Hi Everyone

London Great River Race 3rd September 2016
I have been asked to post this to get advanced notice of numbers, the general concensus is to stay at the Premier Inn a bit further away but better quality accomodation.

I am happy to organise this event (provided someone who has been before assists!)

Please post below if you are a definate or a maybe so we can get an idea of numbers.

Please also post if you are happy to tow

Me and Jess please. Happy to stay at Shandon house if I'm honest. The location is ideal.

Me please. I am easy with accommodation.

I can tow if needed and I can give you a hand with organising

Me again..happy to stay at Shandon House

Me and Gra he will have tried and joined by then!

Me also please

Gary and I. We happy to tow. Dont mind the Shanndon but don't want to stay in the one we stayed in last year across the road so happy to go further out into premier inn.  :)

Now I am an expert river rower got to give this a go :D :-*

Me please! Loved last year! Pretty sure Jo t will be in too.

me and Caroline would like to do it again but it might be unfair to have this event filled up before new members have a chance

We can always do a ballot towards the end of the year rather than make it first come first serve and there is also the possibility of borrowing boats again. I don't think it hurts to gauge interest (at least we can book hotels this way)

Totally agree Bryony. If we got provisionals accommodation can be booked and at least people are assured of somewhere decent to stay. Because of late booking last year we ended up in what was like steptoes house and we could not even shower. We are all decent people and will step aside for others if we can not get enough boats and pass our accommodation as necessary. Might be worth Gabi trying to fully provisionally book the Shanndon now.  What do you think?  Certainly seems like plenty of interest.  :)

Tip from when I arranged it - I booked every available room at Shandon House (the year before) on 24 hour cancellation - I did  offer to cancel rooms we didn't need a month before but most rooms were used. They were very amenable. I will see how it goes before commiting to this as I agree it's a great one for newer members and I may do a Sian and cycle down the towpath instead... Lol  ;D

By the way camping is also an option as its earlier than usual and shouldn't have gone to chilly yet!!  :o

I'm definitely up for this again.  I think the Shandon House is perfectly adequate.  If we need to stay somewhere else, it should be within walking distance of the finishing line.

Checked out premmier inn and it is actually closer to finishing line. Not sure about price though.

Shandon house in good part of Richmond & not expensive , I always stayed at the Marriott because they do a good egg & chips  ;D , camping has very good facilities too @ grr with bar, food & live music on Friday night ( something I was thinking of doing this year but can't due to family wedding  :'() also they have toilets .
But seriously great event guys , new and existing members and a great motivator along with the league races throughout the year to aim for and finish the season with. 8-) :)
Was really looking forward to air guitar as well  :'(

ok guys will phone premier inn and Shandon house to get prices and availability etc ... will post update shortly

Lets get as many new & oldies on board ... then we can hunt around for some boats to borrow ...

Good plan Gabi  :) :) :)

Shandon House has availability for 33 people and we would take the whole place.

Can anyone remember the name of the horrid place to be avoided.  Was it The Queens Hotel???

Have sent off request to group bookings at Premier Inn and will know prices shortly from both

The grotty place was Quinns which is across the road from Shandon house and was being renovated but I suppose it may be still ongoing... :o Shandon house is walking distance from Ham - not sure if Premier Inn is?? Camping is also an option!  :)

Hi All
Progress report
I have provisionally booked all Shandon house room

Early bird entry is open until 19th May (saving £5 per adult)

So far we have 15 names of rowers ....
I am sure more of you want to take part and of course the newbies will need to be accounted for ...

Think Neil wants to take some juniors but as not posted here don't know numbers ... please can you get a rough head count of rowers and parents who will require accommodation.

Once I have relocated eldest daughter to Surrey this weekend I will get 100% into sorting out plans for GRR2016 ...

Nikki I will contact you next week to arrange get together so can pick your brains as you sorted it all last year.

If anyone else wants to come and spectate and require accommodation please also post here ....

We will need to borrow at least one possible two boats ... anyone got suggestions who is best to approach?

Bosons 1 & 2 what is the chance that Dick could be assessed and some work parties organised to do said work so we can take him too ????

Gx

Meeting after club night Tuesday 17th ...
I will have trip costing and some outline plans  :D

Nina and I are interested in this - hopefully going up with Lloyd and Rosie anyway as a junior boat is being planned.

GRR meeting will be at 6pm if club night off looked a little choppy when I drove past earlier  :(
.. so please still come down

Sorry - only just seen this so looks like I've missed the meeting - sorry!

Can I join in please  :)

Yes please Gareth Lois and Harry

Hi All for those not of FB I will keep forum up to date as well, attached is the costing sheet for London.
If you are coming but not likely to be rowing in the next week, please PM me and I will give you bank details to trf deposit too.

Get your thinking heads on re fancy dress we can discuss suggestions at next meeting

---

It's all looking very organised Gabi  :) :) Well done

Hi All
Please bring your deposits to club nights this week, or you can do bank trf if you are not likely to be down this week, PM me and I will give you my bank details
Many thanks

London meeting after club session on Tuesday 5th July
need to finalise who we got so far .... start the planning (ideas for fancy dress please ... discuss at meeting not on here!)

Gabbi I am at a charity music do on the 5th July, but am deffo in London and will dress up in whatever. If I can get away will do my best to turn up :D

Hi All
Following last nights meeting reminder ..
If you are planning to stay in the Shandon please phone and book your room ASAP 020 8940 5000 all rooms are reserved under ref Wisemans/Gabi
I have to release back to them any unbooked rooms in a couple of weeks.

We still need to sort out fancy dress ... there were a couple of ideas last night which I will look into but dont think we have come up with a winning idea yet ... please give it some thought!

Calling all wisebirds .... need one more lady to row in London
Please let me know asap if u fancy joining us ..

We have 3 adult boats and 1 junior boat

Ok guys

We have decided on a theme (see GRR 2016 FB page!) fancy dress items are being sourced  :D

For the couple of NON fb people I will let you know seperately

Registration is nearly completed ... just finalising the last few details.

Will be running the team lists past Captain's Di & Dan for 'red penning' then will notify ....

We are short of TWO lady rowers .... so if you know anyone in the club who might be pursuaded please let me know  :)

Otherwise it's me and Lottie!  :)

LottI would be an excellent substitute for London ... and what an experience for her ... providing the rest of crew didn't mind !!
We are gutted to miss GRR again .... but London , we will be back !!
And we'll done gabi for arranging everything for all the crews ...  ;)

Marja and Lottie are in ! yay all sorted

OK everyone .... I need to know what your plans are re travelling ... I am looking into the cost of a minibus with tow bar as additional vehicle to Gary Big truck .....
then we take two double trailers
Can everyone post what time they are able to leave on Friday.
If they definately want to drive themselves ... or if they would take up a lift in minibus is cost is not prohibitive

Neil will take the girls in the van at some point on the Friday as we need it to sleep in! I will be getting the train from Birmingham and meeting you at the restaurant on Friday evening. We have looked at a minibus with tow bar in the past but it was difficult to get one - insurance I think?? Mark or Bunty may know...  :)

Here u go everyone after much thought delebration and scratching of heads teams for London sorted
We think and hope good spread of strenght n previous London experience in each boat .....
Would be good where possible to practice moving swaps during club sessions.
Will try to arrange some longer London practice rows outside of club nights too

Look afteryourself don't want any injuries between now n September!

Boat 1 - ladies:

Gabi
Libby
Nina
Marja
Di
Lottie

Boat 2 - Mixed:

Caroline
Jess
Dan
Gareth
Lois
Rod

Boat 3 - Mens:

Gary
John
Jim
Jake
Graham
Nigel

Juniors under 18 class
Neil to Cox
Lowri
Naomi
Jadye
Harry
Lloyd
Rosie

Please can everyone give me feed back on minibus ... don't want to waste time searching for one if not required

Zizzis has been booked for 8.30 Friday night which should give everyone whose for to work time to travel

Fancy dress in hand .... secret so look at Facebook. For those not on fb .... I'll talk to u direct

Cheers Gab. Will be good if we can target weeknights in August to practice within our teams now and then.

Gabi I should be able to tow i can just follow Gary,  he knows the way? Nig

Gabi think we will be taking own vehicle, still happy to tow if required :D

We are both taking the Friday off work so plan to leave in the morning with the kids. If you price a minibus then let us know as we are not against the idea but it would have to be comparable to the car option - it adds up when there are 4 of us.  :D

Hi All
Please bring cheque books to club this week as need to be collecting some monies from you all
Thank you
:D

Mini buses are proving to be restrictively expensive as predicted ....
Lets attempt to car share where possible ...

I still have to complete my coaching practical sessions and I would very much like to get it done this coming month.  I thought maybe I could combine this with some coaching for London Great River Race to improve technique, effort and endurance for what is a gruelling race requiring all the team to pull together. I am willing to work with any crew but I would like to encourage all of our men’s team to take part. I would like to run the sessions twice per week at our regular club nights. I have put a similar post under ‘Looking for a crew – crews for coaching 3’.  Please post there if you can attend on a regular basis.
First timers will also need to practice crew changes with minimum loss of boat speed.

great idea will sign up  :D

Great idea Jim, I'm in :D :-*

I have a crew now for my coaching sessions - Gabi, Nigel, Rod and Mel plus Gareth when he is down here. Thanks all of you.
Some of our members are very experienced and fit, Jake and Marja for instance amongst others but for the rest of us I would encourage getting as much training in as possible, it is not long to go now. Also everyone needs to be able to do the crew changes. We have a wealth of experienced people willing to help - Nick is available to offer coaching and also Simon and Brent on Tuesdays.
If you really cannot make club nights please get yourself down the gym and put some hours in on the erg.

Great advice Jim. Am planning on posting some long rows for the next couple of weekends (if the wind and rain behave!) once the race season is over.

Gabby if you need a cox give me a shout

There is definitely an art to swapping crews whilst on the go, especially on a busy waterway... We can practice this of course, happy to go through some drills on club nights, I'm down Tuesdays as Jim says.
The main thing is that everyone in the boat is aware and thinking about what is happening, eg. If stroke and Cox are swapping, you then have no steering (obvious) but you also have 3 other people rowing, 2 on one side, 1 on the other, this (voice of experience) is a recipe for disaster if the 2 rowing on one side don't ease off. Nobody likes a crash especially in foreign waters. The passenger can certainly add their voice and keep a lookout during these manoeuvres, so it's a total team thing.

Glad u got your training crew sorted Jim, I'd love to have more time to commit, but then I'd have to commit Natalie to a home, you know, the mad farm  ;D

Thanks Angela ... will call on you no doubt in the next week or so  :D

Thanks for advise Brent and yes moving swaps need practicing
if we can try and get london people together on club nights in same boat ... does not matter if not same people as actually in your boat on GRR day ... (taking into account newbies etc) please can everyone practice

Tue 23rd .... Great River Race people
Hi All
Please try and come tonight even if not rowing to try on T-shirts so I can ensure I get the right sizes
:D

Thursday 1st September
Please can all London people come to club night, after row or instead of row if weather is horrid, the boats need to be washed out, final kit checks done and all 4 boats loaded onto double trailers so all hands will be required.
Thank you

There will be no row Thursday prior to London. Could all members who are rowing in London please meet at compound for 6 pm to load boats onto trailers etc. Thank you.

Info sheet has been posted on the FB group page, I will email to those not on FB group

Update to info sheet

You may need trousers n jacket for before race and to wear while not rowing .... so bring a dry bag for that stuff only ..... space will be limited.

Everything for after race to be left in vehicles.

Other thing I had pointed out that I missed .... race start time 12.25

Good luck everyone this weekend ( remember the tune ,I predict a riot and dance hard)I know your all have a blast and party hard the way the club does.
Sorry can't be with you as family wedding ( piss up) has taken priority but wish you all luck and hope weather is kind, especially juniors have good fun and show the elders how it's done plus bring cross back in one piece haha.
Cheers all the Dunton clan

Good luck to all the GRR Virgins.. your going g to love it ..
See you all soon  ;)

Any news from the rowing crews?? Did they all survive ?  :o

We all survived and had a fantastic time - ladies (and Lottie) came in around 3 hours, kids around 3 and a quarter, men's and mixed under 3 hours! Weather was dry until about 4pm so we were very lucky! The juniors came in beaming! No trophies but as the winning men's Celtic (Aberdyfi) came in at 2.28 - we should be pretty pleased with our times!! Thanks to the towers, bosons, captains and Gabi for her fantastic organisation (and awesome coxing at the start!) and to  Bananaman for being with us in spirit! It was a fab weekend with a great bunch of people - we loved competing as a family and the girls loved being included! I am a rather proud mum! (And rather proud of my husband for giving the juniors the opportunity to experience London!!) - what a fab club!!  :-*

So another successful GRR. Brilliant time had by all. Thank you as always to our wonderful towers and of course Gabi who worked so hard to make sure everything was perfect which it was. Special thanks also to our wonderful supporters who cheered us right through the race. 😀😀😀😀

Fabulous weekend, great crews, huge thanks to all who organised, towed etc.

Great weekend, many thanks to organisers and towers, well done Gabi, what a rather spiffing group of friends :D :D

The provisional results  are on the GRR website now
Gertie: 2hr 52.28 121st, 12th in Celtics
ROK: 2hr 53.51 131st
Nauti Buoy 2hr 58.55
Oarsome: 3hr 15.33 21st in Celtics

well done guys

To coin a Nick'ism
Superb, splendid, epic weekend

There must be something wrong with me cause I loved coxing start ... what a challenge !

So many people contributed but special thanks to Nigel (and his team of helpers)... who does far more than anyone realises in keeping boats and trailers sea/river/road worthy.

And again Nigel  and Gary for towing .... no idea how u kept awake to drive home

Next year 9th Sept is the 30th GRR
Tell friend n family no weddings / holidays that weekend wiseys will be in London  :D :D 8-)

Might have too assemble the Dick Squad for next year!!
Well done everyone on a successful tour! Lonon is a great experience and from the sounds of it most of you are looking forward to 2017 already..
On another note could the crew involved in the Oar incident write an account of the accident please so we can start an insurance claim please and send to either myself , Andy or Brent.
Cheers all  ;)
:-* :-*