The Great Autumn Regatta

A seat in the boat by donation to the MLC school rowing program $250, trendy black skins to battle fatigue $100 and a lovely autumn day shared with family and friends competing for glory on the Olympic rowing course PRICELESS!!
There are some things money can’t buy, for all those other things. Well you get the idea.

The purpose of the Great Autumn Regatta, which will be held each year, is to help schools raise funds for their rowing programs. Rowing as a sport is a bit like formula one racing it takes a lot of money to compete. I was astounded to find out that a new rowing eight could cost upwards of $30,000.

This year MLC School provided two crews of novice rowers with little experience who were looking for a bit of adventure and fun and I must say we found both in bucket loads.

The adventure began five weeks before the big regatta with coaching at 5am with the schools best trainers, Matt Rockwell and Peter Hughes. You certainly know you are alive if your up at this time of the morning and I kept thinking now I know why the early bird always catches the worm, it is just so beautiful to be on the water at this moment of the day.

At first it was learning how not to tip the boat in to the icy water, which as you would expect we learnt very quickly, and then on to the more technical aspects of rowing which didn’t come that easy but by the end of the five week tuition our coaches had us all rowing in unison.

The event day is very well organised with sponsorship, officials and even ambulance staff and the venue being the Olympic site is world class with great facilities including a restaurant and snack bar. Though most friends, family and supporters took advantage of the warm autumn day to picnic by the shore of the great lakes. There were eighteen crews from various schools competing and as competitive as Australians are the emphasis was on having fun and a good time, which was had by not only the rowers but the supporters as well.

Both MLC crews competed gallantly and our crew, “the outsiders” was lucky enough to win the bronze medal in the ‘B” final with a time of just over 2 minutes for the 500 metre race. It was fun to collect our medals on the Olympic dais but I am astounded that the schoolgirls race for 2000 meters.

Next year we are hoping to get six or eight boats in this event to support the MLC schools rowing programme. So if you are interested and want to get a crew together contact the schools rowing master Peter Hughes.
It was a great experience with a lot of fun and great friendships.
Here is what some of this years rowers had to say about their time competing for the MLC school.
Hey Team,
It was a great experience, what we were able to achieve in little time, with
almost no previous rowing experience for most of the team, Fantastic!!
We are a great team and gelled together when it counted.
I am definitely putting my hand up for team selection next year.
A big Thank you to Darren and Trudi Van de Wint for the opportunity.

Best wishes to all,
Frank


"Taking part in the Autumn Regatta was a wonderful experience. Not only was it all for a great cause but I got to see some magnificent sunrises while training and spend some quality time with old friends as well as the new friends I had just met.

The day of the Autumn Regatta is one I won't forget. My husband and children were there as well as the team's family to cheer us on. Standing on the podium at the end of the day to claim our Bronze medal was just a bonus in what was a totally "oarsome" four weeks and you can't ask for better than that! "

See ya
Sue

“Yes it was loads of fun Trudi. Thanks for putting us on to this. I
really enjoyed learning something new, seeing some cool sunrises and
meeting a new crowd of people.

The rowing was oarsome! But who said a regatta is about rowing?
Different piles of people were doing much more than rowing. Great
facilities meant people were scooter/bike riding, dining in the
restaurant, having a picnic, drinking in the bar or just lazing in the
sun. Some were even watching some boats being rowed! “

See you round
Allison Arndt

“I loved the whole experience. It was really interesting for me because I hate being on the water. I suffered a bit of my good old water anxiety at times but would only have to focus on Sue's (stroke) determination for a medal to overcome it. I will be in for another season next year. Maybe we will be going for gold! No maybes about it if Sue has her way.

It was a great bunch of people and a lot of fun doing something different.

See you soon
Cheers
Anne