DECEMBER 2015 NEWS Above – Mercantile’s Open Women’s 8 on the way to a course record at the 2015 Head of the Yarra – photo Tristan Shipsides Mercantile members still dominate selection trial invitation list Published 20th December 2015 Rowing Australia has published the invitation list to the National Selection Regatta #2 and also the final Senior Selection Trials in February. Mercantile members comprise 17% of those participating, more than any other Club. Most of these members are from the women’s sweep and sculling group. Given the number of Mercs sweep rowers and that Australia has not qualified any women’s sweep crews, we hold our breath to see whether the women’s sweep group can show the selectors that they are Olympic finalist standard and worthy of attempting qualification. There were some great performances from our members in the first trials. Of particular note was Jen Cleary who took number two spot in women’s sculling. The Mercs members still in the squad are: Fiona Albert Sarah Banting Katrina Bateman Jennifer Cleary Madeline Cordner David Crawshay Addy Dunkley-Smith Josh Dunkley-Smith Josh Hooper Hannah Lewis John Linke Jess Morrison Sophie Sutherland Charlotte Sutherland Maddy Thomas Katrina Werry James Wilson Volunteers sought to tow boat trailer Published 6th December 2015 We seek volunteers to drive home the Club’s boat trailer from both the NSW Championships and National Championships. The Club will even fly you up and accommodate you. Please contact Jenny Fraumano on 0438 324370 or email her on [email protected]. Mercantile Under 21 and Under 23 rowers have fun at Carrum Regatta Published 6th December 2015 Our younger rowers endured the 35 degree heat at Nagambie to win many races and get good racing experience. Amanda Bateman dominated the under 21 and B grade scull with Kate Duggan also finishing third in the under 21 sculls. The under 21 girls squad picked up many minor placings and Saskia Schneider and Caitlin Jennings won C grade double scull – see above. Above – Hugo Laborde and Tom Hunt in the open pair. The under 23 men’s squad won the open pair, under 23 pair, open four and open quad scull to bring home plenty of medals. Above is the open four. Stroke Liam Donald, three Hugo Laborde, two Callum Nott and bow Tom Hunt. Above is the open quad scull returning after their win. Above is the under 23 winning pair of Liam Donald and Callum Nott. The Under 21 men’s squad also had a good day finishing first and second in the under 21 pairs. Above is Alex Clark and Alex Wolf at the start of the final. The under 21 men also doubled up with the under 23 men to win the open eight convincingly from Banks. The under 21 women are coached by Brigette Carlisle and Lachlan Beckett, the under 21 men by John Saunders and under 23 men by David Pincus. Above – Duncan McKinnon starting races in the morning. And of course, the regatta was overseen by club members Bill Webster (referee) and umpires Duncan McKinnon and Andrew Guerin. RA Shadow Olympic Team Announced Published 4th December 2015 Today the shadow Olympic team was announced with 7% of those named being from Mercantile, more than any other Club. Congratulations to our Mercantile Olympic shadow team members: Fiona Albert Sarah Banting Katrina Bateman Jennifer Cleary Madeline Cordner David Crawshay Addy Dunkley-Smith Josh Dunkley-Smith Josh Hooper Hannah Lewis John Linke Jess Morrison Sophie Sutherland Charlotte Sutherland Maddy Thomas Katrina Werry Angus Widdicombe James Wilson Above – Fiona Albert at Lucerne 2014 Carrum entries Published 4th December 2015 This weekend is the annual Carrum Regatta to be held at Nagambie. This is the first 2000m race of the season. Mercantile will be well represented as usual, particularly with our under 21 and under 23 rowers. Men’s under 21 scull Alexander Kinsella, Coach: John Saunders Women’s under 21 scull Saskia Schneider Faith Gasparini, Coach: Brigette Carlile Amanda Bateman, Coach: Simon Gadsden Clare Ward, Coach: Brigette Carlile Kate Duggan, Coach: Brigette Carlile Caitlin Jennings, Coach: Brigette Carlile Men’s under 21 pair Alexander Wolf, Alexander Clarke, Coach: John Saunders Jack Lawrence, Angus Maloney James Hoban, Quentin Geczy Men’s under 23 pair Callum Nott, Liam Donald, Coach: David Pincus Women’s C double scull Caitlin Jennings, Georgia Stewart, Coach: Brigette Carlile Women’s B scull Saskia Schneider, Coach: Brigette Carlile Clare Ward, Coach: Brigette Carlile Amanda Bateman, Coach: Simon Gadsden Faith Gasparini, Coach: Brigette Carlile Caitlin Jennings, Coach: Brigette Carlile Men’s B pair Quentin Geczy, James Hoban Women’s open double scull Faith Gasparini, Clare Ward, Coach: Brigette Carlile Men’s open pair Tom Hunt, Hugo Laborde, Coach: David Pincus Men’s open four Tom Hunt, Callum Nott, Hugo Laborde, Liam Donald, Coach: David Pincus Men’s open quad scull Tom Hunt, Callum Nott, Hugo Laborde, Liam Donald, Coach: David Pincus Men’s open eight Max Arundell, Carl Tomczak, William Legge, Angus Maloney, Alexander Clarke, Alexander Wolf, Alexander Kinsella, Liam Donald, Jordan King, Coach: John Saunders Around the Club Published 4th December 2015 Above: Head of the Yarra day – photos Tristan Shipsides 2015 Head of the Yarra Published 4th December 2015 Mercantile raced well at the last of the season’s head races last weekend. Our women dominated the open event winning by a long margin and taking 52 seconds off the course record for the women’s open eight. Unfortunately, our men did not take out the honours in the men’s event. In the open B category, Mercantile dominated both the men’s and women’s races with the boys taking over a minute off the men’s B course record. Below: our victorious open eight – photo Tristan Shipsides Women’s open eight result 1 Mercantile Rowing Club (Cleary) 27:05.51 (course record) 2 Uni of QLD/Melbourne Uni (Cronin) 28:02.66 3 Mercantile Composite (Hornsey) 28:48.59 4 Strathcona/Fintona GS (Hough) 35:33.02 Below: The race – photo Tristan Shipsides Women’s B eight result 1 Mercantile Rowing Club (Sibillin) 29:19.86 (course record) 2 Melbourne University Boat Club (Moll) 30:46.16 3 Uni of QLD Boat Club (Thompson) 31:35.48 4 Yarra Yarra Rowing Club (Skidmore) 33:45.91 Below: Men’s B eight in preparation – photo Tristan Shipsides Men’s B eight result 1 Mercantile Rowing Club (Curnow) 25:32.61 (course record) 2 Adelaide Rowing Club (Santin) 26:54.68 3 Commercial Rowing Club (Struss) 28:14.31 Below: warming up for the race – photo Tristan Shipsides Our 1970s lightweights have reunion Published 4th December 2015 Last Sunday afternoon at the Club there was a 40 year reunion of our lightweights from the 1970s. As with all good rowing reunions, a row to the island and back tested out old bodies and also the skills of those who had not been in a boat for 40 years. Rod Stewart flew in from the UK, Ian Duthie from the US, Daryl Johns from Bali, Tony Spriggins from Adelaide and Mark Connolly from Brisbane via China. Despite ailments, it was particularly pleasing to have Marty Owen back down at the Club. Over a BBQ lunch at the Club, many an old story was told. Given the great work undertaken by Marty Owen for Mercantile and his great leadership, he was the focus of many of our reminiscences. Above – Rod Stewart, Rosemary and Ian Duthie, Ken Marshall, Terry Phillips, Mark Connolly and Andrew Guerin refusing to leave after the luncheon. The early 1970s were a difficult time for the Club. The Club burned down in 1973, our rowing numbers were low and the 1974 season saw the start of the rebuilding of the Club both on the water and physically with a new boathouse. The lightweights of the 1970s were a significant part of that rebuilding. Mercantile zootie spotted at….. Published 4th December 2015 This month our contribution comes from Bill Webster. In 2011 he was umpiring at the Asian Rowing Championships in South Korea and came across Wei Mun who had trained at Mercantile wearing a Mercs zootie. These Championships were held at Hwacheon, a mere 20 kms from the DMZ. He is standing under the most impressive finish tower in the world – see below. .