Over the weekend we launched our ‘£10 challenge’ with a series of fun races, in our usual round the island format. It might be less than 3k, but racing in our restricted fours over that distance really makes you feel like you have had a workout, and racing turns are a skill that not enough rowers practice. Thanks to everyone who took part, and we look forward to all the Apprentice/Dragon’s Den style entrepreneurship!
Out on the river
Neck and neck
Fundraising event
Tucking in
It’s summer – it’s getting warm- it’s time to think about getting your team together for the Goring and Streatley Regatta - entries are now open for coxed 4s . We will teach you how to row a 4, or provide training if you have entered the regatta before, and racing will take place at our regatta on the 20th of July. You can enter online via this website. Gazebo booking will commence on May 18th via a direct email request to nickjbubb@aol.com.
Regatta racing
As you are aware we recently launched the Boathouse Development Fund with an entertaining evening in the company of Zac Purchase. We are now ready to launch the first phase of fundraising and would like to invite all GGBC members to come along to one or both of the club sessions over the weekend of 11th / 12th May to participate in fun rowing activities, enjoy bacon/egg rolls and drinks and help us make a start on raising the funds for our new boathouse.
We will provide club members with a £10 note and a challenge – to take it away and double the value, or triple it, or make as much money as possible over the next six months! We will ask you to bring it back later in the year along with any profit you have made. Please come along and enjoy some rowing in the company of other club members and take away your £10 note. We hope to see you on 11th (from 9am) or 12th (from 10am) May to make a start on generating the funds for the boathouse
On Thursday we launched our new boathouse appeal with the help of Olympic champion Zac Purchase who gave an inspiring talk and answered questions from the audience. We all tried on his silver and gold medals and listened to him enthusiastically describing what it took to be the best. The evening was a great success. More photos
A big THANK YOU goes out to Zac, all those involved with organising the event and all those who attended. Stay tuned for more on our boathouse soon.
The finish line
The first learn to row course of 2013 finished last weekend! Check out how they did… (click on slideshow to see all the pix).
Every year the club holds a unique Regatta at the water meadows in Streatley.
This year the Regatta is on the 20th July. It is a glorious mixture of events: a traditional Regatta, with serious, not so serious and some downright light-hearted, rowing; a country day out by the river, with craft stalls, country food, a really big beer tent, Pimms galore, live music from local musicians and gazebos by the river; and a funfair and entertainment for the kids, both big and small!
Many club members participate in the Regatta as do many more people who just want the challenge, entry lists of 50 crews are usual! Their families can cheer from the meadows and congratulate/commiserate/revive exhausted sportsmen afterwards.
As you can imagine, this event, which attracts upwards of 3,000 happy people each year, takes some organising and willing hands to put on and run. . There are two categories of volunteer we are looking for, Firstly, those who can help the regatta chairman, Brian Barnes, with a couple of hours each week between now and July 20th as we plan, organise, book facilities, attract advertisers for the programme, deal with the local authorities and generally prepare. Secondly, closer to the date, we will be looking for hands on volunteers to come down to the site for a couple of days beforehand and a single day afterwards, to help set up and dismantle our Regatta!
If you are interested in helping, we are holding a kick off meeting at the Elephant in Pangbourne at 7:30 next Thursday the 14th March. Here we will outline the tasks to be completed, direct our available talent in the appropriate direction and set out a draft timetable to the event. If you want to help but can’t come to the Elephant, please e-mail us (regattachairman@goringgapbc.org.uk) and let me know that you want to volunteer as soon as possible. Please also email us if you are coming, so we know how many to expect.
Club Members
Come to the exciting launch of our new boat club on
March 21st at Goring Village Hall
Starts 7.30pm
Guest speaker: Zac Purchase
Tickets £7.50 in advance, includes cheese and wine and raffle
Contact social@goringgapbc.org.uk
Open to all – bring friends and family
Raffle prizes wanted. Please email if you have anything suitable.
Amazingly enough, it looks like the river is, for the first weekend in a goldfishes memory, rowable. So come down and remind yourself what an oar looks like. Might be worth bringing wellies though, because the ground will be wet!
Goring and Streatley Regatta is now confirmed for Saturday the 20th July at Streatley Farm water meadow. All the fun of the fair, the excitement of rowing and a great day out for the whole family. If you are interested in having a stall at the Regatta, or in any other aspect of the event, please contact RegattaChairman@goringgapbc.org.uk
