Category: General Info

There are time trials scheduled for this weekend (Sunday) which will go towards the club time trial awards.
Time trials are held in regulation (tub) sculls, pairs (monster trucks) and fours.
The course for the scull and pairs is from the lamp post (use to be the tree until they cut it down) out the front of the club around Swan Street bridge and back to the club. The four is a bit more demanding as it is from the lamp post around the island and back.
Time trials mean points towards the club championship trophies for the men that is the Mal Scott Memorial and for the ladies the John Sawyer trophy and for the coxes the Don Edwards trophy.
Current points standings have five guys within two points of each other (and another three within striking distance) and with the masters racing coming up, the time trails could be the difference between taking home the bacon or taking a walk down the hall of mirrors (sorry don’t have a points update for the girls or coxes but I am sure it must be close).
Time Trial points are awarded as follows:
One point for each time trial that you do and an additional point for beating the fastest recorded time for the season (i.e. this year). At this point in time we have times posted for the tub four but not the scull or pair.
There are a few rules to time trials including that you cannot repeat a time trial in any given boat class until 21 days after doing your previous time trial, and that a time can only be recorded by a coach or a member of committee (we had some shifty results back in the 60’s and 70’s).
To give everyone a fair chance of posting a few times, I will make myself available to any individual or crew that wants to attempt a time trial up until the closing date of Sunday 30 May. If you want to have a crack then send me an email and we will coordinate a time.
Finally I have negotiated with the HOR that we will be doing Challenge Races which again means more points. I will send out an email via the blog over the weekend so keep an eye out for the email and sign up.
PS – For those of you who are too young for Masters don’t be put off as racing will only give you a maximum of two points for a regatta (that is if you win) so doing a few time trials will keep you in the hunt for the club championship trophies.
PPS – For those who are interested in having a bit of a dip at the men’s four time trial, I will put on the line a slab of beer (any beer you like) for anyone that can beat the club record.

When I was young and only coaching the DS
I never needed many more than just big Kev
But now those days are gone I’m coaching LTR
and without more help those boats ain’t going far
Help me if you can I’m one coach down
and it really ain’t my fault no one’s in town
help me get these learners off the ground
won’t you please, please help Saturday
And now the club has changed in oh so many ways
so many newbies it just leaves me in a daze
but right now we have to teach some more to get rowing right
and learn the Tiger roar
Help me if you can is all I’ll say
and I’d really like to see you at midday
just try not to wreck our boats for May
won’t you please, please help me.
and if you could help out yourself that would be greatly appreciated.
Justin (with apologies to the Beatles)

There is mountains of chocolate in the bar for people to collect to sell as apart of the annual chocolate drive.

If you have not yet picked up your box of chocolates then I suggest you try and get down to the club very soon as time to sell them is rapidly running out.

Chocolates can be picked up from Nicole Stupka this Sunday at the club house from 10 am or if you cannot make it this Sunday, then the bar will be open on Tuesday and Thursday mornings next week from 7:30 am for 30 minutes or so for you to pick them up.

In case you are not aware, the chocolates are being sold to purchase new equipment for the club so we can continue our

quest for world rowing domination.

This past weekend in Sydney saw the new ‘Precious’ men’s eight on the water for the first time and what an awesome boat it is, just ask any of the blokes who rowed in it. With the club rapidly moving rowers through the ranks and extending it’s reach across a variety of competitive modes (club, interstate and masters), it would be great to have more of this type of equipment available to compete in.

So if you have not picked up your chocolates, then get down to the club or email Karen, Rochelle or Susie and organise a time to pick them up.

In 2009 RRC added two new boats to its fleet – a Regulation ‘Tub’ Four and Coxless Quad (which was actually purchased in 2008, however required repairs).  These categories of boat class provide us with the ability to cater for the breadth of rowers that RRC now has from those starting out in the sport and others whom are now hitting ‘masters’ age and needing coxless boats to compete in.
It is with great pleasure that I am now able to inform all members of the names for the two boats:
Justin Thomas – Tub Four
Roberto Perillo – Coxless Quad
Justin Thomas
For many current members Justin was perhaps the first person they spoke to or certainly had as a coach, through his management of the Development Squad and Learn to Row over the last few years. Justin has been a member at RRC for six years, spending two of those as Vice-President. Justin has definitely been one of the key people behind keeping the Development Squad going, with the help of many other dedicated coaches. This season our numbers in the DS are really strong and we look to have another large contingent join us soon with the start of our next Learn to Row course in April. While Justin’s sense of humour is not every ones taste, I know him to be forever interested in the growth of those in the DS, flexible, accommodating and willing to give a hand wherever it is needed.
Roberto Perillo
Roberto is keeping a lower profile at RRC these days, choosing to row a little closer to home on the Maribyrnong.  Roberto joined Richmond in 1990 and has maintained a healthy obsession of the sport – rowing out of not one but three sheds, with memberships at both Essendon and Mercantile Rowing Clubs. Roberto, a Life Member, has fulfilled the role of Captain for three years and coach of numerous masters crews. Despite Roberto’s efforts off the water he’s no slouch when he gets in boat, being a competitive Masters rower both on home turf in Victoria, nationally and has also competed at the last two World Masters Games in Canada and Australia.  Roberto, among others, was one of the key members to get this vessel – also fondly known as ‘Minute-2-Midnight’ due to the round the clock work that went into getting it river ready.  Like Justin, Roberto has a keen love of rowing and all that comes with it.
Another thing both these members have in common is their voluntary contribution to RRC over the years, providing many people with the opportunity to enjoy rowing.  RRC is fortunate to have a strong ethos of volunteering throughout the club and prides itself on being a community sporting club through making rowing accessible to all.  The club would not survive without the support and commitment from members that give their time to coach and cox crews, keep the fleet on the water, manage facilities, conduct fundraising activities, support and instigate social events and many other behind the scene activities.
Congratulations Roberto and Justin – and thank you

Troy Durham has been able to arrange a back to back Rowing Victoria level 1 coxing & Rowing Victoria level 1 boat race official (BRO) course at Richmond Rowing Club for Thursday the 18th of March.
The coxing course starts at 17:30hrs (5.30pm), the BRO course at 19:15hrs (7.15pm).  The coxing course is $44, the BRO course is free.
It’s a requirement that all competitive members of the club get accredited as both coxswains and boat race officials.  Accrediation means taking a course, it’s a once-off like the swim test, then you’re done forever.
If you would like to book onto the course or find out more information, please contact either Martin or Nicole.

Club races are scheduled to be held on the Yarra this Sunday from 10:00am. The plan is to race four round robin races plus finals over 350 metres in mixed fours from the 2km mark to the landing just before Punt Road Bridge.
Rowers who signed up via the recent survey are reminded that they need to attend. If you have not signed up and would like to come along then all you need to do is email Nicole ([email protected]) by Wednesday this week and she will organise you into a crew.
The Development Squad will be providing breakfast and there is a rumor they have been out shopping for bacon and eggs so make sure you bring along a big appetite for after the races.

Sooo…..2009 is very nearly over and boy what a year. As I write this the temperatures are again soaring into the high 30’s – which you think we would all be used to by – but given that the building I work in air con unit is about to pack up – perhaps not. Its been a hot year not only weather wise but all with the achievements and activities that we – Richmond Rowing Club – have been involved in throughout the year.
All RRC squads have been well represented at regattas, training camps, time trials and sprints. We seem to as a club have embraced our true age with one of the biggest masters contingents hitting the water over the autumn/winter months.
These regattas provided some great opportunities for members to pick up medals and be involved in some extremely competitive racing. At the opposite end of the spectrum a band of four RRC members also headed off to the Uni games to try their luck.  We almost broke the 60 mark of members participating in ’round the island’ and we definitely made huge gains with a number of the times recorded being improved on over the period.
Fundraising
The Tiger Trivia night that was held earlier this year – really put us on the front foot in terms of fundraising in 2009, with over $3000 raised as well as a few eyebrows re. the number of trivia junkies lurking in the club. Chocolate sales seemed to continue for sometime further and I am pleased to say that my work colleagues are a little rounder than before I arrived due to my knack at forcing freddo’s upon them. Our fundraising efforts have been book ended by a tandem initiative by Kev and Lucy – with the production of Christmas/Greeting Cards. If you haven’t had an opportunity to make a purchase I would encourage you to check the website out – they can be bought on-line.
Social
If there was ever any doubt if the RRC men could party the HOTY after party confirmed it. As the saying goes ‘what happens on tour stays on tour’ I won’t disclose the exact moves, faces and people that were pulled that night! But will only say – we rocked and when at about 2am we were asked to leave PHRC – you’d get the picture. Presentation Night in June was a little more sophisticated we all members keeping their clothes on.  I have a feeling that 2010 is going to bring further people out of the wood work and into the limelight – I already have the party dates locked in.
Admin
The committee and many others have continued with a large program of work from ensuring our safety compliance, entering members into races, getting fleet on the water and generally keeping the club going. The work that goes on behind the scenes is extensive and looking back over the last 6 months, I think we are on track for achieving the action plan and goals we set for this club year.
I would like to throw out a massive thank you to the membership for making 2009 a ripper. Its been a hard year and I’m feeling kind of tired and looking forward to a mini break before getting back into the swing of things at Rutherglen. To all the coaches, coxes, administrators, socialites, event managers, enthusiasts weight lifters, truckies, performers and those that continue to turn up and make RRC a fun place to be – Cheers.
Wishing you a very happy, safe and blister free Christmas. See you in the New Year.
Emma Catford
President Richmond Rowing Club

RRC Christmas Party

Thursday 17 December 2009 from 7:00pm

Click here RSVP

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