Sunday 4 December 2011

Vesta Scullers' Head, 2011

On Saturday, Emilie, Malcolm and Spence took part in the Scullers' Head on the Thames.

For those that don't know, the Vesta Scullers' Head is the largest single-division processional single sculls race in the world, and is held over the 4.25 mile championship course from Mortlake to Putney. First sculled in 1954, this year’s race involved almost 500 scullers, attracting entries from all over the United Kingdom and the world, with standards ranging from internationals to novices.

Provisional results suggest that alll three Deben scullers did fantastically well, with Emilie winning her category, Malcolm coming 4th in his, and Spence also getting a cracking time.

Very well done to you all!!

Full results can be found here.

Here is Emilie in action!

Monday 7 November 2011

DRC on Deben Radio

Deben Radio is a community radio station currently available via the internet, covering news and events in and around the Woodbridge area. Each month a 45 minute sports programme is compiled by Dee McLeavy covering all the activities in the area. This includes reports from the Shufflers, Woodbridge Rugby Club, the football club and swimming club, among others.

DRC is represented by Catherine Larner, giving a report on our activities over the previous four weeks. You can listen to October's report here

Or listen to the full round-up by going to http://www.debenradio.com/ and clicking on the October Sports Programme.

Catherine will be recording each report in the final week of each month, so if anyone has ideas for contributions, they should let her know by emailing catherine@catherinelarner.com

We also plan to record a feature item about the club in the next few weeks.

Monday 31 October 2011

Norfolk Sculls

This weekend saw some Deben members heading back to Norwich, this time for the Norfolk Sculls.

Megan Stocker, Neil Cawthorn and Michael Streat, James Parkinson (pictured left) and the Wix-es all took part, some of them competing in two events.

Emilie and Spence (shown below with their pots) won the Mixed IM2 doubles event in a time of 22:14 and Emilie came second in the Women's IM2 single sculls event with a time of 23:33. I'm sure you'll all agree that these are fantastic results and well-deserved considering all the training they have put in since joining the club and learning to row earlier this year. The first of many pots for these two, we hope...

Many thanks also to Ed English who learnt to row at DRC and very kindly sent these pictures to me, even though he now rows at Norwich.

Tuesday 27 September 2011

Yare Cup, 24 September 2011

The annual Yare Cup took place in Norwich last weekend and two crews from DRC took part, with James P. also going along to support them and film the action.

In the Men's Open 4+ category with a time of 16:55 were Mark S., Guy P., Ken A. and Tristan C. with Sue S. coxing. Here they are in action:

Untitled from James Parkinson on Vimeo.



Emilie and Spence competed twice, once in the Mixed 2x (with a time of 16:08) and once in the Novice 2x, for which their time was 16:09. Well done on your first races and we look forward to seeing the red and yellow socks in action again soon!

Here is a video of Emilie and Spence in action with a couple of additions to the DRC kit:

Untitled from James Parkinson on Vimeo.

Wednesday 21 September 2011

Goodbye and Good Luck to School Leavers

This summer sees long-time junior members Clio Aubugeau-Williams, Em Chitock, Chris Lawrence and Hannah Shire leaving school and heading out into the world. They have all been a great asset to the club and it has been a privilege to see them growing up during their time at DRC.

Since joining the club 5 years ago Clio, in particular, has made a startling progression winning 18 'pots' and 12 medals, as well as representing GB for the past 2 years. In recognition of this achievement and as Clio will shortly head to UCL, with rowing at Imperial College, the committee awarded Clio life membership on Saturday 17 September, 2011.

The committee is very appreciative of the contributions made by all the school leavers and we look forward to welcoming them back as students during their holidays, joining the growing number of out-of-county university student members of the club.

Good luck!

2011 AGM

This will be held at 8pm on 27 October at the club and formal notification will be sent out shortly. If you are interested in joining the committee, please speak to William or any of the existing committee members.

Any motions to be discussed are to be lodged with Nicola Notcutt no later than 25 September.

Monday 8 August 2011

European Medals for Clio

Rather belated congratulations to Clio for winning two European Gold Medals and one Silver Medal with her crews at the Coupe de la Jeunesse in Austria!!

Monday 18 July 2011

British Rowing Championships, 2011

Chris Jillings reports:

Congratulations to Clio for coming home from the weekend's racing with two Silver medals!

Her GB Junior quad raced in a straight final for the Women's 4x, but were dealt a lesson from the gun by a powerful Nottingham crew. They were, however, comfortably the next best boat.

At the end of the day, in the finale Women's 8+ event, her GB Junior boat cruelly had gold snatched from their grasp as their half-length lead evaporated with 500m to go, when one of her team-mates caught a whopper! They mounted a spirited attack but lost by half a length - boo hoo!

Thursday 30 June 2011

Clio heads to the Coupe!

As many of you will know, Clio has been continuing to race and train hard throughout the course of this year, as well as attending the GB squad trials. She has broken many pbs and won races at a very high level.

In the last few weeks she has raised her game even further, winning a silver medal at the National Schools' Championships; winning the Senior Quads at Henley; and being selected to be part of the GB quad that is going to compete in the Coupe de la Jeunesse in Austria.

Oh, and somewhere in the midst of all of this, she has also found time to study for and take her A-levels!

Shown here: Clio and Chris with the Henley Senior Quads trophy.

Friday 17 June 2011

Supporters' Plaque

The sign to go on the boathouse to thank our kind supporters will soon be completed.

If you, your friends or contacts would also like to immortalise yourself of your company by having your name added to this sign, there is still time to do so!

A panel can be yours for £250.00. Please get in touch with Ken Anderson on 01394 384149 or leave a cheque made out to 'Deben Rowing Club' with your details at the club house.

Learning to Row at DRC


Ed English, who took part in a Learn to Row course at DRC earlier this year, reports on his experiences:


'My general thoughts are that the way that Deben run the LTR course is very good, with a high standard of beginner boats, which enable new rowers to find their feet without the risk of capsizing.


Working up from very stable 'tub' boats to Explore singles allowed me to continue to work on my sculling technique whilst also getting a feel for the river. The coaches were also flexible about when the 8 sessions could take place – this helped enormously, allowing people to fit in rowing around other commitments and complete the course in our own time. The small numbers of people on the course helped as it meant that more one to one coaching was available (many thanks to James, Tim and John for their patience with me), and I could consistently get in the same boat whenever I was going out on the water.


There were some extra challenges that I had to overcome when first navigating on the Deben: wind, tide, mud and various other types of boats. This was quite a challenge whilst also learning to scull in single craft, however, long term it has made me a much better sculler/rower, and other rivers seem relatively simple to row on in comparison. For example, I have now moved to Norwich and although I have been rowing for 6 or 9 months less than many of the novices there, it is quite rare for them to get out in single sculls, so I have found myself the senior man in a double on more than one occasion, desperately trying to remember what the guys at Deben taught me. Therefore, post LTR, my number one piece of advice to anyone would be to get into a fine single as soon as possible, as it has improved my balance and confidence immensely, despite the odd impromptu swimming lesson!

Overall, Learning to Row has given me a new lease of life and real get up and go. The only issue is that at the moment I can't seem to be on the water enough. I don't mind what boat I'm in, be it a single, or an 8, just as long as those I'm rowing with do it with a smile on their face.'

Tuesday 14 June 2011

Olivia makes a Splash on and off the Water

Following an exciting start at the Suffolk Indoor Rowing Champs. earlier this year, Olivia (shown here with James) took part in one of the club's Learn to Row courses and is now enjoying getting out on the river.

On 26 March 2011 Olivia won the under 13 category in the SIRC, achieving a distance of 684m in a set time of 3 minutes on the ergo. This was an especially good result as she had never been on an indoor rowing machine before and this time puts her in the top 20 nationally for year 8 girls.

We look forward to seeing more great things from her over the summer.

Friday 25 March 2011

The Fashion Swap Event, April 30th

DRC are proud to present:
THE FASHION SWAP EVENT
Saturday 30th April, 2-5pm
DRC Clubhouse, The River Wall, Woodbridge
Swap your unwanted clothes for up to 5 others of your choice!
There will also be 3 boutiques offering a wide range of accessories etc.
Tea, coffee and cake will be available
Entry fee: £5 (£2 for juniors)
Proceeds go to Deben Rowing Club
For further information, contact Sue Stockton: 07515 008760

Wednesday 23 March 2011

Training at Clare College and Clio in WHORR, 2011

On Saturday 19 March over 20 DRC members enjoyed a training day hosted by Clare College, Cambridge. After a short welcome by Clare Boat Club President, Nigel Woodcock, DRC started the first outing of the day in a men's VIII, a women's IV (featuring Jane Gotts on her return from long-term injury - welcome back, Jane!) and a veteran men's IV. Those DRC members who had not done sweepoar rowing before were coached by CBC personnel on the bank and in tub pairs. After a light lunch, at which Nigel talked to our junior members about the attractions of Oxbridge rowing (including no subscriptions or race entry fees!), the training started again. The men's VIII personified two of the key qualities of rowing - "quick and slick" with Messrs Morel, Pidd, Higbee and Swain adding the "long and strong". The veteran mens IV adopted the maxim of "mileage makes champions" but actually the mileage in second outing merely made the crew tired! A mixed VIII, which included the novices in the party and was coxed by Nigel, looked amazingly composed - a real triumph!

The sessions gave our two home-grown coxes, Sue Stockton and Catherine Larner, opportunities to hone their skills as their previous outings on the Cam in the Cambridge Winter Leagues had featured all river traffic going in the same direction. But, both steered excellently and Clare's beautifully maintained equipment was all returned in one piece.

The day concluded with a presentation to Nigel and the Clare boatman, Anton Wright, by DRC's Nick Redman. Nick rowed at Clare over 30 years ago but he still recalls the Clare motto, "Cave Adsum". With a weakening grasp of Latin, he translates this as "Watch Out - I've Arrived!" - pretty appropriate for DRC's growing sweepoar squad!

On the same day, Clio Aubergeau-Williams swapped the tasteful red and yellow colours of DRC for the University of London's bright purple having been invited to row for the University in the Womens' Head of the River Race in London - another test against the best for Clio.

Thanks also to Nick Redman for organising the day at Clare and for contributing the report above.

Tuesday 1 February 2011

Suffolk Indoor Rowing Champs, 26th March 2011

DRC is proud to once more host the Suffolk Indoor Rowing Championships.

Please click here for the full poster.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Indoor Rowing Champs - Help Required!

Hi All,

As you should be aware from emails, the Indoor Rowing Champs. will now be held on 26th March at 5pm.

It is Boat Race day, so there is plenty of scope for rowing, watching the Boat Race and then enjoying the Indoor Champs too.

Last year we were lucky to have lots of people helping out both on the day and in advance, and hopefully this year will be the same - whether you feel like taking money on the day, serving tea and cake, or just encouraging your friends to come along, everything you can do will help to make it a success.

Please click here to see more details of the help that's required.

Committee Vacancies

There are currently two vacancies on the DRC committee: Rowing Captain and Membership Secretary.

Please click here for a link to descriptions of each role and for more information.

Do have a think about applying - your club needs YOU!

Thursday 20 January 2011

Learn to Row!

Want to learn to row? Come on one of our special training courses.

The next course starts Saturday 19th March and will comprise 8 sessions over 4 weeks in Explore Rowing boats.

Please contact Tim Earnshaw if you are interested (timothy.earnshaw@reuters.com) or would like more information.

Club Update, Jan 2011

Please click here to view an update from our chairman or see below.