| Catchlines - 1 April 2026 |
To celebrate all our athletes who went to Nationals, and our amazing results, there will be an impromptu Thursday Night Dinner tomorrow night, Thursday 2nd April at 6:30pm, with pizza on the menu.
We look forward to seeing you all this Thursday.
Any member who hasn't collected their 2025 Rowing Victoria Awards t-shirt can collect one on Thursday night. |
| Australian Rowing Championships wrap up: |
What a week Essendon Rowing Club has just had at the 2026 Australian Rowing Championships, held on Lake Barrington, Tasmania!
A short while ago, and with many months of preparation by all, ERC selected 9 of our athletes and a coach for the 2026 Australian Rowing Championships Regatta, being:
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- Rhys Davey
- Tyler Fitzpatrick
- Rachael Hatherley
- Mitchell Jacka
- Zara Mason
- Sophie Robe
- Isaac Sirotic
- Francesca Spano
- Emma Stevenson
- Coach - Mark Dwyer
Over a hard fought week of racing, including multiple delays due to power outages and wind issues, the rowers all raced well, representing ERC with pride and doing the Red & Black sash proud.
At the end of 7 days racing at the regatta...
ERC finished 9th overall, across 191 clubs, with 3.5 Gold, 1.5 Silver and 1 Bronze!
This campaign can only be considered as our best Nationals Campaign in ERC's 146 year history!
Our medal winners are listed below:
Gold Medalists & 2026 Australian Rowing Champions:
Open Lightweight Women's Quadruple Scull - Sophie Robe, Rachael Hatherley, Francesca Spano and Zara Mason
Under 23 Lightweight Women's Single Scull - Francesca Spano
Under 21 Lightweight Men's Single Scull - Tyler Fitzpatrick
Open Lightweight Men's Coxless Four - Tyler Fitzpatrick (Mercantile/Essendon Composite)
Under 23 Lightweight Men's Coxless Four - Tyler Fitzpatrick (Mercantile/Essendon Composite)
Silver Medalists:
School Boy's Single Scull - Tyler Fitzpatrick
Open Lightweight Men's Quadruple Scull - Isaac Sirotic (Nepean/Newcastle/UTS/Essendon Composite)
Open Lightweight Men's Coxed Eight - Isaac Sirotic, Mitchell Jacka - University Western Australia/North Esk/Tasmania University/Essendon Composite
Bronze Medalists:
Open Lightweight Women's Double Scull - Rachael Hatherley, Francesca Spano
Topping it all off, ERC had three rowers, Rachael Hatherley, Zara Mason and Francesca Spano represent the Big White V (Victoria) in the Victoria Cup (Interstate Lightweight Women's Quad Scull)! In windy conditions, the crew coached by Mark Dwyer and Rhett Spiller (assistant coach), rowed very well, winning the race to bring the Victoria Cup back to Vic for the first time in 10 years! |
Well done also to Rhys Davey, who came 3rd in his U21M1x repechage, missing out on making the semi-final by 0.80 of a second. A great result after stepping into the U21 group this year from U19 last year.
And to Emma Stevenson, who came 3rd in U17W1x, missing out on making the semi-final by 0.58 of a second. In her composites, Emma came 6th in semi-final of the U17W2X, and made the final and placed 8th overall in the U17W4X
Sophie Robe also made the B Final for the OLW1x and placed 5th.
Thank you also to Ben and Emma Stevenson for giving up their time to volunteeer at the championships. Ben did multiple days throughout the week, while also juggling as Emma's support crew, and Emma did a morning as boat holder on the Saturday morning when her racing was done. Ben and Emma were busy volunteering when the group photo was taken.
Thank you also to Mark Dwyer for organising the transport and ferrying of the boats over to Tasmania, and to all who travelled to Lake Barrington to support the team.
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| Presentation Night working group needed: |
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We are looking to put together a working group to organise this year's Presentation Night. If you have some time on your hands and would like to be involved, please email secretary@essrc.com
Presentation Night 2026 will be held on Saturday, 13th June.
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| Footscray regatta wrap up: |
ERC were well represented at the recent Footscray regatta, with a total of 42 members across all squads competing.
Well done to all who competed and to the following medal winners:
Male Masters Coxed Squad Scull - Rick Wight, Fed Arellano, Tony Sirotic and Ben Stevenson. Coxed by Simone Richardson
Female A Grad Coxed Quad Scull - Greta Bell, Gemma Williamson, Jessie Freestone & Christine Camiller. Coxed by Elissa Mirabelli
Male C Grade Coxed Four - Sam Gray (Bendigo composite) Coxed by E Stevenson
Female U17 Single Scull - Emmy Fitzpatrick
Mixed Coxed Four - Jessie Freestone, Isaac Sirotic, Christine Camiller and Jed Tosto (Banks). Coxed by Elissa Mirabelli
Female C Grade Coxed Quad Scull - Maddie Thomas, Elodi Coulson, Freya Bell, Emmy Fitzpatrick. Coxed by E Stevenson
Female A Grade Double Scull - Jessie Freestone & Christine Camiller
Female Masters Coxed Quad Scull - Cheryl Stevenson, Simone Richardson, Narelle Fewster & Maddie Van Ewyk. Coxed by E Stevenson
Female B Grade Double Scull - Emma Stevenson & Millie Delaney
Mixed Coxed Quad Scull - Jessie Freestone, Dion Mitchell, Alex Hamilton & Christine Camiller. Coxed by Lachlan Bird
Female Masters Double Scull - Narelle Fewster & Maddie Van Ewyk
Male A Grade Double Scull - Tony Sirotic & Isaac Sirotic
Female C Grade Single Scull - Freya Bell
Male Masters Single Scull - Tim Juzefowicz
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| Maribyrnong Mother's Day Classic: |
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Registrations are now open for the Maribyrnong leg of the Mother's Day Classic, to be held on Sunday, 10th May.
The course follows a scenic riverside route from Coulson Gardens, heading toward the Afton Street Bridge, along The Boulevard, across Maribyrnong Road Bridge, and past The Anglers Tavern before returning to finish near the event village. The shared path offers a mostly flat and accessible route suitable for walkers, runners, prams, and wheelchairs.
Put a team together and either run (10 kms) or walk (4km) to help raise funds for a very worthy cause. Or alternatively register to run or walk on your own.
Organisers of the event are looking for volunteers to set up a water station on the bank opposite our club to serve water to the runners and walkers as they pass. If you would like to help out with this could you please email the ERC Secretary secretary@essrc.com
For more information or to register as a participant please visit the Mother's Day Classic website
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| Captain's Team Safety Tip: |
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With the shorter hours of daylight approaching, please ensure that your have working lights affixed to your boat if you are planning on training before daylight or past dusk.
Remember, blinking on the stern and continuous on the bow.
If you need to purchase a set of lights, we recommend the 360 degree marine lights available online from this link https://crestgear.com/
Please see the Captain's team if you require heavy duty Velcro to stick to the back of your lights to affix to the boats.
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| Member profile - Lucas Towle: |
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Q1: How and when did you first get into rowing?
A: I got into rowing by just showing an interest in it, this was somewhere in 2020! I had originally met my first coach Trevor, and he had given me an awesome first experience. This was around when COVID hit, which also impacted my settlement into rowing - and that was a very interesting period, for everyone!
Q2: What made you want to join our club?
A: I originally wanted to join, simply to grasp something new. I am hopeless at ball sports, which was part of a reason why I wanted to try an entirely different sport such as rowing. I did athletics and footy prior to joining.
Q3: What do you do outside of rowing (work, study, hobbies, passions)
A: Like others my age, school takes up a sizable chunk of your time. It only gets greater, and it will be at its highest extent now that I am in Year 12. I have interest in seeking work early, but unfortunately haven't had long term employment - it is incredibly hard to get a job when you're young nowadays. A passion of mine is seeking a career with Victoria Police, which I have an incredible interest and fondness for.
Q4: What is one fun or surprising fact about you?
A: In the first decade of my life, I have been in 6 different schools and lived in 5 different places all around Australia & overseas! It's what gave me the ability to adapt at such a young age.
Q5: Favourite time of the day to be on the water?
A: I love to row in the mornings, I couldn't say winter mornings but rowing early leaves you plenty of time to muck about in the day and afternoon.
Q6: If you could row anywhere in the world where would it be?
A: An interesting place I'd like to row would be in Lake Baikal, Russia. It's over a kilometer deep and is the deepest lake in the world. Definitely not a place you'd want to fall in but it has a fascinating history and scenery.
Q7: What is the best piece of advice you have been given and who was it from?
A: The best piece of advice I've been given is a simple quote: "Hop off one bus and get on another". It sounds incredibly stupid but in life you must move on from any hardship, whether it be relationships, a job, or any other strenuous matter. Keep staying on that bus and you will be lost in the pass when time has stretched so far forwards. I don't remember who it was from unfortunately.
Q8: What is your most memorable rowing experience?
A: There are so many, but the clearest to mind was when I first tipped in a racing single. I was turning, checked my right oar and completely forgot about my bow side and it was so quick you can't even register how quick you fall in. What was more, unfortunately memorable was the fact I had to walk the boat all the way from the Boathouse to the Club because I was too hopeless to get in. Incredibly embarrassing to say the least.
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Thursday Night dinner - this Thursday, 2nd April
Thursday Night dinner - Thursday, 30th April
Presentation Night - Saturday, 13th June |
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