ACT The Back ASSOCIATION INC Splash ISSUE 6 DECEMBER 2007

SPECIAL “Redbacks” perform well in Head of the Yarra POINTS OF INTEREST: Head of the Yarra - 24 No-

vember 2007 - Redbacks • ACTSport new crew from Black Mountain management made there way to Mel- team bourne for the 8.2km Eights race. • ACTRA Board Update The crew; Peter Wright • (bow), Vince McMahon Book offer (2) , Colin Calderwood (3), Kerri Hughes (4), Stephanie Gollasch (5), John Kinsella (6), Kate McLoughlin (7) , Evelyn Sommer (stroke) and Judith Abercromby (cox) Kim Crow and PantonSarah over Cook a shorter at dis- tancethe than world the head cup of in the Where among the second Gold Medalist . INSIDE largest field to enter the Yarra.Linz THIS ISSUE: Head of the Yarra and where The crew finished 111 out of among a dozen crews entered The Redbacks Place in D 171 crews on outright time. Aus crews for 2 in the D Mixed Master cate- category - The crew are already looking Beijing gory. 5th Time: 34:02.67 Adjusted time: 32:19.47 at going higher up the finish- BMRC Scull- 3 (Entry 76) ing order next year. ers Challenge The crew were hampered by the lake closurer and were Photos by Emily McMahon RA Support- 4 unable to get much training The Head of the Yarra was ers Package together. The major lead up won by the Local Mercantile was a good result in the Col crew stroked by Olympic ACTAS 5 awards

Christmas 6 Book Special

The crew; Peter Wright (bow), Vince McMahon (2) , The race heads down the Yarra river through the Colin Calderwood (3), Kerri Hughes (4), Stephanie centre of Melbourne. Gollasch (5), John Kinsella (6), Kate McLoughlin (7) , Evelyn Sommer (stroke) and Judith Abercromby (cox) PAGE 2 DECEMBER 2007

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1 BMRC Re- gatta 2 3 4 5 NTC Time 6 7 8 Trial Entries NTC Time Trial Close 9 10 11 12 Tinnies 13 14 15 Licences Course 16 17 18 19 20 21 22

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First Crews selected for Beijing Drew Ginn (VIC) and have achieved this feat selected ahead of the Duncan Free (QLD) due to their strong per- Athens Olympic have been named as formances over the last Games and the move the Men’s Pair, while two seasons. paid off as the pair the South Australian In 2006 the pair com- swept to gold. duo of Marguerite bined to win silver be- Houston and Amber hind the Chinese at the Australia’s rowers will Halliday will represent World Rowing Champi- have the first chance Australia in the onships in Eton. This to impress the na- Women’s Lightweight year their hard work tional selectors this Single Scull. paid off and Halliday week in Penrith as the Both of these crews, and Houston went one National Time Trials as long as they main- better in Munich to be- and First Selection tain their current come the 2007 World Regatta are held on form, will be nomi- Champions. December 6-9. Over nated to the Australian 100 rowers from Olympic Committee Ginn and Free, who around Australia will (AOC), before the AOC won their second suc- compete on the Ne- chooses the team to cessive world champi- pean River and at the compete at the 2008 onship in the Men’s Pair Sydney International Beijing Olympic in 2007, were also Regatta Centre. A Games. awarded pre-selection shadow Australian Houston and Halliday in a move that copied squad will then be became the first fe- the selectors’ choice of named to attend a male crew in to be four years earlier. Ginn, camp in Canberra pre-selected for the and then partner James from December 10 – THE BACK SPLASH and Tomkins, were pre- 16. ISSUE 6 PAGE 3 ACTRA Board Meeting Update

Below is a summary From EO Report 2000m Rowing Course the ACTRA Board Meet- Roms Training Beijing Olympic Torch Relay ing held on 9th August Level 3 Course ACT Team Uniforms 2007. Youth Cup Proposal Youth Squad Meeting Elite Development Coach Reinhold Batschi retires PRESENT: B. Prout, N. BRO Equipment Grant Hunter, P. Davoren, G. 2006-2007 Audit Meeting Closed at 7:47 pm Marcks, T. Langdon and M. Ronke. Head Coaches Report Full minutes can be found at World Junior Championship www.rowingact.org.au APOLOGIES: H. Neil. reviewed Or by emailing ac- Items discussed Recorders Report [email protected] WTT Concluded for 07 Treasurers Report General Business

BMRC Scullers Challenge—Regatta #3

The annual event, which rowed in the Pair at World Hornsey meanwhile enjoyed is now in its second year, Cup 2 earlier in the year be- the chance to start racing featured events in the fore forming part of the again after the intensive Women’s Pair and the that finished fourth at the training program. Men’s Single Scull, with World Championships, will be “It was great to get back on competitors vying for the one of the favoured crews the water again and to be extra incentive of a prize heading into the trials this racing against all the girls”, pool worth $7000. week in Penrith. Hornsey said. “It was actu- In the Women’s Pair, “It was obviously a great re- ally the first time I have and Kate sult on the weekend and it raced for money so it was a Hornsey led for the ma- will be interesting to see how nice little bonus heading jority of the race to take we all perform this week at into the trials this week- first place ahead of Sarah the trials”, Kehoe said. “We end.” Heard and Liz Kell, with have just finished a pretty Kim Crow and Robyn intensive six week training …… Continued page 4 Selby Smith third. block so it will be good to see Kehoe and Hornsey, who how we have progressed.”

Sally Kehoe and Kate Hornsby receive their winners cheque Jeremy Stevenson with his winners cheque PAGE 4 Beijing Supporters Group Deal Rowing Australia (RA) has an expression of interest after February subject to great pleasure in offering to Sam Irvine at sir- availability. If the number parents and supporters of [email protected] of responses and con- the Australian Rowing m.au . Please identify firmed bookings is suffi- Team with a golden oppor- whether you are inter- cient, RA will attempt to tunity to attend the 2008 ested in a single purchase additional Beijing Olympic Games to (supplement to be rooms from the hotel. cheer for our athletes as charged), double or they take on the rest of the twin. All bookings and travel world. 2. Go via the Travel De- arrangements will be sign International web- managed by Travel De- The package deal includes site to the 2008 BEI- sign International, RA’s a return airfare on Singa- JING link for detailed preferred travel agency. A pore Airlines, 10 nights twin information and condi- representative from Travel share accommodation that tions of the offer at Design International vis- is close to the rowing www.traveldesigninterna ited Beijing last week to course and a ticket to the tional.com.au (link found confirm the arrangements rowing in the FISA Family on the bottom of the TDI with the hotel and came Grandstand for $4,990 per home page) back with glowing reports. person. Additional travel 3. Complete and lodge the The hotel is well ap- options are also available registration form at- pointed and is within walk- on request (see attached tached to the Travel De- ing distance or a short website for details). sign International web- bike ride from the course. site It will also offer regular This is an exclusive deal 4. Pay your deposit by the shuttles to and from the that is limited to the number required due date. course and the centre of of rooms RA has been able Beijing. to secure. In order to pro- This opportunity is offered vide this opportunity, RA on a first come basis so I would encourage you to has negotiated an unbeat- don’t delay. take advantage of this able accommodation deal unique opportunity and I with The Dragon Villas and Families of prospective ath- look forward to seeing you has paid for 48 rooms in letes will be given priority in Beijing! advance. RA has also se- but will be restricted to one cured a block of 100 – 125 room package per athlete Andrew Dee FISA Family Grandstand until the end of February Chief Executive Officer tickets. 2008 (after the completion of Rowing Australia the February Selection Tri- How to take advantage of als). A reserve list will be this offer kept of additional room re- 1. Respond by email with quests that will be consider

BMRC Scullers Challenge ….. continued

In the inaugural Men’s Two locals made the go to Peter Wright and Single Scull event, Jer- final former Olympian the Black Mountain emy Stevenson, a Craig Jones and World Rowing Club organizing member of the Austra- Junior team member committee for bring a lian Men’s Eight for the Nick Barnier who fin- high class event to the last two seasons, won ished fifth and Sixth re- ACT. the final ahead of Dan spectively. Noonan and Tom The next ACT Regatta is Laurich. Congratulations must on February 2nd.

THE BACK SPLASH ISSUE 6 PAGE 5 ACT Sport New Management Team

ACTSPORT President, Brenda Mr Macdonald has a wealth of menting that ‘This is a new ap- McConchie, announced the for- experience in the sport and rec- proach for ACTSPORT and we mation of a new senior manage- reation industry with particular expect that our members and ment team for the ACT’s peak strengths in advocacy, sports the Canberra community will see sporting organisation. Mrs business development, program the benefit of having these two McConchie confirmed that the management, including volun- outstanding ACTSPORT Board has appointed teer programs. Highlighted a new CEO and a senior advisor among his other areas of exper- people so closely involved with to take the organisation to a tise are facilities planning and our organisation and our sport- new level in its leadership and general sports administration. ing industry.’ advocacy of sport in the ACT Ms Gaudry, who is well known to and surrounding region. Canberrans as an outstanding Mr Gavin Macdonald from South sports woman, brings to ACT- Australia will take up the posi- SPORT considerable business tion of CEO on 6 November and acumen from a wide range of well known Olympic cyclist and business and sports business ACT Sports Hall of Fame mem- related projects and activities. ber, Tracey Gaudry, will be the Mrs McConchie was delighted senior policy advisor from early with the Board’s initiative in en- in 2008. gaging Gavin and Tracey com-

Marcks given ACTAS top honour

ACT and Australian squad of the year. rowing coach Gordon Marcks was pre- Marcks has been sented the award Veronica Tamsitt, named ACTAS Sports- by ACT Minister for Christabelle man’s Warehouse Tourism, Sport and Northam, Zac Coach of the Year. Recreation Mr. An- Cleaver and Nick drew Barr MLA and Barnier also re- Marcks was rewarded Senator Kate ceived recognition for his excellent do- Lundy at the pres- for making the mestic season within entation on the Australian Junior the ACTAS program 19th of November. World Champion- and then for his role ship team. as head coach of the Nick Barnier, who Australian team at the was part of the 2007 World Junior Australian Junior Rowing Champion- Team, was also ships in Beijing in Au- recognised as part gust. of the ACTAS

ACTRA Supported By PAGE 6 Looking for a Christmas gift or holiday reading? Look no further! On sale NOW at SPECIAL ‘mates’ rate’

Robin Poke…has spent the past 30 years chronicling the exploits of Australia’s oarsmen and women as editor and journalist…In this, his first book, he lends a journalistic eye to an evocative and absorbing story that is not only a fitting tribute to the most worthy yet unassum- ing of athletes but also an account of a signifi- cant phase in Australia’s national and interna- tional rowing development. John Coates AC – Foreword

To order, mail address details and cheque/ money order for $37 to: Robin Poke, 53 Glasgow Street, Hughes, ACT 2605. Direct debit details can be obtained by emailing [email protected]

2007 Regatta Hosting Club November 3rd Regatta 1 CGGS 17th Regatta 2 CLRC December 1st Regatta 3 BMRC January 26th Australia Day (Bridge to Bridge) February 2nd Regatta 4 CGS 9th Regatta 5 Radford 23rd / 24th ISRA CGS/Daramalan/Radford/CGGS March 1st Regatta 6 Daramalan 15th ACT Champs ( FHOL) ANU

16th ACT Champs CRC