AUGUST 2016 NEWS Above – 2016 Australian Women’s Olympic get the all clear to race New date for Annual General Meeting Published 18th August 2016 Please note that the date and time of the AGM has changed to Saturday 15th October 2016 at noon. The meeting will be at the Clubhouse and luncheon will be served. Farewell from Rio Published 15th August 2016 The rowing course has been converted to kayaking and the wind has come up again in Rio. Remind you of Sydney? Above: The course has been converted Above: Pilgrimage to Christ the Redeemer has been made Above: And Sugar Loaf has been visited Sadly Olympic Rowing is over for another four years Published 14th August 2016 Above: President Rob Scott addresses the family and friends gathering at Copacobana Above: The party continues Above: Charlotte Sutherland with her aunty Sally Stewart and grandmother Helen Sutherland The JDS Olympic Challenge Published 13th August 2016 Earlier this month we set JDS a challenge – to reverse a situation where he was carried by his mother on her shoulders in 1992. You may not know this but Josh Dunkley Smith attended his first Olympic Games in 1992. He was a mere toddler and your correspondent first met him at that event. He was there because his mother Addy was a distinguished sailor and a competitor in sailing at those Games. Above: Josh on the shoulders of his mother Addy at the Olympic sailing regatta in 1992 Channel 7 may have picked up the story but we have the exclusive Mercantile picture. Addy being carried by Josh after then race. Above the reversal Day 8 Olympic Games – Gold to Kim Brennan Published 13th August 2016 Above: The picture says it all Kim raced superbly to win from start to finish in a dominating performance. She did not give the other scullers a chance to get near her. It was a great relief to her but also to Australian rowing who so desperately wanted a gold medal. Australia finished fourth on the medal tally behind Great Britain, Germany and New Zealand with one gold and two silver medals. Above More of Kim on the podium Above: John Coates presented the women’s scull medals Above: Kim approaching the finish Above: A nervous Max and Sue Crow before the race Also racing today was Rhys Grant in the B final of the men’s single. He finished off his good regatta with a ninth placing. A great result for a qualifier and it shows how good he really is. Above: Rhys Grant approaching the finish The other A finals were the men’s scull and the two eights. The men’s scull was won by Drysdale of New Zealand by only .005 second. The result took a long time to come out. It was a cracker of a race with the Croatian sculler, Damir Martin. There was nothing separating each sculler over the last 250 metres – an amazing race. Above: the final stages of the men’s single final Above: Men’s single presentations The women’s eight was won by the USA in a powerful display. Above the finish of the women’s eight The British men’s eight dominated their race from start to finish. Above: The men’s eight presentation Day 7 Olympic Games – Silver for Men’s four – Josh Dunkley-Smith Published 12th August 2016 The big news today was of course the great race by our men’s four which included Club member Josh Dunkley Smith. The British crew were favourites and led the first 500 metres with a very powerful display of rowing. However the Australians kept in touch and used the second 500m to get level with them The third 500 metres was going to be one of the great battle grounds of world rowing. The favourite and very strong British crew against the superb rowing of the Australians. Alas the strength of the British crew showed through and an advantage was taken. The advantage was maintained through to the finish in a great race. Above: The last few strokes Above: The presentation Above: Our Josh after the race Now back to the day and how it unfolded. Firstly it was a very wet morning but little wind. Above: A shot in the stands – Addy Dunkley-Smith The first race with an Australian was the men’s scull semi-finals in which Rhys Grant of WA was competing. He raced a good race but was no match for Drysdale of New Zealand who won superbly. Rhys has had a great regatta and has proven his international single sculling credentials with such racing at this regatta. He will race the B final tomorrow. Above Rhys crossing the finish line The next race was the semi final of the women’s scull in which Kim Brennan led early before the race tightened up and Kim only narrowly won. We look forward to seeing her race the final tomorrow. Above: Kim in the final strokes of the race The next race was the women’s lightweight double scull which was won handsomely by the Dutch. Above: The presentation of the women’s pair The French then won the men’s lightweight double. Above the presentation of the men’s lightweight double Above: The Irish were quite happy with their placing The next race was the women’s pair which was won by the British crew is a strong race. Above: The presentation of the women’s pair The next race was the men’s four as described above. Day 6 Olympic Games – Silver for the M4x Published 11th August 2016 A big day of rowing at the lake today with the women’s eight racing in their repechage, the men’s and women’s doubles competing in their respective B finals and the men’s pair and men’s quad competing in their respective A finals. The highlight of course was the brilliant row by the men’s quad. The conditions were very tough physically with a cross head but also mentally with the changeable wind and wave conditions. Our crew suffered some adverse wind gusts at critical times of the race where their boat had gained momentum and making up good ground. Above: The final strokes But all credit to the Germans who raced superbly by taking a risk early and holding onto their gains. Above: Presentation of medals Now going through the day. The day started for us with the men’s four winning a great semi final race against the strong finishing South Africans and Italians. The four had done their work early and so were able to comfortably finish in front. The winners of the other semi final were the British who looked equally good. It will be a great final tomorrow. Above: Finish of the men’s four semi-final Above: Warming down after the row The next race was the repechage of the women’s eight. Whilst the crew had a short and so poor a preparation, they were competitive. We dreamt of them making the final but these dreams were not realised. The crew started off well but the lack of preparation told in the middle stages. Given this back drop and please do not take this comment negatively, their race plan was to go out well and stay in touch in case an error occurred with another crew. The racing was still excellent and they finished within reach of the field. The girls were happy with their row given the late call up and the experience was valuable. Given that the field contains only seven crews, this was the last race for this crew. Above: Approaching the finish Above: After the race The next race was the quad which is described above. Above: the crew after the race Above: The medals were presented by club member (and IOC member) James Tomkins The next race was the Women’s Quad Scull which was won also by Germany. Above: Presentation of the Women’s Quad Scull medals The next race was the Men’s Pair won by the favourites New Zealand. The Australians finished in the tail end of the field despite a great heat and semi-final. Above: the Australian pair after missing out on a medal. Above: Presentation of men’s pair to New Zealand The next race was the women’s double won by The Netherlands. The Australian double missed out on the final. Above: Presentation of the women’s double The next race was the men’s double which was won the favourites, the Croatians. The Australian crew missed out on the final. Above: The men’s double presentation The last medal race for the day was the lightweight four won by the Swiss. Above: The lightweight four presentation Australia was represented in the men’s and women’s double scull B finals. The Australian men’s double won their race. Above: The Australian women’s double scull in the final stages. They were in a close finish but as this picture shows, they suffered a mishap in the final few strokes. As mentioned above, the men’s double won their B final. Above: the men’s double winning their B final Above: The men’s double acknowledging the crowd Around the regatta course. Above Jess Morrison Above Charlotte Sutherland with her grandmother Helen Sutherland and aunt Sally Stewart Above: Jess Morrison and Fiona Albert Above: Club member and IOC member James Tomkins Day 5 Olympic Games Published 10th August 2016 Greetings from wet and windy Rio. As you know well, there was no rowing today due to the conditions.