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Beginners Courses for 2008
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If your New Years resolution was to improve your fitness and make new friends why not learn to row with Maidstone Invicta Rowing Club.
Why damage your knees and ankles by jogging, come rowing and sit down while you get fit.
Our club caters for all ages but we are currently developing a group for age 40 upwards.
Courses can be run on Sunday mornings or on weekdays depending on the demand.
Introductory course (6 hours) run by an Amateur Rowing Association instructor is just £30.00.
For further details contact John Clayton.
The Autumn Course dates for 2008 are:-
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Course 1.
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October Sundays
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ONLY ONE PLACE LEFT
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Sunday
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12th October
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2pm to 4pm
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Sunday
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19th October
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2pm to 4pm
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Sunday
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26th October
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2pm to 4 pm
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Course 2.
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October Saturdays
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PLACES GOING FAST
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Saturday
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18th October
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2pm to 4pm
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Saturday
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25th October
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2pm to 4pm
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Saturday
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1st November
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2pm to 4 pm
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Course 3.
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November Sundays
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Sunday
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2nd November
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2pm to 4pm
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Sunday
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9th November
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2pm to 4pm
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Sunday
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16th November
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2pm to 4 pm
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All applicants must be over 18 and be able to swim 100m.
If sufficient demand exists, we may also run a December Course on
COURSES DATES FOR WINTER AND SPRING 2009 WILL BE AVAILABLE SOON.
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Welcome to the course
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On behalf of Maidstone Invicta Rowing Club (MIRC) we should like to welcome
you on the ‘beginners rowing course’. These courses are run by experienced Amateur
Rowing Association (ARA) qualified instructors.
Weather and river conditions permitting, the course will take place on
3 consecutive Saturday or Sunday afternoons between 14:00 and 16:00.
The object of the course is to introduce you to sculling, to have some fun,
to improve your overall fitness and to meet some new friends.
Hopefully, once you have completed the course, you will join the club and
develop your sculling and rowing technique along with other members.
The opportunities thereafter are many and varied. We have members of all ages
and abilities. You can choose whether or not you would like to compete in rowing
regattas, to row recreationally or to use the sport purely as a means of improving
your level of fitness.
Numbers of participants will be between 4 and 8 so you will get plenty of attention.
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Health and Safety
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Safety is paramount, MIRC operate under the auspices of the ARA whose Water Safety Code is the basis for safe rowing.
You should be capable of swimming 100m in light clothing (we won’t ask you to demonstrate this, not at first anyway, but we shall arrange a swim test and capsize drill for you to participate in once you have joined the club). If you are not able to swim this distance you must bring this to the attention of the instructor on the first day.
We shall enlighten you on the safety issues that will concern you whilst you are on the course.
You will be shown around the boathouses, boat racks and launching area and the various safety hazards will be pointed out to you. We shall explain the river navigation, water codes and the benefit of warming up and cooling down exercises.
Rowing is an all weather sport so you should come be prepared to go on the water even if it is raining.
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What should you wear?
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Multiple layers are important so that if you get warm you can peel a layer off or conversely add a layer on.
You will need to come ready to row, we recommend that you wear, or have with you a vest, ‘t’ shirt, sweat shirt, lightweight shower proof top, tracksuit bottoms and preferably plimsolls or deck shoes rather than thick soled trainers. Basically, you need warm, light, loose, wind/shower proof clothing. Also bring with you a complete change of clothes; including shoes because we shall go on the water even if it is raining, there is nothing worse than having to drive home in wet clothing. We do no expect you to fall in the water, not on week 1 at any rate.
There is a flush toilet with hand basin and hot and cold water (suitable for use by disabled persons) and changing areas however, we recommend that valuables are left at home as we have no secure lockup facilities.
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What are we going to do?
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Week 1
Please arrive at the club between 13:45 and 14.00 and ask for the beginners instructor. He or she will explain briefly how the club operates and give you a tour of the facilities.
Dry skills
You will be introduced to the Concept 2, indoor rowing machines, Ergos. These will be used to demonstrate sculling technique before giving you the chance to try them out for yourself. Please don’t be shy in asking questions. This will be followed by an explanation of the various parts of a boat and the sculling blade. We shall then go afloat.
Wet skills
Your instructor will show you how to transport the boat to the waters edge, how to lift and launch it and then they will demonstrate what they want you to do in the boat. This is the fun part! It will include water confidence drills and boat maneuvering. We shall use two training boats known as Mondegos. Although this is a learning experience we want you to enjoy yourself. Again, if you don’t understand anything please say so.
Week 2
Please arrive between 13:45 and 14:00. Please raise any questions that you may have and we can share them and the answers with the other ‘students’.
Dry skills - You will use the Ergos to gradually warm incorporating the various parts of the sculling stroke. You will get used to using the Ergos in harmony with the other course members. Rowing is a team sport and relies on crews doing things together and at the same time. Then we go afloat.
Wet skills - Your instructor will determine which sort of boats will be used depending upon a) how many people we have with us on the course and b) how well you managed on week 1. We would expect to use either a coxed double scull, or a coxed quad. The instructor will either cox you themself or seek assistance from another instructor to cox you whilst you receive coaching from the bank. Please note that under the ARA Water Safety Code all coxswains must wear buoyancy aides.
Your instructor will quiz you regarding matters of safety and remind you of anything that was overlooked on week 1.
Week 3
Very similar to week 2 but now developing and improving your sculling technique. Whilst on the course, you may also attend our land training and indoor sessions for Adult members at the club on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. We also have adult circuit training on Wednesday evenings at a local school during winter.
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What will you be able to do after the course?
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The course will teach you the basic skills so that can be safe on the river in our wider training boats.
It does NOT teach you how to row in a racing boat and you will have develop your balance and skills
before moving up into the narrower racing boats.
At the end of the course you will be able to go out in our training boats when the club is open and other senior members are present.
As a member, you will be able to use the complimentary log book to keep a note of your outings and your progress.
In time, you will become acquainted with and included in a variety of crews and so will advance to the club's racing boats, competition, trophies and glory!
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