Author: <span>admin</span>

News

BR Tour 2020 – Postponement

Postponement of Recreational Tour 2020

Please see below on behalf of the Recreational Committee

Dear Tourer,

We have held off formally updating you on this year’s tour while we assessed the developing situation and firmed up possible alternatives. The large group we typically have on the tour with associated accommodation, meals and travel poses serious problems in itself, added to which we have the fundamental issue that we row in coxed crew boats – for which there is no solution on the horizon yet.

We have therefore decided to postpone the event and have planned a new date of 29th July to 1st August next year.
This is earlier than usual, driven by the timing of the tides for the Teddington to Putney leg.
The format will be the same and The Lensbury Club have agreed to hold this year’s price for accommodation and meals.
Those who have paid deposits for this year can of course be refunded.

In place of this year’s event we will be publishing a virtual tour over the route which we would encourage you to do. This will give some interesting background to the points of interest and for those not familiar some training on coxing the Tideway. We propose to have a quiz on the Saturday evening (30th August) for you to test your knowledge.

Please register interest here and “Joining instructions” for the virtual tour and quiz will be emailed and posted on the Recreational Rowing website in August. We hope you are keeping well and managing to get on the water somehow.

Best wishes

John & Caroline Turnbull

Coaching

COVID-19 Update (29.06.20)

Return to Rowing Guidance

See update from British Rowing

British Rowing have this evening released an update to their coronavirus advice: Return to Rowing V4 guidance documentation. This advice is effective as of 4 July.

This guidance has been released following the latest from the government, 23 June, to assist the rowing community in its planning for a return to rowing. As a result of the information, this “means we are in the situation where clubs (subject to making them ‘COVID Secure’) could open club bars but the gyms and changing rooms cannot be reopened. What this means for us is that we are going to have to adjust our roadmap slightly and so although we will move to Phase C of our plan, unfortunately it will not include all the aspects we originally included.”

This latest update moves BR into Phase C

Notable updates to version 4:

  • Organised/coached sessions may be possible, subject to social distancing rules (e.g. small groups of singles).
  • Club bars and catering facilities may re-open subject to Government requirements for them to be COVID secure although it likely that it will not be sensible for rowing clubs to open these facilities.
  • Other club facilities may re-open once Government advice allows.
  • Gyms, changing rooms and other indoor training facilities must remain closed.
  • BR strongly recommend that clubs do not re-introduce crew boats.
  • Give consideration to how you would reverse any decisions should they become problematic or if the Government needs to re-impose any restrictions. Similarly, clubs should have a plan in place should a member test positive.

Read the full release



See the Advice for Rowers page from the guidance below

Coaching

NWSC Opening

National Water Sports Centre – Regatta Lake

Please see the note from Jack at NSWC

Dear All,

First, I would like to thank everyone that has supported us through the closure, and came down to the lake during the weekend. As a reminder the initial opening times are Monday, Thursday and Friday 4.00-7.30pm and Saturday and Sunday 7.00-12.00noon.

Now that we have had some time to reflect on how last weekend went, I am writing to you to;

Detail some of the rules, all in line with British Rowing guidance on the return to rowing (please find a copy attached for the ‘version 3’ which we are using now as the best guidance). Ask for your risk assessments and plans in relation to achieving the guidance within Coronavirus Advice Returning to Rowing.

Detail some of the rules

These are rules that 1. we are choosing to highlight from the Coronavirus Advice Returning to Rowing (from British Rowing) to clarify the sites position 2. we have created to achieve social distancing measures 3. we have created to minimise the risk of a surveillance boat being launched therefore breaking the social distancing rule.

We do expect all users to operate in line with the British Rowing Guidance and also Government guidance, which can be supported by following the rules below for NWSC:

  1. In order to achieve government guidance a maximum of six people can arrive for organised club activities at once, there must be a gap of 30 minutes before another group can arrive.
  2. In order to minimise the possibility of a two man launch the circulation pattern will be up lane 8 and down lane 0 (with the option to use lane 1).
  3. In order to achieve social distancing measures on the forecourt, parking of vehicles and trailers will be restricted to marked club areas, no other parking (vehicles and trailers) will be permitted on the forecourt. Overflow and non club parking will take place in the grounds compound.
  4. In order to minimise the possibility of a two man launch, Junior rowers must be accompanied by coaches / bank support in a ratio of 3:1.
  5. In order to achieve social distancing measures only single/double crafts can be used. In the case of doubles a club must sanction the use based on government household/bubble guidance at the time of use and inform NWSC as such.


As the guidance changes from central government and National Governing bodies of sports, we will of course update our guidance and rules.

Ask for you risk assessments and plans in relation to achieving the guidance within Coronavirus Advice Returning to Rowing (from British Rowing)

Please can I request that you send your Risk Assessments and Plans for operating at this stage including the use of boat bays. I will need these by the end of the day on Wednesday 17th June.

Please do not hesitate to contact me for clarification or if you have any questions.

Thank you
Jack Garner
Contract Manager

Coaching

Rowing Safety Quiz May 2020

Rowing Safety Quiz

While our current training remains home-based supplements by some limited on water sculling, why not take a few minutes to have a go at this safety related quiz and test your knowledge!
No personal details are recorded and the quiz will be marked automatically at the end.
You can download a paper docx version with additional open ended questions in two options, multiple choice or non-multiple choice.

The topics in this quiz are:

  • Launches
  • Emergency Preparedness and Response
  • Resuscitation (CPR & AED)
  • Coaching
  • Safe Navigation and Steering
  • Risk Assessment

Good luck!

Coaching

COVID-19 Update (22.05.20)

Return to Rowing Guidance

See update from British Rowing

British Rowing have this evening released their coronavirus advice: return to rowing guidance.

This guidance has been released to assist the rowing community in its planning for a return to rowing. The guidance is extensive and covers a large number of scenarios although not everyone can be covered unfortunately. They have detailed not only phase B, in which we currently are, but also each of the following phases up to the final phase: F. There are a number links to websites and supporting information with the document which you can view on the BR website.

Read the full release



See the Advice for Rowers page from the guidance below

Juniors

Four Nation Indoor Rowing Challenge, Round Two.

One Minute Rowing Challenge

Today, British Rowing have announced a second joint 4 nation indoor rowing challenge

Together with Rowing Canada Aviron, Rowing Australia and Rowing New Zealand British Rowing announced the Row to the Moon Challenge, a joint initiative for indoor rowers across the respective nations.

What is the challenge?

Following the success of the One Minute Challenge earlier this month, a new challenge to row to the moon as been announced. the gial of the challenge is to row the 384.4 million metres from Earth to the Moon as one single community of rowers.

How do I take part?

Everyone can take part between 06.00 Thursday 21 May until 06.00 Sunday 31 May (BST). Simply row as often you which and for as long as you wish then log your distances on the live web platform. You can pre-register for the event now.


View the full announcement on the BR site

Juniors

Inaugural BR Virtual Championship

British Rowing have announced a live Virtual Indoor Rowing Championship

When is it?

27-28 June 2020

What races categories are there?

There will be selection of races for juniors (timed and distance), Adult (2000m and 500m) and relay races all inclusive of adaptive/para rowers.

Is there a seat fee?

Seat fees are £5 per junior, £8 per adult and £10 per relay. There is a 37.5% discount for British Rowing Adult (18+) members

How do I take part?

To take part, sign up online by 07:00 BST 22 June 2020.

What do I need to take part?

You will need a Concept2 rower with either a PM3, PM4 or PM5 monitor with the latest firmware connected to a Windows or Mac computer with Chrome browser installed.


Futher information

Read the full announcement from BR

Read additional FAQs from British Rowing and the full Ts & Cs.

Coaching

COVID-19 Update (13.05.20)

COVID 19 Update (13.05.20)

See update from British Rowing

Given further clarification of the UK Government’s advice, we advise that Affiliated Clubs may, if they wish/are able to, allow members to use club/shared boats (in addition to private boats) from their facilities subject to:

  • having a club plan in place to support safe access to and use of equipment (e.g. boats/blades). This must follow all relevant Government guidance including hygiene and social distancing; and,
  • continuing to follow all relevant UK Government and/or waterway authority restrictions.

British Rowing is pleased that restrictions are starting to be lifted to allow people back on the water but we believe all rowers and clubs must act in both the spirit and to the letter of the Government guidance to protect the health of the rowing community, other rivers users and the wider public.

It’s important to remember that this is not at all a return to normal operations or club activities – only the absolute minimum necessary areas of clubs should be opened and only to facilitate access to boats and equipment.

We appreciate that many of you will be eager to get back on the water but we would ask you to be patient with your club and provide time for them to put in place the right measures to keep you and the rest of your club safe. Please bear in mind that planning and implementing these measures for safe access to the club may take time and your club’s volunteers are likely to have other priorities that they need to manage as well. Please wait for your club to let you know the specific arrangements they have in place.

Read the full release

Coaching

COVID 19 Update (12.05.20)

Latest update from British Rowing Tuesday 12th May 20

We The UK Government yesterday (11 May) published its strategy for recovering from coronavirus (“Our Plan to Rebuild”) which included a change to restrictions related to exercise effective from Wednesday 13 May. In line with our planning for a safe return to rowing, we have drawn the following conclusions (based on the rationale set out on our website available via the link below).:

Rowing in privately-owned rowing boats from publicly accessible waterway access or with permission of landowners is possible subject to:

  • UK Government rules relating to social distancing being adhered to;
  • Recreational use of the waterway being permitted by the relevant authority*; and,
  • an appropriate risk assessment and accompanying measures being in place taking into account any normal, local safety rules or good practice.

At this stage, we recommend that British Rowing Affiliated Clubs should remain closed (current UK Government advice suggests leisure facilities may open no earlier than 4 July). Therefore, anyone launching rowing boats should do so from publicly accessible slipways/other waterway access or with the express permission of the landowner.

We do not believe that any rowing activity requiring a coaching/safety launch fits within the spirit of the current UK Government guidance and also British Rowing’s RowSafe guidance

Given the current situation and likely outlook, we have taken the decision to extend our suspension of Affiliated Competitions until 31 July – including the cancellation of the British Rowing Offshore Championships & Beach Sprints and British Rowing Junior Championships. We reasonably expect it is likely that this suspension will eventually be extended until at least the end of August.

* At the time of writing, the three major waterway authorities have differing restrictions – please see the full update via the button below for more detail.

We continue to monitor and review the latest advice from the UK Government and will update our advice, as necessary, as more information becomes available.

Please note that this advice relates to rowing in England. We continue to work closely with our colleagues from Scottish and Welsh Rowing to share good practice, however, the restrictions on the public now vary between England, Scotland and Wales. Latest advice for Scotland and Wales are available at the links below:

Scottish Rowing

Welsh Rowing

As of 12th May 2020:

Canal & River Trust: Recreational use allowed.

Environment Agency: Restrictions still in place.

Read the full update and rationale here

Coaching

Sport England Fund to Pause

Sport England’s Community Emergency Fund is to Pause

The fund which “aims to help community sport and physical activity organisations who are experiencing short term financial hardship or the ceasing of operations due to the ongoing coronavirus crisis” is set to be paused on Thursday 14th May.

We have not been told if this will reopen at a later date or will be replaced with another funding scheme.

If you/your club are thinking of applying, you need to do so now. Further information on what will and will not be funded as well as the application can be found on the Sport England Fund page. The fund has support for competitions, so if you have unrecoverable costs for an event that has been cancelled then you can apply to the fund.

PLEASE NOTE: costs to cover the purchase of trophies will not be deemed eligible.