Rowing Report
Saturday 1 March 2025
Last weekend was a brilliant time for the Shore Boat Club. From the early races in the Year 8 Quads right through to the GPS squad in the afternoon, Shore rowers were front and centre of nearly every race they entered.
Our Year 8 Quads recorded a brilliant nine 1st places from their ten races with the unfortunate mishap falling on our Seventh Quad being denied a start in their division (for reasons only known to the race starter….). It was a great day for these crews as we had recently looked at some combination changes for some of these boats, a big shout out to the Harrison James Thomas and Sam Diddams for their race debuts in the stroke seat – not an easy task! What made this day more pleasing again as we were racing on the “tougher” side of the draw as well!
Our Year 9 Quads picked up where our Year 8 Quads finished – with some great performances coming from this very impressive squad. From their eight starts, the men from North Sydney were able to record an impressive six 1st places and three well-fought 2nd places. It will be great to see these squads travel to Penrith next weekend to compete in the NSW schoolboy Head of the River!
Almost to the minute, when the Year 9 First Quad crossed the line out GPS Fourth IV took off from the start line at the Sydney International Regatta Centre. Our fours have had a great season so far, with all four regularly tasting success. This regatta marked the first race for returning rower Henry Faddy, who had not raced since the NZ tour. It also marked the first race for our new look Third IV and First IV as well. Our Fourth IV and Third IV both won their first race and a much-improved race from the Second IV. The First IV had a great first hit out in the First IV race but had a belter in the under 19 4+ where they were able to row down the UTS rowing club and St Augustine’s combination to claim the win.
Our Year 10 VIII’s look like they are set for an absolute drag race with St Ignatius College Riverview (Riverview) at the upcoming Head of the River, with Shore and Riverview taking up the top two places in all four divisions with 3rd place well back. This regatta saw only the Fourth Crew have a clear water separating them and the winners, with the Third Crew being 0.5 of a second back and the Second Year 10 crew being just a third of a length. The First Year 10 crew were enjoying a great lead at the halfway point until a little slip in concentration saw a boat-length swing against them.
Our Senior Third VIII had a great outing in what will be their final race at the Head of the River venue. Our GPS Second VIII continued their very impressive form, claiming another great win under the guidance of new stroke seat Jasper Halstead. This crew later backed that up with another great row in the Under 21 Div 2 VIII’s race, this time building on the margin between them and Riverview.
In a great moment, our GPS First VIII was able to win the First VIII’s race, which in itself was great but made more special as it was the first time since its inception that the Livingstone family were there to award the Tom Livingstone Trophy to Shore – its rightful home!
Our Year 10 VIII’s had an absolute drag race down the 2000m with Riverview in all four divisions with 3rd place some lengths back. This is going to be a belter of a Head of the River in a few week’s time for our boys.
Mr Glenn Bates
MIC Rowing