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Afternoon Rowers,
Wow the invites I’ve had for dinner dates since I sent out my photo last week have to be seen to be believed, I’m sneezing as I write this as I’ve just answered the door to yet another bunch of roses. I only hope I’m fortunate enough for the pic to find its way onto face book and into the hands of devastated ex’s and successful high school peers.
Word is out that best dressed at the MJ party went to JL, who dressed as a Zombie. I have to be clear here that I mean MAN NOT BOAT, as the JL boat is also white, slow, has about as many winning medals as your average Zombie and generally lives life at a ghoulish /sluggish pace, best way to tell which is which (Zombie or boat) is to of course weigh them.
Essendon Saltwater Regatta
We’re extremely concerned that Joe has now tasted success (other than in a row over…) and we’ll be forced to use our legs past the first 100 metres of our next race. Until now, winning was something the crews in the distance did. Joe won with the boys and the girls crew. Proving that we can no longer blame her……….. Hmm, back to blaming the boat then.
Such success means we can have a couple of cheap stabs at the WMG mixed quad and current Australian Champions (that is World Masters Games, not WWF which is obviously wrestling or saving whales, neither of which we are involved in at this present stage) learnt why you should have steering on a boat during the saltwater challenge after rowing every where except Highpoint to check out the sales; Simon Crunden (man not boat) managed to go past Poyntons for the first time ever without having to spend $200 on plants for the garden, however the Australian Champions couldn’t resist and tried hard to check out all the plants down the course as well as at Poyntons sale.
THE BIG THING ON THIS WEEKEND IS THE AROUND THE ISLAND TIME TRIAL.
All rowers need to be at club at 9:45 am for 10 am on water. Hopefully, we can boat 3 8s and 3 4s like last time.
Derek’s HoTY 8 is catering. So some HOT and YUM food coming our way.
We will need someone to do the timing (otherwise it’s a row around the island, not a time trial) and someone to marshal the boats. Apparently JL as well as having a boat and a Zombie outfit, has a stopwatch so we may have a volunteer (term loosely used) here.
We’ll be a few short as some of us rowing WMG will be at Carrum! Ah the prestige…Ok so it doesn’t have the allure of the Nile, and doesn’t exactly scream World, but I guess we’ve got to start somewhere.
THE OTHER BIG THING COMING UP – IS CAMP!  As part of camp festivities we will be running a members “all about you” trivia.  Simon will send out a link on Survey Monkey were members can include a couple of interesting facts about themselves from which we can make up questions. (You don’t have to be at camp – to put facts in.)
e.g.  How does Nicole Start the day on a Monday morning A) a cup of tea and a box of freddos, B) A keg of Mountain Goat Ale and a box of Freddos, C) she brings a healthy nutritious breakfast, D) She forgets her breakfast and her wallet and has a tin of MLC’s milo followed by a bottle of tomato sauce.
WARNING
If Mike, EMMA and JUSTIN haven’t seen you swim and you haven’t done your multi choice test you will look like a git in the water in October. Join Sandra and I in our floaties…… We’ll be doing our best to make them cool. I think I might try putting a ribbon in my hair, schoolgirl style, yellow of course, it’s important to match. Then I may look like a toddler taken out by their parents for a paddle…. I hope I don’t get chaffing under my arms, I must remember some vaseline.
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)

Hi Rowers,
Sorry this is a bit late, Nicole had her bi-annual appointment with the industrial beautician to get the calluses off her hands which coincides with my biannual search of the Docklands for Richmond caps which have blown off during training which I then use one of my black markers to re-colour before popping them back into our wardrobe and bon appetite.
Some New Strategies Nicole and Annalise have been visiting JK in Darwin and checking out her progress with the DORC’s. Some initiatives which I believe they are looking at implementing including jumping from the bank into the boat (a good stretching exercise which history shows began at a similar time to the DORC Para Olympic rowing team in 1896 when there were frequent crocodile visitors in The Darra) as well has feathering quite high, at least 2 metres off the water, allowing the air to run smoothly under the oar and encouraging a strong tap down, this coincided with the introduction of stainless steel oars in 1940 due to some other issues with the wildlife up there.
Out and About
Saltwater regatta on this weekend – we have 6 crews entered! Which is pretty cool – for a rather low key event. What do these people all have in common? They love washing boats, it’s not called Salt Water for nothing.
Time Trials
Next time trial is in 2 weeks time on Sunday Sept 20th. Last time we had 3 eights and 3 fours entered and I expect to match if not beat it. Derek’s HoTY 8 is on brunch duty – the standard of food is very high. So good luck to them. I’d expect something HOT and Y(ellow)
Ergos – Aug Ergos – do them! I’ll try to replace the handle on ‘my’ ergo asap, they just don’t make em like they used to. Those who have been doing them have posted consistent improvements each month – which is awesome. Flog yourself silly – shorts are in this summer Dry land training on Tuesday nights has been rather quiet – so come down for ergos and runs to build you fitness base for HoTY.
Let’s Party Michael Jackson Party THIS FRIDAY! Fun times!
Lets go Swimming Well done to the swimmers last weekend, you’re great grannies are very proud, didn’t you guys blend with the Albert Park Mercedes / latte crowd, leaping in the pool with all your gear on.
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)

Hi Rowers,
Lets go Swimming
Good idea, 1 day to go of winter, so just enough time to save the world http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yZuOflEli8. So Nicole thinks it’s a good time to keep our gear on and jump in the swim.
For a while now we have been given strange orders to read dreary booklets and ordered down to the beach in the middle of winter to swim with our clothes on! No it’s not an initiation to the Richmond cult or a practical joke we play on newbies.
The reason for it is that as of the end of September you need to have done the appropriate boring tests and dares to meet the newly introduced Marine Safety Compliance. So everyone MUST pass the 50m COLD water test and a multiple choice quiz. Emma feels like a good belly laugh and thus has offered to assess our ability to swim OUTDOORS at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre at 9.30am on Saturday.
Wear your Zootie, you’ll just feel like your Great Granny did in the 30’s / 40’s when she went to the beach. Email the Pres at [email protected] and she’ll send you the quiz and then drop the test into the black secretary mailbox opposite the guys change room.  For more details see members news on the web site.
If you don’t do the test then you need to wear a yellow PFD. Which I’m think stands for Puffy Floating Dork outfit, which has a few potential negative consequences, if we row hard you might take off (might need to attach some string to your foot), if we row fast the pressure might pop you, you might get rubber / nappy rash, if you are err, umm well err equipped err up top, then bye bye scenery as your PFD will sit up right in front of your face. Lets face it its better to give Emma a giggle on Saturday, than all of Melbourne something to laugh at for weeks to come.
What do Rowers and Michael Jackson have in Common?
MAGIC MICHAEL MOMENTS PARTY inspired by Michael Jackson – Friday Sept 11th at the club.  More details on the website – FRONT PAGE!
The GREAT news is that the B team has 5 (count em) members. You know what that means for fancy dress! ABC!!! Unfortunately though 2 seat will be in Sydney (Rehab again poor thing) (Not really but it sounded very Hollywood), so we’re recruiting someone who can play any instrument loudly (might as well have one in the band and the louder the better to drown out our singing).
Keep an eye out for pre party promotions!
Pay up
Camp fees are due now – you should have received an email how to pay. If not let me know and we’ll sort it asap, we want your cash.
Keep a lookout for the forthcoming promotional video for the camp….it will star a closet Michael Jackson fan and his rather patient artistic director girl friend….
Ergo’s
Ergos for August are due now – it’s a great chance to track your progress. Ok now the pressure is on, in order to top the last couple of months you need to think Music, Inspirational Movies (Rambo, and umm Erin Brokovich and err well Footloose) Inspirational books about people who climb Everest in blizzards and lose toes and friends and guides. I assume you’ve tried Pasta the night before and the night before. So what about Pasta for breakfast and lunch as well as the night before, the night before that and the night before that too. Rest up before the ergo. Drive in, slowly, better yet get a lift, to the door and walk up the stairs slowly, if you can get someone to hoist you through the window and carry you to the erg.
Upcoming Regatta
Saltwater regatta, Saturday Sept 13th. It’s a 4.5 km course in quads.
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)