New H&D Archive Section Added to Web Site.

We have added a new Archive Tab to the H&D ARA Web Site at - www.hdara.co.uk - go to the final Tab - Archive.

This page shows links to Hants & Dorset Amateur Rowing Association Archives - this currently shows Results, Minutes of Meetings and General Archives from 2007 to 2014 and more will be added in time.

The minutes of the Annual General Meetings include the Hon Secretaries Report on the previous season i.e 2014 AGM includes the Association Secretaries report on the 2013 Season and the minutes of the Autumn Council Meetings and Autumn Delegates meetings include the Hon. Secretaries report on that years South Coast Championship Regatta.

The Results for 2015 to 2019 are on RESULTS page/Tab and the Minutes of the AGM's and Autumn Council Meetings - for 2015 to 2019 are on DOWNLOADS page/Tab. 

Deadline for returning your club H&D Registration form was the 30th May.

The deadline for returning your club H&D Registration form to me was the 30^th May. So far I have received completed registration forms from the following clubs – 

BTC

Itchen Imperial

Newport

Ryde

Shanklin

Southampton

Could all those clubs who have not returned their completed forms to me do so urgently (or let me know if there is any reason why you can’t).

Many thanks

Gary

H&D R&R Officer

gary.joyce4@ntlworld.com

Christchurch Rowing Club Virtual Vintage Regatta 30th May.

We are pleased to invite you to this year’s Christchurch Virtual Vintage Regatta on May 30th.

To commemorate this year’s 75th VE Day anniversary we have put together a series of competitive and fun events for rowers and their families. We hope you will support us with this and encourage your members to join in the fun. There are a range of events which provides everyone an opportunity to join in the fun.

• Juniors - any rower under 18
• Adult - any rower over 18
• Fun events - any rower and family member.

We will be having the relay races live on Zoom , details of times to follow .

We are fund raising for Marie Curie, remembering our much loved coxswain and dear friend of Christchurch Rowing Club, Vicky Robinson. Donations can made through our 'CRC for Marie Curie' Just Giving page.

All entries and queries to go to juniorcoordinator@christchurchrowingclub.co.uk

Many thanks for your support and we look forward to racing virtually with you!

Details on Calender entry on H&D ARA Web site at - www.hdara.co.uk

Christchurch Rowing Club

H&D Executive Committee Meeting 11th May 2020.

Dear Affiliated Clubs and H&D Members,

As you will be aware from our previous correspondence, the H&D Executive Committee have been meeting via a conference call each month to review and discuss any recent changes in relation to current government restrictions for Covid-19. The latest meeting was undertaken at 7pm on Monday 11th May 2020 and the following is a record of the minutes of the meeting.

H&D Executive Committee Meeting - Monday 11th May

Present: Peter Staddon, Jeff Watling, Sue Southcott, Steve Bull & Penny Budd

- Following on from the Prime Ministers speech the previous evening, there has been no real significant changes which will effectively allow the H&D to commence the racing season. However, unlimited exercise is now available to those who wish to do so and it looks as if some restrictions on recreational water usage is being eased - British Rowing are meeting tomorrow (12th May) and will issue guidance. The H&D will await clarification on this before issuing any further comment to clubs.

- In light of this, the H&D cannot see the June regattas being able to take place so with effect, June regattas (Woolston, Coalporters, BTC and Swanage) are cancelled. It is hoped that some of these regattas may be able to be held at a later date. Woolston have provisionally held Sunday 5th July and Coalporters have provisionally postponed to Saturday 11th July. This is subject to restrictions being eased and allowing regattas to take place. We have yet to hear from BTC if they wish to choose an alternative date for a rescheduled regatta and talks are underway with Swanage council on holding Swanage regatta on Saturday 19th September.

- It is probable that the July regattas may also be cancelled due to the numbers of participants involved, however, the committee felt that we will continue to review the situation on a monthly basis when we have more information and will review July's regattas in June and advise accordingly.

- Two of the July regattas have been cancelled for this season - Southsea and Poole - due to the local authorities not allowing events to be held at the regatta courses over the summer. Therefore, if any regattas wish to reschedule to the 18th July or 8th August, these dates are now available.

- In light of the fact that we may lose most, if not all of the regattas for the 2020 season, it was agreed that no H&D championships will be awarded for the 2020 season. If we are able to hold any regattas, we are looking at creating a one-off 'tally' championship for clubs which would be based around clubs being awarded points for each entry and further points for placings in races. This idea is to continue a competition element and also encourage entries. It is an idea at the moment and once we have a better idea of the feasibility of racing going ahead, we will agree more detail.

- Whilst there will be no H&D championships awarded this season, we are still planning on holding the H&D Dinner on the 14th November (subject to a large indoor event being able to take place at this time.) Whilst presentation of trophies will not be able to be made, we felt that as association, we should still aim to get together to celebrate getting through 2020.

- Registration of club member details was sent out to all clubs the previous week and member registrations need to be returned to Gary Joyce by May 30th. Whilst we will not be using these details for championship points, clubs are still required to submit their membership as this is used to calculate the amount that can be deducted from their BR affiliations fee for 2021.

- for the same reason - the H&DARA Affiliation fees for 2020 will be charged and invoices will be sent out shortly and will be need to be paid by 30th June, 2020.

- The South Coast Championships in Royal Victoria Country Park in 2021 will be held on Saturday 18th September and delegates from WEARA and CARA were in full agreement for this to be rescheduled to this date.

- Clubs should have also applied for their local councils £10k business interruption grant which many clubs have already received.

- The H&D AGM which could not be held in March will now be held at the autumn delegates meeting in October. It was discussed to possibly arrange an online AGM, but the amount of people and difficulties of large online conferencing, along with some delegates may not have online facilities, meant that we decided to postpone until October. 

- The H&D Executive Committee will hold a further monthly review meeting on Monday 8th June to assess the ongoing situation and make a decision on the July regattas.

Steve Bull & Penny Budd. Joint Association Secretaries. 

for the H&D Executive Committee.

Restricted rowing within the H&D Region.

To all H&D Clubs.

You will all probably be aware that there have been two communications in the last 48/96 hours from British Rowing concerning the easing of restrictions of recreational water sports and how this affects rowing.

As one of the first sports to be allowed to resume, albeit in a limited capacity, there is a major responsibility on rowing clubs to ensure that our sport is conducted in a safe manner and observance of government guidance of hygiene and social distancing is crucial. 

Our advice to all clubs within the region is to read and consider the guidance provided by British Rowing on the use of shared facilities and equipment which can be found here 

https://www.britishrowing.org/2020/05/coronavirus-covid-19-update-13-may/

Each club in our region is uniquely different in its location, facilities and members, therefore, there is not a 'one guide fits all' scenario. However, we would recommend clubs follow the guidelines outlined by BR and undertake the following key elements:

- Ensure your local water authority permits recreational water usage. Most have lifted restrictions, but each club needs to confirm with its own local authority and adhere to their guidelines and safety advice.

- Prepare a risk assessment for your club, its facilities and local hazards whilst ensuring all the considerations outlined by British Rowing and Government. Facilities should not be used until the club management committee are happy that the government guidelines are being adhered to and members safety is not compromised. 

- Consider those that will be able to take to the water safely and whether a safety launch will be able to accompany them. Clubs should use their own existing safety guidelines and risk assessments when assessing what members can utilise limited facilities such as competency levels, junior and masters members.

- Whilst many of your club members will be keen to head back out onto the water, please reiterate to your members that they also need to consider their family members and whilst a rower maybe fit and healthy, going back home to a vulnerable member could put their family at risk.

- We advise, at this stage, a club only opens the minimum level of facilities to allow access to boats and equipment in a safe manner. Gyms, Changing Rooms and Social spaces should remain closed. Clubs may wish to open toilets and where open, soap be provided and water switched on and checked to be safe.   

- Look into online booking for times when members can use the facilities. There is online software available or you could look at booking times over a club Face book page so you not only manage restricted numbers, but members can also check in once safely back ashore.

Whilst we appreciate that the onus of managing members going back out onto the water is down to individual clubs, we cannot stress that if guidelines and social distancing protocols are not adhered to, we may see clubs locked up again or even worse, members or their families being put at risk. 

We are sure that all H&D clubs will continue to demonstrate the high levels of safety both on and off the water to keep their members, families and communities safe.

Public health measures and hopefully further lifting of restrictions will continue to be monitored and British Rowing will provide guidance in line with any relevant changes.  

 

Keep safe, both on and off the water.

Steve Bull & Penny Budd. Joint Association Secretaries. 

for the H&D Executive Committee.