108th regatta rows out

DOZENS of expert and amateur rowing teams helped ring in New Year’s Day at the 108th Anglesea Regatta.

From noon, 100 entrants formed 37 crews to take part in a series of 28 races on the Anglesea River, using the Anglesea Recreation and Sports Club’s (AR&SC) original four clinker skiff boats that have been in use since the first race was held in 1913.

Northerly winds and mostly clear skies were a favourable accompaniment for the 2023 event that included men’s and ladies’ pairs and fours, mixed crews, and Plus 100 and 200 races where the crews ages tallied over the corresponding event number.

AR&SC president Elly Stewart said she was pleased to welcome members of the Corio Bay, Richmond and Yarra Yarra rowing clubs, who competed alongside Torquay, Anglesea and Aireys Inlet locals.

“We also had Pam Westendorf, a world championship rower, and we had Dick Garrard, a regular who turns 80 this year,” she said.

“To have such a world recognised historic event that we run year in year out, it’s always a thrill to see our boats in the water every year.”
First held in 1913 as a friendly challenge between the townships of Aireys Inlet and Anglesea, the history of the race has lived on through the use of the original pairs and fours boats that are lovingly maintained by AR&SC volunteers.

This year’s Grand Challenge Cup Winner went to the Bon Aire crew of four who took their name from the Anglesea house of the same name that’s fielded crews in the race since its early days.

With river levels low, Ms Stewart said the typical regatta format of having all four boats on the water at the same time was not possible, but organisers were still pleased with how the day proceeded, as was the crowd.

“The youngest competitor was 14 and the oldest was 79,” she said.
“We’re very happy with the day, there was a very successful sausage sizzle and great sale of merchandise, all of which goes back to maintaining the club.”