1st June 2020: Your Weekly Briefing

This is your JRN Weekly briefing covering the developments of the last week in three key areas. If you have a story to share, contact our news desk at juniorrowingnews@gmail.com

Covid-19 Update:

“We will be today terminating our relationship with the World Health Organization and redirecting those funds to other worldwide and deserving urgent global public health needs.”

President Trump

As another week comes to a close, confusion continues to reign supreme. Lockdown is beginning to slowly ease across the UK as shops begin to open their shutters once again and schools prepare to receive the first batch of students, but the question remains; is it too soon to return to relative normality?

For those longing to legally regain contact with friends and family, the wait is finally over. From today all areas of the UK will begin to allow citizens to meet with larger groups of people outdoors, and although the specifics differ depending on where you live, in England at least, groups of six can meet in private outdoor spaces so long as households distance themselves from each other.

The public has been advised to be ‘creative’ when it comes to ensuring social distancing practices remain in private outdoor spaces, perhaps using chalk, tape or blankets to mark out individual zones in gardens. It is also recommend that there should be at least 2 minutes between bathroom trips and that the toilet seat should be down when flushing.

There is reason for those who are currently shielded to be cheerful too, as last night Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick announced that the clinically vulnerable can venture outdoors with members of their household to meet one other person, they should still refrain from shopping, returning to work, or visiting friends in their homes.

It has also emerged that the UK is currently meeting its testing targets, with average numbers indicating that over 200,000 people per day are now being tested for the virus. The results from these tests will, where necessary, be passed on to NHS Track and Trace teams who will arrange to contact individuals who have been in prolonged contact with a confirmed case.

All of this comes just days after senior scientists, both in Whitehall and in the private sector, argued that the government’s easing of restrictions comes too soon and that the increased contact will lead to a second wave of infections, placing both the public and the NHS at risk. Number 10 has maintained that should SAGE believe it to be in the public interest, stricter lockdown measures will be reinstated either on a local or national basis.

Despite these concerns, children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 have today returned to school after an extended period out of the classroom. The government is keen to return children to school as quickly as possible, saying that keeping those who are least at risk of contracting the virus out of a formal education environment, increase the chances that lasting social damage will be done to the most disadvantaged young people.

Despite pressure from London, a survey conducted by the BBC found that only around 20% of local authorities have advised schools to open in line with government advice from the 1st June. For those that do return, the days of corridor conversations and playground drama will be nothing more than a distant memory as teachers aim to enforce social distancing, reduce class sizes and prevent parents from coming onto school grounds. In two weeks Secondary Schools and Colleges are supposed to be welcoming years 10 and 12 pupils back, though much like their early-years colleagues, headteachers have indicated that a wide-spread return to college life will not be possible until September at the earliest.

On a global scale, Johns Hopkins University reported this week that the total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases has now passed six-million – a grim milestone. India meanwhile, have announced that lockdown measures will be eased on the 8th June despite rising numbers of cases, whilst Brazil has overtaken France to become the 4th worst affected country in the world.

This week President Trump announced that the US have terminated their financial relationship with the World Health Organisation, having criticised the United Nations agency from responding too slowly to the Coronavirus outbreak. This is not the first time that the WHO has come under fire from its member states for a slow response, similar scenes played out in the wake of the 2016 Ebola epidemic, although this is the first time that a major financial contributor is withholding funding. European nations have begun an enquiry into the handling of the situation, and the UK becomes the agencies’ largest state contributor, behind only the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

British Rowing:

“This does not allow for rowing to move to the next phase of our return to rowing plan, however, once the detailed guidance has been issued we will review whether this may allow for small groups to go rowing whilst maintaining social distance.”

British Rowing

As summer begins to pierce the wintery darkness that has dominated skies in the UK for months, rowers remain frustrated that the perfect water will remain quiet for some time yet. As a result, isolation training remains the order of the day with trying consequences for some.

The British rowing circuit is beginning to fracture as local guidance has led to pockets of the country returning to the water in singles whilst the majority remain on dry land. In response, British Rowing has updated their guidance on how a safe return to rowing can be facilitated as regional lockdowns begin to lift. You can find their information here.

There have, however, been whispers that elite athletes could be on the verge of a return to sculling at the National Training Centre Caversham as the government allows more travel outside of the home. In an article for the Telegraph, Fiona Thomas describes the “boat is your bubble” approach that the sporting body plans to deploy to protect athletes and coaches. It is likely that, to begin with, only the lake and boathouse will be open for athletes, with the dream of a full squad training at Caversham still very much a fantasy.

The good news this week from British Rowing is that, alongside British Cycling and British Athletics, the Train Your Way to Tokyo Challenge will see Blue Peter presenter Lindsey Russell endeavour to travel the distance to Tokyo in just 30 days. The epic task will see the broadcaster cover a distance of over 9,400Km, with the final film being shown on a Blue Peter Sports Badge Special on the 18th June.

Elsewhere, Vicky Thornley reported that her training is currently hampered by injures from a bicycle crash last week. The 32-year-old from Wrexham has her sights set on Tokyo 2020 after a stunning performance at Rio 2016 where she won a Silver medal in the Double Sculls alongside Kathrine Granger. A year later she was crowned European Champion in the Single Scull, and would later finish second at the World Championships in the same discipline.

Another famous face was in the news this week as Henry Blois-Brooke became the latest member of the British Rowing team to be featured in the ‘Meet the Athlete’ series. Henry discussed his progression to the U23 team and his journey as a junior – you can read the full article on the British Rowing website. The Sports Science Team for GB rowing also published their latest piece this week, highlighting the challenges of training in hot weather, including useful tips such as how to stay hydrated and calculate your perspiration rate.

International Rowing:

“While many parts of the world were in lockdown, a staggering 131 World Records were broken on a Concept2 indoor machine.”

World Rowing

It has become clear that the international rowing community can react relatively quickly to changes in the sporting landscape as world record continue to tumble, whilst FISA issue new advice pertaining to a safe return to rowing.

It’s hard to overstate the rapid growth of the indoor rowing community over the past few months as the world has been thrust into lockdown. Rowers who previously used an ergo for supplementary aerobic training have turned to the machine as their primary fitness building tool, whilst those outside of the rowing bubble have also seen the benefits of the full body work-out that the machine provides.

It has emerged that over 130 World Records have been broken on Concept2 machines in 75 days – a new record in itself. Some, including Australian athlete Georgie Rowe, have broken records by ‘accident’. Speaking to World Rowing Rowe commented: “I just wanted to get some kilometres up for my State in the interstate indoor regatta,”

World Rowing has also released updated guidance on a safe return to the water in conjunction with the FISA Sports Medicine Commission which can be found here. Junior Rowing News had the opportunity to discuss this unusual period with FISA Executive Director Matt Smith in our latest episode of The End of The Island, available from Tuesday afternoon.

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That’s all for this week’s briefing. Be sure to tune in next week for the latest news, advice, and analysis.

Until then, catch the latest episodes of our podcast here, and keep up with content from across our team on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. 

Stay Safe

Ed Evans 

Opinions Editor

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