Rowing Australia Annual Report 2009-2010 - Australian Sports

Around the States (continued)
Jason Lane in his first year as Head Coach has been
very supportive to Rowing SA as well as meeting his
obligations to the Elite Program and has been ably
supported by Zoltan Shepherd. We are also fortunate to
have the calibre of support coaches like Vicky Spencer,
Ron Mobbs and Christine McLaren, a great foundation
in going forward with a program that will grow and
prosper.
Rowing SA operations
The 2009–10 season saw a changing of the guard with
Mike Giffen leaving Rowing SA after 5 years of very
good service and Chris Firth accepting the role, taking
to the position in a very seamless manner. Rowing SA is
very fortunate.
The regatta season saw three regattas cancelled due to
weather conditions but compensated to some degree
by the addition of two regattas at the end of the season.
Overall, there was an increase in crew entries, athletes
and seats compared to the 08–09 season.
These statistics are one of the better functionality
performances of the ROMS out of a system that has
proved to be somewhat cumbersome for people to
operate. Rowing SA looks for the review currently being
undertaken with the support of Rowing Australia.
Rowing SA has worked hard to satisfy the demands and
wishes of its stakeholders in providing regattas with
sufficient events in its regattas by initiating an agreeable
order of events to fit within the time constraints placed
on us by certain groups. The coming season will be
challenging considering the availability of West Lakes due
to the nationals for both rowing and Canoe/Kayak.
Development
Rowing SA, with the support and guidance of Rowing
Australia, has been involved in development programs for
adaptive, education, National Talent Identification and
Development, as well as the National Elite Development
with very positive outcomes and we look forward to
expanding on what has already been achieved.
32 Rowing Australia Annual Report 2009–2010
Regional rowing
Rowing SA has been working closely with regional clubs
who are themselves working tirelessly to get up and
running.
The Limestone Coast Rowing Club usually row on Lake
Leake, however due to lack of water have been rowing at
another venue, Valley Lake. ‘Learn to Row’ program was
conducted with this Club and was judged the ‘most well
organised, promoted and attended event of the week’ by
Selga Sports and Be Active.
Also, Rowing SA Coach Education Coordinator went to
Kadina to host a modified Learn to Row Coach Course
and Beginner Coxswain Course for the Yorke Peninsula
Veteran Centre Rowing Club.
Interstate rowing
South Australia entered crews in the Kings Cup Eight,
Queen Elizabeth II Trophy, Men’s and Women’s
Youth 8 and Men’s and Women’s Single Scull. Results
were good and the performance of our athletes pleasing.
A third place in Kings Cup signals the possibility of
better results in the future. A second place in the
President’s Cup by Chris Morgan was a great result.
Our women’s crews competed well considering the
majority of each eight rowed in two races within half
an hour of each other. With six of the Women’s Eight
representing Australia in sweep boats this year, we hope
to see a very competitive eight in 2011 on our home
turf.
Our Youth Cup Team performed extremely well boasting
to be Australia’s best male sweep rowing squad. The
male squad was placed in the top three in each of the
sweep boat categories, winning gold in Men’s Coxless
four, Silver in the pair’s and bronze in the eight.
Overall, South Australia came away with two gold, two
silvers and a bronze.
Michael Eastaughffe
Councillor for South Australia.