Rowing Report
Saturday 2 November 2024
After a long and testing preseason period, Season 2024/25 officially got underway last weekend with the running of the first of our AAGPS regattas, the Sydney Grammar Regatta, out at the Sydney International Regatta Centre. This was a regatta of firsts in a way, the first regatta of the season, the first time our Year 10 squad had raced the 2km, the first time Year 10 had raced in a sweep boat and, excitingly, lots of 1st places!
In some great conditions, with the heat and the wind staying away, our Year 10 VIII’s hit the line for their first outing. Our Year 10 Third VIII got proceeding underway, recording an amazing performance for a crew that has really only just been formed. It was a close tussle with the Riverview crew to the 1000m mark, but it was here that our crew started to make their mark. After only being able to be separated by .05 of a second at halfway, the Third Year 10 boat was able to establish a winning margin of 18.4 seconds. The second round of racing saw a slightly different approach by our crew. With some great early speed, they were able to establish a healthy 10-second margin on the field, which they built on to record another healthy win.
The Year 10 Second VIII found themselves in a closer tussle. Again, the main opposition came from our friends in Lane Cove, with a boat length separating the crews right through the first 1500m in both runs down the track. The calm approach of the Second Year 10 crew here was the difference; despite being a little under the rating of their opposition, the efficiency of their approach became evident through the final 500m, with their margin moving to clear water to record the 1st position in both races.
The Year 10 First VIII have welcomed back three boys who had a brief hiatus last season into the fold. In the Year 9 quads, we regularly tussled with the very strong Newington and Riverview first quad, with the spoils tending to go their way. In this regatta, the tables were turned. Despite three members of this crew not racing for more than 18 months, the First Year 10 boat, under the watchful stare of Mr DT Jennings, put their bow in front from stroke one and held it there to the finish line. Despite some surges from their inner west opposition, the crew from north Sydney were able to record a winning margin by two-thirds of a length.
Our Senior Third VIII took to the course next. This was a very exciting time for the Shore Shed, with Charlie Glancey, Alaistair Currie and Austen Anderson all making their Shore Rowing debuts!! And what a debut it was for these guys who have shown great determination this season. Both their races followed a very similar pattern, with a strong showing from view early to the Shore boat staying composed and establishing a clear water margin by the 1000m. Even with a few lost strokes in the second race, the mighty Third VIII was able to establish a strong three-boat-length margin by the finish line, a very promising start.
The GPS Fourth IV+ had a great time for their first hit out of the season, and what was pleasing about both their performances was that it was set up through that middle 1000m, with a composed start that was loose and relaxed, the middle 1000m theme became more about holding speed and staying relaxed. In both their races, they were able to record 12 plus second margins over 2nd place.
The GPS Third IV+, not to be outdone, had the same approach to hold speed through the middle 1000m, and it worked a treat with a strong 12+second margin over 2nd place being formed through the middle stages. In the second race, the crew from North Sydney had a tougher time of it through the second 1000m, which will serve as a reminder of why it was important to set that length up from the back and protect the front end of the stroke.
The GPS First IV+ rounded out our fours programme with two very composed and very strong performances. With the focus very much on what they are doing, this crew, under the instruction of Coach Mr Jack Message, peeled out two very pleasing performances. The first race was very controlled, with a 9-second margin being established by the halfway point, which was held to the finish line. The second race saw them extend a little further through the second 1000m to push that winning margin to 15 seconds.
The GPS First VIII finished our programme with a very composed first 1000m, which saw them sit in 2nd place over the second stage – recording a strong 2nd place result. The tightness of the field was very interesting to see – despite Riverview claiming the title of November premiership favourites, the rest of the field was only separated by a boat length. In the second Race, the First VIII were reminded of this tight field as there was a case of opportunity missed with a slower second 500m that was less than ideal, giving the field a jump and relegating the crew to the second half of the field.
Mr Glenn Bates
MIC Rowing