ARC Update - 22nd May 2026
- 1 day ago
- 5 min read
Updated: 17 hours ago
In This BUMPER Issue:
President's TED Talk
If you weren’t there—you missed a cracking night...
The 2026 Annual Dinner had everything, with a great crowd, genuinely great food, a few superstars and plenty of Dozen's. We celebrated a big season, had a few laughs, and recognised some outstanding ARC folk for their contributions and achievements — awarding the R.W. Richardson Shield to Donna Webb which was a real highlight and perfectly captured what our Club’s all about.
Plus, we introduced a new trophy for an ARC great - The Alexander Hill O.A.M. Award for Most Inspiring Race Performance - which was awarded to our U23 World Champion, Sam Stunell, for Season 2025-26.
Huge shoutout to everyone who helped put the night together behind the scenes—it doesn’t happen without you. And if you couldn’t make it… you can play catch up here.
Our second Learn to Row programme wrapped up recently with another 12 new rowers taking to the Torrens for a 5-week programme - a pretty excited and energetic bunch, so I'm optimistic that you'll get to meet a few as they find their feet at ARC. Please make them welcome, because we were all beginners once upon a time. The LTR Programme will now be parked up until September while we focus on delivering the Winter Programme.
Speaking of the Winter Programme, we are on final countdown to the first sessions next Sunday morning at both West Lakes & the Torrens. We have over 70 junior athletes registered for this year, supported by a great team of coaches!
A special shout out to Tim Santin and his band of merry helpers for the great work behind the bar. April was the best trading month for bar revenue in the last 2 years, and May month to date might even be better!
Finally - plenty of ARC members are in competition this coming week...
8 ARC members are racing for SA in the U22 Oceania Teams Championships in Queensland starting today! Good luck to Grace Barrera, Tamara Bates, Sasha Humble, Alex Lee, Igor Zarubin, Ren Anderson, Tom O'Mahony - and as a late call-up - Sam Williams!
Mieka Webb, Jess Lobban & Andrew Tidemann will be racing for Club & State at the Australian Masters Championships in WA, starting on Wednesday 27th May - with Daren Potts & Bernard Le Riche coaching the SA Master's Women's Eight going for 6-in-a-row in the Interstate race.
Ella Bramwell will be racing with the Australian Women's Eight at 2026 World Cup I in Seville, Spain to be held Friday 29th through Sunday 31st.
Good luck to all & let's get after it ARC!
Mitch
Welcomes & Thank You's
Welcome to our newest members:
Corey Bayliss
Sophie Kennett-Smith
Annalise Size
Thanks to:
Mieka Webb, Sam Williams, Ella McKay, Izzy Lease, Adam Pope & Corey Bayliss - Annual Dinner Helpers
Tom Merrigan - installing new rigger racks at the West Lakes Shed + boat maintenance on the I'Zingari XXI
Chris Greening - hunting parts to get the I'Zingari XVIII back into service
Erica Webb - Regatta Volunteering 2 May
Josh Lasscock - Winter programme preparations
Winter is Coming!
ARC is about to become home to over 70 enthusiastic and excited junior rowers for the 2026 Winter Programme for 12 weeks, starting Sunday 31st May! It's a huge programme - basically a doubling of our normal number of active rowers - so keep in mind that there will be times when certain boats won't be available for general use, or that the gym will be busier than usual.
Year 8/9 - On Water
Training at the Torrens twice per week
Sunday 9am to 11am & Wednesday 4:30pm to 6:30pm
Up to 5x coxed quads & 1x coxed eight, plus small boats as required.
Coaches - Annalise Size (lead), Claire Rogers, Petra Mucsi, Emma Venus & Sam Williams
Year 10/11 - On Water
West Lakes - Sunday 9am to 11am & Tuesday 5:30am to 7:30am
Up to 3-4x Coxed eights, 2x coxless four/quads + small boats as required.
Coaches - Simon Lane (lead), Tom Merrigan (lead), Harrison Linder, Andre Pistonik & Charly Mason
Year 10/11 - Strength & Conditioning
Torrens Gym - Mon / Wed / Fri from 4:00pm to 5:30pm
Ergo's, weights, flexibility
Coaches - Josh Lasscock
ARC in Action!
Housekeeping
A clean, tidy shed sets the tone for everything we do—when our space looks good, we feel good, and that attitude flows into how we row, support each other, and represent the Club. It also creates appeal for people who are walking into our shed for the first time, because first impressions really do count...
We're putting some of the big pieces in place to make this easier with new rigger racks, new storage cabinets, new hose reels, fresh signage etc. But we need you to do your bit too.
Keeping our sheds tidy costs us nothing but a bit of intent: a minute to rinse a boat thoroughly, stack oars correctly, keep bags out of walkways, or simply putting things back where they belong.
Those small actions add up quickly and become infectious, creating a standard that becomes normal.
Child Safe Protocols
With the increased presence of young people around our sheds for the Winter Programme, we remind all Members of the need to maintain a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment for children and young people.
Keep things respectful — consider who might be watching or in listening range and act accordingly.
Avoid one-on-one interactions with junior participants in private areas. Keep interactions in open, public areas, and with two adults present.
No photo or video recording in the change rooms at any time.
Do not use change rooms while young people are using them - provide privacy and wait outside until they are finished before entering.
You might notice some new signage on the Torrens change room doors to help highlight these requirements.
Please refer to our Child Safe Environment Policy or contact Mitch Oliver (Child Safety Officer) for further details.
Boatshed Security
There have been a couple of security issues recently, and we remind Members of the need to be security conscious at both sheds.
Theft of bike lights from the West Lakes shed - likely from someone reaching through the mesh and stealing from a coaching bike.
The West Lakes lock box not being latched properly.
A member of the public found "wandering" through the Torrens boatshed...
Please note:
All personal property left in the sheds solely at the owner's risk.
At the Torrens, we encourage bikes and bags to be stored in the change rooms, and not in the main shed where they can be interfered with or present as a trip hazard.
We have put new cupboards in both sheds to store valuable club equipment such as cox-boxes and radios. Combination locks will be installed on these - please lock after putitng gear in or out.
Overdue Regatta Invoices
Outstanding race fee invoices from SA State Champs, NSW State Champs & Nationals regattas total nearly $3,000.
If you raced at these regattas, please check your email (spam folder?) to make sure you have nothing owing to ARC. Multiple reminders have already been sent...
If unsure, please reach out to a Committee Member to check.
Members with overdue invoices will see equipment usage privileges suspended from 31 May.