Tim Crooks : Recently, I was told that my record (3 hours 29 mins, 1978) still stood, so no tailwinds at Boston in September please.
Rowing poet Crooks
Racy reports in blank verse
Champion Sculler
#marathonsculling
#marathonsculling
Satisfying outing in Lily today: down to Sheridan Marina with a new heavy 12 volt marine battery on her stern section on the way back into headwind breeze and first signs of noticeable flow on the river this year. Lily's bow was high with the extra weight...1
#marathonsculling
Outing 25-63
One and three quarter hours on the water between Benson Lock and Oxford Brookes Boathouse. Three Kingfisher sightings; the first sweeping directly overhead, downstream of Wallingford Old Bridge.
Until turning focussed on four stroke cycle now standard pattern:..1
#marathonsculling outing 25-59.
Sculled Lily lock to lock (13 miles, Benson to Cleeve). Highlights were three Kingfisher sightings, number 64 since late April was a prolonged still life before witnessing successful fish-catching dive; and the closest I have ever been to a Red Kite...1
#marathonsculling great to be back on the water again after nearly 3 weeks. Tender/Lily 25 Outing 56 was just over 1.5 hours between Cleeve Lock and the Wallingford Road Bridge in Coastal Lily. Getting used to feathering after rowing fixed seat Tender. Rowed legs only 3/4 strokes much of the outing.
Tender 25-10 #marathonsculling cross-training
Cleared Shiplake and Sonning Locks today between casting off at 10.45am and mooring at 6.45pm. Aprox 5.5 hours of rowing, the rest of the time spent writing, eating, playing my guitar...and pausing in silent wonder, immersed in beautiful #Thames nature.
Tender 25-7
#marathonsculling cross-training
Rowed for aprox 4 1/2 hours through Hambledon Lock to this spot with view of Temple Island close to start line of the famous Henley Royal Regatta Course. Designed by James Wyatt, completed in 1771. The nymph beneath the cupola was a later addition.
Tender 25-7
Progress rowing Tender through Hurley Lock and past the site of Medmenham Abbey to secluded island mooring a couple of miles downstream of Henley-on-Thames was wind assisted...easier going.
Aprox 3 1/2 hours rowing. Slow morning. 4pm start.
#marathonsculling fixed seat cross training.
Correction: Tender 25-6
#marathonsculling fixed seat cross training.
Tender 25-5
#marathonsculling fixed seat cross training.
Another satisfying day rowing up the Thames from about 11.30am to about 7.30pm when I moored in this beautiful spot on the Thames path side a few miles downstream of Marlow.
#marathonsculling fixed seat cross training.
#marathonsculling fixed seat cross training.
I also enjoyed taking time to visit Stanley Spencer's grave in Cookham graveyard.
Tender 25-4 rowed from Maidenhead Bridge to Cookham Ferry Pub, through Boulters and Cookham locks between 2pm and 7.30pm.
#marathonsculling fixed seat cross-training.
Tender 25 voyage 3. Great to row full load including busking gear... added counterweights to inboard of oar shafts (water bottles) which eases tapping down. On the water for about an hour and a half. #marathonsculling fixed seat cross-training.
I've rebuilt augmented oars to include a cleaver expansion to blade area. Looking forward to some serious Scully Boat Club Thames miles with fixed seat before buying single scull in a month or so. Scully Boat Club colours: silver and black...3
#marathonsculling
youtube.com/shorts/aJOuE...
#marathonsculling Banjo Nick (Scully Boat Club). Fixed seat cross-training. First row of the year, shooting Maidenhead Bridge. #RiverThames
... Tender with fixed seat. Also planning one hour 'railing erg' sessions and strength-building to compliment the walking with instruments. 2/2
#marathonsculling
Today's 2 hour erg will be penaltimate, 11/12. Perfect weather to be rowing Tender again with short oars and fixed seat: knees breaking and big body swing. Skiffing!
#marathonsculling
The love of my life?
Passing all understanding
Two hour erg week ten
#BanjoNickHaiku (339) #haikudiary #haiku
#marathonsculling
Maidenhead 27/3/25
...intervened; also a distracting beeping sound from office computer, until it was switched off. 3/3 #marathonsculling
youtu.be/a1qxmPpgOCM?...
Focus was again on stretching head back to see wall behind on stroke 1, recovery and stretching stroke of 4 stroke cycle...and twisting more and with longer reach for 2 and 3...and working to max for stroke 4. A very long stroke. 2/2 #marathonsculling
2 hour erg #8 completed without too much strain, helped by old school music tracks including Bee Gees and Police. Aimed at negative split between first and second hour and focus on arched back stretch for first stroke of cycle and working harder for 4th. 1/2 #marathonsculling
Weekly 2 hour erg #7 was pleasing: 2nd hour definitely more power (and flexibility through the varying 4 stroke cycle). Morale and motivation boosted by Maidenhead's excellent Indigo Gym giving me a month of sessions for free in support of my efforts. #marathonsculling
... with arched back and head bent back to see ceiling behind erg. Still resolving to do more between sessions. Also walked 5-6 miles today.
#marathonsculling.
2
4th weekly two hour erg completed at 1.50pm... worked harder than previously and I'm feeling it now! #marathonsculling four stroke cycle. Sensibly I do not look at score readout. Max drag. #mantrayoga
Deep and dreamless sleep
Third two hour erg: asanas
Fearless Crone in me
#BanjoNickHaiku (193) #haikudiary #haiku
#marathonsculling
Maidenhead 5/2/25
Pleased to report that my second weekly 2 hour erging session was a success. Four stroke cycle without looking at monitor. Motivated by dedicating #marathonsculling challenge races to cleaning up the Thames...and all of our dying rivers. #MattBrittin
