================================================================ INDOOR ROWING NEWSLETTER #142 ======================== 04-July-2006 ========================= _________________________________________________ C O N T E N T S 1. Through Hell and High Water Competition 2. Cartoon By Rog 3. Concept2 Shop 4. Concept2 Schools League 5. Health Club Games 6. National Indoor Rowing Marathon Day Results 7. Chosen Hill School English Channel Challenge 8. 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 ========================================================= Through High and High Water Competition ========================================================= Earlier on this year, TV Presenter Ben Fogle and Olympic legend James Cracknell decided to attempt one of the world's toughest sporting challenges: to row across the Atlantic, unaided, while looking like Robinson Crusoe. The whole thing was filmed and shown on the BBC a while back, and made for some excellent viewing, giving a real insight into what 40 plus days at sea does for both your mental state and your skincare regime. Now you can relive their journey via the medium of DVD. "Through Hell and High Water", is released on 24th July, and is available to preorder now. However, we're able to offer you the chance to win a free copy in our fab new competition. The way it works is as follows: James and Ben have agreed to take part in a Question and Answer interview with this newsletter. What we want you to do is send in your question for either or both of James and Ben. We'll then forward on your questions to the two of them to answer. Either the best question, or one randomly chosen from a hat, we haven't decided yet, will then go to win the DVD. Anyway; that clunky paragraph aside, the point is not only can you win a free DVD, but you can also quiz a double Olympic gold medallist and the star of Countryfile. Send your question, which can be on anything you'd like, although the Atlantic Row would be a good place to start, to editor@concept2.co.uk anytime before July 15th. To preorder the DVD, visit http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000FS9OKE/ ========================================================= Cartoon By Rog ========================================================= http://www.concept2.co.uk/email/images/cartoon142.jpg ========================================================= Concept2 Shop ========================================================= There are few things the Indoor Rowing News loves more than the hurly burly larks of shopping. We learnt the art at a young age from our grandmother, one of the few people to see it as a full contact sport: shopping and rucking. Now that Grandmother Indoor Rowing News is getting on in years, no longer does her war cry echo quite so regularly through the corridors of Dorothy Perkins. Fortunately, however, that has coincided with a new front opening up in her war for a bargain: online shopping, especially (wait for it) the new Concept2 Shop at http://www.c2shop.co.uk. The new shop has a load of improvements over the old one, including: - User accounts, so that you no have to enter your details every time you shop - User reviews of products - More information about each product - The ability to search by manufacturer - Improved checkout facility - Quite a lot more besides We also have a load more product on the shop, including lots of Gaiam stuff (http://www.c2shop.co.uk/products/other.php?brand=gaiam), virtually the full range of Rudy Project Sunglasses (http://www.c2shop.co.uk/products/rudy_project.php), more heart rate monitors than you can shake a snake at (http://www.c2shop.co.uk/products/heart_rate_equipment.php) and, in the near future, some snazzy Helly Hansen gear. Plus, if you buy an Indoor Rower online, you currently get either a free Indoor Rowing Mat or a free Heart Rate Interface. Plus, if you then go on to spend a further £100, you can fly to one of nine destinations in America or Europe for free! (http://www.c2shop.co.uk/shop/flights.php). It's also worth noting that all prices on the Concept2 Shop include postage and packing. Anyway, we'll be adding to and improving the shop over the next couple of months, so if there's anything you'd like to see on there, or if you have any criticisms, send them to us at webmaster@concept2.co.uk. ========================================================= Jessie Welsh ========================================================= Jessie (Jane) Welsh of Canterbury continues on her World record trail with a new time for the Women's 2,000m 80-89 Lwt. Here is a little of Jane's extensive sporting background. As young as 14 years old, she came third in the Senior Midland Counties Cross-Country championship. A week later, her bronze medal was taken from her as a coach protested, 16 years being the minimum age. Jane continued to represent Midland Counties at athletics, hockey and netball. When she was called up for HM Forces in 1942, she represented the Army Inter-Services and Combined Services in those sports as well. Her big moment came when she was selected as a GB Probable for the 1948 Olympic Games in the new event for women, the Pentathlon. After two years of hard training, all her hopes were dashed when the Olympic Committee, in their wisdom, decided that they would wait until Helsinki in 1952 before introducing the sport. Jane carried on with sports and athletics, until her marriage to Harry. She finally took up rowing as part of her rehabilitation programme following a bilateral total hip replacement at the age of 71 years. ========================================================= Concept2 Schools League ========================================================= Launched in September 2005 the Concept2 Schools Indoor Rowing League is a national tournament in which boys and girls race for their school in year group teams, in relay format on one Concept 2 Indoor Rower. In its inaugural year it attracted entries from 325 teams. The tournament consists of six rounds, three in the winter term and three in the spring. Each round has a different race format, and each challenge can be completed within time allocated for a lesson. Team personnel can change from round to round, and the challenges can be completed at any time during each month. Teams race in their own school and submit their results via the Concept2 Schools Indoor Rowing League website. Round by round and overall results are then available for each league within seconds of each round closing. Entry is free, and teams can join at any point. All you need to do is register your team online, a simple two-minute process, and make sure you enter your results before the closing date of each round. The first round takes place in September, so make sure you sign up now at http://www.concept2.co.uk/league/index.php. If you took part last year, you'll need to do so again this time around, although we have simplified the process this time around. ========================================================= Health Club Games ========================================================= The Health Club Games takes place on the 21st October and is a fantastic opportunity for all Concept 2 rowers to enter in preparation for the British Championships on the 12th November. Not only can you enter individual or team rowing challenges, but you can also take on other events from running, biking, to the hardcore Superthon, a combination of six events. Once registered you will receive a welcome pack which includes steps to completing the challenge, training plans, goodies from sponsors as well as going in to a prize draw to have the chance of winning everything from holidays to Concept2 Indoor Rowers. Enter now by visiting http://www.healthclubgames.com ========================================================= National Indoor Rowing Marathon Day ========================================================= Every April, people traipse over to London in order to run around its cobbled streets and compete in the London Marathon. We've never understood the attraction, not only as we've had a mortal dislike of Jimmy Saville ever since he refused to fix it for us to become the sixth Jackson, but because it takes place on the same day as National Indoor Rowing Marathon Day, meaning you can complete your 42,195 metres without having to leave the comfort of your gym/garage/local shopping centre with a bucket and a sign. This year, 111 people took part in the half marathon and 61 in the full two eggs and bacon version. All the results can be found here: http://www.concept2.co.uk/marathon/results.php. Special congratulations go to Ken Pack from Next Generation, who broke the 70-79 Hwt marathon record in a time of 3:15:08. ========================================================= Chosen Hill School English Channel Challenge ========================================================= Chosen Hill Secondary School in Churchdown, Gloucester held a fundraising event to raise money for more sports equipment recently and Sports Development Officer Vicky Smith sent in the following report: "The buzz of excitement surrounding the event had steadily increased over the week so when all the participants arrived at lunch time ready to go in their PE kits, it was no surprise. "On the morning of the event, Concept2's Simon Larkin had come down to Chosen Hill School to set up the Rowers and we had linked them up to a big screen which showed which team was in the lead and how far the other teams were away. We also had put up a big sound system so that we could play motivational music like the 'Rocky' sound track. "After a quick warm up, both staff and pupils got into their teams and collected by their Rowers. The sports hall was quickly filling up with supporters ready to see the start. Many had paid their £1 to guess which team was going to win and in what time they would finish and, with the promise of prizes, stakes were high! With motivational music blaring the 35,000m race of the distance from Dover to Calais began. During the first 5,000m all ten teams (six pupil teams and four staff teams) were level, but as the White Cliffs of Dover drifted out of sight, the PE staff started to pull away from the pack and a fierce battle began to unfold amongst the others for second and third place. "At the 17,000m point the PE staff started to rest on their laurels a little, and were given quite a shock when they realised that at 20,000m Team 4 –The Thunderbolts - had caught up and were piling the pressure on! In third position The Hurricanes, Science, Maths and Technology Geeks and the Wannabe Redgraves were fighting hard with each team barely giving an inch. "At the 30,000m stage everyone was really starting to hurt but the motivation of a big BBQ at the finish gave everyone the incentive to put one last big effort in. It was an exciting sprint to the finish between the PE staff and The Thunderbolts with the PE staff winning by just one minute, finishing in a rather respectable 2 hours and 9 minutes. "Both pupils and staff had a great time and, although very tired, were still smiling at the end. Chosen Hill School would like to take this opportunity to thank Concept2 for all their help and support in arranging this brilliant event. "The final finishing times for all of the teams are as follows: 1st – The PE Heroes in 2hrs 9mins 2nd – The Thunderbolts in 2hrs 10mins 3rd – The Science/Maths/Technology Geeks in 2hrs 14mins Joint 4th – The Hurricanes and The Wannabe Redgraves in 2hrs 16mins 6th – The Tornadoes in 2hrs 22mins 7th – Art/Music/English/Humanities in 2hrs 27mins 8th – The Blazers in 2hrs 40mins 9th – The Stormers in 2hrs 59mins 10th – N/A The Warriors machine broke down half way through so they all joined other teams!" If you been involved in an indoor rowing event, make sure you send your report in to editor@concept2.co.uk. ========================================================= Forthcoming Races And Events ========================================================= Name: Evesham Golden Mile Date: 08/07/06 Venue: Evesham Rowing Club Distance: 1,609m Organiser: Eddie Fletcher E: eddie@fletchersportscience.co.uk Other: Entry Form available from http://www.concept2.co.uk/racing/calendar_uk.php?id=180 Name: Castle Combe 1 Rowathlon Date: 23/07/06 Venue: Castle Combe Distance: 5km row, 30km cycle, 7km run or 2km row, 16km cycle, 3km run Organiser: Rowing Triathlon E: info@rowingtriathlon.com W: http://www.concept2.co.uk/rowathlon/ ____________________________________________________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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