The 5th RP Challenge was held on Sunday, November 22 at Leichhardt RC.
Among many highlights:

Over 100 individual races were held in just over 4 hours – a record and a tribute to the timekeepers and recorders – thanks to Jo, Nell, Hermione, Chloe, Libby, Gill, Jim, Matt, Sophie, Sarah (and anyone I’ve forgotten!) in particular, and a special thanks to those who brought computers from home as well!

Record prognostics were achieved in both the Men’s and Women’s Championships. Peter Hardcastle may have set a new World Record for power generation (566 watts) in the Men’s section, as well as setting a new record prognostic of 98.9% (5’ 22.6” on 8+ setting) – the World Record aspect is being investigated right now. In the women’s competition Amy Ives set a new World’s best time on a Rowperfect of 6’05” (8+) , setting a new record time for the Rowperfect Challenge in the process and only narrowly missing Tess Gerrand’s World Record prognostic (97.8% W8+ vs. 99.2 for Junior W8+, set in March this year). 8 members of the Waratahs Rugby team were our special guests for the day, and divided into 2 “crews” for the Footballers 1500 Metres. Wycliffe Palu, Josh Holmes, Dean Mumm and Tom Carter finished too strongly for Adam Watson, Jono Jenkins, Ben Robinson and Kingsley Seale. Jono Jenkins, a super-fit breakaway, emerged at the head of the pack to take the individual trophy.

Some sensational races, including the men’s open heat which included Olympian Tom Laurich, member of the Aus 4- at Athens 2004 and former Australian record holder on the CII, and Jaxon Ruddock, who has just returned to Australia after rowing with Boston University while studying Business and Commerce. Both Tom and Jaxon broke the previous record time, scoring 5’29”/549W and 5’33”/520W respectively but unable to match Peter’s blistering pace.

In the Women’s Junior section, Chloe O’Reagan set a new record and prognostic for Junior Women, beating Alex Handley’s record from last year. Her prognostic of 96.4% meant that for the first time, the Junior Women’s winner achieved a higher prognostic than the Junior Men’s – now there’s a challenge for next year!

In the Men’s Junior category , 4 young men from St Joseph’s College finished within 1 second, with the place-getters separated by 0.4 seconds! Winner Tom Quilty and runner-up Sam Behan both bettered Tom Ing’s record from 2004 by 0.4 and 0.3 seconds respectively.

The School categories (crews raced one member at a time), saw great action again - in both the Boys’ and Girls’ IVs. This resulted in tremendous racing - the final result being unclear until the last rower finished! In both categories placings were determined by fractions of a second.

The Coxswains’ Fly&Die 500mtr events were keenly contested – and yet again the girls nearly beat the boys, with Jo Hendy of Pymble at 1.34 only 0.2 seconds behind Xavier Mancini of SJC…next year promises to be fierce!

Real spectator involvement and support added to the event. Plenty of parents and supporters left with greater understanding and appreciation of the acute effort involved in rowing, as well as the great satisfaction that comes with a top effort. The crowd got right behind the Waratahs in particular.

Hearty Thanks!
NSWRA and Rowperfect Australia are indebted to the members and Committee of LRC for their generosity and support in providing the clubhouse for the Challenge for the first time. The central location, with perfect natural light and air as well as a compact layout with the crowd able to see the screens as the rowers sweated, made for a great atmosphere. Rowperfect Australia would also like to thank the NSWRA, and in particular CEO David Evans, for their support in running the Challenge, which continues to grow

Thanks also to Delia Morgan and her team from LRC for manning the canteen and BBQ. Plenty of bacon and egg rolls as well as healthy fruit, muffins and slices kept the energy levels high – well done team! George Andronicus of NOVA COFFEE (a former stroke of Riverview’s 1st VIII!), generously provided coffee and brewing equipment. Thanks George, it was greatly appreciated, and the funds generated will flow straight to junior rowing at LRC as you directed.

To the Waratahs – thanks men, and thanks especially to Ewen McKenzie (Coach) and Peter McDonald (Head Trainer) for accepting the Challenge issued by David Evans on their behalf. It was terrific having you along – your great team spirit and enthusiasm for such a daunting task only one week into your early season training were a credit to you and your organisation. We’ll welcome you again next year – when we hope to promote you as the CURRENT SUPER 14 CHAMPIONS! GOOD LUCK FOR THE COMING SEASON – NEW SOUTH WALES ROWING IS RIGHT BEHIND YOU!

Lastly and most importantly, to the competitors: A huge thank you. Facing up to a test on a rowing machine is a truly daunting challenge. To do so in front of a crowd is even harder, especially for young athletes who have invested so much time and effort in preparation, and when so much is riding on the result. It really is a thrill and a privilege to watch someone give everything they have to such a task, and we hope that you gained something more than a score by being involved.

We saw some of the World’s best rowers in action yesterday – from Peter Hardcastle and Amy Ives in the Senior ranks, the courageous Waratahs (who’d never participated in an indoor regatta previously and in some cases never done an ‘erg’ test!) to the students from St Joseph’s, Cranbrook and Pymble, we had a rare opportunity to get “up close and personal” with true elite athletes and see just how far mastery of pain and raw courage can take you.

Whether this was your first RP Challenge or your 5th, we hope to see you back again; if not next year, then maybe the year after or the year after that……Rowing is a bit like that – an old friend you can catch up with whenever you need…a Challenge!

And last, but never least: David Moore has once again supplied sensational photos as well as being a peerless and tireless supporter of rowing – the ultimate tribute, a true rowing tragic.

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