It is very noticeable when going round the regatta circuit how very much the standard of women's rowing has improved in recent years. This applies at school level as well as in the clubs. The girls train as hard and as often as the boys: weight training (where they lift only slightly fewer kg of weights per kg of body weight); mileage on the water is not less; many girls crews have technique just as good as the boys' crews. I hope that a greater number of girls at Monkton will take up the challenge of our demanding sport.
Standards keep rising, both at club and school level. The Monkton 1st and 2nd VIM were the fastest we have ever known - and this was a great achievement in 1992 - but there is always more to do, and training must be undertaken ever more seriously if we are to have success.
I was lucky enough to go to Banyoles to watch the Olympics, where BSM and I saw the great successes of the GBR oarsmen. The 2+ race was surely one of the most exciting ever, and the 2- exhibited professionalism that the crowds and other competitors were delighted to see. The crowd of supporters at the rowing events was an enthusiastic and knowledgeable one. The course was about 80 miles from Barcelona, so we did not see many signs of casual visitors, except perhaps on the finals days, when many seats were booked by people who had not watched earlier rounds.
The younger end of the club is going through a lean patch, with very small numbers of boys taking up the sport. There was no Colts VIII; the J Colts VIII became a IV half way through the season, and the Novices could muster only an eight and a four. Along with this loss of numbers has gone a tightening of the economic belt, so the school club is more grateful than ever for the very great support - amounting to over 3,000 this year - that Bluefriars gives to the young beginners in our sport.
It is always good to hear of oarsmen carrying on with their sport after leaving school. Peter Alvis, who is now Captain of Oxford Poly, rowed with Jeremy Hepworth in a fine Poly boat last year - and we all felt for them when they were let down by an equipment failure at Henley! (Thinking of Oxford Poly, it was good to hear that Monkton has three men in their 1st XV this term.) Jonnie Marval is rowing at Leicester, Jo Doidge-Harrison at Caius. Ian Pearce is rowing at Durham, and Tim d'Oyly is coxing at Pengwem. Jonnie LeRoy stroked Oriel to the Head of the River in Oxford. James Pitt has started his rowing career at Washington College, and has already had to face up to sculling seriously, earning a very high position in trial races. Very recent news is hat Justin Mumford has got a place in the Reading University 1st VIII. Many who have left here help others to enjoy their sport by coaching or running clubs. This year I have come across Jonathan Salisbury, coaching a Novice IV at Oxford Poly; Simon Clark coaching a girls IV at Reading Rowing Club; Monkton oarsmen and women are represented in many clubs and universities, and I send them greetings and best Wishes from Monkton. Greetings also to Shrewsbury and Eastboume, where Monkton men are on the coaching staff.
After informal discussions with a few 1st VIII men, it has been decided to produce a new 1st VIII colours tie. It will be like a school colours tie, except the silver stripes will be slightly wider. A small blue Bluefriar will be woven into one of the silver stripes. This tie will have a more adult look than the traditional
Production of this new tie depends on there being sufficient orders to make the venture viable. The manufacturers say it is not worth producing fewer than 50. So - 1st VIII men - if you want one of these ties, please order one NOW. If a sufficient number is ordered, we can get them made, and they will be ready in a matter of weeks.
Please remember that the Bluefriars shop holds good stocks of items mentioned on the list in the centre of this newsletter. Some items can be specially made, and the best time to order them is before Christmas, when the bulk order for school kit is sent in.
As always, we were very grateful to those who gave us Henley tickets for use by present members of the school Boat Club. We were able to invite all the 1st VIII into the Enclosure on the Thursday of the Regatta, and they were given a memorable day both there and at Leander Club.
It is now two or three years since this print was made. New members and friends of the club may wish to consider purchasing copies, either unframed or framed. All profits go directly to club funds.
These mugs make good presents. There are plenty in stock.
We have now held two successful dinners at Leander Club on the evening before Wallingford Regatta; the 1993 dinner will be held on Friday 30th April.
Last year, about 35 members and friends gathered at Leander and enjoyed a pleasant evening together. Several members of the 1946 Monkton VIII accompanied by their wives came to the dinner and reminisced about earlier days. We and they were grateful to their cox for persuading them to come. Our speaker was Mr Nick Bevan, Headmaster of Shiplake College, who was for many years 1st VIII coach at Shrewsbury. The Monkton and Shiplake 1st VIlls met in a final the following day, and our guest's crew won! We have invited Peter Kirkpatrick - Old Monktonian and Olympic oarsman - to be our guest in 1993. I hope that many of our friends - members, wives, parents of present members of the school - will join us at Leander Club on the 30th April 1993. A booking form is printed in the centre of the newsletter. Please book early.
The club and the school are very grateful for several donations received during the year. A new Aylings boat for the 1st VIII, named The Titfield Thunderbolt, was the gift of a benefactor, and words cannot describe how grateful the crew and the club were for the generosity of the donor. We were also given sizeable contributions towards riggers for the new Octuple scull and towards re-spooning the 1st VIII oars. There was, as always, a constant stream of gifts in kind from parents and other supporters who have given accommodation, food, washing machine facilities, etc., etc., to our crews. We hope that they have all been thanked individually for their kindness, but we repeat thanks here, because the club as a whole is also grateful for all the support given which helps to give so much pleasure to those who are taking part.
We have not reported fully on the training trip to France this year, but it is worth reporting that the 10 days were enjoyed. We were delighted that we were in a position to return hospitality to our hosts in France, the University of Nantes, when we lent one of their crews a boat for the Head of the River Race in London. The Monkton coaches who went to France were most grateful to Lionel Girard and his wife for entertaining us in their home, where they gave us a traditional Polish Easter meal on our last evening in France.
Copies of the book written by Dick Hole in 1978 have recently come to light during tidying up of the archives. These are available as long as stocks last, Please use the order fonn in the middle of this newsletter.
| Provisional Regatta Calendar - 1993 | |
|---|---|
| Sat 20 Feb | Henley Schools Head |
| Sat 27 Feb | Reading Head |
| Sun 28 Feb | City of Bristol Head |
| Sun 7 Mar | Bristol Arid Head (or Sat 6th) |
| Sat 13 Mar | Avon County Head, Kingston Head |
| Thu 18 Mar | The Schools Head Race ( 1300 ) |
| Sat 20 Mar | The Head of the River Race (1515) |
| Sun 21 Mar | Gloucester Head |
| Sat 27 Mar | The Boat Race (1530) |
| Sat 1 May | Wallingford; Evesham |
| Sun 2 May | Evesham |
| Mon 3 May | City of Bristol |
| Sat 8 May | Avon County (Swindon) |
| Sat 15 May | Coate Water (Swindon) |
| Sun 16 May | Binningham |
| Sat 29 May | National Schools; Worcester |
| Sun 30 May | National Schools; Monmouth |
| Mon 31 May | Hereford |
| Sat 5 Jun | Walton; Docklands |
| Sun 6 Jun | Docklands; Weybridge Ladies |
| Sat 12 Jun | Bridgnorth; Reading |
| Sun 13 Jun | Bridgnorth; Reading |
| Sat 19 Jun | Marlow |
| Sun 20 Jun | Thames Valley Park |
| Sat 26 Jun | Reading Town |
| Wed 30 Jun- | |
| Sun 4 Jul | Henley Royal Regatta |
| Sat 10 Jul | Burton; Kingston |
| Sun 11 Jul | Burton; Kingston |
| Sat 20 Nov | Bluefriars Head Race |
Members may have heard about the plans that Eton College have for building a 2000m eight lane rowing course, which would be a marvellous facility for oarsmen throughout the country. We have been asked to do what we can to help them get planning permission, which has been refused so far. It will help them at the appeal if they have as many letters of support as possible from oarsmen and friends of the sport. A card is enclosed with this newsletter, and you are asked to send it to Eton if you feel you can support the venture.