| Greetings from Amsterdam
Good Luck to our Para Rowers!
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| The Oarsman
Poem by William John Watkins
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After serving in the Canadian Navy in World War II, Aidan Slack-Watkins' (Boys Comp. Team) grandfather William John Watkins started rowing in Fort William (now part of Thunder Bay) in Northwestern Ontario. In the late 1940's and early 1950's, he and his eight won seven championships (the Lipton Cup) at the Northwest International Rowing Regatta http://www.nwira.com/ which was a regatta started in 1885 for crew athletes from the upper mid-west US and western Canada.
Later in his life, William started writing poetry. This poem was uncovered recently during a move and Aidan's Dad Michael has agreed to share it with the CRI Community. We hope that you enjoy it as much as we did!
THE OARSMAN
It's the day of the race!
Shell shoulder high,
Down to the water we stride.
Slowly, up to the start
Of the course we row,
A mile and a bit.
Pausing alongside green banks,
We sit, collect our thoughts
And steady taut nerves.
Little coxie, in the stern.
Normally berates us,
(Shortly will again).
But now, through head-held megaphone,
Chatters a constant uplifting refrain.
"Steady boys, cool now, we're good.
We'll win today, with our stroking blades
We'll move this shell, down the course like an arrow.
We'll make the grade, never fear."
We've arrived at the start of the course.
"Easy all", yells coxie,
Bow-side backwaters, stroke-side brings around.
Back into our lane we meld,
"Slowly, back-paddle slowly now".
Until finally our rudder is held.
Right and left we nervously glance,
Checking the competition.
Then tensely back to our own shell,
To assume the starting position.
Judge boat cruises alongside.
Six lanes of eights.
Starter lifts his gun.
(Don't watch him, watch coxie).
Then ten deep breaths, exhale slowly,
(Checks the butterflies in the guts).
"Are you ready" - BANG,
We're off! Ten fast ones,
Then lengthen to the stroke.
Swish, swish our oars glide,
As up and down our seats siide,
Clack, clack our riggers click
Slide, slide our seats tick,
Clackety clack, clickety click
Down the course we fly.
"Row your hearts out", coxie yells,
"You know there's no tomorrow.
And if we lose there's nothing left.
But sorrow, sorrow, sorrow.
Stroke, stroke, stroke" he calls,
His megaphone is blazing,
"A quarter length they have us by",
(Our coxie's quite amazing).
Two hundred yards to go, we're dead beat
What does our little coxie yell?
"Row, you bastards. row, row, row,
Your training now will tell."
Then he calls for a ten,
With another ten to follow.
Our arms and legs, our minds our guts.
Are almost spent, quite hollow.
We're at the end of the course and flying fast.
The question now is can we last?
Our bow thrusts slowly forward,
Crosses the line to the bang of the gun.
Over riggers and seats we sprawl.
We've won, won, WON.
- William John Watkins - Dec. 1983 |
Photo of the Week
Rowing Racoon?
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| Celebration of Women's Rowing
Sign Up Today!
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The Fifth Annual Celebration of Women's Rowing will take place on Sunday, September 21 from 8:15 to 11 am at Community Rowing's Harry Parker Boathouse, 20 Nonantum Road, Brighton, MA. We'll row eights and quads in mixed lineups representing a cross section of all rowers of all experience levels. This will be followed by a rower's brunch and a chance to catch up and connect with people you may not normally have the opportunity to row with. We hope you'll be able to join us. Please RSVP so we can get a head start on lineups and we can make sure that we have enough food.
Please sign up for the Women's Row using the this link:
Call for Volunteers
We could also still use a couple volunteers! To sign up, please follow these steps:
2. Enter your email address: (You will NOT need to register an account on VolunteerSpot)
3. Choose your spots - VolunteerSpot will send you an automated confirmation and reminders. Easy!
Note: VolunteerSpot does not share your email address with anyone.
Please contact me (erin.p.mckenna@gmail.com) if you have any questions.
Erin |
| WARNING: Anderson Bridge Traffic Pattern
New Traffic Pattern - Please Take Note
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Boston Arch: CLOSED
Center Arch: Downriver only
Camb Arch: Upriver only
USE EXTREME CAUTION AT ANDERSON BRIDGE
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Rumble on the River
Sunday, September 14th
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Volunteers Needed for Rumble on the River
Thanks
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| Volunteers Needed for Corporate Rows
Get Your Volunteer Hours In!
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Thursday, September 4, 2014
2:30PM - 6:30PM
4 Rowers, 3 Dock Attendants and 3 Volunteers Needed
Saturday, September 20, 2014
11:30AM - 3:30PM
3 Rowers, 3 Dock Attendants and 3 Volunteers Needed
Thanks!!
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| Head of the Quinobequin
October 12, 2014
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The Head of the Quinobequin is a juniors-only (U13, U15, U17, U19), single sculls only, time trial-format rowing "head race" that takes place on the Charles River on the second Sunday in October. Quinobequin is a Native American name for the Charles River. The race is a homage to Italy's Kinderskiff. Several of the "Q's" founders, seeing that race and the 400 young scullers competing annually in it, had the realization that to improve sculling in the US, we need more kids sculling, and to get more kids sculling, we need more races. Q-1 took place in 2013, with approximately 100 scullers registered. The race course stretches 3200 meters from Cambridge Boat Club to Community Rowing. It starts at the Eliot Bridge in Cambridge/Boston, and runs upstream to Brighton/Watertown, finishing in a stadium-like setting in front of the Beacon Street Bridge.
Register for the HOTQ
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Military Vets Program
Volunteers Needed
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The Military Vets Program is looking for additional volunteers to assist with an event on Sunday, August 3rd.
CRI will be hosting Achilles International, whose mission is to enable people with all types of disabilities to participate in mainstream athletics, for their kayak clinic with sessions from 10am until 4pm.
We would like volunteers for sessions running from 10am- 1pm and a separate session from 1pm until 4pm. Anyone interested in volunteering for the entire event would also be greatly appreciated.
The volunteers would assist with set up, assist with participant in and out of kayaks and clean up with this event.
We appreciate your assistance and dedication in advance.
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| Upcoming Private Events
Please Take Note
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Saturday, August 30, 2014:
12:00 PM: 2nd Floor closed to the public for cleaning
3:00 PM: Dock # 2 Closed for Ceremony Set-up & East Boat Bay (limited use for scullers)
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Ceremony on Dock # 2
6:00 PM - 12:00 AM: Cocktail Hour and Reception on Boat Bay and 2nd Floor
Thanks
For questions, please contact:
sharanya@communityrowing.org
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