Rowing
14 November, 2023
Menzel rows to victory in Regatta return
Tori Menzel rowed to victory for the Dimboola Rowing Club in the 133rd Dimboola Regatta on Saturday. Making its return after a four year hiatus, the event was down on numbers but it was still a successful day with many specatators and rowers from...
Tori Menzel rowed to victory for the Dimboola Rowing Club in the 133rd Dimboola Regatta on Saturday.
Making its return after a four year hiatus, the event was down on numbers but it was still a successful day with many specatators and rowers from across the state enjoying the great weather the Wimmera had to offer.
Dimboola had eleven rowers representing them and it was 15 year old Tori Menzel that took the only victory for the club in the Female C Grade Single Scull.
Menzel was ecstatic with the win.
"It feels pretty good and it was good to get back to it. I have won a couple sculls in the past but I am very happy with this win," she said.
Menzel backed it up in the Mixed Double Scull with Tonnis Wolthuis twenty minutes later and they both came second.
Earlier in the day Menzel was second in the Female Under 17 Single Scull and also in the C Grade Coxed Quad Scull with Tarah Bond, Sally Sellens and Katie Griffiths with Tilli Menzel the Cox.
Dimboola also came second in three other events with other rowers. Katie Griffiths and Tarah Bond in the Female C Grade Double Scull, Ben Salter and David Thomson in the Male B Grade Double Scull and John Nichols and Lyn McDonald in the Mixed Masters Double Scull.
On Sunday, it was the 11th Annual Head of the Wimmera Race, a 6.2km time trial from Rocky Bend to the home course.
Tarah Bond, Sally Sellens, Katie Griffiths, Tori Menzel and Tilli Menzel as the Cox won their grade.
Dimboola Rowing Club President and Regatta Secretary, Michael Salter, said it was a great day out.
"The feedback we got from all the competitors was that they love being back at Dimboola," he said.
"When we were doing presentations so many people from various clubs came up to me afterwards and congratulated the club for getting the Regatta back.
"Everyone has been impacted by Covid over the last few years and everyone enjoyed themselves."
Salter said Tori was exceptional and that the Quad Scull team has been noticed positively by other competitors.
"On home soil, in front of a home crowd, she had to consume and take it all in and she handled it well," he explained.
"That crew as well as her are going to be great rowers. Outside of Dimboola, a lot of people noticed them and said they have a good future.
"They were over the moon on Saturday and Sunday and it's great."
Salter also would like to thank the volunteers for helping out on the day.
"The people of Dimboola that came along and helped out was brilliant," he said.
"We put it out there that we needed help - little jobs people could do, like running the barbecue, selling drinks and helping out on the day.
"Packing up and setting up it was like a swarm of ants helping out everywhere. Everyone was focused on what they had to do to make it a successful day and I would like to thank everyone for helping."
After the weekend Salter believes the future is bright for the club.
"We may be down on numbers but we can only go in one direction from here, and that is up," he said.
"Everyone in the community takes the Wimmera river for granted. When the athletes were rowing to the start people commented about what a beautiful stretch of river we have.
"We put a boat in and go for a row. The river sells itself. It's as simple as that."
