October - 2011

Dear Members,

I have a confession to make - I feel like a terrible cad but for a number of years now I've been running two rowing club memberships. There, I've finally said it. Believe you me, I've done my best to pretend it wasn't really happening but it's no good, and someone was bound to find out sooner or later. I'm afraid my parents have known about it right from the start, and although they must remain blameless in all this, it was in fact they who first introduced me to, to, I can hardly bring myself to say it; Leander.

On Sunday I was clearing a massive pile of unopened junk mail (from before the time I screwed a shreding machine onto the inside of my letterbox) when I came across a bulging envelope embossed with the Leander crest which I couldn't resist opening. Perusing the various goodies on offer in the high-end brochure within - enamel cuff links, crystal sherry decanters, silver coasters with hippo motif, you get the idea - my eyes were finally drawn to what was, for me, "la piece de resistance". The Official Leander Club Cummerbund in pink, at the knockdown price of £30. How my heart thrilled with excitement as I sat there drooling, reaching slowly for my mouse.

At this point I should explain that only the previous day a suggestion was floated to the committee regarding the viability of a traditional club dinner, so the subsequent "cummerbund incident" simply triggered my gluttonous reflex responses. However, I've put my name down for Maggie Neale's kind invitation and I hope you will do the same. The Club Dinner will be held on Saturday 19th November at The Red Lion Hotel in Henley and I pass on Maggie's wish that the 100 places available are quickly filled - not least because we need to confirm the booking asap. Forty tickets have already gone in less than two days and Maggie tells me it's a strictly first come, first served affair so please book asap to avoid disappointment by emailing Maggie at nealem@me.com

The general gist is to create an opportunity for Members and their guests to scrub up in unison and enjoy each other's company without the necessity to shout at each other over loud music, dance or even wear a damned cummerbund. Who knows, we may get to bed before midnight ready to spring into action the following morning. Dress code: for gentlemen, DJ or jacket and tie; for ladies, evening wear.

As many of you have discovered, we have been running some well attended time trials (which, for Health and Safety reasons, must never be called Time Trials, with capital Ts) on weekend mornings. What an great way to involve those who wish to get stuck in on the water! The added benefits are that we find out a) who the boat movers are and, as importantly, b) who all those strangers are. I encourage you all to come along on Saturday mornings at 8am to join in. You may even find you enjoy yourself, and perhaps your times will improve with each passing week...

The last topic this month is membership subscriptions, but first I must digress for a little context. I discovered the 1992/3 membership list recently which shows, if we were to go back a trifling 19 years, the following comparisons between then and now:

1992 Category Number 8s 4s 2s 1x

- Full / life 95 2 9 8 4
- Other 44
- Junior 3
- Associates 4
- Total members 146
- Total club boats 23

2011

- Full / life 191 4 22 15 8
- Other 75
- Junior 80
- Associates 76
- Total members 415
- Total club boats 49

Points of interest:

- Nearly three times as many members now
- More than twice as many boats now
- Hardly any Associates or Juniors in 1992
- Much better equipment and facilities now
- Much bigger overheads now, which means....

....we need your help now. Graham Lloyd, Membership Secretary (graham.utrc@robics.com) asks you kindly to please pay your racking and subscription fees on time, i.e. before midnight this Friday (11-11-11) - see webite for details. So, please, either pay up in the next 48 hours, or let Graham know why you can't, shan't or won't. I hope you agree that £340 represents very good value at less than £1 a day. The non-discounted rate (which kicks in at one second past midnight on Friday night) is £415 - you have been warned.

OK, no more open threats and bullying for now - apologies if you feel I've gone too far.

To sum up then, it would be marvellous if you would:

1. Come to the club dinner
2. Join in the time trials
3. Pay your subs on time.

One final thing. Respect is due to Mike Dudley and Bill Evans, who won gold medals at the World Masters Rowing Championships in Poznan earlier this month. They romped home by the width of a bow ball (5/100ths of a second) over a wide range of inferior foreigners, and we thank them for propping up our well-developed sense of superiority. Incidentally, I gather one of the party (who shall remain nameless) was demi-arrested while there; unfortunately, charges weren't pressed and the miscreant escaped with a cuff around the ear, but I guess re-living your youth is what Master's rowing is all about though.

Next month, a report on the initial jousts of the 2011/12 season, featuring the Pairs Head, our very own Small Boats Head (expect a request for volunteers) and the Fours Head. Until then, for goodness sake try to keep your nose clean.

All the best,
Justin

Justin Sutherland
Mobile 07931185566.