Bryanston Buffaloes
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BRYANSTON
BUFFALOES
BUFFALO
BULLETIN for April 2006
CONTENTS
The Buffalo committee
Our ANNUAL DINNER on May 6th
Invited as Guests of Honour,
BEN FOGLE & JAMES CRACKNELL
Bryanston rowing: Autumn 2005 & Spring 2006
and regattas in Summer 2006
A talk at the River & Rowing Museum, June 13th
Henley Royal Regatta, June 28th to July 2nd
World Rowing Championships at Eton, August 19-27th
OB rowing news
Who/what/why are the Buffaloes?
&
Dinner booking sheet
* * *
BUFFALO COMMITTEE
(with date of joining the committee)
OFFICERS
President: Bob Allan (’90; former Acting Head)
Chairman: Michael Sydney ('95; Old Bryanstonian)
Secretary: Alan Shrimpton (’79; OB and staff)
Treasurer: Mike Adams (’84; OB and staff)
COMMITTEE
Mrs Gill Antrobus (’02; Parent)
Richard Crisp (’03; Old Bryanstonian)
Geoff Hoyle (’89; Old Bryanstonian)
Mr & Mrs Stephen Mead (’06; Parent)
Mrs Kay Rycroft (’06; Parent)
Mr & Mrs Nick White (’06; Parent)
EX-OFFICIO COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Master i/c Rowing: Graham Elliot (‘93)
Boys' Captain: Piers Barnett (2005-06)
Girls’ Captain: Christabel Adam (2005-06)
ANNUAL DINNER
at LEANDER CLUB, Henley on Thames
Saturday May 6th
PLEASE JOIN US. ALL ARE WELCOME
This
year we shall celebrate the
100th birthday of our late first Buffalo President, The Rt. Revd. Launcelot
Fleming,
the 80th birthday of John Howard, OB and Henley Steward,
the 70th birthdays of our Chairman and Michael Ricketts (our former
Boatman),
and
the 50th birthday of Mark Lilley, our present Boatman.
Memories and stories of Launcelot Fleming Please send to Alan Shrimpton
at the School. If possible, I shall compile a memorial booklet, as for
Ronnie King last year. Are there any photographs you can loan?
Approx. 12.30pm: Alan Shrimpton and Michael Sydney
will welcome company at a bar lunch. In case numbers build up, please
book for the lunch on the Dinner booking form. Pay for yourself on the
day.
From 2.30pm: Some boats can be brought up if you want
to test the water. Tell us on the booking form if you are keen to splash
out.
The Leander clubhouse will be open for our use all afternoon. No smoking.
NB: The club's dress rule: in the bar, smart casual; in the dining room,
jackets & ties. No rowing kit upstairs. Dress for Dinner: Blazers
(with ties) or suits.
5.30pm: Cash bar opens. Free canapés.
6.15pm: Move to Dinner: The early start is in order to ensure that the
A Level candidates get a reasonable night’s sleep.
A three-course meal: a tiger prawn starter, lamb main course & a
dessert,
followed by coffee & chocolates. Vegetarian alternatives available.
Wine or other drink with the meal: please order your own and pay at
the special table in the bar beforehand, where a selected wine list
will be on display. A table plan will be available so that you can discuss
purchases with friends.
Dinner cost: £41 per head; £39 for current crew members.
This covers pre-dinner canapés and the dinner, but not your drinks
(see above).
Members of the Boys' and Girls' senior crews: Those in A2/A3 will be
booked in by their coaches, and a letter will be sent to their parents
by Graham Elliot. Parents are invited to include payment for their son/daughter
in their cheques. Booking deadline April 28th, please.
Guests invited: The Head, The President, Nick Adams (Bryanston’s
new Director of Development), Past Captains (max 6), John Howard (80th
birthday), Michael (70th) & Doreen Ricketts, Michael Sydney (70th),
Mark Lilley (Boatman, 50th birthday) and Christine Stone, Rob Adams
(Architect; another 50th), Peter Jowitt, Simon Lambert, plus Guests
of Honour Ben Fogle & James Cracknell with their ladies.
B & B: We have reserved all of Leander’s bedrooms for the
night. Contact Alan Shrimpton immediately if you want to reserve B &
B. Leander members @ £65/£80 (single/twin), Member’s
guest rate £90/£110. For other B & B options, see
www.visithenley-on-thames.co.uk
or
www.visit-henley.co.uk/WhereToStayMenu.shtml?openMenu=m1
Buffalo merchandise will be available at the dinner: the new silk ties
(£20), lambswool ‘pashminas’ (£35), Panama hats
with Buffalo ribbon (£35) and Swayne Adeney Brigg Buffalo ‘golf’
umbrellas (£35). Gentlemen Buffaloes wishing to be correctly dressed
may order their ties in advance from Alan Shrimpton; please add £20
to your cheque.
* * *
PAST BRYANSTON CREWS invited to get together for reunions:
1956 to 1960 1965 to 1966
The following members of these crews are lost – we have no addresses:
1950s: Christopher Crickmay, Iain Macleod, Christopher Dowsett,
R J H Davidson, John Golcher, T H Guerrier, A G O Hutchinson.
1960s: Martin Farnell, Robert Jack, Tim Molloy, Jeremy Cox, J S Craig,
Nigel Scott.
CAN YOU HELP US TO FIND THEM, please?
* * *
Next year, probably on May 5th, we expect to invite the crews of
1967-68; 1974-77 and 1984-88.
* * *
HENLEY’S RIVER & ROWING MUSEUM
will be open from 10am to 5.30pm and is well worth a visit.
See www.rrm.co.uk
BOAT CLUB NEWS:
Autumn Term 2005
As usual, we concentrated on our small senior squads, mostly in small
boats, and we also had groups of C scullers who used the long term to
improve their technique significantly. We took delivery of a beautiful
Stämpfli coxless quad scull, and a set of blades kindly provided
by the Parents’ Association. We welcomed new coaches Caroline
Dawson, Chris Horne (Assistant Boatman), Spencer Allen (USA) and Milly
Rayson (AUS).
The most pleasing results came from the Pangbourne Junior Sculls. Piers
Barnett finished in an amazing 3rd place out of the 57 Men’s J17
and J18 single sculls, and then joined James Dodd in a double to finish
13th in the whole event, ahead of several quads. Piers took up the challenge
of the GB Junior Team Assessments, and got things off to a good start,
particularly on the ergometer. The senior girls and C boys quads achieved
respectable places at Pangbourne and Wycliffe.
We continued to cement our friendly link with Canford, with almost all
of our scullers taking part in two time trials for singles. In one,
Piers came in fastest of all, and in the second, Canford’s best
sculler got revenge.
We rounded off the term with a ‘Christmas Regatta’; two
Santas, several pixies, and assorted loons dressed up for some ridiculous
racing. The fate of the less than imperious staff team will hopefully
be soon forgotten (who was that overweight cox?).
Spring Term 2006
Once again a very different atmosphere pervaded the Stour, as the usual
siege of nearly 50 beginner Ds got the term rolling. With the hard working
senior and C squads to look up to, there are those always-thrilling
first few strokes in a sculling boat. We felt the new idea of a parents’
rowing session (coached by sons and daughters) worked very well, despite
the freezing temperatures. Now the mums and dads know just how tricky
this sport is! We hope to run another session in the summer.
Results were respectable at Wycliffe and Burway, but we struggled this
year to get on terms with the very best juniors at the inaugural National
Junior Sculling Head at Henley. Piers Barnett continued to push himself
to new limits within the GB Junior trials system.
The most enjoyable day was probably the Minihead, where our D and C
boys and girls A quad sculls suddenly came alive and pipped Canford
at the post. This was followed by the always pleasant Buffalo Buffet,
thanks to Alan Shrimpton.
This year’s training trip to Switzerland involved 15 members of
the Club, half seniors and half from C. The weather was good, everyone
worked very hard and we had an excellent week.
Graham ElliotFor detailed racing results, consult: web.bryanston.co.uk/bsbc/index.html
POSSIBLE REGATTAS, Summer Term 2006:
May 13: Thames Ditton and Putney Town Regattas, and D parents’
rowing at Bryanston.
May 14: Maidenhead Junior.
May 20: Coate Water Park.
May 26 to 28: National Schools’.
June 3: Walton.
June 10: Marlow Town.
June 17: Tewkesbury.
June 24: Reading Town.
(June 28 to July 2: Henley Royal.)
July 14 to 16: National Championships.
August 19 to 27: World Rowing Championships @ Dorney (Eton).
A TALK at the RIVER & ROWING MUSEUM: June 13th @ 7.30pm.
One or more members of the World Champion GB Women’s quad will
be speaking. I went to a similar talk last year, by Alison Mowbray from
the Silver Medal GB quad at Athens, and it was total inspiration. I
have several tickets for this year’s talk. Priority goes to BSBC
coaches and senior crew members, but any OB or parent is welcome to
enquire if any are left over (£7-50 each).
Otherwise, go to www.rrm.co.uk
HENLEY ROYAL REGATTA: June 28 to July 2, 2006.
As usual, I shall be there on all 5 days. My car (at L3 in Lion Meadow)
is the venue for any wandering OBs and parents who would like to get
together for lunch. There is usually enough simple food and drink for
those who have not got their own picnics; donations will be welcome,
but are not demanded. Anyone with their own picnic is welcome to come
and eat it with us.
It would help if you could let me know in advance if you plan to join
me – then my daily visit to Waitrose will involve less guesswork.
WORLD ROWING CHAMPIONSHIPS: August 20th to 27th at Dorney, the Eton
Rowing Lake.
The Buffaloes want to encourage BSBC members and their parents (and
OBs) to witness world class rowing and sculling on their doorstep. What
better way to inspire the young?
To this end, I have an 8-day ticket and will be there for most of the
time, though I may get bored on the repêchage days (22nd and 23rd)
if there is no GB interest! Parents, BSBC and OBs are all very welcome
to come and find me. No doubt there will be some Buffalo refreshment,
as at Henley. If possible, I shall fly the Buffalo flag over my car.
Chris Horne, our Assistant Boatman for 2005-06, will be working there,
maybe also some OBs? At present it looks as though they have all the
volunteers they need, but it could be worth joining the waiting list
if you would like to be more closely involved.
The lake is part of a 400-acre park and there will be masses of fun
for younger children, also food and drink, exhibitors and shops, vintage
car display, live music etc.
You can view a 360º virtual tour of the lake at www.squaremeal.co.uk
and a good map of the approaches at www.web6757.vs.netbenefit.co.uk/bda/dorneylake.htm
For the FREE Opening Ceremony, on Saturday evening 19th, there will
be the Band of the Welsh Guards, a pageant of traditional boats to display
the history of British rowing, music & dance, and a firework display
to end it all. Picnics welcome.
Tickets can be booked online, and tickets for the two Finals days (26th
and 27th) need to be booked sharpish.
For tickets and all other information, see www.wrc2006.com
or phone the ticket hotline 0870 272 1872.
OB ROWING NEWS: There must be masses more news. Please send it in.
Laura Gordon (An ‘02) would like to disassociate herself from
the comments attributed to her in the previous edition of this newsletter.
The editor apologises for any unintended offence. Please, if you send
us your rowing news, say if it is OK for it to appear in this Bulletin
or not.
Mark Hall (Sh ‘88) has left the Cambridge coaching team, after
great success with Goldie boats, and has started a new life as a chef
in France. He married Victoria Fangen in 2004, and is now known as Mark
Fangen Hall.
Mark Roberts (C ‘03) is rowing at Bristol University and recorded
a 2000m ergometer time of 6’ 05” at the Indoor Rowing Championships.
Jonny Taylor (D ‘00) is coaching at Durham University, where he
is doing a PhD in Physics. He also helped coach Nephthys (Oxford’s
2nd lightweight VIII) for the Henley Races against Cambridge. Recent
Bryanston rowing coaches: Peter Lee is in the Durham University coaching
team and Andrea Hoskins rowed at bow in the Durham University Women’s
VIII which came 9th in the Women’s Head (2006).
OBs seen (or reported) at Henley 2005: (P = Bryanston parent; C = coach)
Beak Adams, Rob Adams, Bill Bentley, Louisa Blair, Jonathan Bowen, Mimi
Cawood, Oliver Cobb, Simon Collison, Richard Crisp, Adrian Cudmore,
Leonard Dickson, Tony Duckett, Mark Fangen-Hall, Stewart Farquharson,
Francis Ferris, Alex Hoodless, John Howard, Graham & Rodney Hutchinson,
Peter Jowitt, Michael Lambert (P), Simon Lambert, David Latham, Harriet
Latham, Peter Lee (C), Crispin Lennox, Felicity Mackness, Robin &
Liz Mackness (P), Tom Merrick, Ed Oxlade, Steve Oxlade (C), Peter Quarrell
(P), Rachel Quarrell, Robert Rakison (P), Mark Roberts, Tom Rossiter,
David & Jane Shrimpton (P), Oliver Simon, Nicol Smith, Pip &
Liz Stevenson (P), Jonny Taylor, Eric & Anthony Thompson, Nick Venning,
John Voysey, Julian Wade, Chris Wigglesworth.
I had a ‘grandfatherly’ moment at Maidenhead Junior Regatta,
finding that both Andrew Eames (Captain of Boats 1975 and ’76)
and Julian Rodd (Captain of Boats 1980) had sons in the same Tideway
Scullers quad, but did not yet know one another. They soon did.
Bryanston folk seen at a Boat Race Party on April 2nd: Beak & Cate
Adams (hosts), Rob & Heather Adams, Jeremy & Jane Arnold, Tim
Cotton, Tessa Eastman, Mr & Mrs Pocknell, Andy & Vicky Roberts,
Patrick Slade.
THE BUFFALOES: Who? What? Why?
When I took charge of BSBC in 1977, I faced two major problems. Due
to the rampant inflation of the mid-70s, no new equipment was bought
in that decade. Also, we had lost some high quality coaches (Rodney
Dingle, a European Championships Gold Medallist; John Sutherland-Smith,
a Cambridge trial cap and fine sculler; and Bob Allan, Oxford trial
cap, was about to become Second Master). We had some very enthusiastic
new coaches, but it is no insult to two Cambridge college captains,
Mike Adams and Peter Hardy, to say that neither of them was an international
gold medallist! As the boys’ 1st VIII coach at the time, I felt
equal to two major challenges, but not three. Thanks to support from
the Bursar of that time, I managed to persuade the Governors to establish
a better financial structure for the club, but chasing top-quality coaches
was beyond me. There was only one thing for it, recruit assistance.
So, in Summer 1978 the Buffaloes were conceived and, after a 9-month
pregnancy, they were inaugurated at a dinner in Leander Club on April
27th 1979.
Not surprisingly, it wasn’t realistic to persuade distinguished
OB oarsmen to come down to Bryanston to coach (our most distinguished
one lives in Norwich, and all of them had jobs), but we did have an
irregular stream of top GB coaches popping in for a day at a time: Bob
Janousek (GB national coach), Daniel Topolski (Oxford coach), Mike Spracklen
(coach of the GB lightweight squad), et al. These all played a valuable
part in generating or maintaining some ‘fizz’ in the club.
What the Buffaloes could do was, through subscriptions and donations,
raise the money to provide the ‘icing on the cake’. Our
policy has always been to buy only those items, essential in our view,
which the School was unlikely to provide. Over the years, we have supplied
BSBC with over £30,000 of benefits, including subsidies for holiday
training and competition, coaching launches, rowing ergometers, video
cameras, etc.
We also evolved three annual social events: (i) a buffet supper in the
School to welcome the parents of newcomers to the club, (ii) a dinner
at Leander at which we can celebrate and thank our benefactors and heroes
(including heroines) and arrange reunions for past crews, while making
clear that rowing is worth making a fuss about and (iii) our informal
picnics at Henley. We are the only Bryanston sport-support organization,
our social events are a unique combination of staff and parents, OBs
and current pupils (as is our committee), and have always been immensely
enjoyable.
Most recently, stimulated by an exceptionally handsome pledge, we have
started doing our ‘homework’ on a replacement boathouse.
Not that we would pay for the whole thing! What we want is to help the
School build, not just a shed for boats, but also a ‘clubhouse’
to include a gym and a crew room where coaching videos can be shown,
small social events run etc. And, of course, the canoeists will be included,
though they now seem to call themselves kayak?ers/ists. (On that tack,
many congratulations to OB David Coulson, who is now the National Kayaking
Coach for Juniors.) Thanks to OB architect, Rob Adams, we have surveyed
a number of new boathouses in the Thames Valley and have provisional
designs that will help us negotiate more wisely, positively and usefully
when the School is ready to start work on this project (?around 2010).
We held two meetings at Leander Club last October, initially designed
to plan ways and means of raising more money. However, we soon concluded
that we needed to adopt a broader approach and work with the School
to enhance the standing of rowing at Bryanston and help to find the
coaches that would make the pupils’ experience more enjoyable
and successful and the work on the new boathouse and ‘clubhouse’
really worthwhile.
The Buffalo Bulletin is compiled and distributed by Alan Shrimpton,
Bryanston School, Blandford, DT11 0PX. 01258-484669 and has@bryanston.co.uk
THE BUFFALO DINNER
Saturday May 6th 2006 @ 5.30pm for 6.15pm
Bookings and payments must be received by Friday 28th April, please.
Mail to: Alan Shrimpton, Bryanston School, Blandford, DT11 0PX.
………………………………………..………………………………………………
Booking slip for Buffaloes’ Dinner at Leander Club, May 6th 2006:
Name: …………………………………………………….……………………….…..
Address: ………………………………………………………………………….…...
………………………………………………………………………………..………..
Telephone number(s): ………………..……………………………………….………
email address: ……………………………..…………………………………..………Please
reserve ……….. seats @ £41 for (names) ……………….………………..……
…………………………………………………………………………….…….
and ………. seats @ £39 for (names) ……..…………...……….…………...…
…………………………………………………………………………………
and send me …..… Buffalo ties @ £20 each.
for which I enclose my cheque for £………..…..
payable to “Bryanston Buffaloes”.Please write “VS”
beside the name of anyone who needs a vegetarian starter, and “VM”
for a vegetarian main course.Special seating requests: ……………………………………………………………...
…………………………………………………………………………………………I/we
would like (please delete or fill in as necessary)
Bar lunches for ……… (number).
B & B in Leander for …..… (number) – please book
early.
A map showing Leander Club and/or the Museum.
To row/scull in the afternoon. Shoe size ……… Approx
weight …………
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