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Nereid News, 8/5/07
In this email:
- NO ROWING BELOW Rt. 3
- Experiences at the Henley Royal Regatta
- Minnesota bridge collapse update
- Newsletter editors needed!
- Rowing terms list
- Nereid members invited to Nutley HS function
- Lost & found: speedcoach
- Farewell from Nic
- Welcome to new members
- Saturday morning open row
Upcoming
events schedule
- Carnegie Lake
Regatta
August 26
- Nutley crew reunion and shell
dedication September 22
- Head of the Passaic
Regatta
October 14
==================
No rowing below
Route 3: Emergency bridgework
The painting contractor will be stringing heavy cable and working under
the bridge the next two weeks. There should be no rowing
below 550 for the next two weeks. The risk of injury is too
great.
I have posted signs at boathouse.
George
==================
The Henley Royal
Regatta, 2007
Three Nereid families partook this year in the Henley Royal Regatta, at
Henley on Thames, England, July 4-8. The Mediolis, Freimarck/
Pelliciottis and Hurwitzes were all represented. Pride of
place would go to Medioli, with son Joe in the winning Harvard
boat. Former Teaneck teammate and daughter of Andrea, Lauren
Hurwitz took a break from junior year studies at Oxford to join the
Freimarck/Pellicotti's, who were guests of Gratia's brother Roger
(Columbia Lightweight '84), host of a stupendous corporate "do" on
Temple Island, at the start of the race course. All would
gather at the beginning of the course at Temple Island, and the final
stretch, the Steward's Enclosure, ferried back and forth by the long,
elegant "Henley" launches.
For those who have not experienced it, either as a competitor or
spectator, the Henley is unique. The course itself and the
atmosphere on the banks are all throw-backs in time that yet hold a
revered place in the rowing world and the English summer social
calendar.
The race course is 212 meters longer than the the standard race length
of 2,000 meters, and is only two lanes across. Racing takes
place over 4 days to allow for the elimination of crews leading up to
the finals on Sunday. The narrow course is right along the
river bank so that spectators are right on top of the action, and no
more so than at Temple Island at the start and again at the Steward's
Enclosure for the final sprint.
Top flight international crews as well as schoolboy and club crews
compete. In the Grand Challenge Cup final (the top event),
the Canadian national team squared off against their Czech counterparts
and beat them handily. Harvard, racing in the next highest
level event, the Ladies Challenge Plate, nicely held off a combined
crew of NYAC elite rowers and the Moseley Boat club of the UK, a boat
with a number of medalled Olympians in it. Joe Medioli, with
ever present Nereid visor, is captain elect of the Harvard
heavyweights. Rowing 3 seat, Joe did Nereid proud.
(Rumor has it that Harvard, in a scrimmage a few days before the
regatta, was narrowly beaten by a false starting Canadian boat, but one
must always be careful not to give the Cantabs too much credit.)
A Borat clip from several years ago has the character at Henley
engaging in several humorous as well as tasteless exchanges with
spectators. At one point, he is being instructed in how to
cheer for those racing on the Buckinghamshire side of the course,
"Bucks", as opposed to those racing on the Berkshire side,
"Berks". Borat proceeds to let the cheering for Bucks
degenerate into an unfortunate rhyming chant. I'm happy to report
Harvard, rowing on the Bucks side, was not subjected to any such
rudeness from Temple Island on the day of the final.
The atmosphere in the meadows along the banks can be as sedate as a
long ago Edwardian summer afternoon tea. Certainly on Sunday
where the Nereid families gathered in the Steward's Enclosure and on
Temple Island, the dress and behaviour code echoed back:
women with dresses below the knee, men in blazers and ties, and
everwhere large, wide brimmed hats. The weather, which has
been generally atrocious all summer (even for England) broke for the
weekend and warm sun shone on the flowing green meadows. On
Temple Island, after a ten minute "Henley launch" ride down the river
from Fawley meadows, the spectators were greeted with champange, juice
and croissants (it was 10:30 AM, after all). A four star meal
from a celebrity chef during the lunch break, when all racing ceases, a
launch ride back up to the Steward's enclosure after lunch.
More racing, then back on Temple Island (as elswhere along the course)
Pimm's cups, then tea and sandwhiches.
Of the three social sporting events of the English summer, Wimbledon,
Ascot and Henley, Henley retains the standards and atmosphere that used
to make all three uniquely and charmingly English. Anyone can
attend Henley. There are a number of public enclosures, along
with a moderate amount of corporate events and tents (or "marquees" as
they call them). Pimm's, champagne, strawberries, scones,
tea, petit fours, it's all there to be enjoyed along with the unique
brand of world class racing in an incredible setting.
Come on, Bucks!
Cheers!
George Freimarck
==================
Minnesota bridge
collapse update
Just to let everyone know Tara Lane, a former Nereid Boat Club member
and her husband Brian are okay. They live only two miles from the Route
35 bridge.
John McEldowney
==================
Nereid News needs
reporters!
The club newsletter is widely read as far as we can tell, but putting
it out each week is a time consuming job. We are looking for
a few volunteers who can commit to producing news items once a week or
once every few weeks for inclusion in the newsletter. Reports
on rowing technique and rigging are welcome, as are stories about the
various forms of wildlife we observe on the river. And
anything else of interest to the readership! Please email
nereidsec@hotmail.com if you are interested. Thank you for
your help.
==================
Dictionary of
Rowing Terms
Hang
Pause at the catch before dropping the blades into the water. Also the
suspension of one's body weight from the oar handles and the
footstretchers.
Hatchets
(a.k.a. big blades or choppers or cleavers)
Oar blades that have a bigger surface area than the `standard' (Macon)
blades and have a hatchet or meat cleaver shape. The hatchets are a bit
shorter (by about 7 cm) than the standard blades.
Head Race
A race against the clock where crews start at 10 second intervals and
chase each other up the course.
Heats
The initial races to determine who advances to the finals.
High
A large number of strokes per minute.
To be continued… courtesy of Cincinnati Rowing
==================
Nutley HS Crew
reunion - Nereid members invited
I would like to extend the following invitation to your club members
and ask if you could kindly post this information.
The Nutley HS Crew Team is hosting a crew reunion and shell dedication
to honor long time coach and educator, Ray Chapman. The event will be
held on Saturday, September 22, from 3-6 at the Nutley boathouse and
finish line area. Light food and beverages will be served. Please RSVP
to nhscrew85@gmail.com. All are welcome to attend.
Thank you again.
Kevin Smyth
Nutley HS Crew
973-284-5665
==================
Found
NK SpeedCoach at the boathouse.
Contact Constance Gill at 973-746-7576, or architectgill@comcast.net.
==================
Farewell from Nic
As last weekend was the last occasion to row with my fellow Nereid
rowers, I would like to extend my warmest and sincere thanks to all who
have made my membership of Nereid so rewarding. There are 3 fellow
rowers whom I would like to express my sincere thanks to:
Andrea for introducing me into the club 3 years ago, Briant for
allowing me to use his Batmobile and Derek Offer who has been my
doubles partner for the past 2 years.
I will always keep a special place in my heart for Nereid, and if any
members should be in the Mid-West, Kansas, they will always be my guest
at my club based in Topeka, Kansas. My email address is
nicolasthorp@yahoo.com.
Nicholas
==================
Welcome to new
members
3 graduates from Nereid's Novice program have joined the club.
Bob Feuerstein
Ken Shelton
Tom Mueller
Welcome to Nereid!
==================
Saturday morning
open row
On Saturday mornings at 8:30 AM, Nereid hosts an open row at the club.
We will put crews together with anyone who shows up. Afterwards,
there'll be breakfast at the boathouse.
==================
Previous newsletters
2007
Nereid News,
7/20/07
Nereid News,
7/13/07
Nereid News,
7/6/07
Nereid News,
6/29/07
Nereid News,
6/22/07
Nereid News,
6/15/07
Nereid News,
6/8/07
Nereid News,
6/1/07
Nereid News,
5/25/07
Nereid News,
5/18/07
Nereid News,
5/11/07
Nereid News,
5/4/07
Nereid News,
4/27/07
Nereid News,
4/20/07
Nereid News,
4/13/07
Nereid News,
4/6/07
Nereid News,
3/30/07
Nereid News,
3/23/07
Nereid News,
3/16/07
Nereid News,
3/9/07
Nereid News,
3/2/07
Nereid News,
2/23/07
Nereid News,
2/17/07
Nereid News,
2/9/07
Nereid News,
2/2/07
Nereid News,
1/26/07
Nereid News,
1/18/07
Nereid News,
1/12/07
Nereid News,
1/5/07
2006
Nereid News,
12/22/06
Nereid News,
12/15/06
Nereid News,
12/8/06
Nereid News,
12/1/06
Nereid News,
11/17/06
Nereid News,
11/11/06
Nereid News,
11/2/06
Nereid News,
10/27/06
Nereid News,
10/20/06
Nereid News,
10/13/06
Nereid News,
10/6/06
Nereid News,
9/29/06
Nereid News,
9/22/06
Nereid News,
9/15/06
Nereid News,
9/8/06
Nereid News,
9/1/06
Nereid News,
8/25/07
Nereid News,
8/11/06
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