Hi from Janel Crawford

Past club member, Janel Crawford, is now back at home in the States. She is standing directly behind the boat name in the group photo and in the photo of the eight she is in Seven seat. Look at the catches - slight back splash and perfect timing. - Alastair
a letter from Janel to Alastair Riddle and the club…..
Hello from the big USA!  I have just stumbled upon the Rotorua Rowing Club web page/blog.  Congratulations on being chosen Club of the Year...that is absolutely fantastic.  It's good to see how far the club has come and how competitive it is becoming.
I have been back in the states for two years now.  I am coaching the novice team at Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Massachusetts (where I went to university).  Our season finished in early May so now all of the kids are at home and we coaches get a chance to row a bit.  I was out in a quad this morning after being off the water for 3 weeks...have a hand full of blisters for my trouble!
School starts again in September and it will be a whirlwind of activity for me.  We spend a full week having try-outs for the novice squad.  
Typically there are about 50 kids who start out and by the end of the week we are down to about 40.  Then, we make cuts to create a team of approx. 28 rowers and 4 coxswains.  Big group!  I usually have 3 eights on the water every morning.  Luckily we have another assistant coach to help out.  By spring season we are down to 2 eights, at the most.  Usually more like 12-14 rowers.  People decide they just can't handle the early mornings and the workload!
I spent last week in Boston observing the Charles River Rowing Camp that is hosted by Harvard/Radcliffe.  I was able to ride in the launch
with a couple of very accomplished coaches and I'm hopeful that I learned some things to make my crews faster.
One of my good friends is the head coach at the University of Tulsa in Oklahoma.  He has a full-time assistant coach position open and has
encouraged me to apply.  I'm not all that keen to live in Oklahoma but it would be a fantastic opportunity...full-time coaching, Division I athletics.  Probably a step in the right direction!  I would like to come back to coach in NZ one day.  Maybe in a few years we'll get back there.
Hope all is well with you and that you are surviving winter.  Hello to everyone at RRC...not that there are too many left from my time with you all!
Cheers,
Janel

Janel Crawford
Novice Crew Coach
Kendall Hall B101
jcrawfor@mtholyoke.edu