CENTRAL DISTRICTS ROWING ASSOCIATION

1981 - 2020

An Historical Study

Peter Bond

June 2020

Central Districts Rowing Association - Office Bearers

President Vice President Secretary/Treasurer 1981/82 Alan Sawyer Col Randell Graham Nix 1982/83 Alan Sawyer Ray McManus Graham Nix 1983/84 Alan Sawyer Ray McManus Graham Nix 1984/85 Ray McManus John Burgess Graham Nix 1985/86 no elections Graham Nix 1986/87 no elections Graham Nix 1987/88 David Munroe Paul Drinkwater Graham Nix 1988/89 David Munroe Robert Williams Graham Nix 1989/90 David Munroe Robert Williams Graham Nix 1990/91 Robert Williams Fred Bunt Graham Nix 1991/92 Robert Williams David Munroe Peter Bond 1992/93 Robert Williams Tim Morgan Peter Bond 1993/94 Robert Williams Graham Nix Peter Bond 1994/95 Robert Williams Graham Nix Peter Bond 1995/96 Graham Nix Val Kost Peter Bond 1996/97 Graham Nix Val Kost Peter Bond 1997/98 Graham Nix Tim Morgan Peter Bond 1998/99 Graham Nix Tim Morgan Peter Bond 1999/2000 Graham Nix Tim Morgan Peter Bond 2000/01 Graham Nix Tim Morgan Scott Barnett 2001/02 Graham Nix Tim Morgan John McLeod 2002/03 Graham Nix Tim Morgan John McLeod 2003/04 Graham Nix Tim Morgan John McLeod 2004/05 Graham Nix Brian Kelleher John McLeod 2005/06 Graham Nix Brian Kelleher John McLeod 2006/07 Graham Nix Brian Kelleher John McLeod 2007/08 Graham Nix Brian Kelleher John McLeod 2008/09 Graham Nix Brian Kelleher John McLeod 2009/10 Graham Nix Brian Kelleher John McLeod 2010/11 Graham Nix Brian Kelleher John McLeod 2011/12 Graham Nix Brian Kelleher John McLeod 2012/13 Graham Nix Brian Kelleher John McLeod 2013/14 Graham Nix Brian Kelleher John McLeod 2014/15 Graham Nix Peter Bond John McLeod 2015/16 G Nix/P Bond P Bond / C Isaacs John McLeod 2016/17 Peter Bond Carol Isaacs John McLeod 2017/18 Peter Bond Carol Isaacs John McLeod 2018/19 Peter Bond Hugh McLeod John McLeod 2019/20 Peter Bond Hugh McLeod John McLeod 2020/21 Peter Bond Hugh McLeod John McLeod

CENTRAL DISTRICTS

ROWING ASSOCIATION 1981 - 2020

Historical Perspective

In the late nineteenth century, various rowing clubs were formed in country regions outside metropolitan Sydney. On the Hunter River, short lived clubs were formed in Newcastle (1870-1874, 1880-1896 and 1940- 1941) and Maitland (1883-1890 and 1923-1931). On the far north coast, clubs were formed on the Clarence River at Grafton (1882) and Maclean (1885) and on a tributary of the Richmond River at Lismore (1896). These northern clubs were more long lasting and are still operational today.

The New South Wales Rowing Association (NSWRA) was formed in 1878 with membership restricted to amateur oarsmen. As prize money was awarded at regattas on the Hunter and the northern rivers well into the 1950s, membership of the NSWRA in the first half of the twentieth century was limited to Sydney metropolitan clubs only.

The Northern Rivers Rowing Association (NRRA) was formed in 1959 for NSW clubs north of the Hawkesbury River. With money prizes no longer presented at regattas, the NRRA affiliated with the NSWRA. Although Manning River RC was fully involved with the rowing and administrative activities of the NRRA, the club in Taree began to investigate the possibility of forming an association closer to their position on the mid-north coast of NSW.

Prior to the formation of the CDRA, five clubs were operating at various levels of rowing activity in the mid- north coast region: Manning River Rowing Club at Taree, Newcastle University Boat Club (NUBC) on the Hunter River at Raymond Terrace, Hastings River Rowing Club at Port Macquarie, Central Coast Youth Club Rowing Club in Gosford and Hunter Valley Rowing Club in Singleton.

Manning River Rowing Club boatshed – opened 1971

The Central Districts Rowing Association is formed

At a meeting in the Macquarie Hotel, Port Macquarie on 6th June 1981, a resolution was passed to form the ‘Central Districts Rowing Association’ for rowing clubs within the boundaries of the Nambucca River in the north and the Hawkesbury River in the south. A committee of president Alan Sawyer (Manning), vice- president Col Randall (Hunter Valley) and secretary/treasurer Graham Nix (Manning) was elected. A club affiliation fee of $40 was set to cover the $100 affiliation fee with NSWRA. Founding members were Manning River RC, Hastings River RC, Hunter Valley RC, Central Coast Youth Club RC and NUBC.

In July, a CDRA bank account was established with an initial deposit of $140.50 transferred from the NRRA, being half of that association’s bank balance at the end of June.

The primary purpose of the association was to provide a means by which the local clubs could affiliate with the NSW Rowing Association. Although this could be achieved through the Northern Rivers association, the CDRA offered the additional benefit of a voice in discussions with the NSWRA that supported the interests of the mid-north coast rather than the far north.

Annual general meetings followed in June 1982, 1983 and 1984, each at Port Macquarie following the Hastings River regatta. During this period, the only activity within the association was the conduct of an annual regatta by Manning River RC in October and by Hastings River RC in June. Manning River also conducted a limited number of events as part of the Manning River Aquatic Festival in mid-January. Hastings River RC changed their name to Port Macquarie RSL Club Rowing Club in 1983.

“Reg” fours racing in the Manning River Aquatic Festival during the 1970s

At the 1984 meeting, the affiliation fee was raised to $50 in response to NSWRA’s increase to $200. By this time, Hunter Valley RC had ceased to operate and NUBC was in hibernation. Port Macquarie went into recession soon after with the 1984 regatta their last to be conducted on the June long weekend. The club handed the shed keys to the council who called a public meeting in August where the keys were passed to Jim Young and Paul McReynolds who reformed the club as Port Macquarie Rowing Club.

Hiatus

The 1984 AGM was the last meeting held for three years with very little association activity during that time. Payment of the NSWRA affiliation fee in 1985 left a balance of $9.03 in the bank. No club affiliation fees were received by CDRA and no affiliation was paid to NSWRA for another two years. The association needed a kick start.

In 1980 Bob Williams, a life member of Manning River RC, had moved to Warners Bay on Lake Macquarie where he coached schoolboys in a reg four on loan from Manning River. In 1987, boat storage was obtained in the Speers Point Sailing Club shed and Hunter Rowing Club was formed.

Hunter Rowing Club regatta finishing at Speers Point Sailing Club – November 1991

CDRA Reactivated

With the advent of Hunter as a viable rowing club in the Newcastle area, moves were made to re-invigorate the CDRA. A meeting labelled “annual general meeting” was held in the Speers Point Sailing Club on 9th August 1987 with representatives from Manning River RC, Port Macquarie RC and Hunter RC. Dave Munro (Port Macquarie) was elected president and Paul Drinkwater (Hunter) vice president with Graham Nix continuing as secretary/treasurer. A new fee structure was introduced with a $20 affiliation fee plus capitation fees of $5 per senior rower and $2 per junior. These fees would remain unchanged for 7 years. Member clubs of the re-activated CDRA were Central Coast Youth Club RC, Hunter RC, Manning River RC, NUBC and Port Macquarie RC. Four regattas were foreshadowed: Manning in October, Hunter in November, NUBC in March and Port Macquarie in March or June.

In the following August, an attempt was made to hold an annual general meeting that failed with only 3 people in attendance. The $250 affiliation fee to NSWRA was outstanding with insufficient funds to meet the debt. The secretary/treasurer was directed to “write to each club outlining the alternatives to the continuation of the association” and asking clubs “to advise … if they feel that the association should continue to operate”. CDRA had been re-activated but not re-energised.

In a document titled ‘Future of the Association’ it was stated “It is fair to say that virtually all that has been achieved is affiliation with NSW Rowing Association each year.” Alternative methods of affiliation were given as: ● Continue with the CDRA at an estimated cost of $120 for a club with 20 members plus $20.50 for each member to compete in NSWRA pointscore regattas. ● Disband the CDRA and clubs join NRRA for a similar cost. ● Disband the CDRA and clubs individually join NSWRA at an estimated cost of $2058 for a club with 20 members.

The adjourned annual general meeting was successfully conducted in October 1988 with the resolution “that the current clubs remain within the CDRA and that the association continue in its present form”. Dave Munro and Graham Nix retained their positions with Robert Williams (Hunter) elected to the position of vice-president. Regattas were listed as Hunter in November, Manning in January and Port Macquarie in April. With the payment of fees to CDRA, the NSWRA affiliation fee, due before the beginning of the racing season, was finally payed at the end of the season.

Port Macquarie Rowing Club – boatshed and clubhouse

Regattas in the mid-north coast region up until this time had been club based with the host setting the events, accepting the entries, conducting the draw and running the regatta. Entry fees were paid to and retained by the club. In recent years, regattas had been listed on the NSWRA regatta card having the status of NSWRA pointscore regattas from time to time.

Seasons 1 to 3 – CDRA Develops an Association Regatta Program

After 8 years of limited and irregular activity, CDRA introduced their first program of association regattas for the 1989/90 regatta season. The program was made up of 5 CDRA pointscore regattas alongside 3 NSWRA pointscore regattas, 2 non-pointscore regattas and a 15km marathon. Host clubs continued to be responsible for call of entries, regatta draws, provision of trophies and conduct of regattas. Regattas were conducted over 1000 metres and ran between 9.00am and 12.30 with races starting 10 minutes apart averaging 3 crews per race. Manning River RC, Port Macquarie RC and Hunter RC participated fully throughout the season with minimal entries from Newcastle University. Although Central Coast had been a member of the association since its inception, the club did not compete during the 1989/90 season and would not appear at any further CDRA regattas.

For the second season of CDRA regattas, the association took on the responsibility of regattas draws with entries and entry fees submitted to the association rather than to the host club and the secretary/treasurer conducting the draw. It was resolved that prize money would be awarded to the annual pointscore funded by an increase in seat fees with prizes for 1990/91 being $500 for 1st, $300 for 2nd, $100 for 3rd and $100 to the winner of a schools pointscore. In the following season it was decided that all of the association’s share of entry fees would go to the monetary prizes with first place to receive 50%, second place 30% and third 20%. As the season’s income reached $999, the prizes awarded were $500, $300 and $200.

In August 1990, Bob Williams (Hunter) was elected to his first of five years as president. After ten years guiding CDRA through the difficulties of foundation, decline and re-emergence, Graham Nix stepped down from his position as secretary/treasurer at the 1991 AGM leaving the association in a healthy state of positive growth with Peter Bond (HVGS) elected in his place.

Scone Rugby Club Rowing Club affiliated with CDRA in December 1990 although they would not make a regatta entry for another two seasons and then under another name. At the beginning of 1991, Hunter Valley Grammar School (HVGS) developed a rowing program based at the Walka Water Works dam in Maitland and affiliated with the association. In November 1992, CDRA accepted the affiliation of Newcastle Rowing Club.

Seasons 4 and 5 – The Regatta Program Expands – Championships Introduced

For the fourth season of CDRA competition, a Championship regatta was introduced to be conducted on the Manning River course at Taree with open championship events over 1500 metres. In the following season, a Schools regatta was added, conducted at Taree on the same weekend as the Championship regatta. Races conducted at Saturday’s Schools regatta included school events plus championships for Veterans and the new category ‘Senior’. Open and Junior championships were conducted on Sunday.

After programs in the first 3 seasons had consisted of 5 pointscore regattas, the program in season 4 expanded to 8 regattas including the CDRA Championships. Programs have fluctuated between 7 and 8 regattas since that time.

At a meeting following the second regatta of season 5, the question of composite crews was discussed. It was resolved that composite entries be accepted in all events and that points be Graham Nix awarded proportionally. This became a defining characteristic of Inaugural winner of CDRA CDRA that enabled small clubs to participate in many events Champion Mens Single Sculls. locally that NSWRA rules prevented them from entering in Secretary Treasurer 1981-1990 Sydney regattas. President 1995-2015

The 1992/93 racing season saw a significant increase in participation with 5 clubs regularly competing: Manning, NUBC, Port Macquarie, Hunter and HVGS. Mens singles and mixed events went beyond a single race into multiple divisions at most regattas, something that had rarely happened in previous seasons. The success of the season saw the prize pool growing rapidly and the decision was made to cap it at $2000. The pool eventually grew to $3,117. Prizes awarded at the end of the pointscore season were $1000, $600 and $400.

Scone Rugby Club Rowing Club changed their name to Upper Hunter Rowing Club prior to the start of the 1993/94 racing season, becoming a regular participant at CDRA regattas for the next 11 years. During the season, applications for membership of the association were accepted from Newcastle Grammar School (September), Armidale Rowing Club (November) and Irrawang High School (January).

Prize money was discontinued in 1994 with pointscore winners receiving CDRA banners from season 5 onward.

1994 - A Special Annual Meeting – CDRA Adopts a Constitution

With the growth of the association and the differences in the points of view of several of the participants over procedural matters, it was decided that a constitution was needed to define the operational parameters of CDRA.

The annual meeting of May 1994 had two components; a special general meeting to adopt the constitution and the annual general meeting. With the adoption of the constitution, the association became the ‘Central Districts Rowing Association Incorporated’. The annual general meeting completely revised the rules of boat racing applicable to CDRA regattas, with several amendments made in consideration of regional conditions.

Membership of the NSWRA and the ARC (Australian Rowing Council) was discussed. Membership fees to NSWRA included an ARC levee. Rowing’s share of government sports money was dependent upon the number of registered participants. To encourage all participants to register, NSWRA waived their membership fee for 1994, collecting only the ARC levee. CDRA was informed that all individual rowing competitors must register with NSWRA and pay the $21 ARC levee. For the first time, all CDRA rowers were obliged to become members of NSWRA.

The May 1994 meeting of CDRA closed at 7.52pm. It had been a marathon meeting, but a lot had been achieved. The association finally had a constitution and a significant section of the protocol for the conduct of CDRA regattas had been formalised.

CDRA/NRRA Challenge

Armidale RC became a CDRA regatta host in season 6 with crews from the Northern Rivers Rowing Association invited to contest the CDRA/NRRA Challenge on Lake Malpas. Entries were received from 6 NRRA clubs and 8 CDRA clubs in 1995 with CDRA winning the Challenge Shield. The CDRA/NRRA Challenge continued for 5 years with four wins to Central Districts and one to Northern Rivers until an infestation of blue-green algae closed Lake Malpas and cancelled the Armidale regatta.

CDRA/NRRA Challenge Medal Armidale Rowing Club boatshed

In 1994 and again in 1995, 2 CDRA juniors who were members of talented athlete programs were directed to transfer to Sydney metropolitan clubs. The justification for these forced transfers was that NSWRA rules did not accept entries from composite crews in championships events. Much heated correspondence passed between the two clubs concerned, CDRA and NSWRA over the matter. Proposals were put to the Rules Revision Subcommittee of NSWRA with the eventual rule change that composite crews be accepted in U18 and U19 championship events – more was to come of this later.

Graham Nix Takes the Helm - Rowing Established at Berry Park

At the 1995 AGM, Bob Williams stepped down after 5 years as president with Graham Nix beginning the first of his twenty years at the head of the association.

In June 1995, HVGS was obliged to cease operations on the Walka Water Works dam due to blue-green algae contamination. An alternative 500 metre course for the HVGS regatta was found on Fennell Bay at Blackalls Park. Three regattas were run on this course during the 1995/96 season with both the Newcastle and Hunter events transferred from their programmed sites due to unrowable weather conditions. Access to the course was lost at the end of the season when the key-holder’s daughter ceased competitive rowing. In early 1996, HVGS bought land on the Hunter River at Berry Park and built a boatshed ready for their annual regatta. The 1750m stretch of water finishing at the school’s boatshed was to become the most used course in the region.

HVGS regatta October 1996 – the first regatta on the Berry Park course

As a follow on from the dispute over composite crews in championship events, CDRA formulated a submission to the NSWRA to permit regional clubs to compete in composite crews. The proposal was adopted at the 1996 June General Meeting of NSWRA enabling entries to be accepted in championship events from composite crews representing either CDRA or NRRA.

CDRA Sprint Championships

In 1997, the maximum distance of CDRA regattas was increased from 1500 to 2000 metres (1750 at Berry Park). The CDRA Sprint Championship regatta was introduced in the 1998/99 season over a 500 metre course on the South Arm of the Hunter River. After being conducted at 4 different venues in 4 years, the Sprint Championships found a permanent home on Throsby Creek in 2002. The 3 lane, 400 metre Throsby Creek course in Carrington had been established by Newcastle RC in 1999 at the site where their future boatshed would be constructed 10 years later.

CDRA Sprint Championships – Throsby Creek In 2002, the Schools and Championship regattas were consolidated into the single two-day CDRA Championships at Taree as the final regatta of the season.

Club Developments in the late 1990s

City Rowers Club’s application for membership of the association was accepted at the 1996 AGM. At the 1998 AGM, Endeavour Rowing Club was admitted as a member club. After eleven years paying rent for boat space in the Speers Point Sailing Club, in 1998 Hunter Rowing Club gained access to public land at Booragul next to Teralba Sailing Club where they built a boatshed of their own. Following 3 seasons of minimal participation, Newcastle Grammar entered sizeable squads in the 1998/99 season to join Hunter, HVGS, Manning, Newcastle, NUBC, Port Macquarie and Upper Hunter as one of the regular participants at CDRA regattas.

Hunter / Lake Macquarie Rowing Club boatshed

CDRA’s Right To Conduct Its Own Affairs

An incident had occurred at the 1999 championship regatta which had far reaching consequences. City RC lodged a protest on the conduct of an event and disagreed with the subsequent ruling of the jury. The CDRA constitution outlined the path of appeal as being to the CDRA committee first, a general meeting second and finally to the NSWRA. However, City RC appealed directly to NSWRA whose ruling was that NSWRA had no jurisdiction as the regatta was run under rules modified by CDRA. At a subsequent meeting between the CDRA committee and members of the NSWRA board in January 2000, the CDRA hierarchy of appeal was endorsed with the NSWRA board accepting the responsibility of “ultimate appellate body”. It was stated that “NSWRA empowers CDRA to promote and control the sport in its region on behalf of NSWRA”. The board agreed that CDRA had the authority to set its own regatta program, to approve its own rowing courses and to make resolutions that take precedence over NSWRA Laws of Boat Racing for CDRA regattas. The meeting also clarified individual membership of NSWRA. The board emphasised that rowers must be registered members of NSWRA to compete in NSWRA regattas but competitors at CDRA regattas did not need to be registered. This corrected the belief held by the CDRA committee since 1994 that rowers must be registered with NSWRA to compete at any regatta.

The Introduction of On-Line Technology

After 9 years in the position of secretary/treasurer, Peter Bond stepped down at the 2000 AGM to be succeeded by Scott Barnett (Upper Hunter). At the 2001 annual general meeting, Scott relinquished his position due to pressures of work and John McLeod (Newcastle) took on the role of secretary/treasurer, a position he would hold for two decades.

At the 2000 AGM, the association decided to make use of the NSWRA regatta management system using the state association’s web site. Unfortunately, technical problems prevented on-line entries during the first season, although the NSWRA system was used to publish draws and to record regatta results. John McLeod As a consequence, results of CDRA regattas became Secretary/Treasurer 2001-2020+ available on the NSWRA website from the third regatta of the 2000/01 season onwards. The technical problems were overcome for 2001/02. Regatta entries were submitted electronically by clubs to the NSWRA website. The completed entry file was emailed to regatta manager Brian Kelleher who carried out the draw and emailed it back to be published on the NSWRA website. Following the regatta, Brian entered the results and emailed the completed file to NSWRA for publication and storage. As electronic entries were made from NSWRA membership files, it became mandatory for all rowers to be individual members of NSWRA before they could be entered in CDRA regattas.

Brisbane Water Rowing Club boat storage At the 2004 AGM, the association executive took on a format that would remain the same for 10 years with Brian Kelleher (Hunter) elected as vice president alongside president Graham Nix and secretary/treasurer John McLeod.

As banners were no longer available because the company had gone out of business, CDRA plaques were presented to the award winners in 2005. Plaques have continued to the present as association trophies.

Club Developments in the early 2000s

2000/01 was the last season of participation for City RC and Irrawang HS. In January 2001, additional land was purchased at Berry Park that enabled Endeavour RC to build a shed of their own, with the club’s boats transferred from the HVGS shed in July. In August, NUBC relocated from their dilapidated building in Raymond Terrace to boat space leased in the Endeavour shed. In September 2003, Brisbane Water RC was accepted as a member of CDRA. In early 2004, NUBC had a boatshed built at Berry Park and moved their boats into the ‘NUSport Pavillion’ in April. Following reduced participation during the 2005/06 season, Upper Hunter RC went into hibernation with no regatta entries for another 8 years. In October 2008, Central Coast RC was accepted as a member of the association. Following the closure of their shed due to the discovery of asbestos in April and damage from the Pasha Bulker storm in June, Newcastle RC put their boats into storage in July 2007. As a consequence, Newcastle’s participation during the following 2 seasons was minimal. In February 2009, Newcastle obtained development consent on government owned land beside Throsby Creek at Carrington. Construction of Newcastle’s boatshed was carried out in the first half of 2009, with the shed officially opened at the club’s regatta in December.

Central Coast Rowing Club boat storage

NSWRA Regattas in the CDRA Region

When the CDRA regatta card was established in 1989, 3 clubs hosted NSWRA regattas: Manning River, Port Macquarie and Hunter. In 2002, the Henley-on-Hunter regatta hosted by Endeavour was added to the NSW list. In 2005, NUBC’s Pre-IV regatta was introduced to the NSWRA regatta card only to become a non- pointscore CDRA regatta in the following season. At the same time, Hunter’s NSWRA regatta was dropped from the calendar due to lack of entries. Since 2006, NSWRA regattas in the CDRA region have been Endeavour’s Henley-on-Hunter in September at Berry Park and the twin Port Macquarie and Manning River regattas at Taree on the same weekend in January. In 2010, these two regattas were combined into a single regatta with racing extended to Friday afternoon as the jointly hosted ‘Taree Summer Regatta’.

RNSW Grades Adopted

In mid-2009 the NSW Rowing Association changed their title to ‘Rowing NSW’ in keeping with the name change of the national body to ‘Rowing Australia’. At the 2009 AGM, CDRA adopted the Rowing NSW grading system. The previous Open, Intermediate and Novice grades were replaced by A, B, C and D grades determined by a grade score between 4.0 and zero, with wins and losses adjusting the score down and up. NSWRA had introduced the system for the 2007/08 season and had refined the grade score formula over two years. From the 2009/10 season onward, CDRA would run a combination of grade events and age events that were consistent with RNSW status rules.

Taree Summer Regatta – mixed eights racing for the big money

Developments in Regatta Management

A technological development for the 2009/10 season was the facility to upload draws and results directly to the Rowing NSW website rather than via email. In the next season, use of the regatta software expanded to provided computerised finals draws and the immediate printout of race results. In 2012, a timing facility was added to the system that enabled race times of all crews to be recorded electronically and saved directly to the regatta file.

Change to the RNSW Fee Structure

The major item of discussion at the 2011 AGM was a change to the RNSW fee structure. Since the association was established in 1981, member clubs had been affiliated with RNSW through CDRA which paid a single affiliation fee to the state body. This fee had been $500 in 2010. RNSW sought to improve the perceived financial imbalance between regional clubs and the metropolitan clubs who individually payed both affiliation fees and a significant monthly levy. Discussions between the two associations resulted in a levy of $500 per club to be paid by CDRA, which amounted to $5,000 for 2011. CDRA also agreed to relinquish the rebate paid by RNSW from the individual state membership fees of the region’s rowers which had been $2500 in 2010. To finance the additional $7,000 required to meet this new commitment, CDRA entry fees were increased.

In November 2010, Ivan Adlam of Endeavour RC had been appointed as director of finance for Rowing NSW. In August 2011, he was elected as president of RNSW, the first member of CDRA to hold the position. Ivan retained the presidency for nearly 5 years until he stepped down in May 2016.

Newcastle Rowing Club boatshed – CDRA Sprint Championships (Picture Troy Adams)

Club Developments from 2011 to 2016

Prior to the start of the 2011/12 racing season, Hunter RC changed their name to Lake Macquarie Rowing Club. In October 2012 and January 2013, St Josephs Secondary College Port Macquarie and the Hastings Regional Rowing Group were accepted as members of CDRA. The two clubs operated together from the Rocks Ferry Reserve on the Hastings River at Wauchope. After eleven years of inactivity, Armidale RC resumed paying affiliation fees to the association during the 2012/13 season. The club would not take part in any CDRA regattas until a sole single sculler attended two regattas in 2019, however the club was to participate at the Taree Summer regatta from 2015 onward. The 2014/15 season saw the re-emergence of Upper Hunter RC in 4 regattas after 8 years of non- participation. Upper Hunter RC had operated under the umbrella of Scone Rugby Club until activity had ceased in 2006. In 2012 the rugby club had passed the rowing club’s assets into the joint management of St Joseph’s High School at Aberdeen and Scone Grammar School. After this brief revival, Upper Hunter’s entries lapsed for another 2 years. 2015/16 was the last season of participation for the group at Wauchope. After competing as St Josephs for two years then primarily as Hastings Region in the following two years, there were no further entries from either entity.

Changes in the CDRA Executive

At the end of the 2013/14 season, Brian Kelleher retired from active participation in the conduct of the association due to ill health. Brian had been vice-president for 10 years, had operated the electronic regatta system, conducting draws and publishing results for 14 years, and had been a regular BRO at association regattas becoming the region’s first Rowing Australia official. In September 2015, Brian passed away after losing his battle with cancer.

In October 2015, Graham Nix stepped down from the position of president after suffering a stroke to be replaced by Peter Bond. Graham had served the association continuously for 35 years since its inception in 1981, holding executive positions as secretary/treasurer, vice-president and 20 years as president. After retiring from teaching, Peter had transferred from HVGS to Endeavour RC in 2012. At the 2016 AGM, a special presentation was made to Graham of a CDRA plaque with the inscription: “Presented to Graham Nix President 1995 – 2015 In appreciation of his dedicated Brian Kelleher service and outstanding contribution to the success of the Regatta Manager 2000-2014 Central Districts Rowing Association since its foundation in Vice President 2004-2014 1981”

Changes in Regatta Procedures

After conducting draws in-house since 1990, it was decided in 2014 that CDRA regatta draws would be carried out by the Rowing NSW Regatta Secretary for a fee of $1430 in addition to that season’s affiliation fee of $7,260.

Since the association had first conducted regatta draws, entries for CDRA regattas had closed at 5.00 pm on the Tuesday 11 days before the regatta weekend, consistent with NSWRA procedure. In 2013, Rowing NSW had changed their due date to the Monday 5 days before. After 4 years out-of- synch, in 2017, the association resolved that the closing date for CDRA regattas would again be consistent with RNSW; 5:00 Peter Bond pm on the Monday preceding the regatta. Secretary/Treasurer 1991-2000 President 2015-2020+

The 2017/18 season saw the re-re-emergence of Upper Hunter RC. Scone Grammar had taken on full responsibility for the club after the original bequest of joint management had not been successful. Scone Grammar students racing as Upper Hunter have been regular competitors since then.

Evolutions in Regatta Structure

In response to the growing number of races at the Sprint Championships (175 races in 2012), it was resolved for the 2014 regatta to eliminate semifinals by limiting the number of entries in championship events to 9 with the number 1 crew from each club given preference. In 2015, regatta events were separated into 2 formats, one for single regatta weekends and another for double regatta weekends. The list of events for a single day included both age and grade events. Double regattas had age events on one day and grade events on the other with seeded 1000m events added to both programs. In 2016, regatta programs were organised into 4 blocks enabling rowers to enter one race in each block and it was resolved to included a 45 minute lunch break in all CDRA regattas. In 2020, to reduce the length of regattas, some of which in recent years had run from 8.00am till after 5.00pm, it was resolved to shorten regatta programs from 4 blocks to 3 blocks. At the same meeting, a motion was passed to reduce A and B grade races from 2000m to 1000m making all grade events the same distance. 2000 metre races were retained in U17/U19/0 events.

Natural Phenomena

Being an outdoor sport, rowing is subject to the vagaries of the weather with the Hunter course on Lake Macquarie being the most vulnerable. Of the 16 CDRA regattas scheduled on Hunter’s Teralba course between seasons 10 and 25, 7 were completed (some on “perfect” water, some on “very rough chop”), 2 had the course reduced to 500m, 5 were cut short as conditions deteriorated, one was abandoned before a race was run, and one was cancelled due to an unresolved clash with a sailing event. In the final 6 seasons from 2008 to 2013, only one regatta was successfully completed. The Lake Macquarie regatta moved to Berry Park in 2015 and has remained there since season 26.

Floods have also had an impact with the 2009 Port Macquarie regatta on the Wilson River and the 2013 CDRA Championships on the Manning River both cancelled due to flooding.

Manning River Rowing Club boatshed after the mini-cyclone with broken Newcastle Grammar boats in the street above

The Brisbane Water regatta in February 2010 faced a different phenomenon with Australia’s east coast put on tsunami alert from an earthquake in Chile although the regatta ran without incident.

In recent years, excessive heat has had a significant impact. In 2017, the Endeavour regatta was cancelled when the temperature passed 38° and, one week later, heat wave conditions caused the cancellation of many events at the NSW Championships although selection races did proceed in temperatures up to 44°. The thermometer topped out at a record 47° in Penrith on the Saturday.

Although the 2017/18 program of regattas did not experience the extreme heat of the previous season, a quirk of nature did leave its mark. A Super Blue Blood Moon in February created strong incoming tides that resulted in a winning time of 9 mintes 46 seconds in one division of WD1x. (Super Moon: at its closest point to the Earth the Moon looks larger than normal / Blue Moon: the second full moon in the same calendar month / Blood Moon: in a total lunar eclipse, the Moon is bathed in red spectrum light refracted about the Earth)

In March 2019, an intense storm devastated the CDRA Championships with a mini-cyclone tearing through the boat park and ripping the roof off the Manning River clubhouse. All clubs suffered damage to their boats with Newcastle Grammar the hardest hit, having to write-off more than half their fleet.

A Season Cut Short

The 2019/20 regatta season was devastated by 3 phenomena: weather, fire and disease. Of the 10 regattas hosted by CDRA, 3 were cut short by the weather. The Newcastle Grammar regatta was cancelled after only 8 races due to gale force wind. Predicted temperatures over 40° caused withdrawals from the Lake Macquarie/Endeavour double regatta weekend resulting in redraws for both regattas that reduced a total of 204 races to 70. However, both regattas were cancelled inside 2 hours when the temperature passed 38°. Extensive bushfires up and down the NSW coast prevented Port Macquarie and Manning River from travelling to regattas in November and December.

In the week following the CDRA Championships, reaction to the world-wide corona virus hit all sporting activities. In mid-March, Rowing Australia cancelled the Australian Championships and a week later cancelled the Australian Masters regatta. At the same time, Rowing NSW cancelled the rest of the state’s regatta season. All rowing clubs went into lock-down with no activity for two months. Although the CDRA pointscore regattas had been completed, local rowers were deprived of the opportunity to compete in state and national championship regattas at the end of the season.

Hunter Region Rowing Complex - Berry Park Preparations for Season 31 - An Uncertain Future

The 2020 annual general meeting was conducted electronically via ‘Zoom’, due to corona virus restrictions. Karuah Rowing and Aquatic Club based at the Karuah aboriginal mission was accepted as a member. Due to the uncertainty of when full scale regatta activity could resume, it was left to the association committee in consultation with the host club to decide prior to each regatta whether or not the regatta should proceed.

In mid-May, the first steps were taken to reduce restrictions with limited use of single sculls permitted although the future of the 2020/21 racing season remained in doubt.

Berry Park regatta – HVGS, Endeavour and NUBC boatsheds

Footnote: The 2020 CDRA annual general meeting set a regatta program that included 8 CDRA pointscore regattas, 2 non-pointscore regattas, 1 marathon and 2 RNSW regattas. Of the 9 events scheduled before Christmas, 5 were cancelled due to corona virus concerns, 2 were postponed and 2 were conducted with reduced programs under corona virus restrictions. In December 2020, the Taree Summer Regatta of January 2021 is listed as “postponed”. The second half of the 2020/21 regatta season remains uncertain. MEMBER CLUBS OF CDRA

Manning River Rowing Club - established 1957 – foundation member of CDRA. The club rented a weatherboard shed built on piles over the river in the centre of Taree for 8 years before having to move out. Boats were stored in a member’s yard for 3 years while the club built their own brick clubhouse which was opened in 1971. The club has a six lane 2000 metre course on the Manning River finishing at the boatshed. Prior to the formation of the CDRA, Manning was an active member of the NRRA and regularly travelled north for competition. In early years, the club conducted two annual regattas; the Spring Regatta on the October long weekend which became a NSWRA pointscore regatta in 1969 plus a limited program of races as part of the annual Taree Aquatic Festival in mid-January that catered for power boats, sailing and rowing. In 1992, after the Aquatic Festival moved to Easter, Manning’s NSWRA pointscore moved to January, eventually becoming the Taree Summer Regatta. Manning River has conducted CDRA regattas since the first season 1989/90, hosting the CDRA championships and Schools regatta as a double regatta weekend since their inceptions in 1993 and 1994 until the two were combined into a single 2 day regatta in 2003.

Newcastle University Boat Club (NUBC) - formed in 1961 through the sponsorship of Professor Godfrey Tanner - foundation member of CDRA. Until 2001, the boat club operated from a nineteenth century brick warehouse on the Hunter River at Raymond Terrace which had been purchased in 1962. In August 2001, NUBC relocated from their dilapidated building in Raymond Terrace to boat space leased in the new Endeavour shed at Berry Park. In 2003, Newcastle University negotiated with Endeavour RC to establish a permanent presence on the site. Endeavour bought additional land and built a boat shed as project manager for the university. The NUBC boats were moved from the Endeavour shed into the

‘NUSport Pavillion’ on a 50 year lease in April 2004. The boat club’s original rowing venue on the Hunter River was wide and straight for 3 miles but sandbars limited the racing course to 1000 metres. The students competed in the annual Inter-Varsity regattas and conducted an annual inter-faculty regatta to which the Manning River club was also invited. During the 1990s, NUBC conducted CDRA regattas on various courses: Grahamstown Dam at Medowie, the Williams River at Raymond Terrace and their home course on the Hunter River. After relocating from Raymond Terrace in 2001, all NUBC regattas have been conducted at Berry Park.

Port Macquarie Rowing Club - formed as Hastings River Rowing Club in 1972 with the loan of a reg four from Manning River RC – foundation member of CDRA. The members built a shed on council land beside the Hastings River at Port Macquarie and conducted an annual regatta on the June long weekend. The Hastings course could accommodate 8 crews but a cable ferry upriver limited the course to 800 metres while the open river downstream was too busy for shared use of the waterway. In 1983, Hastings River RC changed their name to Port Macquarie RSL Club Rowing Club. The club went into recession soon after their 1984 regatta, the last to be conducted on the June long weekend. The shed keys were handed to the council who called a public meeting in August regarding the future use of the boatshed. The keys were passed to Jim Young and Paul McReynolds who reformed the club as Port Macquarie Rowing Club. Port Macquarie conducted NSWRA and CDRA regattas on their home course on the Hastings River until 1993, moving in 1994 to a 1500m course on the Wilson River at Telegraph Point. Since 1997, Port Macquaire’s NSWRA/RNSW regattas have been conducted at Taree in January, initially as a double regatta weekend with Manning River RC, then combing as the 3 day Taree Summer Regatta in 2010. CDRA regattas remained at Telegraph Point until an 800m course was established on the Hastings River at Wauchope in 2011. The club’s last CDRA regatta returned to Port Macquarie in 2018 with no regatta conducted in the 2019/20 season.

Central Coast Youth Club Rowing Club - was in existence in Gosford from the late 1970s and was a foundation member of CDRA. Having no boatshed, the club operated from a boat trailer beside Brisbane Water at Gosford. Central Coast YCRC conducted an annual NSWRA pointscore regatta during the early 1980s. Although Central Coast had been a member of the association since its inception, the club did not compete in CDRA’s first regatta season and did not pay any membership fees after 1991.

Hunter Valley Rowing Club - was formed in 1979 by Colin Randall among mining professionals in the Singleton area. Boats were stored in a milking bail at Singleton Heights and transported by trailer to Lake Liddell for training. As the lake was unsuitable for regattas, the Hunter Valley club had to travel to Taree and Port Macquarie for racing experience. Although HVRC was a founding member of CDRA, the club did not continue beyond 1982.

Camden Haven Rowing Club – paid affiliation in 1984. Based in Kendall, the club did not participate in any regattas and did not renew their affiliation.

Lake Macquarie Rowing Club – affiliated 1987. In 1980 Bob Williams, a life member of Manning River RC, moved to Warners Bay on Lake Macquarie where he coached schoolboys in a reg four on loan from Manning River. In 1987, boat storage was obtained in the Speers Point Sailing Club shed and Hunter Rowing Club was formed. After 11 years paying rent for boat space in the sailing club shed, Hunter gained access to public land at Booragul next to Teralba Sailing Club where they built a boatshed of their own in 1998. In 2011, Hunter RC changed their name to Lake Macquarie Rowing Club. Hunter RC conducted regattas on the lake from 1987 which had NSWRA pointscore status from time to time until the last NSW regatta in 2005. The club has held an annual CDRA regatta since the 1990/91 season. All regattas were conducted at Speers Point until 1999 when racing moved to a 1000m course finishing at their new clubhouse in Cockle Bay. After a series of regattas had been cancelled due to rough water, Lake Macquarie moved

their regatta to Berry Park in 2015.

Mater Dei College Wyong – paid affiliation in 1988 but did not participate in any CDRA activites.

Macleay RC Smithtown – indicated an intention to row in 1989 that did not eventuate.

Grahamstown Rowing and Aquatic Club – operated on Grahamstown Dam at Medowie in 1990. After a single four raced at the last regatta of the 1989/90 season and made an entry but did not start in December 1990, the club became inactive.

Upper Hunter Rowing Club – affiliated 1990. Formed by Scott Barnett, a member of Scone Rugby Club who had previously rowed with Shoalhaven RC. A single four raced at one regatta in 1990 when the club affiliated as Scone Rugby Club Rowing Club. The club changed their name to Upper Hunter Rowing Club in 1993 and began 13 seasons of regular competition until activity ceased in 2006. In 2012, the rugby club passed the rowing club’s assets into the joint management of Scone Grammar School and St Joseph’s High School at Aberdeen. After 8 years of non-participation, Upper Hunter entered 4 regattas in the 2014/15 season. Scone Grammar had taken on full responsibility for the club after the original bequest of joint management had not been successful. The club’s crews were students from Scone Grammar under the guidance of teacher Chris Brennan, an active member of Lake Macquarie RC. After 2 more years of inactivity, Upper Hunter resumed regular competition in the 2017/18 season. Upper Hunter built a shed at Glenbawn Dam and hosted 11 CDRA regattas between 1993 and 2003 over a 1500m course beside the dam wall.

Hunter Valley Grammar School (HVGS) – affiliated 1991. At the beginning of 1991, Peter Bond was employed by the school as a mathematics teacher with the additional responsibility of developing the rowing program. Peter had rowed with Nepean RC, had been rowing master at Nepean High School and had held the position of CHS convenor in the 1980s. Initially, boats were stored in an empty boiler room attached to Walka Water Works in Maitland. The school hosted 4 CDRA regattas on the 500m water works dam from 1992 to 1994.

Activity at the site ceased in June 1995 due to blue-green algae contamination and the 1995 regatta was conducted on Fennell Bay at Blackalls Park. HVGS bought land at Berry Park and built a boatshed ready for the 1996 regatta. The school’s 1750m course on the Hunter River at Berry Park has become the most used course in the region.

Morpeth Rowing Club – operated for a year on Walka Water Works at Maitland using HVGS boats. Two fours participated in 2 regattas during 1992 then disbanded.

Newcastle Rowing Club - affiliated 1992. The club was founded by Jim Bardakos who had left Hunter RC after some disagreements. The club operated from a boat trailer kept at Jim’s home until the Honeysuckle Development Corporation made a shed available on the southern side of Newcastle Harbour in mid-1993. The trailer and four boats had been acquired from the inoperative Central Coast RC. The club moved between four sheds on the southern side of the harbour provided by the Honeysuckle Corporation until being obliged to vacate their last site due to the discovery of asbestos in April 2007 and damage from the Pasha Bulker storm in June. The boats were put into storage away from the water on the old BHP site.

In February 2009, the club obtained development consent on government owned land beside Throsby Creek and built a boatshed of their own. The club has conducted an annual CDRA regatta since the 1993/94 season, once on the harbour at Stockton, four times on the South Arm of the Hunter River beside the BHP and continuously from 1999 on a 3 lane 400m course on Throsby Creek where Newcastle has hosted the CDRA Sprint Championships since 2002.

Armidale Rowing Club – affiliated 1993. Formed in 1988. A shed was built on Lake Malpas 30 kilometres north of Armidale which was shared by the club, the Armidale School (TAS) and New England Girls School (NEGS). Armidale hosted regattas on Lake Malpas from 1992 to 1999 including the CDRA/NRRA Challenge for 5 years from 1995. After a stand-alone regatta in 2001, rowing on the lake ceased due to blue-green algae contamination and Armidale RC discontinued all CDRA activities.

The club reformed in 2012 and resumed paying affiliation to CDRA although their only participation has been at the Taree Summer Regatta from 2015 onwards.

Newcastle Grammar School – affiliated in 1993.

Originally run as school sport with Newcastle RC coaches in Newcastle boats, the school entered composite crews with Newcastle in their early years. The school moved to Speers Point in 1996 under the guidance of Peter Wiseman, a coxn from Victoria, where they shared storage in the sailing club shed with Hunter RC. The school relocated to Teralba with Hunter RC when the club built their new boatshed. Newcastle Grammar has conducted a CDRA regatta at Berry Park since 2013.

Irrawang High School - affiliated 1994. Irrawang had participated intermittently from 1991 with the assistance of NUBC. The school moved with City RC to Grahamtown Dam in about 1997 and ceased activity at the end of the 2000/01 season.

City Rowers Club – affiliated 1996. Founded by Jim Bardakos who had left Newcastle RC after some disagreements with the club. Initially, City operated from a boat trailer stored at Jim’s home but eventually they gained access to storage space in the Grahamstown Dam Aquatic Centre at Medowie with Irrawang HS joining them. City’s last participation was in the 2000/01 season.

Endeavour Rowing Club – affiliated 1998. The club was formed by parents of HVGS students and operated for 3 years out of the HVGS shed using HVGS boats. In January 2001, additional land was purchased at Berry Park that enabled Endeavour RC to build a shed of their own, with the club’s boats transferred from the HVGS shed in July of that year. Endeavour has conducted an annual CDRA regatta since 2000 and the NSW pointscore Henley-on-Hunter regatta since 2002, both on the Berry Park course.

Brisbane Water Rowing Club – affiliated 2003. Founded by Dave Cullen, who had previously rowed with Nepean RC in the 1980s. The club has no facilities and operates from boat racks beside the water against the rear wall of Gosford Swimming Pool. The club hosted a single CDRA regatta on Brisbane Water in 2010.

Wallis Lakes Rowing Club – paid affiliation in 2006. The club’s attempts to obtain a site in Foster were not successful and the club did not continue.

Central Coast Rowing Club – affiliated in 2008.

Founded by ex-members of Brisbane Water RC and operates on Kincumber Broadwater from a boat trailer located beside Davistown RSL Club.

St Josephs Secondary College Port Macquarie – affiliated in 2012. Hastings Regional Rowing Group – affiliated in 2013. These two clubs operated together from the Rocks Ferry Reserve on the Hastings River at Wauchope, the site chosen by Port Macquarie as a regatta course in 2011. After competing as St Josephs for two years then primarily as Hastings Region in the following two years, there were no further entries from either entity following the 2015/16 season.

Karuah Rowing and Aquatic Club – affiliated 2020. Established by John Baskett, formerly of Nepean RC, in conjunction with the aboriginal mission at Karuah. During 2019, the club made some tentative steps with training days at Berry Park and obtained boats by donation from regional clubs.

REGATTA RULES

A Standing Resolution of CDRA states: Regattas shall be conducted under the Laws of Boat Racing as applied by RNSW. In any matter covered by both CDRA rules and RNSW rules, the CDRA resolution shall apply.

At a meeting between the CDRA committee and the NSWRA board in January 2000, it was stated that “NSWRA empowers CDRA to promote and control the sport in its region on behalf of NSWRA”. The board agreed that CDRA had the authority to set its own regatta program, to approve its own rowing courses and to make resolutions that take precedence over NSWRA Laws of Boat Racing for CDRA regattas.

CDRA Rules that Differ from RNSW Laws of Boat Racing

Composite Crews In season 4, it was resolved that composite entries be accepted in all events and that points be awarded proportionally. This became a defining characteristic of CDRA that enabled small clubs to participate in many events locally that NSWRA rules prevented them from entering in Sydney regattas.

Combined Category Races When the junior category was introduced in season 3 all junior age groups raced together. In season 5, lightweight entries were invited in championship single and four events to be split into separate divisions if 3 or more entries were received. In season 6, a protocol was established for races in which several age or weight categories competed in the same race together: “If one group includes three or more competitors then such competitors shall be deemed to form a duly constituted event and a trophy and points for first, second and third shall be awarded for the positions in which they finish within their group. If such a duly constituted event competes in a combined race then a trophy and points will be awarded appropriately to any other competitors crossing the line in any of the first three positions regardless of the status or age of the finishers.” Thus if the finish order in an U17/19/O event was O, U17, U19, U17, O, U17. The first open crew would receive a trophy and 4 points for 1st place. The U19 would get 1 point for 3rd place. The first U17 would receive a trophy and 4 points for 1st place in a duly constituted event of U17s. The second and third U17s would get 2 points and 1 point for their position within that duly constituted event. The second open crew would get nothing for 5th place.

Combined Sex Races From season 7 to season 13, mens and womens masters events were timetabled into a single timeslot, similarly senior men and women were timetabled together between seasons 10 and 13. If sufficient entries were received, separate mens and womens divisions were run, otherwise both sexes raced together with a handicap for the men. This handicap was 30 seconds until season 9 and 40 seconds from season 10.

Substitutes For the first 8 seasons, CDRA followed the NSWRA rule for substitutions. In season 9, CDRA resolved to accept substitutions from any CDRA club in crew events and to accept substitutes in single sculls from the same club. After 11 years, both substitute rules were rescinded with the appropriate NSWRA rules to apply in season 20. One year later, the previous motion was rescinded and the current rule was adopted: For all events other than single scull events, substitutes shall be accepted from any CDRA club.

Lane Numbers For season 6, crew numbers worn on the back of the bow rower were replaced by lane numbers to be carried on the bow of the boat. NSWRA did not implement this change until 3 years later.

Non-CDRA Crews For races in which non CDRA crews take placings, points shall be awarded to the first 3 CDRA crews in each race. After 4 championship events at the 2005 CDRA championships had been won by non-CDRA crews, it was resolved that although non-CDRA crews could win medals, only CDRA crews could be presented with perpetual trophies and be recognized as CDRA champions.

Entry Limits In response to the growing number of races at the Sprint Championships (175 races in 2012), it was resolved in season 26 to eliminate semifinals by limiting the number of entries in championship events at the Sprint regatta to 9 with the number 1 crew from each club given preference.

Mixed Crews Until 2017, CDRA accepted the RNSW definition of a mixed crew however, for season 29, the CDRA definition of mixed crews was resolved to be 50% women and 50% men with the provision to replace one man with a woman in quads, fours and eights.

Coxns in Quads When quad sculls began to appear in season 5 it was resolved that junior quads be coxed and in all other quads the carrying of a coxn be optional. In season 10, coxns became optional in all quads In season 29, it was resolved that quads in U15, U16 and U17 events be coxed as per RNSW rules, however, in combined races (U17/U19/0), U17 quad crews could race in coxed boats with a handicap applied or in coxless boats without a handicap. In all other quad events, the carrying of a coxn remained optional. A set of handicaps was approved to enable coxed crews to compete against coxless crews in four or quad events: 1000 metres - men 9 seconds, women 11 seconds; 1750 metres - men 15 seconds, women 17 seconds; 2000 metres - men 17 seconds, women 20 seconds.

Primary School Competitors In response to the difficulties experienced by BROs in handling inexperienced sub-junior school crews it was resolved in 2019 that primary school competitors not be permitted to enter CDRA regattas.

Distance of Grade Events At the 2020 AGM, a motion was passed to reduce A and B grade races from 2000m to 1000m making all grade events the same distance.

Distances Over the years, the maximum standard distance of CDRA regattas has increased from 1000 metres to 1500 metres and finally to 2000 metres. Within that time, many shorter courses have been used. ● For the first two regatta seasons, the standard distance for all CDRA events was 1000 metres although sprint regattas were also conducted at Port Macquarie over 500m. ● For the last regatta of season 3, C1 (Open) events at Taree were conducted over 1500m, the first CDRA pontscore events at that distance. ● When the CDRA Championship regatta on the Manning course was introduced in season 4, the open championship distance was set at 1500m with age championships, novice and intermediate races remaining at 1000m. The lead-up regatta to the championships, also at Taree, had 1500m races for open events. The only regatta in season 5 with 1500m races was the Championship regatta. ● For season 6 the maximum distance for open and intermediate events was extended to 1500m for all regattas with novice and age events staying at 1000m. ● In season 8, senior and under 18 events were extended to 1500m. ● In season 9, events over 1500m were extended to 2000 metres. ● In season 19, U17 events were extended to 2000m. ● With the adoption of the RNSW A/B/C/D grading system in season 21, event distances became - 2000m: A grade, B grade, U17, U19 and Open. 1000m: C grade, D grade, U15, U16, masters, seeded 1000m and mixed. ● At the 2020 AGM, distances for A and B grade were reduced to 1000m.

Race Fees Season 1: $2 per seat. Season 2 – Season 4: $3 (increased to fund prizemoney for the season’s pointscore). Season 5 – Season 7: $2.50 (reduced when prizemoney was discontinued). Season 8 – Season 14: $3 Season 15 – Season 22: $4 (a break-even increase to match general rising costs) Season 23 – Season 26: $5 (increased to finance the new format of RNSW fees) From Season 27 onward: $6 (to match the growth of RNSW affiliation)

Pointscore Prizes ● Although a trophy was spoken of for the winner of the pointscore in season 1, no presentation was made. ● Money prizes were awarded for the next 3 seasons being for 1st, 2nd and 3rd: Season 2 - $500, $300, $100 plus $100 for a school pointscore. Season 3 - $500, $300, $200. Season 4 - $1000, $600, $400. ● From season 5 to season 15 CDRA banners were awarded to the ‘Premiership Winners’ plus second and third in the pointscore as well as to first in each of the categories; single sculls, multiple sculls and sweep oar. ● In season 16, banners were replaced by CDRA plaques which have continued to the present as association trophies.

STATUS CATEGORIES CDRA competitors have a grade status and an age status.

Grade Status – The association adopted three levels of graded status for the first regatta season: Novice (first season of racing), Fourth Grade (equivalent to NSWRA 4th grade) and Open (for all competitors). ‘Novice’ grade retained the same label for 20 years. ‘Fourth Grade’ and ‘Open’ changed to ‘Senior CII’ and ‘Senior CI’ in 1991 in line with the status categories adopted by NSWRA but were changed a year later to ‘Intermediate’ and ‘Open’ “to clearly indicate a rower’s ability within our association”. These 3 graded levels were maintained until 2009 when the association adopted the RNSW grading system of four levels: A, B, C and D grades.

Progression rules changed over the years. ● For the first two seasons, Novice rowers were allowed two wins in a particular class of boat before progression to Fourth Grade in which they were allowed three fourth grade wins in sculling and 3 fourth grade wins in rowing. Wins at Open level did not count towards status. ● With the adoption of ‘Senior CII’ in Season 3, the 3 win limit was reduced to 2 wins. ● Prior to 1992, wins at a higher grade instantly promoted a rower to that higher grade but from Season 4 onward, progression was based on accumulated wins at any grade so that a rower was eligible to enter Novice events until their total wins in that class of boat was 2 and was eligible to enter Intermediate events until their total wins in that class of boat was 4. ● In 1994, the number of wins for progression was increased so that the limits became 3 wins for Novice and 6 wins for Intermediate. ● For the first 5 seasons, wins in Open events did not count to status but from the 1994/95 season on, wins in Open, Championship and NSWRA grade events were counted towards a rower’s status. ● In 1996, the boat categories ‘Single Sculls’ (1x), ‘Multiple Sculls’ (2x, Qx) and ‘Sweep Oar’ (2-, 4+, 8+) were introduced. Where-as previously a rower had a separate status in each of the 6 classes of boat, from season 8 onward, status was separate for each of the 3 boat categories. ● When Points races and Handicap races were introduced as a trial for the 2003/04 season, both events counted towards status. Following the trial, Points races (seasons 16, 17) and Handicap races (seasons 18 – 20) continued to count to status until the RNSW grades were adopted for the 2009/10 season.

Age Status – Over the years, CDRA has operated 3 age groups: Junior [up to 18 years of age], Senior [from 19 to 26 years] and Masters [27 years and over]. CDRA did not include any age based events in the first 2 seasons’ pointscore programs although clubs were given the option of adding a limited number of non-pointscore events of their choice with both veteran and school races appearing. Junior events were introduced as pointscore events in season 3 with veteran and senior events given pointscore status in season 5. Junior and veteran/masters events have continued as components of CDRA regattas since that time although the availability of the senior category has fluctuated.

Masters At the time of the first CDRA regatta season, competitors over the age of 27 were referred to as ‘Veterans’. Veteran events were not listed in the standard events for the first season although host clubs opted to include a Veterans Eight at 3 of the 5 pointscore regattas. Manning River ran a non-pointscore veterans regatta with 15 events in January 1990. ● In the second season, 8 veteran races were conducted across the 4 regattas with host clubs being responsible for handicaps. No veteran events were conducted in season 3. ● Veterans returned for season 4 with VM1x and VM4+ attracting entries at all regattas and VW1x at two. NSWRA veteran handicaps were applied. Veteran events were part of all CDRA regattas from that time on. ● In 1993, ‘Veterans’ were relabeled as ‘Masters’ in line with NSWRA terminology. Masters races became pointscore events. ● From 1995 to 2002, Masters events (V1x and V4+) were timetabled as a single event for both men and women. The two sexes were drawn in separate divisions where appropriate or raced together with women receiving a 30 second handicap. The handicap was increased to 40 seconds in 1998. ● After having run as combined events over the previous 7 seasons, masters events were separated into mens and womens events in 2002. Since then, masters events have continued as significant components of all CDRA regattas.

Juniors

● CDRA did not include any events for junior rowers in the first season’s program although one regatta host did add a School Four. ● In season 2, $100 of the season’s prize money was allocated to a schools pointscore. Although no school events appeared in the list of standard events, clubs had the option of adding events to their program with 6 school races appearing at 2 regattas and 7 at a third. Taree HS took out the schools pointscore. ● In 1991, School events were replaced by ‘Junior’ events for competitors under 18 years of age. Although NSWRA defined 3 junior categories; JI (under 18), JII (under 16) and JIII (under 14), all categories raced together at CDRA regattas due to lack of numbers. Junior races were conducted for men and women in singles and fours. Junior races became pointscore events. ● Junior events programmed in season 4 were MJ1x and WJ1x plus a unisex J4+/Qx in which an all-girl four would start on ‘go’ with 5 seconds handicap added for each boy and 15 seconds added for a quad. When the CDRA Championship regatta was introduced at the end of that season, separate championship events were conducted for junior men and women in singles, doubles and fours. ● In 1993, the junior categories were relabeled to clearly indicate the age divisions as J14 (under 14 years - previously J3), J16 (J2) and J18 (J1). School events re-appeared in the Schools regatta introduced at the end of the 1993/94 season with ‘Champion School’ and ‘Junior School’ (Year 10 and under) races. For the duration of the Schools/Championship double weekend of racing, school races ran on the Saturday and junior age championships on the Sunday. ● For the 1996 Schools regatta, the eligibility for school junior events was changed from Year 10 and under to U16. ● For the 1995/96 season, NSWRA changed the junior age cut-off date from 31st December to 30th June. ● For the 1996/97 season, in keeping with NSWRA, the distance of J18 events was increased to 1500m, the maximum distance raced by CDRA. This increased again in the following season when CDRA regattas went to 2000m. J14 and J16 events stayed at 1000m. ● For the 1999/2000 season, NSWRA reverted to the FISA rule for juniors with the cut-off date changing from 30th June back to 31st December. At the same time, the youngest age limit was increased by a year to J15. ● With the adoption of the use of the NSWRA regatta management system in 2000, the CDRA labels J15, J16 and J18 were replaced by NSWRA terminology: U15, U16 and U18. ● In 2002, NSWRA changed the labels U15, U16 and U18 to U16, U17 and U19. Previously, a junior could row in U18 events until the end of the year following their 18th birthday. Thus, an U18 competitor could be over 18. The change of label to U19 overcame this semantic inconsistency. At the end of the season, the Schools and Championship regattas were consolidated into a single two-day regatta at Taree with school racing limited to open events only. ● For the 2007/08 season the distance of U17 events was increased to 2000m in line with NSWRA. ● Under 15 events were introduced at the Newcastle Grammar regatta in February 2013 and were added to the general program of events for the following season. However, at Championship regattas, U15 events are conducted in divisions being non-championship races. ● School events were removed from the 2014 Championship regatta and have not been conducted by CDRA since then although junior events have continued as significant components of all CDRA regattas.

Senior

The Senior category was introduced in 1993 for rowers between 19 and 26 years of age with singles and fours programmed for each sex. Championships events for seniors were included in the Schools regatta introduced at the end of that season and continued to be part of the championship program until 2005/06. ● For 1995/96, senior events at standard regattas were reduced to single sculls for each sex and from 1998/99 only one Senior event was programmed, S1x catering for both sexes with a 40 second handicap for women. ● From 2002/03 to 2005/06, senior events were bracketed with masters events with handicaps equivalent to A category masters although very few entries were received. ● In 2005, the Senior category was renamed ’19-26’ as the term ’Senior’ had been re-introduced by NSWRA with a different meaning. The term ‘Adult’ was also used at this time. Senior/19-26 events disappeared from all CDRA programs following the 2005/06 season with no provision for the age group during the next three seasons. ● For 2009/10, open events were bracketed with junior events as ‘J/O’ enabling seniors to compete in age based events again as open rowers. With the separation of junior events into individual age components, the ‘U17/19/O’ category has maintained that choice for seniors.

REPRESENTATIVE HONOURS Pre-CDRA The region’s first international representative was Murray Doust of Manning River who competed in the MJ4+ at the World Junior Championships in Belgium in 1980. Murray also represented NSW in the Colts series against New Zealand in 1981.

CDRA Representatives

CDRA’s first national representatives were Sue Calvin of Manning River RC and her coach Graham Nix who were selected in 1985 as members of the Australian Trans Tasman Junior team to compete against New Zealand.

In 1994, Martin Inglis of Armidale RC was directed to transfer to Nepean RC as a member of the Academy of Sport Talent Identification Program. Similarly, in 1995, Matthew O’Callaghan, a member of the School Leavers Talented Athletes Program who joined Newcastle RC after rowing at GPS school St Josephs, was directed to transfer to Sydney RC. The justification for these forced transfers was that NSWRA rules did not accept entries from composite crews in championships events. Heated correspondence passed between the two clubs, CDRA and NSWRA over the matter. Proposals were put to the Rules Revision Subcommittee of NSWRA with the eventual rule change that composite crews be accepted in U18 and U19 championship events.

Both of these rowers went on to represent Australia. Martin won a bronze medal at the 1994 World Junior Championships and a gold medal at the 1998 Nations Cup for Under 23 rowers, gaining a total of 6 national caps that included senior World Championships. He also represented NSW in interstate racing with 2nd place in the President’s Cup single in 2000. Matthew represented Australia 5 times at Trans Tasman, Nations Cup and World Championships regattas between 1996 and 1999.

Matthew’s brother Tim O’Callaghan also joined Newcastle after rowing at St Josephs before moving to the Sydney University club. Tim represented Australia 5 times between 1999 and 2006, winning a silver medal at the 1999 Nations Cup.

In 1999, Kyrsten Winkley of Manning River RC was selected in the Australian team to compete at the World Junior Championships in Bulgaria where she reached the final. She went on to win a gold and a silver medal for Australia in Nations Cup regattas in 2002 and 2003 and was also a member of the senior World Championship squad in 2003. Kyrsten represented NSW for 3 wins in the Queen’s Cup state eight between 2002 and 2004. Her sister Nikki Winkley had previously represented the state in 2001 for a second place in the eight.

In 2005, CDRA gained their 7th national representative in Hugh McLeod of Newcastle RC. Hugh rowed in the Australian lightweight quad at 3 consecutive World Under 23 Championships (previously the Nations Cup), winning a bronze medal in 2006. Hugh also represented NSW in the lightweight four at the 2007 Interstate Regatta.

In 2006, Bede Clark of Manning River RC was selected in the Australian quad scull for the World Junior Championships in Amsterdam where the crew earned a bronze medal. Bede won his bronze only 13 days after Hugh McLeod had won a bronze in Belgium – 2 world medals to CDRA rowers within a fortnight.

In 2008, Georgia Lowe was a member of the second placed NSW Womens Interstate Youth Eight. Georgia had rowed with both Newcastle Grammar School and Newcastle RC.

In 2011, Kyrsten Winkley became the first rower from the association to be inducted into the Hunter Region Sporting Hall of Fame. Kyrsten had begun her rowing career at Manning River RC and had represented Australia in World Championships at the junior, under 23 and senior levels.

In 2012, after rowing in the 2011 NSW Queen’s Cup eight, Tess Gerrand was selected in the Australian eight for the London Olympics where the crew was placed 6th. Tess was also a member of the Australian squad for the World Championships in 2013 as well as a 3-time member of the state eight. Tess developed her rowing skills with Manning River before becoming a member of Sydney RC.

At the 2014 World Championships in Amsterdam, Laura Dunn of UTS raced in the silver medal winning Australian lightweight quad. Laura had started her rowing career with Lake Macquarie and then Newcastle before transferring to UTS. Laura represented Australia again at the 2015 World Championships and represented NSW 6 times in interstate competition between 2010 and 2016.

In 2015, Holly Lawrence completed her fourth year as a member of the NSW interstate squad and was selected in the Australian womens lightweight double scull for the World Under 23 Championships in Bulgaria. Holly had learnt to row with HVGS before transferring to Sydney University after her HSC.

In 2016, Rebecca Humphris was selected in the NSW interstate lightweight quad. Rebecca, a member of Sydney University Womens RC, was a graduate of the HVGS rowing program.

Interstate Masters Representatives

Interstate competition at the masters level was introduced into the Australian Masters Championships in 2002.

In 2004, CDRA gained their first masters representative with Julie Tilse of Endeavour RC in the NSW womens masters interstate eight.

Jim Young of Port Macquarie was the association’s first medal winner with 2nd place for NSW in mens masters interstate quad in 2005.

In 2007, Dave Cullen of Brisbane Water also took 2nd in the NSW mens masters interstate quad.

2008 was a big year for CDRA masters with 6 members of the association selected to represent NSW. At the national regatta in Nagambie, the third placed NSW womens masters interstate quad was an all-CDRA crew comprising Liz Levido (Port Macquarie), Robyn Cragg (Newcastle), Chris Brennan (Endeavour) and Mandy Cavill (Manning River). The NSW mens masters interstate quad that also came third included previous CDRA representatives Jim Young and Dave Cullen.

In June 2011, Kim Chilton of Port Macquarie became the first member of CDRA to win an interstate masters gold medal as a member of the first placed NSW womens masters interstate quad.

Kim Chilton was selected for the second time in the 2012 NSW womens masters interstate quad alongside new crew member Mandy Cavill of Manning River, although the crew was unplaced.

Tess Fearon of Lake Macquarie was a member of the 2015 NSW womens masters interstate quad scull that gained a second place.

An all-CDRA crew of Rob Wallace (Lake Macquarie), Peter Stievenard (Lake Macquarie), Sean Donza (Endeavour) and Murray Doust (Manning River) was selected as the NSW mens masters interstate quad in 2016. The crew placed 2nd after leading in the first half of the race.

The mens masters interstate quad selected to represent NSW in 2019 included 3 CDRA rowers; Sean Donza (Endeavour), Sean Ryan (Brisbane Water) and Rhett Pattison (Manning River) although the crew was unplaced.

For the 2020 Australian Masters Championships, an all-CDRA crew was selected to represent NSW in the interstate mens quad scull. Sean Donza (Endeavour), Rhett Pattison (Manning River), Roy Halliday (Manning River) and Gareth Salkield (Newcastle) did not get the chance to compete at the Nationals due to the cancellation of the regatta under carona virus restrictions.

CDRA Point Score Awards

Year Winner Second Third Overall Overall Overall 1990 Manning R Port Mac Hunter Prize $ Winner Second Third Year Overall Overall Overall 1991 Hunter Manning R Port Mac 1st $500 2nd $300 3rd $100 1992 Hunter Manning R Port Mac 1st $1000 2nd $500 3rd $200 1993 Hunter Manning R NUBC 1st $1000 2nd $500 3rd $200 Banners Winner Second Third Single Multiple Sweep Year Overall Overall Overall Sculling Sculling Oar 1994 Hunter Manning R NUBC Manning R Port Mac NUBC 1995 Hunter Manning R HVGS Hunter Manning R HVGS 1996 Newcastle = Manning R Hunter Manning R Manning R Newcastle 1997 Manning R Hunter NUBC Hunter Manning R NUBC 1998 Hunter Manning R NUBC NUBC Manning R Hunter 1999 NUBC Manning R Hunter NUBC Port Mac Hunter 2000 Hunter Manning R Irrawang HS Hunter Manning R Hunter 2001 Hunter Manning R HVGS Hunter Hunter Hunter 2002 Hunter Manning R HVGS Manning R Hunter Hunter 2003 Hunter Manning R HVGS Hunter Hunter Hunter 2004 HVGS Hunter Manning R HVGS HVGS Hunter Plaques Winner Second Third Single Multiple Sweep Year Overall Overall Overall Sculling Sculling Oar 2005 HVGS Manning R Hunter HVGS HVGS Hunter 2006 HVGS Manning R Hunter HVGS HVGS Newcastle 2007 HVGS Manning R NGS HVGS HVGS Hunter 2008 NGS HVGS Manning R NGS NGS NGS 2009 HVGS Hunter NGS HVGS HVGS Hunter 2010 HVGS Hunter Manning R HVGS Hunter NUBC 2011 HVGS Manning R Hunter HVGS HVGS NUBC 2012 Lake Mac HVGS NGS HVGS Lake Mac Lake Mac 2013 Lake Mac NGS Newcastle NGS Lake Mac NUBC 2014 Lake Mac Newcastle NGS Lake Macq Lake Mac NUBC 2015 NGS Lake Mac Endeavour NGS NGS NGS 2016 NGS Endeavour HVGS NGS NGS NGS 2017 NGS Newcastle HVGS NGS NGS Newcastle 2018 HVGS NGS Endeavour HVGS HVGS HVGS 2019 HVGS NGS Lake Mac HVGS HVGS HVGS 2020 HVGS NGS Newcastle NGS HVGS NGS

Key NGS = Newcastle Grammar School HVGS = Hunter Valley Grammar School NUBC = Newcastle University Boat Club Hunter RC changed name to Lake Macquarie RC prior to 2011/2012