Tyne United

Tyne United Rowing Club’s Small Boats Head will run on Saturday 16th October 2010 from 1:30 pm. Entries via the OARA website. Entries close 1900h on 9th October 2010

Our clubhouse is now open and will be available for food and changing facilities on the day. Parking is available.

Tyne United SBH 2010 v2.0

Some images from today. Details to follow.

Durham Primary Regatta is tomorrow. Rather than blogging I’ll try and post updates on Twitter. There will be the most recent in this sites’s sidebar, otherwise if use Twitter follow @tyneunited or check on the hash tag #durhamprimary.

A post by Jim; the Masters’ master.
After a leisurely train journey down to Lincoln on Saturday afternoon followed by a high carb dinner and a couple of pints of water at the bar we awoke to a wet, and rather overcast race day. None the less after meeting up with many friends and a few cups of tea later it was time to boat.

For those novices to the Boston Marathon the start involves boats setting off at 1 minute intervals and for about the first 5km it is very narrow with virtually nowhere to pass but eventually it opens up into the main canal.

Once Kev had tested just how much reed was in the north bank compared to the south bank he decided the centre of the canal was the best option for the remaining 49km. (Which, except when we over took or had planned stops, is exactly were we where throughout the rest of the race). Seriously excellent steering.

The next three hours went far better than any of us could have hoped, rate, length and boat run was spot on and it helps when you see the boats behind you slowly but surely dropping back from the 1 minute gap they started with.

We hit the lock spot on the 1 hour mark and having overtaken our first boat some way back meant there were a couple of people on the bank to help us out, over the lock and into the other canal. (One of which was Dave Wright of Cambios who was a great help throughout the day)

As mentioned the next 2 hours went fantastically overtaking quite a few crews, some looking good and others looking like they wished they had taken the training a bit more seriously. On the 3 hours stop we were on for around a 4 hour time however the last hour can be broken into two, with the first 30 minutes starting to take its toll on the legs and body. No actual cramp kicked in but the muscles where starting to warn the brain that payback was on its way and some of the hands had decided it was now.

The last 10km was really really hard, the rhythm had gone we could not control the rate or keep the length and were overtaken by our first of only 2 boats, one of which was a double of more senior looking masters with a shorter stroke and higher rate (I’ll come back to them in a minute)

Finally about the 6km mark (just as Jim was deciding to jump out and swim to the finish) Les called a stop to recoup what was becoming a very very tired crew. This break along with the fact we could hear the commentators tanoy at the finish gave us the boost needed. The same speed as the first 3 hours was not there but we got the rate and length back and it was a nice smooth run to the finish in a time of 4: 04: 25, (only 29 seconds off Lincoln’s winning crew)

A special thanks to our sponsor, young Marty High and Air-technique, hope we did him proud and also Dave Wright and gang from Cambios for getting the boat there and back as well as all the help on the day.

Finally back to the senior masters double that overtook us: Martin saw them later and in passing mentioned the rate and shortness of length and asked if they had done it before, well actually yes was the reply this is our 35th marathon and we hold the course record. (maybe a slight change to the technical plan for next year is on the cards)

On the afternoon of Thursday 24/6/10 Tyne United was supported by the Gateshead School Sport Partnership to hold a unique event on the Tyne. Local schools who had benefited from the water based coaching at TURC in the preceding months were invited to bring their aspiring rowers to the club to engage in a “Schools Regatta”.
Although run under the BR rules of racing, and Rowsafe, the emphasis was very much on enjoyable participation. The children were supported by members of school staff and a number of parents, and were taking great delight in showing off their prowess.

The 3 schools involved were Ryton, Whickham and St. Thomas Moore, and each school entered 2 crews of 4, with coxes provided by TURC. As all the rowers were very inexperienced (except for a few familiar club faces who managed to find seats in various boats) the racing took place in the C class quads, with the boats staying on the water and the crews changing. Although it was a lovely day, there was a bit of a westerly blowing downstream, making the river a bit faster than usual, and as a result the regatta was lucky to stay on time for as long as it did; which was approximately 10 minutes, the time it took to boat the first crew!

To be fair, the delays were due in some part to the competitive nature of the father and son coxes, as each seemed to be spending more and more time coaching their crews before races, with the boats drifting back downstream whenever they stopped to give instructions. Ah well, we certainly encourage competitiveness at this club, and we sympathise with the older cox’s “need to win” in such circumstances.  As it happens, the competitiveness rubbed off on the crews whose excitable chatter even got parents involved, with some trying to explain how the losing crew were now racing again in a B competition, whilst keeping 1 eye on the race control table in a desperate search for confirmation.

At the end of a very enjoyable day, it was the 2 Ryton crews who battled it out for the Shield, due in no small part to the involvement of some of our club juniors in the early rounds.

School staff, parents and children alike all had a great time, and there was a lot of talk of parents coming to a Learn 2 Row soon…. We’ll see.  Although no-one left at the advertised finish time of 5.30, preferring to call home and put the dinner on hold, even school staff stayed to see the final and prize giving at about 6.45pm.  That is a great result for rowing and for TURC.

These events don’t just happen without a lot of effort beforehand, and we are all very grateful to the organisers, particularly Chris, for their planning and organising, and management on the day. Well done to all.

The final word goes to Alex Perkins,  School Sport Development Officer at the Gateshead/Whickham School Sport Partnership, “Never before have we received so much help, support and commitment of time/resources. The event was extremely successful and very worthwhile.  I have spoken to several members of staff and the feedback has been very positive.  I have very rarely seen so much excitement and enthusiasm from staff and pupils alike!”

Thanks for your support Alex, hope you find some photos for us to post

UPDATE: As our Community Coach, Gav has moved on to greater things these are currently suspended.

Starting September, Tyne United Rowing Club is launching a new series of community based rowing initiatives to get the local community on the river.

Tyne United Rowing Club has become one of the British Rowing ‘Explore Rowing’ clubs, focusing on daytime recreational rowing and working with Gateshead Council we are pleased to launch three sessions to enable people from the Borough of Gateshead and the wider community to ‘Get Active’, ‘Get Going’ and ‘Get Healthy’.

We will be running three sessions per week on a morning to get people onto the river the sessions are as follows:

Tuesdays 9.30am – 11.30am
Learn to Row Course – open to all aged 16+
This is a 10 week course to teach you the basics of what you need to know to row

Wednesdays 9.30am – 11.30am
‘Pay as you Row’
This session is open to all who have done either a Learn to Row course at Tyne United or have completed one of the Learn to Row courses at an Explore Rowing club.
Simply turn up by 9.45am and get in a boat!

Thursdays 9.30am – 11.30am
Learn to Row Course – Women’s only session (ages 16+)
This is a women’s specific 10 week course that will teach you the basics of rowing.

The course costs for the Tuesdays and Thursdays include your British Rowing membership, Explore Rowing ‘passport’, equipment hire, insurance, coaching and session costs.

The course costs for the Wednesday include your equipment hire, insurance, coaching and session costs.

Tuesdays and Thursdays: £70 for the 10 week course – that’s £3.50 per hour on the water!!
Wednesdays: £4 per session – that’s £2 per hour for a row on the Tyne!

For more information on how to book onto the Tuesday and Thursday courses or to come down on a Wednesday for a row, contact Gavin Coates (Community Sports Coach – Rowing) at turc.daytimerow@gmail.com or ring the Sport, Physical Activity and Health Development office at Gateshead Council on 0191 433 6945.

For people who wish to join the course but feel they are unable to afford the cost of the course, please contact the club treasurer who will be able to answer any queries.

All details are contained in this document.

Club members might wish to post the attached posters in their workplace etc. Women’s rowing and all session details.

Celebrate the opening of the new clubhouse with an ‘Italian Night’ With a 3 course meal to include first glass of wine, beer or soft drink (bring your own extra alcohol!) Also a quiz and raffle with prizes.

Friday 24th September 2010 8pm onwards

£5 per head or £15 ‘family ticket’ for 2 adults and 2 children — 8 years and under free

Members, friends and families all welcome!

‘Sign up’ on the club noticeboard asap if you would like tickets!