On Sunday 18th, the squad completed some training pieces against Durham University. With super sub Cassie from the womens' squad, and coxed by Ashley Hewitt, the girls swapped their singles for an eight, and after some initial confusion about the lack of two blades, took to the water.

The pieces were quite eventful, as it turns out going three abreast through a sailing race doesn't go down very well, and with all three crews doing their best to turn rowing into a contact sport. Credit to Laura, who whilst maybe not always getting her blade in the water whilst clashing, definitely went for the 'grip harder and keep rowing' attitude. A shortened course kept the sailors happy, and allowed all three boats to get some good racing in, although the Nottingham crew felt slightly ganged up on when the two durham boats squeezed in so we were clashing blades on both sides-at least we will be ready for any clashes on the tideway in March! Some really close racing kept all three boats honest through the pieces, whilst Nottingham were kept happy with a win in all three pieces.

No more events are on the horizon for this year - Happy Christmas and bring on 2012!

Five athletes travelled to Boston to race over 5km on the river Witham against the clock. The December assessment is the first chance that athletes looking to break into the squad are able to guage their speed against current squad members, and impress the squad coaches, so the importance of a good performance was not underestimated. Luckily the heavy winds that were forecast did not materialise, but were replaced with freezing cold conditions and 'wintery showers'.

All athletes were racing as lightweights in the second division, after illness ruled both Laura and Pippa out of the chance to compete at these trials. After a tight finish in the first assessment in October, not only a good finish position but Trenside bragging rights were up for grabs. Ed came out on top, finishing 9th U23, and 25th overall. He was closely followed by Stu just under 3 seconds behind in 27th place and 11th U23, whilst Rich was 12 seconds behind this.

Racing for the lightweight women, in a race won by Sophie Hosking pushing current World U23 Champion and World Best Time holder Kat Copeland in second were Nikki and Yaz. Nikki came 9th overall, and 4th fastest athlete eligible for the World University Games. Yaz continued her good progress within the U23 squad, coming 15th and 5th U23 athlete, putting her firmly in contention for a place in the team in the summer.

The next focus will be February trials held over 2km at the Olympic Rowing Venue of Dorney Lake. Despite the good results, the squad will continue to train hard over the Christmas period in an effort to move up the rankings and secure their place in the GB team for the summer.

Nottingham rowing club sent a quad to the 16^th Trefeu Internacional Cuitat de Barcelona held in Barcelona port on Sunday 20^th November. The crew of Yasmin, Ellie, Philly and Nikki, accompanied by Dez and Lauren, travelled out to Barcelona on the Thursday before to allow time to train in the boat and gel as a crew. The event was sponsored by the Reial Club Maritim de Barcelona.

After training each day the crew made the most of being in Barcelona and visited some of the sites, including Gaudi’s imposing Sagrada Familia and the Parc Montjuic which provides stunning views of the port and contains some of the Olympic venues used in the 1992 Olympics.

6 crews were competing in the event, which was run in the format of a 650m sprint regatta, with the winner of each heat going directly through to the final, with the rest having another chance to reach the final through the repecharge. Despite some challenging conditions on the water, the crew qualified directly through to the final, winning their heat by 1 ½ lengths. The final was run 90 minutes later. The quad had a strong start, gaining a couple of lengths lead, which combined with a controlled middle part of the race allowed them to maintain this lead to cross the line half a length ahead of their closest opposition.

                               The girls with their winners trophy and book of the club's history

The crew felt that this was a great opportunity to race in an exciting and unusual location and it helped break up the long winter months before the summer season begins. The sunshine also helped! We would like to thank the race committee; particularly Iris and Sonia, and the Reial Club Maritim de Barcelona for organising this event and making us feel so welcome, we hope to return next year.

Last weekend 3 quads raced the 4 ¼ miles from Mortlake to Putney in the Fuller’s Fours Head of the River Race. This is a national race with 500 crews, and the last race this year where the national team are released back to their clubs to race in their club colours. The majority of the national team were racing, making for a high standard.

Stu, Ed and Rich took a break from racing each other and teamed up with Anthony Jackson from the senior mens squad to race in IM1 4x. Despite being a mainly lightweight crew and having a few problems overtaking a crew at the start, they had a good race, gaining their best ever result of 26th overall, and 6th in their category.

Having won the event last year, the quad of Pippa, Laura, Fiona and Nikki raced as Elite 4x and went off as first women’s crew, chased down by Leander A containing multiple World Champions and Olympic medallists. After an eventful row, having to navigate through a large number of crews who started ahead of them, some who were more obliging to move than others, the crew finished third in their category, 6^th women’s crew and 133^rd overall. They managed to maintain their position as the first women’s crew home that did not contain any current squad athletes.

The second crew  of Amy, Philly, Ellie and Kate came 8^th in IM1 4x and 228^th overall. They had a good row, overtaking Milton Keynes, who started ahead of them, by Chiswick Eyot. This was also Philly and Ellie’s first time at the 4s head and they did well to stay focussed over a very busy course. After limited outings due to other commitments, the crew managed to find a stronger rhythm and pace than they expected – brilliant result!

Next up is a solid training block to set us up for some good results at the next set of trials on December 17^th.

The weekend of 22^nd and 23^rd October was the first GB assessment for the year. This comprises a 2km erg test and then a 5km water trial the next day. A variety of different injuries and illness saw a very small group go to the first trials. Pippa battled through her recent illness to get a PB on the erg, showing there is plenty more to come when she is fully fit. Yaz  got a PB and placed 5^th out of all the lightweight women, whilst still being an Under 23. Stu also got a PB by 2 seconds on his 2km which ranked him 6th u23 for lightweight men, Ed and Rich put in solid performances to progress to the water trial the following day.

Battling against a strong headwind down the final stretch on the water, Pippa came 6^th out of the women, and second ranked Under 23, proving she is well on track to make the Under 23 Worlds this year. In the second division for lightweight men and women, Yasmin continued her successful weekend, coming 11^th lightweight woman home, and 4^th Under 23, again placing her in a strong position for her GB aspirations. Ed withdrew from the water trial through illness, leaving just Stu and Rich to fight it out on the water. They came home in close succession in 20^th and 22^nd, with Stu leading the way by just 1 second, as 10^th U23. Pippa’s result also counted towards BUCS, where she won gold. While Rich won bronze in lightweight doubles in the third division.

Those who missed this trial will have the opportunity to race at the December assessment as long as they can gain the erg cut-off specified by GB rowing.