NEWS FOR RYDE ROWING CLUB MEMBERS. November, 2001

FRIDAY, 23rd NOVEMBER.

The Clubs Annual General Meeting takes place on FRIDAY, 23rd NOVEMBER from 8.00pm at the Clubhouse. If applicable the Notice of the Meeting and Agenda is enclosed. Lists for Nominations for the various elected positions are on display on the Notice boards in the downstairs hall in the Clubhouse. Please remember this is your Club and this is your opportunity to have your say, hear how the Club is progressing and influence its future direction - so do try and attend.RULE CHANGES. There are a number of rule changes being proposed, most of which are designed to bring the Club’s constitution in line with the latest requirements for successful grant applications. One other rule change seeks to amend Club Rule 32 to make E Mail, where a member has access, an authorized method of Club communication. This would currently save the Club around £40 in postage each year - a figure that would grow as more members went on-line. Members would also receive more communications from the Club and receive them earlier. Around 40 members already receive news bulletins on a regular basis via E Mail - if you would like to be added to this list send your E Mail address to steve@scbull.freeserve.co.uk.

THE ROWING SEASON

With twelve Hants & Dorset Championship wins making us runners-up for both the Men's Junior and Junior Senior Championships resulting in two crews representing the Association at the South Coast Championships where we also won the Men's Open Novice event and a Bronze Medal at the National Championships - the Club has had a good season on the water. For more details see the "Rowing Update".

ANNUAL PRESENTATION DINNER and DANCE.

SATURDAY, 29th SEPTEMBER, 2001.

Over one hundred members and guests attended Ryde Rowing Clubs Annual Dinner and Presentation of Awards at Ryde Theatre on Saturday, 29th September. The Club Captain, Nick Salter, proposing the toast to the guests acknowledged the major contribution of the Clubs main sponsor Wightlink, Isle of Wight Ferries. He also welcomed members of Coalporters Rowing Club, Bournemouth University Rowing Club and Islander Louis Attrill, a member of Britain's Gold Medal winning Olympic Eight at the Sydney Olympics. The Captain then introduced the Clubs special guest, Jurgen Grobler, Chief Coach to the British Men’s Heavyweight Squad and coach of the "Steve Redgrave" Gold Medal Coxless Four at the Sydney Olympics who made the toast to the Club. Jurgen spoke of the outstanding achievements of the British Rowing Team, and stressed the importance of Clubs like Ryde, who are the backbone of the sport - a point he had also made during the afternoon, before the Dinner, in a question and answer session at the Ryde Rowing Clubs Clubhouse where he was joined by Louis Attrill and together they answered a range of questions fired at them by Ryde’s Oarsmen, Women and Coaches. Mrs. Grobler, who accompanied Jurgen to the Dinner kindly agreed to present the Club Awards which were introduced by the Rowing Captain, Nick Pike, and presented as follows. Maggie Samir-Youseff and Catherine Coeshott, members of Ryde’s small but active Adaptive Rowing section received ARA "Go-Row" Certificates. First Rowing win for the Club "Spoons", a Club tradition, were awarded to Richard Johnston, Stuart Johnston, Chris Aitkin, Steve Hunns, Ollie Bottrell, Nick Christopher and Becky York. The First year Oarwomen’s Cup went to Beck York with Steve Hunns winning the 1st Years Oarsman Award. Sam Billington won the Coxswain of the year, Claire Salter the Oars Lady of the Year and Ashley Maitland, Oarsman of the Year. The Coaches Cup was awarded to Petra Saunders, Ian Walker received the Committee Cup and Stef Hickman the Captains Cup.

USE OF CLUBHOUSE & MINIBUS.

The Clubhouse is available for use by Members for Parties, receptions etc.. and Bar Extensions can usually be arranged. There are a number of conditions and restrictions imposed - in most cases a small hire fee will be charged, plus the cost of any Bar extension and a returnable deposit. Catering can also be arranged in certain circumstances - first contact should be with Steph Hickman on 613077 - to book a date and discuss details. Under certain circumstances, and subject to meeting various conditions it is possible for Club members to use the Club Minibus. It may also be possible to provide a driver. Any member interested in the use of this facility should contact Nick Salter on 614454.

CLUB TIES & BLAZER BADGES.

Ties cost £9.50 and Blazer Badges £13 - available from Steve Bull (01983 566481).

The Regatta Catering Team.

The Regatta Catering team, who’s efforts bring in a healthy profit for the Club each year, like to see some of the money spent of improving the facilities and equipment in the Clubhouse. This year, so far they have paid for a loft ladder to be fitted, a light in the loft and have purchased a new Urn.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS.

Unless otherwise stated the Back Bar will be available to members during private functions.

Friday, 16th November - Main Lounge. All welcome. Portsmouth F. C. Supporters Club Race Night.

Saturday, 17th November - Main Lounge. MEMBERS PRIVATE BIRTHDAY PARTY.

Friday, 23rd November, 8.00pm - ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING.

Monday, December, 24th, from 8.00pm - CHRISTMAS DRAW in Main Lounge. - all welcome.

Please keep an eye on Club Notice Boards for other events - Members on the E mail list will receive regular notification of events.

NEW "PICKWICK" CLUB. A group of our more mature male members have formed a small "Club" - known as the New Pickwick Club (something to do with age & girth) who meet at the Club every other Wednesday afternoon (from 7th Nov.) for Pool, a drink or two etc.. All who qualify are welcome - more details - Ian Lennie - 01983 612877.

Steve Bull. Editor.

10, Brookfield Gardens, Binstead,

Ryde, I.W. PO33 3NP.

steve@scbull.freeserve.co.uk

NOVEMBER, 2001. NEWS FOR ROWING MEMBERS - FROM THE ROWING SUB COMMITTEE.

The Club had a successful season with twelve Hants & Dorset wins recorded. The Clubs Senior A Crew of P. Neville, N. Pike, M. Young/R. Page and I. Hayden with C. Salter coxing recorded wins at Newport and BTC -- which took them to a row-off for a South Coast Championship representative slot - where they just missed out to Itchen Imperial before going on to finish 2nd in the Open Senior event at the South Coast by the narrowest of margins to a Bexhill Senior crew of dubious legality. The Junior Senior Crew - R. Johnston/C. Aitkin, B. Ade, M. Allsopp and S. Salter with Penny Abdul coxing - won four events - Newport, Swanage, Milford and Christchurch, making them Hants & Dorset ARA Championship runners-up - which qualified them for the South Coast Championship event where they finished a creditable 3rd. The Men's Junior Crew - C. Walker, M. Bull, L. Bennett and M. Palin, coxed by S. Billington won five events - Worthing, Newport, Shanklin, Woolston and Southsea - which also made them the Hants & Dorset Championship Runners-up and earned them representative honours at the South Coast Championship where they finished in an equally creditable second place. The Club had one Men's Novice win - at BTC - with a new crew of S. Johnston, S. Hunns, O. Bottrell and N. Christoper with Jodie Cocker coxing and this crew went on to win the Open Novice event at the South Coast Championship Regatta. With a Senior B Crew, a Junior Ladies Crew, the odd coxless pair and two single scullers also competed during the season with a number of 2nd and 3rd places to their credit - plus a win for a mixed fours crew at BTC. Add the Bronze Medal in the Coastal coxless pairs at the Nationals (S. Titmus and C. Jenkins) and a number of Head wins including the Junior Fours pennant at the Southampton HORR this can be regarded as a successful season -if a little frustrating as we again finish 2nd in two Hants & Dorset Championships.

The Club has now embarked on a programme of winter Head races, on the mainland and inland on the rivers. The Club hopes to compete in at least one event a month during the winter - mostly in small boats before Christmas - and in fours and eights after Christmas with some Junior specific events.

Squads/Crews/Coaches without a slot at this time should contact Nick Pike, Rowing Captain. The Rowing Sub Committee has agreed the following Squad Training slots at the Clubhouse. While other members are welcome to train during these periods preference on space and use of equipment i.e. weight training facilities and Ergos must be given to the designated Squad. The Training Slots will be subject to review at future Rowing Sub Committee Meetings.

Squads/Crews/Coaches without a slot at this time should contact Nick Pike, Rowing Captain. The Rowing Sub Committee has provisionally agreed the following Coaching Launch Slots at Cowes. While other members are welcome to train during these periods preference on use of the Launch and Boats must be give to the designated Squad/Crew Coach. The Launch Slots will be subject to review at future Rowing Sub Committee Meetings.

Unallocated slots - are available to Qualified Coaches/Launch

Operators on a first come first serve basis. Applications for available slots for specific Coaches should be made to the Rowing Sub Committee via the Rowing Captain or Squad Coach.

Three course are planned for the winter, subject to interest and available time - an Instructors award course; RYA2 Powerboat users course and Life Saver First Aid Course. There will be some cost involved but the Club would hope to make some contribution towards this. Further details can be obtained from Steve Bull or add your name to the list on the Rowing Notice board in the hall at the Clubhouse.

COACH ALLOCATIONS.

Coaches have been provisionally allocated as follows - Men's Senior Squad - Liz Van Wyk; Men’s J/S Squad - Steve Bull & Petra Saunders; Men’s Novice A - Nick Salter; Men’s J16/Novice Squad - Chris Aitkin, Steve Bull, Petra Saunders; Ladies Novice & Junior - Tanzie Page & Stef Hickman; Adaptive - Steve Bull & Petra Saunders.

STELPH COASTAL BOAT - We are still hoping to see the prototype in November! - and the Club has purchased a second hand River Scull so we now have two River Sculls available for use at Cowes.

- provisional allocation for maintenance.

MissT - Novice Men and Ladies plus Asymmetric blades.

Helen Jane - Last years Senior A and Juniors - plus Seniors - Aylings blades and Juniors Crocker Blades.

Elaine - Last years J/S and "Bum" Seniors - plus Sculls including new handles where required.

Work on these boats needs to start as soon as possible.

The Club has reluctantly decided that it is not yet in a position where it can go ahead with an application for "Project Oarsome" and the ARA have been advised accordingly. Our main stumbling block to further progress at this time is lack of funding. We had hoped that the Ryde, I.W. Single Regeneration Budget would, by now, have been able to consider our application to them and given us a favorable response. However this has not been the case, although our application is still before them. The problem, has been one of timing and the availability of suitable members to drive the scheme forward - especially in relation to SRB funding. The Project Oarsome commitment and our ability to meet it with our limited recourses is also an issue. However we have not given up and remain optimistic that we will be in a position to proceed in the near future.