Overview
Clubs
Somerset Rowing welcomes all rowers,
parents and supporters to the 2007 season, in particular, those who are new to
the club.
This information has been produced to provide all Somerset Rowing Club members with key information related to the club and the current season.
With support from the School, Rowing at
Parents, in particular, have played a major role in the success of Somerset Rowing and the Club. We recognise and thank the parents for their efforts, for encouraging their sons and daughters, and for their support of the Club in general. Without the valuable work of the parents it would not be possible to offer such a unique sport as rowing relies heavily on team commitment, discipline, hard work and strong club membership. We trust that your son or daughter will find rowing a rewarding and enjoyable experience in many ways!
With continued support at all levels it is hoped that the growth Somerset Rowing has enjoyed continues throughout and beyond the 2007 season.
Rowing is a sport that requires safety to be a top priority which involves your son or daughter competing in safe, reliable and competitive equipment that requires regular maintenance and upgrading. The cost associated with the Somerset Rowing programme is used to ensure the safety and comfort of your son and daughter when on the water. The cost covers coaching fees, maintenance of tinnies, fuel, entries into Gold Coast regattas, maintenance of the Shed, Rowing Queensland registration and insurance. Also, Somerset Rowing is quite unique in that it runs the Rowing Programme for nine months of the year which allows pupils to become heavily involved in the sport if they desire. Somerset Rowing is well aware of the need to make the programme worthwhile.
Rowing Queensland and Somerset Registration forms must be completed and returned to the Director of Rowing prior to pupil’s commencing to row. Until these forms are completed and returned, rowers will not be permitted to use the boat shed or its facilities.
Captains of Boats
2008 Blake Carey and Alex Roberts
2007 Cale Davis and Heather McNeil
2006 Cale Davis and Edda Hamar
2005 Daniel Blank and Hannah Swan
2004 Josh Lessing and Bridget Handley
2003 Jackson Price and Lauren Armstrong
Philosophy
- To teach pupils correct boat maintenance and handling skills and a respect for the equipment
- To teach pupils the correct sculling technique
- To develop the significance and role of coxswains in the club
- To make pupils available to safe, reliable, well-maintained and competitive equipment
- To encourage a sense of teamwork and discipline on and off the water
- To promote good sportsmanship
- To teach an reinforce safe practices on the water and around the shed
- To enable students to compete successfully at Gold Coast regattas and make available to coaches and equipment to allow students to compete successfully at State and National level
- To allow for and encourage the professional development of coaching staff
- To develop a strong club network through
the active involvement of pupils, past pupils, coaches, parents, master competitors,
Somerset Staff and friends of
- To Make the Somerset Rowing Club an enjoyable and rewarding experience for all involved
Policies and Procedures
- Pupils are to compete a 200 metre swim
before being allowed to row for
- Pupils are to demonstrate the correct procedure for recovery into an upturned single scull before being allowed to train or compete in this craft
- No boats are permitted on the water without a bowball
- All rowers are to stay to the far right hand side of the river or lake (keep your left hand closest to the bank when rowing). Coaches are responsible for enforcing this: if you don’t stay on the right side of the river and you have a collision, you are in the wrong
- All rowers are to stay in sight of a coach
- Boats will be rostered, based on age, experience, and level of expertise
- Allocated oars must only be used with each boat
- Equipment must be returned to its original position on the rack and in the shed
- Private equipment is NEVER to be used without direct permission from the owner. Breach of this rule will have serious consequences
- Boats, oars and equipment will be well-maintained. Pupils have the responsibility of washing and cleaning boats after EVERY use
- Boats will be carried at straight arm height, hull up when appropriate
- Pupils must wear socks in shoed boats for hygiene reasons. Water bottles and hats are compulsory.
- Fixing Up of boats is to be done well away from the bank
- Crews being overtaken must keep to the far sides of the river
- Pupils are not to hold on to the riggers whist entering or exiting the craft. They will hold on to the gunnels and will hold the oars while doing so
- Pupils who mistreat equipment will be asked to leave the shed. Continual mistreatment will result in loss of membership
- All pupils are to help with the carrying of power boats to and from the water
Code of Conduct For Parents, Supporters and Friends
- School and Boat Club rules apply at all times
- Encourage your children to practice the Somerset Boat Club Code of Conduct
- Support the coaching staff
- Be sensitive to your children’s pre-race preparations and post-race debriefings
- Cheer for all
- Help create an enjoyable environment at regattas
- Help with the putting up and taking down of regatta tents and facilities
- Applaud winning crews and recognise the good performance of other school’s crews
- Do not compete with parents of other schools. The place for competition is on the water between school crews, and not their parents on the riverbank. The competition on the riverbank won’t make your favorite crew row faster, as much as you might want them to.
- Be generous in offering
Code of Conduct for Athletes
- School and Boat Club rules apply at all times
- Never act in a manner unbecoming or contrary to the interests or good standing of the School or the sport of rowing
- Treat all teammates, fellow rowers, competitors, parents, umpires and staff with respect
- Treat all property with respect
- Demonstrate a positive commitment to the
sport of rowing at
- Maintain good academic standards
- Always be punctual and correctly attired
- Follow dietary and training advice
- Be helpful to coaches and be eager to lend a hand in the organisation of the Boat Club
- Recognise, appreciate and applaud competitors that may win the final that you are competing in
- Always maintain the highest athletic standards, to rigorously compete and demonstrate the highest standards of sportsmanship
Boatshed and Regattas
Pupil’s Training Expectations
- Pupils are to be at the shed at least 10 minutes prior to the allocated training time. Rowing at 6 means that you are on the water at 6, and at the shed at 5:50am.
- The school uniform or zoot suit are to be worn to training every day except Saturday.
- A minimum of 2 training session each week is expected from each rower. Action will be taken if the pupil continues not to attend.
- If a pupil is unable to make it to training, contact must be made to the coach as soon as possible.
- In quad sculls, the coxswain is in charge of the boat and their directions must be followed for safety reasons. The coxswain has the responsibility of making sure that they can be heard by all crew members.
- Transport may be provided to
- Rowers are to meet their coaches training requirements before committing to private training sessions. Coaches make the decision about whether a pupil has the skill required to be coached privately.
- Parents are most welcome to join the coaches at training.
Rowing Policy and Selection Criteria
Policy
Rowing has been a very successful sport at
Coaches
All coaches are asked to ensure safety is a priority in any activity associated with rowing. Injury prevention is paramount.
Each coach owes a duty of care to his or her charges.
Every coach is intent on allowing each student the opportunity to achieve his or her true potential, at whatever level that may be.
Selection
Each age group will have its own selection policy. It is the responsibility of the coach to follow this through with the assistance of the Director of Rowing when required. In all squads, every pupil must show a commitment to rowing and a willingness to co-operate with both the coach and the Director of Rowing. This will form the basis for any selection made. From this basis, trust and team spirit can be developed and help bring success.
Pupils selected for State Titles will be informed in Term 2. Parents of selected rowers not able to compete at States Titles need to inform the Director of Rowing as soon as practicable.
All School Crews
All rowers at
Display team commitment whilst achieving individual goals for selection.
Show commitment to achieving potential in every area of school life.
If a pupils wishes to leave rowing after signing on, the procedure will be:
- Inform the Coach
- Inform the Director of Rowing, who then
- Receives a letter from the parents to confirm that the child no longer wishes to row
If, after consultation with the parents, the Director of Rowing feels that a pupil is not fulfilling the above criteria and/or is having a detrimental effect on crew and shed morale, the pupil will be asked to leave the Club.
Tours
Each year,
All rowers competing for
Age Divisions as for Single Sculls (Current for 2007)
Opens Pupils born prior to 1990
U16 1991
U15 1992
U14 1993
U13 1994
Costs Associated with Rowing
$350 per rower - payable by the end of Term 1
$150 for additional son or daughter - payable by end of Term 1
$100 per rower for those who continue on to compete at the School State Titles in Term 3 - payable at the end of Term 3
Costs include:
- GCRASRA and Rowing Queensland registration
- Use of boats and oars
- Coaching Fees
- Equipment Upgrades
- Maintenance of Fleet
- Fuel and maintenance of power boats
- Entry fees to GCRASRA Regattas
Costs do not include:
- Camps
- Repair for deliberate or careless damage to equipment
- Zoot Suit
- Entry fee for Rowing Queensland Regattas
Regatta Outline
A typical Gold Coast All Schools Regatta will run as follows.
- The loading of the trailer will take place on a Friday afternoon during Sport time. No assistance from parents is needed here.
- ALL rowers are to assist with the unloading of the trailer at the regatta. There is no exception for this. Pupils must be there helping at 7am. Some help from parents is generally needed, as the setting up of tents also takes place at this point in time.
- Competition typically starts at 8am. This gives you a chance to relax and cheer... and cheer for all crews, not just the one your child is in.
- Presentations take place at 12:30pm. Take a few photos.
- The regatta generally finishes at around 1pm. ALL pupils are required for helping to load the trailer, and assistance from the parents is very useful.
- Unloading will take place at Bond at around 3pm. ALL ROSTERED STUDENTS MUST ATTEND. If a rostered student fails to attend unloading, action will be taken.
- Finally, owners of private boats are required to load and unload their boats if they want to row them. If owners don’t show up to loading, their boat will not be at the regatta for them. If they don’t appear for unloading, their boat will stay on the trailer.
It is expected that all rowers will stay for presentations and the loading of the trailer. If a rower must leave early, they are expected to inform the appropriate coach prior to the day. Letting your coach know on the day that you have to leave early is not suitable. The Gold Coast All Schools Rowing Association (GCRASRA) puts a great deal of effort into organising these regattas and their efforts need to be acknowledged by having all rowers receive their medals during the presentation ceremony and by congratulation others.
Every effort is made to give pupils at least 2 races per regatta and it is expected that all rowers, when proficient, race in single sculls.
Pupils are to wear their school sports
uniform or school tracksuit to, from and at the regatta. Regattas are
inter-school events just like APS Cross-Country and Athletics, so not wearing
the correct uniform is inexcusable. Once committed to the sport, pupils are to
race in zoot-suits, which can be collected from the Director of Rowing and
rowers are also expected to wear the school sports hat or rowing hat whilst
competing. The
at regattas: pupils wearing other clothing
or hats will be asked to remove them. Please be aware that zoot suits are not required
for Year 8’s at regattas.
The Club
Boats
Somerset Rowing currently has a fleet of 4 quad sculls, 4 double sculls and 10 single sculls. These boats are provided by KIRS, Ted Hale, Carmody Rowing and Sykes Racing. A brief history of the rowing boats and their names is outlined below.
M.A. Smith (KIRS Quad Scull)
This boat was named after Michael Smith, in
recognition of his service to the School. The boat itself is a
The Twiggy (Ted Hale Quad Scull)
This boat was named after Martin Twigg, who
retired as Director of Rowing in 2004.
The J.M. Arnison (KIRS Quad Scull)
This boat is named in memory of Dr.
Arnison’s father.
The Gordon Lepp (Ted Hale Quad Scull)
Named in memory of Gordon Lepp, a founding
council member of
The Scantlebury (Carmody Double Scull)
This boat has been named to recognise the
work of Mr. Damian Scantlebury over his 10 years with Somerset Rowing.
The Peter Miller (Carmody Double Scull)
This boat has been named after Mr. Peter
Miller in recognition of his work with Somerset Rowing over the past 6 years.
The Lonniquist (Ted Hale Double Scull)
This boat is named to acknowledge the
support of the Lonniquist family to rowing over many years.
The Brian Carey (Carmody Single Scull)
This brand new single scull is named in
memory of Brian Carey.
The Bill Taylor (Carmody Single Scull)
This boat is named to recognise the
wonderful work and assistance Bill Taylor has offered to the Club over many years.
Rowing Rules
On the Water
Upon leaving the club, fixing up of boats is to be done well away from the beach. Proceed to pass close to the river bank and follow a large arc through the bridge, making sure to check for traffic entering the bridge or moving down towards or coming from the weir before you proceed to cross under the bridge. Inbound traffic must create a wide arc towards the beach and clear the bank as quickly as possible once out of the boat.
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On the river, keep the riverbank to your extreme left. Do not proceed out into the middle of the river unless you are overtaking a slower craft, and even then be very cautious of traffic heading in the opposite direction. Craft being overtaken must slow down and give way to the overtaking craft. Never enter the middle of the river unless you are turning around.
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A Very Small Rowing Dictionary
Blade
This is the wide, flat section on the oar at the head of the shaft, also known as the spoon. This term is often used when referring to the entire oar.
Bow Side
Side of the boat to your left when you are rowing.
Button
This is also known as the collar. It is a plastic or metal fitting tightened on the oar to prevent it from slipping through the gate.
Canvas
The decked over section of the bow. This term is also used to describe how far a crew was in front or behind another, i.e.: “Jeez, that crew must have only won by half a canvas!”
Crab
This is a problem encountered by a rower when their oar fails to be released from the water at the end of the stroke. It is caused by improper squaring or feathering, and is a common problem with new rowers. The movement of the boat overcomes the rower’s control of the oar, and the oar is often swung parallel to the boat. In extreme cases with speed involved, a rower can be thrown out of the boat. If this happens to you, stay under the water until the crew has rowed over the top of you so you don’t get hit. You do not want to get hit, trust me.
Feathering
The process of rotating the oar in the fingers to make the blade parallel to the water’s surface.
Foot Stretcher
An adjustable bracket to which the rower is secured by putting their feet in the shoes or clogs.
Rating
How fast you are moving up and down the slide. This is measured in Strokes Per Minute, or SPM. A rating of 16 is slow, a rating of 38 is fast, for example.
Rigger
The big metal thing that connects the gate to the boat hull. It can either be a wing rigger, which is one large, almost wing-shaped piece of metal, or a conventional rigger, which is almost like a wire frame.
Scull
A term used to describe a 1-person boat or a boat in which the rowers have 2 oars each.
Slide
The track that the seat moves on.
Squaring
The process of making your blade perpendicular to the water’s surface.
Stroke Side
The side on your right when rowing.
