Fremantle, ANA Break Drought at 2023 ROTY

Saturday night at Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club saw the annual Rower of the Year awards kick off in style. Some took the Cocktail dress code more seriously than others, but the spectacular sunset did its best to outshine even the sparkliest squinned outfits (cough... Sarah Black). Pete Doyle was our honorary MC who was entertaining as always and we have him and his efficiency to thank for having dinner on time!! 

 The Pennant awards saw a continued run of 2023 success for Fremantle, with their first A Grade pennant win since 1967!! This is of course off the back of their historic first ever CWO8+ win at State Champs - no surprise that they had a great night to cap off a successful season. Congratulations to Fremantle as they have also been named as a finalist for the Rowing Australia Club of the Year Awards.

Fremantle RC members with their pennants & trophies (I did try to find a photo where they're all looking at the camera!!)

 ANA Rowing Club were always a bridesmaid never the bride for the top prize... until this year when they pipped UWA and their winning streak for Champion Club of the Year! Congratulations ANA on your holistic growth across the year, and commitment to developing your club in all areas - your hard work and smart club management is well and truly paying off. 

L-R: DLGSC Executive Director of Sport and Rec Matt Hayes, ANA Rowing Club Captain Mark Easterbrook, Croker Oars representative Brett Woolfitt OAM

For those who went home without a guernsey, rest assured that next year will be bigger & better than ever - and how good is it that our community is so competitive and continues to strive for higher and higher standards  - besides, maybe the real treasure was the friends you made along the way? 

Dan announced the next General Manager of Operations (scroll down for more on that), and reminisced on everything the WA rowing commuity have achieved over the last 12 months. We were thrilled to have some VIP Presenters in attendance from DLGSC, Sport West, WAIS, VenuesWest and Croker Oars. We are so grateful for their support! 

Congratulations to every person who has played a part in building their club & the sport over the last 12 months - you all have a lot to be proud of!!

WINNERS

Healthway Act Belong Commit Competition Winner - Fremantle Rowing Club

BRO Encouragement Award - Michelle Davis (FRC)

BRO of the Year - KG Dassanayake (CLBC)

Rowing WA Volunteer of the Year - Winner: Kath McGuckin (PRC), Finalists: Simone Burge (SRRC), Annie Kenwery (ANA), Rosalba Vicario-Adams (SRRC)

Club Volunteer of the Year - Winner: Pete Holliday (FRC), Finalists: Ken Edwards & the SRRC Masters (SRRC), Conall Hansford (Curtin), Cassandra King (ANA)

Club Coach of the Year- Joint Winners - Keely Atchison (FRC) and Jake Sangster (Shenton), Finalists: Nick Bretland (WARC), Graham Scattergood (ANA)

Coach of the Year - Winner: Jamie Hewlett (WAIS), Finalists: Mark Beer (SRRC)

ROWING AWARDS

Male Masters Rower of the Year - Winner: Richard Ralph (ANA), Finalists: Nigel Lucas (ANA), James McGrath (ANA)

Female Masters Rower of the Year - Winner: Celia Cornwell (PRC), Finalists: Nancy Ralph (ANA), Alex Thornton (SRRC)

Age Oarsman of the Year - Winner: Alex Rossi (WARC/WAIS), Finalists: Johnson Daubney (SRRC/WAIS), Riley Rees-Turner (SRRC)

Age Oarswoman of the Year - Winner: Jacqui Swick (SRRC/HPNTC), Finalists: Lyla Fievez (FRC), Becky PRetorius (SRRC/WAIS), Greta Spencer (SRRC)

Oarsman of the Year - Josh Hicks (SRRC/SRC/RBNTC), Finalists: Jack Cleary (WARC/RBNTC), Alex Rossi (WARC/WAIS)

Oarswoman of the Year - Annabelle McIntyre (FRC/HPNTC), Finalists: Bronwyn Cox (UWABC/HPNTC), Giorgia Patten (WARC/HPNTC), Jacqui Swick (SRRC/HPNTC)

PENNANTS

Novice Sculling Award - The UWA Boat Club

Masters Pennant - ANA Rowing Club

Head Race Pennant - Fremantle Rowing Club

D Grade Pennant - West Australian Rowing Club

C Grade Pennant - The UWA Boat Club

B Grade - Fremantle Rowing Club

A Grade - Fremantle Rowing Club

Overall Premiership Pennant - Fremantle Rowing Club

Champion Club of the Year - ANA Rowing Club

A huge thank you to Rowgear who donated the $500 prize for the Novice Sculling Award, and Croker Oars who donated towards a pair of oars for the Champion Club of the Year.