It’s been a strong and promising winter period at Mercantile, with numbers continuing to grow across all squads—a testament to the club’s momentum and ambition.
Our High-Performance squad, encompassing Senior and U23 athletes, is now nearing 30 members, all focused on national representation. Both our Men’s and Women’s Youth squads have exceeded 25 athletes each, and our Junior Performance Pathway squads continue to build, with athletes aspiring to U19 selection. Across the board, these groups reflect Mercantile’s commitment to fostering talent with serious ambition for state and national team honours.
Structured Strength and Conditioning (S&C) programs have now been implemented across all groups. We’re currently in the process of appointing dedicated S&C support to further refine technique and deliver greater physical outcomes for our athletes.
On the representative front, our National Training Centre and Australian A squad athletes are currently training in Canberra and Penrith, vying for selection for the 2025 World Championships in Shanghai. We expect crew announcements in the coming days and will be watching closely with pride.
In addition, congratulations to our U22 Oceania representatives, who recently competed in a very wet and windy West Lakes, Adelaide. Despite the conditions, they performed strongly and helped secure a regatta win for the Victorian team—a fantastic achievement.
Housekeeping
As school holidays come to an end and school season resumes, our early morning sessions have returned to 5:30am arrivals. Please ensure you have your boat lights for all sessions—safety must remain a top priority.
With growing squad sizes comes greater pressure on the fleet. If you damage a boat, report it immediately so we can arrange repairs and keep the equipment in top condition for all crews.
Thanks to everyone—athletes, coaches, and volunteers—for continuing to bring energy, discipline, and care to our programs. The season ahead is shaping up to be an exciting one.
Scott Rowe – Head Coach
