WELCOME TO RV E-NEWS

An exciting week of news, with final Olympic and Paralympic teams announced, including lots of Victorians!

We've had racing action to follow at both the Henley Royal Regatta and FISU World University Championships, whilst back in Victoria we've officially transitioned to the new rowing season.

If you are out on the water, please ensure your club/school has renewed your membership.

Read more below.

Stay Safe, Stay Rowing!

Rowing Victoria

        UPCOMING EVENTS

RV CEO ANNOUNCED

The Board of Rowing Victoria is pleased to announce the appointment of Adam Harrison as Chief Executive Officer, effective from July 1st, 2024.

Adam's appointment follows an extensive recruitment process, conducted in partnership with the specialist recruiting firm Sportspeople, that attracted a strong pool of applicants.

Adam brings to the role a unique set of expertise including an extensive background in sports administration and, in particular, rowing. Adam is dedicated to improving the offerings available to all of those who embrace rowing in Victoria and to ensure that they are unmatched when it comes to events, pathways, facilities and community satisfaction.

The Board is excited that Adam has accepted the role and looks forward to his leadership of the Victorian rowing community.

Please join the Board in wishing Adam every success in this endeavour. Congratulations, Adam.

RV President, Deborah Spring

OLYMPIANS & PARALYMPIANS SECURE TICKETS TO PARIS

The Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Rowing Teams have been finalised, with 17 Victorians selected to represent the green and gold on the world's biggest stage! Congratulations to all selected!

Victorian's make up 41% of the 37 selected Olympic athletes, with representation in all but one crew, as outlined below. From our familiar Victorian faces, Jess Morrison OAM and Lucy Stephan OAM return for their third Games, 7 return from Tokyo for their second Games, whilst 6 are set to make their Olympic debuts.

In the Paralympic Team, Al Viney returns for her second Games and is looking to take another step forward after a fourth place finish in Tokyo. She is joined in the Mixed Coxed Four by debutant Susannah Lutze, who has continued to improve following her efforts in qualifying the boat last year.

The Olympic Team celebrated the announcement together in Varese, Italy, as they continue their final preparations based out of their European Training Centre. Meanwhile, the Paralympic Team were celebrated at the National Training Centre back in Canberra.

The Olympic Regatta will be held at the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium from July 27 to August 3, with the Paralympic Regatta to follow from August 30 to September 1.

OLYMPIC CREWS

*Debut Games

PARALYMPIC CREWS

*Debut Games

Images: Rowing Australia

HENLEY ROYAL REGATTA

The Henley Royal Regatta is underway! The racing action began on Tuesday, with familiar faces rowing for both Mercantile RC and Rowing Australia.

We've seen some impressive racing from both Mercantile crews this week, as we near the pointy end of the regatta. The Britannia Challenge crew kicked off Thursday's racing with a strong win over London RC in their quarter final, setting them up for a big semi against Thames RC later today. The Wyfold Challenge crew fought all the way to the line in their quarter final yesterday, falling short to Tyne RC in a tough race.

Representing Rowing Australia, Eliza Gaffney and Samy Morton easily dealt with their first round opponent, setting up a quarter final against the Leander Club pair, also scheduled for later this evening.

With these races back-to-back, be sure to tune into the action on demand via the Henley YouTube channel.

FISU WORLD UNI CHAMPIONSHIPS

FISU World University Championship Rowing is underway in Rotterdam, Netherlands, with athletes representing their country in pursuit of glory, facing off against other top student rowers from around the globe.

Zara Lavery (MUBC) and Anna Morrison (Mercantile) are rowing in the Women's Four, joined by Zoe McKellar and Olivia Nattey (NSW). Placing 2nd in their initial heat, they will now compete in the repechage later today (5:50pm AEST), with the top 4 crews progressing into the A Final tomorrow.

COACHES - IMPROVE YOUR ACCREDITATION WITH LEVEL 2

You’ve had a break and now is the time to get back into rowing!

To gain Level 2 Coaching Accreditation you need to:

1. Successfully complete the four RA online modules

2. Participate in the discussion workshop (4hrs)

3. Compete the rigging workshop (4hrs) 

The next discussion workshop will be late July/August (Date TBC) followed by a rigging workshop in October. Please note that in order to attend the in-person workshops you must have completed the online modules.

To express your interest, please contact delwyn@rowingvictoria.asn.au.

IN THE NEWS

STATE TEAM UNIFORM CLEARANCE - NOW OPEN

A selection of previous State Team uniform items are now available for purchase on the Rowing Victoria website.

Purchase is restricted to individuals who have been previously selected in a Victorian State Team (including Senior/Masters/Pathways).

EVENT NOTIFICATION - RIVER CLOSURE

Saturday 17 August - Scullers Head of the Yarra

Please be advised that the Yarra River will be closed from 7.30am to 10.00am from VRA landing (MUBC) to Victoria/Barkly Street Bridge, Hawthorn.

AUSTRALIAN ROWING IMAGES

What can I do with my old rowing photographs?

The Australian Rowing Images website has been established to collect rowing images from throughout Australia and make them available to all. Whilst still in its infancy, already 60,000 rowing images have been uploaded covering an initial 300 events from 1878 to the present day. More are being added daily. All that is required is that you own the copyright to the images.

The proceeds from the site help fund the vital Australian Rowing History website. Help us maintain the rich history of our great sport by sending your images or any questions to andrewguerin@rowinghistory-aus.info.

LOCAL SPORTING CHAMPIONS

The Local Sporting Champions program provides financial assistance for coaches, officials and competitors aged 12-18 participating in state, national or international championships.

If successful, applicants will receive $500-$750 (see eligibility) towards the cost of attending their championships. Applications can be made for eligible competitions held between 1 March 2024 and 30 November 2024, including State and National Championships.

Round 1 is now open and closes July 31st.

BIKE LIGHTS

In addition to safely lighting our boats, it is important that coaches are also meeting requirements off the water. By law, your bike must be fitted with a rear red reflector, a bell, and at least one working brake.

When riding at night and in low-light, you must use a front white light and a rear red light. The light can be flashing or steady but must be seen from 200 metres away. It is also a good idea to use flashing lights during the day to help other road users see you.

BOW & STERN LIGHTS

It is important 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.