================================================================ INDOOR ROWING NEWSLETTER #151 ======================== 28-November-2006 ========================= _________________________________________________ C O N T E N T S 1. Concept2 British Indoor Rowing Championship 2. Birmingham Schools IRC 3. Concept2 European Open 4. Cartoon By Rog 5. New J18 Lwt World Record 6. SUNDOWNS Marathon Row 7. YouTube Video Competition 8. Concept2 Schools Video 9. Tel's Tales 10. Royal Navy and Royal Marines Indoor Rowing Championship 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. ========================================================= Concept2 British Indoor Rowing Championship ========================================================= The 2006 Concept2 British Indoor Rowing Championship took place on November 12th at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham. Although shifting to an earlier date, plus a few other factors, meant that attendance was slightly down on last year's record entry, there were still over 2,000 individuals racing on the day, plus nearly another 500 in the new and improved team events. The big race of the day saw Graham Benton "three-peat" in the Men's Open Hwt, becoming the first man to win three consecutive Open titles. To do so, however, he had to take on a formidably strong field. British rowing coach Jurgen Grobler, who received a Lifetime Achievement Award for his support of the event, bought along the world champion coxless four, as well as the rest of his Men's rowing squad, while also on the front row was European champion Phil Turnham and his basketball-muscled arms. Benton's traditional ferocious start saw him hit the front from pretty much the first stroke and after 300m he had established a small lead, which he gradually whiled out from there on. At the halfway stage it was already clear that the major battle was going to be for second and third. Single sculler Alan Campbell and Turnham were at the front of a tightly bunched pack, with Peter Reed from the coxless four and Matt Langridge from the eight all close behind. Benton crossed the line first in 5:46.7, while some good work early in the race from Campbell, allied with a strong finish, was enough to win him silver in 5:49.9. A huge finish from Langridge was just not enough to pip Turnham to bronze, with the latter finishing just four- tenths of a second ahead in a time of 5:50.5. Graham's time of 5:46.7 was a few seconds outside the championship record and four seconds off Matthew Pinsent's British record. Matthew's thoughts on the championship can be found at http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,28910-2451170,00.html. The most exciting Open race of the day was in the Men's Open Lwt. Mark Mitchell of the MAD Team IRC hit the front early on, but he was never able to shake off Scarborough's Bob Hewitt. With Mitchell having led all the way, Hewitt was just able to reel him in with less than 100m to go, winning in a time 6:21.0 with Mitchell just 6/10ths of a second back. Oliver Bottrell, from Ryde RC, put together a good final quarter to finish only just behind those two with a bronze medal time of 6:22.3. The Women's Open Hwt race saw Claire Abbey of Oxford RC and Jo Lyons from Worcester RC trade blows, before Abbey's finish saw her safely bag the gold in a time of 6:51.3. Lyons finished in 6:56.9, while Nina Jenkin of Star Club finished a bit further back in third with 7:05.0. The Women's Open Lwt race was dominated as expected by the University of London's Naomi Hoogesteger, who won in an excellent time of 7:09.0, well ahead of the rest of the field. There was a good battle behind her for the other medals, with Kerrie Trembling just holding off Rachel Willis to take the silver. The day also saw a number of World and championship records fall in the age category events. Barbara Pike from America smashed the Women's 65-69 Hwt time by over 16 seconds to set a new mark of 7:53.4, while both Women's 55-59 records fell, with Anna Bailey setting a new Hwt time of 7:28.0 and Susan Little a new lightweight one of 7:53.9. Additional championship records, meanwhile, were set by (deep breath) for the Men: Duncan Paterson (40-44 Lwt, 6:30.7), Andreas Van Tonder (45-49 Hwt, 6:05.7), Kevin Oxlade (45-49 Lwt, 6:36.9 2006), Rich Cureton (55-59 Lwt, 6:42.6), Tom Hinsby (60-64 Hwt, 6:42.6) and for the Women: Joan Van Blom (50-54 Lwt, 7:26.5), Luanne Mills (65-69 Lwt, 8:09.5), Katie Metalli (Junior 11, 484m), Alice Wharmby (Junior 12, 532m), Rachel Gamble-Flint (Junior 15, 1383m). The biggest cheers at the championship aren't just reserved for the fastest, however. John Hodgson was once again to be found lamenting the lack of competition in the Men's 90+ Lwt. John rowed a comfortable 11:06.2 at the age of 96, even throwing in a sprint finish at the end; if ever a rower could be described as an inspiration it's John, who's walking proof of the benefits that lifelong exercise brings. Also inspirational were the FES and Adaptive rowers who got some of the biggest applause of the day. The second race of the day provided some unwelcome drama, as Nigel Stevenson, racing in the 60-64 Hwt race, suffered a heart attack shortly into the race. Despite the fact that at one point his heart stopped completely, the speedy and expert response of the paramedics in attendance helped save his life. The doctors have said since then that that Nigel's episode could have happened at any time, and that the presence of the skilled paramedics made all the difference. Nigel has since made a good recovery and is back at home and we're sure everybody in the indoor rowing community joins with us in sending him our thoughts and best wishes. Each championship is an attempt to provide the best experience possible for both competitors and spectators and every year we do certain things differently, some of which succeed and some of which don't. If you attended the day, as either a competitor or spectator, and you can spare five minutes of your time, it'd be great if you can fill in the online survey at http://www.concept2.co.uk/survey/survey.php?surveyid=2. Full results for the championship can be found at http://www.concept2.co.uk/birc/results.php. We have race analysis and replays for the majority of races, although unfortunately data was lost for the machines on Row C in some of the earlier races. Competitors can also download a PDF certificate from the day, with their name, position and time on it from the Race Analysis page. Race Reports: http://www.concept2.co.uk/birc/reports.php Race Replays: http://www.concept2.co.uk/birc/replays.php Photographs: http://www.concept2.co.uk/birc/photographs.php Team Results: http://www.concept2.co.uk/birc/results_2006_team.php Last newsletter, we also offered a prize for the best video of the day that turned up on YouTube. We had a number of good entries, and in the end we couldn't decide between the "BIRC Montage" at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28AbOtHnZy4 and the "Free Spirits at BIRC 2006" at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAzA7FVniNw so we'll be in contact with both of these authors. If you didn't win, bad luck, but there's a further YouTube competition (with a much better prize) later on in the newsletter. To see all the other entries, go to http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=BIRC&search_sort=video_date_uploaded ========================================================= Birmingham Schools Indoor Rowing Championship ========================================================= The first Birmingham wide schools IRC took place over the 23rd and 24th November at Nechells Sports Centre. Open to all primary and secondary schools in the city, the two events attracted over 600 competitors along with visitors from across the country. The following report is written by Neil Mackintosh, the President of the Birmingham Schools Rowing Association. "Medals were presented to secondary pupils by former Olympian and four times World Champion Tom Kay, whilst Olympic silver medallist Guin Batton presented prizes to the year 6 primary competitors. "Schools entered eight pupils per year group to race the November challenge for the Concept2 Schools Indoor Rowing League. The final race of the event was an ad hoc competition between two teams made up of teachers, ARA coaches and Concept2 staff, one team captained by Guin, the other by Tom – Tom's team won! "With Birmingham having had over £500,000 investment into schools rowing we expect next year's event to rival the British IRC in terms of numbers and be one of the biggest mass participation events in the country. "The IRC attracted visitors from London Youth Rowing, the Youth Sport Trust, and the World Class Start programme. "Birmingham Schools Rowing Association would like to thank Concept2 for all their help and support behind the scenes running up to the event as well as all their help providing the equipment and expertise on the day – we could not have done it without them!" Full results for the two days can be found at http://www.concept2.co.uk/schools/birmingham_schools_irc.php. ========================================================= Concept2 European Open ========================================================= The next big event after the British IRC is the Concept2 European Open. Held once again in Amsterdam, the race takes place on December 16th. British competitors can enter for free at http://www.concept2.co.uk/euro/entryform.php - but make sure you do so before the entry deadline of 5 p.m. on December 8th. If you're planning on going, there's a post-race dinner afterwards hosted by Nereus Boat Club. The dinner is limited to 100 people, of which 20 tickets are reserved at the moment for British competitors on a first come, first served basis. If you'd like to attend the post-race dinner, or if you want more information about it, then send an email to nkir@nereus.nl. If you're not able to attend, there will be a live video broadcast from the event (http://www.nereus.nl/euro- open2006/eng/?p=video), and we hope to get results, reports and photographs up as quickly as possible on the day. ========================================================= Cartoon By Rog ========================================================= http://www.concept2.co.uk/email/images/cartoon151.jpg ========================================================= New J18 Lwt World Record ========================================================= One person who will be competing in Amsterdam is the Danish phenom Henrik Stephansen. Henrik broke his own J18 Lwt world record recently at the Open Sealand Championship in Kalundborg, Denmark, rowing an amazing 6:06.5. This is more than ten seconds faster than anybody else his age and weight has ever rowed. A few weeks back Henrik covered 1,997m in a six minutes test. While he was not weighed in and the row was on Slides, he was also wearing a helmet for VO2 uptake, a drip in his arm for lactate and easy blood sampling as well as full heart rate equipment. The fastest lightweight time in history is Elia Luini's 6:02.6. If Henrik keeps on improving, not only will he surely have this target in his sights, but also that of becoming the first Lightweight rower ever to go under six minutes for 2,000m. ========================================================= SUNDOWNS Marathon Row ========================================================= Marc Smith: "Those of you who are regular readers of the Rowing News may recall that on Tuesday, 14th November I was aiming to row a marathon at the Village Hotel Bromborough in aid of the SUNDOWNS, a Birkenhead based charity whose overall aim is to provide support for people with Downs Syndrome and their families on the Wirral. "The row was completed in a time of three hours, four minutes and 39 seconds and, even though I felt quite comfortable that I would always complete the distance, there were one or two hairy moments, particularly in the last 2,000m when cramp set into the adductor muscles of both legs quite badly. I was surprised at this for two reasons; firstly I was taking on fluids on a regular basis, and secondly I have never experienced cramp either in that area or of that magnitude before. At one stage I was rowing using arm power only and its at this point I must say a personal thank you to the Village Leisure Manager Michael Povall for all of his assistance; it was his knowledge and expertise that enabled me to overcome the cramp, get the legs going again, and complete the row. "I was particularly pleased with the time of just over three hours especially as this was my first rowing marathon. What was more pleasing and satisfying though was the awareness and publicity afforded to SUNDOWNS, particularly by the media, and I know that this is a charity that will continue to reach out to others with Downs Syndrome children and help those children achieve a better quality of life. "I would like to say a huge, massive thank you to all who supported me by donating to SUNDOWNS including friends and colleagues, local businesses, to Sir Jimmy Saville for his very generous sponsorship and also the staff at Concept2 for not only their commercial sponsorship but also their personal touch. "Finally if you are going to row a marathon then don't do what I did 24 hours before the event and read Terry O'Neill's comments on what is easier: rowing a marathon or running a marathon! (http://www.concept2.co.uk/training/tels_tales.php?id=33) There was I looking for that final piece of the jigsaw to enable me to maintain momentum only to read that a rower such as Terry would not consider rowing a marathon for all the tea in China; probably not the best form of mental preparation!" ========================================================= YouTube Video Competition ========================================================= Concept2 US, in partnership with Row2k.com, has launched a video creation contest. The rules are simple - make a video based around the Concept2 Indoor Rower and upload it to www.youtube.com. You have until February 15th to submit your work - so you have plenty of time to become the Steven Spielberg of the rowing world. The competition is open to anybody worldwide, and the prize is either a complete set of eight C2 Dreissigacker Sweep Oars or a new Concept2 Indoor Rower Model E. For more information including complete contest rules, visit the contest home page at http://www.row2k.com/features/features.cfm?action=read&ID=301 ========================================================= Concept2 Schools Video ========================================================= Part of Concept2's sponsorship for the November 2006 Youth Sport Trust National School and Sport Partnerships' Conference, involved creating a short five minute video presentation. Starring Sir Steve Redgrave, the video covers some of the ways in which the indoor rowing machine has been used successfully in schools to help pupils achieve their potential. The video has now been posted online, and you can view it at: http://www.concept2.co.uk/schools/video.php If you would like further information on the video, the conference or any aspect of how indoor rowing can be successfully integrated into schools please contact Tom Kay in our Education Department on tomk@concept2.co.uk or 0115 969 4325. ========================================================= Tel's Tales ========================================================= Tel's Tales is the column written by three-times Olympic Rowing Coach Terry O'Neill. If you've got a question you'd like to ask Terry, send it to terryo@concept2.co.uk. Just over a year ago Sir Steve Redgrave came up with the idea of the Liverpool 8. This was to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Toxteth riots. The Toxteth postcode is Liverpool 8 and the idea was to take some young men from this deprived area and get them into a crew to race at Henley, the playground of the privileged. The Dirty Dozen were a group of ex American footballers who formed themselves into a rowing eight also to race at Henley. The rationale for this was that these were big strong athletes whose sheer power would overcome their technical shortcomings. Both of these were unsuccessful, the Liverpool 8 failed in its attempt to qualify for Henley and the Dirty Dozen were soundly beaten by a less powerful but technically proficient crew. Seeing how well Graham Benton, Phil Turnham and Stuart Honor did at BIRC brought this to mind. These, amongst others, have become funded athletes on World Class Start because of their athletic ability. On the rowing machine at least they have proven that they have the engine to beat the best, albeit that at the moment they lack the specific boat moving skills to fulfil their potential. Most oarsmen that make it to the Olympics have about eight to ten years rowing experience behind them, which means they started their preparation while at school. A talent identification scheme, which identifies raw athletic ability at an early age and then directs it, seems eminently sensible. Identifying athletic talent in adults although not impossible is far less likely to prove successful in terms of Olympic participation. Some World Class Start adult athletes have made the team but these were identified while already in the sport either in rowing clubs or at university; we are still waiting for someone off of the street to make it big time. A selection process that is heavily biased toward the technical aspect of rowing compounds the difficulties. Although this year at the trials candidates had to complete a test on the rowing machine before the water time trial, racing 5 kilometres in either a single scull or pair is at the technical end of the sport. I have known oarsmen who have won world championship medals in an eight or a coxed four who, if required to scull or race a pair, were more likely to end up in the water rather than on it. The scheme is still relatively new and may need some tweaking if we are to find new adult talent; if not I can't see any of the BIRC heroes making it to Beijing. For the sake of Graham, Phil and Stuart I hope I am proved wrong. ========================================================= Royal Navy and Royal Marines Indoor Rowing Championship ========================================================= Thanks to Lt. Kevin Anderson for sending in the following report on the Royal Navy IRC: "The annual Royal Navy and Royal Marines Indoor Rowing Championship took place on November 8th at HMS Sultan in Gosport. The Championship consists of the usual 2,000m individual racing, and a one- minute sprint but, in keeping with all the Services' ethos of teamwork, the main event is always the 4,000m 'coxed fours' event. Usually, all events are very keenly contested and this year was no exception, despite numbers being a little down on previous events due both to the current tempo of operations - many of the Service's best indoor rowers are Royal Marines currently away in Afghanistan – and the event's proximity to the British IRC. This took place only three days after the Navy IRC, but didn't deter a number of rowers putting in some very good times. Fastest on the day was Marine Shaun Hickson, a Commando service with the Commando Helicopter Force at Royal Naval Air Station, Yeovilton – winning the 30+ event in a time of 6:18.8. Shaun nearly repeated this feat at the British IRC, rowing himself into seventh place with a time only half a second slower. He also won the minute sprint competition covering 372m, and leading Petty Officer 'Dick' Treacy from Gosport by 15m. Third in the sprints was Marine Forrest ('Row, Forrest, Row!), after having won the Men's Open competition. Indeed, the Royals won all the Men's Heavyweight titles, with Corporal Henderson, who had driven down from Arbroath with his son the day before, narrowly pipping last year's 40+ winner, Lieutenant-Commander Jules Stevenson, to ensure a clean sweep. "The sailors didn't let the Royals have it all their own way however, with some determined rowing from the young officers under training at Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, ensuring that the Men's Lightweight and Ladies' Open titles went West. Fastest lady was Chief Petty Officer Carol Mundy from RNAS Yeovilton. The Aircraft Engineer flew through the field to register a time of 8:14.4 in winning the Women's 30+ race. "The team event was one of the most closely-fought in years, with the top three teams finishing within 30 seconds of each other. The PTIs from HMS Sultan started out very strongly, as expected, but it rapidly became clear that the real interest was whether the Scullers and Rowers of BRNC would overcome the Royal Marines from Yeovilton, all of whom are 'dry boys'. Would the years of hard-won technique triumph over the raw power of the elite soldiers? In a race every bit as close as that epic Leander-v-Royce's Gym 100k challenge, the lead swapped almost as often as the rowers. Changeovers were slick and there were never more than a few metres in it. The last 100 metres were the tightest in racing memory and the spectators had to wait for the screen to confirm that, this time, technique had won the day. The young officers, ably assisted by Ancient Mariner Jules Stevenson, had set the standard, winning in 11 minutes 26 seconds, just 3 seconds faster than the Royals." ========================================================= Forthcoming Races And Events ========================================================= Name: 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 Name: 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 Name: 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/ Name: Surrey IRC Date: 13/01/07 Venue: Whitgift School, Haling Park, South Croydon CR2 Distance: 3000m, 805m, 3.5 Minute Relay Organiser: Neil Ridge T: 020 8669 8510 E: neilridge@googlemail.com Other: Entry form available at http://www.concept2.co.uk/racing/calendar_uk.php?id=196 Name: English IRC Date: 28/01/07 Venue: Manchester Velodrome Distance: 2,000m Organiser: Rebecca Caygill T: 07815 788215 E: rebecca_caygill@hotmail.com W: http://www.concept2.co.uk/racing/calendar_uk.php?id=184 ____________________________________________________FEEDBACK You like? 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