ARC Update - 22nd December 2025
- mitch23862
- Dec 22, 2025
- 5 min read
Updated: Dec 24, 2025
Highlights in this final ARC Update for 2025
2025 President’s Wrap
With this year almost done and dusted, it’s the perfect time to reflect on the year that was!
2025 has been nothing short of amazing for ARC members on the water, with fantastic achievements at all levels:
ARC placed 3rd on the medal tally at the 2025 Australian Rowing Championships – too many incredible results to call out individually!
Our best-ever season for Australian representation, with 9 ARC members selected to wear the green and gold.
Oscar McGuinness claimed the President’s Cup for South Australia.
Sam Stunell enjoyed a breakout international season in para-rowing, earning three international medals and a World Championship title.
Alex Hill & Angus Dawson powered the Australian Men’s Eight to victory at Henley Royal Regatta.
Wins at the 2025 U22 Oceania Championships for Jono McKay (LM1x & M8+) and Igor Zarubin (M8+).
Andrew Tidemann won 4 gold and a bronze at the Australian Master's Rowing Championships while Daren Potts coached the SA Master's Women's Eight to a 3rd consecutive Interstate victory!
Strong State Team representation across the board
Off the water, we kept the momentum going with initiatives to grow & strengthen our Club:
Launched our new Club values: Ambition, Respect & Camaraderie.
Published our two-year plan - Our Club, Our Plan for 2025-2027
Kicked off the Under 21 Development Squad coached by Simon Lane & Tom Merrigan
Rejuvenated & consolidated our social media presence on Facebook & Instagram
Upgraded our website and back-office IT systems
Overhauled the Club Constitution and refreshed our Club policies
Began planning for the Torrens Clubrooms Upgrade project
Rationalised and refreshed our merchandise offering
But if I had to pick a personal favourite amongst all ARCs highlights of the year, it would be the re-activation of Thursday Night Social Rowing in the last few weeks – nothing beats seeing our members enjoying our great sport together!
My thanks to every member who contributed in any way towards making ARC such a vibrant & treasured institution in 2025. Special thanks to our volunteers – your passion and dedication keep this Club running – and to the Committee for their tireless work behind the scenes.
Looking Ahead to 2026
I’m excited for what’s next - and so should you too!
Our top priorities for 2026 are:
Resuming the ARC Learn to Row program
Delivering the Torrens Clubroom Upgrade project
Prioritising these goals with ruthless, laser-like focus will go a long way towards unlocking our Club’s true potential.
Of course, it is easy to say these things and they much harder to do, and there are always more things to be done than just these two items. Nothing worthwhile comes easily - success takes effort, dedication, and sacrifice. Challenges will always exist to test us, but if we keep our shared vision and values front of mind, we will succeed together.
Our Vision is to be recognised as the premier rowing club in South Australia with respect to participation, competition & culture.
We will achieve our Vision by staying true to our Values of Ambition, Respect & Camaraderie.
So, well done to all ARC in 2025, and here’s looking ahead to 2026.
Let’s keep pulling together – on and off the water – with ambition, respect, & camaraderie at the heart of everything we do.
Mitch
124th Christmas Morning Reunion
We warmly invite all members, friends, and family to join us for the traditional ARC Christmas Morning Reunion at 10am on Christmas Day at the ARC Torrens clubrooms.
This cherished and unbroken tradition has brought our community together for 124 years — a short, joyful get-together before we head off to our other Christmas festivities.
Come along with family and friends to share in carol singing, laughter, and camaraderie. All are welcome.
ARC Members selected as 2026 SA State Team Coaches
Well done to the following ARC Members who were selected to coach SA crews at the 2026 Interstate Regatta at Lake Barrington, TAS.
Daren Potts & Ron Mobbs - Co-Coaches, Women’s Eight
Tom Merrigan - Assistant Coach, Men’s Youth Eight
Nominations EXTENDED for ARC Crews
for 2026 State Champs
Nominations are now open for members who wish to be considered for selection into ARC 1st Grade crews to compete at the 2026 SA State Championships, to be held on 6th - 8th of February 2026.
Mandatory selection events are as follows:
December 2km Ergo Test
Complete between Mon 8th Dec to Wed 24th Dec
May use result from state/national team trials.
Must be witnessed by another ARC member with a photo of ergo screen sent to the selectors (selectors@adelaiderowingclub.com.au)
West Lakes Regatta
Saturday 17th January
Must compete in at least one small boat (1x or 2-) and one big boat (2x, 4-, 4+, 4x, 8+) race over 2000m (open or underage).
Pre-selected athletes are exempt from this requirement.
Crews (inc. any named reserves) will be announced as soon as possible following the Jan 17th regatta, and no later than Friday 23rd January. Selected crews (exc. interstate-based athletes) are expected to train once/week in the lead-up to the regatta. Final crews (inc. interstate-based athletes) are required to be available to train and set-up boats for racing on afternoon of Friday 6th Feb at West Lakes.
The ARC Selection Policy will be applied and is available here. For any queries, please contact the ARC Selection Panel Chair, Trent Collins, via selectors@adelaiderowingclub.com.au.
Half-Year Renewals Open
Half-year renewals are now open and fall due by 1 January. Relevant members have been emailed separately - please action your renewal early to avoid inconvenience. For members planning on racing, please make sure that you get yourself sort well before close of entries
17 Jan West Lakes Regatta - renewal cut-off Wed 7 Jan.
First Grade State Champs - renewal cut-off Wed 28 Jan.
Trial Changes to Semi-Active Membership
As a trial for the rest of the 2025-26 season, we're offering Thursday Night Social Rowing on the Torrens to our Semi-Active members.
So instead of just being limited to use of the ARC gym and ergo's, Semi-Active members are now eligible to get in a boat on Thursday nights!
When combined with a half-year membership to 30 June 2026, it works out that you can get a weekly Thursday night row for equivalent of just $10/week - how awesome is that!
There's never been a better (or cheaper) way to get back into casual rowing on the Torrens! It’s not just for existing members - spread the word, reach out to a mate and join in together!
Advance Notice - New Fobs Inbound
In the New Year, all eligible ARC members will be issued with new, uniquely-coded, access fobs for the Torrens shed.
If eligible, you will be issued with a new fob (bright green or royal blue) between now and 31 January at no cost, with collection on a Thursday night. Please note that fobs will not be sent by post, and will be issued through in-person collection only.
All existing fobs (grey or blue) issued before December 2025 will be de-activated and will stop working on 31 January.
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