Cranbrook Rowing – ACT Regatta Weekend
Dear Friends of Cranbrook Boat Club
103 Oarsmen and coxswains accompanied by 10 coaches travelled to the Australian Capital Territory over the weekend to compete in the ACT Junior Championships and the ACT Head of the Lake Regattas held on Lake Burley Griffin.
ACT Junior Championships (Saturday 17 February)
Following what is known as an ‘Elimination Format’ with only the top crews in each age category and boat classification making it through to the Championship Race, Cranbrook qualified at least one boat in all Quadruple Scull Finals in all age groups and whilst not winning a medal, recorded multiple 4th places.
Standout crews included the Open 1st Quad of; Tom Gloster, Charlie Mann, Edward Hartwright, Toby Lane and Ed Williams who finished 4th in the Championships Final as did Owen Mudie, Henry Dawson, Toby Pearce, Angus Messiter and Tom Sharrer in the Under 17 Division. Tate Leggatt, Edward John-O’Brien, James Campbell, Max Allchin and Isaac Cody showed great form to finish 5th in the Under 16 Division. Cranbrook’s Under 15 1st Quad of Sam Farquhar, Oliver Southwell-Keely, Jensen Lee, Fred Emmanuel and James Walsh displayed impressive maturity to qualify for the Championship Final in their very first row on Lake Burley Griffin. The only non-ACT crew to do so. They went on to finish 5th in the Final.
Current Under 17 NSW State Champions in the Double Scull, Christopher Vlahos and Luke Martin almost repeated their winning efforts of a week earlier leading their Final with 300 metres to go before being outjumped by local school Canberra Grammar. No doubt ‘home track’ familiarity played a part in measuring their run to the line. Christopher and Luke adding ACT Silver to their NSW Gold. Cranbrook was the only school to qualify 2 crews in the final with Henry Dawson and Toby Pearce recording an impressive 4th place.
Captain of Boats, Jack Stone teamed up with Lachlan Larsson to qualify for the Final of the Under 19 Double Scull where they too finished in 4th place.
Head of the Lake Regatta (Sunday 18 February)
Sunday’s format saw a broader emphasis on the depth of School programs and Cranbrook didn’t miss the opportunity showcase its talents across all grades.
Jack Stone led the charge with a Gold Medal in Div 4 of the Schoolboy Sculls, Lachlan Larsson a Silver in Div 3, Luke Martin Silver in Div 2 while Chris Vlahos came home with a gold in the Year 10 Single Sculls. Cranbrook recorded a Gold and Bronze Medal in the C Final of the Year 10 Quadruple Sculls and Silver Medals in the E,D & B Finals of the Year 8 Quadruple Sculls, especially remarkable as it was the boys’ first regatta on Lake Burley Griffin. Our very strong Year 9 got into the action with Bronze and Silver Medals in the C and E Finals of their Divisions.
Cranbrook bought their Regatta Weekend to a close with some fantastic sculling in the Open Quadruple Finals.
Rafael Waugh, Dash Bouvier, Lachlan Harwood, Carson Proutt and David Tabachnik threw caution to the wind and motored home to a Silver Medal in Division 3 ahead of Cranbrook clubmates; Alex Copping, Sol Stahis, Thomas Henderson, Huon Groves and Flynn Henderson. Cranbrook Head Prefect, Theodore Walsh stroked the 2nd Quad to a Silver Medal in Division 2. Theo along with team mates; Will Van Der Byl, Alex Murdoch, Inigo McVinish and Owen Mudie saw off a spirited challenge from Cranbrook 4th’s of Jamie Carlisle, James Mills, Max Moylan, Oliver Klein and Julian Kelly.
The 1st Quad of; Tom Gloster, Charlie Mann, Edward Hartwright, Toby Lane and Ed Williams repeated their heroics of the previous day with another gritty performance in Division 1 again finishing 4th in a national standard field. The crew threw it down to their opponents holding down 2nd for the early stages of the race and no doubt gained valuable insight into topflight racing.
The efforts of all boys in all age groups proved decisive with Cranbrook again wining the coveted Governor Generals Cup for the second consecutive year.
The School is indebted to the fabulous support given by the parents and Friends of Cranbrook Boat Club (FCBC) led by Mrs Fiona Henderson who fed and kept the boys hydrated through a long and challenging weekend. School would also like to acknowledge the tireless efforts of the Coaching Staff of Adrian Henning, Stephen Irons, Will Begg, Jack Dawson, Sam Logan, James Scott-Brown, Nick Stavrinos, Barney Roach, Jasper Dawson-Damer and Will Wright who supported and guided the boys through the complexities of the 2 Regattas. And a heartfelt thanks to Mr Mills who kept the whole show together.
Regards
Mr Carroll
PDHPE Teacher / Head of Rowing