CHAIRMAN’S VIEW
It has been an interesting and, at times, challenging few weeks on the river. Several events have been cancelled due to flooding; the most recent being the Women’s Head of the River Race. Generally, we are lucky enough to be able to train on the Tideway when all other stretches of the Thames are red boarded and others are unable to row. In the past few weeks rowing on the Tideway has also been restricted due to high flow rates on the ebb tide. It is important that we heed the advice of the PLA and our own Safety Advisor; it is not often that we are inconvenienced in this way.
We now face some uncertainty over the current Coronavirus outbreak which could affect our rowing and training as well as the events business. Please read and be aware of advice to members and take all necessary precautions to prevent the spread of the virus.
Over the next few weeks we are due to host various groups for the Lightweight Boat Races, the Head of the River Race, Vet’s Head and then the Boat Races. Each of these is an opportunity to welcome guests into our club. We should be proud to show off all London has to offer. Let us hope that we are able to enjoy some exciting and challenging racing and a beer with our friends afterwards.
Simon Harris
Chairman, London Rowing Club
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
14 March: Kingston Head
15 March: Lightweights Boat Race
17 March: Supper Club (St Patrick’s Day)
18 March: Schools’ Head (12.30)
21 March: Head of the River (14.45)
22 March: Vesta Veterans Head (15.00)
29 March: University Boat Races (Women’s 15.44, Men’s 16.44)
01 April: Irregulars’ Dinner
18/19 April: Great London Row
29 April: LRC General Meeting
03 May: Wallingford Regatta (Dorney)
06 May: Irregulars’ Dinner (provisional)
30/31 May: Metropolitan Regatta (Dorney)
31 May: Vogalonga (Venice)13th June: Barnes and Mortlake Regatta
13th/14th June: British Rowing Masters championships
13th/14th June: Reading Amateur Regatta
16th/17th June: Hadaway Harry at LRC
See more detail for these events, visit our Calendar of Events…
THE GREAT LONDON ROW 18/19th APRIL
Dear Fellow Members,
It is time for the Great London Row 2020 – Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th April.
Following on from previous years of success and fun, a number of those who took part told us how much they enjoyed it, and they wanted to do it again, particularly on the reaches further up the Thames which they would never otherwise row on.
This is a chance for all members of the Club, active and less so, to get out on the water together, and perhaps support from the locks and banks, to all end up back at the Club on Sunday afternoon to join in a barbeque.
The first Great London Row in 2016 was a very successful fundraiser for our now well used Peter Coni Gym, the following years and this one - a ‘fun-raiser’ - to have a great day (or two) on the river!
Best Wishes,
Mike Baldwin
President
THE GREAT LONDON ROW 2020
This fourth annual Club wide row will take place on Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th April on your choice of three courses, all culminating in a Club barbecue for participants, family and friends on the Sunday afternoon from 3pm’ish.
This row is for the whole of LRC past and present.
For those who row regularly - for those who once did - as well as former LRC members - this is everyone's opportunity to row with your friends alongside other members of our Club.
Our Captain will be rowing from Hampton Court on Sunday and would be grateful to those who could support him.
We are asking a modest contribution - minimum £25 per seat. Another chance for you to help to secure LRC's future achievements on the water and to have some good fun.
Please complete the attached form, GLR 2020, showing:
Your choice of the three courses
Your requested boat type
The names of your crew
The name of the captain of your boat
You may return the form to GLR2020@londonrc.org.uk or post to the Club to the attention of GLR Organisers OR you can drop the required information in an email rather than scanning or posting the form.
Whatever your rowing level or fitness there is a course for you.
We are happy to help put boats together, please indicate your need on the form.
Whichever boat you chose will be delivered to your starting point; you just need to arrive in time to rig and be off with the other’s boats. A rare opportunity!
The three courses to choose from are:
COURSE ONE: Windsor to LRC - 34 miles over split over two days Saturday 18th April and Sunday 19th April:
Saturday 18th April – Boating from Dorney at an early but civilised time. Through Windsor, Runnymeade, Staines on to Hampton Court. Boats left overnight Saturday in Thames Ditton area.
Sunday 19th April – Depart from Thames Ditton area midday, though you may wish to depart earlier and stop for lunch along the way. Row through Kingston, Teddington, Twickenham and Richmond, then onto our own stretch of water to LRC for 3pm’ish arrival for the Barbeque.
COURSE TWO: Hampton Court to LRC - 16 miles. Depart Hampton Court on midday Sunday 19th April, though you may wish to depart earlier and stop for lunch. Land at LRC by Sunday 3pm’ish for the Barbeque.
COURSE THREE: Boat Race Course Reversed - Chiswick departure, suggested boating at 1:30pm. Finish at LRC before 3pm to shower and change for the Barbeque.
Can't Row, Can Help... there is a box on the attached form for you to tick too. Please, we do need your help, particularly drivers to follow along the course offering support at the locks.
Sponsor the Captain – If you are not going to row or help, please do sponsor our Captain. There is a line on the attached form to offer your sponsorship and support, thank you.
Next Steps for All Who Will Support --- in Rowing, Helping or Sponsoring the Captain:
Get your crew together and assign a Captain of the boat and all members submit their forms
OR Let the organisers know by email – GLR2020@londonrc.org.uk – that you are looking for a place in a boat
Review your course and think about stops you would like to make for a pint and/or lunch
Think about your own transport to boating locations, we will have your boats delivered
Return your completed form as soon as you are organised, best to start planning now, all forms please by latest Sunday 05th April
Every rower needs to register individually please, noting that they would like to be placed into a crew or noting their fixed crew mates.
Ideally, each crew needs a boat captain who will help with communications on details and collecting the £25 seat fees.
We will ask you to drop £5 into a bucket at the barbeque to help with the costs.
GLR Organisers – Elizabeth Cottrell, Kathleen Curran, Mike Baldwin.
See You on the Water and on the Balcony for the Barbeque!
Kathleen Curran
SCHOOLS’ HEAD OF THE RIVER RACE
May I please forewarn members about the Schools’ Head of the River Race which is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, the 18th March at 12.00pm.
The Club will be hosting several schools for the event. This will mean that the changing rooms will not be available for use by adult members from approximately 10.30am until approximately 2.00pm.
This is to comply with both British Rowing Safeguarding policy and the safeguarding requirements of the event organisers.
Patricia Carré
LRC Welfare Officer
IRREGULARS’ REPORT
Outings over the last four weeks have been severely disrupted by the storms, as has rowing in general of course. The long-awaited Hammersmith Head was cancelled, which was disappointing. However, morale and spirit in our eight remain high - outings on the water being replaced by group erg sessions to supplement the squad’s weekly training regime - Nick Wykeman even doing his piece ‘remotely’, but simultaneously, in Hove! The Vets’ Head approaches on the 22nd March - fingers crossed!
On other fronts, normal outings have been taking place but we have also taken the opportunity to have a closer look at the serviceability of our fleet (assisted, of course, by Rob and Steve) - resulting in the Benjie Langton going off for a refurb and other hulls getting less major repairs. Ready for the upcoming and eagerly awaited spring and summer months!!
On a membership note, we want to welcome (a few months late!) two very nice new members - Yuki and Shinji - to our ranks. They are both in our Vets’ Head eight and are very keen and regular attenders. They came to us via TOP ROW and have integrated into the group extremely successfully (I hope they think so anyway!). We would welcome more potential members from this source.
Hopefully, there will be better weather by the time the next edition of The London Roar is published.
Eddie Markes
FOLLOW UP FROM MEMBERS FORUM ON THE 6th FEBRUARY
As reported in last month’s TLR, around forty members from across the Club's membership joined James Brooks and me on the 6th February for a discussion on the status of the Club, its rowing and non-rowing offering and how it should improve moving forward. The key conclusions and actions, for delivery by different sub-committees, were:
Say hello! a big message was everyone needs to make LRC feel more like a family. Let’s start by saying hello around the club even if we don’t know people. It’s a family! (All)
Safety needs to never stop improving: particular discussion about implementing more consistent steering policy inside the club (Rowing Sub-Committee)
Members survey: the membership committee has proposed a club-wide survey to understand the health of the Club, receive recommendations and measure satisfaction of our members (Membership Sub-Committee)
Clearer way for people to volunteer: people are keen to help and support but a mechanism is required to allow this to be more effectively captured (Membership Sub-Committee)
Recruitment improvements: more streamlined approach to recruiting new members and making them feel welcome. We need a better way to introduce people and integrate them (Membership Sub-Committee)
Battle paddling: this was a big success in summer 2019, and there is a Club commitment to start it again in early 2020, together with possible sculling groups and Club time trials to come (Rowing Sub-Committee)
Club Room becoming a usable space: there was a long discussion about how we could take very simple actions to improve the Club Room and make it a usable membership space for crew briefings, casual coffees or work. Work is accelerating and we have a commitment to making big steps in this area quickly (Premises Sub-Committee)
Replacement of club software: updating club systems to allow easier recruitment, payments, communication and management of membership is critical to future success, including mobile etc. (Membership & Finance Sub-Committees)
Career mentorship and development sessions: junior members were quite vocal that the senior membership could easily provide guidance and support, and networking opportunities that they would value, and may even drive greater retention as people struggle in their early careers with rowing and work. Actions were taken away to understand how to make this effective (Membership Sub-Committee)
As ever, significant effort needs to go into enabling these actions, so please reach out to the people appropriate if you can support. If you don’t know who to contact, please see below (volunteering spreadsheet) or contact James Brooks (contactbrooks@gmail.com).
If you would like to help the Club improve in 2020 or want to contribute feedback (confidentially or openly), please feel free to use the following documents that will allow us to track and manage your help more effectively.
Volunteering tracker
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1_9C6ys89Im2s22u2rYQu5--mt8Y-FOuc2kuVO_qDg_s/edit?usp=sharing
Feedback tracker
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1rjeTyPlx-Kc5VckSW-1_ukk1Y5qYzY-Rjye92zkVmYw/edit?usp=sharing
Miles Preston
Chairman, Membership Sub-Committee
CLUB EVENTS
The Club has a couple of events coming up, as follows:
MARCH SUPPER CLUB
**Tuesday 17 March – St. Patrick’s Day**
£33.33, includes a pint of Guinness (or glass of wine) on arrival
Menu
Shepherd’s pie croquette, Ballymaloe relish
Fish chowder, smoked haddock, scallops, Galway Bay prawns, clams, Clonakilty black pudding served with wholegrain fennel Irish soda bread
Beef, pancetta & wild mushroom stew, colcannon, heritage carrots, pea shoots
Chocolate Guinness cake, vanilla ice-cream, golden crisp crunch
Please book by emailing events@londonrc.org.uk
+
The London Rowing Club will be hosting the successful one man show, Hadaway Harry, again this year. Show times are as follows:
Tue June 16 19:30
Wed June 17 14:30
Wed June 17 19:30v
Tickets are £16.50pp and can be purchased through Eventbrite here:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/hadaway-harry-at-the-london-rowing-club-tickets-63554470131
Shane Dorsett
General Manager, London Rowing Club
NOTES FROM THE ARCHIVIST
One of the more enjoyable aspects in the humdrum world of an archivist – answering enquiries about ancestors who rowed for the Club, and whose names are on tankards, for example – is that one comes across some amusing stories. The one below is from the official record for HRR 1924. (The Club history mentions in some detail the involvement of the Nickalls family in the Club annals.)
“Thursday July 3rd 1924. The Silver Goblets and Nickalls’ Challenge Cup.
G K Hampshire (bow/strs) and W Phillips (str) (Magd Coll. Ox.) on Bucks and G O Nickalls (bow/strs) and R S C Lucas (str) (Leander Club) on Berks.
The result of this race was entirely unexpected, for Nickalls and Lucas were considered the probable winners of the Goblets. It was not generally known, however, that as well as being famous oarsmen they were no mean amateur carpenters and always carried a set of tools. Whilst waiting at the Start, Stroke, thinking that the boat was unnecessarily heavy, cut away some of the bigger timbers and on the first stroke of the race Bow pushed his stretcher through the skin and she started to leak.
However, they soon took the lead and before going far, Hampshire and Phillips hit the booms and Nickalls and Lucas waited for them.
On restarting Nickalls and Lucas again took the lead and were a long way ahead at Fawley, reached in 5.30. Here it became obvious that something was wrong for the boat was floating lower and lower in the water. In spite of the handicap they kept well ahead and it became more of a race against the leak than against their opponents. At the Mile Post it was clear that the leak was gaining on them fast and at the bottom of the Enclosure the cut-water disappeared and then the boat sank amidst execrations that were visible but inaudible at the Winning Post.
All this time Hampshire and Phillips were entirely unconscious of what had happened to their opponents whom they had not seen since about halfway up the Island. When they came up with them they were not a little surprised to find them swimming and so stopped rowing. Ultimately they paddled in to complete the Course in 12.0 and immediately offered to row the race again. The Committee, however, could not allow this, pointing out that as they had passed the Winning Post the race was over and that a boat must abide by its accidents.”
Some of the enquiries received however are difficult to make head or tale of. This one came in by e-mail last month:
“I am [X] in the [UK University Y], we are making a research project where we ask the various company they are in to the sites to have a future meeting. This is a purpose to collect more information about this site (my site research) for this module in Landscape Design “Ecologies, Exploration”.
If you could be so gently to describe me a this case or tell me the most important think in which was involve the Rowing club (Growing date, different utilities of this building in a timetable process, and all the possible data possible you can give me about that) I will be so happy to contact you in the future.
Best regards, [Z, MLA student]”
Any guidance which members can offer would be much appreciated.
Julian Ebsworth
LRC Librarian & Archivist
HAMMERSMITH BRIDGE
If you haven’t already seen them, here are two illustrations of the proposed ‘temporary’ crossing which will in use while Hammersmith Bridge is being repaired.
Apparently, the present bridge is in such poor condition that spectators of this year’s Boat Race will not be allowed to watch the race from the bridge.
If you look carefully at the second illustration, you will see the pillars that will be supporting the temporary bridge. It would appear that they are intending to have a supporting pillar which will be right in the middle of the river. No doubt, careful consideration is being given to the implications of this for river traffic, both leisure and commercial.
There are going to be several public meetings to discuss this plan, after which TfL is soliciting feedback at HammersmithBridge@tfl.gov.uk.
You might like to attend one of these meetings:
Saturday 14 March 2020, 11.00 to 15.00, Riverside Studios, Hammersmith W6 9BN
Tuesday 17 March 2020, 18.00 to 21.00, Castelnau Community Centre, Barnes, SW13 9AQ.
Thursday 19 March 2020, 16.00 to 20.00, Riverside Studios, Hammersmith W6 9BN
Saturday 21 March 2020, 13.00 to 17.00, St Michael & All Angels, Barnes SW13 0NX
Frank O’Mahony
THE TIMES THEY ARE A-CHANGIN’!
“Thank you to whoever sends the house magazine of L.R.C. I was amused to see the sentence on Young Irregulars report ‘one of our members is currently undergoing training to become a bow steerer’. Years ago (many) there were no ladies at the club. The lightest weight chap in the fours was told - - you sit in the bow and waggle your foot, you’ll soon get the hang of it (I suppose he did). The instructions in those days were to keep out of the way of sea scouts who had no idea of what they were doing and keep well out of the way of Safety boats who not only did not know what they were doing but did it far too fast and without looking where they were going. I suppose times have changed.”
W. Rose, Oxon
REPORTING SAFETY INCIDENTS
All members are reminded that if you are involved in or witness a water safety incident, you are required to report it on safety@londonrc.org.uk
The Club will file any necessary reports on your behalf with British Rowing and the PLA. Members should not submit reports directly to either body.
NOTE FROM THE EDITOR
My thanks to everyone who has contributed to this edition of the London Roar. If you have an idea for an article or would be interested in submitting a piece for inclusion in a future edition, please email me on miles.preston@londonrc.org.uk
Please do not submit an article without first liaising with me.
Miles Preston
Editor of The London Roar
