Dear Members, Parents, Guardians, Coaches,
The Committee is pleased to share with you our plan for the return to rowing commencing Monday March 29th, following the Government Roadmap out of Lockdown. We sincerely hope this is the last, and we know that everyone is looking forward to getting back out onto the water. We’ve also got some important club updates – so please read until the end!
Andy Curtis, our Club Safety Adviser, has updated our Covid-19 Update, based on the Guidance set out by British Rowing, which sets out what club facilities will be open and in what way at each stage. We will provide an update as we come to the subsequent stages of the easing. Thank you Andy for your hard work in pulling this together.
Plan: From Monday 29th March, the Club boating facilities, landing stages, and toilets will be open for covid-secure outdoor crew rowing, similarly to when we re-opened from Lockdown 2 in December 2020. There won’t be a number limit for sessions but we do need everyone attending to sign up on Spond in good time so we can manage people’s safety at these sessions. We will be reopening the rowing sessions on Spond in due course, so please look out for them.
Before Coming Down to the Club: We ask that you:
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Make sure that you’ve read the Covid update attached.
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Reaffirm yourselves of the ‘GRC Behaviours for a Covid-safe club environment’ Poll.
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Please support your squad captains and coaches in being able to lead these sessions and keep the environment Covid safe and socially distanced.
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Please only come down if you are scheduled to row or coach, and you’ve signed up to the Spond session. If you want to catch up with other rowers, parents, etc., please do this away from the rowing club, go for a walk, coffee, etc.
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Please continue checking in on the Covid-Check In App when you arrive at the club.
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Please boat, land, clean, and re-rack boats expeditiously to avoid any gathering and to make space for other rowers.
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Please do not come to the club if you are unwell and showing any Covid symptoms.
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Finally…enjoy your return to the Club!
THANK YOU to our virtual training leaders who have been putting us through our paces in online circuits during 2021 while we awaited the return to the club!
See more in this PDF: march2021returntorowing
Committee Updates
The Committee have been hard at work at a number of different projects over the last few months, looking to simplify and professionalise our governance and record keeping, invest in our boat stock; and to prepare the club on a long-term basis for managing Covid.
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Improving welfare: the Welfare Working Group has worked hard to pull together all necessary junior safeguarding and consent information for circulation over the coming weeks for parents to complete, improving and digitising the way the club captures and stores this information. We are looking to roll this out as necessary to the wider club following a successful rollout.
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Covid-Secure Clubhouse: as Covid measures are likely to be with us for some time, the Committee are working hard to make improvements that enable us to train in a Covid-secure way for the long-term. This includes structures to enable outdoor erging in all weathers. We’re also looking at return to play capital grants to improve the ventilation in the clubroom. Additionally, we are installing a potable water tap outside by the club entrance, so that members can fill up their bottles without having to queue up for the bar area.
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Equipment Investment: the Captains have agreed on the Captain’s proposals for new boats for this year’s budget. Investments include two new featherweight single sculls to meet the needs of our many members who aren’t catered for in our current singles boat stock. We are also investing in a new coxed quad as our premier junior racing boat, and which has been on the cards for a couple of years. We’re also building a grant proposal for some new stable single sculls for our beginners and members who wish to learn how to single scull.
Member Updates
Harold back in one piece with a lick of paint: The men’s vet squad have been busy throughout the latter half of 2020 putting Harold, the club Eight, back into one piece following a trailer accident. Arnold Paikin has done an excellent job in bringing the crew together to repair and refresh the Eight. We hope it gets out again when we return!
Clubhouse Exteriors Refreshed: Danny and a crew of enthusiastic junior parents have been hard at work during the last few months (when restrictions allowed) refreshing the club exterior and interior paint jobs – the club looks fresh and ready for us all to come back. Many thanks for your hard work!
