INDOOR ROWING NEWSLETTER #132 ======================== 04-November-2005 ========================= _________________________________________________ C O N T E N T S 1. 2005 British Indoor Rowing Championship 2. Concept 2 Online Ranking Challenges 3. Cartoon by Rog 4. Nottinghamshire IRC Results 5. Concept 2 Training Camps 6. Health Club Games 7. Fitness 4 Rugby 8. RAF Innsworth Station Commanders Cup 2005/06 9. Schools Indoor Rowing League 10. Winter Team Relay League 11. Forthcoming Races and Events **************************** Feedback Back Issues Subscription Information ________________________________________________________________ With Bells On ***************** For a glitzier, HTML version of our newsletter with pictures, cartoons and all the funny jokes (possibly), go to: http://www.concept2.co.uk/email/newsletter.htm. To receive the newsletter in HTML format, send an email to subscription@concept2.co.uk with HTML as the subject title. How To Write To Us ***************** Please don't reply directly to this email, 'cos we won't ever see it. Instead send your bouquets or brickbats to editor@concept2.co.uk. Indoor Rowing Glossary ***************** A guide to some of the more common terms used in indoor rowing can be found at http://www.concept2.co.uk/rowing/glossary.php ========================================================= 2005 British Indoor Rowing Championship ========================================================= Entry for this year's championship has now closed at over 2,900 entrants. As ever, our aim is to build on the success of previous championships, and this year's will definitely be the best one ever with many of your recommendations and suggestions from last year's event (the previous best one ever) being put into practice. The one thing that all British IRCs have in common is that they're fun. Every year, a significant number of entrants drop out because they feel like they won't be able to do a fast enough time or because they think haven't managed to do enough training or that they aren't at a good enough level to do themselves justice. Every single person who does that breaks our heart. The British IRC is more than just the biggest indoor rowing race in the world and the biggest mass-participant indoor sporting event in the UK. It's also a gathering of the indoor rowing clan, a chance to meet other people who share the same enthusiasm as you. For many people, indoor rowing can be a solitary event, and this is the best opportunity to swap stories and training tips and gossip. Even if you're not competing, it's still worth it to come along and see some of the stars of the past, present and future race off on the levelest of level playing fields. Bullpen ************************************** Although entry for the Championship has now closed, it is still possible to race on the day in the Bullpen. The Bullpen is where late entries; lightweights who do not make the weight and competitors who find themselves ineligible to compete in the category they are entered, race. Bullpen entrants are not eligible for medals and will be listed at the bottom of the appropriate race category when the official results are finally posted. Entry to the Bullpen costs an additional £5.00 for each entry. The entry fee is therefore £10.00 for J11-J16, £15.00 for J18, BUSA and 60+ and £20.00 for everybody else. Concept 2 European Open ************************************** If you fancy strutting your stuff on an even bigger stage than the British IRC, then you might be interested in the 3rd Concept 2 European Open, which takes place on the 3rd of December in Copenhagen. The European Open promises to be a really good race. Denmark is one of the most indoor rowing mad countries around, and competition is expected to be strong and the hospitality to be great. Anybody can take part, and entry to the championship is free, with all competitors also getting a free British team t-shirt. To enter, simply email your name, date of birth, weight category and expected time to euro@concept2.co.uk. The entry deadline is Wednesday, 23rd November Race Timetable ************************************** The Race Timetable will be out by midday on Monday. If you want to see who else is in your event, the full list of competitors can be found at http://www.concept2.co.uk/birc/events.php SMS Alert ************************************** To get a text message giving the time and position of any competitor at the championship, make sure you sign up for free at http://www.concept2.co.uk/birc/results_service.php. With any luck we'll be able to get the results sent to your phone pretty quickly after each race although there may be a time lag depending on just on badly we manage to mess things up. ========================================================= Concept 2 Online Ranking Challenges ========================================================= The Concept 2 Online Ranking (http://www.concept2.com/sranking03/log.asp?language=4) is a truly excellent way to log all your training. Not only can you record every metre you row, but you can also see how you stack up compared to the rest of the world over each of the Ranking distances. Now, however, not only will logging your times enable you to analyse your training regime, but you win some tip-top prizes in the process. Concept 2 UK have launched a series of Monthly Challenges with two separate types of challenge each month. There is a Participation Challenge, where all you have to do is log a certain number of metres each month and a Ranking Challenge, in which each month you have a different distance or time to row. Everybody who completes a challenge will automatically be entered into a prize draw for some top quality Gaiam products. For more information on Gaiam, visit www.gaiamdirect.co.uk For the Participation Challenge, if you log over 50,000m in month if you're an adult, or 20,000m if you're under 18 or 10,000m if you're under 15, you'll be entered into the draw, with two winners from each age category getting a prize of a Gaiam Stretching Starter Kit with a RRP of £24.99. For the Ranking Challenge, all you have to do is complete that month's target. Everyone from the UK who registers their result online will go into a monthly prize draw and at the end of the year there will be a grand prize draw for those who complete all twelve challenges. As we're launching the monthly challenges in November, the first one, inevitably, has to be 2,000m. Since 1991 the British Indoor Rowing Championship has been the focal competitive highlight of the year for indoor rowers throughout the country and so even if you can't make it to the race you can register your PB and compare your performance. You can either complete this at the BIRC in Birmingham on the November 20th, in your gym or even at home - it's up to you. But, remember to be eligible for the monthly Prize Draw you will have to register your performance in the Online Ranking before the end of the month. So what is the rationale behind the challenges? There are two main reasons. The first is to get people to use the Online Ranking on a regular basis as a way to record your progress. You will find this highly motivating, as you will be able to see that you are not struggling alone. Hopefully there will be thousands of others experiencing the highs and lows of the exercise regime that affects everyone from Olympic champions to retired Riviera snow clearers. The second is, you are far more likely to stick to an exercise programme if you are set a series of short and long-term goals rather than aimlessly exercising. If you've not yet signed up to the Online Ranking, it's totally free to do so, and it only takes a few minutes to get up and running and logging your times. To do so, simply visit http://www.concept2.com/sranking03/log.asp?language=4. ========================================================= Bonfire Night Cartoon By Rog ========================================================= http://www.concept2.co.uk/email/images/cartoon132.jpg ========================================================= Nottinghamshire IRC Results ========================================================= The Nottinghamshire IRC took place on Saturday, 29th October at Newark Rowing Club. Full results can be found at http://www.concept2.co.uk/racing/regional.php and a report will follow early next week. The fastest time of the day was posted by Graham Benton, who covered the 1,609m mile distance in a time of 4:35.5 to win the Men's Open Hwt, an awesome time that makes him a strong favourite to regain his British IRC crown in a couple of weeks. ========================================================= Concept 2 Training Camps ========================================================= The recent Concept 2 Training Camp held in Banyoles, Spain, was a big success, but it was also a different Camp from those held in more recent years, partly because of the availability of Club Natacio Banyoles, a multi-sports facility built initially to host the 1992 Olympic Rowing Regatta. The availability of the swimming pool and gymnasium (there are in fact two of both) was an added dimension to this year's camp but so were the ergo training sessions, held beside the lake, with the mountains and setting sun being a poetic antidote for weary bodies. 2006 should see a repeat of the now annual pre-British IRC week-long Camp, but discussion about an early summer long weekend Banyoles blast is currently doing the rounds. This is likely to be scheduled for early May. The success of these Camps has been built on a mix of hard training and good relaxation. This was the case again this year. Good training facilities, excellent accommodation and beautiful surroundings make Concept 2 and Banyoles what they are. A must do for all ergo fans and supporters, of all ages and abilities. If you want to register your interest in 2006 camps, please email jkeithlyon@aol.com. Keith will hold your details and will keep you informed of Training Camp developments. ========================================================= Health Club Games ========================================================= The Health Club Games Grand Finals took place at Next Generation Health Club in Hatfield on the 22nd October 2005. Individuals from across the UK came together to battle it out for their chance to be crowned Health Club Champions in their chosen events. Events ranged from rowing, running, bench press to the ultimate gym challenge, the Superthon, a decathlon style challenge. The winners of the 2,000m rowing where as follows: Women 1, Tracy Watkins, 07:15 2, Maria Degler, 07:53 3, Kelly John-Baptiste, 08:01 4, Anthea Wawryka, 08:31 5, Nikki Price, 08:32 Men 1, Chris Brett, 06:13 2, Roland Evans, 06:22 3, James Bailey, 06:28 4, Andy Towers, 07:01 5, Dave Mellors, 07:22 For the men, the overall Superthon winner was Hywel Davies, while Jacqui Macquisten won the women's event. This was the second year of the Health Club Games and it is now becoming recognised across the Health and Fitness Industry. For more details, visit www.healthclubgames.com ========================================================= Fitness for Rugby ========================================================= There are only two things the Indoor Rowing News knows about rugby. The first is that it is a game played in the mud, in the rain, in badly fitting kit and with a Welsh PE teacher bellowing at you to "get stuck in and drive, boy" and the second is that virtually all the top rugby sides at club and international level incorporate the indoor rowing into their training sessions. With this in mind, now seems a good time for fitness4rugby.com to have launched a section of their website devoted to cross-training on the Indoor Rower. If you go to http://www.fitness4rugby.com/indexjs.html?/products/product_concept2.htm, you can find a selection of training sessions to try out, as well as oodles of other information on getting in shape for the sport. ========================================================= RAF Innsworth Station Commanders Cup 2005/06 ========================================================= Scott Fuller: "The Station Commanders Cup was designed to promote physical activity and sport, mainly to those individuals who would be reluctant to take part. The competition consists of 8 events spread throughout the year. "RAF Innsworth also offers a mass participation cup that gives those personnel who find the competition intimidating a chance to get involved. The Physical Education staff design an activity similar to the event taking place and give individuals a target to achieve in their own time and at their own speed. For the indoor rowing event, individuals were asked to row a minimum of 1,000m and over 200 people came forward to achieve the distance. "On Thursday, 27th of October, we held the actual competition, which consisted of five individual races, 3,000m, 2,000m, 1,500m, 1,000m and 500m. We also ran a 4 x 1,000m relay. Altogether, we had six individual teams who came from sections around the camp. As always, the event attracted a wide variety of abilities, sexes and ages, but this factor didn't sway any of the races. "The event itself was brought to life by the race software and the ability to project the races onto a mass area of wall situated in the gymnasium. Not only did we have around 30 competitors, but the event managed to attract around 30 spectators who had come to support their respective sections. This added to the competition by creating a fantastic atmosphere from start to finish. Everyone who experienced this style of racing, with the visual stimulation provided, seemed full of praise and very interested in how it was achieved. "Setting up the system was extremely easy on the day beforehand. I did, however, have a few technical hiccups on the day. Luckily Simon Larkin from Concept 2 managed to help over the phone and solve the minor hitch. We smoothly progressed through the races without any technical problems at all. The system was easy and fun to use, even though I had only one previous run through and limited experience. "In summary, I feel the competition would have been a success without the race package; however, with it, it became a great success and made a fantastic event from start to finish." ========================================================= Schools Indoor Rowing League ========================================================= Round Two of the Schools Indoor Rowing League closes at 12:00 pm on November 7th. Years 6, 7, 8 and 9 are racing over 1,600m, while Years 10,11 and 12-13 compete over 3,200m. If you haven't yet signed up for the League, you can do so at any point, and it doesn't matter if you haven't taken part in previous rounds. For more information, or to sign up, go to http://www.concept2.co.uk/league/. ========================================================= Winter Team Relay League ========================================================= The deadline for Round 1 of the 2005/06 Winter Team Relay League is 12 p.m. on Monday, November 7th. For teams of four, the distance is 4,000m (4 x (2 x 500m)), while teams of eight have 8,000m (8 x (2 x 500m)) to deal with. Results and standings from the round will be up straight after the deadline. If you took part in last year's series, your login details are still valid for this year, and there's no need to sign up again. If you haven't yet signed up, doing so is a simple two-minute process. Don't worry if you haven't got time to take part in Round 1 as you can join in at anytime. The Winter Team Relay League website can be found at http://www.concept2.co.uk/8gp/ ========================================================= Forthcoming Races And Events ========================================================= Name: 9th BluRed IRC Date: 06/11/05 Venue: Grenville College, Bideford Distance: 2000m Organiser: Nigel Cann T: (h) 01237 473805 (w) 01237 428667 E: ncann@tycoelectronics.com W: http://www.concept2.co.uk/racing/calendar_uk.php?id=175 Name: British IRC Date: 20/11/05 Venue: National Indoor Arena, Nottingham Distance: 2000m Organiser: Concept 2 T: 0115 945 5522 E: birc@concept2.co.uk W: http://www.concept2.co.uk/wirc/ ____________________________________________________FEEDBACK You like? You dislike? You want to write something for the newsletter? Want to mock us on making a basic error? Make sure to tell us at editor@concept2.co.uk. 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