Our High Performance group continues to show excellent strength in numbers, with 25–30 athletes training in most sessions. The foundations we are building—both on the water and in the gym—are progressing well, and in the coming weeks we will begin streamlining the squads to allow for more focused coaching and tailored instruction.
Carrum, often labelled Victoria’s most maligned rowing course, has in fact proven to be one of our best assets. Each Wednesday we’ve been fortunate to have it almost to ourselves, enjoying superb conditions and the ability to run consistent, measured sets. To support this work, we have acquired an additional small boats trailer from VIS. With our current athlete numbers, Mercantile will be rolling into the NSW State Championships and Nationals as a two-trailer convoy. If you fancy a drive and a ringside seat at the regattas, we’ll be looking for some company come February and March!
National and International Representation
Our national representatives are deep in preparation for the World Championships in Shanghai. Mercantile is proudly represented in two of the priority Australian boats—the Women’s and Men’s Fours—through Emmie Frederico, Fergus Hamilton, and Austin Reinher, and in the Women’s and Men’s Eights with Paige Barr, Hailey Verbunt, and Jack Robertson. Both fields are shaping up as highly competitive, and we look forward to some thrilling racing.
Closer to home, our pathway and senior athletes continue to impress:
- Ruby Geouliakis has just returned from a stint with the Women’s NTC squad. Fresh from her time at Syracuse, she is firmly on the radar for national selectors.
- Anna Morrison has returned from Poland, where she raced in the Women’s Eight at the U23 World Championships alongside Summer Kellett in the coxswain’s seat. In one of the largest fields ever for this event, the crew finished second in the B Final—a strong showing on the world stage.
- Monty Salabank has also returned home after stroking the Junior Men’s Quad at the U19 World Championships in Lithuania. Under the guidance of Noel Donaldson, the crew built momentum across the regatta and placed fourth in the B Final on debut. Monty returns with invaluable experience and clear goals for his future.
We also farewelled our US-based college athletes who had been training strongly with us over their summer break. We look forward to welcoming them back in December. At the same time, we are preparing for the arrival of several new international athletes who will join Mercantile for the Australian rowing summer—details to follow in next month’s update.
Fleet and Facilities
We recently welcomed two new heavyweight Men’s Pairs from the RA NTC fleet, which will be heavily used across our HP and Youth squads. With athlete demand at a premium, these additions are perfectly timed. Looking ahead, we plan to add two Women’s Pairs/Doubles before Christmas and are refurbishing our entire small-boat fleet to maximise preparation opportunities for the season ahead.
Racing Ahead
With the new season fast approaching, our racing calendar is beginning to take shape. Mercantile is set to feature at:
- Saltwater Regatta – September
- Golden Oar Regatta – Canberra
- Club Omnium – Canberra
- Melbourne Head
- Head of the Yarra, where we are proud to confirm entries across 15 club boats.
The depth, enthusiasm, and commitment across our squads is outstanding, and we are well placed for another exciting and successful season.
Scott Rowe – Head Coach
