Category: General Info

A memorial service will be held for Don at the Springvale Crematorium this Friday 29 July at 11:30. The crematorium is located at 600 Princes Highway, Springvale. The drive is approximately 40 minutes from the CBD.

Richmond Rowing Club has been awarded a grant from the Victorian State Government to be used for development of the growing number of volunteer coaches we now have at the club.

The grant for $2,330 will be presented to the club president Emma Catford (thanks Jim) by the Member for Northern Metropolitan Craig Ondachie on Sunday 22 May at 10:00 am.

Further details will be posted in the coming week including the possibility of club races.

Members,
We have returned the steering to both the Lucy Crunden & Robert Hendley to increase our fleet flexibility. On the booking board indicate your rigging preference with (D) for double or (P) for pair.
The double rigger bolt holes have been honed out to make rigging as doubles easier. The LC Double riggers are numbered back to front and 2 is bow seat 1 is stern seat.
Please allow a little extra time at the beginning of your training session to rig the boat in the configuration required for your session. If you know a crew will be rowing it as a pair or double after your session you can win friends & favours by rigging it ready for them to use. The Captain may even shout you a coffee.
Please do not remove the steering without consulting the Captain first as there is a way to do this simply so it can be put back in again.
The Siberian Tiger is permanently rigged as a double and is available as an alternative if not booked by another crew.
If we all follow the above simple guidelines we can make the maximum usage of our limited fleet and everyone can enjoy a hassle free row.
Thankyou all.

RSVP: [email protected]

I knew the 2010 Bairnsdale camp was going to be unlike any other when Sam and I went for a quiet beer at the Imperial Tavern, across the road from the camping ground, on Thursday night. Within about two minutes of sitting down at the bar, we were chatting with a bloke in a fetching blue dress with matching hair ribbons. He was at great pains to emphasise that this wasn’t his normal attire. Indeed, looking around the bar and seeing the collection of Guns ‘n’ Roses, Megadeth, and Iron Maiden T-shirts on the other patrons, we were prepared to take his word for it. In any case, he was 6’ 4’’ and missing several teeth so we didn’t feel we had much option.
So far, so surreal. The next day felt more like a traditional camp, however, with temperatures climbing into the high 20s and a gloriously flat Mitchell River beckoning. The weather was not so kind to us on Saturday, with passing showers and blustery conditions keeping most crews off the water for most of the day. Never one to let us sleep in, however, Simon delivered a masterclass in rowing technique for the club, demonstrating his points on the catch, the finish, the rowing arc and the ideal power output with a motley collection of anatomically-challenged stick figures.
Apparently, Sunday dawned fine and most crews were up early, taking advantage of the conditions on this, the final day of camp. As promised by Justin, most crews made it all the way to the cliffs, some 9km upriver, which were indeed spectacular. The Senior Men re-enacted the Mutiny on the Bounty, however, when offered the chance by stern pair to make their third trip to the cliffs in as many days. The response from the rest of the boat was hilarious but, sadly, unprintable. So, with time on our hands, we decided to ram the other boats getting off the water at the landing pontoon. Accelerating to attack speed, we were cruising at a cheeky 36 spm before we heard Franzi’s dulcet tones, sounding particularly German at this point, asking us if we’d mind stopping. Like the bloke in the blue dress, Franzi is someone you ignore at your peril.
Despite the great rowing and the even greater meals, however, the highlight of the camp was undoubtedly Saturday night at the Imperial. Australia may have won several thousand medals in minority sports like the marathon and road cycling at the Commonwealth Games, but New Zealanders can hold their heads high having taken out the annual box-biting competition. Like gumboot-throwing and competitive sheep-mustering, it’s clearly in the blood.
In hindsight, it would have been best if the boxing machine had been removed before we arrived at the pub. Not that isn’t amusing seeing people punch walls but it tends to inhibit witty, sparkling conversation and certainly detracted from the debonair moves being cut on the dance floor by Kev Astaire. Furthermore, I suspect the freely-flowing testosterone may have attracted the locals, one of whom proved particularly attentive towards the end of the evening. Still, one can always rely on one’s crewmates, who provided enough of a diversion for me to set a new record for sprinting up vertical banks, as I leapt across a major highway – in the path of oncoming traffic – and found safety in a ditch.
I’m still a bit disappointed I didn’t make it to Charlies’ – the one and only nightclub in Bairnsdale. I thought everyone had called it a night after the Imperial but I’m reliably informed that Kev and the girls were seen slinking out of the club at 4:30am, having been booted out by the management. I asked Kev the next morning what the place was like and he ran the old “what goes on tour, stays on tour” line. I pressed him, however, asking for a simple thumbs up or down. “Well, Smithy,” he replied, “as I was dancing on the main podium, next to the DJ, with a magnum of champagne in each hand, it looked as if everyone was enjoying themselves.”
Finally, thanks to Justin, Barry, and all the coaches for ensuring the camp ran like clockwork.
Until next year . . .
Andrew Smith

AN aggressive sea lion attacked a university rowing boat in New Zealand’s Otago Harbour, took a chunk out of it and then chased the crew back to shore. This is the result…..
Click on the link to read all about it!

The captain has decided to throw down the gauntlet.
Rules of the Challenge:
Round the Island Old School

• Can be rowed in any class of sweep boat. Pairs/ Fours/Eights
• Can only use Carbon Fibre Macon’s (there are at least 10 1 set of eight and a pair)
• Can only be attempted by the crew once every 30 days
• Must be officially timed, witnessed and recorded
• Course as per Round Island from light pole in front of RRC & back.

Prizes

1. Slab Beer (or wine) for first crew stupid enough to try it
2. Slab beer for fastest crew by presentation night
3. Fastest time will win a new Perpetual Trophy “The Captain’s Challenge”

(potential for 2 slabs of beer for 1 crew or re-rig the Hendley/Crunden 1 slab each)

Fancy a canvas print of your greatest moment in rowing or any other photo that you would like converted into a piece of art that would look great on the wall at home? If so

then contact Kev Burrows and organise one at a never to be repeated price for RRC Club Members, family and friends.

Head of Rowing Nicole Stupka has posted an update on Winter Training for members and potential new members looking to join the club.

Plenty of

activity happening at the moment so to find out more click on the following link, sign up and get involved:

Winter Training @ Richmond

Wow what a treat – it’s not too often that Richmond gets to christen three boats in one season. In case you have been under a rock, we recently celebrated the addition of the new tub four, aka ‘Justin Thomas’, and the coxless quad – ‘Roberto Perillo’ into the family. This new boat is extra special because we are its first home – yes it’s a brand newie. Another cool thing is that it is also the largest piece of equipment any club is likely to own – a heavy weight eight.
The club is booming at the moment so there is no shortage of bums for the 9 seats. Our ability to purchase this boat is testament to the hard work of every member at RRC. The fundraising activities over the last season, and ensuring that we recoup all fees, as enabled the committee to go shopping – always fun!
Now to get this boat on the water you need a lot of friends – or perhaps family. So it is maybe no surprise that the most appropriate name to be bestowed to it is – The Schouten Family.
Now the Schouten’s story is long, but I’m just going to give you a few facts about why we should name the 8+ after them. The Schouten’s have produced some excellent rowers – Peter, Ben, Laura, Tom, Rob, Nick, all of whom have competed, and won, at Junior, Youth, State and National levels. Jenny while not often seen on the water, she is the powerhouse behind getting them there – when Jenny isn’t working at Rowing Victoria, she has been known to wash 6 zooties per regatta. The washing line on the club website – that’s the Schouten’s! Peter and Jenny, previous recipients of the President’s Award, have also been extremely generous with their time, car (for towing abilities), trailer drive lessons, fixing stuff at the club, catering and waving the RRC flag at any opportunity.
Joining the club some years ago from Carrum Rowing Club, the Schouten’s have made an enormous impact on our club and we are glad that they made the transition to the Yarra. With the addition of Charlotte, Matilda and Troy to the clan – they won’t need to next last minute emails looking for an extra rower or cox. Ok ……… well maybe in a few years.
So on behalf of the 147th RRC Committee I’d like to say thank you and congratulations.
The actual physical ‘christening’ of all three boats will take place in the next month or so as we need to make sure the Schouten’s, Justin and Roberto are all available. I hope to be able to give you a date shortly so you too can plan to be there.
Thanks
Emma Catford