Coastal Rowing Noosa wins big at National Championships

Crews from Coastal Rowing Noosa (CRN) took home 5 bronze medals from the inaugural Australian Coastal Rowing Championships held on Noosa main beach from 18-21 August.

The club secured bronze medals in the quad endurance and beach sprint races and in the mixed double beach sprint event. Club members Rachel Mecham and Ann Harrap also paired up with para athlete Don Cameron from Riverway Rowing Club in Townsville to take bronze medals in the endurance and beach sprint races.

“This was the first event of its kind held in Australia and it was terrific that the local club was able to do so well,” CRN Boat Captain Ann Harrap said.

“There were lots of thrills and spills on the waves and the event was a big learning curve for participants who normally only row on flat water. We test ourselves each week on waves on the Noosa bar and out in Laguna Bay so we were able to bring that experience to the championships”, she said.

According to Ms Harrap the Noosa club also benefited from training with good equipment.

“We secured a Noosa Council grant this year to purchase new oars and they really helped with our preparation for the national event. Our next step is to buy some more boats so we can grow the club further”.

CRN welcomes members of all ages keen to enjoy both social and competitive coastal rowing. Visitors to Noosa can attend for casual rows and locals, particularly those with previous rowing experience, are encouraged to join up.

“Members can be as relaxed or as energetic as they want to be. Rowing is about being outdoors, building physical strength and engaging your brain with the technical elements of sculling. We are really keen to see more people take up the sport,” Ms Harrap said.

Interested rowers should contact Ann on 0432 141308 or Peter on 0432 757477.