September has been a month defined by international inspiration and strong domestic progress, as the World Rowing Championships took centre stage for athletes and supporters alike. Mercantile pride was on full display, with A Final appearances in the Men’s Four, Men’s Eight and Women’s Eight. A huge congratulations to all our athletes who represented on the world stage — we look forward to welcoming them home and seeing them back in action at the Head of the Yarra in November.
Back on home soil, a small contingent competed at the Saltwater Regatta, highlighted by a fantastic win in the Women’s B Quad Scull — a great early-season result and a sign of strong depth emerging across the squad.
We have also welcomed the arrival of several international athletes joining us for the upcoming season:
- Matt Fielding (Leander Club, UK)
- Grace Oliphant (UK)
- Anna Anasonal (USA)
- Georgie Wells
This is just the beginning — more international arrivals are expected to bolster our squads in the coming weeks.
High Performance Squad – Building the Engine
The HP squad is firmly in a base-building phase, clocking significant aerobic volume through long rows and heavy erg mileage. We continue to utilise Carrum weekly, moving 16–18 boats each session, ensuring depth, consistency and crew development remain priorities.
Saturday mornings at Mercs have been a spectacle, with 6–8 eights regularly launching from the shed. It has been particularly pleasing to see our Year 12 school athletes take up opportunities to integrate into the wider squad environment, learning, challenging themselves and embracing the club culture.
Looking Ahead – October on the Horizon
The coming month brings a packed and exciting domestic schedule:
- KAND Challenge Cup – Brisbane
- Club Omnium – Canberra
- National TT1 – Carrum (on our home private course)
With international momentum feeding into a strong domestic platform, the focus now shifts toward sharpening speed, building combinations, and preparing for a highly competitive summer ahead.
See you on the water,
Scott Rowe – Head Coach
