News Report: Article from Mike Haggerty about yesterday's shocking news:
"Britain's most successful female rower, Glaswegian Katherine Grainger, has just added a third world title to hercollection in the most controversial of circumstances.
Grainger and her quadruple sculls crew-mates - Debbie Flood, Sarah Winckless and Frances Houghton - just failed to hang onto their world title in the tightest of finishes with Russia at last year's world
championships in Eton. At the time, it looked like the British quartet would have to settle for silver, but yesterday, FISA, the world rowing governing body announced that Olga Samulenkova of the Russian crew had tested positive for an exogenous source of metabolites of testosterone and has been banned from competition for two years.
A consequence of this ban is the disqualification of the entire Russian women's quadruple scull crew from the 2006 World Rowing Championships and the crew must now return their championship gold medals to FISA.
Samulenkova was tested in an out of competition test at a training camp on 23 July 2006. The result of the test was communicated to FISA three weeks after the World Rowing Championships. A 'B' sample counter analysis confirmed the result of the 'A' sample in November and the FISA Doping Hearing Panel concluded the process and delivered its decision yesterday morning.
As a result, the Russians have been disqualified and the British silver medalists, the third-placed Australians and fourth-placed Germany have all been promoted.
"Shell-shocked" was Grainger's first reaction yesterday. She heard the news halfway through a weights training session. "It's surrealistic and the initial reaction is shock. We're very happy to get the title but sad for the sport because we want to compete in a clean sport" she said.
"What's hardest about this is that we and the home crowd at the Worlds didn't get the chance to celebrate. All the crowd saw was our tears".
The British quartet were devastated by the result at the time, and even now, Grainger will use that experience to help her training. "We had the hard lesson of how it hurts to lose and we've trained harder than ever because we know we have to go faster".
Grainger also revealed that the crew coach Paul Thomson broke the news to them in the gym yesterday. "Congratulations, you're world champions" he said, before the weight session continued.
Transport to and from Ireland: Dundee University BC wish to know if anyone is travelling from Scotland to Ireland for the 50th Erne HOR (3rd March) or to Ireland at all over the course of the next month. If so, will you have space on your trailer for a 4+ and/or Single? Please contact Peter Graham on 07881 944829
29 January
Katherine Grainger's Quad promoted to Gold: Shock news from FISA today - a member of the Russian Women's Quad has tested positive for a banned substance, leading to the disqualification of the Russian crew at the World Championships. This means that the GB Women's Quad, stroked by Katherine Grainger, are now World Champions. More information on the FISA website and BBC News.
World U23 Championships: The website for the World U23s, held at Strathclyde Park this summer, is now up and running, and includes a ticket order section.
SARA Trial, Inverness: Lee Boucher, SARA Team Manager would like to remind all invited athletes to register themselves for the trial on 17th February by emailing him (lee.boucher@scottish-rowing.org.uk) by WEDNESDAY (31st January) at the latest (and preferably as soon as possible). He will not be chasing those athletes up who have not emailed him.
Could ALL junior coaches of registered athletes please also get in touch with Lee, preferably via email, and give him their contact details so that they can be informed of the progress of their athletes.
Photographs from the Western Eights Head: There are a number of photographs from Saturday's head on www.sportingviews.co.uk.
Durham and Dublin Heads: A number of Edinburgh clubs are heading down to Durham for the Small Boat Head this weekend - the draw is now posted on the Durham ARC website. Meanwhile, Inverness RC are heading over the waters to Dublin, where two eights will take part in a head race through the middle of the Irish capital.
27 January
Western Eights Head: The first head race of 2007 was held today in good conditions, albeit with a slight head wind. After the excessive rains of November and December, the Clyde is now thankfully back to normal and the full course was rowable. Results are now uploaded.
25 January
Western Eights Head: Draw for this Saturday's eights head, run by Glasgow University.
Inverness and Clydesdale Heads: Information for the Inverness Eights and Small Boats Head on 17th February (details on IRC website) and the Clydedale Eights and Fours Head on 24th February (poster, crew invite and entry form).
22 January
Buoyancy: With the Head season almost upon us, the Umpires Commission consider it appropriate to remind crews about the adequacy of their craft. Competitors should note that with the introduction with the revised criteria re buoyancy as outlined in previous notes [see 20 January], umpires may be making spot checks at Heads to confirm compliance. Crews should be aware that while umpires may carry out inspections and refuse boating permission if the boat appears non-compliant, the boat owners alone are responsible for their craft. Sandy Walker, Convenor of Racing Control
Tideway Entries: Sandy Walker would like to clarify that Tideway entries should NOT be sent to him, but that entries made for the Tideway races by Scottish clubs are passed on to him by the race organisers for him to confirm Scottish licence numbers are current.
21 January
SARA February Trial: A spreadsheet of those registered athletes invited to the SARA trial being held in Inverness on Saturday 17th February is now available; there is also information for trialists, including notes on timing of the trial and a possible coaching advice session on the Sunday. Athletes who plan to attend the trial should notify the Team Manager by Wednesday 31st January. If anybody has any other issues they may get in touch with Lee Boucher via email or mobile (07818 077612). This information can also be found on the International Rowing Page.
Youth Olympics: Stephanie McDowall (AUBC) has become a double gold medallist at the 2007 Youth Olympics in Sydney. Competing at the Penrith course which hosted the rowing events of the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Steph struck gold for Great Britain in both the Womens Coxless Fours and the Womens Eight. More information on the www.olympics.org.uk website, BBC Sport website and BIRO website.
20 January
Water Safety Code: With the first head race of 2007 now just one week away, all clubs are reminded of the change to the Water Safety Code which came into force on 1st January.
"Boats constructed or delivered after 1st January 2007 shall meet the FISA Guidelines for Minimum Flotation:
A boat when full of water with a crew of average weight equal to the design weight stated on the boat's production plaque, seating in the rowing position, should float such that the top of the seat is a maximum
of 5cm below the static waterline.
Clubs shall take reasonable measures to ensure all other shells shall have similar buoyancy."
The SARA Umpires' Commission have issued guidelines to all clubs. Umpires may:
1. Check if the boat has a production plaque.
2. Check that the bow and stern canvasses appear in good order with no holes and with hatch covers in place.
3. If there are buoyancy compartments under seats check that these appear to be without holes and with hatch covers in place.
4. For older craft where additional buoyancy has been fitted using compartmentalisation check that this appears securely fitted without holes and appears sound.
5. For older craft where buoyancy bags or other floatation means have been fitted check that these are appear adequately secured in the boat and not liable to detach if the boat fills with water.
Non compliance with the above may mean the crew is unable to boat.
19 January
SARA February Trial: A list of those registered athletes invited to the next SARA trial in Inverness on the 17th February will appear on website over the weekend. All athletes will also receive an individual invitation via their registered email. The Team Manager has confirmed that it is compulsory for all
invited athletes to attend the Indoor Rowing Champs.
17 January
Part Time Glasgow Schools Rowing Coach: The deadline for the two part time coaches to work with the Association and Glasgow City Council on the Glasgow Schools Indoor Rowing Project has been extended to the 26th January.
Strathclyde University Small Boats Head: The information pack and entry form is now available for the SUBC Small Boats Head on the 10th of February. The event already has a confirmed entry from SUBC alumni at Paris Boat Club making it an international race! Any questions or problems please email Fraser Macintyre or phone 07712 889602.
Entry Deadlines: Deadlines for the first events of 2006 are coming up: Saturday 20th for the Western 8s Head and Friday 26th for the Scottish Indoor Championships. The Indoor Champs are compulsory for those seeking selection for HIR 2007 (see ergo assessment document).
14 January
Catering Tenders: Clubs are invited to tender for running the catering and/or the bar at Strathclyde Park Regatta and Scottish Championships. For further information, please read the requests for tenders document.
10 January
Licences: With the first regatta only just over 2 weeks away, clubs are reminded that entries should not be made for events unless competitors are in possession of a current licence. Competition without documentation means the competitor and club may be liable to a surcharge or will need to purchase a Day Ticket.
Clubs are again reminded that a 2 week turn round period is necessary to process applications and last minute requests are unacceptable.
Sandy Walker, Convenor of Racing Control, would also advise that Scottish entries for the Tideway Head in London are sent to him for checking and entries may not be accepted without current licences. When competing for a Scottish club anywhere an ARA licence is not acceptable and competitors must be in possession of Scottish registration.
9 January
A call for additional Regatta Commentators: The SARA regatta commentary team has been growing in both size and experience over recent years. It has also increased its workload by providing commentary from extra points on the course and during medal presentations – which means they still need additional enthusiastic voices on the microphones. A clear voice, an understanding of the sport and an enthusiasm for rowing and rowers are the only real qualifications. In particular, commentating could be a fun job for any senior internationalists hanging up their oars after the Commonwealth year in 2006. Team leader Terry McNeill is looking for new volunteers in time for Strathclyde Park Regatta (April) and Scottish Championships (June). Members of this domestic team also form the core of commentary for the international events at Strathclyde Park, such as this year’s World Under 23s, and are sometimes also invited to join commentary teams elsewhere, such as the National Rowing Championships. Anyone interested in joining the SARA commentary team is asked to contact Terry McNeill.
Umpires Review of 2006: Part of a presentation to the Umpires Training Day, held last weekend, on regatta and head race issues from the year has been placed on the downloads page. This document may be of assistance for those running events during the next year.
Oars Wanted: A request for some "long oars" on the sales and wants page - may be of interest to anyone looking to sell some old wooden macons.
8 January
Western Eights Head: Details of the first of the 2007 heads races, the Western Eights Head run by Glasgow University, are now available - invitation and poster (now reduced in size!).
7 January
Rowing Action: The Rowing Action editorial team would be delighted to receive articles for the next edition (deadline 31st January). If you have any club news, reports on events, reviews of new equipment or anything else, please send it to Ailie Ord.
New Contact Information: New contacts for Aberdeen University now on the contacts page. Clubs are reminded that any changes to contacts should be sent to Jo Ramsay, SARA Administrator and to Jo Wherrett, SARA Webmaster.
Sales and Wants Page: Could anyone with an advert or request on the Sales and Wants page who has now sold/bought the equipment please let me know.
3 January
Happy New Year: Welcome to 2007!
For those who haven't yet applied for their 2007 racing licence, the application form and notes are on the downloads page. Appliations should be sent in via your club representation - remember it takes up to two weeks to turn around an application, so don't delay if you are intending to race in the eights heads.
Part Time Glasgow Schools Rowing Coach: An advert for two part time coaches to work with the Association and Glasgow City Council on the Glasgow Schools Indoor Rowing Project. Deadline for the applications is 15th January.
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