March 2021 News

MARCH 2021 NEWS

Provided by your faithful correspondent Trident.

Above: Mercantile youth girls power to victory in their State Championship

News covered this month:

• National Championships Entries • Sean Colgan again makes a generus donation to the Club's Foundation • Scotch Mercantile Regatta live streamed • Congratulations to our senior Australian team members • Congratulations to our Victorian State Team members • Dominant performance at Victorian State Championships • Parking permits during Moomba • Best wishes to Club members from Simon Newcomb and Russell McLean • Volunteers required for Scotch Mercantile Regatta • Rowing Australia announce Senior Australian Rowing Team Trials Invitation List - 12 Mercs members included • Rowing Australia announces U23 trials to be conducted at Lake Barrington following the Australian Championships • COVID again impacts Olympic preparations • Cocktail Party and Boat Christening 9th April • Australian Championships Update • Club rowing takes off • Coastal rowing at Mercs • Changing room lockers are now available for rental • Drink wine to help the Club, now that is an idea • 2021 dates • Member profiles

Sean Colgan again makes a very generous donation to the Club's Foundation

Pubished 19th March 2021

The Club's greatest benefactor Sean Colgan has again amazed us with another very generous donation to the Club's Foundation.

Sean seen here at Henley Royal Regatta with Mercs cap and tie

The Trustees receive such generous donations with both delight and trepidation as they have committed to match any donation that Sean makes. The matching donations are now being collected!

Thank you Sean, you are the greatest.

National Championships Entries

Published 19th March 2021

The Treasurer has called on the Club's financial reserves to pay the entry fees for our large entry for the National Championships. Entries follow. May all our crews do well. Go Mercs!

Boat loadng for the Nationals

OW1x Mercantile Anna Kirkwood OM1x Mercantile Kane Grant OM1x Mercantile Redmond Matthews OM1x Mercantile Alexander Wolf OM1x Mercantile Joel Cain OM1x Mercantile Benjamin Canham Redmond Matthews, OM2X Mercantile Kane Grant Benjamin Canham, Joel Cain, Kane OM4x Mercantile Grant, Alexander Wolf Alec Paterson, Toowong Redmond Matthews, OM4x Composite Sean Murphy, Hamish Parry Fergus Hamilton, OM2- Mercantile Angus Widdicombe Mercantile/Swan Benjamin Canham, OM2- River Sam Marsh James OM2- Mercantile Robertson, Alexander Wolf Henry Youl, Jackson Swan River OM4- Kench, Benjamin Composite Canham, Sam Marsh OLM1x Mercantile Redmond Matthews U23W1x Mercantile Emmie Frederico Paige Barr, Emmie U23W2- Mercantile Frederico Mimmi Balaam, Aphrodite Gioulekas, Mercantile U23W4- Brigid McKeagney- Composite Douglas, Emmie Frederico Emily Sutherland, Mimmi Balaam, Olivia Sargeant, Ruby O'Keeffe, Aphrodite U23W8+ Mercantile Gioulekas, Paige Barr, Emmie Frederico, Sophie Reinehr, Hayley Verbunt(c) Jack Guy, Harry U23M2- Mercantile Amad Jack Guy, Liam Burke, Joshua Murphy, Oscar Ryan, Joshua Bortolussi, U23M8+ Mercantile Flynn Stimpson, Charlie Clarke, Lachlan Wilmot, Phillip Tran(c) U23LW1x Mercantile Phoebe Wolf U23LW1x Mercantile Olivia Evans Demetria U23LW1x Mercantile Kyriacopoulos Olivia Evans, U23LW2x Mercantile Demetria Kyriacopoulos Mercantile/Corio Phoebe Wolf, Maggie U23LW2x Bay Foley Jordan Roberts, Dom U23LM2- Mercantile Frederico Benjamin Whitmee, Thomas Hackett, U23LM4- Mercantile Jordan Roberts, Dom Frederico U21W1x Mercantile Louisa Bongrain U21W1x Mercantile Louise Carr U21W1x Mercantile Ruby O'Keeffe Ruby O'Keeffe, U21W2x Mercantile Louisa Bongrain Anna U21W2x Mercantile Morrison,Louise Carr Ruby O'Keeffe, Anna U21W4x Mercantile Morrison, Louise Carr, Louisa Bongrain Emily Sutherland, U21W2- Mercantile Sophie Reinehr Olivia Sargeant, U21W2- Mercantile Mimmi Balaam Olivia Sargeant, Paige Barr, Emily U21W4+ Mercantile Sutherland, Sophie Reinehr, Hayley Verbunt(c) U21M1x Mercantile Lachlan Wilmot Thomas Hackett, Benjamin Whitmee, U21M4x Mercantile Jordan Roberts, Lachlan Wilmot Flynn Stimpson, U21M2- Mercantile Joshua Bortolussi Charlie Clarke, Liam U21M2- Mercantile Burke Zac Crawley, Oscar U21M2- Mercantile Ryan Charlie Clarke, Flynn Stimpson, Joshua U21M4+ Mercantile Bortolussi, Dom Frederico, Phillip Tran(c) Jordan Roberts, Oscar Ryan,Joshua Murphy, U21M4+ Mercantile Liam Burke, Jemima Howell(c) U21LM1x Mercantile Thomas Hackett U21LM1x Mercantile Benjamin Whitmee U19W1x Mercantile Anna Morrison Bethany Zmak, U19W2x Mercantile Victoria Trentin Saskia Junge, Harper U19W2x Mercantile Waring Saskia Junge, Bethany Zmak, Victoria U19W4x Mercantile Trentin, Harper Waring U19M1x Mercantile Sam Wilson Hamish Nicol, Joshua U19M2- Mercantile Murphy Will Dunlop, Lucas Mercantile Batten,J oshua U19M4- Composite Murphy, Hamish Nicol Will Dunlop, Lucas Batten, Tom Foley, Jake Polkinghorne, Mercantile Austin Reinehr, U19M8+ Composite Angus Murnane, Joshua Murphy, Hamish Nicol, Edward Peucker(c) Olivia Evans, CW2x Mercantile Demetria Kyriacopoulos Louise Carr, Mimmi Balaam, Anna CW4- Mercantile Morrison, Millie Whitehead William Legge, Harry CM4- Mercantile Amad, Jack Guy, Hamish Nicol Thomas Hackett, Harry Amad, Benjamin Whitmee, Liam CM8+ Mercantile Burke, Jack Guy, Flynn Stimpson, Charlie Clarke, Lachlan Wilmot, Eyrin McCarthy(c) Alex Vuillermin, PR3W2- Mercantile Alexandra Viney

Scotch Mercantile Regatta live streamed

Published 11th March 2021

The Scotch Mercantile Regatta Committee led by Bill Webster leads the way with the regatta again live streamed. To watch the regatta go to: https://vimeo.com/event/741608

Congratulations to our senior Australian team members

Published 7th March 2021

Rowing Australia has just announced the 2021 Australian Rowing Team and there are many Mercantile members. A full list of the team is attached.

From the top.

Amanda Bateman has been selected into the already qualified double scull.

Ria Thompson, former member before moving to Queensland for study is in the quad being sent to qualify that boat.

Jessica Morrison, Katrina Werry and James Rook (cox) have been named for the sweep squad. Whilst not named as such, it is clear that Jess Morrison will row the pair and she may also double up in another boat.

Alex Viney has been named in the PR3 Mixed Coxed Four but sadly Alex Vuillermin did not make the cut.

Angus Widdicombe has been named in the eight with Fergus Hamilton and Jack Robertson named as reserves. Sadly Liam Donald and Ben Canham did not make the cut.

Red Matthews was named as reserve for the lightweight double in its qualification attempt in Lucerne. Congratulations to all involved and speciofically those selected.

Congratulations to our Victorian State Team members

Published 6th March 2021

Congratulations to all our State team members.

Head Coach

Noel Donaldson

King's Cup and President's Cup

• Ben Canham • Liam Donald • Fergus Hamilton • Red Matthews • Jack Robertson • Mike McKay (co-coach)

Queen's Cup and Nell Slatter Trophy

• Amanda Bateman • Emmie Frederico • Jessica Morrison • Katrina Werry • James Rook (cox and assistant coach)) • Alistair Matthews (coach)

Wilkinson Cup

• Joshua Bortolussi

Bicentennial Cup

• Paige Barr • Louisa Bongrain • Sophie Reinehr • Olivia Sargeant • Emily Sutherland • Harley Verbunt (cox) • Sam Fennessy (coach)

Penrith Cup

• Dom Frederico • Jordan Roberts

Victoria Cup

• Phoebe Wolf

A full team listing is available through this link.

Dominant performance at Victorian State Championships

Published 6th March 2021

It is not often that we are able to report on success on an 'industrial scale' - this occurred at the Victorian Championships last weekend. Before we attempt to provide a little detail, the following statistics sum up the regatta - 22 golds, 12 silvers and 14 bronzes. Or to provide another summary, the Rowing Victoria club point score total for Mercantile was 104,000 points with the next most successful clubs being Banks and Gippsland Grammar each on 37,000 points. More generally, the Cub won races in almost every division.

Congratulations to our athletes, our coaches led by Mike McKay and Alistair Matthews, our other coaches Sam Fennessy, David Colvin, Anthony Bergelin and Paul McGann, our officials and of course, our supporters.

The regatta was run by our Treasurer Duncan MacKinnon as referee, Roger Wilson provided the commentary, Bill Webster and Andrew Guerin were umpires (with Bill doubling up as a cox as well), and Jenny and Gary Fraumano hosted the Club tent.

Even for those who look at logistic challenges of the Club's racing will be amazed. For example, David "Chipper" Colvin's spreadsheets were put to the test when for two short periods on Sunday afternoon, we had 9 coxed boats racing within 25 minutes and another 9 coxed boats racing within 45 minutes. That is a lot of boats and rowers, and coxswains were is demand.

And after a great day on Saturday, some 80 of our athletes, coaches, officials and supporters joined for a enjoyable dinner at the Nagambie Rowing Club to celebrate. There is strength both on and off the water.

At times, the finish podium was transformed into the Mercantile changeover point

There were many individual and group highlights. The following are but examples of the team effort.

Anna Kirkwood won the open scull, open double, open quad scull and open eight

Women's open eight power to victory in the Dr Bibi Colgan

Sophie Reinehr and Emily Sutherland won the under 21 four selection race, under 21 pair, under 21 eight, and open eight. The other members of our number one women's youth four, Olivia Sargeant and Paige Barr, also had an excellent regatta.

Our under 21 girls win the selection event by a massive 18 seconds.

Other individual highlights included Emmie Frederico who won the under 23 scull, open double, open eight and on Sunday won the A grade pair and quad scull.

Anna Kirkwood and Emmie Frederico take out the open double.

Alex Wolf and Kane Grant picked up two wins on Saturday and another two on Sunday.

Kane Grant (stroke) and Alex Wolf (3) seen above with Jack Guy (bow) and Joel Cain (2) at the start of the open quad which they won

But the man of the moment was under 21 women's coach Sam Fennessy who celebrated his birthday at the regatta. His squad presented him with presents and best wishes at the club dinner on Saturday night. But the best presents were the great results of his group. Sam's squad of two women's under 21 eights dominated their division and spread themselves over other divisions. He has not only coached the group well, but has provided both scale and depth to this group. His best four will form the basis of the Victorian youth eight and he has excellent talent ready for next year. Well done Sam.

Our second youth eight won the B eight and shared the podium with our third placed club eight (left), both coached by Anthony Bergelin

Our A eight rows away with the gold medals on Sunday with our youth eight finishing third As mentioned at the beginning, it is impossible to name all of the great performances and also the races missed through injury in this report.

More images from the weekend follow.

18 second win in the under 21 four makes for smiles

Jackson Morrish prepares for his first race of the weekend - he won the D and C grade singles, bronze in the B grade single and silver in under 21quad

Lachlan Wilmot after his first race of the weekend. He finished second in under 21 single and quad, third in the B four and straoked the winning A eight.

Number 1 under 21 four stroked by Dom Frederico

Joel Cain in the open single - Joel picked up gold in the open quad, silvers in the open eight, bronze in the coxed four and A eight.

Kain Grant had a good weekend taking gold in the A pair and eight, open quad, silver in open single and eight, and bronze in the four

Women's open eight making it look easy as they win comfortably

Men's Open eight finished second in their race

Men's youth eight take their heat strongly in the under 21 race but injury sadly meant that they had to scratch from the final

Women's youth eight take the early lead in their heat

Cain and Grant in the background and Vlachodimitropoulos and Wolf in the foreground in the open double

Kyriacopoulos and Evans in the lightweight double scull

Women's open four took silver

Regatta scene

A composite open quad but a gold all the same

Our lightweight four finished second

The JRob four win their heat in the B four

The Charlie Clarke B four also won their heat

Jackson Morrish in the B scull

Sam Wilson also in the under 19 single

Pat Somerville also in the under 19 single

Hamish Nicol in the background and Josh Murphy in the foreground in the under 19 single

Anna Morrison in the under 19 single

Clements and Planincic in the C pair

Frederico and Giouleka taking gold in the A pair

Sargeant and Barr take silver in the A pair

Silver for our B four of Teagan Blythe, Jenisi Kelderman, Kate Duggan, Sarah McGlashan, Cox: Meghan Hester

Evans and Kirkwood take bronze in the A double

Ward and Kyriacopoulos also in the A double scull

Grant and Wolf in the A double

Forwood and Amad also in A pair

Sam Wilson in the final of the under 19 single

A scenic image of Anna Morrison in the under 19 final with the finish tower as the backdrop

The presentation team included Club members Ian Jickell (RV CEO), Joe Joyce (RV President) and Andrew Ambrose

Chipper doing the administration changes necessary with such a large entry

Mercs first and second in their heat of the B quad scull and they took gold and bronze in the final

Meghan Hester gives the thumbs up after the heat of the C four

The Mercs spectator tent

The Paige Barr four prevails over the Reinehr four to take gold and silver in A four

Second placed Sophie Reinehr crew in the A four

First and second in the B eight - above the winning crew

Another gold in the A quad scull

And then the quad on the podium

Silver in the A Four

A good win in the C Eight

Tegan Blythe taking bronze in the C scull

Jackson Morrish after his win in the C single

B four finish with Mercs taking gold and bronze

Gold in the B four

and bronze in the B Four

And our clubbies picked up a bronze in the B Quad scull

Parking permits during Moomba

Republished 6th March 2021

Club members will need a rowing club permit to park in Boathouse Drive from today onwards for Moomba - see attached.

Best wishes to Club members from Simon Newcomb and Russell McLean

Republished 6th March 2021

In correspondence with two of our older great members, past Captain Simon Newcomb and 1960s lightweight Russell McLean, they both send their very best wishes to their fellow Club members. They both went out of their way to state how much they value the fellowship and friendship of our Club.

Both of these members have been keeping the medical profession in milk and honey of recent time and both will continue to provide great service to their medical profession with further surgery planned.

Volunteers required for Scotch Mercantile regatta

Republished 6th March 2021

Yes Scotch Mercantile regatta will again be conducted on 13th March 2021 at Nagambie. It is a schoolboy regatta and doubles up as the seeding regatta for the APS Head of the River.

The Club needs volunteers to hold the regatta and jobs range from boat drivers to COVID marshals.

Could anyone who can assist, please contact either Bill Webster or Andrew Guerin.

This regatta has a proud history and the Club wishes to support it. Your assistnce would be much appreciated.

Rowing Australia announce Senior Australian Rowing Team Trials Invitation List - 12 Mercs members included

Republished 6th March 2021

Rowing Australia (RA) has released the invitation list for the National Senior Selection Trials to be conducted at the Sydney International Regatta Centre from 27 February to 6 March 2021.

An Australian Rowing Team will be announced at the conclusion of trials. This team will then compete and train in Australia, including at the upcoming 2021 Aon Australian Rowing Championships at Lake Barrington, Tasmania. RA’s approach towards competing at the Final Olympic and Paralympic Qualification Regattas will be determined once World Rowing has made a formal announcement on these events on Monday 22 February (decision expected at 23:00 AEST).

Separately, nominations for the Australian Paralympic Rowing Team are due to be submitted to Paralympics Australia on 21 May 2021, while nominations for the Australian Olympic Rowing Team are due to be submitted to the Australian Olympic Committee on 4 June 2021.

Congratulations to the Mercs members included in the list:

• Amanda Bateman • Jess Morrison • James Rook • Kat Werry • Ben Canham • Liam Donald • Fergus Hamilton • Jack Robertson • Angus Widdicombe • Alexandra Viney • Alex Vuillermin • Red Matthews

Rowing Australia announces U23 trials to be conducted at Lake Barrington following the Australian Championships

Republished 6th March 2021

Rowing Australia, in line with the U23 Event Requirements, has released the Preliminary 2021 Under 23 Trials Invitation List. Club member Fergus Hamillton has been included on the preliminary list. The list can viewed by clicking here.

RA will announce an updated preliminary list of U23 athletes invited to the U23 Selection Trials by no later than 19 March, 2021.

The Under 23 Trials will be held in Lake Barrington from 29 March to 3 April, immediately following the National Championships.

COVID again impacts Olympic preparations

Republished 6th March 2021

Rowing Australia (RA) has confirmed that due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic it would not be sending an Australian Rowing Team to compete at 2021 World Rowing Cups 2 and 3. These events are due to be held in Lucerne, Switzerland (21 to 23 May) and Sabaudia, Italy (4-6 June).

RA’s approach towards competing at the Final Olympic and Paralympic Qualification Regattas will be determined once World Rowing has made a formal announcement on these events on Monday 22 February (decision expected at 23:00 AEST).

RA will still conduct its National Selection Trials from 27 February to 6 March 2021, with an Australian Rowing Team announced thereafter. This team will then compete and train in Australia, including at the upcoming 2021 Aon Australian Rowing Championships at Lake Barrington, Tasmania.

Cocktail Party and Boat Christening 9th April

Published 6th March 2021

The function starts at 6pm with the following boat christenings at 6.30pm:

Jen Cleary

Graeme Boykett

Tom Swann

Tim Frederico

Club rowing takes off

Republished 6th March 2021

Meghan Hester and her team are doing a great job getting club rowing working well. Rob Manning is coaching an exceptional women's club crew stroked by Olympian Jen Cleary and Anthony Bergelin is coaching a large squad of recently retired male high performance athletes.

The masters are regularly getting out in three eights and occasionally also going coastal.

Thursday nights have a great feel to them as these groups enjoy sausages washed down with beer and wine. Thursday nights are back. Please email the Captain if you want to be involved.

Carey legends Chris Drummond and Andrew Rees enjoy a well earned beer after their row on Thursday

Mercantile goes coastal

Republished 6th March 2021

So what is coastal rowing? Coastal Rowing is the extreme version of rowing, and involves rowing on large lakes and the sea. It is one of the fastest growing communities of rowers with excellent opportunities given that flat water is not required.

Coastal rowing in Europe

The standard boats are singles (solo), doubles and coxed quadruple sculls. Coastal Rowing is comprised of two event formats, one is the endurance event which ranges between 4 –6km around a buoyed course, and the other is the sprint event known as “Beach Sprints”. As the name suggests, the race begins on the beach with a rower running out to the boat to its’ waiting crew and racing a distance of 500m, which can involve a buoyed slalom course, before returning to the beach and running to the finish line.

The pinnacle events on the international Coastal Rowing racing calendar are the club-based endurance style World Rowing Coastal Championships and the nation-based sprint style World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals. Coastal Touring is the recreational or social aspect of the discipline.

The IOC and World Rowing are promoting Coastal Rowing as a future Olympic discipline and exploring its’ potential following its inclusion in the Youth Olympic Games in Senegal, and recently held Europe’s first Coastal Rowing regatta; the European Coastal Rowing Challenge in Livorno, Italy. There is still consideration around whether a potential Olympic discipline will be the Beach (sprint) or Coastal (endurance) format. At the recent FISA Extraordinary Congress the Member Federations supported the proposal put forward by World Rowing to include Coastal Rowing in 2024 Olympic Games.

Mercs goes coastal Mercantile has acquired a couple of coastal quad sculls and a double scull to encourage the sport. The inaugural row took place on Thursday 19 November with a masters crew.

Mercs enters the water at Port Melbourne

Mercs flying into shore with the wind behind them Bow: Andrew Guerin, 2: Hamish Fitzsimmons, 3: Alex Kinsella, Str: Will Legge, Cox: Bill Webster

A group of masters took to the water during storm conditions to test out their skills. The row was short but exciting - crashing through and over waves. The conclusion was that perhaps a higher level of skill would be required for those conditions.

Anyone who wishes to take up the coastal rowing sport should contact the Secretary. We would like to see Mercs represented at the National Championships in August 2021 and perhaps at the Worlds in Portugal in October 2021.

Changing room lockers are now available for rental

Republished 6th March 2021 Changing room lockers are available for rent for the balance of the season given that things are reopening.

• Large lockers are now $60/a (were $120) • Medium lockers are now $45/a (were $60) • Small remain $30/a

Go to the shop page on this website and rent your locker.

Drink wine to help the Club, now that is an idea

Republished 6 March 2021

Wild Fire Wines is a premium wine producer located near Warburton in the Upper Yarra Valley. One of the owners, and the chief winemaker, is John Harry, a club member. John competed at senior level in the 60s and 70s and was Captain of the Club; he is also a major supporter and Trustee of the Mercs Foundation.

Wild Fire has agreed to provide the Club with a substantial donation for each case of wine purchased by members and their friends and family. Bill Webster and Julie Orr are co- ordinating the recruitment of Mercs athletes to help publicise the sales effort. The Committee believes this program has great potential to assist our fundraising efforts and is keen for all Mercantilians to get behind it.

The Committee has sampled John’s offerings and is confident that members will find the wines of excellent quality, and good value. Wild Fire won two medals at the 2019 Victorian Wine Show (Riesling and Cabernet) on its first try so its future looks promising.

So, how can you help the Club? Grab some wine at www.wildfirewines.com.au and enter the code "MERCANTILE" at checkout. This ensures any sales will be attributed to the Club.

This is an efficient and practical way for members to help the Club - we look forward to the development of the Wild Fire relationship as a solid source of funding for us for many years to come.

2021 Dates

Republished 6th March 2021

Your Committee is an optimistic mob and have laid down some social function dates for members, even during a 'state of emergency'. Please keep the dates free.

• 13 March - Scotch Mercantile Regatta • 22-28 March - National Championships • 9 April - Mercas Cocktail Party and boat Christening • 25 April - ANZAC Day Service and Luncheon • May/June - fundraiser for amy overseas competitors • 28-31 July - Olympic finals - Brunch at the Boathouse

Member profiles

Published 6th March 2021

We regularly add new member profiles. Last month we added Tom Swann. More will follow during March.

We would welcome contributions on any current or past members. There are now over 200 profiles of past and present members.