Category: Gray Matters

Hello Rowers,
Well what a week. The sudden drop in temperature means I have temporarily abandoned my plans to chop up the Latham (boat not man, though how many murders have I seen on telly this week, mostly prostitutes and congressmen, anyhow I digress) and turn it into a giant pedestal fan and matching deck chair for out the front of the club to make the most of our non veranda and Melbourne Uni eye candy, instead I am now sending off for plans to turn it into a Swedish style hot tub and accompanying towel warmer.
One thing I have discovered is that the brown wooden boat we have, despite looking like the love-child of my childhood cubby house and a country kitchen, is in fact a racing boat in disguise!!! Well knock me down with a feather!! There is a strong likelihood that Nicole told me that as I was wolfing down an entire pack of chocolate coated teddy bears in despair after being told that the DS rowed better than the B team (or she simply may have been worried I would move on to the TV Snacks she’d hidden in her drawer for her morning tea). It will be our second post wedding row for Sharon this week, last week I was aghast when the latest edition of Women’s Weekly and New Idea fell out of her bag, fingers crossed this week she doesn’t arrive in a matching tracksuit and have baked us all cookies, actually might not be all bad…
Survey Time
ALL ROWERS – even those who are in retirement or on break and those that are coaches but still rowing – need to fill out the survey so we can plan for the season. There are big things coming up and we need to know who is interested … My boss can’t be organised if you aren’t and that means she’s cranky and starts timing my lunch break and noting how many dentist appointments I have each year (13 and we’re still in January), and how many grandparents / great aunts / step grandparents / step great aunts kick the bucket in far flung places which lead to lengthy periods of bereavement leave. So for crying out loud fill out the survey so she can pop you all in a regatta. Regattas are a great opportunity to wear tight clothing around a bunch of strangers and boat loading is terrific practice for the next time you need to move house, the weight of your fridge will fade into insignificance after you lug some of our big momma boats.
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NWF8H7Z
You need to do this by tomorrow, Thursday, if you don’t we can have a chat to Mike and Simon (man not boat) about putting together a fantastic time intensive erging program for you as you will have missed out on all rowing. So far only 37 responses but we have way more people than that rowing and not rowing.
Barwon
Barwon entries are closed (Barwon = Jan31), hope you’ve all taken out a second mortgage to help pay for your coffee from Mitre 10, muffins are good, but is it worth forgoing your children’s opportunities at a private school?
States
If you are interested in racing states (it sounds VERY cool when you drop it in conversation around the office, not once has anyone asked me if it was C division or in a tub that is our little secret) please let you coaches know. You’d better also pop it onto the survey link above.
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NWF8H7Z
Ok, we’re yellow, black and friendly, but it does come at a price. Keep your race fee account in the black and pay your membership. For this to work you need to know your password and login for the clubweb site. If you don’t know your login email the big boss will sort you out. If individual rowers are not financial – the whole crew won’t be entered in an event. It’s too hard to rejuggle things. This sounds serious guys, you’d better log on and do some transferring. Barry, Karin and I can lead the way with payday today!!
Safety
Check the safety board for current rowing condition – update it if you are the first crew on the water and don’t forget to log out. Also, wear thongs on the landing (oh I love it that we have non Australian born people in the club and I have NO intention of translating the word thong, just in renting out my new Latham deckchair) and protect yourself from sunburn (slip, slop, slap) or you’d look like a walnut by the time you’re my age (22 BTW) (If you believe that you’ll believe anything) (But I am LOADS younger than Simon man and the cubbyhouse / country kitchen boat).
TUBBY GRAY
PANT (PA to Nicoles Tudka, previously PA to JK until she was transferred to the Darwin Oar Rowing Society and now champions the DORC’s up there)

Can anyone beat my record of a large box of Lindt chocolates in 24 hours over Christmas Day to Boxing day? Also I positively ate a farmyard on Christmas day and as I sit hear my black and yellow pleated and tailored trousers (Nicole’s just updated the staff uniform catalogue) which swam on me early December are now giving me kidney / appendix / lower back / circulation trouble. The idea of a ham and salad sandwich bores me when I could have a croissant, some cake, left over scallop potatoes and a ice-cream.
Anyway as I am facing cheap perm ant tattoos from my polyester trousers I headed back on the water with the infamous B team, only to be told by the coxes with the mostest that we were ‘worse than a Rutherglen summer’. (Though keep in mind that no one actually did a background check on the DS, there is a chance there were all Russian rowing Olympians who are seeking Asylum in Melbourne in which case it should be expected that we would be worse than these superstars).
I suppose there could be a small chance that the incredible B team has lost some form over Chrissie in terms of skill and has gained some form in terms of our new wider shadows. Just in case I think it’s best that we start training again. If you have your own Lindt chocolate belly to consider click on the link to see when your racing and training is on.
http://www.google.com/calendar/embed?src=29vs55sshnd9s5s8d3q4v1o0l4%40group.calendar.google.com&ctz=Australia/Sydney
If you have the memory of a goldfish and the computer skills of my Granny you can check out the hard copy of the calendar on the club notice board and in the men’s and women’s change rooms. It’s the same in each change room, so no need to ‘double check’. Keep in mind we’re all hairy and we wear HUGE, old, grey knickers, so nothing worth the visit.
The sprint season has gotten under way with a Hot Weekend at Rutherglen (Hmm while the B team were eating hot chips, ice-cream, Mojhitos, chocolate pudding and cheesecake, we’d better think about our lifestyle choices – CONGRATULATIONS TO SHARON WHO OFFICIALLY SNARED A GREAT GUY AT HER WEDDING LAST WEEKEND AND WHO LOOKED AMAZING, CONGRATULATIONS ALSO SARAH FOR KEEPING THE NUTCASE UNDER CONTROL).
Bling was grabbed in the men’s B Quad, men’s A eight, women’s D pair, women’s D four, women’s D eight,  and the mixed eight. Onya to Arnie and others who pulled the regatta together. And also to Simon (man not boat) for arranging bus transport. And thanks again to the Schouten’s for getting our boats to and from the regatta in one (or in some cases 2 pieces).
Upcoming Regattas
Barwon Regatta (Geelong) – Sunday January 31st (Particularly good burgers available at this one, but might need to put your first born on ebay to buy a coffee from the Mitre 10) The coaches need to put proposed crews for Barwon together this week so let your coach know if you want to row ASAP, because crews will be put together by Sunday.
NB: the schedule of events is similar to Rutherglen with three brackets but no Masters or Mixed events.  Distances: A&B – 1500m, C&D  -1000m.  Entries will cost $11.75/seat.  Top up your race fee account in anticipation. Look at the RV website for more info.
Victorian State Championships (Nagambie) – Saturday & Sunday February 13th-14th (Good coffee on site, even better wine nearby, cross your fingers for a row over so you can do a tasting pre race)
Australian Henley (Yarra; A/B grade rowers) – Saturday February 20^th (Excellent raisin toast in food court if you get in early)
Henley on the Maribyrnong (Essendon: C/D rowers) – Saturday February 27^th (bring a club lock)
Footscray Saltwater Regatta – Saturday March 20th (Another club lock outing)
New South Wales State Championships & NSW vs VIC club challenge (Penrith, Sydney) – Friday April 9th – Sunday April 11th
Plans for the Master’s season are yet to be finalised.  But I would encourage, all Masters rowers to participate in upcoming Sprint regattas and the training camp. The Masters season is very short, and having race practice will optimise your performance for the target regattas.
Club Races
Given that the Around the Island time trials were so popular in 2009 (was it the rowing or the food or the tourist appeal of the island?), we will be holding another club racing series.  This time the format will be 4 x 300 m sprint races followed by finals.  Brunch will continue, as last year.
To participate, please let you coaches know by Wednesday before Sunday’s racing.  This is important, so that we can organize crews, coxes and boats.  You must to be at the club by 9:45 am, so that crews can be on water by 10 am.  If you are late you, you will miss out.
Sprint Race 1:  Sunday February 7th at 9:45 am.
Sprint Race 2:  Sunday March 28th at 9:45 am.
Club Training Camp
The RRC training camp will take place on Friday March 12th to Sunday March 14th on the Yarra.
The plan is to squeeze in a couple of training rows on Friday night from 5 pm followed by a club pasta dinner to carbo load for the tough weekend ahead.  So, please try to arrange your work schedule Friday so that you can be at the club at 4:45 pm.
Plans for a coaching camp are being worked on for Saturday March 20th and Sunday March 21st .  We will be asking crews to be available for one training session on Saturday and one Sunday either in the morning or afternoon.  Your coaches will provide you with more details shortly.
Potential New Year’s Resolutions for You

• Be on time for all club training sessions. This means 9:45 am for a 10 am session or 6:15 pm for 6:30 pm session. If you can’t tell the time you may be relegated to cleaning the rowing shoes each week, your crews need to be able to rely on you or at least know they can count on you to clean the shoes in the boat.
• Be nice to your Mother and to Nicole (but not to Simon)
• Stay informed and read club emails, surveys, blog updates and member’s news updates, otherwise you’ll be spending your weekends at home with the cat. Respond promptly as required (no point in playing hard to get anymore as we have a huge group of active rowers this season (and all the new Russian champion DS members) and this makes organizing training and racing so much easier.
• Keep your race fee account in the black.
• Don’t get drunk and sleep in the club house, those blue carpets are foul and benches in change rooms only comfortable if unconscious.
• Clean your boat, even if eagle eye Mike isn’t watching
• Rush the slide at least 60% of the time otherwise your coaches and coxes will have nothing to say
• Buy a 4by and help the Schoutons with boat towing and then we can all go to the Flinders Rangers in convoy at Easter
• Get calluses so bad that you can handle hot coals without even flinching and you impress everyone who shakes hands with you
• Get a decent handshake otherwise your calluses will look out of place if you have a wet fish handshake, if unsure ask your father
• Join me in renting out everything not tied down in the club house to raise money for my new air conditioner and larger uniforms with elastic waists
• Keep in touch with all your old acquaintances who now think you are really cool who you sent a RRC Chrissie card too

Katie Gray (PANS)

Hi Gang,
Whoa, I’m still recovering from the Australian National Knee-high Leaders Evangelists Break-up Invitation-only Tea Extraordinaire Rave (ANKLE BITERS Christmas party) with all the coxes. While they enjoyed the celery, I had the Bloody Mary’s. Ended up 10 miles south of Tasmania in the Bob Stanley, naked of course. Luckily I love sushi and am as fit as a fiddle from time trials and ergs. Managed to catch up with the Spirit of Tassie, once I’d navigated my way back up north and hitched a ride. Just in time to tell you that:
The Rutherglen sign up closes Sunday night – all info on Web site. Cost will be $150 (breakfast, accommodation, trailering but not race fees) you need at least $75 in you race fee account by Sunday as a deposit. It is your best chance to cook your own chicken at the table (just ask Khaleda), experience the cox stack / world’s heaviest coxes, dunk your cox and find out exactly who in your crew snores! Also race hard and fast and seek opportunities to sneak off to wineries! We have posted a Rutherglen regatta sign-up which is being held on the weekend of the 16th and 17th of January. This is one of the great country regattas and this year it will also feature a stage of the Victorian Sprint Regatta Series so there will be plenty of action to follow over the two days of the regatta.
To sign up click on the following link and start hassling your crew to get on board for what should be a great weekend:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/KRYBRMC
Don’t forget your chrissie cards, they come in a pack of 10 I think, so one for me, one for Nicole, one for your mum, one for your granny, an anonymous one for the hot guy in another boat house, one for waffle Mark, one for your fridge and 3 for friends you haven’t seen since last year. Click Here for more details on how to order your cards.
Club Christmas Party on the 17th we have booked out the club for a Christmas Party on Thursday 17 December 2009 from 7:00pm. $25 cover charge includes dinner, your first drink and a chance to win plenty of fun door prizes. It is one of the best venues in Melbourne and your chance to enjoy it with a glass of sparkling, rather than on carpet with an erg. The Hawaiian theme means it is probably your best chance to get leied before the new year (no this was not my joke originally, it comes instead from one of the ANKLE BITERS.
The good news is that it is on a Thursday, and no one does any work from now til Feb anyway so we can go and party, be warm and go to work via the food court!
Click on the link below to view the invite, RSVP by Sunday 13 December. Hope to see you all there.
http://rrcmen.wordpress.com/2009/12/04/rrc-christmas-party-2009/
Our last Time Trial on Sunday. You never know when you will find yourself alone in the Bob Stanley 10 miles south of Tassie and need to get yourself back to update your blog and collect your bosses dry cleaning and post her Christmas cards. We are looking for 60+ people. There will be food post rowing. There will be prizes for winning crews. Please let you coaches know by Thursday if you are attending.
BOAT WASHING! After each row boats need to be washed with soapy water and the rinsed – both INSIDE AND OUTSIDE and wipe down the riggers and gates. Otherwise the salt water will corrode our fleet leaving us with ergs and oar painting. Wash the boat, especially Orlando, I sold a lot of freddos to pay for Orlando.
Hamilton was awesome – people came back with bling – check out Barry’s blog web site, actually don’t I don’t like competition. They just rowed, it probably rained. The boats were heavy and the wool bales weren’t all they were cracked up to be.

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)

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.

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.

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)

Dear Wider Rowing Group, Welcome.

Now that this blog has officially opened up to the full club I just want to assure you that it is by no means too girly. Contrary to some suggestions about rowing friendly hair and makeup tips we are a group of extremely hard core rowing athletes, who like to let off a bit of steam and also flex our acquired muscles every now and again.

Usual Format

Previous editions have included Tub Press winners (similar to bench press, not cuddly members in the media) well done to Arnie (Anthea, to the newies) for taking out the grand prize (a slab) in both September and October, the Arm Wrestle a great contest narrowly taken out by Joe over Nicole (strong right arm from steering strong stroke sided boats) and the keg sculling competition taken out by yours truly last weekend (snatched from the reigning champion Emma the Pres Catford).

Regatta’s

Now is the time to ZOOTIE up. We have a few regatta’s around the corner. If you want to be in it (let alone win it) tell your coach.

Melbourne Head

Hamilton

Wentworth

HOTY CREW’s

Crew selection for HoTY will be announced tomorrow, so sit tight.

Rowing without the Rain

Indoor ergo championships, a hardy crew of 6 rowers braved the 4 min event and rowed their tiger hearts out and came back with a good medal haul. Gold went to Susie, Nicole (new Australian record) and Rochelle, Silver to Gerry, and bronze to Emma – in their respective categories. Martin only managed 4th in a tough field and has recommitted himself to more training.

Time Trials

Around the island time trials, awesome food and some great rowing. The boss showed why she has the top job and did some tricky calculations: She calculated the DS tub four times as an average score, because the same core group of rowers have been doing them, but not in the same boats.

Anyway, the average improvement from Aug is over 8 min and a ~90sec improvement from Sept to October, so well done to Justin and to those that came to camp and watch out seniors! With improvement like that

you’d better smarten up your act, consider oar heights, stroke length etc etc.

THANK YOU TO THE LOVELY MEREDITH for her awesome help with timing the time trials.

Also noted by time trials officials was that the boys just came down to eat bacon and eggs and to practice putting the IT8 on the racks and taking it off the racks. Not a complete waste of time thinking back to some previous fumbling efforts coming back from head of the Yarra when the IT was brand new and the boys were fully rehydrated with beer, they managed to knock the fin off the boat putting it back in the shed.

SUPER TIGER

It has been suggested that we have a Super Tiger each week or on an ad hoc basis as nominated to me and I’ll run it past the rest of the team at our weekly WIP.

Not only a winner with the October Arm Wrestle, but nominated as a super tiger is Joe (and her liver) for her epic Around the Bay in a Day performance, to her liver for coping with a massive dose of panadol which was needed to make through the ride, and for being multi-talented and scoring her first assist (in hockey). Of course, as always for being a gun cox!

In the absence of your nominations, I intend to nominate myself for all sorts of mundane tasks and use the petty cash for awesome prizes.

Thanks

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)

Afternoon Rowers,

Back in the office after a busy start to the week. I have just finished coating my bike in a combination of neodymium, iron and boron, creating….. Ta da…. A giant magnet :o). Around the Bay is on this Sunday and I was suffering strange flashbacks of a err slightly dark finish dragging a err slightly grumpy parent. So what if I haven’t done a single ride over 12kms in the last 6 months, I have done loads of renovating. If I pull this off the Olympic selection team should go to the tradies section of the yellow pages to select the Australian team. Anyway, though I’m sure it will be a breeze, I have decided to magnetise myself to the leading pack (velcro does not stick to those shiny pants). Rest assured it’s not my only tactic. I have bought shares in a banana plantation (I think I’m on a bit of a potassium high right now) and this morning visited a health food shop and purchased 300kgs of protein powder which I intend to consume before Saturday.

1. Time Trial date Change: Was 18th, now 25th. Anyway because I’ll be joined by a large gang of other similarly prepared rowers, including most of the incredible B team, on this cycle ride we’ve had to change the time trial from this weekend to the following weekend. So its now on the 25th of October. If you want to do HOTY (a swimsuit / safety vest beauty competition for HOT girls in Yellow) and Melbourne head, you need to attend these time trials, otherwise you are bound to get lost, or pull a lay down Sally. Mike Numa and his sculling squad will still be doing the cooking and have an extra week to fine tune the menu selection. HOTY is about 6 weeks away so

think about that swimsuit and the gold medal and make sure to keep up with all your on water and ergo training

2. Be friendly: It will also be the last learn to row so if people can hang around and make the newbies feel welcome that would be awesome. (Remember your contract).

3. No weights either: So no time trial this week and no weight training at Richmond Footy Club this week. So lay off the freddo reserves for a few days unless you’re cycling on Sunday. John’s weights are moving to mornings the week of Oct 26th – sessions start at 6:30 am and you can shower at the Punt Rd oval. The sessions are tues (weights), wed (boxercise), fri (weights). There will be no more monday pm weights because we are worried you might get traded to the Adelaide Crows).

4. Like cheering people on? Almost as exciting as the marathon and MUCH harder and you won’t get rained on!

INDOOR ERG CHAMPIONSHIPS:
Event: Indoor Rowing Championship 2009
Date: October, 24th, 2009, 9:00am – 7:00pm, don’t worry you will get a lunch break.
Where: Caulfield Grammar School

To see more details and RSVP, follow the link below:
http://www.facebook.com/n/?event.php&eid=142783754606&mid=134b4c6G2fd3e41aG73184e4G7

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)

Afternoon Rowers,
Sorry for the late email I’ve been busy arranging my emigration to Alice Springs for fear of becoming amphibious. Sooo sick of this rain, under medical conditions I listed soggy, wrinkled fingers and mud fever. I have been able to organise all of this AT work as Nicole has been too frozen and tired to notice and is currently warming herself up in the fridge. More rain due tomorrow, Thursday and Friday hooray.
Grand Final Tipping
Well done to Simon (MNB) for navigating the 50:50 odds successfully and scooping the pool. Tipping comp not as tough as it could have been as apparently Martin thought Collingwood were playing and JK had no idea who made the finals at all.
Failure to Swim
By the way, if anyone has had similar thoughts, a video of yourself holding that day’s paper, then leaping into a pool fully clothed and swimming for 50m is not acceptable to get yourself out of wearing floaties. Best to find out now, though it is a good way to get to know your local pool lifesaver (who unfortunately seem to be MUCH younger than they used to be, shorter and paler).
Camp Highlights

• Mixed masters crew rigging their boat 5 times for a mere 2 rows
• Franzi losing the box biting competition to Emma and having to mop the floor (at home), do the dishes for a week and iron two shirts
• The carrot cake (rumopur has it that Franzi wants to propose to the baker)
• Dennis turning a shade of red as his birthday cake came out on Friday night (the first time we have known it’s his birthday over the camp weekend…shy boy)
• Swimming in the Mitchell River (effing cold it was too)
• The DS reaching the cliffs on the Saturday and making it back to camp in the one piece less a bit of skin on their hands
• Jim Coopers introduction to the committee and coaches including the not so anonymous photo of Anthea with things (???) stuck up her nose
• Storm force winds on the Sunday meaning no rowing and plenty of time for reflection and sleeping in.

Learn to Row
This starts THIS SUNDAY 11:45am and runs for four weeks on consecutive Sundays. Please get in touch with Justin if;
1. You’re looking for a very rewarding way to earn $25 (per session)
2. You need a few tips yourself and feel like going is disguise
3. You have friends who would like to try rowing.
4. You want to con some people into thinking you know what you are doing
5. You are keen to proof read his new book
[email protected] 0425 813929
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)