Grafton Rowing Club News

“THE CLUB IS FOR EVERYONE OF ALL AGES YOUNG AND NOT SO YOUNG TO ENJOY A ROW, A PADDLE, MEET NEW FRIENDS AND ENJOY A DRINK OR TWO AND SOME PLEASANT COMPANY”

Also it may be worth a phone call to your Health Fund to see if are eligible to claim the rowing memberships, Most Health Funds will refund an amount

Please also remember its In your interests to be a paid member this ensures you are covered by the insurance cover within your membership, We don't want anything to happen out there!!!!!!!!!!!

SEPT 28		Clarence Schools Regatta
OCT 14		Murwillumbah Results
OCT 28		Lismore Results
NOV 11		SPRC Results
NOV 25		Iluka Results
DEC 8		Head of the River, Grafton Results
DEC 9		GRC Results
FEB 10 /02		Tweed Heads Results
FEB 24/02		Maclean
MAR 17 /02		South Grafton Results
MAY 18 & 19		NSWRA MASTERS GRAFTON

You know you're really a rower when, you need to have a small pushy person around telling you what to do all the time

The Lower Clarence Regatta held on Sunday 24.2.02 put on a great day - weather was overcast which provided the perfect water for all the rowers. As the season nears the end, Grafton and South Grafton rowers are taking charge of the point score.

Melissa Brown and Aleisha Smidt won the under 16 double scull; Leah Doman and Liz Lang winning the women's handicap pair; Neville Doughan and Geoff Edgar in the men's handicap pair had a close finish coming in second to the Murwillumbah. crew in a very fast time of 4.10.

Patrick Doughan and Brenton Tunsted placed second in the under 19 double scull over 2000 meters in a terrific time of 6.60.

Cassie Sampson won her women's intermediate scull, with Hollie Smith coming in second in her division.

Lower Clarence rowers had several wins on the day, and are a strong force to be reckoned with, especially with the upcoming CHS in Sydney - they will be hard to beat, with all the younger rowers in hard training. Jared Stephenson won the mens beginner scull, Sarah Eke and Martina Smidt continued their winning streak in the schoolgirl under 16 double scull. Cody Ellem-Allen rowed a strong race in a field of South Graftonon rowers in the schoolboy under 16 scull. Angela Eke won her wornens beginner scull race whilst Matt Hellyer continues to win the mens under 19 scull.

INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS REGATTA held at the International Rowing Centre at Penrith, Feb 02

GRC had two young members head off to represent Catherine McAuley College. Patrick Doughan improved his time by 12 seconds over 2000 metres, having a close finish arriving a very credible 5th in his final. Hollie Smith also rowed above her age group, and came 4th in her heat. Watch out for these two, they will hard to beat m the future.

The season has come to an end, with Grafton Rowing Club, and South Grafton taking out most of the seasons trophies.

Grafton Veteran rowers are again winners of the prestigious "Toilet Seat" award that has a long history and competitive rivalry between Murwillumbah and Grafton.

Don Noble again won the Masters Sculling Premiership for the second year running.

Lower Clarence won the Intermediate, and Youth trophies with Matt Hellyer winning the Individual Premiership.

OPEN PREMIERSHIP
1ST SGHS              2ND GRC

YOUTH PREMIERSHIP
1ST LCRC              2ND SGHS

JUNIOR PREMIERSHIP
1ST SGHS              2ND LCRC

MASTERS PREMIERSHIP
1ST GRC              2ND MURWILLUMBAH

INTERMEDIATE PREMIERSHIP
1ST LCRC              2ND SGHS

WOMENS PREMIERSHIP
1ST SGHS              2ND GRC

INDIVIDUAL PREMIERSHIP
1ST MATT HELLYER    LCRC             2ND ALEISHA SMIDT    SGHS

MIXED PREMIERSHIP
1ST GRC              2ND MURWILLUMBAH

MENS MASTERS SCULL PREMIERSHIP
1ST DON NOBLE   GRC

WOMENS MASTERS PREMIERSHIP
1ST MARILYN BRISBY   MURWILLUMBAH

SCHOOL'S TROPHY
1ST SGHS              2ND LCRC              3RD GHS

POINTSCORE
1ST SGHS

It was a successful and very hot day with the season finale seeing some new winners emerging with Sarah Hill and Helen Moore winning the Women's Handicap Pair, Terri Edgar won her Masters Women's single scull and first time winners in the Schoolgirl under 16 quad, were Amy Mclennan, Jamie Macrae, Elizabeth Ensbey and Cassie Sampson.

Neville Doughan and Geoff Edgar won their Men's Handicap Pair also in a fast time after a huge handicap all season.

The Masters men's Four was won by the SGHS crew of Terry Vercoe, Steve Smidt, Darryl Brown, and lan Parker, it was a close finsih by only .03 in front of the Grafton crew

There were Rowers travelling from as far as ECU Perth to attend this regatta Also traveling a long way were Sunshine Coast, Surfers Paradise, Tweed Heads, Coomera Anglican, and Marymount College

There were 7 Women's Eights on the water with a very close finish between GHS and GRC, with Surfers Paradise splitting the 2 crews, it was terrific to see them steaming down the course altogether

This is a reminder to all competing rowers, the "pay with nominations!' is going well

PLEASE ENTER YOUR MONEY TOGETHER WITH YOUR NOMINATIONS FOR ANY REGATTA OR YOU WILL NOT BE ENTERED IN THE DRAW

Please Rut your entries in the locked box on the TUESDAY NITE BEFORE THE DRAW THANKYOU

This is gentle reminder for everyone who is rowing at Regattas to make sure they assist with the boat loading and un-loading - the more hands the less time it takes, otherwise you way get to a regatta and you may not have a boat to row! and where else can you effectively wear spanners as a fashion item??!!!!??

NOTE OF THANKS for everyone rowers, and parents. that turn up to load and unload. has been fantastic and the best in years

Just to clear up some questions about how old you have to be to compete in an aged event NSWRA LAWS clearly state the following: for example: UNDER 15, A competitor ceases to be Under 15 on 31st December of the year in which he/she reaches the age of 15 years. which applies to all other aged events held at a Regatta

Where Grafton Water Brigade
When Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th April 2002
Cost $220
Times Sat, 9 to 5
Sun 8 to 4

Please let Me (Ann Collins) know if you would like to attend, as catering will be provided but we need to have the numbers, so noone goes hungry. It has been sonic years since a Coach Clinic has been conducted up here, so make the effort, come along, also if you need a refresher, or your books signed and updated Its also a great idea to come along and get trained especially with the increase in insurance's

Plans are well under way to be prepared for the Masters in May 2002, and its not too late for you to come along and give a hand, there is much to do, and not enough to do it, the next meeting is Thursday 27.3.02, 7:30pm - see you there

REQUEST Please help with cakes and/or slices for the canteen for the big weekend.

Grafton rowers, friends and family can you please assist in the canteen for half an hour in between races on both Sat and Sun, your help will be much appreciated

Please don't wait to be asked, just bring your friendly smile along and help out.

Please bring saleable goods, such as Oranges, Books, Plants, cooking and kitchen things, Jams, Club singlets and caps also available, If you can bring along any nic-nax you wish to donate to be sold in aid of GRC, you just never know if there is something there you may have been looking for!!!!

Welcome to the GRC family, Steph Cunin, John Cossio, Brad Neill, Leah Doman glad to have you on board

Also, a BIG welcome to The Cathedral School, its great to see a terrific and enthusiastic group of 24 kids enjoying their rowing, and grasping the art of rowing very quickly, we can see you winning in upcoming regattas, well done

Rob Bruce 6.3, sharing with Dom Chaseling 6.3, Tony Gallagher 11.3, Sarah Hill 23.3, Jamie Macrae 1.3, Don Noble 4.3, Doug Wray 17.3

You know you're a rower when, your friends need a rowing translator to decipher your language

Rowathon date set 3.8.02,
Shade sail a great success, thanks to Neville Ken, Michael,
Gates have arrived for Ainsworth,
Geoff getting cox box organised,
Neville has new fridge,
Child Protection Officers, are Valda and Daphne,
Organise weekend for Macksville,

Masters meeting also held,
SES boats to be organised,
Robert to organise info packs,
equipment to be updated?,
medals and/or certificates,
Amanda still has to contact Margaret Mackenzie to update course category

Lightweight trailer,
Going to World Masters,
Change racks to make access easier,
Lots of interest in the Rowathon,
Need to train school crews,
BRO exam went well

Masters Meeting
Info packs sent,
Use of scaffolding,
Medals,
Roster for canteen,
Letters to Police and Council about parking over the weekend,
Tshirts for the masters.

Still ongoing activities to fix,
Water Brigade donation to buy more blades, Thank you
Cathedral school has started rowing activities,
Amanda is moving to a new job, South, Marg will be Secretary, Amanda thanks the club for a great 2 years
Raffle roster has to be re-done - Ann's job,
Speakers for 8s in progress,
Mural to be unveiled very soon,

Masters meeting also held
We have 7 new BRO's,
Got heaps of power boats, tents for different purposes,
guest speaker for sat nite,

PLEASE come along, you don't need to be invited, just bring your ideas, thoughts, proposals along with you, the Club, both young and not so young members need your support, help and assistance to continue the success of the Club

With our new secretary, the new meeting dates are going to be held on the 3rd Wednesday of each month, so here are some dates to note now

Valda has gone for a half a dip????????, as she slipped out of her scull early one Saturday morning she was only wet on the bottom half, so OK, you go in for that hard fought for Dip Award,

There was a sighted shark swimming up stream with a groovy pair of Nike sunglasses on, hmmmmmmm, even the fish are fashion consciuos and with Nev's sunnies no less

are available - just see Daph. The new singlets are now available for $30 each, they are made from a light lycra with the emblem embroidered, a very nice singlet to proudly wear.............. very groovy

Have a look at the photos of the past and present and if you have any you wish to add, please let me know, our scrapbook of newspaper items is growing all the time,

Pic's from the Regatta and winners from the end of season South Grafton Regatta are there

Are You In There?????

You know you're a rower when, when you sit down, you look for the tie-in shoes

2 sessions 8.30 am SENIORS and 9.30 am JUNIORS SATURDAYS

Again 2002 has kicked off with new faces turning up for the "art of rowing" and to enjoy the low impact sport, with great benefits for overall fitness and it's fun!

First lesson is free for an hour or so, after that is a mere $5.00 a session. which is deducted from your membership, which is also very reasonable compared to other sports

There are a devoted group of "merry men" and "merry women" to assist each week with the learners under the direction of "ACE" coach Ken Maughan

There is also a "GO ROWING" book available for $5.00, that gives you all the benefits, techniques and more on rowing, so catch up with Ann or Don on Saturday mornings if you would like one of these, they are for Learners or skilled rowers

In the event that the weather is not favorable, you can learn the skills on the erg's which can assist with technique and endurance

Always have land close to you, just in case you do go for a dip, while heading west row past the Crown, then cross over to Susan Island for your homeward trip and if you are heading down river (East), you row over near South Grafton Club, and back over to McCauley College side for the home journey

It is with much sadness that GRC farewells two of its family members, Tony Gallagher is heading to Sydney and Amanda Kerr is heading South for a new job. Both will be missed but we expect that they will both visit, and we will see them back in May for the Masters.

Both thanked GRC for the years they have enjoyed rowing, a few stories came out after a bubbly or two at the BBQ after South's regatta, of course not all can be retold or printed

ROWING STRONGER, A CHAT FROM LOUISE GLASS on Core Stability workshops to help enhance performance and reduce injury

You know you're a rower when, you need to go anywhere, you have a sudden urge to throw your car over your shoulder

This newsletter is brought to you by Ann, Chief and Editor. If you have anything to add to the next newsletter, please let me know. (66433347)

Senior competing	$110 per annum
Recreational	$85 per annum
Junior	$60 per annum
Non Rower (social)	$20 per annum

Favourite colour		Aqua
Favourite Movie		Ace Ventura, when nature calls
Favourite food		Chocolate
Favourite actor		Jim Carey, and Finch (just shoot me)
Favourite actress		Nine Vanhorn, (Just shoot me)
Likes		Hammocks, swimming, music, candy
Dislikes		School, Early mornings, Dr Peppers drink, pepper
Best holiday		Gold Coast
Hobbies		Sport and sleeping