RSA Derails Competition at Corporate Challenge
Rowing WA’s Corporate Challenge Regatta on Saturday saw crews from Roy Hill, Bellevue Gold and Rail Systems Australia battle it out over three rounds of racing. The event was the culmination of an eight-week Corporate Learn-to-Row Program, where participants spent many cold, early mornings learning how to make their boats move – a feat that anyone who has stepped into a racing shell before knows is tough. On race day, early favourites Roy Hill had two boats in the mix, and their top crew made it through undefeated to the A Final… however, a costly technical mistake through the middle of the race left them unable to contend for the win and Rail Systems Australia will return to the office on Monday with bragging rights. Roy Hill’s second crew defeated Bellevue Gold easily in the B Final, and the company were also victors in the Fours Race at the end of the day. Swan River Rowing Club and The University of WA Boat Club hosted the corporates, putting each crew through an eight-week Learn to Row program and supporting them on Regatta Day with coaching, equipment and hospitality.
Rail Systems Australia's winning Eight in action! Photo: Pat Boere
We were lucky enough to have Rowing Australia Patron and Roy Hill Executive Chairman Mrs. Gina Rinehart AO join us during the regatta to watch the racing and show her support!
We were also joined by very special guest FAT CAT who came down to drum up support for the Telethon (who one of the corporates, Roy Hill, are long-time supporters!).
Fat Cat lending a helping hand! Photo: Roy Hill
If you couldn't make it down in person, the whole thing was live streamed, complete with commentary from the very best that we could bribe... dynamic duo Jamie Hewlett and Gen Hart!! The live stream footage will be available for everyone to relive their glory very soon.
Results
EIGHTS TROPHY
First – Rail Systems Australia ‘The Oarway Express’
Second – Roy Hill 1
Third – Roy Hill 2
Fourth – Bellevue Gold ‘The Bellevue Blades’
FOURS TROPHY
First – Roy Hill
Second – Rail Systems Australia 1
Third – Bellevue Gold
Fourth – Rail Systems Australia 2
The victorious Roy Hill 4+! Photo: Roy Hill.
Anyway, read on to find out all about our 2023 Corporate Crews!
THE CORPORATES
Bellevue Gold
Hosted by Swan River Rowing Club
"Bellevue Gold has assembled a high-grade, nimble, diverse and effective team much like the Bellevue Gold mine. The team has been training three times a week for the last six weeks and are ready for the big regatta. Later this year production will commence at its flagship Bellevue Gold Project and the Company will be pouring gold, which will place the mine in the top twenty largest gold mines in Australia, and the company has the aspirational goal to reach net zero emissions by 2026.
Coached by Perry Ward, Ross Brown and Mike Hinsley, strongly supported by Neville Kempton and Simone Burge!
After the regatta, Bellevue Gold, led by Darren Stralow, is looking forward to taking what they’ve learnt from the coaches and support team at SRRC and applying it to the Bellevue business. This may include (but not be limited to) mandated rowing themed outfits for the Christmas party and corporate teambuilding exercises that mimic real life Survivor episodes. In addition, the idea of future merger and acquisition negotiations being settled by challenging other CEOs to a head to head knock out – winner takes all has been floated."
Rail Systems Australia
Hosted by UWA Boat Club
"Rail Systems Australia started in Perth in 2016 and has grown to a national business of 150 engineers, technical rail specialists and project delivery team members. Our work in Perth includes signalling and station systems for Bayswater station, the new Morley Ellenbrook line and the elevation of the Armadale line
Only 2 of those 150 have any rowing experience, so it has been a real learning curve for those that bravely signed up to participate in the Corporate rowing training. With great support from UWA coaches our crew has navigated the cold weather, crew member European holidays, and the obstacles dotted around the swan river, to get to the start line full of enthusiasm.
We are a very multicultural company, and the rowing crew reflects that, with representation from Sweden, Mongolia, Spain, Malaysia, UK and Australia.
The purpose of RSA having a rowing team in this event is all about team building within the company. Rowing is an amazing sport to bring together team members – learning about each other along the way. Its been a great way to bring this team together and we have come a long way since the first water session. Having the corporate regatta at the end of the process has been a great goal, but regardless of the results, the experience will be remembered by everyone and the company and employees will all be better for it."
Roy Hill
Hosted by Swan RIver Rowing Club
"Roy Hill are proud to support three charities who provide care, help and hope to people facing a variety of challenges. Their racing uniform represents these three charities....
Pink represents the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Blue represents Men's Health through the Movember charity, and the sleeves are the Telethon PJ Print support medical research into childhood diseases, provide equipment, critical services and life-changing opportunities for sick, disadvantaged and vulnerable children. In 2022, the Hancock Prospecting Group donated a total of $3 million to the Telethon through workplace giving and a $2 million donation from Hancock Prospecting!
"Through Hancock Prospecting Group, Roy Hill is an Australian Olympic Partner and we were lucky enough to have Olympic rowers Cameron Girdlestone and Luke Letcher join us for training last Friday, which was a great experience for the whole team!
Our Executive Chairman Mrs Rinehart AO is of course the patron of Rowing Australia and through the Patron’s Medal Achievement Incentive Fund announced last week, has committed $3 million over two years in the lead up to and the 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games. It will provide performance-based payments to the country’s best rowers, swimmers, volleyball players and artistic swimmers should they win medals at a World Championship, and Olympic or Paralympic Games."
Thank you to everyone who supported the event on the day, including our wonderful BROs Brett, Paul and Luke, and every volunteer, corporate rower, and club member who had a hand in making it a success! We hope to see it back bigger and better next year so stay tuned!
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