QLD Masters

Queensland State Masters Rowing Championships were held on the weekend of Sat 21 and Sunday 22 April 2018.

Just over a week ago I received a text asking if I would like to be in a last minute put together crew.  I said "yes".

The crew :
B: Peter Hastie
2: Evan Catlin
3: Mark Elliott
4: Bryce
5: Andrew Murrell
6: Neil Alcorn
7: Brett Cribb
8: Frank Thomson
C: James McPherson


Someone with a creative sense of humour named us the "Barbarians".

We had one training session on Wednesday and then two races on Saturday.  The training program is below.

I really enjoyed all three rows because even though we started off a bit ordinary, we continually improved.  In the races there was never that dead fade that happens when people give up.  The first race was rougher than the second.  in part because the water for the second race was calmer.

 

 I had no hat.  Brett loaned me one.  Turns out a special from a boys own adventure weekend that his and his mates went on.  An exclusive club.

I was entrusted and had to give it back at the end of the day.

Thank you Brett.






















This was the Wednesday training session

Barbarians Crew Rowing Training

Wednesday 18-4-2018 4:45am

Summary (See page 2+ for detail)

Pre row brief - Objective is to row in time

Launch

Warm up - Traditional in 4’s.  Start at finish hands only etc

Row in 6’s - Rate 16-20 - focus on timing, (Sequence)

Full 8 - Start at 16.  Build rate and power to 32. X2 or 3

Turn around

Starts

Start & 50 - Rate 33 drop to 28 at 40. X 2 Maintain split

Start & 50 - Rate 33 Drop to 28 at 10. X 2 Maintain split

Coffee

Detail version of the plan

Pre row Brief

Acknowledge we are an eclectic crew.  

The objective of today’s row is timing and balance.

At the FINISH

Sit up straight at the finish.  Heads up. Chin up. Pull Up. Look down the boat.  If you can see ears on heads in front on your outside then you are probably leaning away from your rigger.  Always sit up straight.

Request to Bow & Cox - Look down the boat and we will get some feedback from you in the breaks.

ON WATER

Warm up - Traditional in 4’s - about 10 strokes at each step - Start at finish hands only, then bodies, ¼, ½, ¾, full, Feathering, 10 hard.  The non rowing 4 need to sit up straight and sit boat up.

Row in 6’s - slow to medium rate (somewhere 16-20 rate)- meant to be easy.  The key objective is to focus on getting in time.
This should take us up near the old uni citycat terminal

Stop & drink & get feedback from bow and cox.

Full 8 - Row off as an 8. Rate 16.  After we get going, cox calls in build rate and power. Gradually build rating and power.  
Cox to call rating and splits pretty continuously.

Cox reminders:  Sit up straight at finish. Finish together, Square early, Quick catch no shoulder lift,  Legs bodies arms/

Starts

Need to talk to P2 guys as to their start.

For now assume

¾, ½, ¾, ¾, Full. Lengthen out.

During the first bit the emphasis is on the legs.  Backs don’t swing much (Do pull in with arms though).  In the lengthen out bit, the new thing is to bring in the backs.

Do one (¾) stroke.

Then two stroke start (¾, ½) and then three strokes and so on up to start plus 5 so as to include the lengthen out bit where the backs come in.

Start & 50 - Rate 33 drop to 28 at 40. X 2 Maintain split

This is simulating the first 500m of the race including the rate reduction that brings in the middle 1k

Start & 50 - Rate 33 Drop to 28 at 10. X 2 Maintain split

This is basically simulating the second 500m of the race practicing the rate drop and looking for the hang and swing rhythm to keep boat speed through that middle 1k.

During these long pieces, cox to call rate and split continuously.

Crew focus on smoothness and getting the legs down hard.  Listen to the split - Am I contributing honestly.

Feel for the run of the boat.

2018 Queensland Masters

Race Plan  21-4-2018

What	Focus & Coxes calls Call Rate and SPLIT pretty much continuously
0 Start Start ¾, ½, ¾, Full. Lengthen out. Continue full of tilt for 40 strokes Rate 32.	Squeeze Smooth In time
400  MIDDLE At 40 strokes drop the rating over 5 strokes to 28. The mental focus now must be on power esp in legs. Control your breathing Sit up at the finish Every 20 strokes we will have a 10 stroke effort followed by 10 strokes long and strong - Call Rate and SPLIT Sit up straight at finish. Finish together, Square early, Quick catch no shoulder lift,  Legs bodies arms/	Legs down Hard! Sit Back at the Finish. Hands away before you rock. Steady up the slide.  Feel the footstretcher under the balls of your feet. Square Early Quick Catches
250 from the finish Red marker. (This is past the headland)  Don’t go early! Increase rate slightly.  It’s 25 strokes to go.	Control breathing Legs Legs Legs