As the days get shorter, wetter and colder it can only mean one thing, the 2010-11 rowing season is coming to a close with only masters racing left to go. So the months of April and May saw the slightly more mature members (you have to be 27 or over to compete at masters) of RRC take to the water for a few memorable weeks of racing.
The familiar site of the Yarra was the location of the first masters event of the season with the Banks club hosting. It turned out to be a great day for the girls of Kev and Leonie’s hard-working squad with all three lanes of the novice 4 and womens A-C 4 being filled with Richmond boats. Healthy inter-club competition led to wins to the crew coxed by Mike Numa consisting of Karen Bell, Lindsey Brown, Jodie Naisbitt and Sarah Knight. Rachael Button took out the womens A-B single scull and Richmond life member Ray Dennis also came away with a gold from the male maters H double scull.
The following weekend both boats and rowers made the short trip through the city to Albert Park Lake where once again Rachael won in the single and Geri began her assult on the 2011 masters competition with wins in the mixed quad C-E, female double C-E and female quad B-C. Derek’s coxed four consisting of Tamara Lowe, Karen Doggett, Christine Prosser and Sarah Knight found themselves at the start line of the 1km course giving a 30 second headstart to their competitors in the A-G womens coxed four race due to their youthful combination and the aged handicaps of masters racing. Much to their disbelief and delight they managed to power home to victory to round up another great day of racing.
The wild weather of Carrum saw that Masters regatta cancelled and so RRC moved onto Lake Ngambie, the setting for the Victorian State Masters. The early start was well worth it for Mike Numa who coxed the men’s novice four of Charlie Burke, James Farrar, Michael Calvert and Nigel Ainslie to victory in a very exciting, memorable and hard fought race. Only the cheering of the Richmond squad and the appearance of medals persuaded the boys of their win and their reaction was matched by their proud coach Franzi who heard the news whilst back in Melbourne and who is rarely lost for words. The good results continued to flow with bronze for both the women’s four (Tams, Sally, Lindsey and Vikki) and novice quad (Tams, Sally, Lindsey and Sandrine), silver for the female double combination of Karen and Nikki (a new friend from Melbourne) and another surprise result with a gold to Barry and Karen in the mixed double after only one training session. Ray Dennis once again picked up a medal this time in the male F-J coxed four and Geri continued to collect Masters bling in two different quad and double events. Some good natured rivalry saw Geri pip Carolyn to the glory in the female C double, only to have the roles reversed when they came up head-to head in the female C single with the gold going to Carolyn.
Huge congratulations to everyone who has taken part and contributed, a big thanks to Barry for trailoring and organising all the boats and equipment and apologies if I’ve missed or confused any results but as you can see the number of incredible performances has been amazing. The season climaxed at National Masters in June, so watch this space for a round-up of the Tigers triumph in Tasmania – coming soon……
Karen Doggett