CHAIRMAN’S VIEW

I am sad to report the death of our oldest and longest standing member, Christopher Woodall, aged 96. Christopher joined LRC in 1947 and had a successful rowing career at the Club.

Many will recall that only last year he visited to name the new coxless four the ‘Christopher’ following his very generous donation. His daughter informed the Club of his passing and it was fitting that the ‘Christopher’ raced a few days later at Wallingford Regatta.

On that note, well done to all crews who raced at Wallingford and congratulations to the men on winning the Club Eights and Challenge Quads.

I hope all who attended to celebrate the Coronation at the Club had a good day.

The inventory of the fleet has started and will be continued. Could I ask all crews to please report damage via this email: fleetrepairs@londonrc.org.uk

Bill Baker
Chairman, London Rowing Club

CAPTAIN’S REPORT

Ciao!

After a terrific week of training in Italy, it has been a tough adjustment returning to London life. Missing the beautiful lake with a view of the Alps and 4 meals a day with no washing up! The only thing not missed is the sore hands.

52 squad athletes descended on Lago di Varese with 4 coaches and a special appearance from former Captain, Mark Lucani. We maximised an almost empty lake, with all athletes putting in a great block of training ahead of Regatta season. It wasn’t all chasing gold medal percentages, we managed to have some ‘fun’ mixed 250m races which of course were the most competitive races of the week. I am not sure what was more concerning the integrity of my 18 year old first club lycra (Royal Docks Rowing Club) or the jumping off the start by almost all boats. I came away with the moral victory and the Chief Coach, who was rowing at 6, came away with a new max heart rate.

Whilst the squad was away cutting glass on the lake, the Masters were making waves at Hammersmith Regatta, with a notable mention to Will Randall and his crew winning the Mas C 4x event. Disappointingly lots of our masters entries have been rejected from local races, evidently afraid of our rowing prowess but all have sights set on British Rowing Masters in June which should supply some cracking racing.

The first multi-lane regatta of the season was Wallingford Regatta at the end of April. LRC managed to show what a good training camp can achieve with the club men taking away the win in the VIII after a fantastic performance. The Challenge 4+ finished second by a hair's breadth, the remaining men’s crew boats finished 3rd and the women’s Challenge 4- and men’s Challenge single finished 4th.

Before we leave May, LRC will travel back to Italy to conquer the Venetian waterways with the Masters at the Vogalonga. We wish them many well deserved gelatos and safe passage.

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

*Tony Lynn (84) at stroke, Hugh Samuel (80) at 2, Chris Callaghan at bow, Martin O’Neill at 3 (apologies for the uncoordinated dress code).*

We have two octogenarians in Tony Lynn and Hugh Samuel who are still actively rowing on a regular basis – hats off to them I say – it just goes to show that rowing, as a non-impact sport, can be longstanding and hugely rewarding as an enjoyable pastime and a means of keeping active.

The Irregulars, who number around 30/40 active enthusiastic rowers, have an average age of around 65.

Congratulations must also go to Chris Callaghan who is in the bow seat and newly qualified as a bow steerer. As a group we are very lucky to have a good number of bow steerers and are very happy to offer outings to aspiring bow steerers in order to improve their knowledge of the river.

We have started outings on Thursday evening at 6.30pm. These have proved very popular with a regular 3 x quads being put out. Although the weather has not been the greatest recently there is nothing better than coming home with the sun setting in your eyes and looking forward to the best shower on the Embankment (a bit hot at the moment). This is followed by many with a drink in the delightful company of the Millennials who also have outings on Thursday evenings.

Diana Bartley and John Gaisford both took part in a recent Holland Tour organised by our wonderful overseas member Franck der Voorde. John told me that on one day 44km was completed. Good effort and much fun was had by all.

Eddie Markes

A DUTCH TREAT…
A P.S. TO EDDIE’S REPORT ABOVE

This trip was hardly ‘Three men in a boat’. Rather, it featured 30 plus rowers from mostly Dutch and Swiss clubs, plying 9 wherries along the River Ijsell, assorted waterways, locks and canals. We were housed and fed onboard 4 huge and venerable barges which followed us like preverbal guardian angels. On one occasion, a crowd gathered to watch them navigate a lock with barely a metre to spare.

All this was arranged by Frank, our Admiral of the Fleet, along with his Vice Admiral Wamme and the barge crews. A fabulous bonus was having our own cabins and delicious meals prepared for us by the lovely and bubbly Juliette; a Master Chef in the making if ever there was one. Need I add that lashings of beer and wine accompanied the feasts.

*The 'Mother Ship' Avontuur' with skipper and fellow arranger Wamme.*

*John Gaisford and Diana Bartley with Frank's brother Gert and Heine.*

What was there not to like? The weather was like an English Bank Holiday weekend with a bit of everything from times of enervating spring sunshine to rain, the latter which justified the bringing of waterproof clothing (including waterproof socks – a god send).

It was a wonderful trip – what is there not to like about convivial company and rowing to generate a healthy appetite. Do it if you have the chance!

Diana Bartley

MILLENNIALS REPORT

Building on the momentum from the recent head season, Millennials rowers are busy preparing for side-by-side sprint races at national level, as well as competing and winning at local races on the Tideway.

Group numbers are increasing as more rowers emerge from hibernation, attracted by the longer and slightly warmer spring days. We are consistently boating 12-16 rowers for our sessions on Wednesday mornings, Thursday evenings, and Sundays, with other crews also boating at different times to accommodate family commitments. Thursday evenings are especially popular, as the Club bar is open for refreshment and socialising after the water session.

Over the early May Bank Holiday weekend, the group took advantage of the sunshine and low tide conditions with a long paddle downstream to Battersea and back. After the outing, Charlie Pryor posted this lovely pen-and-ink impression of the group by Battersea Park, which he captioned “a stunning morning and a flat river.” The monochrome medium is a flattering one for rowers who have spent too long liberating lobsters in the spring sunshine without sun cream.

*“A stunning morning and a flat river” by Charlie Pryor.*

Several Millennials crews raced at Hammersmith Regatta in late April. The Millennials Masters B eight was moved into the Open 8 category due to lack of opposition, and were drawn against a top crew from Vesta. Undeterred, the Millennials crew went off strong at the start and made Vesta work hard for their win. Unconfirmed rumours suggest that the Vesta crew’s exertion to overturn us would take its toll on them at Wallingford the following weekend in the Club eights…

*Mark Boyd, Colin Christie, Charlie Twallin, Josh Culleton, Charlie Pryor, Julian Hyde, Devon Bunyan (out of shot: Marvin Barth, and Alice Mount).*

A Millennials Masters C quad also raced at Hammersmith, against Tideway Scullers Masters E. The age differential meant that TSS would be given a 12-second head start. Aligning for the start, both crews protested to the Umpire, with TSS arguing that this baby-faced London crew ought to be given an even greater handicap, while we urged the Umpire to count those twelve seconds down as quickly as possible and let us go! TSS made the most of their head start to take an early lead of several lengths before we had taken our first stroke, but we gradually reeled them in to win by 3 lengths.

*The crew christen their pots with a pint at the Dukes Head. Left to right: Paul Mascaro, James Robinson, Richard Benton, Will Randall.*

Looking ahead, we are mustering a large entry for the British Rowing Masters Championships on 10-11 June. Over 20 Millennials will be competing in categories A through D. We are still seeking a cox for the eights and coxed fours events - if you would like to join us for some racing, please get in touch. As a warm-up to Masters Championships, some crews will be hosted by UTRC Masters this coming Saturday for some side-by-side pieces on the Henley stretch. Thanks to Paul Mascaro for organising, to Mark Lucani for helping to make the connections, and to UTRC for the use of their facilities and equipment.

Will Randall

FORTHCOMING MEMBERS' EVENTS

We have several interesting Members’ events coming up:

The Irregulars’ Supper

Thursday 25th May
7.30pm for an 8pm sitting
3 course meal
All members are welcome
Tickets £28

To apply for tickets please click on this link - https://members.londonrc.org.uk/Events/Calendar/View?id=55

Book launch

Wednesday 14th June
5pm to 7pm
Join us for the Book Launch: Water’s Gleaming Gold, The Life of Hugh ‘Jumbo’ Edwards
"Water's Gleaming Gold: The Story of London Rowing Club member Hugh 'Jumbo' Edwards". The book tells the incredible true story of the most extraordinary oarsman, Olympian, pilot, war hero and legendary British rowing coach. From his collapse in the Boat Race of 1926, to winning two Olympic gold medals in 1932, and rowing the Atlantic to save his own life when his Liberator was shot down by a U-Boat - Gavin Jamieson recounts the most extraordinary life of Hugh 'Jumbo' Edwards
Tickets: Free of charge (limited to the first 20 guests)

For tickets for this event, please click on this link - https://members.londonrc.org.uk/Events/Calendar/View?id=54

Summer Sunday Series

11th June, 16th July, 20thAugust, 10th September
From 12pm
All friends and family welcome
Members pricing
Authentic Argentinian Food available to purchase from Changos Empanadas on the forecourt

Kate MacDonald
LRC, Business Development Manager

NEW MEMBERS

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

Kevin Mathers
Maddie Perry-Smith
Paul Regan-Mathers

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

BETTY MELVIN FUNERAL NOTICE

We have details of the funeral arrangements for Betty, the widow of our late President, Doug Melvin, who passed away on 29th March at the age of 93.

The service will be held at 11.30 a.m. on Tuesday 23rd May at Our Lady of Pity and St. Simon Stock Church, Hazlewood Road, Putney SW15 6LU. (Note: parking restrictions operate in the area.) Committal will take place at Putney Vale Crematorium, Stag Lane, SW15 3DZ at 1.00 p.m.

Refreshments will be available at the clubhouse from 12.45 p.m. and London members will be very welcome.

TOM KING AND GRAHAM SUMMER OBITUARY NOTICES

There are obituaries on the LRC website for two members who have died in recent weeks. The first is for Dr, T J (Tom) King, who was a very active and successful Masters oarsman.

The second is for VG R (Graham) Summer who rowed for the Club in the 1950s and was later a punter extraordinaire.

Tom King’s obituary can be found here and Graham Summer’s obituary can be found here in the Obituaries section.

TRAVEL2ROW

Hugh Samuel would like to share the following newsletter that he received which draws attention to rowing trips that may inspire you.

*Rowers sitting ready for you in Sweden.*

Dear Rowing Friends,

Next week I head back to Europe. I am looking forward to a brief stop in Malta where the 2023 World Rowing Tour will be taking place. These tours are always a wonderful way to reconnect with friends and make new ones while enjoying our favourite sport in a gorgeous place. Then off to Italy to run our inaugural Bay of Naples and Amalfi Coast trip. The scenery there is spectacular and I am already hungry for the renowned food of the region. It is going to be a grand adventure.

2023 Rowing Trips
Before I get to our big news, here are some updates on our guided trips for this year. Our Greece trip is now sold out and there are just two seats left for the Women's Only Split & the Dalmatian Coast in Croatia. This summer is going to be superb for rowing travel - grab your space for our fabulous new trip in Sweden, exploring Stockholm & its Archipelago. You can choose either the August or September date for our very special wilderness rowing adventure in British Columbia, Canada. Have you seen the new video from Sculling Gear for the Bellagio Rowing Wellness Retreat? La vita is definitely dolce! Review other options from our 2023 tour line up. A destination that you are dreaming about may not be offered next year. Don't wait too long to decide to go.

Announcing Travel2Row and Independent Rowing Experiences
Drumroll please! Today we are officially launching our new website Travel2Row, showcasing Independent Rowing Experiences. Independent Rowing Experiences are short getaways tailored to you. Together with our partners, we provide private rowing packages for small groups with flexible dates based on availability. You sort your own accommodation and other travel logistics to best suit you. We tested this concept last year with our friends in Luino, Italy and Thessaloniki, Greece. Prince Edward Island in Canada and Bridgetown in Barbados have joined the inaugural selection. Our plan is to regularly add new destinations, offering more and more opportunities to travel and row in beautiful locations. A special thank you to Anastasia. Not only was she busy with all of our Rowing The World guests, but she did the hard work to build the new booking engine for Travel2Row. Didn't The Web Gecko do a beautiful job on the website?

Rowing Inspiration
Hard to settle down after all that excitement. When I was in Barbados in February to research the new Independent Rowing Experience, I was fascinated by a gathering which I observed while perched like a bird on my hotel balcony. The Thoughtful Rower explores what it means to market a niche business. Continuing with our interest in masters rowing, what makes coaching masters rowers different? It means explaining the why of everything, addressing a wide diversity of goals, working with bodies as they are, and finding great joy for both coach and rowers.

This is a short newsletter - still lots to do as we prepare for an exciting season of group and guided trips with Rowing The World and grow our Independent Rowing Experiences with Travel2Row. At some point I need to pack for my trip. With so many choices, see you on the water soon!

Yours in rowing,

Ruth (Marr)
Travel2Row
https://rowingtheworld.com/

ERRATUM

In last month’s article about Club Management, one of the Property Sub-Committee’s members names was omitted in error. Tim Leppard is also a member of that Sub-Committee. Apologies to Tim for this oversight.

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