Our History

The Armidale Rowing Club was founded in 1988 and provides sculling and sweep oar rowing for all in the Armidale and Guyra areas, from ages 13 and up.

A brief reflection on the early years of the Armidale rowing Club

Rowing in the Northern Tablelands

Welcome to this brief history of rowing in the Northern Tablelands.

Rowing has been a sport in our region for over 30 years and, at times, involved the general public, University staff and students, and the Armidale High Schools. Despite the logistical challenges of distance to water, weather conditions and limited population from which to encourage membership, rowers from the Club have proven to be highly competitive at District, State, National and International levels. Very few sporting clubs are able to boast the number of World Champions as members of our Club, particularly from such humble beginnings.

The compilation of the information contained in the next couple of pages is the first step towards presenting a full history of the Armidale Rowing Club. This brief snap shot is possible only through the meticulous record keeping and historical documentation by former Club Secretary, Susan Sypkens. In places I have tried to enhance to narrative with incorporating personal recollections by early Club members, Tim Rogers and Alan Mackenzie.

However, I take responsibility for any errors and would appreciate having these brought to my attention so that a more in depth Club record can be published. Indeed, it is proposed to build upon the information contained in this booklet to prepare a formal history of the sport of rowing in the Northern Tablelands., illustrating the contributions made by many of the past members. Where past members are able to provide clarification for any minor errors, or can provide anecdotal comments, these would be greatly appreciated.

Please, enjoy reading this information as part of the Armidale Rowing Club’s 25th Anniversary Dinner celebrations .

Steven Cotter, Club member and Compiler

Competitions

In April, 1989, the Club held an informal regatta amongst the aquatic sporting clubs using Malpas Dam. Initially a race for rowing, kayaking and sailing crews, each raced from in front of the boat ramp towards each of the three highest peaks surrounding the Dam. At a designated point at the Dam edge below each peak, one member of each crew would run to the top of peak and return before moving to the next location. In subsequent years to race was opened to external clubs and consisted of divisions for each discipline. It became apparent that rowing was more competitive during calm weather and coxed boats had an advantage over coxless crews.

The Club’s Inaugural Regatta was held of the 5^th April, 1992. The success of this event was quickly expanded upon to include the Northern Rivers Rowing Association versus Central Districts Rowing Association Challenge; the NEGS and TAS sculling races. Crews regularly competed at District regattas within the rowing season with all successes documented in the Club minute books.

The first rowing success at a competitive regatta was at Taree in 1990 where club members competed as part of the Men’s Masters 8+ crew from the Northern Rivers Rowing Association.

Men’s 50+ crew of Phil Bookallil, Malcolm Treadgold, John Sypkens and Alan McKenzie.

In 1993, a Men’s over 50 years crew of John Sypkens, Charles Belfield, David Smith and Phil Bookallil with Andrew Sypkens as coxswain, won the NSW Masters Championship coxed four at Taree before proceeding to victory in the Australian Masters Rowing Championships in Penrith in a time of 3.34.

Early Challenges

The formation of a rowing club was the easy part in starting a new sport in the region. Encouraging membership, raising funds, obtaining equipment and then getting facilities at the dam posed the greater challenges; many of these still impact the Club to this day.

During the early period of rowing at Malpas Dam, the donated boats were stored at the Palmerston woolshed south east of Armidale, with transportation to the dam each morning and return. This procedure was both tiresome and time consuming, and accelerated the Club’s desire to construct a shed at the dam. Moreover, the late start to rowing on the weekends precluded experiencing the favourable rowing conditions that frequently occur on the dam in the early morning.

The major structure for the rowing shed was erected before Christmas, 1990 with the support poles donated by Mike Rose (Springmount property) and the sawn timber supplied by Stuart St Clair from his saw mill at Guyra. The earthen floor being covered with crushed rock at that time. It was not until 2000 that funding was obtained to concrete the shed floor.

At a general meeting of the Club in October, 1991, it was stated that following increases in membership, the Club was desperately in need of boats and rowing blades. Grant applications were to be prepared for the erection of a landing pontoon and also for a upper level to the rowing shed. These aspects are also high of the wish list of the current Club membership.

The Start

In 1973, some University of New England students (Simon Smith, Fiona Nicholls, Andy Rankin, David Butt, Ken Jones and others tried to form a rowing club; raising funds in a raffle but due to insufficient interest, this attempt was not successful. Instead, the students raised sufficient money to fund a trip to Grafton to compete in a regatta.

A second attempt to start a club was made in the mid 1970s using equipment donated by Newcastle University. Whilst this too, was unsuccessful, the two old pairs (Amazon and No Name) and oars were subsequently donated to the Armidale YMCA.

Yet, public interest in rowing was growing. In a report prepared by Professor John Burton from the Natural Resources and Management Department of the University he indicated the potential for rowing with other aquatic sports to mitigate the impacts of algal blooms that frequently affected this major water storage in the region.

[I am unsure whether Prof. Burton mapped the 2000 metre rowing course on Malpas Dam or whether it is included as part of the original concept plans for the dam prepared by Dept. Public Works prior to construction in 1968]

Enquiries and advertisements followed and a rowing club was formed in 1978; members included John Sypkens, Alan McKenzie, Colin Grigg, Malcolm Treadgold, John Burton, Peter Nevitt, Bob Backhouse, Beau Warden, Jim Walmsley, Jon Anstock and Bruce Chick. Unfortunately, this attempt was also unable to maintain any momentum and subsequently folded.

In 1987, unaware of the previous attempts to start rowing in the region, Tim Rogers invited members from the Grafton Rowing Club to bring a coxed four to Armidale and to seek their comments regarding the potential for rowing on the Northern Tablelands. Locations trailed included Broombia Dam (private property), Dumaresq Dam and Malpas Dam with discussions with keen potential members John Sypkens, David Walsh and Rod Fussell. Following suitable enticements, accommodation and meals at the Tattersall’s Hotel provided by Tim, it was agreed that rowing was feasible. A public notice was placed in the local paper and the Armidale Rowing Club was finally established.

Expansion of the sport quickly followed to include TAS and NEGS and then the other high schools in Armidale, as well as the University.

Boat acquisitions

The first boats were donated to the Armidale Rowing Club on 9^th November, 1988 by Pine Rivers Rowing Club and comprised a coxed four, Drury, and a timber tub four Twister with a gel coat exterior.

Tim Roger’s recollections: “I remember driving up there [Pine Rivers, Brisbane] to have a look at them. Both had points on either end and floated. Beggars cannot be choosers.”

In February, 1989 the Club obtained racing coxed four and pair. As well, the Kings School, Sydney donated a 1975 built timber eight.

The first Club purchases from funds raised by members were several boats from Sydney University Boat Club in December, 1991. These consisted of two training sculls, a wooden S&B coxed four, three wooden S&B pairs, a S&B training scull, and a fibreglass S&B coxed four for racing.

The Club purchased Centennial and Winnie Terrey in 1992 from St Joseph’s College (Joeys), Hunter’s Hill for $200 . These boats still remain part of the Club’s equipment with both used as part of our Learn-to-row program.

Timeline

YEAR	EVENT
1973	First attempt to for a rowing club by UNE students
1978	Rowing club established but folded shortly afterwards
1988	Rowing Club successfully established
1989	1st Three Peaks Challenge / Rowing commenced at TAS
1990	Construction commenced on rowing shed / Rowing commenced at NEGS
1992	1st Club regatta (5th April)
1992	In November, guest speaker Gillian Campbell (Barcelonea Olympic Games) and Rowing NSW visit Malpas Dam
1993	Men’s D (50 yrs +) win Australian Masters Championship
1995	Club colours of predominately White with 9cm Dark Green horizontal band and 9cm Red horizontal band with Dark green shorts approved by NSW Rowing
1996	Martin Inglis wins single at U23 World Championship
1997	John Sypkens wins 60 years + 1x, 2x, 2-, 4-, 4x events at World Masters Championships in Adelaide
1996	Martin Inglis in Aus Men’s Quad Scull wins U23 World Championship
2001	Last Club regatta held at Malpas Dam
2004	-9 Malpas Dam frequently closed due to algal blooms / Club reduced to a few members
2013	Resurgence in interest in rowing with learn-to-row programs, regular weekend social rowing and training
2013	25th Anniversary since formation