The Bull Newsletter
May 2020
A quick hello from the committee. We hope that you and your family are safe and well and that you are staying healthy.
We have a few updates and introductions that we would like to share with you in regards to the Taurus committee. Before lockdown a few of us gathered to discuss the future of Taurus Boat Club. Five hours later we had all reminisced over our days at Brookes, shared ideas about the direction of Taurus Boat Club and put plans together for the forthcoming year.
The main discussion points were around the creation of the 'Taurus Network' to connect the Taurus family together. This includes gaining an idea of the industries our Taurus members are working in, organising more events and creating opportunities for our members to get back on the water together!
It was our plan to hold an AGM before the Taurus dinner to formally elect our committee members. Due to the postponement of the dinner I would like to introduce you to our team below and to formally elect them onto the committee at the dinner on 24th October! You can find out more about our team on our website. Tickets for the dinner are still available and can be purchased here.
Pete Lowe ('93) - Chairman,
Simon Speirs ('91) - Treasurer,
James Symington ('92) - Vice Chairman,
Charlie Clarke ('17) - Club Secretary,
Alexandra Wenyon ('18) & Tamsin Bryant ('08) - Events and Communications,
James Forrester ('17) - Crew Captain.
In this era of lockdown due to CoronaVirus, be aware of Speirsy, who whilst an old fart, is still quite fit and healthy, spent 8 days in hospital... message is that you just don't know how it will effect you - so just take care, stay safe and stay "Alert".
Please enjoy our latest news below and reach out to us if you would like to be included in our next newsletter through the contact form on our website.
Latest News:
- Get Involved!
We were gutted for all current athletes who missed out on competing at BUCS Regatta last month. We hope that you would like to continue to get involved with our Strava and Concept 2 groups. Keep logging your miles to stay competitive with each other!
Our very own James Symington logged 1,000,000 meters on the erg in the first four months of this year (not bad for a 52 year old!). Now onto the next million!
- The Head of the Charles Regatta
We are hoping to send crews out to compete in this years HOCR. It would be great to see how many bulls we can get to cross the finish line! We have been in conversation with the organising committee who are 'cautiously optimistic' that the event will go ahead in the fall. If not we should be able to enter for 2021 so please let us know if you would prefer to get involved next year!
If you would like to be involved this year or next please get in touch with us through our contact form here!
- Records smashed!
Meanwhile David Gillard (2015/16) is still plugging away with his long term goal aiming towards summer 2021, when he turns 50. In his first ever marathon erg in January he set a GB 40-49 record of 2:32:56 with average split 1:48.7. Triumph in Munich at the 30 min indoor champs followed.
David reports that lockdown training has been going well. Surely time to call Richard and Henry for one Last Dance?
- 7 Marathons in 7 days!
Congratulations to current Brookes student Henry Blois-Brooke who has completed seven marathons in seven days to raise money for the NHS Charities together campaign. Henry averaged a time of 3 hours and 40 minutes and has raised over £10,000. Find out more.
Get in touch!
We are in the process of creating a database for Taurus members to stay connected and to gain an idea of what the Taurus family are up to.
- Aims of the database:
-Increased networking opportunities,
-To be able to offer work experience for Taurus members,
-Create a mentoring scheme for the Taurus family to offer career advice and guidance.
Make sure that you are a paying Taurus member and get in touch with us through the contact form on our website. Please let us know your address if you would like us to send you Taurus goodies!!
2020 Dates for the diary (hopefully!):
Saturday 17th October - Head of the Charles Regatta, Boston MA.
Saturday 24th October - 18:00 AGM, 19:00 Annual Dinner, both held at Phyllis Court, Henley-on-Thames.