Australian Masters Rowing Championships
May 28 - 31: Four perfect water days prevailed for the championships at SIRC. It was a pleasure to be involved in a regatta where the country's top masters rowers were in action - our very own Les being one of them. Les won two gold medals in the I/J quad scull and coxless four. Doug and Rowena collected bronze in the mixed double. Despite the quality opposition, this regatta was the club's best in recent history due to the five boats that progressed beyond heats. Andrew and Doug made it comfortably to the next round of the singles. And they combined to reach the final of a hotly contested D double scull which provided a tight finish. Similarly, Steve and Richard qualified for the semi-finals in their E double scull. All four boys then did the club proud on the last day of the titles by firstly qualifying for the final of the E quad and then finishing a highly respectable 5th against crack opposition in the slick time of 3min 24.28sec. The women's F8 (with two Endeavour rowers) clocked their best time of 4min 6.44sec this season. The speedy time of 3min37.34sec for the mixed quad of Andrew, Doug, Marcela and Rowena didn't quite cut it to medal status, giving them a close 4th. All in all it was a very enjoyable four days of racing with shopping, socialising and coffee cart action taking out gold!
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NSW State Championship
16th/17th May: Nerves, hot coffee and long pants kept everyone moving through the crisp morning air of the State Championships. But the action warmed people up and there were plenty of pleasing results scattered across the weekend. Overall ten boats got through their heats to contest finals. Trusty Les with his Ancient Mariners led the medal tally with gold in the I4- and silver in the I4x. Andrew and Doug raced hard and fast to take bronze in a blanket finish for the minor placings in the D2x. Lil, Sue, Rowena and Petra collected third place in their F4-; the third consecutive year the club has won a medal in this event. Although these were the only podium finishes, a sprinkling of crews got pretty darn close! Andrew, Doug, Steve, Richard, Terry and Mark all qualified for their age singles finals after strong heat performances. Also advancing to finals were the crew boats of: Marcela and Rowena in the D2x; Enza, Sue, Lillian and Petra in the F4x; and Andrew, Doug, Richard and Steve in the D4x. Highlights from the crews that were straight finalists included: a strong fourth from the women's F8+ (Enza, Petra, Sue, Marcela, Lil, Audrey, Judith and Judy); a similar placing for the men's F4x (Doug, Richard, Steve and Mark); and a second for the mixed D4x (Andrew, Doug, Marcela and Rowena).
Our customary end of regatta season drink after boat unloading was passed up and a rain-check taken for after the Nationals. Until then..... |
Iron Cove Masters
Saturday 2 May: Andrew spearheaded another successful regatta for the club with wins in his single and the double with Doug. Overall the club recorded 3 firsts, 6 seconds and 5 thirds. There were a few very close contests where first and second places were lost by a whisker. The solid results lifted the club into 4th place on the NSW Rowing Masters competition . Considering we have never finished better than 9th in the last 8 years, we should be very proud. Of course, the State Regatta is yet to come....... Good luck everyone.
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Drummoyne Masters
Sunday 19th April: Terry's personal triumph in his single came at the end of a memorable day, which also began in style with Andrew toppling the reigning State Masters champion in the opening race of the program. At the end of a blustery regatta on Iron Cove, Terry was forced to sit on the start line - jostled by considerable wind chop - for a mammoth 88 seconds before his inspired chase began. Upon his return to the pontoon, Terry's grin seemed all the sweeter with that maiden medal around his neck. In between the singles' victories: Andrew and Doug won their double; and Andrew, Doug, Marcela and Rowena scared off all opposition to claim a row-over in the mixed quad. Andrew almost bagged a fourth medal after a close second in the quad with Doug, Richard and Steve. That was one of eight second placings the club enjoyed - Steve, Richard and Janine in singles; Petra and Enza in a pair, Petra and Audrey in a double; and Rowena and Doug and Audrey and Steve in mixed doubles. Sydney Women's also claimed six third placings before heading back to the shed where Terry broke out the cheezels and Moet.
Scroll mouse over below pictures for captions.
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Well done, Terry!
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Edward Trickett Regatta- NSW Grade Championships
Saturday 11th April: With perfect weather conditions at SIRC, Andrew was the club's only competitor at the Trickett Regatta. He gave a strong display winning his heat in the Men's C single. In the final, the scoreboard recorded a close bunch finish. Andrew was tight with the leaders and although he registered in 6th place, the time differences were neck and neck. Well done, Andrew!
Drummoyne Grade Regatta
Sunday 15th March: With one eye on the weather, most rowers were glad the singles races were early in the program. However, lining up at the start proved increasingly difficult as the morning progressed. Once underway, many boats were blown off course. Conditions continued to deteriorate and after a scheduled break, action never resumed. While the Leichhardt end of the course was relatively sheltered, the wind was whipping up waves of such force that they prevented rowers launching their boats from the Drummoyne pontoon.
Sadly Jane missed a row altogether but the club recorded some great results on the reduced program. Rowena and Andrew won their singles as well as Richard in his novice single. Steve and Ed grabbed seconds while Doug was officially placed second despite having two rowers finish in front of him. Curious? Wind and navigation issues hampered Marcela and Suzie but they both recorded thirds. The women’s eight, coxed by Daniela, was awarded fourth in a full field. There was much disappointment for the early finish but, as they say, safety never takes a holiday. |
Sydney Rowing Club Regatta
Saturday 28th February: Fine and sometimes hot conditions with an annoying cross wind in the afternoon at SIRC had the rowers in the grandstand for much of the day. This prestigious regatta offered restricted options with only big boat racing for our club members. The women’s eight as usual were up for the challenge and buoyed, and that term is used very loosely, by the return of our boat captain who made a mercy dash from Sydney airport to be our coxswain late in the day. Overall mixed results but Les, recently returned from a layoff, had a very successful Sydney Regatta, taking out two second places in composite crews. His Ancient Mariners 8 has proved itself over and over again as a boat to be reckonded with.
The newly delivered Miss Battersea had her maiden voyage and despite the result on the board, the crew were well satisfied with both the boat and their time. The men’s quad improved their showing in their second outing while unfortunately the women’s four managed to travel across several lanes in their effort to reach the finish line.
Reporter: Sue.
The newly delivered Miss Battersea had her maiden voyage and despite the result on the board, the crew were well satisfied with both the boat and their time. The men’s quad improved their showing in their second outing while unfortunately the women’s four managed to travel across several lanes in their effort to reach the finish line.
Reporter: Sue.
Leichhardt Grade Regatta
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Prefect water early in the day didn't last until the afternoon at Leichhardt's Grade Regatta on Sunday 22nd February. Mirror glass conditions greeted Ed and Richard as they contested different divisions of the men's novice singles. Ed was a clear second and Richard was a controlled third.
Steve also relished the conditions and clearly won his singles race in his ever favourite, Lorna. In the other men's singles, Doug took second in a compact finish and Andrew was squeezed out of the top spots to come third in a thrilling race. Terry and Charlie navigated well in their singles but couldn't out-muscle their talented teenage opponents. Rowena matched Steve's medal in her singles and Janine rowed a smart race to finish second. Curiously, the result sheets say Suzie did not start...here's news...she did! Don't know where the umpires were looking!
As the wind picked up, our rowers met with more success. Janine and Rowena won their pairs against more historically successful crews. And the boys' quad - Andrew, Doug, Ed and Steve - won emphatically giving Steve another round shiny thing but ensuring Ed lost his novice status. And Neil chimed into the other men's quad with Charlie, Terry and Richard for a quality row.
In deteriorating, blustery conditions, where capsized boats became the order of the afternoon, Judy and Judi battled the elements in their double. As did the men's combinations with Andrew and Doug, and Steve and Richard, keeping composure in the waves to take out seconds in their respective divisions.
At the end of the day Steve and Janine treated us to champagne and beers in the fig-tree shade at Battersea Park. All pretty content with the day's efforts.
Steve also relished the conditions and clearly won his singles race in his ever favourite, Lorna. In the other men's singles, Doug took second in a compact finish and Andrew was squeezed out of the top spots to come third in a thrilling race. Terry and Charlie navigated well in their singles but couldn't out-muscle their talented teenage opponents. Rowena matched Steve's medal in her singles and Janine rowed a smart race to finish second. Curiously, the result sheets say Suzie did not start...here's news...she did! Don't know where the umpires were looking!
As the wind picked up, our rowers met with more success. Janine and Rowena won their pairs against more historically successful crews. And the boys' quad - Andrew, Doug, Ed and Steve - won emphatically giving Steve another round shiny thing but ensuring Ed lost his novice status. And Neil chimed into the other men's quad with Charlie, Terry and Richard for a quality row.
In deteriorating, blustery conditions, where capsized boats became the order of the afternoon, Judy and Judi battled the elements in their double. As did the men's combinations with Andrew and Doug, and Steve and Richard, keeping composure in the waves to take out seconds in their respective divisions.
At the end of the day Steve and Janine treated us to champagne and beers in the fig-tree shade at Battersea Park. All pretty content with the day's efforts.
Riverview Gold Cup
The women’s eight decided to give the Gold Cup race a go on Saturday the 21st of February.
Racing was hot and humid but our fabulous coxswain/coach Danny steered us to glory. Our best start of the season saw us neck and neck with the highly fancied crew from Sydney University but smartly out in front of the Leichhardt crew, all on go. We extended that lead over the Leichhardt crew and maintained it over the distance. The C grade crew from Old Ignatians scored a 30 sec handicap, that was 1 second for each year difference! At the turning buoy some of the crew were amazed we were already there and others were hanging out for the call. At the turn Danny spurred us on and we made the last few hundred metres fly. A good tactical and confident race from Danny and fabulous effort from the crew. It was satisfying to keep the following crews in our sights and keep our position of second across the line. Many thanks to Danny and Charlie for their work in the great TOW OVER, to Janine for agreeing to row to make up the eight, and congratulations to Judy who has just completed her first ever race in Sydney and with Sydney Women’s. Reporter: Sue |
Balmain Grade Regatta
Perfect water and a picnic position near the Leichhardt Rowing Shed on Sunday 8th February set us up for a wedding day. While none of us turned out to be the bride or groom we all got very close. Overall everyone recorded at least one third place - surely a record Neil? Before the day ended, our club grabbed nine thirds. But that wasn't the best of it!
Sometimes the bridesmaid has more fun than the leading couple and Richard, in his first race - and in the stroke seat - drove his double (with Steve) into second place in a slick time. Ed brought some youthful energy to the club combining with Doug (dad) for - you guessed it - third in their hotly contested heat. Well done Richard and Ed - happy to have you on board!
While the regatta was a relatively small club gathering, there were plenty of quality - young, fit and able - crews in the competition. St George and Leichhardt dominated the numbers game.
With temperatures reaching the mid 30s, it was good to finish boat loading and head home to relax our happy but heat-zapped bodies.
Sometimes the bridesmaid has more fun than the leading couple and Richard, in his first race - and in the stroke seat - drove his double (with Steve) into second place in a slick time. Ed brought some youthful energy to the club combining with Doug (dad) for - you guessed it - third in their hotly contested heat. Well done Richard and Ed - happy to have you on board!
While the regatta was a relatively small club gathering, there were plenty of quality - young, fit and able - crews in the competition. St George and Leichhardt dominated the numbers game.
With temperatures reaching the mid 30s, it was good to finish boat loading and head home to relax our happy but heat-zapped bodies.
RNSW Small Boats Regatta
Unfortunately the original report has been sucked into the internet vacuum and lost forever. Briefly, Andrew and Doug had and excellent regatta at SIRC on the 31st January. Andrew place first in his single in a blistering time. Doug and Andrew rowed an excellent race to come second in a hot field in their double. And Doug took out second in his single.
Taree Summer regatta
Rowers from NSW and beyond flocked to Taree on the 9th, 10th and 11th January 2015. Our trailer arrived stacked with boats, bits and BBQs. The usual blustery conditions welcomed us on to the water on Friday for the grade doubles and mixed quads. Janine and Rowena won their double, holding off a Mosman crew that were snapping at their heals in the last 200 metres. A bout of food poisoning had four of us feeling a bit wobbly on Saturday morning. No amount of detective work could isolate the cause. Fortunately, the four had recovered enough to have at least one row on Saturday. Steve and Doug comfortably won their masters double on Saturday afternoon after both finishing third in their masters singles. Janine, Jane, Petra and Rowena also came third in their women's masters quad. Difficult conditions and tide changes made for tough going in the afternoon. On Sunday, cloudy cooler weather was a welcome change. Janine came third in her single, second in the pair with Rowena and they combined to win their master's double to round off a successful and enjoyable sojourn up the coast. Neil's cocktail bar was again a highlight!
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Reindeer Regatta
Wet weather set in to ruin the tail end of the competition at the Reindeer Regatta on Saturday 6 December but not before many crews had a row against some very stiff competition. Andrew and Steve did well to secure third place in their double early in the day. Janine and Rowena came second in their double and had pbs in their single races (Yeah!). Rowing at SIRC gives many of us inspiration to work on something for the next time we head out to the Olympic venue.
NSW Sprint Championships
As our lone representative, Andrew fronted up the next day to the NSW Sprint Champs and dashed off a blistering 1.49.87 (over 500m) to come second to St George's Steven Harrison (1.47.31) in the Men's Masters Single Scull. Well done, Andrew!
Head of the Yarra
Club first – Women's eight competes in Head of the Yarra 2014
It started with chatter over coffee. Sue and Judi took the initiative and co-opted Danny for the coaching role and Sue became the driving force in co-ordinating efforts. Danny took what may be described as a novice crew and over the weeks patiently coached and coaxed the crew into shape. Steve’s Sunday effort ensured a properly rigged boat for Melbourne and Ollie gave up two Saturdays to provide some intensive coaching from the cox seat in the Iron Cove classics. Enza sorted the Melbourne accommodation and a Sardinian dinner. Who else could arrange such a feast. Somehow it came together in Melbourne, including the weather. Stung by Mike and Charlie’s criticism of their slow starts, the crew responded by flying off the line. All river bends, including the notorious ‘Big Bend’, were negotiated by cox Danny without loss of oars, limbs or rowers. The crew finished in strong form beating some crews in their division and as Steve noted finished in the top 200. Mention should be made of roadie Charlie who shuffled equipment between the start and finish. Whatever you do, do not mention the cox box! Michael picked up a row with the Alan Mitchell Club. They share a shed with Wesley College. Must be a poor school as they only had 15 eights in their shed! The crew were very hospitable with beer supplied after the Friday training row and the race. A great time was had by all in a remarkable event – 220 eights racing over a four and a half hour period. |
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Spring Regatta
Saturday 18 October: This time last year fires circled SIRC and Elvis and his chopper mates whirled and swirled in and out of the walls of smoke surrounding us, swooping to collect water from between the legs of scullers. This year was less dramatic; the weather was perfect.
Carloyn started the club's day with an impressive win in her division of the D single. And Andrew and Doug finished the regatta with their best time in adouble at SIRC but had to be satisfied with second place. In between there were a number of notable efforts against full fields of young whipper-snappers. Jane celebrated her first regatta as a competitor by finishing third with Suzie in their double. Audrey, who was returning to competition ranks, opted for a more scenic route with Petra in the sometimes flighty Miss Parramatta, which also floated Mike and Steve in their inaugural pairs' assault. Carolyn and Marcela combined for a second in their double; Enza steered the boys (Andrew, Doug, Denis and Mike) on a gun-barrel straight course in their 4+ against some opposition who could have been body doubles in a Terminator movie; Andrew cracked the whip to good effect over the ladies' 8+; Steve, Doug and Andrew all had lane 9 and all came third in solid times in their divisions of the single; and Marcela and Petra recorded cracking singles' times although Marcela suggested a timing malfunction may have flattered their efforts. Not only that, the coffee was hot and the iceblocks were cold. Tired but content we trudged wearily home, vowing to return another day. |
North Shore Head - Time Trial
Saturday 4 October: As an acrid smell filled the driving cabin of the club ute, Terry realised his double with Charlie on the Lane Cove River was looking very doubtful. Indeed, all three doubles entered in the 4.5km North Shore Head time trial had to withdraw due to the transport issue. The singles were reloaded onto cars and found their way to the Burns Bay boat ramp in plenty of time for the trial.
Our four scullers (Rowena, Steve, Andrew and Doug) were greeted by a beautiful river setting, flat conditions and a perfect temperature. Winding down the tight bends of the Lane Cove River, the scullers were helped to ease past navigation poles and sandbanks by the outgoing tide. But once through the Fig Tree Bridge the nor-easter provided a gentle but unwelcome headwind and a slight chop. Tight times were the order of the day and handicap adjustments made for interesting results at the North Shore rowing shed after the event. Steve had a fantastic row in Lorna to take out 3rd in the master's singles. Andrew, Doug and Rowena enjoyed good positional places. We all loaded up for the return to our boat shed. But not before an interested local at the Burns Bay boat ramp remarked that he'd never seen these types of kayaks at the boat ramp before. He was pleased with our explanation. Our morning had combined exercise and education. |
Nepean Rowing Club Regatta
Saturday 27 September: With many World Masters Regatta rowers on the start sheets it looked like a tough day of racing was ahead. However, we had a great day of racing with every competitor placing in one or more races, creating a solid number of championship points for the club.
Doug had an epic battle with Glebe's Mark McKeown to win gold by a whisker in his division of the masters' singles. This seemed like poetic justice as the men's quad (Andrew, Doug, Mark and Steve) was beaten by Glebe's bow ball to miss out on a place earlier in the day. Andrew rowed a stunning 3:48 in a crack field to come second to Toowong's Andrew Goldstein. Andrew was one of six of our boats to finish second. The others were: the men's (Andrew, Doug, Mark & Mike) and women's fours (Janine, Rowena, Lillian & Judi); the women's quad (Rowena, Marcela, Rosemary & Judith); the men's grade quad (Mark, Mike, Terry, Charlie) and Steve and Mike in their double. The club also picked up championship points with thirds to: doubles (Terry & Charlie, Rosemary & Judith); Steve in his single and Rowena and Janine in their pair. It was also a good day for 'firsts'. Both Marcela and Charlie stocked up on bravery to race a single for the first time and Janine and Rowena had their first hit out in the pair. While caution, survival and respectability were uppermost in these crews minds, they all reached the end without incident and shall now take on the w....... (perhaps not just yet). |
Henley on Hunter
On Sunday 14 September, a pleasant day was spent at the Endeavour Club's Henley on Hunter regatta. The social rowing events bagged Sydney Women's 4 medals. Mike's crews, in both the 8 and the quad, won. Petra joined Mike in the winning 8 and Rowena rowed with an all Endeavour crew to take out first place in the women's quad.
In the NSW Rowing double points races, Doug, in a full field of competitors, attempted to chase down Manning River's Ray Halliday but couldn't quite bridge the gap, coming a clear second in his single. Petra had a tight race to beat Lake Macquarie rower, Gaye Pullin, to come second in her single. Both the men and the women's quads came third. And Doug and Terry took out a comfortable third in their doubles race. |