Happy new year to every one. Anyone interested would be aware that nationals this year are at Nagambie, Victoria between the Sunday, 7 March to Sunday, the 14 March 2004.
Training squads for the 2004 King's Cup men's eight, the men's and women' lightweight fours have been published and congratulations to those selected for the squads from which the final teams will be selected. Rowers have already nominated for the Youth eights with selection for the training squads to conducted by ACT Head Coach, Gordon Marcks in the third week of January. Good luck to all of you contesting for a seat to represent the ACT.
The logistics surrounding this years championship may not seem as daunting to many of you when compared to the championships at Barrington last year however, with 7 weeks to run booking accommodation , transport arrangements etc and for many clubs the level of participation probably still need to be determined. If you haven't planned you may need to start and finish your arrangements within the next 2 weeks, given the NSW Championships etc.
Nagambie is fully booked with some B&Bs available, Seymour is close by and filling up, Euroa is about 30mins away and offers all that you could need, while Shepparton is also about 40mins away and still has plenty available.
The only way to plan for the championships is to understand that you are in Victoria and not far from Melbourne, that can mean four seasons in one day. At the 2002 championships, the days were cool in the morning, tending towards windy ( at times cyclonic) with warm to hot days, otherwise perfect.
Apart from tents/cover brought by competitor clubs/ACTRA there is no shade on the course. ACTRA will have a 6x6 metre tent, if possible, I would ask clubs to make available their rowing marquees and to contact me so that I can settle on the number I need about two. For those of you that may remember in 2002 the ACT along with the other States had the one collective site. All the tents are placed together to provide the maximum sun protection and allowing easier and effective co-ordination of transport, water and other needs. Sites are booked at a cost from Vic rowing and Actra will meet the cost of a site as it did in 2002.
As in previous years the ACT representative rowers in men's, women's and youth events, coaches and officials will have a 'State dinner' on Saturday the 13 March 2003.
The 2004 Act Rowing outfit for representative rowers will consist of a number of items from last year to keep costs low, all items will have the ACT Rowing Team 2004 logo on a set of crossed gold oars and consists of the following :
The cost of the above items is at the expense of each representative rower, in accordance with the terms and conditions for nomination in the ACT 2004 Kings Cup and Youth teams.
ACT representative rowing Zooties with the ACT crest will be paid by ACTRA in recognition of a rowers selection into the representative side.
Most clubs, schools and ACTAS will have catered for their own travel arrangements already and for transporting boats. If not it needs to be done sooner rather than later as the NSW Championships on the 14/15 February maybe taking your attention, leaving then only two weeks before final arrangements are made as to what trailers are going and how boats are travelling and drivers are found.
Coaches for the ACT Kings Cup and youth teams will need to forward to me boat names, category, serial numbers and value including oars by no later than 23 February, 2004 so that insurance coverage is obtained.
Should any one have concerns or do not know what's to occur and when or need to use these newsletters to advertise trailer space or to get a lift down and back to nationals please get in touch. If you know of other who would like to be added to the list please get them to contact me and if you want to be removed from the list please email me.
Regards
Bob Cook
tel: 02 6279 4000 / fax: 02 6279 4099
Team Manager
mob: 0419 385 026/