Friday 26 February
RA media release:
Lake Nagambie sets itself for National Championships
Thursday 25 February
Final preparations are underway for the start of the 2010 Australian Rowing Championships and Interstate Regatta which will commence this Monday (1 March) at Lake Nagambie, Victoria.
Over 1600 competitors from across Australia will compete at the regatta, the first time the event has been held at Nagambie since 2007.
The regatta features racing from Australia’s elite, but also many of the country’s most talented rowing schools.
Rowing Australia High Performance Director, Andrew Matheson, says the Nationals will be the first step in the process for National Team selection ahead of a busy international schedule in 2010.
“We have a busy international season with the World Junior Championships, the Under 23 World Championships, the World Youth Olympic Games and the World Championships in New Zealand,” Matheson said.
“Throw in the two world cups the Australian Senior A team is contesting and we have a long, full program.
“There are Olympians coming up against some young guns so it will be good to see what kind of depth we’ve got as we look towards these international competitions, as well as towards London 2012.
“Many of these elite rowers haven’t raced against each other so the results will be interesting.”
Racing commences on Monday 1 March at 8am and concludes with the Interstate Regatta on Sunday 7 March.
Throughout the week results, reports and news from the event can be found at www.rowingaustralia.com.au, with live streaming of the weekend’s action being broadcast on the World Championship Sports Network (WCSN) for the first time.
For more information please call
Mark Hindle on 0406 496 209
mark@contentgroup.com.au
Thursday 25 February
2010 Rower of the Year Awards – finalists announced
Finalists for the 2010 Rower of the Year Awards have been announced with the Winners awarded at the 2010 Presidents’ Cocktail Function, 5 March, Chinaman’s Bridge Café, commencing at 6:30pm.
Volunteer of the Year Award
- Chris Grummitt
- James Worrell
- Robert Zahara
- Phil Titterton
- Michael Eastaughffe
- Michael Smith
- Bob Alexander
Presentation of the Coach of the Year Award
- Nick Lloyd
- John Driessen
- Tim Conrad
- Peter Shakespear
- Laryssa Biesenthal
Presentation of the Female Rower or Crew of the Year
- The Australian Junior Women’s Coxless Four
- The Australian Senior Women’s Double Scull
- Alex Hagan
Presentation of the Male Rower or Crew of the Year
- The Australian Senior Men’s Coxless Four
- The Australian Senior Men’s Quadruple Scull
- Joshua Dunkley-Smith
Presentation of the Rowers’ Rower or Crew of the Year
- Daniel Noonan
- Ben Houlison
Rowing Australia Life Members will also be inducted on the night.
Congratulations and good luck to all those nominated.
Thursday 25 February
Coverage of the 2010 Australian Rowing Championships
Throughout the 2010 Nationals at Lake Nagambie, Rowing Australia will be keeping you updated with all the action as it happens.
For those who cannot make it to this year’s Nationals, you can follow all the action through our ROMS website which will be updated regularly with previews, reviews, results and all the news.
For the first time, World Championship Sports Network (WCSN) will be streaming all races on Sunday, live and absolutely free over the internet.
WCSN is the premier destination for fans of Olympic style and World Championship sports providing dedicated athletes and fans a means to watch their favourite sports both live and on-demand.
By simply registering before the Nationals you will receive a FREE 90 day rowing membership.
For more information click on the WCSN logo and follow the steps.
Tuesday 23 February
Update on the Champion Lakes Course in Perth
Below are a couple of images of the latest acquisition to the sporting infrastructure at Champion Lakes. The starting pontoon will be operational by the end of this week.
Friday 19 February
Important announcement re uniform in the finals at Nationals
Please see the memo (pdf, 112kb) from Rowing Australia regarding uniform to be worn in the finals races at the Nationals.
Crews and athletes racing in the Friday 5th and Saturday 6th March finals will be required to wear either a white or state-coloured T-shirt (colors outlined in the memo).
This does NOT apply to school crews, or for the Sunday Interstate races.
Crews (from within the same state) can choose to wear the state-coloured T-shirt (or white) if you like.
Crews with members from different states, should wear a white T-shirt.
You may:
- wear/bring your own T-shirt
- order a T-shirt now from Designer Paintworks, despaint@bigpond.net.au
- purchase them at the Regatta – orders must be placed before Monday 1st March afternoon at the latest.
The aim is to get a more visually appealing ‘look’ for the sport – for spectators at the Regatta and viewers on the WCSN Internet telecast of the Saturday/Sunday racing.
Wednesday 17 February
RA media release:
Young Talent set to Star at National Titles
Junior rowers from around Australia are set to converge on Lake Nagambie, Victoria, for the 2010 Australian Rowing Championships & Interstate Regatta to battle it out for national supremacy in almost unprecedented numbers.
With entries for the regatta now closed, almost half of the 1600 regatta entrants are 17 or under. The stage is now set for the stars of the future to strut their stuff in front of the watchful gaze of state and national coaches and selectors.
Rowing Australia’s Elite Development Manager, Peter Shakespear, says the talent displayed on the shores of Lake Nagambie will be evidence of the subtle change that has been experienced in rowing over the last few years.
“We’ve seen a greater number of junior rowers coming out of regional clubs and country schools which is very exciting,” Shakespear said.
“Almost half of the Junior and School single scull entries are from these regional centres which shows the spread of talent across the country is not just centered in capital cities.”
With the increase in young talent and the emergence of a greater percentage of regional talent, Rowing Australia has undertaken initiatives upon where younger participants of the sport are encouraged to keep rowing, especially those may have just completed their studies.
“Rowing Australia has put into place two initiatives focusing on identifying young talent and actively encouraging them to stay involved in the sport,” Shakespear said.
“Through Senior Coordinator Wayne Diplock, Rowing Australia works closely with the National Talent Identification and Development program (NTID) from the Australian Sports Commission.
This program operates in all States to help identify and nurture very talented young rowers as their bodies and minds develop into athletes,”
“The second program we offer is the National Elite Development Program (NEDP) which helps us to identify and work with up and coming young rowers who may not be part of the AIS or state squads but are likely to be very successful in the future.”
With these initiatives in place it is hoped the future of rowing in Australia will be as strong as ever, with much of the current crop of youngsters setting their sights on the 2016 Olympics in Rio.
“We may be a little bit close to London 2012 to have an effect but the prospect of medals Rio in 2016 is a real possibility for this group of talented rowers.” Shakespear said.
For more information please call
Mark Hindle on 0406 496 209
mark@contentgroup.com.au
Monday 15 February
Racing lives up to expectations as rowers turn it on
Last weekend saw rowers from Victoria and Tasmania set their sights on the up coming national titles in two weeks time after some scintillating action took place at their respective state titles.
The depth of quality shown at each regatta was outstanding with a mixture of Olympic and World-Championship athletes and stars of tomorrow taking out the honours.
As expected, the Victorian regatta saw Olympic gold medallist David Crawshay win the men’s open single scull before teaming with runner-up in the event Karsten Fosterling to win the double scull, a remarkable 12 seconds ahead of second place.
In an all Australian representative field (at either U23 or senior level), 2009 Australian M8+ members Josh Dunkley Smith (Mercantile RC) and Tom Larkins (MUBC) backed up their NSW state championship win to take out men's pair title, ahead of Olympic and World Cup silver medalist, James Marburg and VIS pair partner John Linke.
Dunkley Smith and Larkins backed up on Sunday to claim the men's four title with Fergus Pragnell and Matt Ryan, ahead of the VIS combination of Cam McKenzie McHarg, James Marburg, John Linke and Karsten Fosterling.
Phoebe Stanley (MUBC) and Pauline Frasca (Mercantile) will be looking to defend their national title in the women's pair, putting the rest of the country's top women's sweepers on notice with a dominant performance and win over Olympians Sarah Tait and Sarah Heard, and Robyn Selby-Smith and Kate Hornsey.
Stanley and Frasca then joined Sophie Robson (MUBC) and Kate Hornsey (Mercantile RC) to take the win in the women's four ahead of Robyn Selby-Smith, Sarah Tait, Sarah Heard and Natalie Bale.
Meanwhile, Australian representatives Kim Crow and Alice McNamara both comfortably took the win in their respective women's open heavyweight and lightweight single scull events.
Down in Tasmania the racing was no less fierce with still conditions perfect for competition at Lake Barrington.
The Lindisfarne Club’s Sam Beltz scored a convincing win over his Beijing doubles partner Tom Gibson representing the Huon club with last year’s winner Blair Tunevitsch finishing third.
In what was expected to be an electrifying race in the women’s senior scull category, Australian representative Ingrid Fenger capitalised on the late widrawals of Carly Cottom and Ella Flecker to take home the prize over Tamar club mate, Annabel Gibson.
Mersey’s Taylor Wilczynski won the men’s under-23 single scull for the third successive year with a two-length victory over University rowers Michael Egan and Adam Wertheimer. Wilczynski will now set his sights on repeating his stellar efforts in last year’s National Championships.
With all bar the South Australian State Championships run, 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 12 February
RA media release:
Last hit-out for Australia’s best ahead of National Titles
This weekend will see both the Victorian and Tasmanian State Championships take place in what will be the last chance for many of Australia’s best to prepare for the upcoming National Championships to be held at Lake Nagambie, Victoria, March 1–7.
The Tasmanian championships will see numerous Olympic and World Championship competitors take part in what looks set to be tantalising battles across both men’s and women’s categories.
Beijing Olympian Sam Beltz goes into the weekend favourite for the men’s senior single scull, men’s pair and men’s lightweight single scull. Beltz will come up against fellow Olympian and Beijing doubles partner, Tom Gibson, in a hotly contested field in the lightweight single’s event.
The women’s events are set to be just as competitive with the highlight being Australian representatives Carly Cottom, Ingrid Fenger and former under 23 world championship bronze medallist Ella Flecker all doing battle for the women’s lightweight title.
Over in Victoria the racing is shaping up to be just as hot with Olympic medallists and World Champions looking to catch the coaches eyes for sculling and sweeping positions ahead of the World Championships later this year.
Western Australian and Beijing Olympian, Natalie Bale, will be heading to the Garden State to compete with the likes of World Champion Robin Selby-Smith along with Olympians, Sarah Tait, Sarah Hird and Pauline Frasca.
The men’s categories will be no less competitive with Olympic Men’s Coxless Four silver medallists, Francis Hegerty, Cameron McKenzie-McHarg, James Marburg and Mathew Ryan all taking part in the action.
Olympic gold medallist, David Crawshay will also be competing in his last competitive hit-out before the national titles in three weeks.
For more information please call
Mark Hindle on 0406 496 209
mark@contentgroup.com.au
Wednesday 10 February
Rowing Australia online shop goes live!
Rowing Australia is pleased to announce the launch of its online shop. It's secure, has an ever-expanding product line, and offers great deals to the Rowing Community.
Products have been grouped into four main ‘Product Categories’, all with an easy-to navigate and easy step-by-step process to order rowing gear and coaching/education resources on-line.
Categories include:
- Athletic and general apparel (clothing)
- NCAS Materials (education manuals, books, etc.);
- Coaching Resources (books, DVDs, etc.)
- Training & Equipment (heart rate monitors, etc.)
Our aim is to offer great deals for Rowing Community members in cooperation with our corporate partners. Many items are well below recommended retail price.
The online shop is now live – start shopping!
Wednesday 10 February
Sponsorship opportunities at National Championships
A number of minor Sponsorship Opportunities still exist for this year’s National Championships in Nagambie from 1st to 7th March.
This is a great opportunity to promote your company using the pinnacle event of the Australian rowing season which will be broadcast live over the internet.
Please contact Nick Gall at Rowing Victoria on (03) 9820 8888 for more information.
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
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.
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
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
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
