Archive for month: January, 2007

The results of last Saturday’s regatta can be foundhere. Revised rowers scores will be circulated during the week. Canberra Grammar School Regatta – Call for Entries The CGS Regatta is on Saturday, 10 February and entries are due by Sunday, 4 February – earlier with your club. You can find an event list here. ACTRA Regatta Events Lists The event list will remain consistent for the remaining regattas in the ACT season, other than for the Head of the Lake, and the ACT Championships. The events in these key regattas are being negotiated between ACTRA and affliated clubs at the moment. These should be settled by mid-February. Lake Closure – Jetski Racing – Friday to Sunday, 2-4 February The National Capital Authority has announced that Central Basin of Lake Burley Griffin will be closed at the following times:

• 5pm – 7pm Friday 02 February
• 6am – 6pm Saturday 03 February
• 6am – 2pm Sunday 04 February

Australia Day Bridge to Bridge Race Congratulations and thank you to all who competed in the Bridge to Bridge race on Friday evening. Well done to the CLRC crew who were wearing the yellow and green wigs you were voted Best Dressed out of all the boats in the Life of the Lake boat parade. The B2Bwinning crew was the Australian Institute of Sport Mens team. The crew was comprised of current and previous World Cup medalists and are all contending for a spot in the team for the 2007 World Championships. It was a great spectacle to have such an inclusive fun race that included aspiring young rowers, competitive club rowers and representatives from the Australian Team. Rowing is a traditional and successful sport in Australia and the opportunity to provide some exposure to the wider community on Australia Day in the National Capital was excellent. Some photos of the event are available — full size jpgs available on request.

The final draw information for the regatta this Saturday is here: schedule; draw; draw 2; program. Remember to check the time of the event as well as the race number as some events are run together. Regatta notes:

• All crews are required to stop prior to rowing around the finish area to ensure there is not a race approaching. Crews should then proceed with caution around the finish line buoys.

• Crews should use the large colour-coded bow numbers. Many thanks to those who currently do.

• Given the low lake levels and crowded boating area on the foreshore, please be aware of what other rowers and boats are doing for the safety of yourself and others.

Mostly fine weather is forecast with an expected top of 30degrees, possibly showers in the afternoon. Selection Policy for Australian Masters Rowing Championships ACT crews The Selection Policy for the 2007 Australian Masters Rowing Championships ACT team can be found here. Bridge to Bridge Race – Australia Day The Bridge to Bridge race this year is significantly different to previous years in the time of day it is being run, and the composition of crews. It is no longer for mixed 8s only, and it will now be run at 7:30pm. Handicapping will apply where necessary, another innovation.

• Crews coming from the Yarralumla end of the Lake should pass under Commonwealth Ave between 6:30 and 7pm. Water Police will be there to ensure crews pass under the southern arch safely.

• Crews should proceed on the south bank towards Kings Ave Bridge and wait at the southern end of the bridge until the race is due to begin.
• Start time is 7:35pm. Marshalling will start at 7:25pm.
• The starting line will be at the northern end of Kings Ave Bridge.
• The finish line will be a line between Regatta Point and the corner in front of the National Library (about 1.4km). An umpires boat will be there identifying the finish line.
• An exclusion zone will exist around the Captain Cook water jet as this is where the fireworks barge will be.
• All crews are encouraged to do a lap of honour after the race proceed past the finish area before turning to bow side and rowing past Regatta Point before looping back around the exclusion zone and passing under Commonwealth Ave Bridge back to the sheds (CLRC can pass straight through the centre of the lake).
• About 10 12 club 8s are expected to race a great turn out. After the Bridge to Bridge, 3 crews from the Rowing Australia National Team camp will have their own race.
• The event organizers are encouraging all sorts of dress ups if you choose (remember there are families watching so some sort of clothing should be worn).
• Between 7.10pm and 7:30pm there will be a Life of the Lake Parade including a celebrity dragon boat race, canoes and ferries. This is why crews need to be in East Basin by 7pm. Well wait for the any wash to clear before starting the race.
• Crews should exit Central Basin by 8pm.
• For safety reasons, 8+s will not be permitted to stay on the water to watch the fireworks.

Questions to ACTRA and have a fun race!

Noel Donaldson, High Performance Director of Rowing Australia will be making a presentation to all who wish to attend this Wednesday evening. Noel has a rich history in Australia as an elite coxswain, coach of the Oarsome Foursome, Head Coach of Victoria and currently as High Performance Director of Rowing Australia. Noel will talk about club development, membership strategies, value for the rowing dollar and the potential for growth. He will also speak about the balance between recreation and elite development, the state of rowing in Australia and also race preparation: training and mental preparation an important topic leading in to the second half of the regatta season. Noel will be happy to take your questions throughout the evening. The presentation will be at Sports House, 100 Maitland St, Hackett from 7 9pm Wednesday evening. Cost will be $5 and refreshments will be served. ACT Youth Eights at National Championships Trials for the ACT Youth Eights for the Kings Cup Regatta will commence tomorrow with 2000m erg testing for the girls to be conducted at the CGGS boat shed as previously advised. All female athletes wishing to be considered for the youth eight should report to the CGGS boat shed at 730am for the ergometer test. Start lists for both the girls and boys time trials will be circulated separately. A list of female athlete nominations is below. Anyone who is not on the list and wishes to be participate should contact me urgently.

Please contact Gordon Marcks on m: 0407 787 270 if any further information is required.

Please welcome Sydney’s St Ignatius (Riverview) College over the coming 7 days. They will be arriving in Canberra tomorrow for a rowing camp. They will be here until Friday 26th. They are aware of local traffic flows. Riverview will be using the buoyed course on this Friday morning from 6 8am for time trials. They are aware that there are other crews on the water at that time and will be as accommodating as possible during their trials. The RA National Camp that started last week, ends this coming Sunday.

Entries for the Capital Lakes Rowing Club Regatta that is being held in two weeks time will open on ROMS in the next couple of days. See your club for a list of events being offered and administrative arrangements for entries. All entries must be made through your club. Nominations – ACT Selection Panel for Australian Masters Rowing Championships Rowing ACT is seeking nominations for persons to make up the panel to select rowers and coxswains to compete at the 2007 Australian Masters Rowing Regatta. Two selectors will make up the panel. Selectors must have a sound understanding of high performance rowing and knowledge of local rowers. They must be prepared to act in the best interest of the ACT rowing community and conduct a transparent selection. Please forward your nomination via email by 5pm Wednesday 17th January to the Executive – Rowing ACT, actra@rowingact.org.au or fax 6257 1083. Once the selectors are announced on Friday 19th January, crew nomination forms and selection policy will be circulated. Please contact me on the details below if you have any questions. Rowing Australia National Selection & Nomination information The Rowing Australia web site now includes documentation on:

1. 2005 2008 Rowing Australia Selection Policy (Amended 14th December 2006)
2. 2006 2007 Under 23 and Senior A Team Event Supplement
3. Rowing Australia and Olympic Team Rowing Section Information and Nomination Pack.

Important: The national team selection nominations for U23 and senior teams are to go in the first instance to Gordon Marcks as ACT NTC Head coach by noon, 22nd January. Please contact Gordon on b:6207 4393 or m:0407 787 270. All athletes and coaches must complete the 2007 RA Nomination Form and the AOC Consent to Consideration for Nomination Form and return them no later than Close of Business on the 22nd of January 2007. Ensure that all completed forms are legible and dated. Athletes and Coaches must submit two completed nomination forms to be eligible for the 2008 Olympic Team Rowing Section.It is also mandatory that all nominations are hand signed.