Welcome to August's issue of The Catch

This month:

• New members
• Updates from the Committee
• Member feedback results
• Member Protection Information Officers
• Spotlight on Racing Squads
• Racing news
• Junior news
• Frozen
• LTR updates
• Blast from the Past
• Upcoming events

NEW MEMBERS 

Welcome to the new members from July:

• Allison
• Chloe
• Clara
• Helen
• Joseph
• Julie
• Kate

UPDATES FROM THE COMMITTEE

From July's meeting

• Phase 1 of the gym upgrade has been approved and will be implemented soon. You can expect to see a new leg press machine, bench press, yoga mats and bumper plates in the near future.
•  ANA has been awarded Healthway 'Act-Belong-Commit' funding to host three events between now and 31 December. Details about these events will be provided closer to the dates, with the first event being ANA Day to be held in September.
• Greater attention to boat care is required. There are a few cases where it is apparent that people are setting their shoes too low on the footplate, with the heels being continuously pressed into the insider of the shell. If you need assistance changing these heights please ask someone.
• Ensure boats are being carefully washed. This is a good opportunity to check for scratches or other damage to the hull. If you notice anything, please notify the Maintenance Team - whether you caused the damage or not.

MEMBER FEEDBACK SURVEY RESULTS

Thanks to all members who completed this survey - it really helps the Committee to make informed decisions.

We're presenting the full results of the Member Survey in a virtual Townhall on Wednesday 13 August at 7:30pm.

Register here: Member Survey Townhall

In the meantime - here is a summary of what we heard.

Feedback provided was overwhelmingly positive:

• The majority of respondents rate our culture, community, levels of respect, beginner support and value for money as 'excellent'
• Communications, safety culture and boat availability was 'very good' to 'excellent' - though some gaps were revealed
• Value for money and coaching was also 'very good' to 'excellent'
• The average frequency of sessions is 3 to 4 per week
• Our rowing environment is beautiful and contributes to our wellbeing

Some gaps have been identified:

• 52% of respondents weigh less than 75kg range, which is not reflected in the weight categories of our current fleet
• Booking processes can be improved - only book boats you intend to use, cancel bookings if you can't make the session. Booking stats are used to guide our fleet strategy
• Boat handling practices need attention to prevent damage
• Need for more male racing members to form crews
• Ageing LTR boats

On the subject of boats, you may have noticed the arrival of four wrapped quads on the trailer. These are the new recreational touring 'gigs' purchased by the club with the assistance of a grant from RWA and a very generous donation.

They will replace some of the ageing quads in Bay 1 including the O'Shea and Milton Francis. The club is actively seeking new homes for these through RWA with other country rowing clubs. If any members want one or know of someone interested, please advise the Captain.

The new boats will be available for use once the quick-release fittings arrive, with a naming ceremony to be held soon.

The Committee will be holding more discussions with members to address areas where improvement has been identified.

MEMBER PROTECTION INFORMATION OFFICERS (MPIO)

ANA strives to be a friendly, community focused environment, however we acknowledge that interpersonal conflicts or concerns can still occur. To assist us to maintain this environment, Rob and Camilla operate as our MPIOs, a role created by Sport Integrity Australia. 

MPIOs play an important role in sport. They provide information and guidance on complaints procedures – they are not mediators but are the ‘go to’ people if you want to discuss any problems (e.g., harassment, abuse, inappropriate behaviour), particularly if you are considering making a formal complaint. 

If anything happens to you, or you see or hear something that doesn’t seem OK, please talk to Camilla or Rob or email them at mpio@anarowingclub.org.au. All conversations and emails will be treated confidentially.

SPOTLIGHT ON ... RACING SQUADS

With the commencement of the RWA Pennant Regattas it is timely to provide a bit more understanding of the racing squad to our newer members, who may be aiming to compete next season.

RWA oversee/assist in the following racing series:

• PSA and IGSSA schools events are held in the first half of each year, and are limited to certain boys and girls private schools, including Guildford Grammar, Trinity and Perth College
• The All Schools regattas are held from June to August and are open to all school age children (even non PSA or IGSSA schools), representing their school or RWA affiliated clubs - go ANA!
• Masters regattas typically run from March to May, culminating in the Australian Masters Rowing Championships. Rowers are eligible from the year they turn 27, with crews racing in grades based on the average age of the crew (for example, D grade is for crews averaging between 50 to 55 years). Races are held over 1,000m and where multiple grades are combined in one race, time handicaps are implemented.
• Longer distance time trial events, known as Head Races, are held in May and June.
• Pennants regattas (open to all racing members) run from July to September. A and B grades race over 2,000m, with C and D (novice rowers) racing over 1,000m. Grades are based on racing results or prior history.
• Coastal Rowing/Beach Sprint regattas were implemented in December last year and are open to all rowers. Coastal boats are wider and more stable than flatwater boats, and the events are a lot of fun.

All ANA rowers are encouraged to consider the racing pathway if they are looking to take part in a competitive environment.

Organised coaching for senior racing crews occurs at 5am on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, with some crews electing to train themselves at other times more convenient to them.

If you would like to consider racing, please contact Louisa or Cassandra. Additionally, the Head of the Swan race, hosted by ANA, is open to both racing and recreational members. We currently have one Development Squad training for this race, to be held on 25 October which is great to see. Consider making this event a fitness goal and start training now!

RACING NEWS

Perth to Fremantle

The rescheduled P2F race was held on 5 July in great conditions - the rain held off and the majority of water was calm, with only a small portion of the race seeing Rottnest ferries, pleasure boats and the associated wash. The race saw a reduced field, with many of the entrants for the initial date being unable to take part. Despite this challenge ANA boated three Masters eights, and Michelle in the Masters single scull.

ANA had two crews in the Women's eight, placing in first and third. With three head races under their belt, John and Cassandra's novice sweep women were cheered on at the start by a couple of dolphins, perhaps marking their transition away from Dev Squad into fully fledged racers - amazing work in their short rowing careers. 

RWA Pennant Regatta #1 was held on 19 July with the following results

• Mary & Michelle (as part of a ANA/Perth composite crew) won the Women's Masters coxless quad, with two other ANA crews taking out second and third places
• Alec won the Men's Open Non-Pennant Single Scull
• Second place to the Men's D grade coxed quad
• Third places to the Women's C and D grade eights, and Thomas in the D grade single scull.

The RWA Indoor Rowing Championships were held on 27 July 2025 at the UWA Recreation and Fitness Centre with Luke and Tony jumping on the ergos. Tony finished in second place in the Master's 2000m and Luke having the fastest time in the Masters 1000m, but adjusted to second place on handicap. 

ANA is the host club for RWA Pennant Regatta #2. This gives us a great opportunity to conduct fund raising activities as well as providing opportunities for members to complete their Volunteer Hours.  See 'Upcoming Events' for further details.

Taking a short break from racing, Stu returned to his roots as a dragon boater and was selected in the Senior B Australian team for the World Dragon Boat Championships held in Brandenburg, Germany from 14-20 July. The Australian crew picked up a silver medal in the Mixed Small Boat race over 500m - congratulations Stu!

JUNIOR NEWS

Our Junior Racing squad completed the All Schools series on 26 July Champion Lakes. The size of these regattas continues to increase, with 396 rowers entering. The All Schools State Championships are coming up on 9 August - good luck to all our Junior rowers in this event.

The squad is now focusing on the Act-Belong-Commit All Schools State Championships to be held on 9 August at Champion Lakes. All 21 members of the squad will be racing, doing the best for themselves, their crew and ANA over heats and finals in various school grades. This will be a long hard day, and a cheer squad would be appreciated.

Rounding out the Juniors updates, supercoach Ingrid competed in the World Masters Open Water swimming championships in Singapore, finishing 8th in the 3km event.

Photo credit DdJ Photography (@ddjshoots) • Instagram photos and videos

FROZEN IN TIME
While most of us were still tucked up in bed on Friday 25 July, hiding from the weather, Tim's Training group were out on the water. It's probably one of the only times that a legitimate excuse for being late was to remove the ice from windscreens. At 6.55am Bayswater experienced its coldest morning in 15 years, dropping to a frosty 0.3 degrees - just in time for the 3 quads to get back and walk across the frozen grass. That's dedication! 

BLAST FROM THE PAST

Laurie Anderson

Laurie Anderson (the 'Laurie Anderson' eight) was made a Life Member of ANA in 2006 for his services to the Club and Rowing WA in various roles, including Club President and coach. 

Laurie commenced rowing while a student at Aquinas College where he was the stroke of the winning Head of the River crews in 1969 and 1970. He went on to represent WA in Kings Cup crews from 1972 to 1976, winning in 1973 in Murray Bridge, South Australia. 

Laurie was a member of the preliminary squad for the Munich Olympics and competed in the Australian Men’s Coxed Four at the World Championships. After retiring from the sport, he played a key role in Rowing WA, managing the WA Sculling Academy and serving as Regatta Secretary from 2010 to 2019. 

The Anderson family's involvement with ANA continues through the charismatic presence of Coach Louisa, currently overseeing pennant crews and the Rowing Radiance program.

Denys Warren

Denys Warren (pictured centre) learned to row at Guildford Grammar School before joining ANA in 1981. Through the 1980's he was a stalwart of ANA crews along with with Craig Ryan (left) and Scott Cavanagh (right).

Denys was part of a dedicated group of Club members who worked to build the Bayswater clubrooms, now used by Oarhouse Cafe.

He also served as the ANA Secretary in 1982-3, President from 1992-3 and held various coaching roles. Denys was made a Life Member of ANA in 1993, and frequently returns to the Club to lend his voice to the commentating of the Learn To Row Regatta.

Our fleet of eights would not be the same without the Denys Warren, which was saved from the scrap heap through the vision of Tim and his trusty assistants. Over several months the group reinvented the eight as one of a few octo sculls in the Perth area.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Coming up soon:

• 2 August - RWA Pennant 2 - Hosted by ANA, volunteers required
• 3, 10, 17 August - Learn to Row course #3
• 10 August - Avon Descent marshalling duties 
• 17 August - Club Maintenance Day - all hands on!
• 9 August - All Schools State Championships
• 16 August - RWA Pennant 3
• 30 August - RWA Pennant 4