The popularity of rowing in Rutherglen couldn’t be ignored over the weekend with the staging of another very successful annual regatta at Lake Moodemere.
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More than 1000 entries took part in some 360 races across the two days, with many rowers already committing to return again next year.
In excess of 3000 spectators watched the fast-paced action, with Geelong’s Corio Bay Rowing Club the champions with 26 wins ahead of Essendon Rowing Club on 22, while Melbourne-based Powerhouse Rowing Club took third with 19 wins.
Corowa Rowing Club were the standouts from a local perspective, compiling 19 wins to finish fifth overall.
Rutherglen’s Lachie Seymour defended his Victorian Sprint Championship in the single scull, holding out Matthew Vogel from Corowa by about half a length.
Former Olympian Hannah Every-Hall, who represented Powerhourse Rowing Club, was also in very impressive form.
The open double sculls saw a great race between Tim and Will Day, from Corio Bay, who narrowly beat local pairing John Webb and Vogel from Corowa, before backing up in the men’s quad scull to play their part in another impressive victory for Corio Bay.
The home club finished with six wins, while Wahgunyah came away with a further two victories.
Event organisers Paul Somerville admitted “every regatta keeps getting better.”
“There is a lot to organise, but the results are worth it when you get the positive feedback from the competitors and spectators,” Somerville said.
“It’s the biggest sporting event in the Indigo Shire and one of the biggest across North East Victoria and southern New South Wales.”
The Rutherglen club will now take time to reflect on its event.
“We have a wash-up meeting where we make sure all financial matters are settled and also have a review of the weekend on what went well and what we can improve,” Somerville said.
“We are always looking at how we can do things better and I think that has been one of the successes over the last 15 years.
“We’ve gone from 33 entries in 2002 and steadily built our entries up to 300, 500 and now the last three years we’ve had more than 1000 entries for the regatta.
“We’re also not afraid to trial a few things and I think the results are that everyone enjoys their time up here.
“It’s an enormous economic benefit for the area and it books out the town.
“A lot of the masters rowers will visit the wineries before they head home.”
The regatta program moves to Ballarat next weekend and then down to Geelong in the lead-up to the famous Mildura-Wentworth Easter Rowing Regatta to be staged on April 15 and 16.
