CHAIRMAN’S VIEW

Many members will be saddened to learn of the passing of Betty Melvin, widow of Doug our late President and mother of John, Simon and Janet. Betty was a supporter of the Club for many decades and the Melvins are an important part of the history of LRC. We send our sincere condolences to the family.

With all the spring heads behind us we can take pride in, and encouragement from, the results of our crews. Following the women’s success in winning the Medium Club Pennant, we had five eights in the men’s head on 18 March, three of which finished in the top hundred. LRC A, slightly hampered by an inconsiderate crew, finished a strong 13th, 13 seconds off Thames who bagged the Vernon. LRC E took the Masters C pennant, a rather easier category than the Masters HORR the following day where we had five crews but sadly no wins.

Good luck to George Cowley who attends National Squad trials this month. It’s great to have another LRC member vying for selection. Rui Xu trialled for Canada in March and just missed the cut by 0.3 second.

We are planning a ‘spring clean’ and repair inventory of the fleet over the next couple of weeks and volunteers are required. Watch out for details in the Weekly Brief and WhatsApp.

Bill Baker
Chairman, London Rowing Club

CAPTAIN’S REPORT

Finally, Spring is here.

The Head season was rounded off in style with three LRC boats finishing in the top 50 at HORR and the Masters C crew winning a pennant. The first VIII finished in 13th place, the highest finish since 2012 - it should have been even higher had it not been for some unsportsmanlike behaviour from another club. The 3rd VIII’s solid campaign is to be commended with many of the crew having their highest ever ranking. The Masters C boat is looking forward to receiving their medals once they pass Mr Helm’s tight quality control, and their winner’s photo will look great mounted on the wall.

At Masters Head, the Women's MasA8+ composite missed out on the pennant by less than a second. Chloe Ramambason narrowly missing out on a double win weekend, showed her versatility going from the coxswain’s seat at HORR to bowside for the Masters’ Head. The Masters BC4x came 4th and the Master D8+ came 6th in their categories enjoying the civilised start time and surviving the embankment chaos.

Thank you everyone who came to support and to anyone who was inconvenienced by the back to triple header head weekend. Our HORR after party was another resounding success and we welcomed hundreds of visiting rowers over the three days, letting us showcase our terrific clubhouse.

The Boat Race, a prominent feature in the Spring calendar, split our allegiances to the Blues. We were proud to clap out (and bang the drum) for Andrew Wakefield who raced in the 2 seat of the Isis boat. His race was an exciting watch, neck and neck to the finish. Well done Wakey for racing hard and representing LRC well. We also hosted the winners, Cambridge University, for the weeks leading to the race and there is some whisperings that our amazing gym facilities which they used to warm up on race day was what helped them clinch the win. Make of that what you will. Another great occasion and a great spotlight on the sport.

Looking forward, the local regattas are filling the diary, so watch out for our masters racing at Hammersmith and Chiswick Regattas; the Squad is off to Varese, Italy, on training camp; and George Cowley will be representing LRC at the Great Britain U23 final trials - we wish him well.

Bang the drum!

Elizabeth Cottrell
Captain, London Rowing Club

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

See more detail for these events, visit our Calendar of Events…

IRREGULARS REPORT

Last Sunday the Irregulars entertained a charming 52 year old rower from San Diego whose abiding wish had been to row on the Thames – we had an interesting outing due to the weather conditions and, shamefully, old Master Thames was really filthy. We tried to distract him from this and had a good workout.

We received a letter from him afterwards and this is an excerpt:

“Rowing on the Thames will be one of the highlights of my trip. Please pass along my gratitude to Miles and Chris as well. If any LRC member ever comes to San Diego and wants a fun morning on the waters of Mission Bay, please direct them to me or the San Diego Rowing Club, and I expect we can always return your warm hospitality.”

Remember, if you are travelling abroad and want a row, the rowing community is incredibly welcoming.

To illustrate this point the photo below features our member Brian Starr on holiday in N Ireland.

*Our own Brian Starr (3) on holiday in Northern Ireland on the River Lagan with his cousin (2).*

Our dinner in March passed off very well with around 32 attendees. Old acquaintances were renewed and refreshed. It was especially lovely to see Meike Laurenson and Caroline Keat - two ladies who have recently been widowed. These dinners are a wonderful opportunity for keeping these connections going.

Our Mixed Quad competed very creditably in the Vesta Masters Head and came 7th in their category. They were pleased with their row and I reckon there is more to come!

Lastly, now that spring is here we are resurrecting evening outings and there seems to be a lot of enthusiasm for these. Ideally, they are going to be on Thursday evenings – we know the Bar is open! However, there may be a bit of a clash with the Millennials to do with equipment. Negotiations will take place!

Eddie Markes

THE LITTLE MASTERS CREW THAT COULD

In 2023, a crack Masters Crew was sent to Thames Early Learning Centre by a Rowing Sub-Committee for a lobster they didn't liberate. These men promptly escaped from a maximum security Wintech to the Putney Embankment underground.

Today, still wanted by the RSC, they survive as rowers of fortune. If you have a crew, if no one else can sub in, and if you can find them... maybe you can row with The London Masters!

A little while ago, while hiding out in a Putney coffee house, I was approached by Andrew Douglas with an idea to bring together a group of experienced rowers and see if they could become something more if we could get them to row together for a race when we needed them to win. The idea was to create a crew picked from the various masters groups at the Club to make a statement with a targeted win at the Head of the River. I thought this was a great idea and would reflect well for the Club as a whole if we could not only win the category but also manage to achieve a decent overall finish position, so I reached out to the rest of my team to start building a crew.

The first calls out went to my regular crewmates Jason "Faceman" Bowyer, Alex "Howling Mad" Fothergill and, lastly, bringing in some much-needed muscle from Adrian "B.A." Theed.

Having sorted the core of the crew from across four different groups already, it was now a matter of matching ages to rowers to ensure we hit that much needed Masters C band, a task made more difficult by the addition of Matt "Babyface" Piechowicz bringing the average age down. With the addition of my ex nat champs crew mate, James "L'Oreal" Robinson, we were almost up to strength. Indeed, the last seat in the boat seemed to be cursed, having lost two previous incumbents to cycling accidents and the Two Brewers. Luckily, at the last moment JP "Vermeer" van Tiel stepped into the crew to aid us! Now with a crew, shell, and cox in Chloe "Triple Threat" Ramambason we were good to go and with only seventy-two hours to spare before race day! I love it when a.... hold on what's this? There has been a mix up and we are now due to be racing in the Wintech, oh dear!

Cue desperate ringing round and favours being called in to try and source a shell which doesn't bend round the corners! Luckily, with just over twelve hours to race start, CD Riches was able to offer us a (yellow) lifeline, "It is my J15 crew boat so you may be too heavy for it". A bit of last-minute weight loss was no issue for us though, with the crew donning bin liners and running through the night to make weight.

As we rocked up at the boathouse it was pretty clear that some quick re-rigging of blades and boats was required. This shell was set up for slight schoolboys and not for soggy round the middle masters. No bother, with well over a century of rowing experience standing there (not quite all of it in one person), we felt equal to the task. As riggers were dismantled and reassembled, other members of the crew regeared some private blades that had luckily only just been delivered the previous day.

With all that done, it only remained to boat (for the first time ever as a crew) and row to the start. I was incredibly lucky to be sitting in the stern of the shell which, as it was for a 75kg crew and we were most definitely several stone north of that, allowed me a very close view of the river conditions mere cms from the bottom of my rigger pin.

My thanks go to Jason and JP who, as my 7 and 6 men, were able to coach me throughout the row up to the start. Remarkably, we managed to make it to the start in good time and cheer to slot ourselves amongst the University crews around us and prepare to race.

As we came through the bridge and the rate rose the crew fell into a solid rhythm holding off a much younger crew from Bristol Uni, indeed Bristol were unable to make contact until we approached the slipway of St Pauls. With Chloe skilfully manoeuvring us off the racing line and out of the way of the overtaking crew we thought we would be in the clear and they would pass cleanly by us allowing us to move back into the racing line. Unfortunately, we overestimated the Higher Education system in the South West as clearly they had never been taught about corners and forgot to take it, either that or they were harking back to their Bristolian heritage and attempting a piratical boarding!

Credit has to go to not just the crew for remaining calm, not missing a stroke and successfully repelling boarders but mainly to Chloe who did not respond to any of the insults cast her way by the opposing crew. With the clash won, we progressed through Hammersmith Bridge with the rhythm established at Chiswick continuing relentlessly.

*Someone forgot to tell us to smile at Hammersmith!*
*Crew from bow: James Robinson, Andrew Douglas, Alex Fothergill, Adrian Theed, Matt Piechowicz, JP van Tiel, Jason Bowyer, Basil Amin and Chloe Ramambason (cox).*

Finally, as references to Barn Elms were being heard over the cox box it was time to begin our assault on the home stretch and begin the nudging of the rate up from 34 to a sprint finish. Past Beverly Brook we sped and the rate came up, past the Black Buoy we gasped and the rate came up, past Thames we creaked (our bodies not the boat) and the rate came up, past LRC we flew and the rate didn't come up because we were already going flat out and, c'mon cut us a break here, we aren't as young as we used to be! None the less we blew through the finish line leaving the moored boats bobbing in our wake and sending puddles spiralling back down the course.

Finally, after a few short hours, it was confirmed that despite more line-up changes than The Sugarbabes, more shell changes than a hermit crab, and three people not ever having been in the same crew before, London had won the pennant! Even with us having been penalised for Bristol's lack of ability to go round a corner. As we sat back supping our beers, posing for photographs, and signing autographs for our adoring fans we looked back on what we had achieved; our goal to bring together the different Masters groups to put out a strong showing for the Club had been a great success. That evening, while reclining on the bouncy castle in the Ashton Room, I was able to turn to Fothers and remark "I love it when a plan comes together!"

Basil Amin

FIRE: REMINDER NOTICE

FIRE PROCEDURE

A reminder to all members of the procedure upon:

Discovering a fire or
You are present when the alarm is activated.

1. Upon discovering a fire do not endanger yourself in any way or attempt to use a fire extinguisher unless you are trained to do so.

Warn others in the vicinity and vacate the building shutting doors behind you. On your way out activate the alarm at the nearest call point and call 999 asking for the Fire Service and giving your name and the address and then proceed to the Assembly Point opposite the club main entrance on the Embankment. Do not reenter the Building unless authorised to do so.

All the above information is given on Fire Notices which are located next to all Call Point locations.

2. Upon being present when the fire alarm is activated – unless previously informed of a test being carried out proceed to the Assembly point carrying out the actions as listed above.

FIRE MARSHALLS

We have around a dozen member Fire Marshalls who have been suitably trained and informed of the Fire System and the procedure to be followed in the event of a Fire. This includes sweeping the building, assisting people to vacate the building and liaising with the Fire Brigade.

They are as follows-:

Annabel Lawrence (Events)
Suzanne Forrester (Events
Geraldine Kimmins (Events)
Harry Smallman (Resis)
George Cowley (Resis)
Stuart Heap (Coach)
Killian O’Shea (Coach)
Tom Stace
Julian Hyde
Johnny Akehurst
Eddie Markes
Ronnie Maddox
Paul Mascaro

Many thanks to all those listed above and should anyone wish to volunteer to become a Fire Marshall please contact facilitymanagement@londonrc.org.uk

Eddie Markes
Hon. House Steward (Property)

CLUB MANAGEMENT

I am pleased to report that the recent appeals for members to join the management of the club have received a very good response. I would like to thank those who have stepped forward to assume positions or to join committees. The success of the club reflects your contributions.

The current management line-up is as follows:

Representative Officers

President: Mike Baldwin
Vice-President: Ben Helm
Vice-President: Sophie Hosking
Vice-President: Richard Philips
Vice-President: Mike Williams

General Committee Members

Chairman: Bill Baker
Hon. Secretary: Andrew Boyle
Hon. Treasurer: Philip Carré
Strategy/Partnerships Director: Colin Christie
LRC Captain:Elizabeth Cottrell
Hon. House Steward (Property): Eddie Markes
Hon. House Steward (House/Events): see Events Management Team
Membership Director: Mike Shasha

Welfare Officers

Amy Johnson
Flora Emeney

Safety Adviser

Riu Xu

Rowing Management

LRC Captain: Elizabeth Cottrell
LRC Vice-Captain: Jenny Arthur
LRC Vice-Captain: Matt Reeder
Men’s Squad Captain: Graham Ord
Women’s Squad Captain: Rowena Price
Chief Coach: Stuart Heap
Assistant Coach: Killian O’Shea

Events Management Team

Philip Carré
Colin Christie
Annabel Lawrence
Heather Scott

Sub-Committee Members

Finance & Administration: Lynton Richmond (Chair), Philip Carré (Hon. Treasurer), Peter Halford, Lucy Hargreaves, Richard Metcalf and Howard Macdonald.

Membership: Basil Amin (Chair), Cecilia Collins-Taylor (Kit Officer), Keith Coni, Bethan Corlett, Evan Grace, Jeremy Hudson, Richard Metcalf, Rob Porter, Jessica Salter (Membership Secretary) and Mike Shasha (Membership Director).

Property: Eddie Markes (Chair), Poppy Cook, Peter Halford, Lawrence Ho, Matt Reeder (VC), Bob Silver and Harry Smallman.

Rowing: Elizabeth Cottrell (Chair and Captain), Jennifer Arthur (Vice Captain), John Auber, Jack Bannenberg, Kathleen Curran, Stuart Heap (Chief Coach), Julian Hyde, Killian O'Shea (Asst. Coach), Will Randal, Matthew Reeder (Vice Captain), Paul Reedy, JP van Tiel and Rui Xui (Safety Adviser).

Strategy/Partnerships: Colin Christie (Chair) and Will Randall.

Other Club Positions

Accounts: Simon Peach
Archives: Julian Ebsworth
Brand & Digital Officer: Bob Silver
Communications Officer: Jean-Pierre van Tiel
Fleet Repairs: Paul Mascaro
Kit Officer: Cecilia Collins-Taylor
Membership Secretary: Jessica Salter
Resis Rep: Harry Smallman
S&C Coach: Hamzat Ahmed
The London Roar Editor: Miles Preston

Andrew Boyle
Honorary Secretary, London Rowing Club

NEW MEMBERS

We would like to welcome the following new members to the Club:

Charlotte Bawn
Rohan Bown-Patel
Marta Dryl
Elliott Kemp
Mark Knops
Ekaterina Kolchina
Eilidh McCormack
Laurence O'Connor
Mark Ringrose
Isabella Sheppard Wolfgramme
Hugo Storey

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

A RING FIND

This short story goes to illustrate the benefits of keeping your eyes open around the Club.

For a number of years a number of members (currently two) have collected and re-cycled assorted nuts, bolts, washers, dead and broken seats and other such rowing paraphernalia from the floors in and around the Boathouse. This may seem a trivial task but the record stands at 120 size 10mm rigger-washers saved in one year.

In early February this year, during one of these routine “Wombles” *, a rather elegant aquamarine and gold ring, embedded with little diamonds, was found, in a rather mangled state, beneath the Balcony and in front of Bay 3. This location meant that its owner could be virtually anyone: dropped ‘loot’ from a robbery, a passer-by sheltering from the rain, a guest attending a function in The Long Room, or a member of the Club. The ring’s decrepit condition indicated that it had been there sufficiently long for it to have received the attention of the feet of at least one heavy, boat-carrying rower or the wheels of a coaching boat trailer or two.

Rather than hand the ring in to the local police station, I decided to initiate my own search for the owner. I first asked Annabel Lawrence, the Club’s events’ manager, whether any guest has been in touch to say that they had lost it. Nothing came of that for over a week.

I then decided to ask the membership as a whole if anyone had lost a ring. Short pieces were include in the Weekly Brief.

A month after the ring had been found, I was emailed by a member with a photograph of ring she had lost. A Match!

At the time of writing, arrangements are being made for the ring to be reunited with its rightful, and hopefully happy, owner.

The Moral of this story? Pick any one you like.

* for those who are old enough to remember the song about “The Wombles of Wimbledon”, who collected rubbish off the Common.

Alan Foster

AN INTRODUCTION TO ROWERS GIN - 27TH APRIL 2023

Join us for an evening with a gin taster at London Rowing Club hosted by Phil Kite.

In January, Phil completed his second row across the Atlantic Ocean in the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge, with Team Emotive, in support of the North East charity Veterans at Ease.

Hear about Phil's experiences whilst rowing on an ocean for 45 days "The row is as much a mental test as a physical one and you really find out what you can achieve, in some pretty tough conditions, if you just persevere."

Now back on dry land, Phil is using this determination to drive forward his business, The Adventurers Drinks Company.

https://members.londonrc.org.uk/Events/Calendar/View?id=47

Kate MacDonald
LRC, Business Development Manager

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