Author: president

Good grief! As if 2020 was not crazy enough…it was at least simple in comparison everything was cancelled! But in 2021 the shadow of Covid lingers and it certainly impacted
the Victorian masters rowing community once again…

Preparing for the nationals masters championships…firstly, we all know how well prepared
Kate and Michelle were, having rowed a magnificent race in Tassie to achieve fourth place in the National Championship Club 2x. Together with Zoe, Karen and myself this small
contingent from Dario’s squad had been training hard with eyes on the 1x, 2x, B and C 4x
and 4+ national masters titles (It’s all about thinking big!). From Stu’s squad Sarah and
Christine planned to race in their successful C2x as well as the LW1x and various colourful
composite crews, and Phil and Leigh were set to join the fun for weekend events. But
another crazy masters season saw regattas cancelled (Ballarat), moved (Carrum, due to blue green algae), cancelled Albert Park, (due to sewage leak)… leaving the Vics somewhat
underdone in terms of race preparation…in addition, the nationals regatta itself was
relocated to Adelaide after flooding left the Penrith course unsafe. Maybe this sounds like a
minor thing but those of us who competed at nationals in Adelaide in 2014 still bear the
scars…the memories…wind, hail, freezing cold days, huge waves…just the mention of
Westlakes sent the heart racing and the muscles shivering.

Despite this our hopes were high. Training in different boats meant 6-7 on water sessions
per week, with ergs, weight and yoga thrown in. Covid remained quiet- until Tuesday May
25…that evening masks became compulsory and the Covid lockdown threat loomed
large…together with the tendency of the SA premier to rapidly shut the border to its hapless neighbour… Wednesday was an incredibly stressful day as messages flew around (are you on a plane? Has the trailer crossed the border? Will we make it? Did you escape in time??). In addition to our RRC crews, Michelle and I were representing Victoria in the interstate eight and anxiously we watched as one by one crew members brought flights forward, the boat trailer crossed the SA border and rowers presented for Covid tests. By this time Covid testing on arrival (and on d5) and isolation until test results were available was mandatory rowers were not allowed on to the course until a negative Covid test was confirmed. The rules were at times unclear, and some clubs cancelled flights altogether, thinking that they would have to isolate for 5 days. For Richmond it was true sporting tragedy when Kate and Zoe were unable to cross the border before it closed…Michelle brought her flight forward and was one of the last to escape (!). Karen and I arrived earlier Wednesday, and Ainsley crossed the border by car. Sarah and Christine arrived Wednesday evening, before the border closed but not in time to return a negative Covid rest in order to make it to their C2x heat early on Thursday morning. Leigh and Phil remained trapped in Victoria. And so Victorian clubs became a kind of squad, with subs here and there, but with many rowers missing events on day 1. But we stayed positive, while happily testing negative.

Fortunately, the Banks gentlemen received test results at lunchtime and were able to
compete in the mixed quad with Ainsley and myself, bringing home a gold medal! On Day 2
the C4+ – missing Kate but with our good friend Linda Skidmore as a sub – still had a fabulous race where the first three boats finished within a second. Sarah switched with Christine to cox this race and we finished in bronze medal place. In the afternoon, Sarah and Christine achieved a handy fourth final place in their composite A4x crew. Meanwhile Michelle and I brought home a championship gold medal in the E4x and I teamed up with my old friends from ERC in a mixed 4x where we came second to a crew containing two Olympians. Here is the joy of masters racing: a chance to race against (and sometimes with!) Olympians (noteone who has been to the Olympics is forever an Olympian- never an ex). What fun!

Competition was ferocious. On day 3 Christine and Sarah were able to sub in for Kate and
Michelle in the B2x, which made up a little for them missing their favoured C2x. Meanwhile,
my long time 2x partner Jen and I had one of our best ever rows to win the F2x. Later that
morning Michelle stroked a C-age 8 which comprised most of the Vic crew, with Karen in a
rival composite boat. Our bronze medal behind two Queensland crews illustrated the Qld
dominance in women’s eights- ultimately almost all age female eights were won by
Queensland crews. And so, later that day the Vic eight rowed in the interstate race, stroked
by Michelle and, even with a 9- second PB were outclassed by Queensland. What a great
race it was, and in perfect weather conditions. That afternoon also saw Sarah row in the
LWA1x: lightweight 1x is a new event at Nationals and Sarah held off the Mosman sculler to
lead all the way and take out the championship gold medal. A great day!

Day 4 saw our blue-ribbon events: in the morning the B4x went ahead with Jess from the
(also depleted) Carrum squad subbing, together with our good friend Alex Whelan, the one
and only female rower from WA in Adelaide, who was luckily available for both B and C
quads. With Sarah in a rival composite B quad RRC were out in force. After a dominant
display at states the original RRC crew was certainly the favourite, and to their credit
Michelle and Karen overcame the disappointment at missing Kate and Zoe and gave a
winning performance in very windy conditions to take the championship gold medal. The
final afternoon saw Sarah and Christine achieve a great performance in a composite D eight, while in another cracker final, the RRC/ANA C4x crew took the bronze medal.

Our thanks to Dario and Will for the wonderful coaching and encouragement. Well done to
Stu whose squad was represented well. And it was wonderful to hear good wishes from club members, so thanks to those who took an interest! It’s truly great be out competing again and we were blessed with excellent conditions- a fortunate comparison to 2014. But the best events are those you have trained for together and pursued a goal. To be so well
prepared and not get the chance to race is really gut wrenching. So- stay positive. Test
negative. Get vaccinated. Masters National Championship regatta Perth 2022. Be there.

For most Richmond rowers the Victorian State Masters Championships for 2021 marks the end of a strange season with memories of lockdowns, zoom training sessions, regattas without spectators and cancellations for many reasons. But the State Masters Championship was a chance to put that behind us and focus on the opportunity to end the season on a high.

We were blessed with great conditions at Nagambie for the weekend with plenty of Richmond members competing from our full trailer. With plenty of on water action Richmond was well represented with strong performances throughout. Well done to everyone who competed, we had great success on the day including:

Gold

Female AB Single – Kate Dyball

Female AB Double – Michelle Joy and Kate Dyball

Female Club Coxless Quad – Karen Doggett, Zoe Maxwell, Michelle Joy and Kate Dyball

Female AB Coxless Quad – Karen Doggett, Zoe Maxwell, Michelle Joy and Kate Dyball

Male AB Coxed Four – Jon Roberts, Allan Randall, John Carey, Dennis Beck, Cox: Stefanie Dudczig

Male AB Pair – Jon Roberts and Allan Randall

Female C Coxless Quad – Karen Doggett, Geraldine Goss, Michelle Joy, Kate Dyball

Female F Double – Geraldine Goss and Jennifer Bingham (MUBC)

Silver

Male AB Coxed Four –Philip Munson, Tim Evans, George Frederiksen, Leigh Sullivan, Cox: Christine Sullivan

Female Club Coxed Four – Karen Doggett, Geraldine Goss, Michelle Joy, Kate Dyball, Cox: Teesaan Koo,

Female E Double – Geraldine Goss and Bea Klein-van Mullekom (Melbourne)

Female AB Coxless Quad – Jennifer Bingham (MUBC), Zoe Ryan (Melbourne), Geraldine Goss, Pamela Whiting (MUBC)

Bronze

Female C Double – Geraldine Goss and Ainsley Raggatt (Banks)

Mixed D Double – Geraldine Goss and Tim Juzefowicz (Essendon)

Welcome to Richmond’s newest member Elaine Miles who competed strongly on the day in Richmond crews and also picked up a gold for coxing Powerhouse/Yarra Yarra crew in the Male E Four.

Good luck to those Richmond members competing at National Masters in 2 weeks’ time in South Australia, representing Richmond and Victoria!!

It was wonderful to see so many current members, old members and guests at our quiz night last weekend. The 2020 quiz night was unfortunately cancelled as COVID-19 impacted the country, so being able to get together this year was even better.

As you would all know as a volunteer run, community based club we are dependent on fundraising to support our ongoing operation to strengthen our fleet and provide coaching to our members. The quiz night is an important part of this as one of our biggest fundraising avenues.

Thank you to all those present, the volunteers who set up and cleaned up, the bar staff, those who generously donated auction prizes and those who bought them. Thank you to Derek Begg as our auctioneer on the night and Justin Thomas for writing the quiz questions. A massive thank you to Amy Catlin for organising the night and being our magical quizmaster for the evening.

Congratulations to our winning team on the night “Gently down the stream” comprising of Imogen, Lachlan, Charlotte, Rosie, Laura, Lachie and Ally who took out a closely fought contest.

The Clubs Safety Management Plan is an important document and all members should be aware of its contents. The safety management plan covers our on water activities, covering:

• The assessment and reduction of risks related to our on water activities
• Member Responsibilities
• Safety Resources
• Information about the safe use of boats and equipment including a checklist covering safe working condition of equipment prior to rowing
• Incident reporting
• Competency of those involved in rowing

Please review the document and be aware of it’s contents, I would like to highlight the following as reminders:

• Consider the risk assessment board at the front of the club prior to any outing to assess the conditions. Ensure you know the waterway rules (included on the local waterways plan) and sign out of the shed on the sheet. If conditions are not safe or beyond your capabilities do not proceed.
• Be aware of the safety resources at the club and their location including safety aids/rescue and defibrillator (beneath the sweep oars), first aid kits (gym), emergency services information etc
• Check the boat and equipment before every outing including the bow ball is securely fixed, seals/bungs are secure for buoyancy, heel restraints are secure, steering is in good working order, riggers, gates etc. are working appropriately and oars are appropriately set within gates.
• Lights must be used in poor visibility, take into account your planned on water time not just conditions when you launch
• Consider your competency before any session, including physical/medical considerations, ability of participates and coxswains for the conditions and the boat you plan to launch in. If unsure, do not proceed.
• Every rower is required to complete a safety theory assessment and swim test on joining. In addition the Rowing Victoria coxswains accreditation must be achieved in advance of rowing a single or coxing a boat/steering a coxless boat from bow seat.
• Any incidents must be reported immediately. Should an incident occur you should return to the shed as damage may have occurred to the boat you are not aware of which could impact the crews safety. Reporting should be via http://3.25.77.84/incident
• There is increased boat traffic on the Yarra, be aware of this at the time of your row and frequently consider the boat traffic around you to reduce the risk of incidents. Be considerate of other river users and do not undertake higher risk activities eg turning close to bridges, race pieces when the river is very busy/there are a high number of inexperienced crews or motor boats.
• Based on Captains instructions:
  • No RRC crews are permitted 50 metres beyond the downstream drip line of the Bolte Bridge into the Port of Melbourne Area as we do not have the required equipment to meet the Harbour Masters Directions.
  • RRC crews may turn under the Bolte Bridge and enter Victoria Harbour:
    • • as long as it is safe to do so.
    • • provided they are within 50 metres of the downstream drip line of the Bolte Bridge.