It’s been a dynamic and rewarding few months, both abroad and back on the Yarra.
After returning from a successful Senior World Cup Tour in Europe, I’m incredibly proud of our Mercantile athletes who represented Australia with distinction on the international stage. Austin Reinehr and Fergus Hamilton delivered standout performances in the Men’s Four, claiming gold at both World Cup regattas—a phenomenal achievement. Emmie Frederico continued to shine across multiple events, racing in the Women’s Pair and Eight in Varese, and earning silver in the Women’s Four in Lucerne.
We also saw impressive racing from Paige Barr in the Women’s Pair and from Jack Robertson and Angus Widdicombe in the Men’s Eight, who secured a silver medal in Lucerne at World Cup II. These performances not only reflect the calibre of Mercantile athletes but also our club’s ability to contribute meaningfully to the national high-performance program.
Our tour was strongly supported by Sean Colgan and Andrew Guerin, whose ongoing commitment to Australian rowing—and to Mercantile—cannot be overstated. A highlight off the water was the event hosted by Sean Colgan in Varese, which brought together Mercantilians and Australian oarspeople in a fantastic show of community and shared purpose.
Back in Melbourne, the domestic squad has been working hard throughout June and July. The Men’s Youth Squad, led by Ed Ryan, is going from strength to strength—both in numbers and performance. Notably, we fielded six eights in one session during June, a clear sign of our depth and momentum. Likewise, the Women’s Youth Squad under Tom Creber is continuing to grow, with many of our young women delivering strong performances at Henley Royal Regatta. This gives us great confidence in the talent and trajectory of this group.
Looking ahead, new training programming will roll out from August, with a strong emphasis on aerobic development. Athletes can expect more volume, longer rows, and plenty of minutes on the erg as we build a robust base leading into the next phase of the season.
We’re also excited to commence regular sessions at Carrum in August, which will be integral to our continued development—technically and physically—as a squad.
Thank you to all our athletes, coaches, supporters, and committee for their ongoing efforts and commitment. The spirit and energy around the club are as strong as ever, and I look forward to what’s to come as we continue our march toward 2026 and beyond.
Scott Rowe – Head Coach
