2023 Victoria Masters Championships Regatta

Unfortunately this regatta had a very inauspicious start, as Rowing Victoria abruptly decided to condense the 2 day regatta into just 1 day of racing on the Saturday. This resulted in chaos and confusion with crews, boats and accommodation all to be reshuffled accordingly. Masters Regattas are already challenging logistically, thanks to the extra layer of complexity with age categories. So the last minute decision by RV only added to the workload.
Massive thank you to Will Golding, Lucci Meagher and Michael Hedger for going through the whole tetris of entries and resource allocation not once, but twice! Your efforts were hugely appreciated.

Despite all this, we had a healthy contingent of RRC rowers eager to get on water and start racing on the day. We shivered our way through arctic conditions and drizzle, but were rewarded with a very welcome held start at the 1km mark. We also spotted Christine Sullivan in the starting block, as she was training for her Umpire Level 2 accreditation. Well done Chris!

Conditions were calm for racing and some great results started flowing in. Of particular note were the performances of Geraldine Goss, Kate Dyball, and Helen Pearce, who between them won medals for 13 events! A phenomenal achievement, congratulations.

Results

FMAB1XGoldKate Dyball
FMC4X-GoldKate Dyball, Helen Pearce
(POWR MELB RCHMD Composite)
FMEK8+GoldGeraldine Goss
(MELB MUBC NRC BRC BANKS RCHMD Composite)
FMAB4X-GoldHelen Pearce
(APSM WENDB MELB RCHMD Composite)
FME4X-GoldHelen Pearce, Geraldine Goss
(MUBC MELB RCHMD Composite)
FMC2XGoldKate Dyball
(APSM RCHMD Composite)
FMAD8+GoldGeraldine Goss
(CARM YARRA MELB WENDB POWR RCHMD Composite)
FMF2XGoldGeraldine Goss
(MUBC RCHMD Composite)
FMD2XSilverGeraldine Goss, Helen Pearce
MMAB4XSilverJack Hellerstedt, Pavel Oborin, John Carey, Pat Cook
FMFK4X-SilverGeraldine Goss
(NRC BCRC NRC RCHMD Composite)
MMGM4+SilverRay Dennis
(BANKS RCHMD Composite)
FMAB2-SilverHelen Pearce, Kate Dyball
FMAB2XSilverHelen Pearce, Kate Dyball
FMClub8+BronzeWan Emptage, Louise Roberts-Bailey, Aline Dejaegher, Emily Bourke, Geraldine Goss, Amy Catlin, Kath Franklin, Beth Rosenberg, Cox: Sam Lincoln

Thank you

Attendance at this regatta would not have been possible without the help and dedication of our wonderful volunteers. Thank you to Phil Munson and Leigh Sullivan for towing the trailer, Amy Catlin for organising attendance to boatloading/unloading, and a very special thank you to Emil Limansyah, who was present at the regatta centre at the crack of dawn to help other crews rig their boats, and stayed until the very end of the day when the trailer took off. You are the embodiment of club spirit, thank you Emil!

For more photos of the weekend, click here

2023 Footscray Regatta

We were greeted by a gorgeous sunrise when we arrived at Footscray Rowing Club on Saturday morning, and Richmond members were keen to get the boats rigged and on water. The 800m Maribyrnong racing course is un-buoyed and hides a few sneaky turns, but with sunny skies and a light tailwind, conditions were excellent for racing.

The day started off with the Masters Women’s 8 in a two-boat duel with Melbourne RC, in which both crews ended up with key equipment failures. That’s what happens when you go hard! Thankfully the Richmond crew managed to row through all the chaos and came out winners. Along with a win in the FB4X+ it made for a successful day for the ladies.
The male crews also dominated their races with back to back Masters medals in the MM4X- and the MM4+, and the two male doubles crews (Jack H and Keith W in one, James M and Emil L in the other) winning their MC2X events.
Finally we had an explosion of bling with the mixed events, which proved extremely popular in all categories. Jack H and Ally D first won their X2X, soon followed by all 3 mixed quads winning their divisions! Finally the mixed 8 closed the events with a glorious win and the fastest time of the day (we even beat Mercs).
Well done to everyone who competed, volunteered, or cheered us on; it made for a great day and a memorable regatta!

Wins

FM8+ Geraldine Goss, Louise Roberts-Bailey, Cynthia Masters, Shern Timmins, Charlotte May, Norah Finn, Sam Leslie, Sarah Houghton, Cox: Ally Dejaegher
MM4X- Pavel Oborin, Jack Hellerstedt, John Carey, Tim Foster
FB4X+ Lily Innes-Irons, Caley Manzie, Marie Bergmann, Kat Spinnler-Jenkins, Cox: Emily Bourke
X2X Jack Hellerstedt, Ally Dejaegher
MM4+ Jon Roberts, Richie Healy, John Carey, Tim Foster, Cox: Ally Dejaegher
X4X+ Kate Dyball, Helen Pearce, Tim Foster, Pat Cook, Cox: Pavel Oborin
X4X+ Emil Limansyah, James Merrett, Wan Emptage, Ally Dejaegher, Cox: Amy Catlin
X4X+ Keith Wong, Gerry Goss, Ben Wardle, Lily Innes-Irons, Cox: Jack Hellerstedt
MC2X Jack Hellerstedt, Keith Wong
MC2X Emil Limansyah, James Merrett
X8+ Pavel Oborin, Kate Dyball, Lily Innes-Irons, Amy Catlin, Ben Wardle, Helen Pearce, Pat Cook, Tim Foster, Cox: Ally Dejaegher

Thank yous

  • Kim Begelhole – For towing the trailer to and from Footscray, as well as preparing the trailer plan and supervising boatloading
  • Michael Gehling – For doing BRO duties
  • Amy Catlin – For keeping us in check for boatloading and unloading responsibilities and making sure people are held accountable
  • All our coxes – Big thank you to everyone volunteering to steer our crews to the finish line!


Check out more photos of the day click this link

2022 Carrum Regatta

In a very unusual turn of events, Carrum was one of the few regattas this year that wasn’t at risk of cancellation or location change. Not only that, but the weather gods were on our side as we enjoyed glorious clear skies, light winds and a barely there whiff from the treatment plant – perfect conditions for racing.

Despite a small contingent from Richmond and tough competition from the likes of Mercantile and Carey, we were still successful on the water with several wins and some very close races.

Well done to all participants, particularly those for whom it was a new experience:
Emily Bourke, Sean Rushby and James Merrett – First time sprint racing
Amy Catlin – first time coxing in a regatta

Massive thank you to our team of volunteers for making this event possible:
Barry Campbell for towing the trailer in the most appalling traffic conditions
Phil Munson for being our BRO extraordinaire for the afternoon session
Jack Hellerstedt as our official event photographer
Everyone who helped each other out by coxing, carrying blades & boats, providing lifts, words of encouragement, sweet treats or watermelon-scented suncream


Results

First place – Medals!

FB4x+ Emily Bourke, Millie Cameron, Gabriela Bekir-Fuente, Sarah Hardy, coxed by Ally Dejaegher – 4:03.66


FM4x+ Ally Dejaegher, Sarah Hardy, Anthea Amos, Christine Sullivan, coxed by Amy Catlin – 4:51.83


X8+ Tim Foster, Will Golding, Alex Pupko, Ben Wardle, Amy Catlin, Lily Innes-Irons, Gabriela Bekir-Fuente, Emily Bourke, coxed by Ally Dejaegher – 3:44.63


Second place

MA4x+ Will Golding, Ben Wardle, Isaac Balemi, Pat Cook, coxed by Derek Begg – 3:23.56
FB2- Lily Innes-Irons, Amy Catlin – 4:13.21
MB4+ Tim Foster, Ben Wardle, Isaac Balemi, Pat Cook, coxed by Derek Begg – 3:41.65
MB8+ Tim Foster, Pat Cook, Ben Wardle, Isaac Balemi, Alex Pupko, Michael Gehling, Jack Hellerstedt, Keith Wong, coxed by Will Golding 3:34.43
X4x+ Jack Hellerstedt, Amy Catlin, Ally Dejaegher, Dennis Beck, coxed by Keith Wong 4:01.58
MA8+ Tim Foster, Pat Cook, Ben Wardle, Isaac Balemi, Alex Pupko, Will Golding, Jack Hellerstedt, Dennis Beck, coxed by Ally Dejaegher 3:25.64


Third place

MB4x+ Keith Wong, James Merrett, Sean Rushby, Emil Limansyah, coxed by Lily Innes-Irons 4:04.82
FM2x Anthea Amos, Val Dowell [MRC] 5:24.04

Another great day for Richmond Rowing Club

link to album