Here is the day sheet for Friday. I didn’t put the guy’s races on there, given that Mike will have made his own arrangements with them for meeting times, etc. Please allow LOTS of extra time, especially on Saturday and Sunday, to get to St. Catharines. The QEW Niagara-bound can be a terrible mess on weekends and we don’t need you to miss your race. All meetings to take place around the trailer at the posted times on the day sheet. We will meet, followed by a warm up, followed by launch. It was not necessary in Welland to do an on-land warmup because it was a 3.5km row to the start. No such luxury here, so we do a land warmup before launch.
Because we loaded Wednesday, Jake secured a FANTASTIC location for the trailer. We are the third trailer in! Those who were there last year will remember the cross country hike to get to the dock. No such problems this year!
Have a great weekend, everybody. You’ve earned the right to shine in St. Catharines!

CSSRA FRIDAY DAYSHEET

I will send the day sheet out hopefully tonight. PLEASE REMEMBER TO PACK YOUR ID!!! If you aren’t scheduled for a morning practice in St. Catharines, please be there at least 2 hours MINIMUM before your race time.

A few changes practice changes below.
1. I’ve removed the SW4X from Thursday’s practice, given Lauren and Erin’s absence.
2. Kat and Vic, you will take Cherwinski first at noon, then bring back no later than 1.
3. Ben, Alex and Ethan, y’all are now not required in St. Catharines until the 1PM practice. Ben, you need to be there for a 2PM practice.
4. The Sr guys can use the quad at their leisure–we won’t need it Thursday.

THURSDAY PRACTICES
HAMILTON WITH PETE) **Need to suss out the oars***
6AM: (PATTERSON) Jr. Women 8+ (Cox) Shayda, (S) Charlotte, (7) Gillian, (6) Ciara, (5) Serena, (4) Zaiga, (3) Ella, (2) Maura, (B) Kate M

ST. CATHARINES WITH TOM
9AM: RIG ALL BOATS
11AM: SNACK
NOON:
SW2X (Vic/Kat)
JW4+ (Molly, Becca, Maddy, Sequoia, Fiora)

1PM:
JM2X (Ethan, Alex)
JWMID4+ (Ella, Becca, Maddy, Sequoia, Serena)

2PM:
JM1X (Alex)
SM72KG2X (Ethan, Ben)
SW4+ (Kenzie, Serena (in for Erin), Susan, Meegan, Fiora)

FRIDAY IN ST. CATHARINES
6:15AM PRACTICE
JW4+ (Molly, Becca, Maddy, Sequoia, Fiora) ***MOLLY TO WEIGH IN AFTER PRACTICE AT 7:30. KENZIE WEIGH IN 9AM***
JM2X (Ethan, Alex)
SW4X

FRIDAY 6PM IN ST. CATHARINES
JW8+ (Meegan in place of Shayda), Charlotte, Gillian, Ciara, Serena, Zaiga, Ella, Maura, Kate)
JM2X (Alex, Ethan( **if they make it to semi-final***)
SW4X (**optional, if they make it to semi-final***

SATURDAY 6:15AM IN ST. CATHARINES
POSSIBLE SW4X (needs to be worked out with SM4X)
JWMID4+ (Ella, Becca, Maddy, Sequoia, Serena). ***Go light on breakfast, row, then whole crew weighs in after. Enjoy your breakfast following weigh in, not before!)

SATURDAY 6PM
NO PRACTICE ROW. ALL FINALISTS TO REST AND GET READY FOR THE BIGGEST RACE OF YOUR LIFE.

SUNDAY 6:15AM
ALL FINALISTS to do a practice row. Nothing much—a few starts and 20-strokers. Paddle to release the nerves, lactic acid and tension. All coxwains racing and midweight 4+ crew if they make it, to weigh in after the row.

Coaches;Please pass on the message to your parents! 
On June 11th from 11-3 we will have the parents “team building” row! Crews will be assigned a coach for the day that will lead them through the erg, tank and then on the water for the first three hours. The last hour crews will have the opportunity to race against the other teams! The cost for a team of 10 is $800.00, it works out to be $80.00 per person. If they want to have a team of 8 then the cost would be $100.00 per person. The entry fee essentially $800.00 per team. The goal of this is to help fundraise for new docks, new equipment for the high schools and then the member’s lounge. Please have them contact me if they are interested! My goal is to have a crew from each school 🙂 

If any of you would like to volunteer to coach your schools parents that would be awesome! 

A few thoughts on Cities. I’m really proud of your efforts on Saturday—every single one of you. You raced hard, you all contributed to a well-deserved points title, you had fun, and most of all, you represented Westdale impeccably well. I was proud to be one of your coaches yesterday.

A couple of thoughts about the upcoming CSSRA regatta.
1. There are 752 entries from 123 schools from as far west as BC, as far east as New Brunswick, and as far south as Florida. It’s pretty cool to see all the trailers, but remember that these athletes are NO DIFFERENT than you.

2. Remember to do the smart things that have brought you this far. Pre-race, stay out of the sun, eat properly, hydrate properly, and wear hats and sun screen. In races, POWER + PRESSURE = SPEED. If you apply this, you will be optimally carried to the limit of what your training has given you this season.

3. At some point this weekend, everybody’s season is going to end. For some, it will be the end of their high school rowing careers, which can be an emotional experience. For others it may end before a final is reached. If you are around the trailer or the boat park and see coaches in meetings with athletes, please be aware that these meetings may not always be happy affairs, especially if they happen on Saturday. Joyous, energetic and loud banter may not be what a rower whose season has just ended, wants to hear. So please be respectful of this.

4. HAVE FUN! While the above statement isn’t exactly fun, please DO have lots of fun this weekend.

5. Give it your best shot this weekend. Whether you go into your heat, semi or final as a favourite or not…..as they say in New Zealand, “HAVE A GO”!!! Have your best race of the season and propel your learning experience to a higher level! We all get to sleep in multiple days in a row next week, and believe me—we all deserve it! I plan on not seeing a “4” as the first number on my alarm clock for a LONG time after Sunday!!! So go out and leave it all on the water, so you can come back, and look in the person in the mirror and say, win or lose, “I could give nothing more than I did.”

6. Nothing makes me happier than to hear a crew say after their final race of the season, that it was their best race. We can’t control what other crews do, but if we have OUR best race, that IS what we can control. So go out and get it!!!!!

A bittersweet moment for Westdale Rowing: Dina has just sent me the last regatta newsletter and food sign up sheet of the Gadsdon Era. Let’s do our best to make this regatta the BEST of their six year Westdale career! Below is the food sign up sheet and the CSSRA newsletter.

We are throwing a LOT of information at you—practices coordinated in St. Catharines, racing times, practices around racing times, weigh ins—please make sure you know where you’re supposed to be and when…and if you aren’t sure, PLEASE ask!

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0544abaa29a7fb6-cssra1

CSSRA 2017

The preliminary draw has been released. Your race times are below, along with heat number, lane number and how to progress to the next round. I’ve had some questions about what crews were which on the practice schedule. The way to read it for novices and parents is:
J=Junior
S=Senior
W=Women
M=Men
72kg or 63kg = WEIGHT CLASS
1x=Single
2X=Double
4X=Quad
4+=Four
8+=Eight

So, for example, SM4X = Sr Men quad

The crews are below to take away any confusion.

FRIDAY RACING
9:49AM SM2X (Sr Men 2x): Kieran, Harrison. Heat 2, Lane 4. 1st + NF8>semi (Next Fastest 8)

10:03: JW4+ (Jr Women 4+): (Ella, Becca, Maddy, Sequoia, Fiora). Heat 2, Lane 5. 1st + NF7>semi

11:34: SW4X (Sr Women 4x): (Erin, Lauren, Vic, Kat). Heat 1, Lane 6. 1st + NF8>semi

12:09: JM 1X (Jr Men 1x): (Alex). Heat 2, Lane 5. 1st + NF8>semi

12:37: SM72KG2X (Sr Men 72kg 2x): (Ben, Ethan). Heat 2, Lane 6. 1st + NF8>semi

2:08: SM1x (Sr Men 1x): (Lucas). Heat 3, Lane 3. 1st + NF8>semi

2:36: SW4+ (Sr Women 4+): (Kenzie, Erin, Fiora, Susan, Meegan). Heat 3, Lane 3) 1st + NF8>semi

3:39: SW1X (Sr. Women 1x): (Lauren): Heat 4, Lane 3. 1st + NF8>semi

3:46: JM2X (Jr Men 2x): (Alex, Ethan): Heat 1, Lane 2. 1st + NF8>semi

5:24: SW2X (Sr Women 2x): (Kat, Vic): Heat 5, Lane 3. 1st + NF7>semi

SATURDAY RACING
8:28 OR 8:35: SM2X SEMI (1-3>final)
8:42 OR 8:49: JW4+ SEMI (1-3>final)
10:34 OR 10:41: SW4X SEMI (1-3>final)
10:48 OR 10:55: JM1X SEMI (1-3>final)
11:37 OR 11:44: SM72KG2X SEMI (1-3>final)
12:19 OR 12:26: SM1X SEMI (1-3>final)
12:33 OR 12:40: SW4+ SEMI (1-3>final)
1:43: SM4X (Sr Men 4x) HEAT (Lucas, Erik, Kieran, Harrison). Heat 1, Lane 3. 1st + NF3>final
2:04 OR 2:11: SW1X SEMI (1-3>final)
2:46: JW8+ (Jr Women 8+) HEAT (Shayda, Charlotte, Gillian, Julia or Serena, Ciara, Zaiga, Kate B, Maura, Kate M). Heat 2, Lane 7. 1st + NF3>final
3:00 OR 3:07: JM2X SEMI (1-3>final)
4:45 OR 4:52: SW2X SEMI (1-3>final)
5:06: JW63KG4+ (Jr Women 63kg 4+) HEAT: (Molly, Becca, Maddy, Sequoia, Serena). Heat 2, Lane 6. 1st + NF3>final

SUNDAY–ALL FINALS. MAY WE BE IN AS MANY OF THEM AS POSSIBLE!!!!
8:22: SM2X
8:32: JW4+
9:44: SW4X
9:54: JM1X
10:26: SM72KG2X
10:56: SM1X
11:06: SW4+
11:48: SM4X
11:58: SW1X
12:18: JW8+
12:30: JM2X
1:32: SW2X
1:42: JW63KG4+

It’s not confirmed yet, but trailer loading MAY happen on Wednesday morning. If so, then I would like to get some crews down to St. Catharines for Thursday paddles for those racing Friday. Here is the practice schedule—I’ll need parents to arrange/organize transportation for the juniors. If you are racing in the afternoon, you will likely not be practicing on that morning, unless you need to weigh in.

All SENIORS to be in St. Catharines for 9am Thursday to rig as many boats as we can and get them on racks. I will task two rowers to bring duct tape and mark WESTDALE on the racks. The course opens at noon for practice, at which point, we will adhere to the following practice schedule. I will assume, for organization sake, the SM4x will go out first on Thursday.

THURSDAY PRACTICE
NOON: SM4X, SW1X, SW2X, JW4+, JM1X, SM72KG2X
1PM: JM2X, SW4X (with Meegan in for Erin), SM1X, SM2X, JWMID4+
2PM: SW4+ (with Serena in for Erin)

FRIDAY
6:15AM PRACTICE
JW4+, JM2X (Kenzie, Ella weigh in after)
SW4X (work out with SM4X if both wish to row)

FRIDAY 6PM
JW8+, JM2X, SW4X

SATURDAY 6:15AM
SW4X (work out with SM4X if both wish to row)
JWMID4+ (whole crew weighs in after)

SATURDAY 6PM
NO PRACTICE ROW. ALL FINALISTS TO REST AND GET READY FOR THE BIGGEST RACE OF YOUR LIFE.

SUNDAY 6:15AM
All finalists to row. All coxwain and midweight 4+ if they make it, will weigh in after the row

If you aren’t sure which crew you are in, please ask!!!

MONDAY 5:10AM
WORKOUT: “DIRTY DOZEN”. ALL WITH TOM
SW4X
2X: (Cookie Eddie) Meegan, Susan
JW4+ (Molly cox)
JW8+ (with Serena) (Shayda cox)
JM2X

MONDAY 4PM (PETE)
JM1X
JM72KG2X

TUESDAY 5:10AM (ALL WITH TOM)
WORKOUT: 2 X “COURSES”.
SW4X
2X: (Cookie Eddie) (Meegan, Susan)
JW63KG4+ (Ella cox)
JW8+ (with Fiora) (Shayda cox)
JM2X

TUESDAY 4PM (PETE)
JM1X
SM72KG2X

WEDNESDAY 5:10AM (ALL WITH TOM)
5 X 20 STROKE “SPEED BAGS”
5 X :40 HIGH RATE PIECES (:10 EACH AT 36, 38, 40, 42)
5 X STARTS
SW1X: Lauren
SW2X (Cherwinski): Kat, Vic
SW4+ (Kenzie cox)
JM1X
SM72KG2X (Cookie Eddie)

The draw has not been released yet for next weekend, but I have the entry numbers for each event, which tells me when we’ll likely be starting our final regatta of the season! Starting on Friday means the progression is HEAT>SEMI-FINAL>FINAL. Starting on Saturday means HEAT>FINAL. The time period below is a pure guess, but should be fairly close. Also, if I miscounted, Saturday heats could actually be Friday heats—we will know for sure when the draw comes out and I will update at that time. But this allows you to plan and make mental preparations. Your FIRST mental preparation should be to ensure you have your proper school ID.

SM2X: 28 entries. Friday morning heats.
JW4+: 32 entries. Friday morning heats.
SW4X: 24 entries. Friday mid to late morning heats.
JM1X: 24 entries. Friday mid to late morning heats.
SM72KG2X: 24 entries. Friday late morning/early afternoon heats.
SM1X: 26 entries. Friday early afternoon heats.
SW4+: 26 entries. Friday afternoon heats
SM4X: 21 entries. Saturday late morning heats.
SW1X: 24 entries. Friday afternoon heats.
JW8+: 19 entries. Saturday afternoon heats.
JM2X: 22 entries. Friday late afternoon heats (***NOTE: This event is right on the cusp of either Friday heats or Saturday heats–one scratch would make it a Saturday heat***)

SW2X: 33 entries. Friday late afternoon heats.
JW63KG4+: 18 entries. Saturday late afternoon heats.

8AM: SM2X:
Erik/Lucas Lane 2
Harrison/Kieran Lane 4

8:10AM: JW8+
(Cox) Shayda), (S) Charlotte, (7) Gillian, (6) Ciara, (5) Serena, (4) Zaiga, (3) Kate B, (2) Maura, (B) Kate M-Lane 3

8:20: JM1X
Alex Lane 1

8:30AM: Slwtmen 2x
Ethan, Ben Lane 5

8:40am: SW4X
(B) Kat, (2) Vic, (3) Lauren, (S) Erin- Lane 3

9AM: SM1X
Lucas-Lane 5
Erik Lane 6
Kieran-Lane 7
Harrison-Lane 8

9:10AM: ***NOTE: ZAIGA & KATE M WILL ROW IN BT SR. 8+****
SW8+
(Cox) Meaghan, (S) Becca, (7) Kat, (6) Vic, (5) Lauren, (4) Susan, (3) Maddy, (2) Sequoia, (B) Fiora- Lane 4

9:40AM:
SW2X  
***ADDED ENTRY***Vic/Kat
SWMid 2x (SAME TIME)
Meegan, Erin-Lane 3

9:50AM: JW4+
(Cox) Molly, (S) Becca, (3) Maddy, (2) Sequoia, (B) Fiora-Lane 2

**ADDED ENTRY***9:50am (same race)
(Cox) Shayda, (S) Gillian, (3) Serena, (2) Zaiga, (B) Kate M-Lane TBA

9:50AM (SAME RACE) JW4+
(Cox) Ella, (S) Charlotte, (3) Ciara, (2) Maura, (B) Kate B-Lane 5

10:10AM: SM4X
Harrison, Erik, Lucas, Kieran-Lane 3

10:20AM: JM2X
Alex/Ethan-Lane 2

10:30AM: SW1X
Lauren-Lane 4
Susan-Lane 5
Meegan-Lane 6

10:50AM: SW4+
JW63kg4 (Cox) Ella, (S) Becca, (3) Maddy, (2) Sequoia, (B) Serena-Lane 4
SW4-(Cox) Kenzie, (S) Erin, (3) Susan, (2) Meegan, (B) Fiora-Lane 5

10:50AM: ALUMNI 1X AND 2X
Westdale-Lane 3

RULES OF RACING-HAMILTON CITY CHAMPIONSHIPS

Start and Finish

The start is a floating start aligned by the start official. Starts will be signaled as “Attention” followed by a pause with a length from 1 to 8 seconds then the sound of a horn or whistle. In the event the signalling device is damaged or lost the start will be signaled as “Attention” followed by a pause with a length from 1 to 8 seconds then “Row”.

In the event of bad weather, significant delays or judgement of the start official there may be a quick start. In the event of a quick start the starter will announce “This race will be a quick start.” Followed by “Attention, Row!” In the event of a quick start boats may not be perfectly aligned and hands will not be recognized.

The finish will be marked with a buoy. Finishing the race will be signaled by the sound of a horn or whistle. In the event the signalling device is lost or damaged the finish will not be signaled. All crews should race fully past the finish buoy before stopping.

Damaged equipment

There is no 100m rule at this event. All crews are responsible for verifying their equipment is in condition to race prior to launching.

Steering and Race Course

With a floating start and lightly buoyed race course the ability of each crew to steer straight is important. In any event that two or more crews are impeding on each other’s water, the fastest moving crew has right of way. The other crew(s) must adjust course or let it run until the course is clear.

Objections and Protests

Objections are not recognized at the city championships. Without objections there will be no opportunity for protests.

Finals

All races are run as straight finals. In rare cases there will be two events run within the same flight. For example if we have 2 lightweight doubles and 3 open doubles in the same age and gender category we will run them as a flight of 5.

Medals

A gold medal is awarded to each winner of their event. In rare cases where two events are run in the same flight a medal will be awarded to the top finish of both events. For example if there are 2 lightweight doubles and 3 open doubles in the same age and gender category gold medals will be earned by the top ranking lightweight double and the top ranking open double.

Entry Shifts Regarding Weight and Age classes

Events will not be run when there is a single entry in any given weight or age class for a particular boat class. The weight class, age class or both may be increased to the next tier to find a race for the entered crew. Medals will be awarded as though the class-shifted crew was originally entered in their new event.

Entries with nobody to race

If entries are submitted as the lone entry in any given event and the entry is unable to be shifted up weight or age classes to find opponents the entry may be put into a hybrid event. Hybrid events will only be created when similar boat classes are lacking events. For example a single entry in the Jr Women’s 8+ and a single entry in the Jr Women’s 4x may be combined to become a hybrid event. No advantage will be given to the smaller boat. Medals and points will be awarded the same as any other event.

Points awarded by rank

Winner: 5 points
2nd: 4 points
3rd: 3 points
4th: 2 points
5th: 1 point
6th-8th: 0 points

Rules for earning points

Each school only receives points for one entry per event. The school is awarded points for their highest ranking finish. Multiple entries with high ranking finishes can reduce the points earned by opposing schools.

Points Example

For example in the Sr W Lwt 2x event Ancaster has two entries and Westdale has one. If Ancaster ranks first and second the points work as follows:

1st – Ancaster – 5 points
2nd – Ancaster – points already received
3rd – Westdale – 3 points

Goal of the points system

A school with multiple entries cannot gain extra points, but can reduce the number of points other schools earn. This favours team depth, but allows small teams to earn the overall banner if they have a very strong year and place first and second in many races.