The Crew Cut

Serious gossip, Percy Pigs, Rag 'n' Bone Man and a German pretzel got the two Jacs through their journey across Europe from Putney to Slovenia in September. Jacqui and Jaclynn were heading to the 2017 World Rowing Masters Regatta, and at the end of day two they were rewarded with a stunning sweeping view of Lake Bled. The following five days involved early starts, unpredictable weather and a significant number of pastries (the light and custardy Traditional Bled Cake was apparently a favourite and we'll be recreating it for the office). However, this trip was also about introducing a whole new group of customers to Crewroom, and the girls didn't disappoint. They returned home to say how rowers from across the world, from Europe to Canada to New Zealand and more, were impressed by our products. The ever-popular North West Hoodie was a firm favourite yet again, and the No Bother Pant was the go-to cosy item on chillier afternoons. Sadly the girls didn't have much time to watch the racing, but they were chuffed to see friends from Thames Rowing Club holding their gold medals from the mixed races on a seriously soaked and sodden Sunday. Some great memories were made in Lake Bled and we're now looking to see where in Europe we will travel to next!

Our favourite Adventure Queen - Anna McNuff - has just launched her new book on Amazon. Here's a snippet of what you can expect... "Anna was never anything like those ‘real’ runners on telly – all spindly limbs, tiny shorts and split times – but when she read about New Zealand’s 3,000-kilometre-long Te Araroa Trail, she began to wonder… perhaps being a ‘real’ runner was overrated. Maybe she could just run it anyway? Travelling alone through New Zealand’s backcountry for 148 days, she scrambled through forests, along ridge-lines, over mountain passes, along beaches and across swollen rivers. Running up to 52 kilometres in a day, she slept wild most nights, and was taken into the homes and hearts of the kiwi people in between. The Pants of Perspective is a witty, colourful and at times painfully raw account of a journey to the edge of what a woman believes herself to be capable of. It is a coming-of-age story which will lead you on a roller coaster ride through fear, vulnerability, courage and failure. For anyone who has ever dreamt of taking on a great challenge, but felt too afraid to begin – this story is for you." Can't wait to read it? Neither can we! Anna's book has just launched on Amazon and can be bought here. Or, to be in with a chance of winning a copy, just answer the question below and email us at [email protected]. Two names will be picked out of a hat and a copy of Anna's adventure will make its way to the lucky winners - just be sure to send in your answers by July 31st. Q: What is the name of Anna's bike which accompanied her on her recent adventure through the Southern Andes? To find out more about our favourite adventure queen, check out her blog here: https://annamcnuff.com/mega-adventures/

This weekend marks the 30th anniversary of Women’s Henley Regatta and it's certainly changed since the first regatta was held in June 1988! Today, more than 40% of the country’s active registered rowers are female. A stark contrast to the early 1960’s where the total number of oarswomen in England was less than 1000. Thankfully, young female novices are now inspired and encouraged to go for gold in a sport which has seen female rowers excel on the international stage at World Championships, World Cups and the Olympics. A first milestone was achieved in 1968 when the ARA committed financial support for women’s rowing and their international efforts. And, over time the number of female rowers continued to increase as did the standard of rowing. Notably in 1987, Women’s National Coach, Rosie Mayglothing – who had won the Invitation double sculls at Henley 1982 with her partner Astrid Ayling – suggested women should organise their own Henley Regatta. Through sheer persistence Mayglothing and Christine Aistrop convinced the Stewards of HRR to give permission for the first women’s regatta to be held on the course in June 1988, albeit with certain provisos! For example, the regatta was to be held two weeks before HRR and, should bad weather delay the timetable, the course would not be available. Use of the HRR enclosures was also not permitted. So to make Remenham Farm (Temple Island Meadows) the focal point of the regatta, the HWR committee agreed to reverse the direction of the course (so the opposite direction to the men's race). The inaugural regatta was to be rowed over a 2,000m course from the Regatta finish, down to the upstream end of Temple Island. Once this decision was made, the Stewards allowed HWR the use of certain facilities at the Regatta finish, including the Floating Stand, for aligning and starting purposes, and a raft for the boating area. Over the years, many aspects of the event have changed as the sport of women’s rowing has matured: the direction of the course, the number and size of the races, the participation of international crews, qualification rules, etc. The Regatta continues to grow, as does the level of competition. Here at Crewroom we salute all the women who’ve worked tirelessly over the last 30 years to make this such a successful and enjoyable event. Go ladies! Crewroom will be based in the Remenham Farm Retail Village for the duration of HWR.

Due to popular demand we’ve tripled our presence at events this year and our roadshow team are both home and abroad at the following events: BUCS Regatta, Nottingham: Saturday 29th April to Monday 1st May Wallingford Regatta, Dorney Lake: Sunday 30th April Marlow Spring Regatta: Monday 1st May Bedford Amateur: Saturday 6th May Ball Cup, Dorney Lake: Sunday 7th May Royal Windsor Horse Show: Wednesday 10th May to Sunday 14th May Nottingham City Regatta: Saturday 13th May Nottingham Masters and Club Regatta: Sunday 14th May Junior Sculling Regatta, Dorney Lake: Sunday 14th May Weybridge Ladies: Sunday 21st May National Schools, Dorney: Friday 26th May to Sunday 28th May Twickenham Regatta: Saturday 27th May Monmouth Sprint Regatta: Saturday 27th May to Sunday 28th May

Adventure Queen and Crewroom Ambassador - Anna McNuff - seen here wearing her Crewroom Explorer Jacket, shares another nugget from her amazing journey across South America... What is that?!’ I shout at Faye, pointing over to a huge chunk of ice off the left hand side of the ship. Slender tentacles of ice reach out from the centre of the shape as if they are hands grasping for the shore. There are swirls of royal blue and white in almost perfect spirals towards the back of the structure, leading into a neat little nubbin that resembles a cinnamon bun. As we move past the iceberg, new aspects of the shape are revealed, and new shades of colour too. I announce to Faye that it looks more like a Mardi Gras float than an iceberg - I am transfixed by it’s beauty. There is something so untamed about a shape as random an asymmetric as this iceberg. Waves from the lake slap against its sides, and I wonder how long before it changes form entirely once again. We mess around for the next 30 minutes on deck, enjoying being splashed by icy waves at intervals and pulling on more and more clothing as the temperature begins to plummet. At last we arrive at the main attraction. The captain cuts the engine and the air is filled with a welcome silence. The crowd falls silent too, so that we can all hear the creaks and groans emitted by the mighty wall of ice in front of us. I resist the urge to break the silence by bursting into song about the White Cliffs of Dover, but this is precisely what the glacier reminds me of - one end of it at least. The other end is much less of a solid wall and more like a bleached pile of Kryptonite crystals. Huge columns of ice shoot upwards, some stuck together, and others entirely alone in their skyward mission. Out of the corner of my eye I catch sight of an Orange rubber dingy pulling away from the boat. Three men clad in t-shirts and matching bright orange life jackets zoom off into the distance. We’ve heard a rumour that later on we’ll be served whisky over a block of pure glacier ice, and I assume that this dingy mission is part of the process. Given that the only other thing served on this 7 hour trip was a single coconut biscuit at 10am, I am a little perplexed by the crew’s slightly off-centre choice of daily nutrition. Follow all of Anna's updates and blog posts here: Facebook @AMcNuff / Instagram @annamcnuff / Twitter @AnnaMcNuff

First raced in 1829 and 1927 respectively, The Cancer Research UK Boat Races are amongst the oldest sporting events in the world. April 2nd 2017 will see the running of the 163rd Boat Race and 72nd Women's Boat Race, both now taking place on the Championship Course. Once again, Crewroom along with JL Racing is the Official Technical Kit Supplier to the crews and we dropped off their final race day kit just in time for the official crew announcements which were held at The Francis Crick Institute here in London. So, with all the kit finished and delivered, we're looking forward to relaxing on race day and celebrating with out own Boat Race BBQ here at the hub, just metres away from the start line! Don't forget if you want to support your Blue you can still purchase official merchandise from us here.