================================================================ INDOOR ROWING NEWSLETTER #149 ======================== 30-October-2006 ========================= _________________________________________________ C O N T E N T S 1. Concept2 British Indoor Rowing Championship 2. Readers' Letters: John Armstrong 3. Cartoon By Rog 4. Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway 5. ergTour 6. Indoor Rowing Leagues 7. Nottinghamshire IRC 8. Devon Special School Games 9. Fundraising Events 10. Birmingham Secondary School pupils at the Eton Rowing Courses 11. Readers' Letters: Herbert Leah 12. 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 ========================================================= Concept2 British Indoor Rowing Championship ========================================================= The 2006 Concept2 British IRC takes place on Sunday, November 12th at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham. Entry is free for all spectators, and it's an opportunity to see everybody from Olympic champions to 96 years olds compete over the same playing field. If you can't make it, the British IRC website (http://www.concept2.co.uk/birc/) will be updated constantly throughout the course of the day. Race results will be posted online as soon as possible after each race, and we're hoping that "as soon as possible" means about 5-10 minutes. We'll also have a regularly updated report throughout the course of the day as well as photographs. We'll be providing race replays and stroke graphs for everybody competing, although this may not be available until the Monday or Tuesday. Competitors will also be able to download a PDF certificate from the Results page, with their name, time, event and position on it. Race Timetable ################### The race timetable can now be found at http://www.concept2.co.uk/birc/events_schedule.php. Get The Results Sent To Your Mobile ################### You can now sign up to get race results sent to your mobile. You can sign up for as many results as you want, with the aim being to get the time and position sent out about 10 minutes after the finish of each race. To sign up, go to http://www.concept2.co.uk/birc/events.php. Making Lightweight ################### If you're planning on racing at lightweight at either the British IRC or any other race, then make sure you read the article about the subject at: http://www.concept2.co.uk/birc/news.php?story=making_lightweight. Written by three-times World Champion Tom Kay, who spent 15 years as an international lightweight oarsman, the article provides a good overview of the subject and covers some important dos (and some more important don'ts). Buy Your Own Race Photo ################### The snappers from PhotoDigital will once again be on hand to take a picture of everybody racing on the day. You'll be able to purchase a photograph within 24 hours of the end of the championship from their website at http://www.photodigital.co.uk. Race Machine Offer ################### All the race machines used at the championship are on sale to anybody who can collect them on the day. This year we will be using the brand new Model D with PM4. The price will be £899 as opposed to the retail price of £1045 and the machines are available on a first come first served basis meaning that, even if you're not competing, if you can get over to Birmingham on November 12th for about 5:30 p.m., you can pick up a barely used Indoor Rower for £146 off the normal price. To book a machine, you can either contact Concept2 on 0115 945 5522 during office hours on Monday to Friday, or you can download the application form from: http://www.concept2.co.uk/birc/news.php?story=birc_machines. ========================================================= Readers' Letters: John Armstrong ========================================================= John Armstrong: "I use my Indoor Rower outside as I prefer the fresh air and row better and for longer. I have developed a cover for the workings of the flywheel end to keep any rain off. It is based on a clothes airer sealed with a garden seat cover." Presumably, when John does want to dry his clothes, he just has to adjust the damper setting. Honk. If you've modified your machine, or in fact done anything interesting on an Indoor Rower at all, make sure you send an email to editor@concept2.co.uk. ========================================================= Cartoon By Rog ========================================================= http://www.concept2.co.uk/email/images/caroon149.jpg ========================================================= Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway ========================================================= The Indoor Rowing News' grandmother had a thing for Jim Davidson, which meant that our Easter holidays were spent watching faded VHS copies of The Generation Game and Big Break. When you add to this the vast amount of swede (long story) we were forced to eat at the time and you can see why we boycotted Saturday evening TV as soon as we reached the age of majority. As such, the following story, along with virtually every single name in it, makes no sense whatsoever to us, but may to some: "You may have caught a glimpse recently of the Concept2 on Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway on ITV. The duo faced an Oxford and Cambridge-style boat race in their weekly Ant versus Dec challenge. "Dec recruited a celebrity team of Graeme Le Saux, Holly Willoughby and Shane Lynch while Ant joined forces with Jenny Frost, David Seaman and Stefan Booth. Both teams trained during the preceding week on Concept2 Indoor Rowers and then took to the water for the Saturday showdown. "James Cracknell gave the teams some last-minute advice before starting the race. Ant's team got off to a flying start, which was too much for Dec's team to compete with, leaving Team Ant to win by a length and draw the series at 2-2." ========================================================= Erg Tour ========================================================= If you have a Concept2 Indoor Rower with PM3, a PC computer in view of your Indoor Rower and a small amount of technical knowledge then Kevin Dahlhausen has created a programme that should help to liven up your workouts. ergTour allows you to row various courses, including the famous Head of the Charles in Boston, USA by using the Indoor Rower to guide Google Earth along the course. To download the programme, which is available for free, or for more information, go to http://powertwenty.com/kpd/blog/?cat=9. ========================================================= Indoor Rowing Leagues ========================================================= Winter Team Relay League ###################### There are now three separate Indoor Rowing Leagues running at the moment, catering to every possible category. The Granddaddy of them all is the Winter Team Relay League, now running for the third year. Originating in Denmark, the Winter Team Relay League is now in its third year online, and last year 363 teams took part from 24 different countries. The Winter Team Relay League is a worldwide tournament in which rowers race as a team in relay format on one Concept2 Indoor Rower. As well as overall standings, results are also available for the separate national leagues. There are two separate events for teams of eight and teams of four rowers. There is no need for teams to travel to a central location to compete, instead the teams simply race at a location of their choosing and submit their results via the website. The tournament consists of five rounds that take place each month from October to February. Each round has a different race format. The first round is 2 x (8 x 500 metres) or 2 x (4 x 500 metres) and the deadline for entry is 12 p.m. on Monday, November 6th. The Winter Team Relay League website is http://www.concept2.co.uk/8gp/ University League ###################### New for this year is the Concept2 British University League, which operates on similar principles to the Winter Team Relay League. Here though, the two separate categories are Premiership and Championship. The Premiership is an open category designed to primarily cater for university rowing clubs as their training progresses through the winter months. The format is based on developing the endurance required for on-water racing in the summer months, but it is also open to any other university club teams who wish to participate. The Championship, meanwhile, specifically excludes university rowing club teams and is based on a much shorter, more dynamic sprint format. It is designed to deliver a great cross-training platform for sportspeople of all backgrounds throughout the winter months. The deadline for the first round is also 12 p.m. on Monday, November 6th, with Premiership teams having to do 8 x (2 x 500m) and Championship teams 8 x (4 x 125m). The University League website is http://www.concept2.co.uk/universities/ Concept2 Schools Indoor Rowing League ###################### Now in its second year, the Schools Indoor Rowing League is going great guns. There are now over 1000 teams signed up, with more coming in each day. Round One last month saw 476 teams enter a time, meaning that 3,808 people took part. Hopefully, we'll be able to surpass the 5,000 person mark by the end of the competition. The deadline for Round Two is midnight on Monday, November 6th. Teams from Years 6,7,8 and 9 have to do 8 x (2 x 100m), while teams from Years 10,11,12-13 and Teachers/Parents teams have to do 8 x (2 x 200m). The Schools League website is at http://www.concept2.co.uk/league/index.php. Make sure you check out the News page at http://www.concept2.co.uk/league/news.php for all the latest information. ========================================================= Nottinghamshire IRC ========================================================= The Nottinghamshire IRC took place at Newark Rowing Club on the 21st of October 2006. Racing over a mile, the day saw three British records set by Roy Brook (5:15.6, Men's 50-59 Lwt), Christina Nugent-Lee (5:54.6, Women's 30-39 Lwt) and Patricia Gould (6:41.5, Women's 60-69 Hwt). Full results from the race can be found at http://www.concept2.co.uk/racing/result.php?race=nottinghamshire2006 and there'll be a report as well once organiser Graham Price gets back from the seaside. ========================================================= Devon Special School Games ========================================================= A record number of schools and pupils took part in this year's Devon Special School Games hosted by Devon's Disability Working Group at the College of St Mark and St John for the fourth consecutive year. The games attracted over 240 pupils from 15 different special schools to take part in five different sports: football, rowing, tennis, hockey and boccia. The inclement weather did not detract from the fun and involvement that the children enjoyed. Because all the games were so popular some of the pupils entered more than one sport, football had 20 teams with 160 participants, rowing attracted 80 pupils, tennis had 26 pupils, hockey had 28 pupils and boccia had 20 participating. Sharon Letori from Active Devon and organiser of the rowing events said 'The rowing events have seen the numbers grow from two Indoor Rowers in the first year (with a rather lengthy queue of eager participants!) to ten machines in the second year and at the 2006 Games twenty machines being fully occupied! 2007 is set to be even bigger to keep up with demand and growing interest. The structure of the competition continues to improve with coaching sessions taking place before the Games and, very importantly, opportunities to access this sport are beginning to happen after the Games. We now have a well established structure for ensuring both wheelchair users and non-wheelchair users can access this great sport not only for the benefits of the participants health and enjoyment aspect but the potential competition structure within their local community' ========================================================= Fundraising Events ========================================================= Every week, people up and down the country are using the Indoor Rower to raise money for good causes. We're in the process of developing a new Fundraising section of our website which will help to promote and write up these events, as well as assist you in getting your own underway. Make sure, then, that you send us your stories and reports so that we can get them up for the entire world to see, just like the events below. Jenny Humphreys ################### Jenny Humphreys finished off the final 5,000m of her Million Metre Row at St Luke's Church in Battersea yesterday. She has spent the last 40 weeks rowing 5000m five times a week in her bedroom, raising £5,000 in the process, which is being split between two funds, the organ fund at St Luke's (where she sings in two choirs) and Breast Cancer Care. For more information, or to donate online, go to http://www.stlukesonline.org.uk/organfund/million/ Row For Leukaemia ################### After a close friend was diagnosed with Acute Leukaemia, Stuart Farley and five friends got together to raise money for the Davidson Ward in the Kings College Hospital, London where their friend is being treated. Starting at 8pm on Friday, 27th October, the six of them took turns to row constantly all the way through until 8pm the next day. Despite some tough times, all six members of the team completed the full 24 hours and they managed to row a whopping 313,000 metres. Far more impressively, they managed to raise over £3,500 in the process. You can read more about the row, or donate online at http://www.justgiving.com/rowforleukaemia. Mark Smith ################### On Tuesday, 14th November at 5 p.m. Mark Smith will be aiming to row a Marathon at the Village Hotel Bromborough. The row will be in aid of SUNDOWNS, a Birkenhead based charity whose overall aim is to provide support for people with Downs Syndrome and their families on the Wirral. Over the past few years Mark's son Callum has benefited greatly from the support and activities arranged by SUNDOWNS including trips to Gulliver's World, Centre Parcs and Ribby Hall. If you'd like to, you can sponsor Mark by sending a cheque, Postal Order or Bankers Order to SUNDOWNS, 46 Hamilton Square, Birkenhead, Wirral, CH41 5AR. ========================================================= Birmingham Secondary School pupils at the Eton Rowing Courses ========================================================= Where there's the opportunity to make the transfer from Indoor Rowing onto the water then youngsters will want to give it a go. Six Birmingham Secondary School pupils joined the Eton Rowing Courses earlier this summer and put their dry rowing skills to good use. As beginners to on water activity, having rowed on the Indoor Rower gave them all an added advantage in their groups. Check out the Schools section of our website to read about their experiences rowing on the River Thames and Dorney Lake, the venue used for the recent World Rowing Championships and for the Olympic Games in 2012: http://www.concept2.co.uk/schools/birmingham_onwater.php ========================================================= Readers' Letters: Herbert Leah ========================================================= I first came across the Concept2 Indoor Rower when visiting the Sports/Recreational Industry Exhibition at the NEC while I was waiting for a hip joint replacement and was on the lookout for a suitable piece of weight bearing aerobic equipment. The Indoor Rower stood head and shoulders above everything else. I entered the 1992 British IRC at Shiplake College. I was a short heavyweight, just outside the lightweight division. To my surprise I took second place. With the exception of 2001 when I had flu I took part in every championship up to 2003. I was fortunate to gain two Silvers, one Bronze and eight Golds. However, my high point was setting a new 70-79 Lwt World Record in 1998. This was eventually bettered by half a second by Geoffrey Knight at the WIRC 2005. That's the ego trip out of the way! Since then, I have unfortunately suffered an interruption in my training. I first felt something was wrong with my rowing in 2004 but could not decide what this was and persisted with preparing for the British IRC. As time progressed I became conscious about a problem with my head and neck. My technique had never been textbook, with one shortened leg due to a hip replacement and two elbow joints having a limited range of flexion and extension as a result of what could be loosely called a sports injury. An involuntary movement of the head occurred at the drive with a forceful turning to the right. I tried to anticipate the movement even to turning to the left but to no avail. I decided to stop trying and gave up rowing. Imagine how many times the head forcibly involuntarily rotates during the course of a 2,000m race. It also reacted the same during some weight training exercises. At this point the problem did not occur at any other time. Listed below in chronological order is the progress of the condition: Sept 04: Stopped rowing but still able to ride a bike with slight intrusion on steep hills. Nov 04: Biking is still ok; had one session of stretching/manipulation by Specialist Therapist - did experience some easing of tension, overall situation did not improve. Feb 05: Stopped cycling now becoming more invasive in everyday living. April 05: Had MRI Scan revealing a prolapsed cervical disc Sept 05: Started conservative treatment - traction/physio. By this time the problem was widespread throughout the normal day. Jan 06: No improvement, appointment made to see neurosurgeon. May 06: The diagnosis is the problem has nothing to do with prolapsed disc, but instead is a condition known as Spasmodic Torticollis which can be treated by injections of botulinum (botox). Referred to neurologist. Sept 06: See the neurologist for an excellent consultation; he explains my condition and treatments. The plus point is he owns an Indoor Rower. He gives me my first three injections in the neck area there and then. In less than a week I have experienced significant reduction in spasm and the accompanied intense pain that I could only get relief from by lying on the floor on my right side. My involuntary head movements are reduced to a degree. My next injections will be in three months. Apparently, this condition is one of 11 that come under the heading of DYSTONIA. A term used to describe neurological disorders that result in certain involuntary abnormal movements and postures. The injections act on the junctions of nerves and muscles preventing the release of one of the chemical messengers called acetylcholine from the nerve endings, which helps to reduce contractions making the muscles weaker. ========================================================= Forthcoming Races And Events ========================================================= Race: British IRC Date: 12/11/06 Venue: National Indoor Arena, Birmingham Distance: 2,000m Organiser: Concept 2 T: 0115 945 5522 F: 0115 945 5533 E: birc@concept2.co.uk W: www.concept2.co.uk/birc/ Race: BluRed IRC Date: 26/11/06 Venue: Grenville College, Bideford Distance: 2000m, Junior events Organiser: Nigel Cann T: (H) 01237 473805 (W) 01237 428667 F: 01237 428566 E: ncann@tycoelectronics.com W: http://www.concept2.co.uk/racing/calendar_uk.php?id=194 Race: Welsh IRC Date: 02/12/06 Venue: Channel View Centre, Cardiff Distance: 2,000m Organiser: Mike Hnatiw E: mhnatiw@cardiff.gov.uk W: http://www.concept2.co.uk/racing/calendar_uk.php?id=191 Race: Irish IRC Date: 10/12/06 Venue: University College Dublin Distance: 2,000m Organiser: John Holland T: +353 (0)87 259 2755 E: irishindoors@eircom.net W: http://www.concept2.co.uk/racing/calendar_uk.php?id=192 Race: Concept2 European Open Date: 16/12/06 Venue: Sporthallen Zuid, Amsterdam Distance: 2,000m Organiser: Concept2 T: 0115 945 5522 F: 0115 945 5533 E: info@concept2.co.uk W: www.concept2.co.uk/euro/ ____________________________________________________FEEDBACK You like? 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