Rowing
NSW Rowing State Championships
Our Pymble Rowing Team competed in the 2024 NSW Rowing State Championships on Saturday 10 February and Sunday 11 February. These championships are highly competitive, with the presence of approximately two thirds of all crews that will be competing at the National Championships in March. All Pymble crews raced with Pymble courage and determination against high to level opposition, achieving one gold medal. three silver medals and a bronze medal, as well as four of our Pymble crews making it to their respective A-Finals, which is a huge achievement.
On Saturday 10 February, the Senior 1st Eight achieved a silver medal in the Championship Schoolgirl Eight event and achieving the title of 2nd fastest Schoolgirl Eight in NSW. This event included competitive crews from QLD, ACT and VIC – a fantastic achievement! After rowing in this event, our Senior 1st Eight rower Megan Wood (Year 12) backed up this race to compete with Sydney University and Pymble alumni, Jessica Colbran and Charlotte Hartin. This team won the Under 21 Women’s Eight State Title – what an achievement!
On Sunday 11 February, Mia Booth (Year 12) competed in the Schoolgirl Single Scull, achieving a silver medal. Holly Craig (Year 12) and Megan Wood (Year 12) also won silver in the Schoolgirl Double Scull Event, with Alessandra Braysich (Year 12) and Erin Porter (Year 11) brilliantly making the A-Final and finishing 8th. Pymble were the only school to have two boats in this final.
Mika Naito (Year 11), Scarlet Olesen (Year 10), Millie Cullinane (Year 10), Caitlyn Bilney (Year 10) and Mathilde Goddard (Year 11) made it into the A-Final of the Under 17 Quad event, finishing 4th, beating all NSW schools in the event and only being beaten by club crews and an ACT crew. Mika Naito (Year 11) raced again in the U17 Single Scull, courageously making it to the semi final after a big weekend of racing.
In the U16 Quad event, three Pymble crews competed in the A-Final (one third of the field) after some well executed heats by our Pymble Year 9 1st and 2nd Quad and Year 8 1st Quad.
Congratulations to the Pymble Year 9 2nd Quad finishing with the bronze Medal:
Emily Bartrop (Year 9), Annie Pennington (Year 9), Amber Eisenhauer (Year 9), Ellie Pointon (Year 9) and Leander McLaughlin (Year 9).
Special mention to the Pymble Year 8 1st Quad, being the youngest crew in the event and making the A-Final:
Emma Wang (Year 8), Madeleine Gaden (Year 8), Claudia Wyatt (Year 8), Madelene Landgrebe (Year 8) and Blair Elliot (Year 8) – we are expecting big things to come from these rowers! Kelly Clifton (Year 9) also raced later on Sunday in the U16 Single Scull, making it through to the Semi to Finals.
The team are now focussed and will continue to train hard towards the Schoolgirl Head of the River on Sunday 3 March 2024.
Karl Schmidt
Head of Coaching and Performance (Kindergarten to Year 12)