Saturday 21st October was the Port Macquarie Regatta at the 800m Warchope course and 10 members made the trip North to represent Manning River Rowing Club.
The scrappy duo of Colin Broos and Hugh McLeod, keen to make amends for the defeat to Newcastle at the NUBC regatta earlier this month, were the first to take to the water in the Men’s B Grade Double. Using the newly acquired double “227” Broos and McLeod got off to a great start leading early. Unfortunately, the boys fell victim to a stray course marker and found themselves a long way off course. The Newcastle combo capitalised on this pulling ahead for a narrow victory.
The next to race was the seasoned crew of Pauline Arnold, Nicole Pullen, Amanda Cavill and Narelle Drake stepping up to the B Grade Quad. The experienced Masters crew did well to stay close to the youthful NUBC crew finishing second. The same combination would later race in the D grade quad and finish 3rd ahead of NUBC and finish 2nd in the Women’s C grade Quad.
The first victory for Manning River was Nicole Pullen and Roy Halliday in the Mixed Double Scull. The pair took an early lead and held it the whole way in a full field to finish first by 4 seconds.
The Mix double was also the first race for New Member Leanne Irving. Irving teaming up with and gaining race experience from senior member Pauline Arnold for an induction into boat racing. Irving would later bravely race the Women’s D Grade Single. We all look forward to watching Leanne’s progress over the rest of the season.
The Men’s Masters combination of Graham Nix, Hugh McLeod, Colin Broos and John ‘Happy Jack’ Cross averaged out to an E category giving them an even start against Endeavour Rowing Club. With Nix in the stroke seat setting smooth rhythm Manning pulled away for an impressive 7 second win.
Manning had two starters in the Men’s Masters Single with Colin Broos giving an 11 second head start to Graham Nix. Nix maintained that lead from start to finish winning the event in fine form.
John Cross and Roy Halliday held their own finishing a close 4th in the Men’s D Grade Double.
In the Men’s Open Single Hugh McLeod was keen to make up for the embarrassing defeat at the NUBC regatta to Newcastle Sculler Ben Homer and he did not disappoint putting 15sec between himself and Homer to win the event also defeating NUBC’s Adrian Miegel.
Manning finished on a high note with the combination of Pauline Arnold, Amanda Cavill and Narelle Drake teaming up with Port Macquarie’s Debbie Gardner, Gardner substituting for Nicole Pullen who had to leave early. The Masters D crew starting off a 4 sec handicap quickly caught the Newcastle Crew that were off go and pushed ahead to win by 7 seconds and putting nearly 13 sec between themselves and the Endeavour crew that also started on 4 seconds.
The members worked well together to quickly load the trailer at the end of the day gaining some much needed nourishment by way of some delicious sausage rolls home made by Pauline Arnold.
A special thank you to Graham Nix for driving the trailer and also a big thank you to Club Captain Philip ‘Frog’ Walters for volunteering as the official starter for the regatta.
Next regatta will be the CDRA Sprint Championships held at Throsby Creek, Newcastle Sunday 26th November. For training tips leading into this fast paced sprint regatta contact Hugh McLeod on 0400 583 493 or Email info@manningriverrowingclub.org.au
As ever volunteers are greatly appreciated. If you would like to volunteer the best way to start is Friday afternoons from 4:30pm when members meet to tidy up the shed and discuss all things rowing. These maintenance meetings are also the best way to keep informed of Club activities.
