SU Rowing Prominent at NSW Rowing Awards Dinner NSW Rowing Association held it?s 2006 Presentation Dinner last night at Dede?s restaurant at Sydney Rowing Club.
Awards were presented in a number of categories with Sydney University winning a number of important awards and being placed in many others.
Men?s Elite Shield 1st
Combined U20?sShiled 1st
NSWRA Honours Trophy 1st
NSW Men?s Coach of the Year: Sydney Uni: Marty Rabjohns
NSW Oarswoman of the Year Sydney Uni: Liz Kell
Men?s Senior Shield 2nd
Women?s Elite Shield 2nd
Bohemia River Cup 2nd
Premiership 3rd
With Liz Kell currently training in the Australian Women?s Double Scull in Adelaide, the award was accepted by Women?s Captain Georgia McCaughan .Marty Rabjohns was not on hand as he is currently in Varese, Italy with the Australian Men?s Eight preparing for the World Cup regatta in Munich. Marty?s award was accepted by Men?s Captain, Ian Allsop.
2005-6 was probably Sydney University?s most successful ever season in terms of the breadth of the Club?s achievements with seven National Senior reps, wins at State Championships, Gold Cup and Nationals.
It was therefore disappointing that SU Rowing was not able to compete effectively for the NSW Rowing Premiership. Two years ago the rules for the premiership were changed to include points scored by masters rowers, which has effectively excluded from the competition for the Premiership clubs like ours, which don?t have large masters groups or don?t cater to masters rowing.We should point out that in 2005-6 we would not have beaten Sydney Rowing Club even if Master’s points were excluded and we do not want to detract fromtheir worthy win.
At Sydney University our charter is to look after student/competitive rowing primarily. Considering the idea of masters rowing as promoted by FISA is for participation over competition it is rather surprising that NSWRA has devalued their Premiership by allowing the inclusion of masters points the effect of which is further inflated by some country regattas earning double and triple points.