Ranger - News To Shock

[[old] Pommy Ralph]

I post on few occasions. I’m not into this “backward and forward” banter bit either. When I have the urge to say something – I do. Interestingly, my last post (US Indoor Rowing Team Selection-13/11/05-7.30pm) drew no response from Ranger or anyone else really. Just how I like it. Blatantly forthright and truthful – no wonder. <br />Firstly let me get this statement out of the way……I have no hesitancy in saying that Ranger fits into the “elite” class, as an athlete. Any 50 plus year old that can destroy a long standing WR by nearly 4 seconds is a class act. That said…he’s also totally gutless, not clever, misleading, a liar and in for a gigantic shock.<br />Please……wait…I’ll qualify what I’m saying…..one by one.<br />Ranger was in his glory with a WR 6.28…until Graham Watt from NZ shattered it. From that day on we’ve only “heard” from Ranger. Like a little kid who could no longer be “King of the castle”, he became totally gutless. Sure….we can listen to him talk about stroke perfection etc….but let’s get real…this is indoor rowing, and with all due respect to the over fifty year olds…it’s also a light weight category of “senior men”. It’s not like he’s a potential Olympian or something. Too gutless to race at the BIRC even though he made it to the warm up area, and then earlier this year he paid his nomination fee for the 2005WIRC…waited to see if Graham Watt was going to arrive from the South Pole [NZ is about as cold as that!!]…….and made it “two no shows” when Watt turned up. Gutless!! (yeah..yeah…I know he was off changing his stroke!!)<br />You’ll note that this “perfection” of his new stroke has just coincidentally drawn to a conclusion around the time of his 55th birthday.(no more Graham Watt to contend with) What a cop-out. Someone takes his WR from him – he never competes again from that day onwards – and presto – finds his new wonderful stroke is ready to try……. smack bang at the same time he’s changing age groups.(time to be King of the Castle again)<br />He’s trying to be clever now – but he’s made it too obvious….not clever!!! He’s proclaimed he’ll erg 6.24 in an event just days before his 55th birthday. Clever if he succeeds. It’ll be a new WR. Doesn’t matter if it gets beaten later as he will not be able to “defend” it because he’ll be in a new age group. If he fails…easy to blame it on being the first race with his new stroke….or even better…..(”I’m at the end of my age group….who else has set a record in that situation??”) He has events lined up in January that will then give him a WR in the new age group. That means there’s a chance he could hold two WR in two different age groups – and at worst, he’ll hold one in the new age group. Plenty to boast about….but…he is elite….no disputing that.<br />Still – he’s far from clever. Why would an elite athlete abuse and totally disrespect the likes of Mike Caviston, Dennis Hastings and a few others who love the sport they are in, and give a lot back to the sport in their own way? Why would you brag so harshly about your own elite talent to the extent that it belittles other forumites who wish to share. Mike Caviston sums it up perfectly in his post (US Indoor Rowing Team Selection-22/11/05 – 3.55pm) regarding being a “team” member. It’s a good, honest, direct read.<br />Why would Ranger “declare war’ (for want of a phrase) against C2? Not clever!! Whatever his bitch….C2 have the last laugh…forever…..something Ranger has never woken up to….he’s not clever enough…….as one thing is for absolute certainty. Ranger HAS to compete on a concept 2 ergometer if he’s to claim gold medals and WR’s The very machine he’s spending hours and hours a day on, and credits as a large part of his “stroke perfection” has to be the C2. I’m actually surprised that Ranger hasn’t declared that he’s training on another brand of rower – or thinking about it. Let’s all admit it – elite athlete…yes…..but clever??.....No!!! A great example is Ranger’s “Daily Double” posts [20/11/05] – which no-one was interested in. Who’s done this…who’s done that….all leading up to what he’s going to do. It’s all about Ranger. Now if he was clever, he could enter his new age category, and given that his training sessions are as read…he could erg a new WR by, say half a second, and then set a new WR every week (knocking off half a second every time) so he’d be the only person to ever have set 22 WR’s consecutively…maybe even more.(at half a second a time that would lower the WR to 6.30…about 6 seconds slower than Ranger’s estimated 2k time) It’s not as if the times required would be a strain….just look at his training times. And he can’t argue the verification process either….it’s pretty straight forward now.<br />Onto……. “misleading”.(remember this post started with….. he’s also totally gutless, not clever, misleading, a liar and in for a gigantic shock.<br />Don’t be fooled. Ranger is forgetting to clarify that all these workouts he’s doing now, he’s doing as a heavy weight. He is not 75kg and under. Sure he may well be when he turns up for an event, but all these sessions he’s doing as at 75kg plus – a heavy weight. If he disputes this (of course he will) he’s just continuing to mislead. I’m not disclosing my source on this one.<br />Also…he often forgets to include the fact he has a break in between these “easy UT1” workouts – usually to check the forum posts and reply. Misleading! You only have to check his posts to see it…only when he gets caught out…does he make some casual remark about taking a break.<br />A liar? Yes…and…..just not clever!!!<br />In his post here on the UK forum, Ranger tries to make out that he’s not afraid (not gutless!!) of racing by saying:” I have been in zillions of races in a whole collection of individual sports in my life”.(Changes-25/11/05-10.14am)<br />Scores of races – accepted: Hundreds – maybe: Hundreds and hundreds - unlikely: millions – an exaggeration: zillions – out right liar!!! <br />To the best part. The shock. Oh gosh….I hope I’m not letting too much of a “cat out of the bag here”…..I hope C2 or anyone else didn’t want this kept a secret if they too know about it. With a little luck, we’re about to be treated to a Bulgarian indoor rower who turns 55 on February 10th next year, with a 2k time around 6.26. Blagoi Blagoev tried to make it for the BIRC. Unfortunately he was denied a visa to enter the UK. At a guess it was the “blimp” from his past. In the 1976 Olympics he won silver in the middle heavy weight lifting class and was subsequently disqualified due to testing for anabolic steroids. He made amends (and apologies for being a cheat) winning the World Championship in 1981, moving up a weight division. His country forgave him for his past…..and judged him on his ongoing performances, making him Sportsman of the Year in 1982. Present day he [like Ranger] has to work a bit to make lightweight, being a regular 77kg. He’s been competing for several years in Bulgaria in one division only – open heavy weights with 2k times always under 6.30. He doesn’t brag about it. He trains with the Bulgarian national rowing squad at a complex in Varna. They’re 30 years his junior and most of the time he finishes last in competitions with them.(October 22nd-6.26.2 open lwt). Look out for his nomination for the WIRC in February. He goes into a new age group, will aim to be lightweight ….but does need to get a visa first to enter the USA. He’s got a lot more time to plead his case. In the UK, he left his application until 10 days prior to the BIRC. It’s going to be pretty exciting to see Blagoi and Ranger side by side….as the CRASH-B crew always put the fastest together. <br />So….I’m thinking we are about to see Ranger “come alive”. His stroke is ready, he’s having a birthday on January 25th, he starts to add to his “zillions” of races, with an event on January 21st.And…..whilst he can continue to disrespect, mock, ridicule, condescend and/or belittle…by name…..great sportspeople such as Hastings, Caviston, Prowse, Bayko and Harvey…..he’ll be stepping up shortly to meet <br />Blagoi Blagoev….and even if for some reason he doesn’t get his visa to the US….we should see a battle for a new WR.<br />Or is it a battle for “King of the Castle????”<br /><br /><br /><br />

[[old] mpukita]

Very interesting ...

[[old] gw1]

<!--QuoteBegin--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->It’s going to be pretty exciting to see Blagoi and Ranger side by side….as the CRASH-B crew always put the fastest together. </td></tr></table><br /><br />For a LW race in a division that has a "soft" WR this race will certainly not be soft and attract plenty of interest! <br /><br />GW

[[old] Mark Keating]

the plot thickens ...

[[old] ranger]

<!--QuoteBegin--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->I’m actually surprised that Ranger hasn’t declared that he’s training on another brand of rower – or thinking about it. </td></tr></table><br /><br />I am not just thinking about it. I have already changed machines.<br /><br />The other "machine" is called a boat.<br /><br /> <br /><br />C2 doesn't control rowing or even indoor rowing. That they _think_ they do is just what I am objecting to.<br /><br />ranger

[[old] ranger]

<!--QuoteBegin--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->we’re about to be treated to a Bulgarian indoor rower who turns 55 on February 10th next year, with a 2k time around 6.26. </td></tr></table><br /><br />I am happy to see some other quality rowers like Blagoev in the 50s lwts. It is not surprising at all to hear of another 55-year-old who can row under 6:30. <br /><br />There have been many exciting 50s lwt races at WIRC, and the one that I rowed was just of this sort. The many duels between Hastings and Tardieu around the turn of the cenetury are good examples.<br /><br />When Hastings and I rowed head to head as lightweight 50s rowers at WIRC 2003, we both had about the same pbs as lightweights: 6:33. An exciting event! Result: I rowed 6:30; Hastings rowed 6:35.5. <br /><br />A 6:26 is a _very_ nice row for a 50s lwt, but I think I might row 6:24 well before February. So Blagoev might have to get even better yet if he was to win a hammer this year in the 55-59 lwt division. I guess we'll just have to wait and see!<br /><br />Graham Watt rowed 6:28.5 last year in his hammer row in the 50-54 lwt division.<br /><br />See you at the races!<br /><br />ranger

[[old] ranger]

Don't know what to say about the rest of your post, Ralph. More inflammatory blather than even I could think up!<br /><br /> <br /><br />Well, maybe that's exaggerating a little. If I put my mind to it, I am sure that I can develop a stronger key stroke that will eventually outdo your blathering, too. <br /><br />It's just a matter of time!<br /><br />20 pages--with breaks!<br /><br /> <br /><br />WRs for blather are not easy to come by around here. There are great, great blatherers on these C2 fora!<br /><br />See you at the next batherfest!<br /><br />ranger

[[old] ranger]

<!--QuoteBegin--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin--> It’s going to be pretty exciting to see Blagoi and Ranger side by side….as the CRASH-B crew always put the fastest together. So….I’m thinking we are about to see Ranger “come alive”.<br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />Been "alive" all the time, Ralph. I would't be in any position to challenge Blagoev if I hadn't changed my technique and developed more stroking power. I haven't stopped training. I just haven't been racing--and for good reason. I have been developing a new stroke.<br /><br />Yes, the stroke is now ready to race with.<br /><br />Watch out! It's a good'un!<br /><br />ranger<br /><br /><br /><br />

[[old] ranger]

<!--QuoteBegin--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Ranger was in his glory with a WR 6.28…until Graham Watt from NZ shattered it. </td></tr></table><br /><br />Graham Watt is younger than I am, by almost four years. If I retake the 50-54 WR just as I am turning 55, it will be _very_ unusual.<br /><br />In their 50s, rowers usually slow down about two to three seconds a year. Therefore, rowing 6:24 at 55 is something like rowig 6:14 at 50.<br /><br />In the 50s hwt divisions, Andy Ripley's WRs are 6:07 for 50-54 and 6:21 for 55-59. That 's a slowdown of 14 seconds over the five years, just under three seconds a year. <br /><br />The present 55-59 lwt WR is Roger Prowse's 6:41.9. Watt's 50-54 WR is 6:25.8, 16.1 seconds faster. That's a slowdown of just _over_ three seconds a year. <br /><br />Dennis Hastings rowed 6:33 when he was 50. At 55, he now rows about 6:43, ten seconds slower. That's a slowdown of about two seconds a year.<br /><br />ranger

[[old] ranger]

I rowed 6:27.5 (as a heavyweight!) when I was 50. If I row 6:24 when I am 55, I will have gotten 3.5 seconds faster over that time, a speeding up of almost a second a year, despite going down to row as a lighttweight.<br /><br />From my WIRC 2003 lwt row (6:30) to my lwt USIRT trial in 2003 (6:29), I sped up one second. From my USIRT trial in 2003 (6:29) to my row at BIRC 2003 (6:28), I sped up another second. If I row 6:24 this winter, I will have sped up another four seconds. <br /><br />I didn't start rowing until I was 49. I did my first race when I was 50. I did my first lwt race when I was 52. <br /><br />ranger

[[old] R S T]

What weight are you just now ranger? Also, when was the last time you had to 'make weight' before a race, and how much did you lose, in say, the final few days? <br /><br />Cheers<br />RichardT

[[old] John Rupp]

<!--QuoteBegin-ranger+Nov 26 2005, 07:06 AM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(ranger @ Nov 26 2005, 07:06 AM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Don't know what to say about the rest of your post, Ralph. More inflammatory blather than even I could think up!<br /><br />   [right] </td></tr></table><br /><br />And very few carriage returns! <br />

[[old] ranger]

<!--QuoteBegin-R S T+Nov 26 2005, 11:42 AM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(R S T @ Nov 26 2005, 11:42 AM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->What weight are you just now ranger? Also, when was the last time you had to 'make weight' before a race, and how much did you lose, in say, the final few days? <br /><br />Cheers<br />RichardT <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />Although I didn't row, I made weight at both BIRC and Elkhart last year. I have never failed a weigh-in. I have raced as a lightweight about ten times now.<br /><br />I walk around most of the year at about 170-175 lbs. or so. This is pretty standard. Caviston says he does about the same.<br /><br />Before the big venues in 2003, I made weight each day in the afternoon for a couple of weeks before each event, but usually only as a post-workout weight. <br /><br />Your weight fluctuates considerably from day to day, with food and water intake. I can't be retaining much water and make weight easily. After I sweat a while, I make weight nicely, though, so I usually make weight in this way on race day, too.<br /><br />At the CRASH-Bs in 2003, when I broke the WR, I weighed in at 161 lbs. This shows that I am not at all on the very margin of making weight.<br /><br />I am very small-boned. I have very small wrists and ankles, etc. This has been somewhat of a problem over the course of my athletic life. For instance, out running, I have sprained (and broken?) my ankles many times and I don't have much power in my wrists (which was a problem for canoeing). <br /><br />ranger<br />

[[old] TPMcT]

<!--QuoteBegin-ranger+Nov 26 2005, 09:46 AM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(ranger @ Nov 26 2005, 09:46 AM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin--><br />C2 doesn't control rowing or even indoor rowing. That they _think_ they do is just what I am objecting to.<br /><br />ranger <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />I suspect the only thing the Dreissigacker brothers are attempting to control is to whom they give their money. Who can fault them for that? And even so, they allow an awful lot of latitude.<br /><br />Ranger, you seem to forget that they are <i>gifting</i> USIRT members with a free trip to Europe. They also <i>give</i> four qualifiers from each regional event free trips to Boston for the Crash-Bs. On another thread you made an off-hand remark that going to Boston would cost you nothing because C2 would be paying for it [since presumably you would earn one of these free trips]. Wouldn't this compromise your lonely campaign against these thoroughly unethical people?<br /><br />Tim McTighe

[[old] ranger]

<!--QuoteBegin--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Ranger, you seem to forget that they are gifting USIRT members with a free trip to Europe. They also give four qualifiers from each regional event free trips to Boston for the Crash-Bs. On another thread you made an off-hand remark that going to Boston would cost you nothing because C2 would be paying for it [since presumably you would earn one of these free trips]. Wouldn't this compromise your lonely campaign against these thoroughly unethical people? </td></tr></table><br /><br />I am objecting to the selection procedures for the USIRT, not the people. If these trips are just company gifts, then IMHO, C2 shouldn't call the team the United States Indoor Rowing Team; they shouldn't hold official trials; and they shouldn't act as though the "gifts" are given as a result of merit, rather than just to whoever they might want to give them to.<br /><br />If they want to give out some free company gifts, then they should just give them out. Why all the hoopla? Really, since the trials are not fair and open, with selection based on merit, the collection of folk on the USIRT represent no one but C2. It is just a "company" team.<br /><br />If they just want a company team, why don't they just have some of the folks who work at C2 suit up and row. I am sure that they would be loyal boosters--and pretty good oarsmen, too. <br /><br />It would be great to see Robert Brody out there pulling a 2K at EIRC in the 50s lwts! Now _that_ would be entertaining!<br /><br />ranger<br /><br />