MESSAGE FROM THE NEW SOUTH WALES GOVERNMENT The NSW Government welcomes you to the 2015 Sydney International Rowing Regatta, Australia’s premier rowing event. This is the third time the event has been held at the Sydney Interna- tional Regatta Centre in Penrith, where it is set to remain for the next three years. This week will see Australia’s best rowers going head-to-head here in Western Sydney in prestigious races such as the King’s and Queen’s Cups Interstate Regatta, as well as the Australian National and Schools Open Championships. The event attracts visitors and competitors from around the country, making an important contribution to the local visitor economy. Visi- tors are encouraged to experience everything Western Sydney has to offer, from restaurants and shops to spectacular scenery in the near- by Blue Mountains. The NSW Government extends its best wishes to all involved in the Sydney International Rowing Regatta, which is sure to be a thrilling week of world-class competition in Sydney, Australia’s major sporting events capital. The NSW Government MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT OF ROWING AUSTRALIA On behalf of the Board and Council of Rowing Australia, it is with the greatest pleasure that I welcome athletes, coaches, sponsors, officials, guests and supporters to the 2015 Sydney International Rowing Regatta. It is a great honour for Rowing Australia to again host this magnificent event and for the Australian rowing community to demonstrate the strength of the sport in our country. We are very happy to welcome back a variety of Asian Pacific nations to compete again with the cream of Australian rowing, and as the King’s Cup runs towards it’s centenary cele- brations in 2019 we again are very excited to the fantastic racing that the King’s and Queen’s Cups Interstate Regatta always brings. Following the great success of the 2013 and 2014 SIRR events, Rowing Australia is very honoured to have entered into a partnership with the NSW Government, through its major events arm Destination NSW, to host the Australian Rowing Championships at the Sydney International Regat- ta Centre through to 2017. We thank the NSW Government for its contin- ued support and look forward to continue developing the Australian Rowing Championships into a significant and successful event within the Australian sporting calendar. Sincere thanks must also be extended to the SIRR Event Board, led by Mr John Boultbee, for its expertise and professionalism in working tirelessly to organise this highly successful and enjoyable event. Furthermore, an event such as the SIRR would simply not be possible with- out the steadfast support of the army of volunteers whose enthusiasm and tireless efforts epitomise the great spirit of cooperation that exists within the Australian rowing community. I thank you all for your invaluable assistance. I would like to wish every participant the very best of luck for their races throughout the week. I look forward to witnessing some great racing and enjoying the spectacle of the Sydney International Rowing Regatta. Rob Scott President and Chairman, Rowing Australia MESSAGE FROM CHAIR OF EVENT BOARD We welcome the cream of Australia's rowers to the Third Edition of the Sydney International Rowing Regatta (SIRR). Along with the athletes, we are delighted also to have the support staff, supporters and spectators joining us at the Sydney International Rowing Centre. I would also like to take this chance to welcome and thank the volunteers who are putting in hours of help again this year. We appreciate your efforts, and hope that you find the whole experience rewarding and enjoyable. For the athletes, SIRR provides a once in the year opportunity for the best rowers in the world to enjoy the course at Penrith Lakes, which Sydney- siders enjoy throughout the year. But also for our Asia Pacific visitors, you give the opportunity to the Australian rowers - national team, club rowers and school rowers - to see international rowers in action here at home. We love having you here, and hope you enjoy the racing and facilities. Thanks also to our sponsors and supporters, particularly the NSW Govern- ment (Destination NSW) and Penrith City Council. We hope that more and more rowers and their many supporters will continue to travel to NSW in order to visit and race in Penrith again in 2016 and 2017 - we all benefit jointly from this partnership. Sit back and enjoy some fantastic rowing. John Boultbee Chairman, Sydney International Rowing Regatta Event Board ROWING AUSTRALIA COUNCIL, BOARD AND EVENT PROJECT BOARD ROWING AUSTRALIA COUNCIL ACT Rowing Association Inc. (ACTRA) David Bagnell Rowing New South Wales Inc. (RNSW) Ivan Adlam Rowing Queensland Inc. (RQI) Ray Ebert Rowing South Australia Inc. (RSA) Alastair Mclachlan Rowing Tasmania Inc. (RT) James Gibson Rowing Victoria Inc. (RV) Pat McNamara Amateur Rowing Association of WA (RWA) Craig James ROWING AUSTRALIA BOARD President and Chairman Rob Scott Director, Deputy Chair Flavia Gobbo Director, Finance Merrick Howes Director Andrew Rowley Director John Boultbee Director Carmen Wearne Director Sally Capp Director Andrew Guerin Director, Athletes Representative Cameron McKenzie-McHarg 2015 SYDNEY INTERNATIONAL ROWING REGATTA EVENT BOARD Chairman John Boultbee Deputy Chairman John Croll Project Board Member Joelie Chisholm Project Board Member Lizzi Chapman Project Board Member Bryan Weir Project Board Member & Secretary Jo Verden SIRR Project Manager Fred Taylor 13 Years of Service to the Rowing Community KING’S AND QUEEN’S CUPS INTERSTATE REGATTA EVENT HISTORY THE KING’S CUP (INTERSTATE MEN’S COXED EIGHT) Inter-colonial racing in eight-oared boats commenced in 1878 when the Victorian Rowing Association invited New South Wales oarsmen from the Sydney and the Mercantile clubs to boat crews for a race on the lower Yarra River over about four miles. Since 1921 the crews have competed for the King's Cup. The trophy had been won by a First Australi- an Imperial Force crew at the Royal Peace Regatta held in London in 1919 and was provided by King George V and presented to Captain H. Disher on behalf of the victorious crew by Princess Arthur of Connaught. In time, and in against dogged resistance from the Australian War Memo- rial, the Victorian Rowing Association petitioned the King to express his intention for the Cup, and at his command it became the perennial trophy to be presented to the winning state repre- sentative men's eight at the annual Australian Rowing Championships. THE QUEEN’S CUP (INTERSTATE WOMEN’S COXED EIGHT) The premier interstate event for women was the ULVA trophy which from 1920 till 1998 was a fours event. The trophy had first been presented by the United Licensed Victuallers Association (ULVA) of Queensland, and is affectionately known as Bertha. In 1999 the women's interstate race was changed to an event for VIIIs. In 2003, the trophy became officially known as the Queen Elizabeth II Trophy, or the Queens Cup. The original UL- VA trophy remains the perpetual trophy. FOR MORE DETAILED HISTORIES OF THE KING’S CUP AND QUEEN’S CUP, PLUIS THE OTHER INTERSTATE EVENTS, PLEASE VISIT www.rowinghistory-aus.info KING’S & QUEEN’S CUPS INTERSTATE REGATTA FORM GUIDE King’s & Queen’s Cups Interstate Regatta Proudly Supported by Infratects Pty Ltd THE KING’S CUP (INTERSTATE MEN’S EIGHT) 2014 Winner - New South Wales Current champions New South Wales are drawn in Lane 6 and the race is al- ways one of the high points of the event. The race to claim the King’s Cup should again come down to the two most prolific winners of the ornate trophy, Victoria and New South Wales. NSW will be looking to extend their state record winning streak to eight in a row stretching back to 2008, also held at the Sydney International Regatta Centre. Both crews will field crews almost exclusively filled by members of the recently announced Australian Rowing Team, making them truly world-class. South Aus- tralia will certainly feature after their stunning race for silver in 2014, but it will be tough for them to push past the crews from Victoria and NSW. Editors Tip: NSW to continue to dominate THE QUEEN’S CUP (INTERSTATE WOMEN’S EIGHT) 2014 Winner - Victoria The Victorian crew for the Queen’s Cup this year are formidable to say the least. The crew features six members of the Australian Women’s Eight, one member of the Australian Women’s Quad plus the 2013 World Rowing Champion in the Women’s Single Scull, while the ninth member of the squad was in last year’s U23 Australian Rowing Team. It is hard to see any of the other crews chasing Victorians who are on a 10 year winning streak, however South Australia are looking strong again after their 2014 silver medal, while New South Wales’s young crew will potentially challenge Queensland for a podium finish. Editors Tip: Victoria all the way FOR RACE PREVIEWS AND FORM GUIDES FOR ALL INTERSTATE RACES PLEASE VISIT www.rowingdownunder.org/index.php/news-gallery/event-news- 2015/106-sirr2015-interstate-preview. 2015 SYDNEY INTERNATIONAL ROWING REGATTA JURY (Australian Open Rowing Championships, Australian Open Schools Championships, King’s and Queen’s Cups Interstate Regatta) President—Phil Fraser (TAS) Lynne Bayliss (WA), Alan Butorac (ACT), Janette Christian (NSW), David Cox (WA), Barney Cundell (SA), Gavin Dods (NSW), Phil Gunning (QLD), David Grubits (VIC), Joe Jackson (SA), Rene Klupacs (Vic), Tony Levick (QLD), Tina Maher (TAS), Bruce McCar- thy (QLD), Peter Midgley (NZ), John Murdoch (WA), Brian Nash (WA), Geoff Northam (ACT), Steve Pennington (SA), Brett Ralph (SA), Caroline Schomberg (QLD), Lesley Skevington (Vic), Greg Smith (NSW), Tim Wainman (NSW), Brett Woolfit (WA) REGATTA INFORMATION REGATTA RULES The Australian Open Rowing Championships, Australian Open Schools Rowing Championships and the Interstate Regatta will be conducted according to the rules and regu- lations of Rowing Australia, including for lightweight and coxswain weight restrictions and weighing-in times.