November 2009
Monday 30 November
History in the making as University of Melbourne claims victory at Head of the Yarra
The University of Melbourne has come out on top in at an Oxford v Cambridge style showdown at this afternoon’s 51st Head of the Yarra.
The University of Melbourne took out the Women’s Open event, 28:18 ahead of Sydney in a time of 30:36. The Melbourne University Boat Club (MUBC) men’s team took out the University Challenge and the Open Men’s event, with a time of 25:33, ahead of Sydney University Boat Club (SUBC), with a time of 25.39.
The two clubs faced off in the Open Section of the 8.6km time trial event exclusively for eight oared crews, joined by more than 2000 rowers and 204 boats around Australia, New Zealand and China.
The teams featured some of the cream of Australia’s rowing talent: Beijing Olympic Silver Medalists’ Cameron McKenzie-McHarg and James Marburg rowed with the Melbourne University Boat Club, while Matt Ryan rowed with the Sydney University Boat Club’s first team.
In the women’s teams Dual world Champion in the Lightweight Division, Alice MacNamara and Beijing Olympic rowers Kim Crow, Sarah Heard and Lizzy Patrick rowed for MUBC, while Liz Kell, who as well as rowing in the 2008 Beijing Olympics was the Australian Women’s Double Scull world champion in 2006, rowed with the SUBC.
The Melbourne University Boat Club has now won six of the past nine Head of the Yarra races, while the Sydney University Boat Club is the 2009 NSW State Rowing Champion.
The rivalry builds on a history of rowing rivalry among Australia’s universities. In the early 1900s the annual intervarsity boat race for eight oared crews between Australian universities (the original competing universities in those days were Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide) was a major event on the national rowing calendar alongside the various interstate races.
Established in 1859 (MUBC) and 1860 (SUBC), the two clubs are the oldest rowing clubs in Australia and are home to many Olympians and national representatives.
The rivalry is set to become an annual event in the tradition of Oxford and Cambridge Universities, which have raced against each other every year since 1829 on the River Thames.
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Looking down the Yarra River as crews do battle down the course |
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The two winning Melbourne Uni crews celebrate their victory
in their respective races |
For more information contact:
David Scott, Media Officer, University of Melbourne
T: 8344 0561 M: 0409 024 230
Diane Squires, Media & PR Manager, University of Melbourne
T: 8344 6937 M: 0432 754 232
Pat Freeland-Small, Media Manager - Head of the Yarra
M: 0418 63 1862
Photos are available on request.
Website: www.headoftheyarra.com
Friday 27 November
Rowing Octos receive due recognition for achievements
Rowing Australia threw their support behind last month’s World Masters Games in Sydney and in particularly behind the races for competitors 80 years of age and older.
The J8 (80+) races were to be held on Tuesday 15 October but unfortunately had to be cancelled due to the high winds that swept across the Sydney International Regatta Course.
Rowing Australia had organised a ceremony to present the “Octo’s” with a plaque in recognition of their participation in the 2009 World Masters Games and also to recognise their continued involvement in the sport of rowing. FISA President Denis Oswald and Rebecca Joyce, Rowing Australia Board Member and former World Champion, were on hand to present each of the medals and plaques.
Outgoing Rowing Australia President Patrick McNamara wrote a letter to each of the Octo competitors acknowledging them “a source of great inspiration for young rowers and a wonderful example of the magnificent character that the sport of rowing instills in all of its devotees.”
A personalised plaque was enclosed with each letter.
91 year old Ralph Howard was delighted with the presentation. He said it was terrific that Rowing Australia had recognised the achievements of the World Masters Games Octo’s, once again showing their renewed commitment to Australian community rowing.
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Octo Raloh Howard with his Rowing Australia plaque |
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Burk Ketcham (l) from Tacoma, US addressing the spectators at WMG about his
and fellow Aussie Senior Masters rowers having the J class made mandatory
since last year in all future FISA World Masters Regattas |
Thursday 26 November
Do not give up all that we have won
Paul M. Guest, letter to the editor, The Age
The release of the government-sponsored Crawford report into the future of Australian sport (The Age, 18/11) is myopic in its content and in my view, represents a thumbing-down of the Australian sporting ethos, its celebrated and hard-won positioning, and is an insult to those fine young Australians who have the energy and vision to compete on the world stage.
Are the deconstructionists now battering on the gate of aspiration? I recall the minister for sport, Ros Kelly saying in July 1992 that "our philosophy and interest in recent times is more geared to success", under the banner of "medals or else". What a turnaround.
Any decision to reduce funding has the capacity to undo all that has been gained. Having competed in three Olympic Games in the 1960s, I know what it is like to compete on a field that is far from level. Support our young champions, who sacrifice so much to achieve success, and do not dumb down our proud heritage.
Paul Guest
Chair of the Rowing Australia Appeals Tribunal
Thursday 26 November
National Championships 2010 – Nagambie, Vic. — Bulletin 1 now available
Download (pdf, 480kb)
Thursday 26 November
Sydney issues challenge to Melbourne in the tradition of Oxford and Cambridge
The University of Sydney has challenged the University of Melbourne’s crown at this year’s Head of the Yarra in a university showdown at the nation’s rowing classic being held this year on Saturday 28 November.
The Melbourne University Boat Club has won five of the past eight Head of the Yarra races, while the Sydney University Boat Club is the 2009 NSW State Rowing Champion.
This year the University of Sydney will send two men’s and a women’s team to Victoria to take part in the Open section of the event. The challenge will see some of the country’s leading rowers go head to head at the popular event exclusively for eight oared crews. In total, more than 2000 rowers from all over the country, New Zealand and China will be vying for the fastest times over the grueling 8.6km Yarra River course, with the largest group ever of 204 boats competing in the event.
Beijing Olympic Silver Medalists’ Cameron McKenzie-McHarg and James Marburg will row with the Melbourne University Boat Club, while Matt Ryan will row with the Sydney University Boat Club’s first team.
In the women’s teams Dual world Champion in the Lightweight Division, Alice MacNamara and Beijing Olympic rowers Kim Crow, Sarah Heard and Lizzy Patrick will row for MUBC. Liz Kell, who as well as rowing in the 2008 Beijing Olympics was the Women’s Double Scull world champion in 2006 will row with the SUBC, along with fellow 2008 Olympian Sarah Cook.
The universities are Australia’s first two universities and have just been announced as among the nation’s top world ranked academic performers in the Shanghai Jiao Tong World University rankings.
Established in 1859 (MUBC) and 1860 (SUBC), the two clubs are the oldest rowing clubs in Australia and are home to many Olympians and national representatives.
The rivalry is set to become an annual event in the tradition of Oxford and Cambridge Universities, which have raced against each other every year since 1829 on the River Thames.
The rivalry builds on a history of rowing rivalry among Australia’s universities. In the early 1900s the annual intervarsity boat race for eight oared crews between Australian universities (the original competing universities in those days were Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide) was a major event on the national rowing calendar alongside the various interstate races.
For more information contact:
David Scott, Media Officer, University of Melbourne
T: 8344 0561 M: 0409 024 230
Diane Squires, PR & Media Manager, University of Melbourne
T: 8344 6937 M: 0432 754 232
Pat Freeland-Small, Media Manager - Head of the Yarra
M: 0418 63 1862
Photo shoots & interviews with athletes and crews in training can be arranged via appointment.
Website: www.headoftheyarra.com
Wednesday 25 November
RA media release:
Albisser commences role as new adaptive coach
Pedro Albisser has commenced his role as the National Rowing Centre of Excellence (NRCE) Adaptive Rowing Coach in a move that will further strengthen the adaptive rowing program in Australia.
Albisser, who has been a central figure in adaptive rowing in Australia over the past few years, including guiding Kathryn Ross (VIC) and John Maclean (NSW) to a silver medal at the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games, was appointed to the position earlier this month before formally commencing his role yesterday (23 November).
He will head up the new adaptive rowing program at the AIS and will initially take charge of the two scholarship holders, Ben Houlison (NSW) and Ross, who will arrive in Canberra this weekend.
Albisser will also be in charge of the national adaptive rowing program as Australia continues to build over the next three years ahead of the 2012 London Paralympic Games.
Albisser says he is looking forward to the new challenge that presents itself at the NRCE.
“We have a lot of potential for adaptive rowing in Australia and being able to commence as the first coach here at the NRCE is definitely an honour,” Albisser said. “We still have a lot of hard work to do in adaptive rowing but we are taking the right steps to ensure that we remain a strong adaptive rowing nation.”
National High Performance Director Andrew Matheson says he is looking forward to working closely with Albisser.
“Pedro is an excellent addition to our staff here at the NRCE and will bring with him a lot of experience in adaptive rowing,” Matheson said. “His record over past years with some of our adaptive rowers has been tremendous and I look forward to his contribution to the program.”
Three more staff members have recently joined the NRCE as the program continues to build after a successful first year of operation.
Tom Morris has begun his role as the new AIS Scholarship Coach, Cora Zillich has undertaken the role as NRCE Operations Manager and Anna Tree joins as the Talent Development Coach.
Zillich has assumed the role that was vacated by Matt Draper following his appointment as the National Development and Events Director and brings with her a long history of rowing involvement as well as extensive corporate experience.
She was a former national team rower with Germany and served on the board of the German Rowing Federation from 2003-2005. In addition she was on the Organising Committee for the 2007 World Rowing Championships in Munich, so brings a great deal of experience from the operations perspective.
In 2009 Zillich has worked as a consultant for FISA and most recently was part of the FISA media team at the 2009 World Rowing Championships in Poznan, Poland.
As the Operations Manager at the NRCE, Zillich’s knowledge of the German and Italian languages will also prove useful in organising future tours.
For more information please call David Polglase on 0401 453 041
Wednesday 25 November
Funding Olympic sports is no game
Sunday Telegraph, 22 November
In gloomy economic times, Australians look to their sporting heroes more than ever. So now is definitely not the time to slash Olympic funding, writes Australian Olympic Committee president John Coates
As a raw rowing manager many years ago, I dreamed that one day Australia would again host the Olympic Games. In Sydney in 2000, I felt privileged to be part of a celebration that engulfed the entire nation and earned Australia, and Australians, accolades throughout the world.
The Games delivered much more than 58 medals for the home team.
Up there with the feats of Cathy Freeman and Ian Thorpe was the outpouring of national pride. To see Australians standing on trains singing the national anthem made me so proud I thought I would burst.
Australians are usually reserved, but during the Olympics they found their voice.
When Sydney won the bid in 1993, prime minister Paul Keating said: "This is an opportunity for Australia and Australians to show we can hack it in the big time."
Keating felt the Olympics were an opportunity to tell the world we could achieve anything in business or sport that we were a "can do" nation.
He was right. When we hosted the Games, Australians sang from the rooftops and the world listened.
Almost a decade on from 2000, the lure of the Olympics has taken on even greater importance for those desperate to win the right to host the Games.
In a world gripped by terrorism, war and poverty, US President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle attended the International Olympic Committee (IOC) meeting in Copenhagen last month to try to win the 2016 Olympics for Chicago.
Obama wanted the Games for two reasons. Chicago is his home town but, more important, he saw a chance to repair fractured relations with countries around the globe and promote world peace.
He said he wanted to restore America's image as a friendly nation, and Olympic sport was key to achieving that aim.
Obama told delegates: "Peaceful competition between nations is all that is good about humanity.
"Over the past few years, the fundamental truth of the United States has been lost. The Olympic Games could restore it."
I believe Prime Minister Kevin Rudd understands the necessity of maintaining Australia's standing in elite sport, as his friend Mr Obama certainly does.
I am sure Rudd is also well aware of the power of engaging through sport internationally. He has said Australia's global standing lies in the fact that we are an enormously competitive nation on the international field of sport. It is part of who we are as a country.
In a speech at the Hall of Fame Sport Awards in 2008, Rudd said: "When you reflect on this history of sport in this country and you reflect on how it has been ingrained into the nation's soul, you cannot separate the two.
"Our sporting heroes are part of the soul of the Australian nation. And you know that from the soul of the nation comes the spirit of the nation. Let me say, the inspiration of our sportsmen and women becomes even more important."
The Crawford panel is putting all this in jeopardy. According to David Crawford, "The bias towards funding Olympic sports leads to outcomes that make little strategic sense for Australia."
The US President and the First Lady were not alone in Copenhagen. The President of Brazil was there, as were the King of Spain and the Japanese Prime Minister. All had their eye on the prize.
Rudd was in China last year with 70 other world leaders to watch the Beijing Olympics. He sat in the stands with George W. Bush. He saw first hand how sport enables countries to forge closer ties. China is our largest trading nation and the friendships established at the Beijing Olympics only strengthened those ties.
The Australian Olympic team was by far the most popular team in the Olympic village. The athletes did an outstanding job `'selling" their country to the world.
They deserve recognition for their work, on and off the sporting arena.
Austrade leveraged the Olympic brand during the Beijing Olympics to clinch more deals in China. It's asking if it can do the same for Vancouver and London.
We are delighted to assist the federal Government, but it's a two-way street.
You can't say, "Sorry, guys, you don't deserve any extra funding. But, by the way, we want to hang off your coat tails again and knock over a few more trade contracts and business deals in Vancouver and London, and beyond." That's a bit rich.
Australian athletes have been rubbing shoulders with the world's best for some time. Little Australia, with just 20 million people, finished fourth in the medal tally at the Sydney Games. It was up there with the superpowers again at the Athens Olympics in 2004 and in Beijing in 2008.
Australians love to win, but in his report David Crawford suggests we should accept second best and aim for eighth or 10th on the medal tally.
This is like telling Kevin Rudd to forget about being a member of the G20 summit, aim to be 21st or 31st and lose his seat at the top table. Become an also-ran.
In the 1930s, Australians had little to cheer about following the Great Depression. We fell in love with a racehorse called Phar Lap. In the '40s, we idolised a little bloke in a baggy green cap called Don Bradman.
They are still part of the national ethos.
Yet Crawford offers this gem: "There should be debate about which sports carry the national ethos.
"Swimming, tennis, cricket, cycling, the football codes, netball, golf, hockey, basketball, surfing and surf lifesaving are among the most popular sports in Australia, and a part of the national psyche."
Is he seriously suggesting that the gold medals won in Beijing last year by Matthew Mitcham in diving, Steve Hooker in pole vault, Emma Snowsill in triathlon and Ken Wallace in canoeing meant nothing to the Australian people?
Such athletes give Australians something to cheer about in yet another gloomy economic climate.
Even more insulting is Crawford's failure to recognise the greats of the past.
When you talk of national ethos, names like Marjorie Jackson, Betty Cuthbert, Marlene Mathews, Shirley Strickland and Herb Elliott spring to mind.
I've read the knockers who say we place too much emphasis on sport and spend too much achieving gold medals, but I believe those golds are worth every cent. I think the vast majority of Australians agree with me.
A survey carried out by Sweeney Sports in August, 2008 found: "Almost half of all Australians support extra government funding of Olympic sports if it results in more gold medals being won.
"Six out of every 10 people consider that good performances at the Olympic Games are good for Australia's sense of optimism". A report by Woolcott Research in September, 2008 argued that "although the current economic crisis makes provision of extra funds for sport a difficult choice for governments, it could be an important step to boosting national morale".
UN secretary-general Ban Ki Moon was also in Copenhagen for the IOC meeting. He said: "Sport builds bridges throughout the world. I travel to countries mired in poverty, to communities struggling to survive, to war-ravaged places where all hope seems lost.
"Suddenly, a ball appears made out of plastic bags or newspapers, and we see sport give life to hopes and dreams."
Kevin Rudd, let's keep the dream alive.
Wednesday 25 November
FISA press release:
Copenhagen to host 2010 World Rowing Coaches Conference and Awards Gala
Tuesday 24 November
FISA, the International Rowing Federation, has announced that the 2010 World Rowing Coaches Conference shall be held from 21 to 24 January in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Hosted by the Danish Rowing Federation at the Danish House of Sports, the conference shall include a full programme under the theme "Duration, Optimization of Rowing Performance and Training".
The panel of speakers shall be made up of a range of coaches, professors and physiotherapists. German Coaching Director Hartmut Buschbacher, whose men's eight became World Rowing Champions again in 2009, shall be part of the "Successful World Championship Coaches" session on Friday 22nd.
The Coaches Conference will end on a high note on Saturday 23rd with a grand Gala Dinner during which the 2009 World Rowing Awards shall be presented. The awards honour the 2009 Coach of the Year, Male, Female and Adaptive crews of the year and Distinguished services to Rowing. The winners shall be determined from a list of finalists selected from the general public submissions received by FISA throughout September and October.
2009 World Rowing Awards Finalists
2009 World Rowing Coach of the Year
* Dick Tonks, New Zealand
* Tom Terhaar, United States
* Aleksander Wojciechowski, Poland
2009 World Rowing Male Crew of the Year
* Mahe Drysdale, New Zealand, Men's single sculls.
* Adam Korol, Michal Jelinski, Marek Kolbowicz and Konrad Wasielewski, Poland, Men's quadruple sculls.
* Eric Murray and Hamish Bond, New Zealand, Men's pair.
2009 World Rowing Female Crew of the Year
* Ekaterina Karsten, Belarus, Women's single sculls.
* Erin Cafaro and Susan Francia, United States, Women's pair.* Erin Cafaro, Mara Allen, Laura Larsen-Strecker, Zsuzsanna Francia, Anna Goodale, Lindsay Shoop, Caroline Lind, Katherine Glessner and Katelin Snyder (coxswain), United States, Women's eight.
2009 World Rowing Adaptive Crew of the Year
* Josiane Lima and Elton Santana, Brazil, Trunk & arms mixed double sculls.
* Alla Lysenko, Ukraine, Arms & shoulders women's single sculls.
* Tom Aggar, Great Britain, Arms & shoulders men's single sculls.
2009 World Rowing Distinguished Service to International Rowing
* Don Rowlands, New Zealand.
* Hart Perry, United States.
* Magdalena Sarbochova, Czech Republic.
For details on the finalists, see below.
Registration to the Coaches Conference can be done through the Danish Rowing Federation by sending an e-mail to dffr@roning.dk before 31. December 2009.
The fee for the conference is 400 Euros per person in shared double rooms, full board from Thursday dinner to Sunday breakfast, Sunday transport or 500 Euros per person for single room accommodation.
For more information and detailed programme visit the Events section of Worldrowing.com (click here).
2009 WORLD ROWING AWARD FINALISTS
2009 World Rowing Coach of the Year
* Dick Tonks, New Zealand. As head coach for New Zealand, Tonks' achievements in 2009 include World Championship titles in the men's single and men's pair. Tonks has held his head coach position since 2001 and gained much notoriety after New Zealand won four gold medals at the 2005 World Rowing Championships. He is New Zealand's most successful international coach and his list of rowing charges include Brenda Lawson and Philippa Baker, Rob Waddell, Nicky Coles and Juliette Haigh, Mahe Drysdale, Caroline and Georgina Evers-Swindell, Eric Murray and Hamish Bond. Dick Tonks was FISA Coach of the Year in 2005.
* Tom Terhaar, United States. Terhaar has been the USA women's head coach since 2001 and his achievements this year include gold medals in the women's pair and eight at the World Rowing Championships. Past achievements with the US women's team also include World Championship titles in the women's eight in 2007, 2006 and 2005, 2002. His crews also achieved World Championship titles in the women's four (2007 and 2003) and Olympic gold in 2008 in the women's eight (the first gold medal in this event since 1984) and Olympic silver in 2004 (first medal since 1984).
* Aleksander Wojciechowski, Poland. Coach of Polish men's quad (2009 World Champions, 2008 Olympic gold medallists), Wojciechowski brought the quad together after the Athens Olympics where the quad only just missed out on winning a medal. By 2005 the crew were World Champions and they remained together and remained at the top retaining the World Champion status in 2006, 2007 and 2009 and an Olympic gold in 2008. Wojciechowski was World Rowing coach of the year in 2008.
2009 World Rowing Male Crew of the Year
* Mahe Drysdale, New Zealand, Men's single sculls. Drysdale completed his 2009 international season unbeaten wrapping it up with his fourth consecutive World Championship title in the men's single. Drysdale also has an Olympic bronze medal in hand and has competed at two Olympic Games.
* Adam Korol, Michal Jelinski, Marek Kolbowicz and Konrad Wasielewski, Poland, Men's quadruple sculls. This Polish crew won their fourth consecutive World Champion title in front of their home crowd in 2009. They also have gold from the 2008 Beijing Olympics and were the FISA Male Crew of the Year in 2006.
* Eric Murray and Hamish Bond, New Zealand, Men's pair. Murray and Bond began rowing together in the men's four in 2006. A year later they were World Champions. After racing in the four at the Beijing Olympics, the duo swapped to the pair in 2009 and immediately showed their speed by winning every race they entered internationally. They topped the year off by winning the World Rowing Championships.
2009 World Rowing Female Crew of the Year
* Ekaterina Karsten, Belarus, Women's single sculls. Karsten has stood out in the women's single for over 13 years, since winning her first Olympic gold medal in Atlanta in 1996. During that period she has won two Olympic gold medals, six World Championship titles, and an impressive 23 Rowing World Cup gold medals in addition to several silver and bronze medals earned in the single but also the women's quad and double sculls events. After finishing third at the Beijing Olympics, Karsten came back to the top this year by winning at the World Rowing Championships. She was the 2006 FISA Female Crew of the Year.
* Erin Cafaro and Susan Francia, United States, Women's pair. Cafaro and Francia have been rowing together in the US women's eight since 2008, but only came together as a pair in 2009 having both made different attempts in this boat with other partners. Their first international event as a pair at the World Rowing Champinships in Poznan this year resulted in gold while doubling up in their country's eight.
* Erin Cafaro, Mara Allen, Laura Larsen-Strecker, Zsuzsanna Francia, Anna Goodale, Lindsay Shoop, Caroline Lind, Katherine Glessner and Katelin Snyder (coxswain), United States, Women's eight. Various formations of this boat have become three time World Champions and World Best Time holders since 2006. The majority of this crew have been working together for the last five years aiming to redeem their 2004 Olympic silver medal and go one better, which they succeeded to do in Beijing, breaking the Romanian stronghold and becoming Olympic Champions in 2008. They then became World Champions in 2009. The USA women's eight was awarded the World Rowing Female Crew of the Year in 2008.
2009 World Rowing Adaptive Crew of the Year
* Josiane Lima and Elton Santana, Brazil, Trunk & arms mixed double sculls . Lima and Santana have rowed together since 2008 when they achieved a Paralympic bronze medal at the first ever Paralympic rowing regatta. Before that Lima had already won World Championship gold in Munich in 2007. At that time, Santana had been racing in the legs, trunk & arms mixed coxed four (LTAMX4+) which finished 8th in 2007. This year the duo finished second against stiff competition.
* Alla Lysenko, Ukraine, Arms & shoulders women's single sculls. Lysenko appeared on the international adaptive rowing scene in 2009, winning gold at the adaptive rowing regatta in Munich in June and then going on to win the World Rowing Championships in Poznan.
* Tom Aggar, Great Britain, Arms & shoulders men's single sculls. Aggar has dominated his boat class since 2007 when he appeared on the scene and took gold at the Munich World Rowing Championships. He is 2008 Paralympic Champion and remained unbeaten right through to becoming the 2009 World Champion when he also set the current World Best Time of 4:51.48.
2009 World Rowing Distinguished Service to International Rowing
* Don Rowlands, New Zealand . Rowlands was the chairman of the 1978 World Championship Organising Committee in New Zealand. Many consider this to be one of the best ever championships. His outstanding performance with the New Zealand organising committee earned him the Olympic Order medal in 1982. He has dedicated decades of service to rowing in Oceania and is an Honorary FISA Council Member. Rowlands is a former New Zealand rower. He has a silver and gold medal from the 1950 and 1951 British Empire Games in the men's eight and competed in the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne. He is still very actively involved in the sport.
* Hart Perry, United States . Perry is a retired FISA international umpire (1971-1999), long time member of FISA's youth commission and long serving coach of youth rowing at the legendary Kent School in the United States. Perry has dedicated over 50 years to the sport through his daily work with the US National Rowing Foundation, the Henley Royal Regatta, FISA, and the US Coast Guard Academy during which he always pledged fair play and sportsmanship.
* Magdalena Sarbochova, Czech Republic . Sarbochova was among the first members on FISA's Women's Rowing Commission and was chair of that commission for many years. She has dedicated much of her life to women in sport and the development of women's rowing. She was a former secretary general of the Czechoslovakian Rowing Federation and holds two silver European Championship medals in the women's pair from 1964 and 1965.
For more information - FISA media contact:
Marion Gallimore, Marketing and Communications Manager
Tel: +41 21 617 83 73 or direct +41 21 612 02 26, mobile +41 79 706 72 55
E-mail: marion.gallimore@fisa.org
Monday 23 November
The Crawford Report – An Olympian's Perspective
Richard Hinds' commentary on the AOC's response to the Crawford Report ("Dad's Army fighting funds war for who?", Sunday Nov. 22) was an insult to any athlete who has worn the Green and Gold at the Olympic Games, or, as Richard puts it, "bad taste party attire" behind an Australian flag. As a Beijing Olympian in the sport of rowing, one of the proudest moments of my life was putting on my Olympic ceremony blazer and realizing that I had finally realised the dream I have had since the age of 7 to represent Australia at an Olympic Games. At that young age, I can remember watching the Australian team march into the stadium in Barcelona and being inspired at that moment to strive to become one of them, whatever the sport and no matter the cost. I can testify firsthand that the Olympics inspired me to attempt the highest levels of sporting success, and the hundreds of support letters from school-aged children that I received while in Beijing demonstrate that Richard Hinds argument that the Olympics mean nothing to modern youth rings hollow.
The fundamental flaw with Richard's statistical analysis of the odds of representing Australia at the Olympics, citing water polo as an example, is its defeatist attitude. The Olympics are about attempting the impossible, about dreaming big and working hard towards those dreams without any guarantee that your hard work will come to fruition. I am proof that a knobbly, gangly first-grader who's earliest sporting memory is coming last in the 100m at my first school sports carnival, can be inspired by Olympians to reach the highest echelons of sport. I hope that my hard work, training, persistence amid multiple setbacks and ultimate triumph can inspire those first graders that watched me on TV in 2008.
I don't get paid for what I do, and I train 3 times a day, 6 days a week, 50 weeks a year for the last ten years, and in the Olympic year I earned $4500 dollars, a far cry from the $500,000 that our top AFL players earn. Cutting funding to Olympic sports, and to my sport – regarded as one of Australia's top Olympic sports – will surely be the end of our dominance of world rowing, both at the World Championships and Olympic Games. We do not receive financial reward as individuals, and without institutions such as the Australian Institute of Sport and our top Sporting Universities there is no realistic way for us to train at the level which we currently do and survive. It is not feasible in a modern sporting world to be a part time athlete. Being an athlete is a full time job, a job for which we do not get paid, and the reality is many athletes live below the poverty line in this country. I have been outraged by the findings of the Crawford report, and particularly those recommendations to direct government money into wealthy non-Olympic sports. These sports effectively function as well oiled business machines, that make huge revenues and whose athletes more often than not make headlines for all the wrong reasons. I never embarked on this journey to get rich, but it would be nice to be able to pay the bills mounting on my fridge. I do this for the love of the sport, and for the love of my country, and walking out in what Richard calls "bad party attire" once every four years is reward enough for me.
Sarah Cook
Women's Pair
Monday 23 November
RA media release:
New Rowing Australia President unveiled
Colin Smith has been announced as the new President of Rowing Australia following the Annual General Meeting held in Canberra on Sunday (22 November).
Smith, who has been on the Board of Rowing Australia for 10 years, replaces outgoing President Pat McNamara, who did not seek re-nomination following his nine year term as President.
Smith has an extensive history with Australian rowing having competed for his country in 1974, 1975, 1977 and 1978, winning one gold, one silver and two bronze medals at World Championship level.
He has also served as a national women’s selector and coached at the interstate and domestic level. He has been the Co-Chairman of the National Rowing Centre for Excellence over the last 12 months.
Smith said he was looking forward to continuing the strong legacy left by McNamara.
“Patrick McNamara’s leadership has left Australian rowing in the strongest position it has even been in,” Smith said. “I am looking forward to the opportunity to continue his fine work and position Rowing Australia for ongoing success both at home and abroad.”
Smith also has a strong corporate background, particularly in the area of media and entertainment and acts in an advisory role to many of Australia’s leading professional sports.
Gavin Rezos was elected as the New Director of Finance, while Ray Ebert was elected as a Director on the Board.
The full board for Rowing Australia now is:
| Colin Smith |
President |
| Gavin Rezos |
Director of Finance |
| John Boultbee |
Director |
| Michael Sparksman |
Director |
| Ray Ebert |
Director |
| Rebecca Joyce |
Chair of Athletes’ Commission |
For more information please call David Polglase on 0401 453 041
Monday 23 November
Morgan claims first win of the season
Beijing 2008 Olympian, Chris Morgan, had a day out at the rowing on Saturday at West Lakes winning the first grade sculls race in the local regatta and topping the results of the National selection time trials.
Conditions were perfect for rowing all day at West Lakes and the first grade mens scullers turned on a world class display as Morgan from Adelaide University raced his 2008 Australian Olympic crew mate James McRae for bragging honours in their first clash of the local South Australian season in a six boat single sculls race.
Morgan had a good lead by the half way mark of the 2000 metre race and then pulled away to win by 11.26 seconds in a time of 7:17.10 seconds.
McRae, who has missed several training sessions because of University exams, had a real battle on his hands with his Murray Bridge club mate, Sam Martin, for second place and eventually finished third, 1.10 seconds behind Martin.
SA State team representatives Tom Sullivan from Renmark was 5.57 seconds behind in fourth place and John Jackson from the Adelaide club fifth in a top class race.
Early in the morning nearly 80 boats started in the long distance time trial run by SASI for the National and SA State team selection trials.
The time trial is raced over the maximum distance available at West Lakes, nearly 5 km, and again it was Chris Morgan who recorded the fastest time and best prognostic time for all competitors.
The long distance National time trials are held in each state on the same day so the results from all over Australia can be compared by the National selectors.
In the schools 1st VIII’s racing at the regatta, the Torrens club benefited from recent intensive recruiting of schoolboy talent to win the boy’s 1st VIII’s race for the first time in the club’s 106 year history, whilst reigning Head of the River champions, Seymour, won the girl’s first round of schools 1st VIII races.
Neither of these two crews started in the second round of races which saw Pembroke take out a rare double, winning both the boys and girls first eight events.
Phil Mangelsdorf
Thursday 19 November
Leaders of Australian sport commit to developing a national response to the issue of Health and Participation at the inaugural Captains’ Forum
Australian Rowing Team Captains Kim Crow and David Crawshay today took part in the inaugural Captain's Forum at Parliament House.
For the first time, over 20 captains and leaders of Australian sport convened today at Parliament House in Canberra to discuss and develop a national response to emerging challenges impacting sport and the broader community.
The 2009 Captains’ Forum, an initiative of the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in partnership with the Australian Sports Commission, brought together 24 of Australia’s leading champions representing 19 different sports.
“As chairman of the Sport Australia Hall of Fame, I am delighted that our organization has been able to bring together for the first time, champions of so many sports,” said Yachting Great John Bertrand AM. “These talented athletes have given their time to participate in this initiative to work together to have a positive impact in the Australian community.”
Today’s forum is the culmination of an extensive six month research program undertaken by Management Consultancy Booz & Company. The program included over 60 in depth interviews with industry stakeholders including athletes, politicians, sports administrators, media and corporate executives to gain multiple perspectives, insights and experiences.
“The process undertaken by Booz & Co and the Captains’ Forum team to bring this concept to fruition has been rigorous,” said Sport Australia Hall of Fame and Wallabies great John Eales AM. “Our research showed that some of the more prominent challenges facing Australian sport today include violence and abuse, sportsmanship, alcohol, social integration and equality, and use of illicit drugs.”
Whilst each of these issues are challenges for Australian sport and the broader community, the Captains’ Forum participants have committed today to develop a national response to the issue of Health and Participation.”
“The Captains’ Forum represented many different sports; however a strong unified theme emerged that there is a real need to communicate the benefits of participation in sport,” said AFL Geelong Premiership Captain Tom Harley. “Participation however is even more than playing; there are great social benefits in being involved in sport, whether that’s as a player, administrator or a score keeper.”
“Sport is something that everyone can be involved in,” said Sharelle McMahon, Australian netball captain. “Participating in sport develops self esteem and self respect. There is great value and a myriad of benefits to the community.”
The Minister for Sport Kate Ellis said she looks forward working with the Captain’s Forum to encourage all Australians to get active and lead a healthy lifestyle. “The challenge of rising obesity rates and falling participation in grassroots sport can be tackled with a united effort from all of us.”
“Boosting participation in grassroots sport brings immense national health benefits, but it also creates the future elite sporting champions that we are so proud of.”
Sporting champions who participated in this historic day in Australian sport included AFL Geelong Premiership Captain Tom Harley, from Rugby League Bulldogs player Andrew Ryan and Canberra Raiders Captain Alan Tongue, Women’s Rugby League Captain Tahnee Norris, Olympian Swimming Champions Libby Trickett, Patrick Murphy and Grant Hackett, Walker Nathan Deakes, Paralympics Swimmer Matthew Cowdrey, from Basketball Kristi Harrower and Jason Smith, Hockeyroos Captain Madonna Blyth, Australian Netball Captain Sharelle McMahon, V8 Supercars Champion Mark Skaife, Rugby Unions’ Nathan Sharp and Cheryl Soon, Wheelchair Basketball’s Tina McKenzie, Water Polo Captain James Stanton, from Tennis Davis Cup Captain John Fitzgerald, Surf Lifesaving Captain Shannon Eckstein, from Cricket, Australian Women’s Captain Jodie Fields, Rowing Captains’ Kim Crow and David Crawshay and from Soccer, Matilda’s Captain Thea Slatyer.
The sporting leaders who attended the inaugural Captains’ Forum have committed to work together to develop a plan of attack on how they can use their collective influence and experience to encourage more Australian’s to get involved and enjoy the many benefits of sport.
Wednesday 18 November
Sport report undervalues a proud Olympic tradition — Kimberley Crow
The Crawford review's underlying warning that Australian sport must undergo reform at elite and community levels or face dire consequences rightly earns it centre court status.
Unfortunately, despite the merit of many of the 39 recommendations, the report erroneously undervalues the proud Australian Olympic tradition. Crawford's opening serve is a Harold Larwood-esque bodyline blow: "The bias towards funding Olympic sports leads to outcomes that make little strategic sense for Australia."
This conclusion is not surprising. Four of the five panelists have a background in AFL or Rugby League. Only one, Pam Tye, has a background in Olympic sports.
As an athlete in an Olympic sport, I am fairly and squarely on the receiving end of Crawford's serve. My reflex is to try to smash the ball back so hard and fast that my Sharapova grunt reverberates the entire distance from the Australian Institute of Sport gym to the halls of Parliament. I hope to have an ally in Kate Ellis, who has assured us that the Government has no intention of walking away from elite sport.
Crawford's supporting premise is that cricket, golf, surfing and the various football codes are more popular with Australians, so should have equal claim to the public purse. He brushes over the fact that the AFL will earn $780 million for the five years up to 2011 for TV rights alone, whereas rowing could probably offer to feature nude racing, complete with Paris Hilton in the coxen's seat and still not get airtime, let alone make enough profit to afford the extra sunscreen for the rowers' nether regions. On Crawford's reasoning, the fantastically wealthy should have the same right to a dole cheque as the guy who tries to clean your windscreen at the traffic lights.
Again, this conclusion is not surprising. Crawford is a businessman. His previous successes reforming sports — and they are successes — relate to the financial viability of professional sports. The benefits of the elite sport tradition cannot be measured by this same hip-pocket nerve. Without a tradition driven by a proud desire to punch above our weight, we lose a way of thinking, a cultural imagination. We stand to lose an emotional worth that will be most notable when it's irrevocably gone.
But Crawford is on the front-foot with a cross-court return. What benefits do we get from Olympic sports that are not part of the national psyche anyway?
I've played this shot before. Whack. The Olympics are our opportunity, as a nation, to celebrate our diversity of role models, particularly our women who are underrepresented in "popular" sports. The magic of the victory of Cathy Freeman in the apparently un-Australian sport of athletics united us in a sense of community. Triumph above the odds, irrespective of the sport, imbues us with a sense of national pride that teaches us to dream and to strive for our goals. Striving for excellence is a valuable mind-frame, on and off the sporting field.
There are tangible benefits to Olympic success too. Countless political leaders have alluded to the value-adding nature of Australia's success on the Olympic stage to our international status and business opportunities. Furthermore, Olympic success encourages young people to take up sport.
As the rally continues I realise that playing with my head is not going to win me the match. Views on sports funding are already so polariSed, exemplified by Crawford's pro-professional sport ethos. The Government maintains it is committed to implementing Crawford's 365 pages.
Instead, I lunge for the ball with everything I have. Sporting contests are won with the heart, so I'm told. I passionately believe that setting our sights high for Olympic success is character-building and nation-building. After all, sport is about striving for the impossible, about daring to dream. An Australian culture of excellence is part of our people, and the sporting field is a contagious source of that desire to achieve.
I'm not a bloke, I can't play AFL or rugby or men's cricket (the "popular" version of this "great Australian game"). But over the years, because of Australia's breadth of sporting opportunities, I have played countless sports that I love, made so many friends and shared so many memories. And I love nothing more than representing Australia, the country that has given me these opportunities. Whether my ball lands in the court or not, I am eternally thankful for the proud Australian Olympic tradition that abounded during my childhood in giving me the passion to dream big dreams.
Wednesday 18 November
RA media release:
Rowing Australia concerned with Crawford Report recommendations
Rowing Australia President, Patrick McNamara, has come out in support of Australian Olympic Committee President John Coates saying that the logic behind many of the recommendations in the Crawford Report is flawed and misguided.
Whilst Rowing Australia welcomes the opportunity to discuss the recommendations concerning the structural reform of our sports system, particularly those relating to the elite sports network and the strengthened role of National Sporting Organisations, it is deeply disappointed at the comments made overnight that extinguish the aspirations of so many Australians.
McNamara raised his concerns over what Mr. Crawford and his panel was thinking.
“I know the sport of rowing and I know from first hand experience that the inspiration generated by the success of the Oarsome Foursome had an overwhelming positive effect on participation in our sport,” McNamara said. “The report’s suggestion that Olympic success has no bearing on participation is simply wrong,” McNamara said.
“Suggesting that medals don’t drive participation is like saying that winning the AFL premiership doesn’t drive club membership.”
Mr. McNamara also dismissed the argument that is trying to place a dollar value on each Olympic medal won.
“The same ridiculous argument can be made about the real cost of an AFL premiership. Would the Geelong members bemoan the investment made by their club over many years to then win two AFL flags in three seasons? I don’t think so.”
RA CEO Andrew Dee has also expressed his disappointment at some of the recommendations made in the report.
“I’m afraid that any positive elements of the Report are overshadowed by its disregard of Olympic and Paralympic sports and the value of their international success and status to Australia.”
Dee also reflected on the time it has taken for the Report to emerge.
“We expected a lot more from the Report given it has taken so long, but unfortunately on balance it has missed the point and now all we have is more confusion.”
Mr McNamara concluded by saying the Government now has an important role.
“We encourage the Government to carefully consider its response and whether it is prepared to endorse a set of recommendations that has the potential to destroy the success and international reputation of our nation that has been built up over many years.”
For more information please call David Polglase on 0401 453 041
Tuesday 17 November
New Strength & Conditioning DVD Released
’The Core Four’ – The Four Basic Strength and Conditioning Exercises for Rowing
The DVD outlines the four key exercises that should form the basis of a rowers Strength & Conditioning regime – Squats, Bench Pulls, Power Cleans, and Bench Press.
Olympians James Tomkins, Francis Hegerty, Cameron McKenzie–McHarg, Sarah Cook and Matt Ryan are shown performing the exercises at the Australian Institute of Sport during their Olympic preparation. Clear and concise ‘key points’ outline the main technical considerations, with handy hints on safety and set up.
This DVD was produced in conjunction with the Australian Institute of Sport’s Strength and Conditioning department. © Rowing Australia.
Note: Not recommended for beginners as these exercises should not be performed without an adequate training history and under technical supervision.
Cost $19.95 — purchase now!
Monday 16 November
Crow takes out AIS Education Award
Congratulations to Kim Crow who was honoured at the 2009 AIS Awards last Thursday night, receiving one of five education awards presented on the evening.
Kim, who was selected on another Australian Rowing Team in 2009, continues to make leaps and bounds in the boat, but also off the water and was acknowledged for her achievements. She continues with her law studies, maintaining a high distinction average, and in 2008 was awarded with a subject prize for Alternative Dispute Resolution.
Kim has also continued writing her column for The Age newspaper in Melbourne, and recently returned from time at the IOC headquarters in Switzerland where she completed a law internship.
Jared Bidwell, member of the men’s quad scull silver medal boat at the World Rowing Championships, received an AIS Sport Achievement Award.
Saturday 14 November
White Ribbon Day — Wednesday 25 November
International Day for the Prevention of Violence Against Women |
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| The White Ribbon Foundation of Australia aims to eliminate violence against women by promoting culture-change around the issue. The major strategies to achieve this are a national media campaign as well as education & male leadership programmes aimed at men and boys around Australia. All funds received by the White Ribbon Foundation will support the implementation of these strategies. |
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Sign up to the ‘I swear to the anti-violence against women oath’ at www.myoath.com.au |
Thursday 12 November
Matheson makes mark on NESC Forum
As part of the National Elite Sports Council Forum currently convening at the AIS, Rowing Australia National High Performance Director Andrew Matheson took part in a panel discussion this afternoon directed at the relationship between coach, athlete, practitioner and manager.
Matheson sat on the panel alongside Adelaide Crows coach Neil Craig, Olympic gold medallist in canoe sprint, Ken Wallace, and Senior Lecturer for Nutrition and Dietetics at the University of the Sunshine Coast, Dr Gary Slater.
The discussion was moderated by Patrick Hunt, Applied Technical Advancement Coach at the AIS, with a number of important areas touched upon, with a main focus on how coaches and support staff interact with the athlete.
In the changing world of innovation, it is important that coaches and scientists remain on the same page, and Matheson commented that sometimes it is important to focus on the basics before getting to innovative.
Matheson also went onto say that it is important to listen to the needs of the athlete when setting specific sporting programs, and generally the more experienced an athlete is, the more say they will have in developing their training regime.
All members of the panel agreed that the retention of data is now a critical component of elite sport and that Sports Science, Sports Medicine (SSSM) have made a large impact in this area.
Matheson concluded with a comment on how athletes, coaches and support staff all need a goal to strive towards. He said that it is important to have a plan on how to achieve this goal, so that every day you are taking a step in the right direction.
The NESC Forum concluded this afternoon, with the majority of guests and presenters attending the 2009 AIS Awards this evening.
Friday 6 November
Griffith University Paradise Regatta
Tune into Fox Sports at the following times to view highlights of the Griffith University Paradise Regatta, featuring a men's eight race between an Australian and New Zealand crew.
10/11 9:00am AEST Fox 3
17/11 11:30pm AEST Fox 2
18/11 6:30am AEST Fox 2
18/11 3:00pm AEST Fox 2
