Welcome to June's issue of The Catch - lots of racing activity to report on!

This month:

• New members
• Updates from the Committee
• Vale Chris Hayes 
• Masters Regatta #3
• Masters State Championships
• Canning Bridge Classic Regatta
• Australian Masters Rowing Championships
• WA Indoor Rowing Championships 
• All Schools Regatta #1
• Guildford to Garratt
• Blast from the Past 
• Insider Trainers
• Ladies Night

NEW MEMBERS 

Welcome to the new members in June:

• Oscar

Farewell to Thomas, who leaves for Christmas Island, Karen & Ian who return to Nova Scotia, and Glyn & Catherine who are back in warm France. Best wishes and we hope you stay in touch.

UPDATES FROM THE COMMITTEE

From the Committee meeting held on 15 June 2026

• Thanks to all who completed the required tasks in the Boat Audits. From here is imperative that all members take care of the boats, address minor faults when they arise and record faults they cannot self-repair on the maintenance board at the back of Bay 2
• Maintenance requests and near-miss recording in the REVS Incident Report has been proving effective, thanks to all who have completed these forms.

VALE CHRIS HAYES

On 1 June we received the sad news that former ANA RC captain and coach passed away after a battle with cancer. Chris became involved in rowing through his daughter Alexandra, and quickly progressed to coaching several of our top crews, including the Head of the Yarra and state crews.

ANA RC honoured this treasured member with a Row Past and laying of a wreath following the completion of the Guildford to Garratt race - Easy oar Chris, forever in our memories.

MASTERS REGATTA #3

Great results from ANA RC at this regatta held on 3 May 2026, taking home a total of 24 medals (7 'gold', 11 'silver' and 6 'bronze'), second in gold only to Curtin.

Wins to:

• Elissa & Rene - Women's A-D pair
• Dale - Men's A-D single scull
• Rob & Stu - Men's E-M pair
• Dale - Men's coxless quad as a composite ANA RC/ WARC crew
• Max, David & Andre - Men's Novice quad scull (composite crew with Bunbury Rowing Club)
• Jinny, Nathalie, Max & David - Novice Mixed quad 
• Ian & Mary - Mixed E-M double scull.

MASTERS STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

The 2026 WA Master's State Championships were held on Sunday 17 May, and it was a fantastic day.

The weather was perfect with glass-like water for the majority of the day, making for some fast, clean racing. ANA RC did not disappoint, winning both the overall medal count and the most golds.

Golds went to:

• Rene & Elissa - women's A-D pair
• Rene & Dale - mixed A-D double scull
• Dale - men's D single scull
• Dale - men's coxless quad (composite crew with WARC)
• Dale & Warren - men's A-D double scull
• Warren - men's C single scull
• Max, Andre, David & Kay - men's novice coxed quad (composite with Fremantle) 
• Jindalae, Nathalie, Max, David & Kay - mixed A-D coxed quad
• Jindalae, Nathalie, Claire, Lou & Courtney - women's novice coxed quad

Many more fantastic results were achieved from our remaining rowers, with some close finishes and significant improvements.

CANNING BRIDGE CLASSIC REGATTA

The Canning Bridge Classic was held on 23 May with ANA having a great representation of Racing and Recreational members. This regatta is unique, being the only short course event that is open to all categories of rowers. 

ANA RC finished the regatta with 3 silvers and 2 bronzes but more importantly we had 22 rowers entering, a huge increase over last year where we had just 4.

Well done to the following recreational members who dipped their oars in the world of racing:

• Brenda
• Clayton
• Liz
• Ashlee
• Christine

The following crews took placings:

• Silvers to our junior racers competing with the adults
  • Women's D coxed four - Sarah, Temperance, Luca, Isabelle & Chloe
  • Women's D double scull - Temperance & Isabella
  • Men's D coxed quad scull - Caelan, Alex, Oliver, Mason & Priya
• Bronze
  • Women's D coxed four - Brenda, Liz, Ashlee, Christine & Jinny
  • Women's D double scull - Zoe & Sofia (Juniors)
  • Thomas, Luca, David, Max and Bruce in the D Grade coxed four

AUSTRALIAN MASTERS ROWING CHAMPIONSHIPS

Rowing WA hosted AMRC 2026 at Champion Lakes between 27 May and 30 May, and what a regatta this was for ANA RC.
After four intense days of racing, ANA RC finished in 10th position on the medals table with 6 gold, 7.375 silver and 10.375 bronze. The medals table rankings are based on the number of gold medals won by each club; however on total medals won, ANA RC finished in third position with only Melbourne and Yarra Yarra taking away more! Congratulations all competitors, particularly those who experienced their first AMRC. AMRC 2027 will be held at a location TBA - lets see if we can match this performance!

Wins to:

• Dale & Rene - Mixed C double scull
• Dale - Men's D single scull
• Dale - Men's D double scull (composite crew)
• James - Men's Lightweight D single scull
• Andre - Men's Lightweight B single scull
• Sam - Women's Lightweight F single scull
• Sandy, Stu, Rob, Hilary & Courtney - Mixed D coxed four

Congratulations also to Rene and Sandy who came third in the Interstate Women's eight - it has been some years since a WA crew finished on the podium, well raced!

WA INDOOR ROWING CHAMPIONSHIPS

The Indoor Championships were held at All Saints College on 7 June 2026, with nine ANARC members taking part, our biggest team ever. 

Congratulations to all medal recipients:

• Gold, silver and bronze to Thomas, Max and Nigel in the Men's Masters 1km
• Tony - bronze in Men's Masters 2km
• Gold to Max, Nigel, Thomas & Andre - Men's Masters 2km relay 
• Gold to Michelle, Mary, Jinny & Nathalie - Women's Masters 2km relay
• Silver to Max, Jinny, Nathalie & Andre in the Mixed Masters 2km relay 

ALL SCHOOLS REGATTA #1

The first regatta for our junior season was held at Champion Lakes on 14 June 2026, with the squad braving some pretty unpleasant looking weather. The squad included several first-timers, all gaining valuable experience in boat loading, racing and navigating the challenges of race day starting.
Congratulations to Marko who won his division in the School Boys Open Single.

Bring on All Schools Regatta #2!

GUILDFORD TO GARRATT

Objectively the finest event in the RWA calendar, this epic event was held on Sunday 21 June. With perfect ANARC water and mild weather 43 crews, including 14 kayaks, made their way down the 6.5km course. 
The true champions of the G2G, as always, are our volunteers. Without their generosity the event could not be held.

A big thanks to:

• Steve & Leonie - Parking marshals
• Graham, Adrienne, Russ, Jenni L, Martin, Dale & Caroline - Course marshals
• Vanessa - Shore  start marshal
• Dave K - Safety boat
• Paul A & Jenni S - Timing assistants
• Maren & Jenni S - Bow numbers
• Lowri - First aid

BLAST FROM THE PAST & PRESENT 'SIR' TONY BEECH

So technically he hasn't been knighted (yet) but he can still be known as Sir Tony to us, having been bestowed the honour of the Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the 2026 King's Birthday Honours List, as well as being the namesake of one of our finest double sculls.

Tony has been acknowledged for his distinguished career in industrial relations and public service, as well as his community work as a dedicated member, volunteer, coach, former committee member and president of ANA RC, contributing more than 29 years of service to the Western Australian rowing community. 

Tony started rowing at ANA RC in 1997 and has been a recreational member since then, serving as Vice President and President from 2010 to 2012, and helping to run our Learn To Row sessions for many years.

Basically Tony is a legend and we are enormously proud to be associated with him!

INSIDER TRAINERS

Tuesday and Thursday evenings, and Saturday mornings have seen Bay 3 being taken over by the dedicated members of Insider Trainers, training under the supervision of Denys and Catherine.

A large proportion of these members are graduates of our Radiance program, continuing to build on their ergo technique and endurance.

If you are interested in joining this group please email treasurer@anarowingclub.org.au

LADIES NIGHT

The Annual Ladies Night will be held on Saturday 25 July at a location to yet to be decided.

Please RSVP HERE