Positive outlook for annual regatta
Dimboola Rowing Club officials are thrilled with the success of the club’s signature event at the weekend.
Entries for the Dimboola Regatta were up about 30 percent compared to 2018, making it the largest regatta the club had seen since 2005.
Nearly 380 rowers competed in 185 races during the regatta on Saturday, with 321 competitors in 25 events taking on a 6.2-kilometre Head of the Wimmera course on Sunday.
Dimboola Rowing Club committee member Mick Salter said despite inclement weather making racing difficult on Saturday, it had been a huge success.
He said a resurgence of interest in rowing by young people in Dimboola had also led the club to record its most wins at a home regatta in many years.
Rowers from the club won seven finals on Saturday and combined with Corio Bay and Hawthorn clubs to create mixed crews that won three races on Sunday.
Mr Salter said it was great to see both the regatta as a whole and the club individually thriving.
“It is one of the most successful home regattas for our own competitors we’ve had in many years,” he said.
“I think a lot of it has to do with good coaching. Jenni Brand and Bill Thompson have done a lot of work.
“There has been a resurgence of interest in Dimboola youth wanting to row and compete for the club.
“We’ve got a very positive culture at the club at the moment and really strong support from the parents, the Dimboola community and the sponsors.
“Without the sponsors we wouldn’t be able to put a regatta on.”
Mr Salter said the success of the regatta was a testament to the club and Dimboola as a community.
“I’d like to thank all the committee and all the people who assisted with setting up and running the weekend,” he said.
“It takes a number of days to set the course and the martialling areas and the catering up – it doesn’t just happen on its own.”
Mr Salter said the club would now focus on making future regattas just as successful.
“If we can maintain the figures that we got in 2019 for 2020, as a club we would be extremely pleased,” he said.
“We were lucky to have a few large schools like Geelong Grammar, Kardinia International College and Korowa Anglican Girls’ School.
“If we can keep getting large school groups, that’s what really makes it.”