Following a comprehensive analysis and review, the Board of Rowing Tasmania has decided to make several changes to RT Regatta Program, which are effective for the 2019-20 season. Clubs & Schools were forwarded notification of the new program on 19th August 2019.

Note: It is intended all current Club Championship events will be retained, with some additional U21 championship events to be added.

The changes to our Regatta Programs are summarised below.

Please note some event placement & renumbering will occur as a result and the Rowing Manager entry system will be updated to reflect the changes shortly.

The Changes for State Pennant Regattas:

1. Novice category events have all been removed.

2. U17 – there will be six (6) events available for this age group, some over 1000 metres to assist less experienced rowers, other events over longer distances (1500M & 2000M from SP #5)

Events offered for U17 are:- Single Scull, Double Scull (2), Coxed Quad Scull (2) & Coxed Four.

3. U19 – there will be six (6) events available for this age group.

Events offered for U19 are:- Single Scull, Double Scull, Pair, Coxed Four, Coxed Quad & Eight.

4. U21 – there will be six (6) events available for this age group.

Events offered for U21 are:- Single Scull, Double Scull, Pair, Coxless Four, Coxless Quad & Eight.

5. U23 – all events will be combined with Senior category. If sufficient eligible U23 entries are received for regattas, consideration may be given to split Senior events into Senior A and Senior B (U23) at State Pennant Regattas, with Pennant points then allocated for both categories.

6. Senior – there will be seven (7) events available for women & eight (8) events available for men.

Events for Senior are:- Single Scull (2), Double Scull, Pair, Coxless Four, Men’s Coxed Four, Coxless Quad & Eight.

7. Masters – there will be eight (8) events available in Masters’ category.

Events offered are:- Single Scull, Double Scull, Pair, Coxless Four, Coxless Quad, Mixed Double, Mixed Coxless Quad & Mixed Eight. No changes to current available events.

8. Para – there will be five (5) events available in Para category.

Events for Para are:- Single Scull - 500M (2), Single Scull - 1000M (2) & Double Scull.

The Board does acknowledge & appreciate that rowing is a cyclical sport regarding age categories, and obviously our regatta program must be subject of regular review as participation numbers in the various categories change.

State Championships: All current Championship events are retained, plus U21 Championship events added.

Additional changes to Regatta Program 2019:

As a trial this coming season, the following events will be deleted from our State Pennant #4 Regatta program in December.

• Men’s Senior Coxed Four

• Women’s Senior Eight

• Men’s Senior Eight

These changes will allow for the following event to be added to the State Pennant #4 Regatta program:-

• Head of the Lake – Handicap Long Distance Eights Race to be conducted as the last event on Saturday afternoon at SP #4 only. (Approximately 5K, starting from opposite the waterfall @ Kentish Park, ending at LBI 2000m finish line) For several years we have been promoting the Head of the Lake event with limited success, primarily because of scheduling difficulties. In 2018 the event was conducted on 13th October in conjunction with the Junior Pathway Camp, but attracted only four entries despite excellent trophies. We do not want to add extra events to the RT Calendar, nor extend the time it takes to conduct a State Pennant regatta. Rather, by replacing 3 Senior sweep events with the handicap long distance Head of the Lake event at SP #4, we do anticipate strong entries from Men’s & Women’s Club eights, School eights & Masters’ eights, all competing against one another in a single eight oared, handicapped event. The Board believes our mid-December State Pennant Regatta is a good time to trial such an event, given the imminent festive season & holiday break etc. A more light-hearted (non-pennant points) event and a great eight oared spectacle to finish the year?

Rowing Tasmania Board – September 2019