Welcome to the Cambridgeshire Rowing Association

The association is the umbrella organisation for all local affiliated rowing Clubs in the county of Cambridgeshire. It looks after the interests of the local rowing community as well as providing facilities and events for them. 

On this site you will find links to websites for the affiliated clubs for the Cambridgeshire Rowing Association, news from local rowing clubs, and infomation and links to details of local rowing events.

CRA DIary for 2021-2022 now available

See here for details

CORONAVIRUS LOCKDOWN v3.0 (and hopefully the last) - CRA BOATHOUSES CLOSED

WINTER LEAGUE 2021 UPDATE - JANUARY RACE CANCELLED

As of today, the COVID-19 7-day infection rate in Cambridge is 417 / 100,000 - this is a 55% increase on last week.Winter League #1 is scheduled to take place in 14 days, but we think it is impossible for the event to happen.

The future of the February event also seems uncertain, and it may be that the March leg ends up being cancelled too.

We therefore plan to:

1. Cancel the January leg now

2. Refund any entries made for all three legs (10 crews)

3. Roll over any current entries for just the January leg to February, unless instructed otherwise by clubs (currently no crews in this position)

4. Aim to run the February and March legs, but only if Cambridge has been in Tier 1 or Tier 2 for at least 7 days before each event

5. Make enjoyment and participation the focus for any events that are run, by:a. Keeping entries open for up to three days before the event, b. Setting aside the trophies for fastest eights and fastest singles this year c. Marshalling the event with a focus on participant safety and enjoyment d. Inviting competitors to approach the event in the spirit of it being a “friendly fixture”6. We will be inviting each club to provide an indication of the number of crews that they would be likely to enter, so that we can identify whether there is likely to be demand for more than the 160 crews that we think we can accommodate. If this is the case we will provide guidance on entries to ensure they are fair and that people don’t feel pressured to enter now to secure a place

ONLINE ENTRIES ARE NOT OPEN FOR THE JANUARY WINTER LEAGUE - SEE ABOVE 

CRA BOATHOUSES  RE-OPENING 2 Dec 2020 

Cambridge Sport Lakes

 Details of the proposed rowing-and-watersports facility just off the Cam between Mitlon and Waterbeach can now be found here:  Cambridge Sport Lakes proposal

CORONAVIRUS LOCKDOWN v2.0

Update: arrangements for Andy Johnson's funeral

Unfortunately, due to the present Covid-19 restrictions, numbers at the funeral must be restricted to 30.

Mike Hunter will represent the Cantabs, John Martin: Cambridge Veterans, Bill Key: CRA

The funeral will be on Thursday 22^nd October at St Mary’s Church, Great Shelford at 10.30 am followed by burial at Shelford Cemetery.  A Memorial Service will be arranged in due course.

Donations to Arthur Rank Hospice Charity and Cantabrigians Rowing Club (joint beneficiaries) via Andrew’s In Memory Page at www.peasgoodandskeates.co.uk

(or sent c/o  Peasgood & Skeates, 45 Moorefield Road, Duxford CB22 4PP, Tel: 01223 833463 )

Sad News

It is with a heavy heart that I pass on the very sad news that Andy Johnson died on Wednesday 7^th October after a very long illness which he combatted with great fortitude.  Andy has done so much for local rowing over very many years.  He was heavily involved in the building of the two CRA boathouses which now house over 100 boats.

The Cantabrigian Rowing Club have much to thank him for. It was his decision to buy and develop their boathouse site but not with standing this he would have still been considered one of the most important members in the club’s history. His enormous  knowledge of rowing was applied to his coaching of Cantabs crews over many years. As a result they retained the headship in the Town Bumps over a long period and also had considerable success at Henley and other provincial regattas.

He was a Vice President of the CRA and also of the Cantabrigians who bestowed Honary Life Membership in 2010.  Although he was also Cantabs Club Captain for a number of years and Chair of their Rowing Committee it was his enthusiasm to get things done more than holding official positions that drove him on.  He was also an executive of British Rowing for some while and was able pass on much of his useful knowledge which included land acquisition and management.  Despite all these responsibilities he still found time to keep up his passion for sailing and he also to coach Clare College Boat Club crews.

For my part he has been a great friend for a long time particularly as I had rowed with him for 30 years as members of the Cambridge Veterans and we also worked on a number of rowing projects together.

I’m sure we will all miss the discussions we often had with him on numerous topics most of which  he would have his own very strong views.

I would like to pass on my condolences to Debbie and family who have made his last few months so tolerable.

Andy, you will be sadly missed by all of us.

Bill Key

President, Cambridgeshire Rowing Association.

RIVER OBSTRUCTIONS NEWS:  INSTALLATION OF JETTY-PROTECTION FENDERS

Please find details here of river restriction taking place from Monday to Friday, 19^th to 20^th October 2020 by the new jetty.

Bear in mind that the width of an eight with oars is 7 metres so take care as only one crew will be able to pass through the restricted channel at a time.

“Dolphins” is a fancy name for fenders!  

As you are aware the works to install the new cycle bridge at Chesterton are ongoing. The Conservancy and the County Council have worked hard to ensure that there has been minimal disruption to the navigation of vessels on the river. It was agreed that any significant disruption to the navigation would occur outside of term time, as it was agreed by all parties that rowing, in particular, would be most at risk from restrictions at the new bridge location. As part of the program of works, the County Council need to install Dolphins upstream and downstream of the new jetty to help protect it and vessels from coming into contact.

The County Council have requested that they be allowed to install the Dolphins within term time if at all possible. They have provided provisional dates for starting works on the 19^th or the 26^th of October with an anticipated duration of 6 working days (Monday to Friday excluding weekends). To carry out the works the contractor requires the use of a floating pontoon which will take up approximately half of the available width of the river at the bridge site, leaving at all times a minimum of 12 meters of open navigation. It is envisaged that the pontoon will remain in situ for the duration of the works Monday to Friday, being stored at the Pike and Eel over the weekend and being brought back into position to complete the works the following Monday.

OLD CRA (Kimberley Road) boathouse  - upstream-bay roller-doors out of action

 Please note that the roller-doors to the most upstream bay of the old CRA boathouse are currently (20 August) not working.  Urgent replacement of these has been arranged by the CRA committee, and approved by the trustees, and new electrically-powered shutter-doors will be fitted.  No details of the timescale for the work to be completed are yet available, but it will be completed as soon as practically possible.  In the meantime, any boats stored in the upstream bay of old CRA (principally sculling-boats, tub and IVs) will not be available for use, unless your club has made alternative racking arrangements pro-tem.

RIVER CLOSURES UPDATE:  CHANGED TIMETABLE FOR JETTY WORK AND DELAY TO BRIDGE INSTALL

 The timetable for the work on the new-bridge jetty has been updated.  Work to install the jetty carrying the cyclepath on the Ditton side will occur btween 15 and 26 August, according to the timetable to be found here:  https://www.greatercambridge.org.uk/transport/transport-projects/chisholm-trail   Note that the river (and occasionally the towpath) will be closed to boats and people for several periods within this timeframe - please check before planning outings and/or coaching

NOTE: the installation of the actual bridge will now be delayed until LATE OCTOBER (likely 24-25-26 Oct) - the bridge is heavy enough to require one of the largest cranes in the UK to lift it into position, and someone in the project apparently forgot to book it. 

RIVER CLOSURES NEWS:  TIMETABLE FOR NEW BRIDGE INSTALLATION

 Between 20 July and 16 August (with a possible additional 5-day contingency, and a possible extra 3-day delay, meaning 24 August), the main installation work for the new cycle-bridge next to the railway bridge will be executed.  There will be various river-closures during this period (variously daytime 8am-6pm and night-time 6pm-8am), and some closures of Fen Road.  All the details of these can be found here:  https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/UKGCP/bulletins/2959e8d , together with information on the planned opening-dates for the new jetty and bridge, and contact details for the liason managers.   Please take note of the intended closure-dates and plan accordingly.  

Black Lives Matter

 The object of the Cambridgeshire Rowing Association is the promotion of community participation in healthy recreation, in particular by the provision of facilities for participants in the sport of rowing by assisting in the organisation of local affiliated rowing clubs in the county of Cambridgeshire and managing the interests of the local rowing community providing information and the organisation of events.

There is no place for racism in rowing.  The Association has been in existence for over 150 years and during that time each of the individual clubs have opened their membership to all, regardless of race, creed or gender.   None of the constituent clubs will tolerate discrimination of any kind towards members.  If the CRA learns of such discrimination, it will immediately take serious issue with those responsible and would expect the unhesitating support of their club, and of all the other constituent clubs in doing so.  At present, we are not aware of any such.

Whilst we do not consider the organisation of protest events to be within the purview of the CRA, we wish to express our sympathy with and support for victims of discrimination everywhere

 Bill Key

President, Cambridgeshire Rowing Association.

CRA BOATHOUSE COVID-19 WARNING  AND BOATHOUSE RULES

On 22 May, the CRA official guidance on using the CRA boathouses changed in line with government and British Rowing advice..  Subject to the conditions below, the CRA boathouses will open again for use on Thursday 28th May, following a preparatory deep-clean.  Use of boats must follow your club's own rules on boating.  Please read the advice below.  

All users please note that you use the boathouses at your own risk, and that your use puts others at risk

It is not possible for the CRA to eliminate the risk of the spread of the Covid-19 virus, but we can minimise the risk if everyone takes responsibility not only for their own safety but for that of other users and their households.It is not possible for the CRA to eliminate the risk of the spread of the Covid-19 virus, but we can minimise the risk if everyone takes responsibility not only for their own safety but for that of other users and their households.User clubs will have agreed different policies for the use of their own equipment. Please comply fully with your own club’s safety rules; the guidance from British Rowing; and government guidance about social distancing and exercise, in addition to the usual Row Safe guidance.

Those using the CRA boathouses must comply with the following rules

ACT AS IF YOU HAVE THE VIRUS

ACT AS IF ANYONE YOU MEET HAS THE VIRUS

NOTE: There may be sanitiser, wipes, and paper towels available in the CRA but there will not be anyone ‘on duty’ to clean or sanitise the building or the equipment or able to check the availability of sanitising materials at all times

• No-one may use the CRA boathouses without express permission from their Club
• No-one may use the CRA boathouses without express permission from their Club
• Do not come to the boathouse if you feel unwell
• Bring your own sanitiser and use it. While all users are required to sanitise adequately after their outings, you are advised to assume that they have not done so and should sanitise for your own protection
• Wear a suitable face-covering at all times while in the boathouse before and after your outing
• Logan’s Way only: Sanitise your hands before unlocking the gate. Use the pedestrian gate, and you must re-lock the gate behind you, so it remains locked whilst you are on the water
• Sanitise your hands before unlocking the door and entering the boathouse• Arrive changed and ready for your outing
• Do not use the changing rooms or toilets except in an emergency. If you have to use them, wipe down all surfaces with sanitiser afterwards
• Keep at least 2m distance from any other user (unless they are members of your own household). If this means delaying your outing, be patient
• Use only the equipment which you have been allocated by your club. You may want to sanitise it before you use it
• Register your use of the boathouse at https://bit.ly/cra-bh-use to enable contact tracing in the event of any user becoming ill. Owners of private boats must also sign in and out in the same way
• Close the doors while you are out on the water to prevent access by third parties
• Wipe down with sanitiser all equipment you have used (including trestles, door mechanisms etc)
• Sanitise your hands before leaving the boathouse and re-sanitise the door handle
• Be vigilant. If you see other users not complying with the rules, please remind them to do so (and report them if necessary)
• Contact the Boathouse Manager and your User Club contact immediately if you become illwith Covid-19 like symptoms within 2 weeks of using the boathouse

If anyone is spotted disregarding these safety rules, the boathouses will be closed again for at least a week to allow for decontamination, in the interests of the safety of all users. ACCESS TO THE CRA BOATHOUSES MAY BE REVOKED AT ANY TIME WITHOUT NOTICE

CONTACTS IN EVENT OF A PROBLEM OR CONCERN:

Boathouse Managers: 

Logan’s Way - Conor Burgess: burgess.conor@gmail.com

Kimberley Road -   Nick Siragher: nicksiragher@gmail.comCRA

Secretary - Jo Burch: camrowassociationsecretary@gmail.com

ROWING ON THE CAM - COVID-19 UPDATE, 31 March 2020

Welfare of Swans and other wild life on the River C am

On Tuesday 2 February a meeting was held between representatives of the Cambridgeshire Rowing Association, Cambridge University Combined Rowing Clubs, the River Manager, The Queen's Swan Marker (David Barber) and Natural England to discuss in particular the welfare of swans and their cygnets during the University and Town Bumping Races.

It was a most useful meeting and recommneded measures will be taken to protect swans and their cygnets during bumping races. Guidelines for rowing clubs on the protection of wildlife on the river have been issued.