Busy

It's been a crowded few weeks for the Boat Club, but we seem to have made it through with out any major scares (Shahrukh's trip to dove pier below Hammersmith bridge non-withstanding!). The Schools Head, National Junior Sculling Head, NJIRC and Kingston Head have rounded out an extremely busy winter racing season, and I think for now everyone is glad!

Results at the Schools Head and National Junior Sculling Head were mixed. The senior squad, hampered by illness and injury, lined up with two completely different scratch crews at the back-to-back events. The juniors had better luck, with good results for the J15 boys and girls and a promising 6th from a below strength J16 quad!

Tiffins first entry to the Nat' Junior Indoor Rowing Champs' at Battersea was also a success. Richard Clarke (J16) and Tim Livingston (J14) picked up bronze medals, while Jon Williams pulled an incredible 6.19 2K to take silver in the J18 event. Tiffin Girls also turned out in force, with 7 (?) entrants.

Kingston Head yesterday proved a fitting end to a turbulent winter however, with the J18 4x (Jonathan, Arran, Josh, Greg) winning their event! The "experimental" J16 8+ put out it's first ever race against tough opposition, and can only get better. To round it off, a time only crew 4x consisting of George, Alex, James H and Michael H won the second division by a convincing 40 second margin, prompting the succinct conclusion from the line judge of; "bl**dy hell!" Altogether, strong rowing from all boys and girls, and thanks to everyone who has turned out over the last few months to race, support or coach. We can't do it without you!

Photos:

Anna Porteous meets Olympian and ex-Tiffin Girl Sarah Winckless and the J16 8+ race through Kingston Bridge

Car Boot Sale + Quiz 2010

We had the first car boot sale on the school grounds on Saturday, making just over £1000 for the club! A massive thanks to all the teachers, parents and boys who turned up and did such a fantastic job at a crucial fundraising event. The next car boot sale is on Easter Sunday, and we can hope to make more money considering Saturday's sale was marred by rain.

Also, the TSBC quiz is on the 26th of March so keep that date free. 

That's all for now.

Rupert Price

I have just begun my second term of rowing at Robinson College Cambridge. I have already built up a reputation as 'the best rower in college' and 'making everyone else look bad'. Putting aside the fact that the majority of my team-mates only took up the sport 4 months ago, it is safe to assume that the experience I gained from my rowing at Tiffin has put me in good stead!

In recent years the College has not taken much silverware. This year, however things are looking to change. Along with my experience we have one of the lightweight coaches in our boat as well as a Canadian third year exchange who has experience and enthusiasm. 

Because of the narrowness of the river Cam the traditional races between colleges at the University are "bumps",   multiple "head" style races taking place over 4 consecutive days, where the only aim is to catch the preceding crew. If you achieve the "bump", you take that crews place in the starting order the next day, hoping to get to the "head" of the race.

The goal at the moment is to achieve 'blades' at the bumps racing at the end of both this term and the next. This means 'bumping' or overtaking a crew on each of the 4 days of racing.

Aside from racing, one of the great aspects of College Rowing is the social side. I now have several friends in second and third years, even a few postgraduates. Friends I wouldn't have, had I not been rowing. The balance between work and trainings has also been fine. I managed to get a first in our end of term test and have managed to keep on top of things all term long. I think rowing at Tiffin provided me with the organization skills necessary to make this possible.

Rupert Price

CoB 2009

Rupert (Bow), Nick Edwards (2) and Chizzle Harrison (Cox)

vs. Kingston Grammar School 2008

Kingston Rowing Club Annual Dinner

On Saturday evening, both myself and George were invited to the Kingston Rowing Club dinner in Surbiton. We share our boat house with Kingston, a founding member of Remenham Club and one of the oldest rowing clubs in the world with a rich history stretching back over 150 years.

With a chance to rub shoulders with old Tiffinians who had rowed for the club, and to finally match a face to the eponymous name of David Biddulph, the evening was a massive success for the club and a testament to the strength of their members in their drive to put the club back on the map.

So, while they still may be a little bitter over their defeat to us at the HORR last year we can look forward to brushing shoulders and competing against each other on the river for many years to come.

Alex

Hampton Head - RESULTS

Results - Click Here

Not our best set of results from Hampton, but there were a few highlights over the weekend.

Ellie and Alice battled bravely over the course in their first outing in this combination since the Henley training weekend, and were the only girls crew representing Tiffin in the race. The Senior 4x were pushed into 6th place (separated from 2nd by just over 7 seconds) after only three sessions with each other and Richard's knees held together by only pritt-stick and duct tape. Jon Williams however proved unstoppable in the J18 single, ripping the field apart to win by 10 seconds!

                   

After a long winter break, it was good to be back racing again. Now we are back at Kingston after an eventful couple of weeks on the Tideway, we can start to work the miles we have been denied by the conditions.

Our next race is School's Head and the National Junior Sculling Head over the 11th and 12th of March, followed by Kingston Head on the 20th.

Also, a big thank-you to everyone who turned out to cheer on the school on Saturday including the Head teacher!

Senior 4x-

Stroke: Alex Thomas 3: Jon Williams 2: Richard Clarke Bow: George Nottidge

Hampton Head

The stream has appeared to have died down over the last few days, allowing us to retreat from the bumpy water in Putney and return to Kingston. Also it now looks like Hampton should be going ahead this weekend.

• Division 1
• Division 2
• Other Information

Those racing in Division 1, meet at 8am. Those in division 2 meet 10am. The trailer will be parked on Saddler's Rise near to the finish line. 

Easter Training Camp

This year we are on training camp in Holland, on the Bosbaan rowing lake which hosts the KNRB Olympic Rowing Team. The Bosbaan is the oldest artificial rowing lake in the world, containing 8 lanes and a 5km running track around the outside. It will also be hosting the World Rowing Championships in 2014.


We will be leaving on the 11th of April and arriving home on the 18th. We are travelling there via minibus and train, with the group convening for the overnight ferry to Holland. As usual, details to follow regarding more specific times.


Places on the trip will be allocated based upon training and racing performances, and rowers from all year groups will have the opportunity to attend.

Stewart West

Stewart West was the Captain of Boats at Tiffin in 2007-2008 season. Having joined the school in 2006, he instantly integrated himself into the squad and stroked the 1st eight at the SHORR and at Henley Royal Regatta. Stewart is currently studying at the Durham University, in the second year of his course. Here, he describes his experience of rowing so far at University;

"I have just started my second year at Durham University and have already had many great rowing experiences! My very first race for Durham was the British Universities Small Boats Championships, where I picked up a medal in the lightweight pair. Since then I have been fotunate enough to have started in the top 25 at the Head of the River, as the bowman of Durham 2nd Eight, and also picked up the university’s only men's gold medal at the British Universities Championships! At the end of last season I also rowed in the Visitors at Henley Royal Regatta and won a bronze medal at the National Championships in the lightweight coxless four.

"This season I have seen my performances go from strength to strength, and feel confident ahead of the new season.  I have recently pulled a new 8 second PB at the first set of GB Trials (6:38.3) on the ergo, and picked up medals at BUCS Head. For the rest of the season the plan is to concentrate on developing a lightweight 8 and target the top 50 at the Head of the River. My long term goal is for the boat to qualify for the European Universities Championships in August!"

Stewart West
Tiffin CoB 2008

The Boat Club thanks Stewart and wishes him all the best for this years racing!

Photo: Tiffin Senior 4+ 2008

S: Stewart West 3: Nick Edwards 2: Day Moran B: Rupert Price

Cox: Alex Thomas

First Week Back...

Not surprisingly the river is very red at the moment, if it is still red next week  when school starts we will need to de-camp to Putney for wednesday and thursday, we wont have time to get boats loaded and get there for Monday.  Please come to school prepared.

Check out the rowing notice board on monday break time for confirmation as to our location on monday afternoon.  Use the link below for Thames updates or go to the TSBC Twitter page.

http://riverconditions.visitthames.co.uk/

Events For Easter Term

Planned events for this coming term are listed below - please make a note of dates. In the case of Weybridge, Hampton, Henley and Kingston, there is unlikely to be any training at Tiffin Boathouse for those not involved in racing but this will be confirmed closer to the time.

23rd January - Weybridge Head
6th February - Hampton Head
13th February - Henley Fours Head - THIS IS THE FIRST WEEKEND OF HALF TERM
20 / 21st February - GB Junior Long Distance Trials - Venue TBC
11th March - Schools Head (Thursday, boat entry TBC)
12th March - National Junior Sculling Head - Dorney Lake
20th March - Kingston Head
27th March - Head of the River