Rowing Victoria have come up with a great plan to run a Victorian Sprint Series during the 2009-10 regatta season.
The series run over three seperate regattas, will feature eights and fours over the Rutherglen weekend, quads at Henley on the Murry and Single Scull at the Footsray.
The category of races will be male and female A Grade and medals will be awarded to the winning crew at each regatta.
The club that accumulates the most points for each event for each event is awarded the Victorian Sprint Series Premiership. Points are based on participation and crews get bonus points winning or placing in each final at each regatta.
It will no doubt make for some interesting racing during the part of next year.
Richmond finds the going tough at Head of the Yarra
Head of the Yarra has lived up to its reputation as being one of the most competitive races on the rowing calendar and despite all our crews competing well, Richmond found the going tough in this year’s race.
The best result the club achieved in this year’s race was a third place by the Women’s D Eight stroked by Laura Schouten who finished the 8.6km race in a respectable time of 36 min 37 sec, 1 min 11 sec behind winner Yarra Yarra.
In possibly the most competitive division of this year’s race, the Richmond Women’s C Eight, stroked by Frances Crotty finished fourth in a time of 34 min 12 sec, 28 seconds adrift of first placed crew Powerhouse.
A mere 43 seconds was all that separated the first five places in this division making for some exciting duels on the winding Yarra River course.
The Mixed Masters D crew, stroked by Sally Allen finished 15th out of a field of 19 starters in an adjusted time of 36 min 30 sec in their first ever Head of The Yarra. The crew, coached by Head of Rowing Nicole Stupka, were extremely pleased with their preparation and their row. Four seat Julie Hope was quoted as saying that she was glad the race was over and was very pleased to have completed such a gruelling race.
The men’s eight, stroked by Tim Foster rowed gallantly in the Men’s B Division to finish last in a field of six crews recording a time of 31 min 1 sec, 3 min 40 sec behind winner Melbourne University (27 min 21 sec).
The men’s crew, originally entered as a C Division crew, were a bit unfortunate as they had to compete in a higher division in this year’s race due to having to work around a clash in the program with the Richmond mixed master’s crew.
The time recorded by the men’s crew would have placed them equal forth (with Melbourne) in the C Division eights behind Melbourne University (27 min 29 sec), Torrens (SA) and Mercantile. The men’s eight coach and crew were extremely pleased with the result, as it demonstrates the crew is on track against their peers heading into the second half of the season.
Melbourne University again dominated this year’s event with the Melbourne University Open eight winning the much heralded University Challenge against interstate challengers Sydney and Queensland University’s. Melbourne University crews also won all of the men’s club divisions in fine style with their B and C division men’s crews recording the fifth and sixth overall fastest times for the regatta.
After the race, the Richmond tradition of donning outrageous costumes continued with the women’s crew resplendent in their fluro feather scarves while the men’s crew dressed decidedly down rowing back to the sheds in speedo’s and bow ties much to the delight of spectators along the bank.
The after party was again a major highlight with a strong Richmond contingent making to trip upstream to Powerhouse to celebrate the conclusion of another Head of the Yarra. As far as party’s go, the night was superb, with Alex Playsted’s sublime DJ skills keeping the crowd entertained well into the wee hours of the morning.
Well done to all crews and their coaches and thanks Peter Schouten for assisting with the towing of the trailer and to the organisers of the after party who put on a great night.
Simon Crunden
Gray Matters dusting off the bike for HOTY
Hello Rowers,
HOTY
Everyone not rowing tomorrow should come down and cheer, dust off your bike and you can cycle along and cheer (though likely to catch more flies this way). The start is a pretty exciting place to watch.
The race starts at 11:00am and our crews will be going off at the following times (approximate):
Female D Eight (Schouten) – 11:06 am
Female C Eight (Crotty) – 11:22 am
Mixed D Masters (Hope) – 12:02 am
Male B Eight (Foster) – 2:32 am
So girls rock up at 9, guys as per Simon’s instructions (man not boat).
HOTY After Party
Also a reminder to everyone of the after party at Powerhouse rowing club which is for all rowers not just hoty rowers. We would like to have a good rrc turn out (gives us people to talk to without having to worry about small talk).
Simon is organising a water taxi for those too soft to swim or too poor to have their own chauffer (or their Chauffer is on annual leave).
The HOTY after party gets hip this year compliments of Powerhouse and it is guaranteed to be a blast. It is a good time to see if they wear green after hours and drink as hard as they row. Feel free to accidentally spill a drink on the two meanies who whooped me and JK at Essendon last year (I think JK was having a bad day).
Cost for the water taxi and the BBQ is a bargain at $35. http://rrcmen.wordpress.com/hoty-after-party/
Podcast
Not to be outdone with my internet prowess, Nicole has raised the bar. Lots of good info, if you can hear Simon (man not boat) clearly then you may be part canine, or kept awake easily by sounds such as your hair growing, the sounds of cotton wool being rubbed on felt and worms in the garden.
HOTY Preview: http://rrcmen.wordpress.com/2009/11/25/preview-of-the-2009-head-of-the-yarra/
Chrissie Cards
Now this is a great fundraiser, a bit more chewy than the freddos but VERY cool. Not only that, all the people who you send cards to once a year will think you’re uber cool and your card will sh*t all over the one they send you with a reindeer on it (unless of course they are a reindeer, then they will trump you).
Christmas Cards: http://rrcmen.wordpress.com/rrc-christmas-cards/
Hamilton Sign Up
The Hamilton regatta sign up closed last Friday. Email Barry if you changed your mind and want to come, are suddenly free, had not read my blogs for the last month and know nothing about it, or your partner is nagging and you are with Vodafone and feel like a weekend of no mobile coverage. [email protected]
Boxersize on Monday Is on at 6.20, think about it boxing gloves and your coach in one place! And it’s on a Monday and Mondays always make me ANGRY, 5 days in front of me of dusting the glasses in the bar, digging old party pies out of the pie warmer, and protecting taped oars with my life.
TIME TRIAL One more time trial on Sunday the 13th of December.
Katie Gray (PA to just about everyone)
Preview of the 2009 Head of the Yarra
Podcast interview with Richmond Rowing Club Head of Rowing – Nicole Stupka, previewing the Richmond crews competing in this years Head of the Yarra.
Link to Podcast
Race starts at 11:00 am and Richmond crews start times as follows (times are approximate):
Female D Eight (Schouten) – 11:06 am
Female C Eight (Crotty) – 11:22 am
Mixed D Masters (Hope) – 12:02 pm
Male B Eight (Foster) – 2:32 pm
Richmond crews perform well at Melbourne Head
Richmond Rowing Club had a great day at the Melbourne Head regatta picking up five wins in eight events the club entered.
The race – held on the Yarra River over 4.5 kilometres starting at Big Bend and finishing at the city boat sheds in front of Mercantile Rowing Club – was held in near perfect conditions with 138 crews battling it out for a wins in a range of divisions and boat classes.
The first win for the day was Caroline Manning, coached by Tom Appleby, in the Women’s Division A/B Single Scull. Caroline was elated to have won her race by defeating Melbourne University sculler Jen Bailey by the narrowest of margins of one second.
Richmond’s Women’s C Eight stroked by Frances Crotty and contained World Masters Games gold and bronze medallists Annalise Gehling and Geraldine Goss and coached by Mike Numa – one of two Richmond women’s eights competing in the event – defeated six other crews to take out the Women’s C/D eights in one of the most competitive events of the regatta.
The Mixed Masters Eight, stroked by club President Emma Catford, came out on top in a field of nine boats narrowly beating Head of the Yarra mixed eight aspirants Melbourne Rowing Club by a mere two seconds in a great display of controlled and consistent rowing.
Richmond also won two races in row over’s, with Sam Morrison taking out the Men’s A/B Division Single Scull and the Men’s Coxed B Quad Scull stroked by Martin Foster.
In other results, the Mixed Masters Eight stroked by Sally Allen showed great improvement to perform well in their race as did the Men’s Division D Coxed Four who were out gunned racing in a tub four against other crews who raced in racing boats in the Men’s Coxed Four C/D division. Richmond also had three Women’s D Division Coxed Fours make their racing debut for the club.
Richmond Head of Rowing Nicole Stupka was pleased with the results, and in particular the women’s eights who will have no doubt gained a significant confidence boost in time for next week’s Head of the Yarra.
Richmond has four crews entered in next week’s the big race that will feature 206 eights from clubs throughout the country.
Richmond is joint hosting the HOTY After Party with rival club Powerhouse and details or the event and what Richmond crews will feature in the race are available on the club blog site.
Simon Crunden
HOTY After Party is on the House
This is year the RRC HOTY after party will be hosted jointly with Powerhouse Rowing Club and will be held at the Powerhouse Boat Club in Toorak.
To get to Powerhouse, we have organised a water taxi that will pick us up from the club (Southbank) and drop us off at Powerhouse. There will be two departure times – the first at 6.30pm and the second at 7.30pm, both will ensure you arrive at Powerhouse in time for the BBQ hosted by RRC.
Guest and former Hong Kong DJ Alex ‘Dr Vinyl’ Playsted will be providing the music which we guarantee will have you rocking well into the night.
Cost for the water taxi and BBQ is $35 and drinks will be available for purchase over the bar throughout the night. If you can’t make the water taxi, the BBQ only option is $20.
To make it payment simple, we will debit members race fee account $35 (or $20) for the number of people you are making a booking for (family and friends most welcome) and please, no payments on the night.
Places on the water taxi are limited and you have until 5pm Monday 23 November to sign-up before we extend the offer to other clubs who will be attending the evening so book early.
We look forward to seeing you at the party.
For all the details and to book click on the following link:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=_2bhR4Z7x6Nut_2b0_2fEo96ecgg_3d_3d
Gray Matters battling the heat and the files….
Hello Rowers,
How about this hot weather, now is when your stroke timing practice really comes into play. You will need incorporate a drink of water in the recovery part of your stroke as well as brushing flies off your legs, feet and shoulders. Extensive eyebrow wiggling, blowing and loud unexpected shouting should keep them off your face (and the rest of your crew from snoozing in the sun).
Melbourne Head
Get down early for the start of the regatta and bring your family, friends and significant others and show your support for your team mates and enjoy the atmosphere. Remember cheering makes all the difference in a regatta, with a boat house right on the water this could be all the difference between us and Lake Bolac (Who had to get up even before they went to bed last night to make it there) taking the glory.
Zooties needed for Melbourne Head
Best not race in the nude, despite how much training you’ve been doing or how many dog walking ex’s with overweight new partners frequent the riverside. All rowers please bring your spare RRC zooties to lend out, as there are new members without uniform. If you don’t have a zootie please let your coach and crew mates know, so that we can make arrangements.
Hamilton Sign Up
Please respond, get on the sign up board, even if it feels a little de ja vu, yes you have to do it again, Simon (Man not Boat) Crunden had too much Mountain Goat ale or is possibly campaigning for a weekend at home with the fam and has lost all your responses. It’s your best chance to visit the Giant Wool Bales and pick up a pair of Ugg boots direct from the source.
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=9bXbJXuzas1cIDYSh9iJHw_3d_3d
Need you to sign up by this Friday 20 November 2009. Or it will be Barry and I having a romantic meal and rowing a double, the Grange looks ok, what do you think Barry?
http://www.australianexplorer.com/restaurants/hamilton_vic.htm
Boxercise
Boxersize on Monday Is on at 6.20, we thought about making it 6.19 and 34 seconds but figured we’d be a bit lenient.
Why go? Few reasons, how good are Magnums, have you tried the new one with biscuits in it!!! And the Ego is always a winner. Got to work of those calories some how. If you don’t show you need a good excuse (like working in Geelong). It’s awesome training with a real expert in the field so a great opportunity.
TIME TRIAL
Was HUGE and record breaking! Over 50 rowers and coxes – a record. Four men’s crews on water – a record. Fastest tub four time of the season 39min:50sec set by Phil, Roger, Charlie and Peter in the John Latham = 50% of the mixed masters crew competing at HoTY.
Fastest girls 8 time of 34min:04sec set by Laura S, Sophie, Karen, Susie,Silke, Laura M, Anthea, Rosie and coxed by Derek and coached by John Latham. We had 3.5 new DS crews on the water racing – so phenomenal effort from them. Puts them in good shape for HoTY D grade 8s.
Last Time Trial SUNDAY DEC 13th – Mark this in your calendar. The aim is 60+ rowers and coxes on water!
HOTY After Party
The organisers for the HOTY after party are busy in negotiations with various parties working out where we are going have our party due to the RRC retro venue not being available that night. The venue is an email away from being confirmed and the transport that we have arranged to get from the Boatclub to the venue is stroke of genius by former President Julia Avis….it will be awesome.
Keep your eyes on the blog and email and get the frock dusted off for what should be a big night of celebrations (and comparing blisters).
PS – Apologies for those people that went out and started the process of procuring retro furniture to decorate the club for the HOTY after party. For those interested, Simon (MNB) has a really nice vivid red retro couch and a couple of retro chairs that would look great in just about any setting…..going very cheap!
Girls Corner
We had a great time with the Harley’s last weekend, who would have though that the Ettamouga pub would have had all you can eat meat-lovers pizza and paintball! What a winner. Heading back this Saturday to pick up Arnie and Susie who picked up some cash in hand work concreting the new cellar.
Gray Matters getting amongst the runs
TIME TRIALS this Sunday!
The boys finally managed to do their time trial, – rating a comfortable 22 they got around the island in 31min 19sec. Meaning that they are now finally faster than the women’s crews.
So well done! (worth all that secret midnight training and the empty crate of powerbars I found in the skip when looking for Nicole’s invitation to the black tie event which is the Australian Rowing Galah Head (ARGH) after unsuccessfully attempting to convince her it was fancy dress come as your favourite farm animal).
So that we can plan crews and coxes for this weekend please let your coaches know by Thursday whether you will be time trialing. Also, the new DS will be doing their first even time trial so make them feel welcome over brunch and don’t forget to tell them how HARDCORE they are. Let’s all go with “the first time trial I did took (and then name a time between 1 hour 15 and 1 hour 45) and I had to have a nap afterwards on the bank and get plastic surgery on my hands”. Should give them hope for the future and a great ego boost.
Please stick around for brunch and an update on the 2nd half of the season and the fun racing you can look forward to. This is our second last time trial – the last one will take place on Sunday Dec 13th.
USUAL HARDCORE UPDATE: (sorry boys just a carry over from the usual women’s chatter).
Well done to the women’s 8 for beating their record and consuming 93 dim sims, Good luck in hitting the ton (in more ways than one) in December.
Well done to the B team narrowly beating the quad in backyard cricket, Super wickets taken on both sides and the score was 600 runs versus 560 for the quad, kegs consumed with much quoting of the 12th man “And welcome back to the SCG or the MCG or the Gabba or the WACA or wherever the hell we are”. (The only clean line I could print). Also for those who are coming to Coober Pedy with me on Saturday have your Harley at mine, fuelled up at 7am, first stop the Ettamoga pub for the laggards.
BOXERCISE at RRC, starting at 6.30pm. Great time of year to take this up, Christmas list writing stress, aircon not working at home, kisses your friend’s little brother/sister at the races, your work Christmas party is now BYO and at your bosses house in Monee Ponds due to budget costs, and you have to bring coleslaw and cupcakes for 38 people, all your clothes are from last season and may or may not be cool (how can you tell?) Or may be too tight (Does it make the outfit sexy or scary)!!! You have white legs and a hairy back which seem to have come from NOWHERE. So much to get you down. So go and hit something without being looked on badly by your mother.
Led by John Vickery, who has been running the weights programs for us at the Richmond Football Club. Boxercise will be run from the rowing club while the Punt Rd buildings are renovated, and as long as interest is maintained. How much? $10/full, $5/student, and like weights, I guarantee a workout that will improve your strength & cardio – rowing’s not so secret sauce.
Any questions? Ask Lionel Rose or that guy who was on Dancing with the stars, if you can’t get hold of them try Martin.
REGATTAS
– Sign up for Hamilton/Wentworth Regatta by November 16th. This is a fun and exciting regatta – if you haven’t been ask your coaches about it.
Here’s the link:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=9bXbJXuzas1cIDYSh9iJHw_3d_3d
Barry seems to have a vested interest in this one, he may have some money riding on our medal tally. He wants you to read this
http://rrcmen.wordpress.com/category/regatta-updates/
SUPER TIGER(S) Award of the fortnight award goes to Franzie Locher and Julia Avis for spending Melbourne Cup day – not wearing fancy hats and drinking champagne – but rather painting 16 sweep oars. 16 Oars is a lot of oars to paint, so the marathon project took all week to complete. The oars will look really slick for Melbourne Head and HoTY! So thanks so much to both of them.
KNOW ANY ROWERS?
A couple more female sweep rowers are needed to make up Melbourne Head crews, please email Nicole ([email protected]) ASAP if you would like a row. So far we have almost 3 D grade fours entered.
No news from the boys, seems they are too busy stealing coxes to generate any newsworthy activity!! Thanks for leaving Joe available 2.17pm-2.34 on a Wednesday afternoon, we have advised Joe to start mumbling, rocking up late and to cease all teeth brushing.
Boxercise @ RRC
BOXERCISE at RRC, begins Monday the 9th of November at 6.30pm (arrive 10 minutes early to get paired up). Led by John Vickery, who has been running the weights programs for the club at the Richmond Football Club.
Boxercise will be run from the rowing club while the Punt Rd buildings are renovated, and as long as interest is maintained. Cost $10/full, $5/student, and like weights, I guarantee a workout that will improve your strenght & cardio – rowing’s not so secret sauce.
Martin Foster
Gray Matters the handyman
Happy Midweek Rowers,
Didn’t that sneak up, I’ve scarcely had a chance to clear my head from my spring carnival (involving circa 16 bottles of champagne and in the ballpark of 300 quiches) before it’s time to rattle on to you lot.
So as it’s now a WHOLE CLUB blog, I must draw on my masculine side and also add umm GO HAWKS and umm bring on the Boxing Day Ashes? Anyone for a pie? I would like to point out that I do undertake more jobs than picking up Nicole’s Zootie from the dry cleaners and painting the paperclips black and yellow.
Just this morning I rewired the ladies lights to flash after a person sits on the toilet for more than 20 minutes (problems with sleeping MLC school children again) and re-plumbed the men’s bathroom to use the recycled toilet water in the showers, I must say that this work has NOT been undertaken by a licenced plumber and I had some issues with the latter task and I can only hope that I have the pipes the right way around……
Melbourne Head third sat of November (so the 21st) please let your coaches or the big boss Nicole Stupka know if you want to race. Melbourne head is a huge 4.5km head race on the Yarra for all boat classes. On the bright side, the weather would have to be better than it was least year (thought the hail provided a lovely exfoliation on my blue thighs) AND you can do a running start AND you don’t need to re-rig the boats.
Now here is a tricky one for the newbies. Melbourne Head is a difference race to head of the Yarra. So make sure you know which one you have signed up for. We’d hate to have 3 people in a boat on race day and 11 a week later as per 2008, it was either squashy or hard work and made us look ridiculous, not good as this race often gets a bit of a crowd.
The Boss has picked the four crews for this year’s Head of the Yarra regatta (last week of November) . Click on the link for the full details: http://wp.me/pzFWD-4w I note that despite pulling the erg to Sandringham and back I have again lost out. Which means 2 things, no more chocolate weatons for the bickie jar (plain teddies will suffice) and I have decided against donating the proceeds of my unmatching thong sculpture entitled (Yarra Scavenger) towards the staff Christmas party bar tab and will instead use it for a HUGE manicure set and devote my mornings to improving my nail care.
To further punish you, err sorry Nicole is dictating here I meant to say further prepare you for head racing season the fourth time trial will be held on November 15th with the world masters games rowers catering brunch. Now this one I think we should attend…. HUNGRY. Don’t you see the link between MASTERS CATERING and MASTER CHEF. Hopefully this time the guys will also get a row in (and not eat all the food before we are off the water). This will be a great warm up for Melbourne head, if you want to win, get out there and get used to the distance, you’ll also know how hard you can go and what you have in the tank.
For the parma lovers out there and those who like sharing beds with team mates, sign up to HAMILTON / Wentworth. If you are good we will take you to see the Giant Wool Bales. If you are with Vodafone, say goodbye to all your friends and family for a few days. What is the Hamilton Wentworth parma no mobile coverage experience? Two days of country racing over 1000m in rural Victoria. A sign up Survey will be posted on the blog and check out the blog or the club notice board for more info. Also, Barry Campbell is organising the regatta, so have a chat to him or the more experienced RRC members to find out what it’s all about.
Phew, I’m getting tired, I could do with a bottle of Yellow or Pink or maybe a quiche or two, err I mean pie and a slab. There is so much news, so you should keep checking the RRC blog. How do I check the blog? http://3.25.77.84/blogs/ and log on to the members section of the club website http://60.230.187.253/rrcWebHouse/logon.asp
To log on the web site you will need to know your user name and password, if you’re like me it will have lots of random numbers and letters and you have no chance of remembering it so write it down.
One last very important reason to log onto the website is to make sure that you are fully financial and that there is money in your race fee account and that you have paid your dues, unless you are dating Nicole or Lucy, (which limits your chances here) an original member of the Oarsome Foursome and can drag a select (light) crew through the finish flags first each time, or shouting the club a new veranda or helicopter, you have to pay. The club has a strict “no cash, no splash” policy and your account needs to have money in it if you are to race (unless you have made prior arrangements for a payment plan with the club treasurer – Lucy Crunden).
katie gray
PANS (PA to Nicole Studka, previously PA to JK until she was transferred to the Darwin Oar Rowing Society and now champions the DORC’s up there)