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Rowing ACT’s Executive Officer James Hammond has announced he will be standing down to take up the position of Director of Rowing at Prince Alfred College, Adelaide in mid-July.

James was a major contributor to the success of the Australian Masters Rowing Championships in 2013, the biggest ever Rowing Australia regatta in numbers of crews competing. As the only paid employee of the association James worked successfully with a huge volunteer workforce to run an exceptional event at a venue that was a green fields site prior to and after the event. This remarkable success was in part due to James’ willingness to recruit and work with all of theACT Rowing Community, and his polite but determined attitude. James and the Regatta sub-committee faced major administrative hurdles, and all of these were negotiated with grace and calm resolve. James’ willingness and ability to work very long hours contributed to the success of that ACT regatta and also to the 2014 National regatta in Penrith.

During James’ tenure the sport has grown successively in each year in the ACT. Infrastructure associated with the sport has also significantly improved. James has been an integral part of that success.

When asked what he thought the highlights of his time in the role James said
“The successful hosting of the AMRC which was a credit to the entire ACT rowing community.

The progress we have achieved in advancing facilities for the organisation which no doubt will continue. I very much look forward to the day Rowing ACT moves into the BMP facility.

The improvements we have made to enhancing the professionalism of the organisation in particular the regattas and structure behind them.

I also have to say that despite many telling me it was not included in my role, I have very much enjoyed my time on the lake with various volunteers doing the quite tasks that many do not know about. Replacing moorings, working on the course and at times shepherding the ferries through a regatta.”

On behalf of all of the rowing community I wish James well for this wonderful challenge that he is taking on in Adelaide. I am sure that his enthusiasm, knowledge and organisation will lead to success at Prince Alfred College, following in the footsteps of his friend and mentor Andrew Randell.

David Bagnall (President)

RACT has been alerted to a proposal submitted for a Chinese Garden in a section of Lennox Gardens on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin near Lotus Bay. Please click on the link below for information on the proposal and who to contact with comments.

Lennox Garden Proposal

The first of the Rowing ACT 2014 Winter Time Trials will be held on the 24th and 25th May 2014. The format of the event is singles and pairs on the Saturday, doubles, quads, fours and eights on Sunday. Please note, doubles will now longer be allowed to compete in Saturdays Time Trial.

Winter Time Trial Seat Fees remain at $6.60 inc GST.

The course, which will revert to the same used prior to the reduced lake level and the buoy change, is approximately 4km long and runs from near the dam, around a turning boat at the 1800m start, down Yarramundi Reach, around Kurrajong Point and up Tarcoola Reach finishing at the first of the white timber piles, opposite the AIS in Lotus Bay.

The series winner for each category of boat is determined by a point score based on handicap times. Crews/scullers receive one point for each race they complete, plus one point for each opponent in that race that they beat on handicap time. Crews can accumulate series points provided they do not change more than 25% of their crew from one time trial to the next.

Entries should be via your club and sent by email to James. Entries close at 10pm on the Friday preceding the time trial (May 16). Larger clubs may collate entries into the template spread sheet below.

When submitting entries clubs must nominate their required safety marshal(s).

Download the spread sheet template.

Security around the residence of the Governor General will be increased during next weeks Royal Visit. To facilitate this increased security, a buoy line will be installed from the southern end of Yarramundi Peninsula across the southern end of the rowing lanes and an exclusion zone established from this buoy line to Scrivener Dam. Rowers are advised to turn at the 1500m marker instead of the 1800mm buoy.

The buoy line will be installed on Thursday 17 April and removed on Monday 28 April 2014. The exclusion zone will be enforced by AFP Water Police between Sunday 20 and Friday 25 April 2014.

No rowers or coaches are to enter the exclusion zone ant any time during this period.