GB Junior Trials, Boston, 22nd November, 2008

Chris Jillings reports from Boston...

"A strong, bitterly cold North-westerly swept across the fens on Saturday morning as the country's best Junior men and Junior women assembled for the first Long Distance trials of the season. To the outside eye it looked just like another sculling head - an orderly queue taking their turn to boat and paddle up to the start, but the nervous tension in the athletes was very evident.

This was Clio's first foray into the GB selection process and she performed extremely well on the day. In the morning the Junior men had paddled the 5K to the start, marshalled in groups and then used the huge tail wind to help them home, 5K back down the course to Boston Rowing Club. By the time the women boated white horses were topping the waves in the finishing straight - Ahh, Deben conditions we thought, but the organisers bottled it and shortened their run to 3100 metres, to finish just before the final downwind leg!

Clio sculled powerfully and kept long in the tail wind, just holding her rating below the official restriction cap of 28 - tough these selection trials! With just about every top Junior in the country present, she finished 7th in her class of 18, and we look forward to going back for the next round in February - hopefully! Well done."

Yes, very well done, Clio!!

Norfolk Sculls, Sat 15th November 2008

On Saturday Clio, Chris, Em, Jamie, John, Malcolm, Neil, Tim and I all went off to Norwich to race in the Norfolk Sculls head. At 4600m, the main course is one of the longest in our area, and there are plenty of tricky corners and willow trees for scullers to steer round along the way. There is also a shorter course for juniors and novices.

I had the pleasure of spectating on the bank for the first division, so saw Em, Clio, Tim, Chris and Malcolm speeding past in their singles...as ever there was stiff competition between the latter three! Then, in the afternoon the Cawthorns teamed up in a 2x and it was also my turn to take to the water in a double with Malcolm, while Clio teamed up with some girls from Norwich in a quad. John also joined in the 1x battle with Tim and Chris, while Em gave the shorter course her best shot again.

The Norwich club put on the usual great selection of food after the event, but even lots of cake didn't soften the blow of loosing out in the S3 mix doubles by a mere 3 seconds!!

Full results can be found on the NRC homepage: http://www.norwichrowingclub.co.uk/

Well done to everyone...and let's see if we can build on these results at the Carrow Cup in a few weeks' time.

Circuits

Hi!

Just a reminder that Wednesday evening circuits have now started up again - yay!!

They consist of a short warm-up, followed by a series of old-school circuits including exercises such as press-ups, sit-ups, bench hops and so on. Whatever your fitness level, it's a great way to keep up training during the winter.

Circuits times: 18.45hrs until approx. 20:15hrs
Venue: the old-fashioned gymnasium at Farlingaye High School, Ransom Road, Woodbridge
Costs: £4 per session or £20 for ten weeks
What to bring: clean trainers, water, and a towel (for if you get sweaty, as you should if you're putting enough effort in!)

See you there!