WELCOME TO RV E-NEWS

The Bendigo Sprint Regatta returned successfully last weekend, with crews awarded mugs to showcase their victories! Well done to all competitors and the Bendigo Rowing Club!

This weekend, clubs, schools, and supporters will be heading to Nagambie for the renamed Foot of the Goulburn, with a fresh course and plenty of entertainment in store!

Meanwhile down in the Geelong, we will see the first school regatta of the season, with Lauriston taking over the hosting reigns of what should be an exciting day. Good luck to those who may be competing for the first time!

Lastly, we look forward to celebrating the achievements of our clubs and members this Sunday at the Rowing Victoria Annual General Meeting and Annual Awards! 

Read more below.

Stay Safe, Stay Rowing!

Rowing Victoria

        UPCOMING REGATTAS

NTC ATHLETES ANNOUNCED

Rowing Australia have confirmed the athletes selected into its two elite performance hubs, with the Hancock Prospecting Women’s National Training Centre in Penrith to host 25 full-time athletes, whilst the Reinhold Batschi Men’s Training Centre in Canberra will host 23.

17 Victorian athletes have been selected, listed below, with Sarah Marriott (MUBC) the newest addition following an impressive season. Well done to all, we look forward to your ongoing improvement with an eye on the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

HEAD OF THE CHARLES REGATTA

Well done to Women's Pair of Jess Morrison OAM and Annabelle McIntyre OAM after claiming double Gold at the prestigious Head Of The Charles Regatta in Boston!

They were successful in the Women's Elite Pair (Invitational) and later joined the crew from California Rowing Club to help take out the Women's Championship Fours.

Well done also to Cate McNeil from Mercantile RC who finished ninth in the youth scull, fourth in under 17 division and was the fastest 15 year old!

2024 STATE TEAM SELECTION REQUIREMENTS

The selection policies and nomination form for the 2024 Interstate Team are now live on the Rowing Victoria website.

Nominations close on Thursday 11th January 2024.

Please direct any questions regarding selection to Delwyn Oliver on delwyn@rowingvictoria.asn.au.

NOMINATIONS - STATE TEAM SELECTORS

Rowing Victoria is calling for nominations to assist in the selection of the 2024 State Masters and Pathway 8+ teams.

We are seeking to fill two selector positions for each team, with the nomination links below.

For more information please contact Adam Harrison at adam@rowingvictoria.asn.au.

AUSTRALIAN INDOOR ROWING CHAMPIONSHIPS

This weekend more than 500 athletes across Australia (and globally) will be jumping on their ergs to compete in the Australian Indoor Rowing Championships!

There will be plenty of Victorian representation with athletes from 7 member clubs registered to compete.

Good luck to all and we look forward to seeing your results!

VOWA ANNOUNCE CHANGES AT ANNUAL LUNCHEON

The Victorian Oarsmen & Womens Association (VOWA) hosted their annual luncheon last weekend.

The event was attended by various members including Rowing Victoria Chair, Deb Spring, as well as Head Coach, Noel Donaldson. At the luncheon the new committee was elected (pictured below), with Noel chosen to lead the association as President going forward.

Each year, the Tom Rodda Award is awared to an individual who has presented excellence in service to the sport of rowing. This years recipient was Rosemary Richardson, pictured below with Deb and last years recipient and RV umpire, Glenn Bottrell.

VALUED VOLUNTEERS NEEDED - MELBOURNE HEAD

Saturday 18th November

The first Melbourne Regatta for the new Season, and we would value and welcome ALL Volunteers for this Premier Head Race of Australia, please!

Timers, Staging Marshalls, Bow Numbers Distribution, Pre-Start Marshalls, Equipment Setup, Boat Trailer & Pedestrian Controllers, Deliveries on Bikes along rowing course, and more.

Friday tasks are available too!

Please advise your availability by completing details in this new FORM.

Please contact Maurie Fanning with any questions on mfanning@bigpond.net.au or 0414926142.

UPCOMING CLUB OPEN DAYS

ALBERT PARK LAKE

Sunday 5th November | 9am - 11:30am

Albert Park South Melbourne Rowing Club, Melbourne Argonauts Rowing Club, and the Y Rowing Club invite you to explore rowing in Albert Park.

The opportunity is here for you on Albert Park Lake with three active clubs to cater for your level of rowing. Come along and enjoy taking a tour of the facilities, speaking with club members about rowing opportunities, row on the lake*, and seeing what rowing in Albert Park has to offer.

GEELONG

Friday 17th November | 5pm - 7pm

Barwon Rowing Club and Corio Bay Rowing Club invite you to explore the rowing opportunities available in Geelong.

Have you rowed when you were younger and would like to return to rowing? Come along and enjoy taking a tour of the facilities, speaking with club members about rowing opportunities, row on the Barwon*, and seeing what rowing in Geelong has to offer.

SIGNIFICANT SPORTING EVENTS PROGRAM

The Significant Sporting Events Program helps sporting, community and event organisations to deliver significant sporting events in Victoria.

Eligible events include those hosted by local sporting organisations that are regionally specific and recognised by a relevant sporting body.

Applications close October 31st.

CLUBMAP WEBINAR

CLUBMAP will be hosting another webinar on Monday October 30th - PLANNING: YOUR ROADMAP TO SUCCESS

If you don't plan for it, it won't happen. All successful community sporting clubs have a roadmap, they'll show you what plans your club need to put in place to ensure success in 2024.

RIVER SAFETY - BOW & STERN LIGHTS

With the darker mornings and evenings now upon us, it is crucial that all rowers who are on the water (and coaches on bikes and powerboats) between sunset and sunrise have adequate lighting for your safety and the safety of others. 

Rowing boats, in restricted visibility and between sunset and sunrise, are required to exhibit;

• Two all-round white lights - one attached to the boat at or near the forward or bow end, and one attached to the boat at or near the stern end.
• Bow light - A continuous white light is considered acceptable if it is visible in clear conditions from a distance of 1 kilometre.
• Stern light - A flashing white light is considered acceptable if it flashes at least once per second and is visible in clear conditions from a distance of 1 kilometre.

Not withstanding the above, it is considered acceptable for a light to be masked so as not to interfere with the vision of the vessel’s occupants, provided at least one light is visible from any direction (see diagram below).

SAFETY REMINDER

Rowing Victoria would like to remind all members the importance of using our equipment and waterways safely and appropriately.

Please follow traffic rules, including correctly using designated turning zones. By following these rules, our waterways are safer for all. 

We have also been made aware of a number of incidents where rowing coaches have been sighted either riding without helmets, using megaphones at incorrect hours, or using mobile phones while riding (both in conversation or filming their crews).

For your own safety, to avoid fines, and to respect other members of the community, we ask that you please ensure you are obeying the law and not partaking in the behaviours above.

WATERWAY ACCESS & INCIDENT REPORTING

Could all waterway users please ensure they are acquainted with their local waterway rules; traffic direction, turning points, stationary obstacles etc.

So that RV, Maritime Safety Victoria and now, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority can support the community in providing safe waterways, please register all incidents via the RV Report an Incident tile on the home page of the RV website.

A consistent management of reporting will assist us in ensuring we are kept safe on the water and the chances of equipment damage is mitigated.