This is officially the blog article that took the longest to write… And I will justify myself by hiding behind the cliché that French people are always late.
A few of us (namely Geraldine, Michelle, Stef, Karen, Karissa, Ross, Christine, Morgan and the legendary Raymond Dennis) had the chance to go to the Sunshine Coast (and I really insist on the word “sunshine”) at the beginning of June to participate in the 2016 Australian Masters Rowing Championships. What an epic weekend with Richmond taking part in not less than 28 events and bringing home a total of 11 medals. This is without mentioning the three days of non-stop thunderstorms that added a very special flavour to the whole thing (and a lot of water too) and prevented us from competing in more races since two and a half days of the regatta were cancelled due to the weather conditions (again, let’s remind ourselves that we were on the so called Sunshine coast).
One of the highlights for Richmond: the opportunity to admire Michelle’s strength and determination in getting the gold medal in the B single. A video can testify that “Go Micheeeeeeeeelle!!!” were the two words the most frequently pronounced (or should I say shouted) during the weekend.
Gerry represented the colours of Richmond very highly as usual, bringing back several medals, including a gold medal in a composite F double. She also represented Victoria in the interstate race for the womens D quad which finished up taking the silver medal.
Ray the legend won a gold medal as well in the I eight and a few other medals but an unfortunate injury prevented him from bringing more back home.
While they came fourth, the A quad with Michelle, Karen, Stef and Lisa got a consolation prize with the Fastest club crew medal.
Overall, a great week-end and for me personally huge pride to have been able to take part in the national championships!
To Richmond Rowing Club and the next season starting, Hip hip hooray!!
Lisa Ortu
Hey there Tigers!
The 25th Annual Flying Doctor Rowathon is being held on 8th October 2016, starting and finishing at the Wentworth Rowing Club on the NSW/Vic border. The Flying Doctor Rowathon is a world class event and you can be part of it.
The rowathon is an 82km in a day event along the Murray and the Darling rivers. Not up for rowing the 82kms in a day on your own? No problem! You can row one or more of the four legs (approx 20kms each). Singles, doubles, quads, fours, eights and octos are all permitted. There are trophies and prizes to be won including the new Wentworth Perpetual Trophy. For more information check out the rowathon website.
We are seeking expressions of interest from the tiger community in order to coordinate crews and accommodation for the event. Christine Sullivan is part of the organising committee for the rowathon, and has put up her hand to organise the event for RRC. With the event filling up early last year, we are keen to get our entries in early this year to avoid disappointment. Can you please email Christine ([email protected]) detailing your interest, including boat type, KMs you would like to row, crew preferences (if you have them) etc by the 20/6/2016
Want to know more about the royal flying doctors in the services they provide? Check out the website here: www.flyingdoctor.org.au. You may even see a fellow tiger if you click on the About the rfds > governance tab. All funds raised from this event go to supporting this awesome cause.
For most tigers, the Victorian State Masters Champs is the last regatta of the season. So, lucky for us it’s now a two-day event with so many races that you won’t start missing rowing for weeks. We had a contingent of nearly 40 tigers down at Nagambie and I think everyone enjoyed the last hurrah of the 2015/16 season, with medals a plenty. Having the regatta held over two days also meant that the regatta also doubled as a Eurovision themed sleepover! Go Dami! (but also props to Belgium – you were robbed).
Although the mornings were chilly, Nagambie put on its best Autumn weather in the afternoons and some of our Anglo-tigers even claimed that they were sunburnt.
Naturally, there were loads of successful crews. Gerri Goss won about eight gold medals, and a couple of silver too – well done Gerri on another ridiculously successful season.
Continue reading “Victorian State Masters Championships, 14 – 15 May 2016”
Now, getting right down to the business end of this blog ……. RRC walked away from this regatta with ‘the inaugural Albert Park Masters Regatta Perpetual Trophy’. Not only is this extremely impressive, you should try saying this quickly after two Coronas at the awards ceremony. Seriously though, I know we’re all proud of this achievement and it shows the effort and commitment displayed by all.
I have a soft spot for the Albert Park Lake Regatta as it was my first regatta three years ago and with it being so close to home, it’s always an enjoyable event towards the end of the season. Another reason I like it is that the conditions can vary from being nice and calm to you and your crew being bounced around like you’re on the Spirit of Tasmania.
The first race I watched whilst sipping on a coffee was the male single sculler who smashed into the wall which was dangerously close to the finish line, or the finish line was dangerously close …you get the idea. Amazingly, he rowed off with no damage to himself and minimal damage to his boat. However, as I looked down the course I soon identified his anxiety and what had rattled him so …. Dave was hot on his heels in second place. This was a good omen for the day (for us at least) as RRC seemed to be there or thereabouts in all of the races that I watched and we were always competitive.
Now, I don’t think it could be said up to now that I have ever mentioned ‘gender inequality’ around the club in any format whatsoever. However, now is the time!! To say that the RRC Women’s squad ‘smashed it’ and pretty much singlehandedly brought home the trophy is not an exaggeration.
Michelle Joy led the way with her single scull win early on in the day and Geraldine Goss closely followed that with wins in a composite female quad and a composite mixed double.
The female novice coxed four comprising of: Catie Macdonald, Roslyn Snaauw, Karissa Charlton, Iluka Davidson, coxed by Kathy Macrow romped home in impressive style. Now, that would be enough for most crews but no ….this same crew backed this up with a win in the female novice coxed quad as well, with Sarah Houghton coxing this time. Well done Ladies, great work!!
Later on, Michelle was back for some more glory with Karen with a win in the doubles.
Not to be left behind, the Female Masters coxed four of: Judith Hayes, Sue Powell, Hannah Harborow, Karin Bouvin, coxed by Derek picked up a very handy win towards the end of the regatta.
Now, huh-hmmmm, we come to the medal contribution made by the Men’s Squad. Fortunately Ray Dennis led the way with a win in a composite eight and……errr. Seriously though, it was a great effort by the Men’s Squad with a lot of close seconds and lots of commitment.
All in all it was a great day. Here’s to next year’s Albert Park Lake Regatta and the retention of ‘our’ trophy.
Cheers!!
Raymond O’Shea
I can’t really think of a new and original way to write “the alarm went off at the crack of dawn and I questioned my sanity in choosing the sport of rowing” but it did. And I did.
Once again the water at Lake Wendouree was calm, as seems to have been a pleasant trend this season, contrary to the whitecaps and seven seas esq swells and waves I was told to prepare for.
Generally speaking it was a day of strong seconds and tough thirds. A few highlights:
The first races were the entire fleet of quads, in mixed races. Our Black and Yellow dominated colour wise and there was a close second, alas perhaps we scared the opposition into winning. Good form and spirit shown by all. We had Chris, Jen, Leigh and Guy (2nd); and Theresa, Morgan, Barry and Andrew (4th); and Karin, Rob, Hannah and Evert. Laurent and Derek have some competition with up and coming coxes Shern and Erin.
Michelle and Sarah faced off in their singles with Michelle gracefully taking the lead with exceptional technique and a one second headstart. She won by around 200m.
The “novice” boys had a win- Laurent, Guy, Ray, and Allan, Coxed by Shern showed all the other novice crews how it’s done. No prior rowing experience of course just naturally gifted athletes!
The Mens pair of Matt and Jon were off 26 seconds. They gracefully finished the race. To be fair they had it rough, competing against a bronze medal Olympian.
The side wind pick up and despite best efforts it’s not surprising when waiting for 14 seconds, or even 3 seconds the boats drift across and even less surprising/ expected is the grumpy official carry on. Tap it forward once. Now back it. Get in your lane. Check it there. Back it up. Line up. All the coxwains did a brilliant job navigating the start line up and manoeuvring us in relatively straight lines down the course
Special thanks to Leigh for towing the trailer up and Christine for organising us all with bow numbers and Barry for organising the boats
We missed our mighty president and head of rowing
Sarah Houghton
Well well well !!! What a great Easter break that was !
The Wentworth and Mildura regattas were surely one of the nicest and most enjoyable regattas I have got to experience.
Originally concerned by the driving (a good 7 hours), it became clear very early on the Friday morning that it would be a very exciting trip.
A few stops along the way for coffee, lunch and a beer at the Mildura Brewery Pub and there we were : Wentworth NSW!
Interesting fact, Wentworth is in NSW while Mildura is located in Victoria, separated by the Murray river.
Wentworth lies at the confluence of the Darling and the Murray rivers, the regatta taking place on the Darling. Continue reading “That's a wrap for sprint season 2016”
Saturday
Up for my first regatta in quite a while at Footscray some nerves creeping in on the drive in, also not knowing how to get there in traffic not helping.
The weather looks overcast with a chance of rain in the morning which is nearly over as I’m not racing until 12.40 so arriving at 11.00 finding the Richmond boat trailer and fellow crew members. As we walked along the river it was easy to find the Richmond tent and oarspersons with black and yellow everywhere well setup and nice shelter from the cold.
Our first podium Gold and Silver came with the male D grade coxed four a bit of a battle between coxswains there. The male master’s quad scull was a eye opener for me as we gave the Powerhouse crew a 4 second start and was not able to catch them, not sure how that works as the crew looked pretty polished. Continue reading “Footscray and Essendon regattas 2016”
The Day Dave Tried to Kill Me
Leaving behind the sights and sounds of my new home, Melbourne, we cruise our way towards Ballarat for the 2016 Victorian State Championships. Having only half prepared for the weather (packing a jumper was a stroke of genius) the first thing I noticed was the temperature and the wind. I don’t think anyone could have missed how cold it was.
As I prepared myself mentally for my one race of the day, I witnessed some amazing performances from the Richmond team. The girls racing in B grade over 2km showed great skill, spirit and stamina. The highlight of which was Sophie, Michelle, Ainsley and Gerry coxed by Mike pulling away to victory over Melbourne in the quad scull, a crew against whom they had been battling with all season but waiting until the state championships to assert their dominance. Continue reading “Vic State Championships, 2016”
Many of RRC’s states crews took the opportunity this Saturday in the last weekend before the Victorian State Championships to get some race practice at Australian Henley with 800m match racing.
With only masters and C grade club racing or above available the competition was fierce but we had strong representation across the mens and womens events. With 25 entries in the mens C quad and only two lanes to race on the Yarra, Andy, Michael, Andrew and Leigh coxed by Christine had a tough job but completing the course as a time trial they finished sixth qualifying for the C final.
Both the womens C grade and masters quad had 8 entries with Richmond representing a crew in each. The unstoppable combination of Sophie, Michelle, Ainsley and Gerry coxed by Mike Numa went from strength to strength through the heat, semi and final improving with every row to finish victorious and with beaming smiles collect their well deserved medals.
Continue reading “Hooray for Henley”