Monday 8 February
Stars shine at NSW state championships
The NSW State Championships produced some excellent racing during the two day regatta last weekend at the Sydney International Regatta Centre.
With a large attendance from across Australia, the regatta was used to try a number of different combinations, as well as a trial for the interstate regatta at the Australian Rowing Championships in three weeks time.
The women’s single scull produced one of the strongest fields of the regatta with 2008 Beijing Olympic Games participant Pippa Savage prevailing in the final over fellow Toowoomba rower Sally Kehoe. Savage crossed the line in a time of 7.42.25 to lead home Kehoe by 1.12 seconds, while Victorian Kim Crow sealed the final spot on the podium, seven seconds behind the leading two.
Kehoe later teamed with Sarah Cook in the women’s double scull to claim a half second victory over Tara Kelly and Hannah Every Hall. It was a great race for first place, with Kehoe and Cook having enough at the line to take the win, with the young combination of Amy Fowler and Alexandra Hagan rounding out the top three.
Every Hall and Tara Kelly went head to head in the women’s lightweight single scull, finishing first and second in that order to round off a good regatta for both athletes. Bronwen Watson, member of the Australian lightweight women’s double scull in 2009 finished in third place.
The men’s single scull proved to be a race between three, as the three quarters of the 2009 Australian men’s quad scull battled it out for the victory.
Dan Noonan, rowing for the Mosman club, held off Queensland’s Jared Bidwell and Sydney Uni captain Nick Hudson, with all three rowers crossing the line within 5 seconds of each other. All three of these rowers will battle it out for selection as part of the Australian men’s sculling group later this year.
Noonan then combined with Hudson in the men’s double scull to add a second state title to his collection for the weekend. The New South Wales pair were in total command of the race and won by a clear two boat lengths to confirm their status as two of Australia’s premier scullers.
The men’s pair produced one of the closest races of the regatta with The AIS duo of Josh Dunkley Smith and Tom Larkins hitting the line first ahead of fellow scholarship holders Sam Loch and Nicholas Purnell. Matt Ryan and Fergus Pragnell were a further three seconds back in third place.
Australia’s premier rowers will now finalise their preparations ahead of the 2010 Australian Rowing Championships which will be held at Nagambie Lake in Victoria from March 1–7.
Friday 5 February
2010 Australian Rowing Championships and Interstate Regatta – entries close on February 8th, 7:00 PM (AEDT) (GMT +11 hours)
We are about a third of the way there with nearly 450 entries taken and 4 days to go before the close (as of 4 Feb).
The most popular event to date is the Under 19 Men’s Single Scull, with 27 entries. Not far behind is the Schoolboy Single with 26 entries.
To make an entry go to: http://roms.rowingaustralia.com.au
Friday 5 February
Ex Australian rower adapts to life as Mayor
Rowing Australia would like to congratulate former Australian team rower Tim Smith on his election to the position of Mayor of Stonnington, a district of Melbourne. Tim was elected to the seat in December after a close election race and now is testing his attributes in politics.
David Crawshay, Australian men’s team captain and Olympic Gold medallist wrote the following letter to the editor throwing his support behind Tim, shortly before the new mayor was elected.
ALTHOUGH not a resident of Stonnington, I have been taking a keen interest in the mayoral contest as it involves someone whom I regard as a close friend: Tim Smith ("It's a two-horse race," pl. November 24). I have known Tim for almost nine years, mainly through our shared passion of rowing, but also off the water. What has impressed me so much about him is his relentless sense of hard work and his desire. Tim was not the most gifted of oarsmen, but nonetheless rose above those who were more fancied, and in no small part was this due to his determination. I have great memories of his battling performance to win bronze in the lightweight eight event at the 2004 World Rowing Championships. He also provided me with much needed support during my campaign for the Beijing Olympics, where I won gold. I believe that Stonnington will be well served by Tim's attributes of determination and good, old-fashioned hard work. He would make an excellent mayor.
We wish Tim all the best over the coming months and years as Mayor of Stonnington.
Friday 5 February
South Australian rowing celebrates Mannum regatta in style
All of South Australian Rowing moves this Saturday to the River Murray for the annual Mannum Rowing Club racing regatta.
2010 marks the 100th year of the Mannum Rowing Club who will celebrate with their centenary regatta next year as their first regatta was held in 1911.
Four of the senior city clubs from Adelaide, namely Port Adelaide, Torrens, Riverside and Adelaide Uni, have entered as have Mannum and other country clubs from Berri, Goolwa, Murray Bridge and Port Pirie.
There are a pleasantly surprising number of school entries so early in the school year with no less than seven of the SA school clubs set to race in their age groups with crews from Scotch, Annesley, Seymour, St. Peters and St. Ignatius Colleges as well as the Unley and Adelaide High schools.
There are 45 races scheduled on the programme starting at 9.30am with the last event, the Arnold Cup, due to start at 1.15.
The feature event of the annual Mannum Regatta is the Arnold Cup for second grade men’s coxed fours which has attracted crew entries from Adelaide Uni, Torrens, Port Adelaide and Riverside.
Port Adelaide won the Cup last year and will again start favourites to win two in a row, but both Torrens and Adelaide Uni will make it hard for them.
The Cup was donated by the famous Murray River paddle steamer Captain and pioneer, Captain Arnold, and was first raced for in 1911 at that first Mannum Annual regatta.
For more information please call Phil Mangelsdorf on 0447 691 720.
Thursday 4 February
Racing uniforms – an open letter to the rowing community from RA President, Colin Smith
Please read the attached letter (pdf, 100kb) from RA President, Colin Smith.
Input and suggestions into the 'Look' of rowing are being sought from the wider rowing community. In particular, the way we present our sport – specifically, in respect of composite crews at the Nationals and how this ‘Looks’ in a TV presentation and at the venue itself.
Following input from each State Association, comments are now being sought from members of the wider rowing community.
Closing date for your considered comments is 11th Feb, 2010
Send your email to: info@rowingaustralia.com.au
Tuesday 2 February
RA media release:
Australian rowing snares prized recruit
The New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS) and the Australian rowing fraternity have pulled off a major coup by capturing highly rated United States coach Curtis Jordan.
Jordan has been appointed as the Head Coach of the NSWIS rowing program and commences in his role on Thursday 4 February, thus filling the final place on offer in the National Training Centre’s across Australia.
The United States coach held one of the most successful records in the sport of rowing upon his retirement in 2009, but the lure of working in the Australian rowing program brought him out of retirement to take up his new position.
Jordan held the position of head coach at the Princeton University for 19 years and during this time was crowned as the most successful coach in their 130 year rowing history.
During this time Jordan’s feats included an unbeaten 2006 season where his heavyweight men’s eight crew finished with a record of 9-0. This included being the first collegiate crew to win the men’s championship eights since 1983.
Jordan has also coached four United States Olympic crews, with his best result coming in 1996, where he led the men’s lightweight four to a bronze medal.
National High Performance Director Andrew Matheson says Jordan’s appointment is another huge step forward in the national high performance program.
“Curtis has an extremely impressive record and has shown he has the ability to gain the best out of his athletes at the elite level,” Matheson said. “For NSWIS to gain his services is a credit to the program they are operating and his expertise will be of great value throughout their rowing program, and indeed right across Australia.”
For more information please call David Polglase on 0401 453 041
Friday 29 January
Keith Jameson OAM
Over forty five years of unbroken and distinguished service to our sport by Keith Jameson was recognised on Australia Day when he was awarded the Order of Australia Medal.
Keith, currently the President of Sydney Rowing Club since 1997 began his involvement with rowing at Sydney High in the late 1950s. Keith rowed at Sydney 1962–65 becoming a coach in 1966 and Vice Captain in 1968. Keith has served Sydney as Coach, Captain, Vice President and Board member continuously since retiring from competition in 1965. During much of this time Sydney Rowing Club has been the leading competitive club in both New South Wales and Australia winning hundreds of state and national championships and providing dozens of state and national representatives.
In addition to his roles at his club Keith Jameson has completed extensive service for Rowing NSW including roles as the Association Honorary Secretary, Association Treasurer and Vice President. Keith has been recognized by Rowing NSW with the award of Honorary Life Membership. Keith has also served as Treasurer of our national body, Rowing Australia.
Keith’s continual service for his club administratively has been through greatly changing times for the club industry. During a period when many clubs have struggled, closed or amalgamated Keith Jameson and his fellow board members have kept Sydney Rowing Club strong and an important contributor to New South Wales Rowing both financially and competitively.
Rowing NSW congratulates Keith Jameson and Sydney Rowing Club on his OAM and looks forward to his continuing contribution to our sport in the years ahead.
Congratulations Keith Jameson – well rowed!
Doug Donoghue AM and Chris Noel
Thursday 24 December
2010–2012 Selection Policy and related documents: now available
The 2010–2012 Selection Policy, Appeals Policy, updated Event Requirements and Nomination forms have now been released and are available via the selection policy page.
Friday 18 December
2010 Rowing Australia Supporters Tours
Rowing Australia, through its official travel management company, is offering all inclusive Supporters Tours to all 2010 events including the 2010 Worlds Championships in Lake Karapiro, New Zealand.
New Zealand Supporters Packages will be made available in three different tiers; an Executive Package, an Economy Package and a Budget Package. All Supporters packages will be inclusive of airfares, accommodation, ground transport and FISA Family Grandstand tickets. Additional tourist extensions of Supporters Packages will also be available. Exact pricing and package details are currently being finalised and will be released early in 2010.
Supporters Tours are also being developed for:
- Junior World Championships in Racice, Czech Republic (4th to 7th August)
- Under 23 World Championships in Brest, Belarus (22nd to 25th July)
- Henley Royal Regatta and the Lucerne World Cup (30th June to 11th July)
Availability for all Supporters Tours is limited. To guarantee priority access to packages please send an expression of interest including number of desired packages and contact details to Matt Treglown at mtreglown@rowingaustralia.com.au.
