Our next Thursday Night dinner will be held next Thursday, 30th April, to be hosted by the Junior Boys Squad. On the menu will be Burrito Bowls, with dessert to be confirmed. There will also be a vegetarian option.

The end of the financial year is the perfect time to make tax-deductible donations. Essendon Rowing Club has registered a Boat Fund with the Australian Sports Foundation (ASF) to assist with progressively upgrading our boats, oars and other ancillary equipment.  Donations of more than $2 through the ASF are tax-deductible and a great way to contribute to the development of rowing and to the support of ERC.  

Donations to ERC's Boat Fund can be made through ASF Online 

A number of ERC members have kindly volunteered their time to come down on Sunday mornings to help coordinate the Sunday morning social rowers. 

The Sunday morning sessions will start at 9am and all rowing members are welcome to come down and join in. 

Let's hope this bautiful Autumn weather holds out for Frankie Spano, Zara Mason, Rachael Hatherley, Mitchell Jacka, Rhys Davey and Luke Mascaro, who will all be competing in the Great Ocean Road & Otway Classic ride on Saturday, 2nd May, The 145km ride will take in some spectacular views, leaving from Torquay and cycling around the Otways, then down the Great Ocean road and finishing back in Torquay. The ride is to raise funds for the Peter McCallum Cancer Centre.

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 

We are looking at running Winter Pilates classes again with instructor Zoe Squires. The price would be the same as last year, ie $100 for 10 sessions, which will be held on Wednesday evenings, commencing on Wednesday, 10th June.

The classes can only run with a minimum of 10 people, tickets will go onsale when it is confirmed that we can meet the minimum numbers. 

If you would like to participate in the Pilates classes, please email your expression of interest to the secretary@essrc.com or text 0419301206.

Congratulations to Tyler Fitzpatrick who was selected to attend the Victorian U19 trials at Carrum. Tyler performed strongly throughout the process and progressed to the final selection trials for the Australian Junior Under 19 team at Sydney International Regatta Centre (SIRC) last week, alongside the Pathways Regatta.

Tyler competed in the MU192x & MU194x events, with Jack Harrington (Carey Mercs) and the Bailey twins Zander and Tadgh (Corio Bay) in the quad achieving impressive 89% prognostics.

While the boys were not selected and a team announcement has yet to be made, this is an outstanding achievement and reflects Tyler’s perseverance and commitment to his rowing, following recovery from a broken wrist last year. We look forward to seeing what’s ahead for Tyler in the coming season.

Our Captain Don Cochrane is a such a strong supporter of country clubs, that when the Mildura/Wentworth Easter regatta was sadly cancelled, he worked with Mildura's Captain Clark Gregory to pull together a mini training camp as a way to make sure the weekend was not lost.

Up to 20 regional rowers joined in training sessions over the two days and were coached by Don, Sam Gray & Christine Camiller. Finishing off with sprint races, everyone earned their chocolate eggs and went home happy.

Mildura RC were so hospitable, and they extend their welcome to all ERC rowers.

Generosity, comeraderie and the love of rowing - going a long way 

Well done to all who competed in very windy and choppy conditions at the recent Albert Park Lake Master's Regatta.

Mitchell Jacka & Tony Sirotic brought home Gold in a Yarra Yarra composite Male Masters Coxed Quad Scull. Mitchell also won Gold in the Male Masters Double Scull with Yarra Yarra's G. Fischmann.

Ben Stevenson won Gold in the Male Masters Single Scull, with Ben & Tony Sirotic winning Gold also in the Male Masters Double Scull.

Well done also to Ben Stevenson & Le Fei Yeo; Matt Croker & Cory Leech; Cheryl Stevenson, Simone Richardson, Narelle Fewster & Maddie Van Ewyk who all came 2nd in their events.

A small contingent of Masters rowers headed down to the Carrum Master's Regatta last weekend:

Ben Stevenson won Gold in a Footscray/Essendon composite Mixed Masters Coxed Quad Scull

Mitchell Jacka won Gold in the Male Masters Single Scull

Tony Sirotic & Mitchell Jacka also won Gold in an Essendon/Yarra Yarra composite Male Masters Coxless Quad Scull 

Welcome to our newest members Jodie Mahoney, Fiona Grogan and Peta Barrett, who are all graduates of the February Adult Learn to Row program. Jodie, Fiona and Peta will be rowing regularly on Sunday mornings while they hone their skills. Thank you to Jessie Freestone who has been coxing and coaching the ladies, and thanks to Elliot Stevenson for subbing in during a recent session when we were short a rower.

We also have Trang Dang joining us this month, who will be mainly working out in the gym while she waits for a spot in the Adult Learn to Row program.

Thursday Night dinner - Thursday, 30th April 

Thursday Night dinner - Thursday, 4th June

Presentation Night - Saturday, 13th June 

Saltwater Challenge - Saturday, 5th September

ERC Open Day - Sunday, 11th October

Henley on the Mud - Saturday 12th December