Muscles aching?

Back into winter land training this week. Circuit training is back on at the Mid-Cheshire College every Tuesday and Thursday at 6:30pm. A great way to improve your fitness when it's too dark to row.

Strange goings on last week on Hallowe'en - the Junior Girls racing at the Dee Head.
Photo from www.mezzanotte.co.uk taken by Chris VERRECCHIA

Try this simple Ergo Fitness Test

I have come across this basic fitness test on the ergo:
http://www.concept2.co.uk/training/oneill_test
Suggest you get all the squads to do this this week to set the baseline for winter fitness training?

Winter head races

Aahh! My favourite season and my favourite head race coming up tomorrow - Chester Long Distance Sculls.

Shame there are no veteran women's quads and no WJ14 4x+. However very pleased to see some high quality women scullers coming to this event.

Here's a piccie from last year to get us all in the mood.

It's getting dark out there

No sooner than the summer regattas are over than it's time to think about safety on the water in the evenings when crews are training and the nights are drawing in. Each week it gets dark about 15 minutes earlier - so right now (19th Sept) its lighting up time at 7:06pm and getting dark at 7:30pm!


A few rules for those thinking of going afloat in the dark or if it will get dark when you are on the water:

• Seek permission from me first
• Established senior crews only
• Only 2 boats from any squad on the water at any one time and these boats must remain in sight of one another
• Lights must be fitted in the stern and the bow of each boat, white on the bows and red on the stern
• Experience coxes only to be out in the dark

Thanks - these rules are for your own safety and to ensure the club equipment does not get damaged.

Summer rowing

Why is it so difficult to get crews out to all those lovely summer regattas? Just when the weather is good and the events so numerous it seems that all the squads have summer holidays.

It looks like the highlight of the summer will be Warrington Regatta. WE might manage a mixed double for that!

Matt Langridge Wins Elusive Senior Henley Medal

Good to see Matt Langridge winning in style in the Steward's this weekend at Henley RR. It's 10 year ago that he won in the Fawley as a Junior.

This is him celebrating in the Champagne bar after the big win! You can just make out Doug Pickup in the background on the left in the cool shades!

Other NW heroes were Agecroft RC who won the Britannia and Richard Edginton from Warrington who was in the Steward's with Matt.

Young hopefuls from the Grange School Rowing Club competed in the Fawley this year - a crew of J16's who can come back for 2 more years.

Why is boat trailing such an issue?

Just heard from Simms that our new eight is ready to collect next week. Can't they send it in the post? I wish.

Why is trailing boats to events always such an issue for clubs?

Wouldn't it be easier if we all borrowed each other's when we race at regattas?

Or maybe not given how long some people spend getting their boats 'just right'. And they would be bound to have the wrong size shoes!

Summertime and the rowing is easy....

We had Junior crews competing today at Ironbridge Sprint Regatta - 13 crews in all so expect a few wins.

Meanwhile, back at the club the Senior and Vet squads had a lovely quiet row.

Rumour has it that the No5 seat in the women's eight has 'special properties' after two of the recent occupants announce they are pregnant!! You have been warned!