The Mercantile Rowing Club is based in
Melbourne
Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...
,
Australia on the
Yarra River
The Yarra River or historically, the Yarra Yarra River, ( Kulin languages: ''Berrern'', ''Birr-arrung'', ''Bay-ray-rung'', ''Birarang'', ''Birrarung'', and ''Wongete'') is a perennial river in south-central Victoria, Australia.
The lower s ...
. It was founded in 1880 and has occupied its current site since 1885. More than 40 Mercantillians have represented Australia at Olympic Games.
Club history
A group of sportsmen interested in the advancement of amateur rowing met at Young and Jackson's Hotel on 19 September 1880 and the Mercantile Rowing club was born. William S Boyd was a driving influence and the club's first Captain. The club was initially named The Junior Warehouseman's Rowing Club and then changed its name in 1881. Boats and facilities were borrowed from the Greenlands boatshed next to the Prices Bridge until 1884 when the member's decided to lease land and build their own boatshed at the club's current location.
Guerin-Foster Club History
/ref>
The current boathouse was built in 1973, after a fire destroyed the previous shed on 6 May 1973.
Competition history & representative success
From Moscow 1980
The 1980 Summer Olympics (russian: Летние Олимпийские игры 1980, Letniye Olimpiyskiye igry 1980), officially known as the Games of the XXII Olympiad (russian: Игры XXII Олимпиады, Igry XXII Olimpiady) and commo ...
the Mercantile club has had at least one representative in every Australian Olympic rowing squad without exception. At the 1987 Australian Rowing Championships
Australian(s) may refer to:
Australia
* Australia, a country
* Australians, citizens of the Commonwealth of Australia
** European Australians
** Anglo-Celtic Australians, Australians descended principally from British colonists
** Aboriginal Aus ...
, the Victorian Kings Cup winning VIII was crewed entirely by the Mercantile 1st grade VIII.
Club presidents
* W. K. Thompson 1880–89
* J. B. Whitty 1889–1903
* A. R. Blackwood 1903–1905
* Sir Stephen Morell 1905–1933, a Lord Mayor of Melbourne
This is a list of the mayors and lord mayors of the City of Melbourne, a local government area of Victoria, Australia.
Mayors (1842–1902)
Lord mayors (1902–1980)
The title of "Lord Mayor" was conferred on the position of mayor by Ki ...
.
* A.L Dobbie 1933–1955
* J.G.H Sprigg 1955–1982
* Robert R Aitken M.B.E 1982–1993, coach of the Olympic bronze medallist VIII Melbourne 1956
The 1956 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, from 22 November to 8 December 1956, with the exception of the equestrian events, whi ...
.
* David Boykett 1993–1997, an Olympic bronze medallist Melbourne 1956
The 1956 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, from 22 November to 8 December 1956, with the exception of the equestrian events, whi ...
.
* Andrew Guerin 1997–2004, rowing historian and Olympic rowing team manager at Barcelona 1992
The 1992 Summer Olympics ( es, Juegos Olímpicos de Verano de 1992, ca, Jocs Olímpics d'estiu de 1992), officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad ( es, Juegos de la XXV Olimpiada, ca, Jocs de la XXV Olimpíada) and commonly known as ...
& Atlanta 1996.
* P Batters 2004–2010
* Malcolm Batten
Malcolm William Batten (born 12 March 1964) is an Australian former state and national champion, World Champion, Olympian and Commonwealth Games gold medal-winning rower.
Club and state rowing
Batten was born in Tasmania and commenced his rowi ...
since 2010, a 1986 World Champion and 1988 Olympian.
Members
Membership of the club was male-only until 19xx, when the Club decided that it would allow women to become members.
Notable past members include:
* William S Boyd, founder and inaugural captain 1880–1889
* CS Cunningham, captain 1889–92 and an Olympic selector who accompanied the Australian VIII to Stockholm 1912
The 1912 Summer Olympics ( sv, Olympiska sommarspelen 1912), officially known as the Games of the V Olympiad ( sv, Den V olympiadens spel) and commonly known as Stockholm 1912, were an international multi-sport event held in Stockholm, Sweden, bet ...
* Noel Donaldson, coach of the Oarsome Foursome
The Oarsome Foursome is the nickname for an Australian men's rowing coxless four crew who competed with a clear lineage between 1990 and 2012, winning two Olympic gold medals and one silver medal, two world championships as a coxless four, and ...
at the time of their 1990 and 1991 World Championships and 1992 Olympic victory.
* Brian Richardson, coach of the Australian men's VIII at Barcelona 1992
The 1992 Summer Olympics ( es, Juegos Olímpicos de Verano de 1992, ca, Jocs Olímpics d'estiu de 1992), officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad ( es, Juegos de la XXV Olimpiada, ca, Jocs de la XXV Olimpíada) and commonly known as ...
and head coach at Sydney 2000
The 2000 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the XXVII Olympiad and also known as Sydney 2000 (Dharug: ''Gadigal 2000''), the Millennium Olympic Games or the Games of the New Millennium, was an international multi-sport event held from 1 ...
.
Olympic representative members include:
* David Boykett, Olympic bronze medallists Melbourne 1956
The 1956 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, from 22 November to 8 December 1956, with the exception of the equestrian events, whi ...
and a competitor at Tokyo 1964
* Garth Manton, Brian Doyle, Harold Hewitt Olympic bronze medallists Melbourne 1956
The 1956 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, from 22 November to 8 December 1956, with the exception of the equestrian events, whi ...
.
* David Douglas Olympic silver medallist Mexico City 1968
The 1968 Summer Olympics ( es, Juegos Olímpicos de Verano de 1968), officially known as the Games of the XIX Olympiad ( es, Juegos de la XIX Olimpiada) and commonly known as Mexico 1968 ( es, México 1968), were an international multi-sport eve ...
.
* Robert Lachal, Martin Tomanovits, Graeme McCall, Anthony Walker, Richard Garrard, Simon Newcomb, Peter Gillon who competed at Tokyo 1964.
* Andrew Withers who competed in the Australian men's VIII at Moscow 1980
The 1980 Summer Olympics (russian: Летние Олимпийские игры 1980, Letniye Olimpiyskiye igry 1980), officially known as the Games of the XXII Olympiad (russian: Игры XXII Олимпиады, Igry XXII Olimpiady) and commo ...
.
* Ion Popa was in the Australian VIII which won the bronze medal at Los Angeles 1984 and competed in the VIII at Seoul 1988
The 1988 Summer Olympics (), officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad () and commonly known as Seoul 1988 ( ko, 서울 1988, Seoul Cheon gubaek palsip-pal), was an international multi-sport event held from 17 September to 2 October ...
.
* Samuel Patten was in the Australian VIII which won the bronze medal at Los Angeles 1984, competed in a pair with Malcolm Batten at Seoul 1988
The 1988 Summer Olympics (), officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad () and commonly known as Seoul 1988 ( ko, 서울 1988, Seoul Cheon gubaek palsip-pal), was an international multi-sport event held from 17 September to 2 October ...
and competed in Barcelona 1992
The 1992 Summer Olympics ( es, Juegos Olímpicos de Verano de 1992, ca, Jocs Olímpics d'estiu de 1992), officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad ( es, Juegos de la XXV Olimpiada, ca, Jocs de la XXV Olimpíada) and commonly known as ...
* Susan Lee won the first Australian women's rowing medal, a bronze in the Women's 4+ at Los Angeles 1984.
* Mark Doyle competed in the men's VIII at Seoul 1988
The 1988 Summer Olympics (), officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad () and commonly known as Seoul 1988 ( ko, 서울 1988, Seoul Cheon gubaek palsip-pal), was an international multi-sport event held from 17 September to 2 October ...
.
* Four of the various members of Australia's ''Oarsome Foursome
The Oarsome Foursome is the nickname for an Australian men's rowing coxless four crew who competed with a clear lineage between 1990 and 2012, winning two Olympic gold medals and one silver medal, two world championships as a coxless four, and ...
'' — Mike McKay, James Tomkins, Andrew Cooper
Andrew Dollman Cooper (born 23 December 1964) is a former Australian Olympic Champion and World Champion rower. He is a national champion, dual Olympian and two-time World Champion who achieved success as a member of Australia's " Oarsome Fo ...
and Drew Ginn
Drew Cameron Ginn OAM (born 20 November 1974) is an Australian five-time world champion rower, a four time Olympian and triple Olympic gold medallist. From 1995 to 1998 he was a member of Australia's prominent world class crew – the coxless f ...
who staged multiple successful Olympic campaigns in pairs, fours and eights.
* Ben Dodwell who competed at Barcelona 1992
The 1992 Summer Olympics ( es, Juegos Olímpicos de Verano de 1992, ca, Jocs Olímpics d'estiu de 1992), officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad ( es, Juegos de la XXV Olimpiada, ca, Jocs de la XXV Olimpíada) and commonly known as ...
, Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000
The 2000 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the XXVII Olympiad and also known as Sydney 2000 (Dharug: ''Gadigal 2000''), the Millennium Olympic Games or the Games of the New Millennium, was an international multi-sport event held from 1 ...
.
* Peter Murphy and David Colvin of the Australian men's VIII at Barcelona 1992
The 1992 Summer Olympics ( es, Juegos Olímpicos de Verano de 1992, ca, Jocs Olímpics d'estiu de 1992), officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad ( es, Juegos de la XXV Olimpiada, ca, Jocs de la XXV Olimpíada) and commonly known as ...
.
* Brett Hayman coxed the men's VIII at Atlanta 1996.
* Rebecca Joyce bronze medallist at Atlanta 1996.
* Georgina Douglas competed in a single scull at Sydney 2000
The 2000 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the XXVII Olympiad and also known as Sydney 2000 (Dharug: ''Gadigal 2000''), the Millennium Olympic Games or the Games of the New Millennium, was an international multi-sport event held from 1 ...
.
* Katie Foulkes coxed the women's VIII at Sydney 2000
The 2000 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the XXVII Olympiad and also known as Sydney 2000 (Dharug: ''Gadigal 2000''), the Millennium Olympic Games or the Games of the New Millennium, was an international multi-sport event held from 1 ...
and Athens 2004.
* Matthew Long bronze medallist at Sydney 2000
The 2000 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the XXVII Olympiad and also known as Sydney 2000 (Dharug: ''Gadigal 2000''), the Millennium Olympic Games or the Games of the New Millennium, was an international multi-sport event held from 1 ...
.
* David Crawshay
David William Crawshay (born 11 August 1979) is an Australian former rower, an eleven-time national champion, an Olympic champion and medalist at World Championships. He represented Australia in rowing at three consecutive Olympic games from ...
gold medallist at Beijing 2008
The 2008 Summer Olympics (), officially the Games of the XXIX Olympiad () and also known as Beijing 2008 (), were an international multisport event held from 8 to 24 August 2008, in Beijing, China. A total of 10,942 athletes from 204 Nat ...
and a competitor at Athens 2004 and London 2012
The 2012 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XXX Olympiad and also known as London 2012) was an international multi-sport event held from 27 July to 12 August 2012 in London, England, United Kingdom. The first event, the ...
.
* Josh Dunkley-Smith
Joshua Dunkley-Smith (born 28 June 1989 in Geelong, Australia) is an Australian former representative rower. He was a national champion, a dual Olympian, two-time silver Olympic medal winner, and won medals at five World Rowing Championships.
...
silver medallist at London 2012
The 2012 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XXX Olympiad and also known as London 2012) was an international multi-sport event held from 27 July to 12 August 2012 in London, England, United Kingdom. The first event, the ...
and competitor at Rio 2016
)
, nations = 207 (including IOA and EOR teams)
, athletes = 11,238
, events = 306 in 28 sports (41 disciplines)
, opening = 5 August 2016
, closing = 21 August 2016
, opened_by = Vice President Michel Temer
, cauldron = Vanderlei Cordeiro de ...
.
* Sarah Tait
Sarah Anne Tait (née Outhwaite; 23 January 1983 – 3 March 2016) was an Australian rower - a national and world champion, three-time Olympian and Olympic-medal winner. She was the first mother to represent Australia in rowing at Olympic leve ...
silver medallist at London 2012
The 2012 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XXX Olympiad and also known as London 2012) was an international multi-sport event held from 27 July to 12 August 2012 in London, England, United Kingdom. The first event, the ...
.
* Pauline Frasca competitor at London 2012
The 2012 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XXX Olympiad and also known as London 2012) was an international multi-sport event held from 27 July to 12 August 2012 in London, England, United Kingdom. The first event, the ...
.
* Jennifer Cleary in the women's quad at Rio 2016
)
, nations = 207 (including IOA and EOR teams)
, athletes = 11,238
, events = 306 in 28 sports (41 disciplines)
, opening = 5 August 2016
, closing = 21 August 2016
, opened_by = Vice President Michel Temer
, cauldron = Vanderlei Cordeiro de ...
.
* Four members of the Australian women's eight at Rio 2016
)
, nations = 207 (including IOA and EOR teams)
, athletes = 11,238
, events = 306 in 28 sports (41 disciplines)
, opening = 5 August 2016
, closing = 21 August 2016
, opened_by = Vice President Michel Temer
, cauldron = Vanderlei Cordeiro de ...
- Fiona Albert, Charlotte Sutherland, Sarah Banting and Jessica Morrison who will also compete at Tokyo 2021 in both the women's four and the pair.
* Amanda Bateman in the women's double scull at Tokyo 2021.
* Katrina Werry and James Rook in the women's eight and Angus Widdicombe in the men's eight at Tokyo 2021.
World champions include:
* Samuel Patten, Mike McKay, James Tomkins, Andrew Cooper
Andrew Dollman Cooper (born 23 December 1964) is a former Australian Olympic Champion and World Champion rower. He is a national champion, dual Olympian and two-time World Champion who achieved success as a member of Australia's " Oarsome Fo ...
and Drew Ginn
Drew Cameron Ginn OAM (born 20 November 1974) is an Australian five-time world champion rower, a four time Olympian and triple Olympic gold medallist. From 1995 to 1998 he was a member of Australia's prominent world class crew – the coxless f ...
who all won various World Championship titles as the Oarsome Foursome
The Oarsome Foursome is the nickname for an Australian men's rowing coxless four crew who competed with a clear lineage between 1990 and 2012, winning two Olympic gold medals and one silver medal, two world championships as a coxless four, and ...
.
* Rebecca Joyce 1995 World Champion women's lightweight sculler.
* Brett Hayman 1997 World Champion coxing a lightweight VIII and dually in 1998 coxing a pair and a four.
* Pauline Frasca, Robyn Selby Smith
Robyn Selby Smith (born 26 November 1980 in Melbourne) is an Australian former rower. She is a national champion, a three-time world champion and an Olympian whose international success came in sweep-oared heavyweight crews.
Club and state rowi ...
, 2005 dual World Champions (VIII and IV) and Fleur Chew 2005 World Champion in the women's VIII.
Honours
Henley Royal Regatta
References
Footnotes
{{reflist
Bibliography
* MRC (1980) ''Mercantile A Century of Rowing'', Mercantile Rowing Club (reproduced o
Guerin-Foster
External links
* http://www.mercantile.org.au
Sports clubs established in 1880
Rowing clubs in Australia
Sporting clubs in Melbourne
Boathouses
1880 establishments in Australia
History of rowing
Sport in the City of Melbourne (LGA)