Anyone wishing to compete must purchase a zootie to meet Rowing Victoria’s uniform guidelines. If you are a new member you may be wondering where to get some club kit to demonstrate your Richmond pride and be regatta ready.
The RRC range of kits from theregattashop.com.au includes almost everything RRC you could possibly want or need for the rowing season at Richmond. This includes our competition zootie and then there are multiple other garments available for all that extra training or for just looking great on the bank while drinking coffee. Don’t wait till the last minute or rely on being able to borrow a zootie – it can take some time for the orders to be fulfilled if they are not in stock so make sure you order early.
Go to their club shop to view all the items and place your orders.
Also, if you are new to competing check out this Rowing Victoria guide on being regatta ready – amongst other things it covers uniform requirements (zooties, caps, t-shirts etc) and equipment checks before racing. RV – is your crew regatta ready?
Upcoming racking work in the boat shed
With the ongoing expansion and improvements to our fleet it is also time for us to update the racking in the boat shed so we are able to accommodate more boats as we continue our growth. The Committee has approved the re-racking of the rear of the RRC shed (the area between the Captains workbench and the 8 racks). So we are able to double rack unrigged boats doubling the capacity of this space.
The works will be taking place during the day time from Monday 21 January for a week. Please be aware people will be working in the shed over this time so access may be a little bit more difficult and please obey any safety signs or instructions.
In order to do this we will be relocating a number of boats to the RRC trailer over this time. We understand this may make it harder to access the fleet for a small amount of time, but the longer term benefits are significant. If you use a boat during this time, please ensure it is returned to where it came from and it is tied down if it is on the trailer.
We need some assistance to relocate boats for the work to happen. Please come along on Saturday 19 January, 9.30am to help out. Many hands make light work!!!
Further fleet investment announced at the 2018 AGM
The Richmond Rowing Club Annual General Meeting was held at the club on Saturday 28th July 2017. It was an opportunity for club members to come together, hear from the Committee about the clubs operations over the past year. It was great to see so many members present on the day.
Thank you to all Committee members for their significant contributions through the year. A brief summary of the year’s activities is provided below; the full Annual Report including all Committee member reports is attached RRC Annual Report 2017/18
Membership Growth – During the year, we increased the number of our financial members from 125 to 142 at 31 May 2018, a 14% increase. This achievement was through a combination of attracting new members and retaining existing members.
In particular, we increased the number of Learn to Row courses to four and scheduled three courses on summer evenings resulting in increased retention of Learn to Row participants. Our Development Squad is maintaining good numbers with dedicated coaching focused on improving their skill levels. We plan to continue this in 2018/19, continuing our Learn to Row program and transitioning Development Squad rowers into the competitive and social rowing squads.
Demonstrate Club Success on the Water – As a major step forward for the club, we engaged our first paid head coach resulting in focused training programs, squad structure, selection criteria and focused coaching. This has contributed to some excellent regatta performances through the year. Although Basil has returned to the UK, we have appointed Matt Wilson as our Head Coach for the coming year – he will be starting with us in early August.
Member Engagement – The club runs a number of events to bring club members together, from our Training Camp and regular circuit sessions, to social events like Quiz Night and New Years Eve. In 2017/18 we held 6 successful major events at the club and a number of smaller events.
The Committee plans to continue this level of events in the current year. This takes a significant effort to arrange and we are always looking for volunteers to assist. Our club would not be able to operate without all of our members who volunteer their time in so many ways. As we look towards the coming year, we will be asking for more help and creating more volunteer roles to take some of the pressure of the usual suspects. If you have a special skill or would like to help regularly, please reach out to the Committee as we would love your support.
Governance and Finance – The clubs finances remain strong, underpinned by income from hiring our amazing venue. This allows us to invest in the rowing program, but we must also continue to invest in our facilities, to generate this revenue. This year we refurbished the bar and kitchen to bringing it up to the standard of the rest of the club.
During the year, we also invested heavily in our fleet and equipment, christening both a men’s and women’s brand new top of the line Sykes quad/four and investing significantly in our refurbished gym. We were also able to purchase a new set of oars for the men’s eight and pair, whilst benefiting from a VicHealth Active Club Grant for a set of sculling oars.
In addition, the Committee is pleased to announce we have ordered 3 more brand new boats to improve our fleet with a men’s and women’s double/pair and a coxless quad for our most competitive crews. These additions will also allow other crews greater access to better quality boats as we replace our oldest boats in our fleet.
A major part of the AGM is to elect a new Committee and saying farewell to any departing members from the Committee.
Geraldine Goss, our outgoing Vice-President has been a member of the Committee for four years, the last three years as Vice-President and Fundraising Coordinator before that. During this time, she has supported two different Presidents and numerous Committee members. She has been active within the Fleet subcommittee and in considering Richmond’s licensing requirements. Whilst at the same time she has been incredibly successful as a rower. Thank you for all your assistance.
Laurent Demay steps down from the position of ordinary member having contributed strongly over the past year with new member communications and fundraising activities.
The new committee for the 2018-19 season consists of:
President – Jon Roberts
Vice-President – Aline Dejaeger
Secretary – Kim Begelhole
Treasurer – Kathy Macrow
Captain of Boats – Barry Campbell
Head of Rowing – Tim Evans
Facilities Coordinator – Lucy Crunden
Fundraising Coordinator – Christine Sullivan
Two ordinary members – Yashwini Vegi, Stefanie Dudczig
Congratulations and welcome to our newest Committee members, Kim Belgelhole and Stefanie Dudczig.
Following the conclusion of the AGM we took to the water for some fun with club races. With a change in formal to get us ready for Head Season, the races were a time trial format from the Island to the Club. Congratulations to all those who took part.
Thank you to everyone who helped with the bbq and bar afterwards, especially Gypsy, John and Laurent for preparing the food and Karin and Dennis for looking after the BBQ.
Richmond’s Training Zootie is now available to order!!
It’s time to put away those old gym clothes that you keep getting your oars caught in and get out on the water in proper rowing kit and in Richmond colours. Save your Racing zootie for those racing days and let’s be proud to wear our club colours. The design below was chosen as the most popular after our recent facebook vote.
The cost is $77.50 including postage and GST which compared to the price of our racing zootie sounds very reasonable to us. (We believe that the quality of the zootie doesn’t require a double layer front or rear there is space on the order form to request if you want double layering.)
We will be submitting our order on the 28nd July which should get our new Zooties in time for Training Camp. (The first order will be sent through on the 22nd July)
The order form is attached and payment is to be made prior to order via bank transfer to the club. (please remember to state your name and “zootie” on the transfer) Please send your order form to
[email protected] making sure you have clearly filled in all the boxes.
Please attached a receipt of the transfer which will just make it easier for us to track.
Got an issue with bank transfer? – just drop an email to [email protected] or speak to Shern, Zoe or Kim and we will be happy to help.
Thanks from the training zootie team
Zoe, Kim and Shern
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Reminder RRC Strategic Planning Session – 7 July 10am to 12pm
Don’t forget the Richmond Rowing Club Strategic Planning Session, running from 10am to 12pm on 7 July at the club.
Full details are on the earlier blog post. I’m looking forward to seeing as many people there as possible.
Register your interest on the Facebook event or let me know if you are planning on attending. If you can’t attend and have any feedback please drop me an email or see me at the club.
http://3.25.77.84/2018/05/21/strategic-planning-session-7-july-2018/
https://www.facebook.com/events/204966720336055/
RRC AGM 10am Saturday 28th July – followed by Club Races and BBQ
Richmond Rowing Club’s Annual General Meeting will be held at the clubhouse on Saturday 28th July at 10 am, followed by club races and a BBQ for lunch when we will also be opening the bar. During the AGM, the committee members will briefly go through some of the highlights of the year, as well as a summary of the club’s financial situation and the main achievements compared to the goals we set out last year. This usually takes less than an hour and we warmly invite all members of the club to attend.
The AGM is also the opportunity to elect new members to the Committee and all positions are available for re-election. To present yourself, the are required to have been a member of the club for more than 2 years and are willing to help out with the club’s organisation. If you are interested, feel free to chat to any of the current Committee members to get some more background information. The Committee positions are:
- President
- Vice-President
- Treasurer
- Secretary
- Head of Rowing
- Captain of Boats
- Fundraising Coordinator
- Facilities Coordinator
- Ordinary Member (two ordinary member positions are available which assist with a number of areas including New Member Coordination and Learn To Row Coordination)
If you wish to present yourself for election, please complete a nomination form (found on the documents page of our website) and submit it to the secretary at least 14 days prior to the meeting (BEFORE 13th July).
It should be a fun day combining some formal business with splashing around for club races, and a nice BBQ to top it off. The bar will also be open for refreshments at usual club prices.
Please show your support for the Committee and your Club by attending the AGM.
Nomination for Office Bearer July 2018
Club Working Bee – 18th March 2018
Has that mould in the showers been bugging you? Has that squeaky wheel been annoying you? Do those dirty slides leave grease marks on your calves? Grips on your oars all slippery? Have no idea where things go? Then grab your favorite marigolds, workwear and be ready to pitch in and lend a hand on the 18th of March at 12pm after training (you can start earlier if you want!!).
There will be something everyone can do from labelling to spring cleaning in the gym with your favourite tunes, cleaning those oar handles and much more. Come down pitch in and have a laugh.
When we all pitch in it keeps our club and equipment in ship shape condition and in the way that we like to use it.
It’s expected that all members could do a little around the club. If you can’t be there it’s OK ask Barry or Lucy what’s on the list to be done and have a go at something in your own time. Don’t forget to let them know what’s been done, so we can take it off the list.
Please get involved it’s your club!!
Upcoming RSA course and updated RRC policies
As you know, RRC now has a limited liquor licence, which allows us to open our recently refurbished bar and sell alcoholic beverages. This allow us to enhance the social aspect of club activities and add an avenue for fundraising as well.
Importantly, events where the bar is open must be conducted in a manner consistent with liquor licensing legislation. As a result, the Committee has recently adopted 2 club policies to ensure we comply with our licence and maintain a responsible and safe environment. These policies can be found on the club website:
RRC Alcohol Management Policy
RRC Safe Transport Policy
Here are some brief points:
- Alcohol will only be served at club organised events, approved by the Committee. Our licencing hours for these events are as follows:
- Sunday & ANZAC Day(Sunday) – Between 12 noon and 11pm
- On any other day – Between 12 noon and 1am the following morning
- Members serving behind the bar must have their Responsible Service of Alcohol qualification. You are strongly encouraged as a club member to complete one of these courses. The more qualified members we have the more potential we have to open the bar and the less we rely on the same people to do all of the work. See below for more information.
- The licence is only valid in the upstairs area of the clubhouse including the deck (excluding the gym and changing rooms). Alcohol cannot be taken downstairs or outside of the clubhouse.
- BYO alcohol is not allowed on our premises at any time, whether the bar is open or not.
- Alcohol misuse can lead to risk taking, unsafe, unacceptable and/or illegal behaviour. As club members we will expect a responsible approach and use of good judgment when alcohol is available. Members will not compete, train, coach or officiate if affected by alcohol. Alcohol will not be served to persons aged under 18 years.
- We ask that all attendees at our functions plan their transport requirements to ensure they arrive home safely and prevent driving under the influence of alcohol.
- Non alcoholic beverages will also be served whenever the bar is open. Water will be provided free of charge.
- Members may bring guests to club functions where the bar is open. Guests must sign in to the club register with their name and address, and the name of the member they are with. The register will be kept in the bar.
The club has recently reached an agreement with Good Sports, to hold an RSA course at the club on 14th March from 6.30pm. We have 7 free spots at the course, available on a first in basis, hopefully we will be able to get more spots closer to the date. Please email [email protected] if you would like to attend.
So you, your friend, your partner, your mum and dad all want to be BROs??
Read on….
BROs (Boat Race Officials) are an integral part of regattas. Without them, there is no regatta.
These are the people you see (usually in safety vests), spending a little time:
directing the boat traffic at the launching places- making sure the rower’s boats are safe (bowballs, shoe tie-downs)
- directing boats as they line up for starts, and then starting the races
- judging if there’s interference
- working out who’s come first, second, third and so on
Our club needs to provide a BRO at almost every regatta we attend. It can be tough for rowers to run between BROing and racing, and we want coaches actually coaching! So we’d love a rowing widow/widower, a supportive mum or dad, or your best buddy to get involved. The more the merrier, as BROs can share shifts.
BRO training consists of attending a lecture and then being supervised initially. Level 1 accreditation is obtained by performing 4 practical BRO stations: control, start marshal, bank umpire and judge. Also, Working with Children’s Check are now required. These are easy to get and free for volunteers. Apply Here
The club can also support a BRO’s education by taking them out in a boat (to get a rower’s perspective) and/or having them ride alongside a coach on the bike path. The club insurance will cover them for risk and accidents.
Next BRO course is on Tuesday 6 March 6-8pm at Yarra Yarra (a few sheds down from RRC). Register here to attend. What’s holding you back??
Doing some BROing is also a great way for those new to rowing to get to see what happens at a regatta (from the insiders view), so new members are also encouraged to BRO.
Any questions? Contact Chris or Kathy
Spring Camp 2017
Rowing camp can instil a dreading fear in the best of us and I hesitantly left Melbourne on Friday evening with a h’anger and exhaustion that manifests after a hectic week in work. Challenged with the insight that I was likely to be rowing in a pair, I ensured to pack my goggles, banana hammock and trusty life-jacket…and planned for imminent hypothermia.
Much to my delight however, I arrived to a toasty cabin 42. Considering my previous experience of camp accommodation was a mouldy mosquito-laden bunked shed in (very) rural New Zealand, I’d fallen into 5 star camp conditions! I was sharing with a potential dream-team for box-biting; Rens, Cam, Keith, James and his partner Lizzie. We quickly commenced a (sober) practice session of box-biting in anticipation for Saturday night and enjoyed Richmond’s thumping of “so-long Geelong”.
We awoke to an awe inspiring view; with a peaking sun, clear skies and silky smooth waters. W.B. Yeats’ would have been proud, so we quickly (slowly) took off to arrive at 6.15am for camp initiation.
We were welcomed by a tenacious Tim and dangerous Dennis, who informed that rowing in pairs would form the morning session. Much to my own and Allan’s delight, we managed to stay afloat and zig-zag our way down the 2km course.
The mid-morning session consisted of a 7.2km row down the Goulburn to the forbidden fruit; a vineyard. Unfortunately the docking spot beside the sacred ground was occupied, and a merry Masters crew waved us past from the shoreline. Maybe next year…
Other crews were busy at work too, with over 50 of Richmond’s finest rowers weaving their wave down the Goulburn and Nagambie lakes park.
The long row did not go un-noticed though and we were rewarded by the “the roll that had it all”. Never in my wildest dreams did I envisage a roll so packed with wonderful surprises; beetroot, the finest cheddar cheese and crunchy ‘slaw… DELICIOUS.
The afternoon was sprint session of speedy proportions as we continued to knit as a 8 man crew. Stroked by “Usain” Allan Randall, we worked our way through a pyramid piece which fizzled the mind to the point of “just row, don’t think”. We left the water optimistic of our potential as a crew.
Next to the good stuff; the barbeque and box-biting… The food committee outdid themselves with ample supplies of coleslaw, potato salads, vegan options and bbq-classics. Rens was in dream land and gloried in a food coma induced by his first Australian barbeque experience.
Box-biting was hilarious from the outset. Coopers Ale kindly supplied a box worthy of all our saliva and the chief umpire Dave was on hand to meticulously shave off 3.75 cubic centimetres from the box per round. Box-biting legends, Barry and Dave whispered invaluable tips on how to overcome the beastly box. “Avoid the soggy bit”, “aim for the opposite side”, “get caught beyond the catch” and choose the “right side to bite” still echo in my ears.
Much to my dismay, I bowed out during round three. The competition was far from over at that point though, as 4 heroes of the box entered a new realm of awesome. They really did demonstrate how to bite a box. Allan surprised us all in his flexibility skill-set and demonstrated the importance of active wear. Tina, 1 year on from delivering her first born was on hand to serve up sizzling single leg squats. Meanwhile, Keith and Edwina were at lager heads to become champion; stooping to new levels and re-writing the box-biting history books for good measure. There were shouts for the sport to be endowed as an Olympic event, as it went to the wire and 12 nail (and box) biting rounds. It led to a new box-biting record of 8cm from the floor to crown a winner. Keith rose above his bronze placed finish from last year and ousted Edwina off her biting throne to claim victory for a revering cabin 42.
The final day consisted of 2 further exhausting rows.
I thoroughly enjoyed the challenge set by the pair and can see the carryover back into the 8. I’m hoping my wrestling match with the oar is over and I’ll be more graceful in avoiding over-muscling the blade in such a sensitive boat.
What a winning weekend for Richmond Rowing Club! Huge thanks again to all the organising committee, coaches and participants.
I’m tapping out for now (or not). Looking forward to seeing all of the now familiar faces in training over the coming season. Let’s go Tigers!
John Carey and James Attenborough