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News 2000: News in the "Noughties"
26th November
This year, the only representative with from ACRC to enter the Concept 2 British Indoor Rowing Championships was Jenny McGaul. Spurred on by both daughters, Karen and Kirsty, Jenny performed excellently to claim the silver medal in fine style indeed. Her mid-race commentary was well received by her loyal supporters as she powered over the 2000m distance maintaining superb technique, as taught by Karen.
Following her result in the 55-59 category, Jenny cooled-down with some Christmas shopping in Reading, out-pacing both daughters.
Congratulations indeed!
1st October
Some intrepid members of ACRC competed in the annual madness that is the Badminton Horseless Trials this weekend. "All for charity mate!" The team came 20th overall which is an excellent result. Out of 1020 runners (Or should that be gallopers?), these be the results:
Steve Locke (65th)
Sue (93rd)
Sarah (112th)
Simon Oxlade (Team Murphets) (117th)
Mash Derrick (Team Murphets again) (56th)
Nadine (Team Murphets yet again) (60th)
Dom (those Team Murphets again) (61st)
Rosie and Paul (you guessed it) (271st)
Well done all!
14th August
At last, and after much "dead heat drama", the Women's Novice coxed four of Kirsty McGaul, Leslie Yee, Kelly Latchford and Jenny McGaul (coxed by BIG Jo Stoker) won their much deserved novice pot at Stourport Regatta this weekend. Having come very close at Ironbridge and Bewdley Regattas, they rowed superbly to win over the long course on the River Severn. Before collecting pots, there was throwing in and not much in the way of food due to a rather unreasonable pub landlord!
As if one pot wasn't enough for a weekend, the four then team up with Mary Lamont, Liza Cottle and three Newark women to form a Senior 4 eight for the "Sprint" Regatta on the Sunday. Following a close semi, they went on to win the final comfortably following a boat-stopping crab by their opposition, who were half a length down at the time of entering the enclosure. Well done indeed then, and we all look forward to seeing them clean up during the seasons ahead!
22nd July
Ding-dong, they have gone and done it again! After winning their event in the Nationals, Penny Senior, Ann Booker, Pat Hockley and Jo Stoker went off to G(h)ent and won a gold medal for England in their 4-. As if that weren't enough, they also won the gold in the women's eight event too! So congratulations to them and Chris Hopper, their coach.
Also enjoying success at the Home Countries regatta were the junior boats coached by Barry Taylor, from Gloucester Rowing Club. Well done indeed to all who participated in the event.
It wasn't just the internationals of ACRC who were winning at the weekend though! Once again, Richard Pinchin and Mash Derrick shone as the stars of the field in their S3 2- at Bewdley Regatta, winning a pot big enough to sit in! Fantastic result - especially as they proved competitive in the S2 event the following day. All this despite Mash having to wear a tight fitting Lycra he borrowed from an anonymous member of ACRC's women's squad.
Other ACRC crews whose performances excelled were the WN 4+ of Kirsty McGaul, Leslie Yee, Kelly Latchford and Jenny McGaul who made the final on the Saturday in fine style, following a dead-heat win over Stourport in the semi. They narrowly lost the final to a very strong Wallingford crew. They was robbed!
Also keeping Avon's hopes alive were the fellas (Neil Trivett, Simon Oxlade, Woody, Darren Rhodes) who managed two finals in their S1 4- and also the semi final in a scratch S2 8o (with Charlie Denny, Mash Derrick, Richard Pinchin, Stefan Kukula coxed by Emily Hopper and Claire Trivett) which went well, allthough beaten in the semi-final by eventual winners Worcester. The mixed S2 8o (Claire Trivett, Mary Lamont, Sal Lewis, Liza Cottle, Mash, Richard Pinchin, Woody, Darren Rhodes and coxed by Neil Trivett) did well but lost narrowly to Bewdely in a close semi.
As if all these crews weren't enough, there was the W S2 2- (Claire Tirvett and Sal Lewis) which went well but lost to the Upper Thames women. A W S4 8o (Jenny McGaul, Sue McMillan, Kelly Latchford, Michelle Harries, Leslie Yee, Mary Lamont, Kirsty McGaul, Liza Cottle and coxed by Emily Hopper) which lost to a racey Northwich crew and a W S2 4+ (Claire Trivett, Mary Lamont, Sal Lewis, Liza Cottle coxed by Emily Hopper) performed well on its debut outing.
And(!) Charlie Denny performed well in tricky steering conditions in his 1x.
Thanks must also go to Emily Hopper who stayed in the cox's seat of many a crew throughout the weekend. A sterling job done by her!
Yet another weekend which goes to show there is much "pot-potential" at Avon! So then, on to Stourport Regatta! "STOP! Carry on."
17th July
Fantastic news rippled back to Avon this weekend as it was heard that the "Pocket Rocket" WLwt 4- of Penny Senior, Ann Booker, Pat Hockley and Jo Stoker had struck gold again. This time, it was the UK National Championships and at stake was a place representing England at the Home Countries Regatta. Both the medal and the team place was the Avon crew's as they passed the finish line ahead of all opposition.
Also racing at the Nationals was the WLwt 2- of Penny Senior and Ann Booker who took a bronze medal in that event. Jo Stoker and Pat Hockley raced in WLwt 1x and competed well against very stiff opposition.
ACRC's juniors also took to the water at Holme Pierrepont gaining valuable experience at a very high level of competition. Charlotte and Vicky Land did well in their J2x as did Emily and Laura.
Congratulations also to Barry Taylor who's J8o was selected for the Home Countries too, and of course he will be going as coach. Nice one!
So then, raise your glasses to all concerned! Well done indeed and surely the pictures are just a formality now?
23rd June
The annual UK RowFest (TM) started today with the qualifying races for Henley Royal Regatta. The fellas sent a Wyfold 4- and the women teamed up, to form a WAGS 8o for The Henley Prize, with Gloucester and Worcester clubs.
Sadly, the chaps failed to qualify for this year's event but were well placed amongst others in the same, urm, boat. So then, maybe next year..?
However, there was much jumping around by the women as they did manage to get in. Much talk of racing on the Saturday at Henley ensued and talk of what matching kit to wear. Chris promptly painted the blades and sorted out the moth balls from his blazer.
So then, the crew is:
Stroke: Penny Senior (ACRC)
Seven: Ann Booker (ACRC)
Six: Jo Motte (Worcester RC)
Five: Claire Vincent (Worcester RC)
Four: Sally Williams (Gloucester RC)
Three: Rebecca Page (Gloucester RC)
Two: Jo Stoker (ACRC)
Bow: Pat Hockley (ACRC)
Cox: Nicola Harman (UTRC)
The "Prize" crew faces the Canadians in the first round.
Pictures surely in Regatta NOW, eh Tilley? There are here.
19th June
Many, many congratulations to the slightly larger "Pocket Rocket" combination of Penny Senior, Ann Booker, Pat Hockley and Jo Stoker who shot down the Henley Women's Regatta course much more quickly than anyone else in their event to win a well deserved gold medal at the event. Surely a picture in Regatta is just a formality now Tilley?
Also, "well steered" BIG Jo... now surely known as Jo "Like an Arrow" Stoker?
Also, a brilliant effort from the ACRC crew in Club Eights who did their best to push Queen's Tower in the second round. Well done indeed to Liza Cottle, Kirsty McGaul, Mary Lamont, Hannah Reynolds, Kelly Latchford, Leslie Yee, Sue McMillan and Claire Trivett on their row, with Sal Lewis making a return to the coxing seat she made her own with a certain N4+ only two years before. QT went on to win the event.
8th May
Congratulations to Ann Booker, Penny Senior, Jo Stoker and Pat Hockley on their performances at G(h)ent Regatta on the weekend of 6th and 7th May. On Saturday, their WL4- won its heat and went on to finish an impressive 4th in the final.
On Sunday there was another "Pocket Rocket" performance from the WL2- of Penny and Ann, winning their heat and coming 3rd in the final. As if that wasn't enough, they also teamed with Jo and Pat again to win another heat in their WL4- and came 3rd in the final once again. This time, they were the fastest GB women's four. Well done indeed.
Many thanks to Leander Club for providing towing assistance - they must have felt privileged to have such talent on board. Thanks also to Upper Thames for organising boat transport.
Although no open-top bus tour followed the four's return to Saltford, autograph hunters won't be disappointed as they are back training again on the Avon this week!
1st May
Once again, the majority of the WAGS team at the Women's Inter-regional Championships (WIRC) was made up by ACRC. Ann Booker and Penny Senior got a silver medal in their "Pocket Rocket" 2-, Karen and Kirsty McGaul's "celebrated" double-scull won the B final, Jo Stoker also won hers in excellent style, Pat Hockley came fifth in her 1x and the 4+ of Liza Cottle, Hannah Reynolds, Mary Lamont and Julia Wood did well as a scratch crew to finish up with the rest of the field. The 4x was made up by Wycliffe College, who gained a silver medal. WAGS came fourth overall - an excellent result.
Meanwhile... back at the boathouse... the fellas put up lots of scaffolding for racking in the *new* side boathouse. Many thanks to Pete Lander for his continued efforts to find somewhere we can stick our ever increasing fleet of boats. Goodness, our trailer will look impressive when we go off to races... all those nice white boats!
Flag waving can soon be expected from both Tony Daniel and Geoff Peattie as they passed their recent assessments to be umpires. They now have to complete four regattas under supervision before they can flap their flags of their own accord. Well done both!
16th April
Yet more ACRC members completed their Instructor's Award (IA) which was held at the club. Congratulations to Beth Hockley, Jo Stoker, Andy Mason and Darren Rhodes. Congratulations to those who attended form other clubs in the WAGS region. Also, many thanks to the following, without whom the event wouldn't have happened:
Arnold Cooke
Simon Dickie
Malcolm Pobjoy
Penny Senior
Chris Hopper
Brian Smith
Gareth Price
Sarah Hopgood
Margaret Cooke
Len and Doreen Willis
19th March
Veteran's HoRR This was the first visit by the women's squad to the Veteran's HoRR and the event proved very enjoyable with lovely weather and a friendly (if slightly chaotic) atmosphere.
The Avon crew of Penny Senior, Ann Booker, Gillian Beer, Karen McGaul, Kirsty McGaul, Philippa Sondheimer, Leslie Yee, Jenny McGaul and cox Alan Cox placed 3rd out of 6 in the Women's VetB category. I wonder if our crew was unique in having a mother and her two daughters on board?
18th March
Men's HoRR The men's eight (Steve Locke, Stefan Kukula, Darren Rhodes, George Wood, Simon Oxlade, Matthew Derrick, Adrian Paton, Uli Harder and cox Ann Booker) were slightly disapointed with their finish position of 229th overall (out of 405) in this years Men's HoRR, having set themselves a goal of getting into the top 200. It was, however, a good improvement on last years result, as the men's squad continues to progress steadily.
16th March
School's HoRR A crew consisting of Vicky Land, Charlotte Land, Amy Vowels, Laura Pearce and cox Emily Hopper competed in this years School's Head of the River Race where they finished in an excellent 6th place out of the 20 entries in Women's Junior 14 quadruple sculls.
March
New side boathouse completed The new side boat house is now completed and is just waiting for the boat racks to go in (although exactly where the racks are to be positioned is still a topic of some debate). Many thanks to David Gibson for all his hard work, and to "The Usual Suspects" who carried out laying of concrete and other duties at Fred's discrection.
4th March
Women's HoRR Another record WHoRR for Avon County, with the first boat finishing in a new club best position of 33rd overall and the second crew achieving 197th (which may be a new record for the second crew as far as I know). Well done to everyone involved, including the women's coach, Chris Hopper.
WS1 8+ came 33rd out of 218 (Penny Senior, Ann Booker, Jo Stoker, Pat Hockley, Sal Lewis, Karen McGaul, Liza Cottle, Julia Wood, cox Beth Hockley).
WS3 8+ came 197th (Kirsty McGaul, Kelly Latchford, Sue McMillan, Leslie Yee, Andrea Risdon, Jenny McGaul, Sarah Hirons, cox Steve Locke).
February
The mysterious Tilly Applebottom, writer of a letter in this month's Regatta magazine, has been shockingly revealed as a member of Avon County Rowing Club.
(right) Tilley Applebottom Tilly Applebottom, yesterday: "I'm not pink you know..."
The elusive Ms Applebottom, writing under a false name, complained about the lack of pictures of herself in Regatta. We here at the ACRC website are less choosy and to prove it we exclusively publish this photo showing Ms Applebottom wearing Avon County kit - any other better (or preferably more embarassing) photos of Tilly would be gratefully received.
February
Project Oarsome money raised The club has finally suceeded in raising the money required to join Project Oarsome. This money is a combination of donations from club members, sponsorship raised by the Million Metres Ergo World Record and a grant from the local council.
Project Oarsome is a scheme by the ARA to promote junior rowing at selected clubs throughout the country. The clubs involved receive equipment (boats, ergos, etc) for junior rowers, but must raise 25% of the cost of the equipment themselves with the remainder of the cost (hopefully) coming from a National Lottery Sports Fund grant. If the project goes ahead Avon County should be one of the first few clubs to benefit.
I think you will understand why we are so glad about this when you hear that Simon Oxlade (in charge of sponsorship) had a plan to make us row from London to Paris to raise the remaining money (personally I was backing the car-boot sale idea since this seemed to have considerably less chance of drowning)!
12th February
Avon County HoRR The head race went sucessfully, finishing almost on time and with a new record for food sales (probably due to those fantastic sandwiches I made)!
Overall fastest men's and women's crew titles both went to the University of Bath. Avon also had a good day, producing the fastest women's 4+, 2x and 1x. Thanks to everyone who helped on the day and to Robin Leach for organising the event.
February
Work starting on new side boathouse Plans are now going ahead to replace the side boathouse by the end of the month. There should also be new racking allowing space to store more boats, plus hopes are high that it might also be waterproof and not in eminant danger of collapse (unlike the old one).
