As many of you will be aware we are experiencing a shortage of members willing to take out beginners and Juniors on Monday nights. In an effort to address this issue we would invite any paddlers with qualifications to instruct (current or non-current), and competent paddlers, to attend an informal meeting in the Clubhouse following next Monday night’s session. Monday 30th April, approx 8pm.
Regards
Adam Graham
Hon. Secretary
Rather than organising an Opening Cruise this year it has been suggested that a Club based activity day be run on Sat 28th April. Sporting Conveners along with our new Social Convener are looking to arrange some water based activities & races with a social gathering in the afternoon.
Keep that date clear, as soon as there is more detail we will update the membership.
Adam Graham
Hon. Secretary
As you are all aware instruction in all water sports at the Club is provided voluntarily by the Club’s members. Unfortunately we are currently experiencing a shortage of qualified instructors willing to provide kayaking instruction. The Club’s Committee is working with the membership to resolve this problem, but until then we cannot provide any formal kayaking instruction. Adult kayaking continues on Monday & Tuesday nights with competent paddlers being supervised by available instructors or experienced Club paddlers. As this situation evolves we will provide more updates.
Last weekend another Club member qualified as a UKCC Level 2 Fixed Seat Rowing Coach, this means we now have three members with formal qualifications, more than any other coastal rowing club in Scotland. We have been running Junior rowing since April last year and would welcome new participants to this. This area of the Club involves trips around the Clyde Estuary, as well as competitions locally and at other clubs round the Scottish coast. If you are interested, Junior sessions start at 5:30pm on a Thursday night, Seniors about 6:00pm.
Over the last two weekends the Club played host to a British Rowing course for fixed seat coaches from Lochgilphead, Troon, Portobello, Port Seton, North Berwick & Dunbar. The group is pictured below just prior to a session on immersion recovery.
Below is a shot of one of the crews recoverying a casualty from the river.
The coaches will undergo final assessments back at their own clubs in September when an assessor from British Rowing will make sure they are implimenting what they have learned over the last couple of weekends. Royal West coaches have been asked to mentor them over the coming months, either at their own clubs or at Royal West.
Anyone interested in developing coaching skills or just trying out rowing, should contact Alex Paterson at rowing@rwsabc.com, or catch him on a Thursday night. He is the really tall guy.
The AGM was held in the Clubhouse last Thursday night.
As is tradition Andy Taylor stepped down as Vice-President after a three year term during which the Club has seen continued development on and off the water. Andy should be recognised for his service to the Club, not just in the last three years but for many years prior to that in other Committee roles.
Our new Vice-President is Alistair Black, formerly the Club Hon. Secretary and prior to that the Sailing Convener. He was replaced as Hon. Secretary by Adam Graham.
Pat Johnston also stepped down from the role of Hon. Treasurer on Thursday, his efforts have kept us on the straight and narrow financially for the last few years, supporting the developments we have seen. Pat was replaced by Heather Scott.
There was a flurry of activity to join the Committee with three co-opted members being ratified as members and two more volunteering from the body of the meeting. The roles of the Committee members will be agreed at the next meeting on Thursday 12th April. Following that they will be posted on the Club noticeboard and the website.
Subscriptions become due on 1st April. Forms are being posted and emailed this weekend. Please note the return date of 13th April for the Standing Order Mandate if you wish to make staged payments. The forms are also available on the website, look under About Club then Membership.
There was a decision taken at the AGM to increase the 200 Club fees for the first time since it started. It has risen from £1/month to £5/month. This will allow for more substantial and worthwhile prizes. If you are an existing member please complete and return the form to the Club ASAP so that the Standing Order can be updated. If you have not joined yet please give it some consideration.
The AGM also decided to posthumously elect Lieutenant Henry Robertson (Birdie) Bowers (29 July 1883 – 29 March 1912) and Henry (Chippy) McNish (11 September 1874 – 24 September 1930) as Honorary Members of the Club. Thursday was the centenary of the last entry in the diary of Robert Falcon Scott on the ill-fated Terra Nova Expedition (1910–1913). The Club’s boats, named after these two Polar Explorers, were rowed past Birdie Bower’s former home on Wednesday night with lowered flags.
We look forward to a very busy year ahead. Please keep an eye on the website for updates and event announcements.
Competition closes 31st March 2012…
“Two lucky winners from the UK (you and a friend) will get the chance to join the Spare Seat team for 3 days during the Expedition in May 2012, paddling and seeing the beautiful locations of New York State nestled on the Erie Canal. You will fly courtesy of Delta Airlines. The lucky prize winners will also get the chance to sample the Spare Seat itinerary meeting local people, visiting points of interest and of course sampling adventure and the great outdoors. The prize winners will also get to enjoy two nights in New York City courtesy of Travelbag.”
http://www.thespareseat.com/competition
Willie McLeod, the RCO for Strathclyde East is running a 3 Star Sea Kayak Training/assessment weekend over the 31st of March and 1st of April in the Largs Area. The cost is £60.
He’s looking for 3 more people to make it worth the coaches time.
As he says, £60 is a stunningly low price so even if you treat it as a training weekend you will not be disappointed.
If you are interested contact Willie on rco.strathclydeeast@canoescotland.org He needs the money by Wednesday March 28th at the latest.
In case you are unsure what’s required, the 3 star syllabus is here: http://www.bcuna.com/PDF-Files/Syllabus/3_Star/3_Star_Sea_Syllabus.pdf
Monday and Tuesday evening club paddlesports nights will restart on the following dates
Adult members – existing members only – Monday 26th March, 6.30pm
New Adult / Temporary members – Monday 9th April, 6.30pm
The Annual General Meeting will be held in the clubhouse on Thursday 29th March at 8 pm.
There will be a Special General Meeting at 7.30pm on the same night to hear two proposed amendments to the Constitution. These proposals are attached.
Good news on this front.
Think I have found a replacement supplier following the unexpected closure of our previous supplier.
Costs being agreed at the moment, will keep you informed.
Adam
Below is a list of activities planned for the year, outwith attendance at any of the SCRA club regattas.
17th & 18th March, Rollicking Rowing Club from Lochgilphead will be at RW for rowing experience & coaching. 10-12 kids, parents and teachers.
7th & 8th April plus 14th & 15th April, the Club is hosting a UKCC Level 2 coaches course on behalf of SCRA.
13th April, one of the Club undergoing his UKCC Level 2 assessment at the Club. British Rowing assessor coming to the club.
Looking for suggestions as to a suitable date in April for the Open Cruise. This could be a Club based event to launch the new season, with activity at the Club.
2nd & 3rd June, Club regatta
3rd June, Club has been asked to participate in the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Pageant on the Thames. Crew being sought to take Whiteforeland to London for the weekend and row the Lord Lieutenant of Renfrewshire in the event, as a composite with Castle Semple RC.
21st July, Dalriada Festival Regatta, Glenarm, County Antrim. Club is attending again this year and will be joined by at least three other clubs from SCRA.
Sept/Oct, RW has been asked if it would organise the first SCRA National Champs. Looking at running it on Castle Semple Loch and sharing the organising with Castle Semple RC.
Anyone wishing to take part in any of the above should contact me on rowing@rwsabc.com
Adam