there should be all hell breaking loose in Cornwall....

Especially when considering this motley crew is organising the trip!

Picture also appearing in this month's copy of Rowing and Regatta Magazine!

A brace

It seems we have some super stars in our midst. Not quite content with beating all and sundry at MET last month, Billy and Sean chose to take on the cream of the crop at Nat champs this weekend just gone. A very respectable 4th place behind two Leander pairs and another from Glasgow Uni (it's worth mentioning that they stuck it to a pair from Tideway Scullers too).
Another crew worthy of mention is the Women's S2 4+ at Llandaff composed of Bronwen, Caroline, Zoe, Tracy and Capitano Lancaster doing the steering.

But before all this the mighty Crusher pounded the oppo, losing his N plates in the single scull at Ironbridge at the end of June.

Wins, people, wins! It's what we like to see.

By the way, if you think something is worth reporting, like someone touching someone else innapproiately or someone doing something hilariously amusing, then share it.
Especially naked stuff.

Cheers me darlins.

Be Prepared

A message from Crush...

Tour Preparation. Step 1:

Morgan opens his legs for charity

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!

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*

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.

So, some well-deserved Pimm’s and relaxing on deck chairs now? Roll on Friday’s social gathering! And what next for the men’s squad? A big well done to the whole men’s squad, for all their efforts and commitment.

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!

Friday night out on the town

Not long now till the Bristol lads do their little time trials.

Good luck boys.

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!

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.

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.

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.

down...but not out

The second round of the Surfboat league went off with degrees of incident over the weekend.

The Bristol Hermaphrodites evolved into the Bristol Lobsters and celebrated this new monicker by borrowing a sweep (cox in old money) from Saunton Sands SLSC for their first round. The excitement was further heightened when they caught a wave on the return leg, in a very difficult choppy swell. When secure in a solid fourth place, a small crab was caught...

At this stage, on flat water, the worst you could expect is the ejection of the offending crew member. When on a wave, and a 3ft swell, the result was instant - a full capsize! The boys then made their way to the beach dragging a 250kg boat, with the pumps on full to expel all that water. Top paddling lads!

The Barracudas continued their assault on the title. The heats delivered a new start (involving standing on the seat??), and a handful of podium places (2nd, 1st and 3rd). Scalps taken during the day included Twickenham (manned by 2 former world champions) and Molesey, who crossed lanes with the Barracudas twice! The second time they tried it, 2nd Bow (Crush) suggested to their sweep that if they would like to get any closer he would "stick his balde up his a**e" (!). In a radical departure from normal rowing umpire's approach to such behaviour, this was deemed "Fair game" in the surf!

Depsite all that, The Barracudas were reminded of the "Fair Play Guide" at the post race beer-off. Naughty boys...

The day was rounded out with the boys securing a move up the league table from 6th to 4th. Now only 2 points behind 2nd, and all to play for gunning for Portreath and Perranporth.

(oh, and i am also aware of some wimmin's rowing at the weekend? anyone know anything about that? Bewdley was it? And something about Downey Jnr posting a victory with 2 Seniors before downing a bottle of full-bodied Merlow. What? I might have my wires crossed.)

Once more unto the small posh town in Oxfordshire, dear friends

Roit up the gurly massive, moi luvvers.
Them birds are going at it large at Women's Henley this day.

Good luck to all lady crews from Bristol.

METrosexual rowing

Ooer ooer a bit late with this one ladies and non-lady rowers. It's all the bar training on the run up to Henners.
MET regatta's been and gone! Where were you?

It was a weekend of swift racing and up to the line bowball breakers.

Saturday
The Women's Senior 3 4+ had the best racing of the day, seeing off everyone in their first heat comfortably, but missing out on the bronze spot in the final by a few seconds.
Also in a similar situation were the sweeping scullers in the Senior 3 8s who made it through to their semi quite happily but even though they put in a slightly quicker time in the next race were put down by a flotilla of cheeky students taking the top places.
The men's first 8 made an audacious move to take on the big boys in the Senior 1 and Senior 2, like last year, but were unfortunately 'in the wrong heat' for S2. Any other heat would have seen them in the Rep.
But a crowning turnip of achievement to the novice girls making their regatta debut in style but entering the S3 8s. Even a handful of crabs in the last 100m didn't stop them coming middle of the field in an event so heavily subscribed that it was only first 2 through to the final.
And finally to the resident lonely long distance sculler. Nadia pounded her way up another stupidly long course to finish 4th in her heat again just pipped, like so many City crews, to a spot in the final/rep by one place.

Sunday
Two ladies fours were out first thing on Sunday, both at Senior 2. The early birds didn't quite catch the worms this time as neither quite made it through to the semis.
Bit of a shift around as the Sculling 8 went up to S2 and the 1st 8 levelled out at S1. Unfortunately the 1st 8 could have done with a few more inches all round (or so I hear on the grapevine, which incidentally is positively bursting with juice at the moment. But that's for another day) as they missed out on the rep again by a fraction of a (bow) ball.
A swift ditching of four of the 8 left an S1 coxed four out on the water for another couple of paddles up and down the lake, and this foolhardy handful showed the burger chompers a thing or two by making it through to the rep without a bother.
The Scullers made a show of it and spanked down the course again for the rep in their category. Only one through to the final though, and those students were at it again. Listening to post race goss, it's the general consensus that Murph needs a couple less pies a day, while Billy could do with a few more weights to try and make his shoulders wider than his Jolie-bum.
The little novice lasses were S3ing it on Sunday too and yet again (which leads Oi to think that there might be some sneaky fixing going on somewhere) the rep was missed by only one spot and a couple of seconds.

So in short a little bit of a disappointing couple of days racing, but a decisive lesson if ever there was one to keep hammering for the line.

Next stop: Reading! (Tomorrow! Get the jaffas in)

Paddling in to the big Times

Oarsfolk of Bristol,
surely with Henley just around the corner, some of our athletes are attracting press coverage in the Nationals? Yes, you better believe it - The Times no less!

http://timesonline.typepad.com/surf_nation/2008/06/porthtowan-blue.html#more

'What's the crack?' you might ask. Bristol has never been so proud of its hairy bottoms...