CHAIRMAN’S VIEW
On Monday 27 February a general meeting was held at the Clubhouse and via Zoom to present the accounts to year end 31 July 2022. Hon. Treasurer Philip Carré summarised the club’s position, highlighting the significant financial improvement in comparison to the 2021 figures, as we put the effects of Covid and lockdown behind us. Events bookings, which form a vital proportion of the Club’s income, largely recovered indicating some post-pandemic pent up demand. Overall membership remains very strong although numbers dropped slightly following the switch to the new MyClubhouse system.
The Club has always been extremely fortunate in receiving donations from generous members but of course we can’t budget for these and we run the accounts on a ‘net of donations’ basis. We plan for boat purchases out of this net position to meet the needs of all members as the budget allows. In 2022 we bought a new eight, a four and two pairs.
The Clubhouse is looking in good shape as works to the Resis’ kitchen near completion. We have also recently redecorated the Long Room and frontage to ensure the venue remains attractive for commercial events. Both these projects have been well received.
The challenges for this year are to manage our overheads and secure event bookings in an environment of high inflation and utility costs. Please remind your friends and business contacts of the availability of the Clubhouse as a venue for parties and business events.
Many thanks to Philip and the Finance Sub Committee for their great work in running the Club’s finances and ensuring we remain on a sure footing.
To rowing matters and it was a stirring sight to see the massed eights for the Women’s Head of the River as I cycled over Barnes Bridge on my way to the Club on Saturday. The balcony and hard were well attended with LRC supporters as London 1 and 2 came storming down the boats to the finish. LRC continues to benefit from its hard work on the water. Congratulations to London 1 on winning the Medium Club Pennant and very well done to both crews.
Bill Baker
Chairman, London Rowing Club
CAPTAIN’S REPORT
The last month has served our London Rowing Club community with great highs and tragic lows.
The Boustead and Rayner cups were battled for valiantly - the Boustead being the closest and most exciting race of the day was neck and neck down the championship course but was lost to Thames Rowing Club by 2 seats. The Rayner was lost by 4 lengths, but is the narrowest margin to date. Thank you to all the London members who volunteered and umpired, facilitating a great day’s racing.
Whilst the LRC gaze was on the local derby, our dear friend and crewmate, Dr. Tim Senior, unexpectedly passed away shortly after completing a race in Henley for Upper Thames Rowing Club. Our sincerest condolences are with Tim’s wife, Sarah, his three children and all his family and friends. If you wish to send your tributes and stories to Tim’s family you can do so on his memorial page: https://timsenior.muchloved.com, and donations in Tim’s memory can be made here: https://gofund.me/c255f2ae. A tremendous loss for our entire rowing community.
With Hammersmith Head cancelled, the squad took a hasty diversion to Reading University Head. Racing time only as we were all last minute entries we left with several time only wins.
Last weekend was the Women’s chance to shine at the Women’s Head of the River Race. Two eights were entered into what is the biggest women’s event in Europe. The 1st VIII placed 21st overall and took home the Medium Club Pennant for the second year running and set a course record in the process.
The 2nd VIII placed 75th overall - a solid performance in a highly competitive field.
Well done ladies! And thank you to everyone who came to support and volunteered - great to see LRC championing women’s rowing!
We look forward to the Head of the River and Masters Head of the River on 18th and 19th March. LRC will be hosting the HORR prizegiving and I hope to be reporting on more pennant wins next month.
Please come down and support our crews and get in touch if you are able to launch drive on either day.
Bang the drum!
Elizabeth Cottrell
Captain, London Rowing Club
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
11 March: Kingston Head
17 March: Schools Head
18 March: Head of the River
19 March: Vesta Masters Head
20 March: Lightweight Boat Races
25 March: Men’s and Women’s Veteran Boat Races
26 March: University Boat Races
22 April: Hammersmith Amateur Regatta
29 April: Chiswick Regatta
30 April: Wallingford Regatta (Dorney)
01 May: Marlow Spring Regatta
13 May: Putney Town Regatta
26-28 May: National Schools Regatta (Dorney)
3-4 June: Metropolitan Regatta (Dorney)
10 June: Barnes and Mortlake Regatta
10-11 June: British Rowing Masters Championships
10-11 June: Reading Amateur Regatta
See more detail for these events, visit our Calendar of Events…
IRREGULARS REPORT
The month kicked off with a good number attending the funeral of our dear ex-commodore Iain Laurenson in Redhill. There were 20 to 30 LRC members there, which was a large showing and paid fitting tribute to a great Irregular and London man. He will be sorely missed.
The following morning there was a Laurenson present and ready to row with us on our Sunday morning outing. A real treat – Martin is Iain’s grandson and lives in Paris – he took part in La Traversée de Paris last September with our own Lee Reilly and he has recently become an LRC member – the chain is not broken!!
Welcome Martin and indeed any member of the Laurenson family.
Outings continue and a keenness to sweep is still there. There is a fairly regular attendance of about 15 persons on Sundays and a quad or two on Wednesday mornings.
The mixed racing quad of Andrew Boyle, Zoe Tipler, Zena Howard and Ronnie Maddox continue their very secretive training for the Masters Head on 19th March. Very good luck to them. I have a suspicion they might do well – I hope I’m not putting the mockers on them.
Our Chairman, Bill Baker, no less – handy with a drill helping in the Long Room prior to the decorators arriving the following morning.
Lastly, the Irregulars have been stepping forward in numbers together with other club members to help in the Long Room – first, taking down pictures/honours boards/lights etc in preparation for its redecoration and then, of course, putting them all back again after the work had been completed. Thank you all so much.
Close Irregulars team work makes light work of hanging the largest of the paintings in the Long Room.
By the time members read this article, we will have had our first Irregulars Dinner for some time. I hope that everyone who will have gone to it enjoyed themselves.
Eddie Markes
SUPPORTERS CALENDAR
We have three great events for members to enjoy at the Club over the next ten days:
Saturday, 11th March
England v France Six Nations match.
The bar will be open from 3.30pm with kick-off at 4.45pm. Burgers will be on offer.
For those who have bought tickets for Boat Races Day, wristbands can be collected that afternoon.
Saturday, 18th March
Head of the River Race.
The Club will be open from 10.30am with sausage baps from then and burgers from midday.
Sunday, 19th March
Vesta Masters Head.
The Club will be open from 11am with food from midday.
Annabel Lawrence
LRC, Events Manager
NEW MEMBERS
We would like to welcome the following new members to the Club:
Kevin Baumber
Thomas Downes
Roberta Furcolo
Donald Macdonald
Neil Roberts
Hugh Rumboll
Julian Schneider
We hope you will enjoy being part of the London Rowing Club community and will help us build an ever happier and more successful club.
We are always pleased to have more members so, if you know of anyone who think might like to join the Club, please either let us know or encourage them to get in touch with us themselves.
There is information on becoming a member on our website: https://www.londonrc.org.uk/membership-enquiries or you can contact the Club’s Membership Secretary, Jessica Salter, whose email address is membership@londonrc.org.uk
Andrew Boyle
Honorary Secretary, London Rowing Club
SEARCH FOR MISSING MEMBERS
We are always delighted when former members of LRC comment that the Club is clearly on the up. Their observations reflect improved rowing performances, investment in boats and the clubhouse and the vibrant atmosphere whenever members gather. The clap-outs at HRR last year were wonderful examples of these trends and prompted very positive feedback.
We would like to build on these endorsements by inviting former members to rejoin the LRC family. If distance or other commitments prevent them from taking to the water regularly, the Club can offer Gym Membership that enables full participation in club life off the water and Associate Membership.
If you know of any former members who might like to rejoin, please ask them to email me (secretary@londonrc.org.uk) or let me know if they would be happy to receive an email or call from me. It would be great to have them back on board!
Andrew Boyle
Honorary Secretary, London Rowing Club
CASAMAJOR CLUB UPDATE
For all those Casamajor Club members helping to raise money for our equipment maintenance, the great news is that we have now received a stock of Casamajor Ties!
These are very smart in dark Navy Blue with horizontal white stripes – IN SILK!
We are selling them at cost - £22 each. Contact John Auber – john@auber.org.uk
BUT these are only available to Casamajor Club members so please sign up if you haven’t already done so…… only £5 per month which could bring you untold riches of £75 in the quarterly draws!
Here is the link: https://pay.gocardless.com/AL0002R9Y4C4S8.
This quarter’s lucky winners are:
£75
Jonny Akehurst
Ronnie Maddox
Jack Wilshaw
Miles Preston
George Cowley
Grum Ord
£30
Simon Melvin
Ian Cockburn
DM Smouha
£15
JN & RM Melvin
Fred C Carr
RA Parsons
Andrew Lawrence
John Auber
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 using the following email address: 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
