AUGUST 2018 NEWS

Above – Australian eight takes Silver at Lucernce World Cup with Liam Donald and stroked by Gus Widdicombe

News covered below:

• Olivia Sibillin finishes fourth at World University Championships • Mercs masters plan for the Head season • Member news from the Northern Hemisphere • Love is in the air • Happy Birthday Arthur Atkins, 101 great years • Vale Ted Sorani • World Championship team announced • Alex Clarke finishes sixth at Under 23 World Championships • From the archives – Clubhouse rebuilding • Member Profiles • Thursday Night Social Hour

Olivia Sibillin finishes fourth at World University Championships

Published 15th August 2018

Olivia Sibillin joined with Hedda Cooper to race the pair for Australia at the World University Championships. They finished second in their heat, fourth in the repechage and fourth in the final.

Above: Olivia in the stroke seat and Hedda in the bow seat in the final

Going through the results indicates that they cruised through the repechage and needed the heat race to get some racing under their belt. The final finishing times indicate that there was a great a race amongst the first three crews who were all very close. Then there was Australia and a gap to the other crews. Without the splits it is very difficult to assess the race. However the Australians must have been competitive in the first stages to have finished so close to the medallists.

For those who do not know this event, it is a very high standard Championship.

Thank you John Leeming for the picture. Mercs masters plan for the Head season

Published 10th August 2018

The call has gone out to the masters for interest in the masters head season and already 28 men and 10 women have committed to it. We anticipate four, possibly five eights for the Head of the Yarra, more boats than the club has available.

There is still time to sign up for the season, just call or email Andrew Guerin, Colin Kimpton or Jenny Williams.

Above: Our G eight last year after carelessly losing their stroke man at St Kevin’s College. Member news from the northern hemisphere

Published 6th August 2018

Sad news for Patrick Boomer in that his Irish pair has collapsed due to the illness of his partner. Patrick is not one for giving up but this definitely kills his 2018 season and makes funding for 2019 a long shot. Let us hope that he finds something else to use his extensive skills on in the meantime.

Above: Patrick (second from the left) celebrates his win in the fours at the 2017 Australian Championships

Tom Sanchez has moved from the Asian capitals to London from where he sends his best wishes. Tom was a successful lightweight rower at the Club and his children rowed at Geelong Grammar. His parents Cesar and Renate were, and remain, great supporters of the Club. Love is in the air

Published 5th August 2018

Congratulations to our masters coordinators Jenny Williams and Colin Kimpton who tied the knot on Saturday 4th August. Great news and of course the wedding was celebrated afterwards at the club with a row.

Above: Colin and Jenny catching a glimpse of each other at a regatta Happy Birthday Arthur Atkins, 101 great years

Published 4th August 2018

Yes our oldest and longest serving member Arthur Atkins, turns 101 on Sunday 5th August 2018 …. and what a life …. and what a time to live.

Born during WWI, grew up during the Depression years, joined Mercs in 1935 and has been a Member ever since, served with distinction as a Lancaster pilot in WWII being awarded the DFC, ran a business and has been a generous donor to the Club during his retirement. He still lives at his home in Kew and still drives.

Read more on Arthur in his member profile.

Above: Arthur getting into practice for the big day with a visit from Mercantilians

So what did 1917 look like. The population of Australia was smaller that the current population of Melbourne. The hit song was John McCormack’s Long Way to Tipperary, the Victoria Cross was awarded to an Australian for the first time, the two halves of the Trans-Australian railway met, the yearly salary of a soldier was $360 and most things cost a penny, loaves of bread, quarts of milk and postage stamps.

Happy birthday Arthur and remember the advice we gave you last year, birthdays are good for you. Statistics show that the people who have the most, live the longest. Vale Ted Sorani

Published 4th August 2018

One of the greatest Club members, Ted Sorani die in late July and a celebration of his life was held at the Clubhouse on Thursday 2nd August 2018 with some 200 people present.

Those present heard from daughter Adele Sorani and son Anthony Sorani, grandson Jack Duffy, and from the rowing side, Roger Wilson as master of ceremonies, Andrew Guerin representing the Club, Bob Lachal, John Harry, and a final toast to Ted from Jim Harvey. It was a superb celebration of such an outstanding person.

An insight into Ted’s Mercantile life can be found on his Member profile on this website.

Above: Joe Joyce, President Mal Batten and Leanne Ambrose at the celebration

World Championships team announced

Published 4th August 2018

Rowing Australia announced the team for the World Championships on 2nd August and it contains five Club members, Liam Donald, Gus Widdicombe, Kat Werry, Addy Dunkley Smith and James Rook. In the Olympic classes, the Australian men’s and women’s fours are favourites for gold and the men’s eight is an excellent medal prospect after their great race with Germany in Lucence to finish a narrow second.

The full team is:

Australian Rowing Team for the 2018 World Rowing Championships (SIS/SAS/Club/State in brackets) PR1 Men’s Single Scull Erik Horrie (NSWIS/ Sydney RC/NSW)

PR3 Men’s Pair James Talbot (Balmain RC/NSW) Jed Altschwager (Torrens RC/ SA)

PR3 Mixed Coxed Four Nikki Ayers (Capital Lakes RC/ACT) Ben Gibson (Sydney RC/NSW) James Talbot (Balmain RC/NSW) Kate Murdoch (NSWIS/ Nepean RC/NSW) Coxswain: Renae Domaschenz (ANU BC/ACT)

Lightweight Men’s Single Scull Hamish Parry (QAS/ Toowong RC/QLD)

Men’s Single Scull (and Men’s Quadruple Scull Reserve) Luke Letcher (Reinhold Batschi Men’s National Training Centre/ Black Mountain RC/ ACT)

Men’s Pair Andrew Judge (NSWIS/Sydney University BC/NSW) Jack O’Brien (NSWIS/ Sydney University BC/NSW)* *Please note Jack is registered to race by his birth name Joseph O’Brien but prefers to go by Jack O’Brien

Men’s Quadruple Scull Caleb Antill (Reinhold Batschi Men’s National Training Centre/ ANU BC/ACT) Alexander Purnell (Reinhold Batschi Men’s National Training Centre/ Sydney University BC/NSW) Campbell Watts (Reinhold Batschi Men’s National Training Centre/ Sydney University BC/NSW) David Watts (Reinhold Batschi Men’s National Training Centre/ Sydney RC/ WA)

Men’s Four Joshua Hicks (Reinhold Batschi Men’s National Training Centre/ Sydney RC/WA) Spencer Turrin (Reinhold Batschi Men’s National Training Centre/ Sydney RC/NSW) (Reinhold Batschi Men’s National Training Centre/ Sydney University BC/NSW) Alexander Hill (Reinhold Batschi Men’s National Training Centre/ Adelaide RC/SA)

Men’s Eight Liam Donald (Reinhold Batschi Men’s National Training Centre/ Mercantile RC/VIC) Robert Black (Reinhold Batschi Men’s National Training Centre/ Mosman RC/ NSW) Angus Moore (Reinhold Batschi Men’s National Training Centre/ Sydney RC/ NSW) Simon Keenan (Reinhold Batschi Men’s National Training Centre/ Melbourne University BC/ VIC) (Reinhold Batschi Men’s National Training Centre/ Sydney University BC/NSW) Timothy Masters (Reinhold Batschi Men’s National Training Centre/ UTS RC/ VIC) Joshua Booth (Reinhold Batschi Men’s National Training Centre/ Melbourne University BC/ VIC) Angus Widdicombe (Reinhold Batschi Men’s National Training Centre/ Mercantile RC/ VIC) Coxswain: Kendall Brodie (NSWIS/Sydney RC/ NSW) Reserve: Nathan Bowden (Reinhold Batschi Men’s National Training Centre/ Sydney RC/ SA)

Women’s Single Scull Madeleine Edmunds (Hancock Prospecting Women’s National Training Centre/ Commercial RC/QLD)

Lightweight Women’s Single Scull (Hancock Prospecting Women’s National Training Centre/ Melbourne University BC/VIC)

Lightweight Women’s Double Scull (UTS Rowing Club/NSW) (Hancock Prospecting Women’s National Training Centre/ Toowong RC/QLD) Reserve: (Hancock Prospecting Women’s National Training Centre/Huon RC/TAS)

Women’s Quadruple Scull Caitlin Cronin (Hancock Prospecting Women’s National Training Centre/ University of Queensland BC/QLD) Rowena Meredith (Hancock Prospecting Women’s National Training Centre/Sydney University BC/NSW) Genevieve Horton (Hancock Prospecting Women’s National Training Centre/ Sydney University BC/NSW) Olympia Aldersey (Hancock Prospecting Women’s National Training Centre/Adelaide RC/SA)

Women’s Four (Hancock Prospecting Women’s National Training Centre/ Melbourne University BC/VIC) Rosemary Popa (Hancock Prospecting Women’s National Training Centre/ Banks RC/VIC) (Hancock Prospecting Women’s National Training Centre/ Huon RC/ VIC) (Hancock Prospecting Women’s National Training Centre/ Adelaide RC/ SA)

Women’s Eight (Squad of 10 to be reduced after further trialing, remaining two to act as reserves) Leah Saunders (Hancock Prospecting Women’s National Training Centre/ Sydney RC/ NSW) Georgina Gotch (Hancock Prospecting Women’s National Training Centre/ Sydney University BC/NSW) (Hancock Prospecting Women’s National Training Centre/ Mercantile RC/ VIC) Jacinta Edmunds (Hancock Prospecting Women’s National Training Centre/ Commercial RC/ QLD) Georgina Rowe (UTS Rowing Club/NSW) Ciona Wilson (Hancock Prospecting Women’s National Training Centre/ Tamar RC/ TAS) Annabelle McIntyre (Hancock Prospecting Women’s National Training Centre/ Fremantle RC/ WA) Hannah Vermeersch (Hancock Prospecting Women’s National Training Centre/ West Australian RC/WA) Emma Fessey (UTS Rowing Club/NSW) Addy Dunkley-Smith (Hancock Prospecting Women’s National Training Centre/ Mercantile RC/ VIC) Coxswain: James Rook (VIS/ Mercantile RC/ VIC)

Men’s Coaches Head Coach: Ian Wright (M4- and M2-) Senior Coaches: Mark Prater (M4x; LM1x; M1x) and Andrew Randell (M8+)

Women’s Coaches Head Coach: John Keogh (W8+ and W4x) Senior Coaches: Tom Westgarth (W4-) and Ellen Randell (LW2x, W1x and LW1x)

Para-rowing Coaches Head Para-rowing Coach: Gordon Marcks (Rowing Australia) PR1 Coach: Jason Baker (Sydney RC/NSW) PR3 Coach: Lizzi Chapman (NSWIS/NSW)

Alex Clarke finishes sixth at Under 23 World Championships

Published 4th August 2018

Club member Alex Clarke recently raced at the Under 23 World Championships finishing 6th in the coxed four. Well done Alex given that the crew was an absolute last minute selection. The crew had a superb race in their repechage rowing through the field to finish second. Well done Alex.

Above: The Australian four in action

Member Profiles

Republished 4th August 2018 Each month more profiles are added.

We wish to record profiles of all current and past members so please submit others to [email protected]. Subject to editorial review, they will be published with the author’s name and date. The latest profile added is that of Ted Sorani.

Above: Ted Sorani

From the archives

Published 4th August 2018

The loss of Ted Sorani has triggered a look back at the rebuilding of the Clubhouse. Some images follow.

Above: Immediately after the fire

Above: Pouring of the slab

Above: Luncheon is served.

Tuesday night masters ergo night

Republished 4th August 2018

With the masters now doing ergos on Tuesday nights, the gym is getting crowded after 6pm. Every ergo was used on 1st August and there was not even a need for an ambulance.

Tuesday night is ergo night Thursday Masters Nights

Republished 4th August 2018 Reminder that all masters rowers are welcome for a row on Thursday nights followed by a sausage sizzle and refreshments. Row at 6pm and sausage sizzle at 7.30pm. All welcome. Please call Andrew Guerin on 0417 554799 to get put on the weekly email.

Thursday nights after the row