Taff Attack

Chad Williams · Post by **Chad Williams** » April 19th, 2006, 9:32 am

niall wrote:
Chad Williams wrote:Surprise surprise, totally unexpected. Dwayne had topped the ctc league. How many knew that was going to happen?
Did he do it on slides?

Black cloud, guilty by association, Tarred with the same brush.
I don't like the insinuation you're making about slides Chad. Carla has always been completely open and honest about her use of slides and has never, to my knowledge, been told the CTC does not allow them.

Cheap shot in my book

So does Dwayne use slides?

It must bother you that Carla uses slides as you mentioned it not me.

niall · Post by **niall** » April 19th, 2006, 9:35 am

No it doesn't bother me at all that Carla uses slides. I merely brought it up as you mentioned slides and it is well known that Carla uses slides.

I figured that you were trying to extend your scope of rower-bashing to Carla as well as Dwayne and I'm not going to have that for one second!

Chad Williams · Post by **Chad Williams** » April 19th, 2006, 9:43 am

Well, those 2 people you mentioned above don’t help to promote fair play do they? something tells me that you will disagree though. You can only take loyalty so for Niall.

niall · Post by **niall** » April 19th, 2006, 9:47 am

Chad Williams wrote:Well, those 2 people you mentioned above don’t help to promote fair play do they? something tells me that you will disagree though. You can only take loyalty so for Niall.

Your views on Dwayne are public and well known. However, to bring Carla into this discussion is completely inappropriate. At no time has she ever given any implication of inappropriateness. She is one of the most principled people I know.

You're barking up the wrong tree here. Be careful it doesn't fall down and crush you.

Chad Williams · Post by **Chad Williams** » April 19th, 2006, 9:50 am

You made first comment with regards to Carla and her use of slides not me.

niall · Post by **niall** » April 19th, 2006, 9:52 am

Chad Williams wrote:You made first comment with regards to Carla and her use of slides not me.

I've covered that already and am not going to go over old ground with you.

Daren · Post by **Daren** » April 19th, 2006, 9:54 am

Chad Williams wrote:Surprise surprise, totally unexpected. Dwayne had topped the ctc league. How many knew that was going to happen?
Did he do it on slides?

Black cloud, guilty by association, Tarred with the same brush.

Well, your intention to keep it out of the Taff Attack thread dind't last long, did it. "Surprise, surprise, totally unexpected," to borrow a phrase.

Godfried · Post by **Godfried** » April 19th, 2006, 11:42 am

Principles are very difficult to keep.

hjs · Post by **hjs** » April 19th, 2006, 12:08 pm

Paul B wrote:I am sorry to raise the issue of Dwayne's times again but his new 10k time in this months CTC has left me in total disbelief and once again he has just gone top of the leader board with his last attempt for the month.

I believe there are times when you have to stand up and be counted and be prepared to say difficult things and I think the time has come for me tomake my feelings known - please don't "hang me" for them and I am not interested in debating them - these are simply my views.

I could try and dress up what I am going to say so as to avoid having to question someone's honesty, but I won't as that would be the easy way out. So here goes...I don't believe Dwayne's times and feel that he is tainting the team and therefore I will be moving to the new Taff Attack Racing team.

Being in the top 3 or 4 of the CTC currently means absolutely nothing to me as I don't believe Dwayne's times and for me being in a team is all about caring and having a sense of belonging with a group of like minded people. I don't like the fact that people on the UK site who I know, respect and race against are again sniggering about my team because of Dwayne's latest 10k time.

I am going to remove my time from this month's CTC as I feel Dwayne's time taints the "boat" and I no longer want to be part of it (I do this as a symbolic gesture rather than a dramatic one).

I erg because I like the fact that I can go and compete with others at races - competition makes me feel alive. I like the feeling on race morning of "why am I putting myself through this". For me erging is about "not hiding", it's about having the guts to get on the damned machine knowing full well it cannot be beaten, but still giving it everything. Dwayne obviously doesn't feel the same and as such I would always have a problem with him as a team mate because in my opinion he is at best hiding or at worst blatantly lying - neither of which are characteristics I would accept in team mates.

As far as I'm concerned from this point onwards Taff Attack is dead........long live Taff Attack Racing.

Wise and brave Paul.

Sir P · Post by **Sir P** » April 19th, 2006, 1:51 pm

Paul B wrote:I am sorry to raise the issue of Dwayne's times again but his new 10k time in this months CTC has left me in total disbelief and once again he has just gone top of the leader board with his last attempt for the month.

I believe there are times when you have to stand up and be counted and be prepared to say difficult things and I think the time has come for me tomake my feelings known - please don't "hang me" for them and I am not interested in debating them - these are simply my views.

I could try and dress up what I am going to say so as to avoid having to question someone's honesty, but I won't as that would be the easy way out. So here goes...I don't believe Dwayne's times and feel that he is tainting the team and therefore I will be moving to the new Taff Attack Racing team.

Being in the top 3 or 4 of the CTC currently means absolutely nothing to me as I don't believe Dwayne's times and for me being in a team is all about caring and having a sense of belonging with a group of like minded people. I don't like the fact that people on the UK site who I know, respect and race against are again sniggering about my team because of Dwayne's latest 10k time.

I am going to remove my time from this month's CTC as I feel Dwayne's time taints the "boat" and I no longer want to be part of it (I do this as a symbolic gesture rather than a dramatic one).

I erg because I like the fact that I can go and compete with others at races - competition makes me feel alive. I like the feeling on race morning of "why am I putting myself through this". For me erging is about "not hiding", it's about having the guts to get on the damned machine knowing full well it cannot be beaten, but still giving it everything. Dwayne obviously doesn't feel the same and as such I would always have a problem with him as a team mate because in my opinion he is at best hiding or at worst blatantly lying - neither of which are characteristics I would accept in team mates.

As far as I'm concerned from this point onwards Taff Attack is dead........long live Taff Attack Racing.

Respect to you Paul. I share your view, if I was in your shoes I would have done the same thing.

It all leaves a nasty taste in ones mouth.

Sir P

PhilT · Post by **PhilT** » April 19th, 2006, 3:57 pm

Paul B wrote:I am sorry to raise the issue of Dwayne's times again but his new 10k time in this months CTC has left me in total disbelief and once again he has just gone top of the leader board with his last attempt for the month.

I believe there are times when you have to stand up and be counted and be prepared to say difficult things and I think the time has come for me tomake my feelings known - please don't "hang me" for them and I am not interested in debating them - these are simply my views.

I could try and dress up what I am going to say so as to avoid having to question someone's honesty, but I won't as that would be the easy way out. So here goes...I don't believe Dwayne's times and feel that he is tainting the team and therefore I will be moving to the new Taff Attack Racing team.

Being in the top 3 or 4 of the CTC currently means absolutely nothing to me as I don't believe Dwayne's times and for me being in a team is all about caring and having a sense of belonging with a group of like minded people. I don't like the fact that people on the UK site who I know, respect and race against are again sniggering about my team because of Dwayne's latest 10k time.

I am going to remove my time from this month's CTC as I feel Dwayne's time taints the "boat" and I no longer want to be part of it (I do this as a symbolic gesture rather than a dramatic one).

I erg because I like the fact that I can go and compete with others at races - competition makes me feel alive. I like the feeling on race morning of "why am I putting myself through this". For me erging is about "not hiding", it's about having the guts to get on the damned machine knowing full well it cannot be beaten, but still giving it everything. Dwayne obviously doesn't feel the same and as such I would always have a problem with him as a team mate because in my opinion he is at best hiding or at worst blatantly lying - neither of which are characteristics I would accept in team mates.

As far as I'm concerned from this point onwards Taff Attack is dead........long live Taff Attack Racing.

Paul,

Well said and it pains me to admit it but I have to agree with you.
I wish I could believe all of Dwaynes times but have found it increasingly difficult to rationalise the performances he achieves.

I have pondered this for a few weeks now and then thought 'What would I do if I was in a team with somone I thought was using performance enhancing drugs?' I realised I couldn't be in the same team. So what is the difference between that and the doubt I have about the honesty of his times? In each case they are cheating themselves and letting others down.

I am therefore jumping ship with you.

Apologies to all other TA team members who may feel let down by this situation but I trust you can appreciate the reasons.

Phil

Spectre · Post by **Spectre** » April 19th, 2006, 5:06 pm

PhilT wrote:
Paul B wrote:I am sorry to raise the issue of Dwayne's times again but his new 10k time in this months CTC has left me in total disbelief and once again he has just gone top of the leader board with his last attempt for the month.

I believe there are times when you have to stand up and be counted and be prepared to say difficult things and I think the time has come for me tomake my feelings known - please don't "hang me" for them and I am not interested in debating them - these are simply my views.

I could try and dress up what I am going to say so as to avoid having to question someone's honesty, but I won't as that would be the easy way out. So here goes...I don't believe Dwayne's times and feel that he is tainting the team and therefore I will be moving to the new Taff Attack Racing team.

Being in the top 3 or 4 of the CTC currently means absolutely nothing to me as I don't believe Dwayne's times and for me being in a team is all about caring and having a sense of belonging with a group of like minded people. I don't like the fact that people on the UK site who I know, respect and race against are again sniggering about my team because of Dwayne's latest 10k time.

I am going to remove my time from this month's CTC as I feel Dwayne's time taints the "boat" and I no longer want to be part of it (I do this as a symbolic gesture rather than a dramatic one).

I erg because I like the fact that I can go and compete with others at races - competition makes me feel alive. I like the feeling on race morning of "why am I putting myself through this". For me erging is about "not hiding", it's about having the guts to get on the damned machine knowing full well it cannot be beaten, but still giving it everything. Dwayne obviously doesn't feel the same and as such I would always have a problem with him as a team mate because in my opinion he is at best hiding or at worst blatantly lying - neither of which are characteristics I would accept in team mates.

As far as I'm concerned from this point onwards Taff Attack is dead........long live Taff Attack Racing.
Paul,

Well said and it pains me to admit it but I have to agree with you.
I wish I could believe all of Dwaynes times but have found it increasingly difficult to rationalise the performances he achieves.

I have pondered this for a few weeks now and then thought 'What would I do if I was in a team with somone I thought was using performance enhancing drugs?' I realised I couldn't be in the same team. So what is the difference between that and the doubt I have about the honesty of his times? In each case they are cheating themselves and letting others down.

I am therefore jumping ship with you.

Apologies to all other TA team members who may feel let down by this situation but I trust you can appreciate the reasons.

Phil

This issue has been heavy on my mind also. I have not been the most active member of Taff Attack but I am proud to say that I have raced as a Taff. The TA got me back into rowing and I would have never wound up racing at an indoor regatta without the support and motivation this team has given me. I dont know that Dwayne is faking his scores, however I would have thought that for the sake of the team Dwayne would have done something to prevent all this collateral damage. I have joined a local rowing club and have decided to get back into water rowing after many years away from the sport. I now spend most of my time on the water and would be expected to row for my club in any future indoor events. So I too will be leaving Taff Attack. I will still be supportive of both TAs and TARs and cheer your achivements. Thanks again for all the fun.

mumbles · Post by **mumbles** » April 19th, 2006, 5:10 pm

After much deliberation i wish to tell you all that I will join TAR, at the end of this season, which is in like two weeks? Start afresh and all that

My reasons for joining are as follows;

*Most of the people from the old team whom i like and respect are joining the new team.
*I always felt that a Welsh team should be a little more Welsh
*For me, much like Paul B, Dwaynes latest 10k time was the last straw, i still say innocent until proven guilty but find it ridiculous that the guy has the cheek to post times a minute and more faster with in about a week and then refuses to race.
*I feel that the people in the team at the moment will uphold the Welsh code of honour; integrity, honesty and ard as nails
*I greatly look foreward to a TAR event, in the homeland of course

This decision for me much like others has not been easy and at one point i gave serious consideration to quitting the forum alltogether. Sorry it has come to this and to anyone who feels that i have let them down, but ifeel that Taff Attack Racing is a step in the right direction and i want to be part of it.

Owen

Citroen · Post by **Citroen** » April 19th, 2006, 5:50 pm

mumbles wrote:*Most of the people from the old team whom i like and respect are joining the new team.

Are you sure?

It looks like I'll be joining SUB-7 for 2006/7.

seat5 · Post by **seat5** » April 20th, 2006, 12:16 am

FOR THE RECORD

I row on slides. They are better for my back. Since I got the slides I have had a whole year without any catastrophic back incidents. I've had a few tough days but no weeks in a back brace, or inability to walk properly, tie my own shoes, or sit any way but bolt upright. That is why I use slides for virtually all my rowing. Anyone who has suffered the agony of crippling lower back failure can understand that I'd do about anything to avoid it ever happening again.

There have been only a few times when I have neglected to say, when posting about a row that it was ON SLIDES. I have been especially careful since being accused of hiding it which has never been the case. Every piece I have rowed on slides and ranked says so in the ranking. You have to view it to check. That's not my fault--I didn't set it up that way, C2 did.

Secondly, since getting the PM3 I have verified every single ranking or Nonathlon row. The only one I have not verified is my very poor 2K, which I have NOT ranked, only put in Nonathlon, as it was the beginning of of a longer row--either a 6K or a 5K, I can't remember which. Not only that, but if I post about a row, I usually include all the split information as well.

Next year I will be racing at Crash B. I will of course have to row that off slides and will do enough on a standard erg to be used to it, if I can, without ruining my back again. I am petrified of competition and most likely will not perform very well, so I am sure that will give anyone who wants to license to accuse me of finding a relay team for every distance row I've ranked. So be it.

I HIGHLY RESENT your insinuations, Chad. I don't know what makes you think you have the right to behave the way you do. Just because I refuse to cave in to the very strong pressure right now to join in with everyone who disbelieves Dwayne's times does NOT mean I have ever in ANY way posted anything remotely dishonest on this forum. Maybe I have my head in the sand (better than where some of us keep them), and I'm naive or just plain stupid--but it does NOT make me a liar and a cheat. YOU OWE ME AN APOLOGY.

No hard feelings to anyone that is jumping ship--I am totally paralyzed by this rift and have no idea what to do at this point. I would like to believe the best of everyone but it is getting harder and harder to do....