A Brief History of MURC & CBRC
1992
The Murdoch University Rowing Club (MURC) arose from humble beginnings back in late 1992. A group of Murdoch students decided that it was time the University was represented in the Vice-Chancellor’s Cup Regatta and so they organised both a Men’s and Women’s Eight, to compete in the race. After the Vice-Chancellor’s Cup, a core group of rowers including Richard McLellan and Arthur House, established the Murdoch University Rowing Club. They obtained a grant of $20,000 from the University and a boatshed at the Amateur Rowing Association of Western Australia (ARAWA) Headquarters, on The Esplanade in Mount Pleasant.
1993
MURC entered ARAWA in 1993 and quickly became a force to reckon with. During the club’s foundation year, MURC again entered a Men’s and Women’s Eight in the Vice-Chancellor's Cup. They won two bronze medals at the Australian University Rowing Championships (in the Men’s Lightweight Four and Men’s Heavyweight Single categories) and won the ARAWA Novice Pennant.
President: Richard McLellan
Captain: Arthur House
Womens Captain: Sarah Perkins
Best Oarsman: Arthur House
Best Oarswomen: Paula Broadhurst
Most Valuable Club Member: Jonathon Silbert
Most Improved Male: Colin Maher
Most Improved Female: Georgia Lilley
1994
Rowing fever didn’t take long to spread, with the club’s membership expanding to over 60 active members in 1994. During this year MURC built the starting pontoon for the ARAWA State Championships, for the first time. Since then, building the pontoon twice a year had become part of life down at the club. Murdoch University continued to support the club and provided another $20,000 grant, over three years, for club development.
President: Richard McLellan
Captain: Arthur House
Womens Captain: Phillipa Grover
Best Oarsman: Matthew Doyle
Best Oarswomen: Jenni Littlejohn
Most Valuable Club Member: Sarah Goodden
Most Improved Male: Todd Sims
Most Improved Female: Meghan Bruce
1995
In 1995 the Talent Identification Program (TIP) ran from MURC. This programme involved the training of a number of youngsters who showed great promise as rowers and had been selected through the state-wide program. The TIP athletes competed at the National Championships providing MURC’s first Nationals appearance. Also in 1995, MURC rowers competed at Intervarsity in Ballarat and won the bronze medal in the Women’s Lightweight Four. The Women’s Maiden Eight coached by Matthew Doyle, won their State Championship race in a time of 7:40. Business House - MURC’s corporate regatta, was held for the first time in this season and became an integral part of each year's fundraising and fun!
President: Richard McLellan
Captain: Benjamin Dudley
Womens Captain: Jenni Littlejohn
Best Oarsman: Jason Fowler
Best Oarswomen: Jenni Littlejohn
Most Valuable Club Member: Matthew Doyle
Most Improved Male: Jesper Jenson
Most Improved Female: Bernese Cooper
1996
In 1996 it was the Men’s turn, with the Men’s Maiden Eight winning their State Championship race in a time of 6:20. The crew (Josh Carroll, Nick Kuchen, Pete Clune, Luke Colgan, Ewin Bloomfield, Jason Fowler, Craig Salisbury, Steve Grant, Wendy List [cox]) was coached by Alan Salisbury and Ben Dudley. 1996 marked the end of MURC’s involvement in the Talent Identification Program. Over the next three years MURC continued to grow and purchased several new boats to meet the needs of our members; the Hugh Davis (8), the Richard McLellan (4-), the Arthur House (2-) and the Sarah ‘Tex’ Perkins (2-). MURC also established two ‘Learn to Row’ programs around this time. Held every year, in January (for members of the community) and in March (for University students) these programs provide non-rowers with a chance to get involved in our sport. MURC members provide the coaching and coxing expertise.
President: Sarah Perkins
Captain: Matthew Doyle
Womens Captain: Kylie Falconer
Best Oarsman: Josh Carroll
Best Oarswomen: Marnie Brennan
Most Valuable Club Member: Zera Polard
Most Improved Male: Steve Grant
Most Improved Female: Fiamma Riviera
1997
In 1997 the Women’s Maiden Eight, coached by Matthew Doyle, came second in the State Championship Race.
President: Craig Salisbury
Captain: Jason Fowler
Womens Captain: Nicole Denney
Best Oarsman: Josh Carroll
Best Oarswomen: Kate Smith
Most Valuable Club Member: Steve Grant
Most Improved Male: Rex Greenland
Most Improved Female: Elaine Carr
1998
In 1998 MURC again competed at Intervarsity. Nicole, Elaine, Catherine, Rebecca and Wendy (cox) represented MURC in the Lightweight Women’s Four. Ben Dudley coached the crew.
President: Jason Fowler
Captain: Jamie Patterson
Womens Captain: Nicole Denney
Best Oarsman: Arif Munshi
Best Oarswomen: Tonya Carter
Most Valuable Club Member: Fiamma Riviera
Most Improved Male: Liam Carter
Most Improved Female: Melanie McPherson
1999
1999 saw the club enter another rapid growth period and MURC was runner-up Best Club at the end of the ARAWA season. The first edition of the Club’s year book “Quote-able Quotes and Do-able Deeds” was printed in this year.
President: Fiamma Riviera
Captain: Cynthia Bolton
Womens Captain: Melanie McPherson
Best Oarsman: John Edmunds
Best Oarswomen: Rebecca Tournay
Most Valuable Club Member: Zofia Zawalski
Most Improved Male: Shamus Morton
Most Improved Female: Paula Fuller
2000
In 2000 MURC was represented at the National Championships by Sarah Outhwaite, who competed in a composite Four with rowers from the Swan River Rowing Club. Recreational rowing became a high priority for the club in this year and Kate Sounness continues to provide excellent coaching for the ever-growing ranks of Saturday morning rowers.
President: Doug Bolton
Captain: Cynthia Bolton
Womens Captain: Paula Fuller
Best Oarsman: Victor Babich
Best Oarswomen: Fiamma Riviera
Most Valuable Club Member: Robin Downes
Most Improved Male: Luke Harding
Most Improved Female: Kione Routley
2001
The 2001 season saw MURC attract Zurich Scholarship holder, Alison Hillman, to the club and our Men’s Maiden Eight come runner-up by less than half a second in the State Championship race.
President: Doug Bolton
Captain: Cynthia Bolton
Womens Captain:
Best Oarsman: Kendall Moor
Best Oarswomen: Alison Hillman
Most Valuable Club Member: Victor Babich
Most Improved Male: James Langley
Most Improved Female: Janet Horsfall
2002
In 2002, the MURC Women’s Maiden Eight (Chris Matthew, Phoebe Readford, Fiamma Riviera, Alison Hillman, Kate Sounness, Katherine Hillman, Melanie McPherson, Nicole Denney and Alex Pickup (cox)) received Line Honours in the 15 kilometre Perth to Fremantle Head Race. Luke Nicholls and Ben Dudley coached the crew. MURC performed very well at the State Championships. The Maiden Women's 8 won their State Championship race for the first time since 1995. It was a just reward for the amount of training that was completed by the crew during the season. The men's novice squad rowed well to capture the Novice Men's 4 and Novice Men's 8 titles. In the equipment stakes, the Club purchased a 2 year old Sykes eight and christened it 'Benjamin Dudley'. This boat was used by the Maiden Women in their State title winning row.
President: Vic Babich
Captain: Mel McPherson
Womens Captain: Trish Doney
Best Oarsman: James Langley
Best Oarswomen: Fiamma Riviera
Most Valuable Club Member: Kate Sounness
Most Improved Male: Stephen Chalkley
Most Improved Female: Nicola Murray
2003
President: Kate Sounness
Captain: James Langley
Womens Captain: Janet Horsfall
Best Oarsman: Craig Barry
Best Oarswomen: Alison Hillman
Most Valuable Club Member: James West
Most Improved Male: Garth Lucas
Most Improved Female: Eve Lindseth
2004
President: Nicola Fox
Captain: Claire Morrisson
Womens Captain:
Best Oarsman: Not Awarded
Best Oarswomen: Not Awarded
Most Valuable Club Member: Gemma Ivey
Most Improved Male: Not Awarded
Most Improved Female: Not Awarded
2005
President: Greg Vines
Captain: Ed Poon
Womens Captain:
Best Oarsman: Stuart Diggins
Best Oarswomen: Tenille Szolkowski
Most Valuable Club Member: Gemma Ivey
Most Improved Male: Ed Poon
Most Improved Female: Michelle Henderson
2006
President: Greg Vines
Captain: Ed Poon
Womens Captain: Stephanie Slade
Best Oarsman: Dean Steadman
Best Oarswomen: Rebecca Raphael
Most Valuable Club Member: Deb Barnaby
Most Improved Male: Damien Williams
Most Improved Female: Zoe Marsden-Youll
2007
President: Stephanie Slade
Captain: Ed Poon
Womens Captain: Bella Barnaby
Best Oarsman: Harley Barnaby
Best Oarswomen: Karianne Batt
Most Valuable Club Member: Ed Poon
Most Improved Male: Not Awarded
Most Improved Female: Not Awarded
2008
In 2008, the club acquired two additional boats. These were a single named the 'Gifted', and a convertible coxed quad named the 'Greg Vines'.
President: Stephanie Slade
Captain: Ed Poon
Womens Captain:
Best Oarsman: Dean Steadman
Best Oarswomen: Lesley Brady
Most Valuable Club Member: Peter Briggs
Most Improved Male: Stuart Clarke
Most Improved Female: Lesley Brady
2009
A convertible double scull was acquired and christened 'Ed Poon'.
President: Stephanie Smith
Captain: Ed Poon
Womens Captain: Leslie Brady
Best Oarsman: Shen Lee
Best Oarswomen: Hayley Cannon
Most Valuable Club Member: Peter Briggs
Most Improved Male: Lyall Fowle
Most Improved Female: Deb Barnaby
2010
President: Stephanie Smith
Captain: Ed Poon
Womens Captain:
Best Oarsman: Lyall Fowle
Best Oarswomen: Jennie Hunt
Most Valuable Club Member: Shen Lee
Most Improved Male: Bill Ogburn
Most Improved Female: Lynette Reid
2011
President: Ian Winfield
Captain: Ken Price
Womens Captain:
Best Oarsman:
Best Oarswomen:
Most Valuable Club Member:
Most Improved Male: Not Awarded
Most Improved Female: Not Awarded
2012
President: Ian Winfield
Captain: Ken Price
Womens Captain: Yvette Kenward-Egerton
Best Oarsman: Lyall Fowle
Best Oarswomen: Lesle Brady
Most Valuable Club Member: Carol Richardson
Most Improved Male: Doug Johnson
Most Improved Female: Yvette Kenward-Egerton
2013
The club had a surge in competitive rowers and competed at all Pennants, Masters and Head Races on the WA Rowing calendar. Many new rowers were competitive enough to win races in their first season rowing competitively. Murdoch rowers competed in the World Masters Games in Turin (Italy) and the World Rowing Masters Regatta in Varese. The club acquired a convertible coxed quad named the 'Deb Barnaby'.
President: Ian Winfield
Captain: Ken Price
Womens Captain: Yvette Kenward-Egerton
Best Oarsman: Lyall Fowle
Best Oarswomen: Mariana Zakzewski
Most Valuable Club Member: Ian Winfield
Most Improved Male: Christopher Brown
Most Improved Female: Julie Sandow
2014
MURC members traveled to Adelaide to compete in the Australian Masters Rowing National Championships. Bronze medalling in the mixed Quad; Pauline Swan, Judy Magee, Ed Poon and Greg Vines set a high standard for the club early in the year. Medals continued to flow in the Rowing WA Pennants State Championships with Marianna Cochrane (nee Zakrzewski) and Julie Sandow wining the C Grade Women's Pair, resulting in MURC being awarded the Rowing WA Novice Pair shield for 2014. Perhaps MURC's greatest achievement in 2014 was being the club to retain the highest percentage of competitive members.
President: Ian Winfield
Captain: Ken Price
Womens Captain: Yvette Kenward-Egerton
Best Oarsman: Lyall Fowle
Best Oarswomen: Julie Sandow
Most Valuable Club Member: Julie Sandow
Most Improved Male: Doug Johnson
Most Improved Female: Pauline Swan
2015
President: Ian Winfield
Captain: Ken Price
Womens Captain: Yvette Kenward-Egerton
Best Oarsman: Christopher Brown
Best Oarswomen:
Most Valuable Club Member:
Most Improved Male: Not Awarded
Most Improved Female: Not Awarded
2016
President: Ian Winfield
Captain: Ken Price
Womens Captain: Yvette Kenward-Egerton
Best Oarsman: Lyall Fowle
Best Oarswomen: Heather Gordon
Most Valuable Club Member:
Most Improved Male: Chris Ward
Most Improved Female: Nicole Della
2017
President: Stuart Diggins
Captain: Ken Price
Womens Captain: Yvette Kenward-Egerton
Best Oarsman: Ken Price
Best Oarswomen: Carolyn Fenelle
Most Valuable Club Member:
Most Improved Male: Eduardo Ruther
Most Improved Female: Deborah Barry
2018
President: Stuart Diggins
Captain: Ken Price
Womens Captain: Carolyn Fennelle
Best Oarsman: Ken Price
Best Oarswomen: Carolyn Fenelle
Most Valuable Club Member: Lyall Fowle, Grant Stephens, Dean Steadman
Most Improved Male: Stuart Clarke
Most Improved Female: Deborah Barry
2019
President: Stuart Diggins
Captain: Ken Price
Womens Captain: Carolyn Fennelle
Best Oarsman:
Best Oarswomen:
Most Valuable Club Member:
Most Improved Male:
Most Improved Female:
2020
President: Stuart Diggins
Captain: Ken Price
Womens Captain: Carolyn Fennelle
Best Oarsman:
Best Oarswomen:
Most Valuable Club Member:
Most Improved Male:
Most Improved Female:
2021
President: Stuart Diggins
Captain: Ken Price
Womens Captain: Lyall Fowle
Best Oarsman:
Best Oarswomen:
Most Valuable Club Member:
Most Improved Male:
Most Improved Female:
2022
President: Stuart Diggins
Captain: Ken Price
Womens Captain: Lyall Fowle
Best Oarsman:
Best Oarswomen:
Most Valuable Club Member:
Most Improved Male:
Most Improved Female:
2023
President: Alan Barry
Captain: Ken Price
Womens Captain: Carol Richardson
Best Oarsman:
Best Oarswomen:
Most Valuable Club Member:
Most Improved Male:
Most Improved Female: