After months of preparing for the MRA regatta and the uncertainty of the fire and smoke situation in the area, the 154th MRA regatta went ahead as planned over the weekend.
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The MRA Committee consisting of Rutherglen Lake, Wahgunyah, Corowa and Rowing Victoria, put on a great regatta over the two days of racing.
The weekend featured 131racing events, 881 entries and 443 athletes taking to the water at Rutherglen’s Lake Moodemere.
Some of the local rowers were keen to race in front of family and friends for the first time and for the rest of the rowers, this presented a great lead into the State Championships that will be held in Ballarat on February 29.
Corowa Rowing Club had great representation with 64 Corowa crews entered from the Under 15 to Masters events.
The club had great results in the male and female U15 events, winning 7 of the 8 races over the weekend. Leading the way was Spencer Holland who won the Single Scull and then the Double Scull both days, winning with Brodie Julian on Saturday and Lachie Hogan on Sunday.
In the female events Sommers Hogan teamed with Adelaide Robb to win the double both days from teammates Emily Price and Eva Broad. Sommers and Emily both made the finals in the Single Scull, with Emily taking second place and Sommers third on Saturday before Sommers turned the tables on Sunday by taking the win and Emily claiming third place.
The Corowa Masters rowers were led by Julie Underwood who won the Single Scull both days along with the Double Scull on Saturday. Liz Sandow had her first race in the single finishing in third place. Julie also won the C Grade Single Scull both days, recording six wins over the two days.
Amy Underwood teamed with Paige in the Open Double Scull to lead all the way for a win.
The club featured strongly in the male and female D Grade events on Saturday with Paige Cooper and Olivia Hughes rowing in their last regatta for the club before heading to the Navy, winning the D Grade Sweep 4 with Bella Heagney, Emily Tidd and Cox: Adelyn.
In the sculling events Bella, Emily and Georgina came up against some quality opposition in the Single Scull and missed out in the finals.
With the Double Sculls next the young team of Yasmine Budic and Taylah Storer showed great style for their first race together by finishing third in the heat while Georgina Pearsall and Liz Sandow won their heat and in a great sprint to the line fell just short in second place.
The club had three female quad sculls entered with the four U15 scullers, Cox: Addy teaming up in one crew and finishing third in the heat. The second crew featuring Yasmin, Taylah, Grietje, Olivia and Cox: Amy, won their heat and in a fantastic final finished strongly in third place.
The crew of Clancy Tomlinson, Georgina, Bella, Emily and Imogen Tomlinson showed great technique to win the heat and go on to win in the final.
The male D Grade Double featured Liam Fitzgerald and Alexander Schultz who won the heat in style and in a tight battle down the course in the final, finished third.
The club had two male Quad Sculls entered with the three U15 scullers teaming with Liam and Cox: Adelyn to move through to the final by finishing second in the heat.
The older crew of Will Julian, Cameron Budic, Alexander, Ken Wilson and Cox: Imogen won the heat and in a tight battle with the younger Corowa crew, took the lead and recorded the win.
The new U17 double combination of Liam and Cameron had their first race together and finished second on Saturday and third on Sunday.
The mixed double scull saw Alexander and Tamasin have their first race together after the birth of their baby Alice. They had two great rows and finished second both days – it was great to see them back on the water together.
Sunday’s D grade racing saw a few changes made allowing the club’s newest rowers an opportunity to race in the single scull with the club entering five D Grade female scullers.
Taylah Storer is new to the sport and was keen to try the single and in her first race and finished second in the heat.
Clancy has been working hard to improve her single rowing and finished strong in third place in the heat. Emily Tidd was well in the race before a missed stroke which allowed the Ballarat sculler to take the lead.
Georgina was back from completing her University studies and had a great row in the heat to finish third. Bella had a great start in the heat to move into the lead and record a win and a place in the final.
A field of four lined up in the final with all getting away well. Bella made her move past the bend and with a strong finish moved clear for the win.
In the Double Sculls Taylah and Yasmin finished third in the heat while the team of Liz and Georgina, who were keen to avenge Saturday’s narrow loss had a great heat win to move into the the final.
The Corowa team kept up with the fast pace before they made their move and power away for a much deserved win.
The male double of Liam and Alex had another strong row, to win the heat and in a close race in the final claimed second place.
The Quad Sculls saw the U15 boys move into the final by finishing second in the heat while Saturday’s winners, up against a strong Melbourne combination, also move into the final by recording a top two finish.
The final featured four quads which saw the Melbourne crew move out with the race on between the Corowa crews with the younger crew moving past tSaturday’s winners, allowing Corowa to finish third and fourth.
The club entered two female quads with the U15 girls finishing third in the heat while the crew of Taylah, Yasmin, Clancy, Georgina and Cox: Imogen won their heat to move into the final. Improving with each row, the crew had a great battle down the course but falling short in second place.
In the Open Sprint Championships Julie and Amy teamed up in the Double Scull and led all the way to record another win. Julie and Amy formed an Open Quad Scull with Bella, Emily and Cox: Sommers who had a strong first race together to finish in second place.
Corowa Rowing Club recorded 18 wins to claim second place for the most wins at the regatta, behind the strong Ballarat City Club who won the Red Gum Shied.
Corowa rowing club also performed well coming second in the Red Gum shield and winning the local shiled for competition between Rutherglen Lake Rowing Club, Wahgunyah and Corowa. Corowa’s performance was underwritten by Julie Underwood who took home many medals, and their flotilla of under 15 and under 17 rowers.
The highlight for Wahgunyah Rowing Club was the upset victory of Bryce Stones and Joel Tyrrell wining the Victorian Sprint Pair Championships by over two lengths on the Sunday in clear style.
The President of Rowing Victoria, Joe Joyce, sang the praises of the regatta, describing it was one of the most organised and fun regattas on the Rowing Victoria Calendar.
There was two days of racing but many more days in preparation for this regatta, and the Corowa Rowing Club would like to thank to all the parents for their help with getting boats on and off the water, Helen, Macca and Denise with bow numbers and all the rowers for their efforts over the weekend. There are many volunteers who make this regatta possible.
Now the club will prepare for the next lot of regattas leading in into the State and School Championships.
New members are always welcome call and have a look around at the facilities available at the Rowing Club.
younger Corowa crew, took the lead and recorded the win.
The new U17 double combination of Liam and Cameron had their first race together and finished second on Saturday and third on Sunday.
The mixed double scull saw Alexander and Tamasin have their first race together after the birth of their baby Alice. They had two great rows and finished second both days – it was great to see them back on the water together.
Sunday’s D grade racing saw a few changes made allowing the club’s newest rowers an opportunity to race in the single scull with the club entering five D Grade female scullers.
Taylah Storer is new to the sport and was keen to try the single and in her first race and finished second in the heat.
Clancy has been working hard to improve her single rowing and finished strong in third place in the heat. Emily Tidd was well in the race before a missed stroke which allowed the Ballarat sculler to take the lead.
Georgina was back from completing her University studies and had a great row in the heat to finish third. Bella had a great start in the heat to move into the lead and record a win and a place in the final.
A field of four lined up in the final with all getting away well. Bella made her move past the bend and with a strong finish moved clear for the win.
In the Double Sculls Taylah and Yasmin finished third in the heat while the team of Liz and Georgina, who were keen to avenge Saturday’s narrow loss had a great heat win to move into the the final.
The Corowa team kept up with the fast pace before they made their move and power away for a much deserved win.
The male double of Liam and Alex had another strong row, to win the heat and in a close race in the final claimed second place.
The Quad Sculls saw the U15 boys move into the final by finishing second in the heat while Saturday’s winners, up against a strong Melbourne combination, also move into the final by recording a top two finish.
The final featured four quads which saw the Melbourne crew move out with the race on between the Corowa crews with the younger crew moving past tSaturday’s winners, allowing Corowa to finish third and fourth.
The club entered two female quads with the U15 girls finishing third in the heat while the crew of Taylah, Yasmin, Clancy, Georgina and Cox: Imogen won their heat to move into the final. Improving with each row, the crew had a great battle down the course but falling short in second place.
In the Open Sprint Championships Julie and Amy teamed up in the Double Scull and led all the way to record another win. Julie and Amy formed an Open Quad Scull with Bella, Emily and Cox: Sommers who had a strong first race together to finish in second place.
Corowa Rowing Club recorded 18 wins to claim second place for the most wins at the regatta, behind the strong Ballarat City Club who won the Red Gum Shied.
Corowa rowing club also performed well coming second in the Red Gum shield and winning the local shiled for competition between Rutherglen Lake Rowing Club, Wahgunyah and Corowa. Corowa’s performance was underwritten by Julie Underwood who took home many medals, and their flotilla of under 15 and under 17 rowers.
The highlight for Wahgunyah Rowing Club was the upset victory of Bryce Stones and Joel Tyrrell wining the Victorian Sprint Pair Championships by over two lengths on the Sunday in clear style.
The President of Rowing Victoria, Joe Joyce, sang the praises of the regatta, describing it was one of the most organised and fun regattas on the Rowing Victoria Calendar.
There was two days of racing but many more days in preparation for this regatta, and the Corowa Rowing Club would like to thank to all the parents for their help with getting boats on and off the water, Helen, Macca and Denise with bow numbers and all the rowers for their efforts over the weekend. There are many volunteers who make this regatta possible.
Now the club will prepare for the next lot of regattas leading in into the State and School Championships.
New members are always welcome call and have a look around at the facilities available at the Rowing Club.