Friday 30 October
Media Watch:
Olympian to help celebrate club's centenary
Helen McGowan, Adelaide Hills Weekender, 30/10/09
Beijing Olympian James McRae began his rowing career at Murray Bridge Rowing Club when he was 15. Next month the 22-year-old will be part of the club's centenary celebrations.
"When I was at school there were three other guys who wanted to put together a quad team," James said.
"I was pretty tall and athletic so they asked me. The rowing action takes a little while to master, but with a bit of patience, it wasn't long before I had it all under control."
James said that the most important skill he learnt in his early rowing days was time management.
"You train early in the morning and then for a couple of hours after school," James said.
"I think the discipline I learnt actually helped me make it through Year 12."
James competed at the Olympics as part of the Men's Quad in 2008, with the team coming fourth in the race.
"The whole thing started in December 2007 when our squad won at the World Championships," James said.
"From then it was a matter of training hard to be accepted into the team."
James describes his Olympic experience as one of the best in his life.
"It is certainly something I was hoping for, and now I'm working towards making the team for London in 2012," James said.
As part of the Adelaide University men's rowing crew, James and the team recently won the Oxford and Cambridge Cup, and in July, James won bronze at the international rowing regatta as part of the Australian quad scull at the Under 23 World Rowing Championships held in Prague.
James will be taking part in the Murray Bridge centenary celebrations, and is hoping to be on the water as part of the centenary regatta to be held from November 14–15 at Sturt Reserve.
"It would be great to get a boat out there on the water," James said.
"Murray Bridge Rowing Club has a really proud history. In 1924 the team was chosen to represent Australia at the Paris Olympics, one of the only country clubs ever to do so."
Thursday 29 October
Media Watch:
Burringbar rower pushing towards world titles
Jamie Gallagher, Daily News Tweed Heads, 29/10/09
KHANEY Lakaev is not just Nobel's brother. He too is an Australian with talent.
While brother Nobel, a grand finalist on television variety program Australia's Got Talent, moves around the dance floor Khaney puts in the hard yards on the water.
Having moved to Brisbane to train and study, the Burringbar local rises at 4.30am six mornings a week to train twice a day at the Toowong Rowing Club.
He then ramps up his to six hours of rigorous training on Saturdays and Sundays.
Lakaev's dedication and commitment have paid dividends and after winning three of his four races at the Murwillumbah Rowing Club Regatta on Saturday, the 20-year-old has made it into the preliminary selection for the Queensland State Rowing team for the Eight.
Lakaev was a clear winner in the Division 2 men's Single ckull at the weekend, blitzed the Division 1 men's Quad, was an integral part of the triumphant Division 1 men's Eight and finished runner-up in the Division 1 men's Foursome.
Now the former Burringbar Public and Wollumbin High School pupil has his sights set on representing Australia in future World Championships.
"I'm looking forward to one day succeeding in the World Championships," Lakaev said this week.
"I want to put Burringbar on the world map."
Wednesday 28 October
Media Watch:
Oldest rower a goer
Danielle Crowe, Manningham Leader, 28/10/09
AT age 91, Doncaster's Ralph Howard was the oldest competitive rower at the recent World Masters Games in Sydney, but you wouldn't know it to look at him.
The energetic 160cm pocketrocket is small in stature but big in spirit and strength.
He won a gold medal in the 800m rowing event - just another addition to a collection reaped from 75 years of rowing. "After a while you don't really count them any more," he said. "You win a medal and you immediately start thinking about the next race."
Howard trains twice a week with the Banks Rowing Club on the Yarra River and said it kept him young on the inside and out ... "I think it is just about keeping active. Exercise lifts your mind, body and spirit. As soon as I hit the water I feel better."
Most of the crew of four helping push Howard past the line are 20 years younger and double his size, but he worked twice as hard to make up for what he lacked in height and youth.
Tuesday 27 October
Media Watch:
Corowa Rowing Club competes at world masters game
Corowa Free Press, 27/10/09
The World Masters Games is held every four years and this year Sydney hosted the 2009 Games.
October 10 - 18, 2009 saw competitors from a range of sports converge on Sydney from all over the world.
Over 2079 competitors were registered to row at Penrith in a range of events over the five days of rowing.
Corowa Rowing Club had members registered to row in Singles, Doubles, Women's Eight. Men's Eight and a Mixed Eight.
Saturday, October 10 saw Robert Eyers rowing in the D Grade single sculls.
Robert was second in his heat and made it to the semifinals but did not get a place in the finals.
Sunday, October 11 saw Robert Eyers and Jeff Lowe rowing in the C Grade Double sculls.
They were second in their heat, third in the semi finals and missed a place in the final by .65 of a second.
The Opening Ceremony was held on Sunday at Homebush with competitors from all sports joining the parade into ANZ Stadium.
Monday, October 12 saw the weather take a turn with white peaks on the water and gusty winds tipping boats over.
The Women's Eight was to be rowed by four Corowa Rowing Club members: Cherie Collins, Sally Maclean, Bronwyn Collins and Jill McCrum along with four rowers from Essendon and the Men's Eight was to be rowed by Tony Langford, Simon Withers, Robert Eyers, Ross Maclean, Jungle Eyers, Wes Canny and Will Day but the day was officially cancelled due to the extreme weather conditions.
Robert Eyers and Jeff Lowe also missed their D Grade Double event.
Tuesday, October 13 had fewer winds and the Mixed Eight were hopeful of competing.
The mixed eight consisted of Cherie Collins, Sally Maclean, Bronwyn Collins, Jill McCrum, Tony Langford, Wes Canny, Ross Maclean and Jungle Eyers.
The day again turned gusty just before the event and saw the events for the rest of the day cancelled.
This was the finish of the Rowing in the World Masters Games with those events cancelled in the two days not able to be postponed due to Kayaking starting the following day on the same course.
Monday 26 October
Media Watch:
Young’s master rower
Young Witness, 26/10/09
Warner Hieatt takes to the water at Sydney Masters
YOUNG was well represented at the World Masters Games in Sydney last week with a local participating in the rowing.
Warner Hieatt competed in the single, double and quad races and made it to the finals in all three but missed out on a medal but gained from the opportunity to be able to compete.
"Terrific experience, marvellous experience." Mr Hieatt said.
"Just being able to chat with competitors, like the 40 people that came from Alaska," he said.
The games, which were held at Olympic Park were not without their own hurdles with competition on the last two days being cancelled after the weather turned sour and it was unsafe to be on the water.
Among the highlights of the games for Mr Hieatt was competing in the doubles with his 70-year-old rowing partner who won gold in the singles for the 70- 75 years age bracket, in the process beating a German ex-Olympian by 1/300 of a second.
Without any rowing facilities here in Young, Mr Hieatt travels to Canberra to train with his rowing colleagues.
Mr Hieatt's training schedule involves training on water three times a week and rowing on a simulator three times a week as well.
"I would say that I do about 60 kilometres rowing a week," he said.
Mr Hieatt now turns his focus to the Australian Masters Championships in Perth in May.
After his silver medal success in the double, he hopes for gold this year.
"We will be going for gold in Perth." Mr Hieatt said.
The next World Masters Games will be held in Italy in four years time and all going well, Mr Hieatt hopes to be there.
Friday 23 October
Media Watch:
Olympian on a new road
Peter Fletcher, Warrnambool Standard, 23/10/09
WHEN triple Olympic rowing champion Drew Ginn looks for a challenge outside his chosen sport he doesn't approach it with baby steps.
In 2005 Ginn contested the Ironman Australia Triathlon at Forster, which consists of a 3.8km swim, 180.2km cycle and 42.2km run.
Tomorrow the 34-year-old Port Melbourne resident will line up for the 261km Melbourne to Warrnambool Cycling Classic, the longest one-day race in the southern hemisphere.
His introduction to competitive cycling followed back surgery for a ruptured disc after winning his third Olympic gold medal in Beijing last year, with Duncan Free in the coxless pair.
He used cycling to regain fitness after Christmas, then started attending Fooscray Cycling Club road events.
"I had in my mind I would want a bit of a challenge by the end of the year and the Melbourne to Warrnambool is the biggest challenge you can get," Ginn said.
"I have no idea how half of this is going to happen with food stations and things like that. For me it is about having a challenge."
Although Ginn hasn't ruled out a return to rowing, he has tested for track events at the Australian Institute of Sport.
It may lead to the national time trial and pursuit championships next year, where he can gauge his suitability as a long-range candidate for the 2012 London Olympics.
"I'm a novice to what is required but all the numbers I've been producing in the last one (testing) are positive," Ginn said.
"I'm at the stage in my life where if I don't make it, all my sporting life hasn't been wasted.
"I'm enjoying it. I like getting out on the road with friends.
"While I can keep the dream alive I will certainly pursue it."
Ginn part-owns two Podium Bike Hub stores in Melbourne with former rowers Matthew Long and Christian Ryan.
Ryan, formerly of Warrnambool, won an eights silver medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
Ginn said there were similarities between the sports in terms of physical demands. "The thing I'm aware of from a physiological standpoint is both have big motors," he said.
"The biggest difference is size. Cyclists tend to be a lot smaller."
Ginn is 194cm tall but an intensive preparation for the Melbourne to Warrnambool has trimmed his weight to 81kg.
Regular weekend training rides from Melbourne to his farming property in east Gippsland have enabled him to cover distances from 150 to 250km.
"For three months I was doing 450km a week, then a few 600 and 700," Ginn said.
"In the last month and a half I started ramping it up."
Ginn conceded that covering 261km would be a vastly different proposition tomorrow at race pace.
He said he was approaching the event in the same way that he tackled an ironman triathlon.
"If I come away from it having learnt a few really good things about myself and competing I can take it into the future."
Drew Ginn's international rowing highlights
Olympics
Gold 1996 Atlanta, US, coxless four
Gold 2004 Athens, Greece, coxless pair
Gold 2008 Beijing, China, coxless pair
World Championships
Bronze 1997 Aiguebelette, France, coxed eight
Gold 1998 Cologne, Germany coxed four
Silver 1998 Cologne, Germany coxless pair
Gold 1999 St Catharines, Canada coxless pair
Gold 2003 Milan, Italy, coxless pair
Gold 2006 Eton, England, coxless pair
Gold 2007 Munich, Germany coxless pair
Thursday 22 October
Media Watch:
Bridge rowing club celebrates
Murray Valley Standard, 22/10/09
ROWING: Guests from all over Australia descended on the Murray Bridge Basketball Stadium last weekend to celebrate one hundred years of rowing history.
The venue was festooned in the double blue colours of the Murray Bridge Rowing Club and a collection of historic photographs, trophies, blazers and other ephemera was on display.
A range of centenary merchandise, including the 2010 Rotary Cash Calendar (featuring photographs from the past century) and a collection of centenary wines and glasses were available.
During the evening roving reporter Ron Mobbs (whose family has been associated with the Club for four generations), interviewed significant people associated with the club.
Two of the oldest members present, Ron Graetz and local identity Harry Beauchamp, shared some of their recollections.
Past presidents Des Schulz and Mike Brown reflected on their terms in office. Barbara Smelt talked about the women who represented SA at the 1956 Australian Rowing Championships, when Murray Bridge women rowers were the exception rather than the rule.
Joy Brown, a member of the Women's Auxilliary which existed from the sixties through to the nineties, described the significant contribution of this group of women in raising funds for rowing equipment and the new building.
Her comments were responded to with "a dozen", the traditional rowing ritual for recognising great performance.
Other people interviewed included Barry Schulz, Dennis Newell, Nicola Stone, Anna Tree, Hayley Bignall and Anna McRae.
Olympian James McRae reflected on the bitter sweet memories of the Beijing Olympics, when the Australian quad scull crew created a world record time in the heats, but missed out on a bronze medal by .32 second.
President David Newell awarded life membership to Craig Christian and James McRae.
Craig Christian, as well as his term as president, built the unique bar in the boatshed, created from an old wooden eight.
James McRae is the club's most successful rower, winning many national titles and representing Australia every year since 2005.
He is the club's first Olympic representative since the Cods in 1924.
Centenary merchandise can still be ordered through the club website www.rowingmurraybridge.net.au.
Squad of the Century
Men's Eight (Early era)
The "Cods" - Wally Pfeiffer, Bill Sladden, Frank Cummings, Arthur Scott, Ted Thomas, Wally Jarvis, Alf Tauber, Afe Graetz, E. Tucker (emg), Bob Cummings (cox), Ted Higgs (coach).
Women's quad
Tami Stone, Anna McRae, Hayley Bignall, Hannah Doecke, Sally Llewellyn (emg), Ron Mobbs (coach).
Men's quad
James McRae, Wally Pfeiffer, Grant Christian, Sam Martin, Sam Redding (emg), Ron Mobbs (coach).
Men's Eight (Modern era)
Ron Graetz, Michael Thiele, Barry Schulz, Richard Bolt, Neil Button, Robert Cooper, John Banks, Barry Mobbs, Peter Burgess (cox), Bruce Mobbs (coach).
Wednesday 21 October
Media Watch:
Rowing star aims for London
Tanya Paloucci, Bendigo Advertiser, 21/10/09
SCULLING champion Hannah Every-Hall has the 2012 Olympic Games in sight, following exceptional results at last week's World Masters Games in Sydney.
The Advertiser Sports Star of the Year in 2001–02 was in hot form on the water at the Games.
Every-Hall won gold in the women's A single sculls event by a margin of 6.68 seconds.
She also teamed up with the Melbourne University crew, which took out both the A and B squad scull events.
Every-Hall also made her mark on the B double sculls event, taking home the bronze medal.
But it doesn't stop there for the 32-year-old, who plans on returning to the professional rowing scene in 2010.
"I'm planning on having a go at representing Australia in the open age group," she said yesterday.
"I'm ulitimately aiming to make the London Olympics in 2012."
Every-Hall has already racked impressive results and is on track for her return, finishing second in the 4km Long Course Trials earlier this year.
Every-Hall's return to world-class rowing will be balanced with other priorities, including her two young sons Harrison, three, and Charlie, one, as well as her part-time role as a dietician at Every Body Nutrition and Fitness.
Several rowing stars have earned Sports Star of the Year honours.
Previously yearly winners in the long-running awards, proudly sponsored by RegionalOne Credit Union, include Deborah Bassett in 1986–87, and Deidre Fraser in 1992–93.
Tuesday 20 October
Media Watch:
Boats afloat as Grammar takes to the water
Melanie Whelan, Ballarat Courier, 20/10/09
SWIFTNESS and a strong competitive edge is what Ballarat Grammar School hopes its new boats will bring this rowing season.
The Grammar rowing fraternity christened four new boats into its fleet at Lake Wendouree on Sunday.
Two were in action last summer, but Grammar director of rowing Bradd Denham said they were included in the ceremony to ensure good luck.
This was the first chance the entire rowing squad and extended family could gather at the Grammar boat sheds since the addition of the boats.
Lack of water has kept training dispersed between Geelong and Melbourne, making it hard for all rowers to come together.
Mr Denham said it was a great way to officially launch the new rowing season.
"It's a great positive for the students to see the new equipment and know they'll be racing with the latest and best technology," Mr Denham said.
The long-time rowing coach was humbled to have a senior boys' boat christened in his name.
Fellow coach and former Grammar rower John Nevett was also honoured, for more than 20 years instructing crews.
The John Nevett featured on the water last summer as the boys' firsts boat, including their second placing in Head of the Lake.
He hoped the christening would help the boys find the extra canvas they needed to edge out arch-rival St Patrick's College this season.
A new junior boat was named after Grammar's support club The Vikings, who assist students with transport to training, regattas and camps.
Grammar's eight boat was christened with its sporting war-cry Boomalacka.
The Boomalacka began to make its mark on the water in the under-19s at national level last season.
Mr Denham said the eight was an exciting addition to the Grammar rowing program and boys and girls' crews had proved they could mix it with traditional eight heavyweight schools from Melbourne.
The program's focus is on the coxed four at the nationals and Ballarat Associated Schools' Head of the Lake regatta, where Grammar will defend its girls' crown.
Monday 19 October
Media Watch:
Gifted athletes focus of program
Neale Harvey, Kalgoorlie Miner, 17/10/09
A GROUP of talented young athletes from the Goldfields and Esperance will be given a taste of what is required to succeed at the highest level as participants in this weekend's Gifted Athlete Program.
The WA School of Mines will host this weekend's camp, which has been brought to the region by the Department of Sport and Recreation in conjunction with the WA Institute of Sport. DSR talent development regional coordinator Samantha Shields said the program offered even greater opportunities for talented youngsters to succeed at the highest level.
"The idea behind delivering the program in or near athletes' home town is to ensure they have an opportunity to stay and develop in the most supportive environment possible before they need to relocate to WAIS or other elite programs elsewhere," Shields said.
"We rotate the program around the different regions of WA and the program runs in two separate streams – an introductory stream for 12 to 14-year-olds and an advanced stream for 15 to 21-year-olds
"As part of GAP, all participants will get to hear elite WAIS rower Amber Bradley talk about her own experiences, which include competing in two Olympic Games, and learn practical tips on topics such as nutrition, injury prevention, identifying their sporting pathway, how to promote themselves in the media and practical guidelines on managing multiple commitments in life."
The camp gets under way today from 11am, with the opening session focussing on staying healthy and injury free.
Activities continue until 8pm before resuming at 9am tomorrow with the remaining five of the scheduled eight sessions.
Participants include Kalgoorlie-Boulder residents Bradley Dalton (touch) and Jayden Armstrong (baseball) and the Esperance pair of Kate Oorschot (equestrian) and Ethan Florisson (squash).
Friday 16 October
Media Watch:
Club spruiks oarsome news
Patrick O’Meara, Wimmera Mail Times, 16/10/09
DIMBOOLA Rowing Club vice president John Nichols is spreading the word of the returning Dimboola Regatta at the World Masters Games in Sydney.
Nichols is competing in rowing events at the games in D grade competition, for people aged between 50 and 54, with a Tasmanian team.
He became involved with the Tasmanian squad through his brother, who lives in Tasmania.
Nichols said he had taken the opportunity to seek interest from potential Dimboola Regatta competitors at the games.
"I am up here spreading the word at the moment," Nichols said.
"There have been a lot of good reports and quite a few are interested in getting back to Dimboola."
The Dimboola Regatta is on Saturday, November 21.
Nichols said the Tasmanian team was competitive in the games, making the semi-finals in the eight on Saturday and reaching the semi-final in the coxless four.
He was still to compete in the coxed four.
The World Masters Games rowing events are at Penrith where the 2000 Olympic Games rowing events took place.
Nichols said excitement was building ahead of the return of the Dimboola Regatta for the first time since 2005.
"I e-mailed the chief executive officer of Rowing Victoria to get the all-clear after we decided to go ahead with it and he called me within 10 minutes excited at the prospect," he said.
"Obviously with the publicity in the papers they were aware the river level was better, but I confirmed it was very close to being Rill to the brim and it has remained that way so we are all systems go."
He said the Dimboola Rowing Club would set-up the course and wait for entries to be confirmed, with entries closing on Sunday, November 15.
Entries can be lodged on the Rowing Victoria website, www.rowingvictoria.asn.au
The Dimboola Regatta will contain 49 events. Nichols said Dimboola club would look to blood some juniors through Dimboola Memorial Secondary College ahead of the event.
He likened rowing to riding a pushbike.
"You don't have to have the best hand-eye co-ordination. It is just getting the right motion and once you get your rhythm going you are fine," he said.
Nichols said Dimboola Rowing Club was always looking for new members and people keen to get involved by calling the club on 5389 1426.
Dimboola Rowing Club will also host the Horsham Regatta on Sunday, November 22, the day after the Dimboola Regatta at the same venue.
Thursday 15 October
Media Watch:
Scone athletes prove their mettle at World games
Scone Advocate, 15/10/09
A NUMBER of Scone competitors are among the 28,000 athletes who are competing at the world's largest multi-sport event, the 2009 World Masters Games that are being held in Sydney.
Most of the Scone and Upper Hunter competitors travelled down to Sydney on the weekend and are competing in their various sports this week.
A sporting competition for people aged 35 and older, the World Masters Games brings together competitors from 95 countries and the number of competitors is now double that of the Olympics.
This year Australia will have more than 19,800 athletes and the average age of people competing at the games is 50-years-old.
Representing Scone is a netball team who are attending their first masters.
Also representing Scone and the Upper Hunter Shire are Bev Adams, Jeanie Seymour and Paul Bryden for athletics, Gary Watson for touch football and Chris Oliver who is competing in rowing.
Bev Adams has competed at previous World Masters Games and made it to the final of every event she competed in, in Rome.
This week she is competing in long jump, discus, javelin, shotput and hammer.
In the past she has competed in other events as well but a hip replacement she had two-years-ago has limited her mobility.
"It's a fun thing, it keeps you mentally fit and keeps you agile," Mrs Adams said of her participation in sport and preparation for the World Masters Games.
Wednesday 14 October
Media Watch:
Old men of the river
Paul Kent, Daily Telegraph, 14/10/09
THE problem, Ralph Howard was saying, is that if you live too long this is what happens.
You get lauded for nothing more than celebrating another birthday.
Yesterday, as Ralph was about to lead out one of the world's two oldest rowing eights into the water, people were making quite a fuss of the 91-year-old.
For one thing, according to friend and rowing mate Donald Gibb, the women were drawn to him "like bees around a honey pot".
"Not true," Ralph said. "That's the last thing on my mind. When you're racing you can't do both."
If there is one thing Ralph knows, it is that women weaken legs. His teammate Joe Romer, a whippersnapper at 75, is still to learn that.
The night before last Joe's wife called to ask when he would be home, saying she was pretty keen for him to get home as soon as possible. He has a three-year-old daughter, after all.
"My wife is 37," he said.
These are just two competitors in the men's J8 team, who were due to race at Nepean yesterday until high winds cancelled the program. The organisers were hoping, but remained uncertain, whether they could catch up the events today.
For Ralph and Joe, though, it is all too late.
Both are booked home on flights today and, even if they did decide to postpone their flights, don't have accommodation to stay any longer.
Joe has taken it particularly hard.
"I'm sleeping in the same room as Ralph and he said to me, `I'm 99 per cent very confident we will have a gold'," Joe said. "And now nothing, because of the weather.
"This is the biggest disappointment in my life. I was going to win either a gold or silver medal, hopefully gold, and now I won't.
"I have never experienced rowing with Olympics medallists either and now I won't."
Also in the eight are two of Australia's 1956 Olympians, Adrian Monger, 77, and Neville Howell, 79, who got back together two years ago, 51 years after winning Olympic bronze in Australia's eight.
All are doing it because it is what they have always done, so serious they even started weight training to complement their time on the water.
They were fit and hard and ready to win, following a simple philosophy.
"An old man told my father, who told me, that when somebody said they would do something tomorrow," Joe said, "today is given to us, tomorrow isn't promised."
Tuesday 13 October
Media Watch:
McRae part of winning crew
Murray Valley Standard, 13/10/09
ROWING: Murray Bridge rower James McRae was part of an Adelaide University men's rowing crew that won one of the biggest trophies in Australian rowing on Lake Burley Griffin, in Canberra, last week.
Adelaide Uni won the Oxford and Cambridge Cup for the first time since 1979 when they beat Sydney University by one and a half boat lengths at the annual Australian Universities regatta.
The solid silver trophy stands almost a metre tall and is valued at hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Donated by Australians who raced for Oxford and Cambridge universities, the coveted trophy is legendary as the largest trophy in Australian rowing.
Sydney Uni had won the trophy for the past several years and with six international representatives in their boat they started as favourites.
Sydney led the race for the first 300 metres until the Adelaide Uni crew threw down the gauntlet with a powerful push that had the SA crew hit the lead.
Then, with a stroke rating over 40 to the minute, they pulled away from the field to win the 1800 metre race by clear water.
The winning Adelaide Uni crew is a true South Australian representative crew with students from three other clubs as well as the Adelaide Uni Boat Club including McRae, Tom Sullivan from Renmark and Owen Giradi from Adelaide Rowing Club.
Other team members were Pat Maddern, Jess Duncan, Tom Shelton, Ned Kinnear and Nick Andrews.
The cox was Lucy Hyde who was the cox of the SA men's Kings Cup crew this year.
The crew was coached by former SA Kings Cup oarsman Michael Jeffries and raced in the new boat that was christened in his name just two weeks ago.
Monday 12 October
Media Watch:
Regatta Free-for-all
Jake Dew, Gold Coast Bulletin, 12/10/09
Champion pushing for bigger river race
ROWING top dog Duncan Free hopes Saturday's success on the Nerang River in their Trans-Tasman showdown with New Zealand may encourage organisers to go even bigger in 2010.
Free helped the Australian men's eight to a gripping victory over the Kiwis, with the home team holding off a fast finish to win by just .45 of a second in a great finale to the Paradise Regatta.
With the race proving a great spectacle for the large crowds that lined the river bank, Free said it could create some scope to look at building the regatta to include other countries, other universities and other clubs so it could become the 'Melbourne Cup of rowing'.
"To race in a good crew with other guys from around your country and to race the New Zealand crew was a great experience, particularly in my own backyard," said the Olympic gold medallist.
"It was a huge day and you don't get many chances around the world where you can get a one-on-one race
"Whether they choose to go bigger with the internationals or just keep it between Australia and New Zealand and bring in the women's race as well, there's definitely scope to make it bigger."
"And who wouldn't want to come to the Gold Coast for a rowing regatta?"
Set to become a permanent fixture on the rowing calendar, the Trans-Tasman battle lived up to all its hype.
The Australia and New Zealand crews were stacked with talent – the Aussies boasting seven Olympians while the Kiwis had seven crew who are either current world or world under-23 champions.
On a winding 2km Nerang River course, crews were locked in battle over the final 500m as they were forced to negate a stiff southerly breeze and an outgoing tide.
University of Queensland won the regatta face-off with Griffith University.
Friday 9 October
Media Watch:
Rowing honour for Waller
Ballarat Courier, 9/10/09
ERIC WALLER is now a life member of Rowing Victoria.
The 68-year-old was adorned with the honour at the association's annual general meeting on Sunday, which has acknowledged his life-long involvement in the sport.
Waller started rowing in 1957 at Wendouree Ballarat Rowing Club, where he competed in maiden and junior racing. In 1958 he joined the club's committee, where he has served ever since.
He was captain from 1959 to 1979 and immediately became president, a position he still holds.
Waller successfully coached club crews in the 1960s and is a life member of the BRC. During his time as captain, the BRC's activities grew enormously, and as president, the club has housed and encouraged many school rowing programs.
Some of Waller's achievements at Ballarat-level include:
- President of the Ballarat Rowing Association since 1984;
- President of the Victorian Country Rowing Association since 1989;
- Course manager for the Ballarat Public Schools Regatta;
- Member of the Lake Wendouree Management Committee;
- Spokesman for rowing in Ballarat;
- Led the many improvements to the course at Ballarat, including the current dredging and buoying system; and
- Successfully negotiated to bring to Ballarat many major rowing events.
As a result of these, and many other activities, Waller was presented the Mackenzie Award in 1990 for sports administration by the Ballarat Sportsmen's Club.
Further to his tireless work at a local level, Waller has been an integral member of state and national events, including:
- An elected board member of Rowing Victoria for 16 years, currently vice-president;
- The inaugural Field of Play Manager for Rowing Victoria, which has led to great innovation and improvement of regatta courses and standards in Victoria;
- Has introduced the requirement of life saving support at all Rowing Victoria regattas, which has been adopted by Rowing Australia at all its regattas;
- The Old Oarsmen and Womens Rowing Association's prestigious Tom Rodda Award;
- Field of play manager for the six most recent national championships, run by Victoria;
- Has had significant input into the national championships in all other states since 1962, with field of play or boat driving organisational responsibilities; and
- Has had significant input into these types of operational tasks at the 1990 World Championships, 2000 Olympic Games and the 2003 World Masters Games.
Thursday 8 October
Media Watch:
Awesome foursome off to the World Masters
Josh Callinan, Maitland Mercury, 8/10/09
At 5am each morning throughout the dead of winter – most of the time fighting the fog – these keen rowers, new to the sport, hit the Huner River with one thing on their minds.
These four, along with a selected few, have been training at Endeavour Rowing Club, which is at Berry Park, for the World Masters Games being held in Sydney.
The world's largest multi-sport event begins on Sunday and 26 rowers from the Maitland-based club – ranging in age form 38 to 65 years – will compete in more than 100 races over the five days of competition at Sydney International Regatta Centre, Penrith Lakes.
The regatta will be the largest held in the sourthern hemisphere and will easily overshadow the 2000 Olympics with 2422 rowers entered in 847 races.
"It is a really big regatta and we are really looking forward to it," Endeavour Rowing Club member, World Masters Games competitor and coach Julianne Tilse said.
"We have a few new people and this will be their first really big regatta, which is very exciting."
Tilse said the competition, which includes many Europeans and former Olympians, would be tough.
Of the 847 races Maitland rowers will participate in single, double and quad sculls and for the first time at international competition – eights – in men's, women's and mixed divisions across various age groups and categories.
The World Masters Games, which will see a record 28,292 competitors taking part, will run from October 10 to 18.
Wednesday 7 October
Media Watch:
Ted taking a commercial interest in World Masters
James Perkins, Daily News Tweed Heads, 7/10/09
A TWEED Heads rowing champion is set to capitalise on the Sydney World Masters Games later this year.
But while Ted Hale is one of Australia's all-time great rowers, he is putting the competitive juices on hold to concentrate on manufacturing his renowned racing sculls at Tweed Heads.
With more than 28,000 competitors taking part in this year's event, it is set to bring a massive economic boost to New South Wales.
"What I am doing is a business thing; I will be there as a supplier of equipment," Mr Hale said.
"I may get to race in between my business commitments, but I may not. Competing is not a key part of it as far as I am concerned."
If he finds the time, Mr Hale, 62, may represent Australia in the single sculls.
Fellow Tweed athlete Bert Janes, 76, will compete in the five-kilometre track walk and the 10/20km road walk.
Federal Member for Richmond and Minister for Ageing Justine Elliot will represent Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and officially open the October 10 to 18 event.
She wished both Tweed men luck at the games.
"They have worked extremely hard to be able to take part in their individual events and are an inspiration to us all," Mrs Elliot said. "We will be watching the results with interest."
The games will be the largest multi-sport event in the world this year, with more than 28,000 competitors from 95 countries and nearly 3600 friends and family, team personnel and officials involved.
Mr Hale said the rowing would be massive, with races starting every three minutes for 12 hours straight over days of competition. He will be offering his repair skills as well as taking a trailer of equipment south and leasing it to a number of teams.
The games, which the Federal Government gave $8.5 million, are expected to provide an economic benefit of $50 million to the New South Wales economy.
Tuesday 6 October
Media Watch:
Oarsome’ family duo
Michael Carayannis, St George and Sutherland Shire Leader, 6/10/09
WHEN Monica Boerma, 41, steps into a rowing boat next to her father Johannes, 85, her only concern is matching him stroke for stroke. After all, Johannes (or Jack as he is known) has been rowing since he was 15.
The pair will compete in various events at the World Masters Games starting this Saturday.
They will be together to contest the mixed double scull event.
"Rowing keeps you healthy and strong," Boerma senior said.
"It helps to get rid of your cholesterol and blood pressure. I played soccer until I was 60 and rowing can't cause as much damage."
Jack was born in the Netherlands and migrated to Australia in 1951.
Shortly after his arrival, he joined St George Rowing Club, and has competed in three World Masters Games. He won a gold medal in the double scull.
Monica began rowing, aged seven, with the St George club and has since taken up canoeing with Sutherland Shire Canoe Club.
"We raced together a couple of regattas ago," Monica said. "I was the weaker one in the crew.
"I was a bit worried I was pushing him too hard but he was yelling to go faster and faster.
"You might hear us arguing down the other end of the river but that's just father-and-daughter stuff. I've just got to try and be as fast as him."
Friday 2 October
Media Watch:
Rower home to pay off trip to world championships
Jared Lynch, Warrnambool Standard, 2/10/09
Reality bites Bertrand
REALITY has come crashing down for Tommy Bertrand, who will spend the next few months in his hometown of Warrnambool.
The Australian rower took this semester off from his university studies and is building up his bank balance, by loading trucks at the city's industrial estate.
He has just returned from competing in the World Rowing Championships in Poland and said it was good to be back on his old stomping ground.
"The bank balance is a bit empty from being overseas so I have had to find a job. Reality is setting in," Bertrand said.
"But its good to be back."
Bertrand represented Australia in the lightweight four at the championships.
His team finished 14th of 27 boats.
Betrand said the result was disappointing but the crew had potential.
"We are very young and if we stick together I think we will perform well.
"The championships was a great learning experience. I really enjoyed it."
Bertrand will return to his former club, Nestles, for a come-and-try day from 10am until 1pm this Sunday at the Dennington section of the Merri River.
He urged people to come along to try out the sport.
"Rowing's great. Wherever you go there is a rowing club and it is a great way to meet people.
"To me it has been a life-changing experience."
Bertrand's father, Tom, the president of the Nestles Rowing Club, said people of all abilities were urged to pick up an oar this Sunday.
He said the come-and-try day was normally held later in October "but we thought we'd bring it forward a month so if there was any natural talent out there they could compete if they wished this season".
The club plans a regatta for the South West Games at the end of November.
Thursday 1 October
Media Watch:
Rowing sculls fleet launched
Victor Harbor Times, 1/10/09
SAILING: Goolwa Rowing Club honoured the CEO of The Marina Hindmarsh Island, Andrew Chapman, when a boat named Andrew Chapman was launched on Sunday.
The carbon fibre boat gives the club a lightweight quad that is a very useful addition to the Goolwa fleet.
Also launched was a new double named Tauwitchere and a single named Challenge.
The support the club has received from Andrew has been tremendous.
An ex Prince Alfred College rower himself, Andrew rowed in bow seat in the first eight in the 1983 National Championships.
His father was also a keen rower and as Andrew stated at the launch, "If you have never rowed, then you just don't get it!"
In the time honoured fashion Andrew broke champagne over the bow of each of the boats.
They were then christened in the water, the Andrew Chapman was rowed by Sue West, Heather England, Elspeth Brown and Frank Skuce, coxed by Stef Wilden.
Tauwitchere was rowed by Michael Jenkins and Bob Russell and Challenge by Cam Wilson.
The timely acquisitions won't be in the Goolwa Rowing Club shed for long though, as they will be heading interstate with eleven competitors to compete in the World Masters Games in Sydney in October.
