Elaine Guterres OAM speech by Zandra Smith

Elaine would have to be one of the oldest competitive female rowers in Australia. She has rowed competitively for over 35 years. Between training Elaine has freely given her time in Coaching, Coxing and any other jobs that come up around the Club or Regattas. To be able to pull just a tick over 4.30 on an ergo for 1000 meters shows how fit this amazing woman is and many of us I am sure would love to be able to do the same at that age. She truly is an inspiration to us all.

Elaine is a foundation member of Rowing SA and was actively involved with the introduction of women in competitive rowing in SA. Elaine's contribution to rowing was formally recognized by Riverside Rowing Club on 17 April 2004, by naming a Sykes Pair/Double "Elaine Guterres". Congratulations from everyone at Riverside.

Some of Elaine's rowing highlights are as follows:

1972 - World Record Row - 100 miles (Morgan to Mannum in a coxed pair)

1972 - 1975 - SA Champion - Women's Lightweight coxed pair and LW4+

1973 - Australian Representative - Lightweight 4+

1973 - 1975 - SA Women's Rowing Association State Representative

1976 - 1977 - Australian National Champion W2X 1997 - World Masters Rowing Championships - Gold in WC8+

1998 - Australian Masters Rowing Championships - Gold in WD4+

1999 - 7th Australian Masters Games - Gold in WF1X, WD4X, WE2X and Mixed F2X

2002 - World Masters Games - Gold in WG1X, Mixed G4X, Mixed G8+, Silver in WF2X, Mixed G2X and Mixed F8+

2002 - Australian Masters Rowing Championships - Gold in WE8+, Mixed G2X, Mixed F4X and WEX+

2002 - Union of Master Rowers Female Master Rower of the Year

2004 - SA State Masters - Gold in Mixed G4X+ and Mixed G4+

FAVOURITE QUOTE: OLD AGE AND TREACHERY WILL OVERCOME YOUTH AND SKILL

Transcript of the Presentation of Certificate for the Riverside Rowing Club Hall of Fame at the Annual General Meeting 24 June 2012

I am very privileged to be asked to talk on behalf of Elaine, who has also become my dear friend.

Over the years I have enjoyed hearing about her interesting life and sporting achievements not only in rowing but hockey and triathlons. If ever you want to be inspired --spend time with her and listen to her stories.

Elaine’s rowing life has been amazing and I would like to tell you about few highlights.

She was secretary of South Australian Women’s Rowing Association for 5 years in the 1970’s and was very influential in that role in promoting women’s rowing at that time. This was in the days when men and women had their own associations and women’s races were held during the lunch break at regattas!

The pinnacle of her rowing career was to win the Australian Rowing Championship for Women’s Double Sculls in 1997 with her partner Lyn Skelton from Sydney. Be clear –this had nothing to do with masters rowing – it was an open national championship. A truly remarkable achievement. To train for this event Elaine would finish work on Friday afternoon and drive to Melbourne for the weekend so that she could get the best coaching.

Another amazing feat was when she and her partner Judy Jepson rowed a world record 100 miles in a coxed pair from Morgan to Mannum in 26 hours-50min-30secs only stopping every two hours for ten minutes - with no sleep.

I have just watched Elaine fight ovarian cancer for the last 12 months and I believe it is her determination that got her through. I remember sitting in the surgery with her and her specialist-- she asked him to relay the procedure of the chemotherapy in rowing training terms as follows –Intensity – Duration – Frequency – he couldn’t believe it but thought it was excellent.

On top of all this Elaine has just rowed in Ballarat! Even though it was very cold with dreadful conditions nothing was going to stop her competing.

Elaine we all wish you the very best in the coming years and keep up that fighting spirit.

In recognition of her services to rowing Elaine was recently awarded an OAM which is a great honor and which, I am sure we all would agree, was thoroughly deserved.

Zandra Smith, June 2012