Rowing Report
Last weekend the Shore Boat Club took part in two regattas. The Juniors were contesting in the All Schools Number Two Regatta, while the Year 10 Squad and the Senior Programme were in action at Penrith for the Annual Sydney Rowing Club Regatta.
The Junior Squad had a very tough draw with the majority of the faster crews being drawn on their side of the draw. Our Year 8s fought well down the Canada Bay course, with the squad recording three 2nd places, a 3rd, a crab-led 4th place and a mighty win to our First Year 8 Quad. Our First Year 8 Quad are starting to make this a habit, with a string of great performances coming from this crew in recent weeks.
The Year 9 Quads went to the start line next and had to do so with a complete reshuffle that affected every boat from the second Quad down due to a late injury. The squad was able to record two wins in the Third and Fourth Quad divisions along with a string of high places coming from the other crews. Our Third and Fourth crews have performed very well over the course of the season, recording wins week to week. Our Fourth Quad has consistently been Oliver Paris, Hugh Riley, Austin Hamilton, Alex Rogan and Sam Advani. Our Third Quad has consistently comprised of Lachlan McIntosh, Jeremey Mckindley, Billy Blaess, Hamish Gilligan and George Williams.
Our Year 10 VIIIs got the Penrith Regatta underway, and we saw some fantastic racing coming from our Year 10 Second, Third and Fourth combinations. Our Fourth crew had to overcome a three second halfway deficit to row past the crew from Riverview. In an inspired second half of the race, the crew of Will Taaffe, Jack Holt, Tom Kierse, Will Bailey, Rolly Smith, Lachlan Adamo, George Lane, Flynn Evans-Beard and Eddie Brooks held on to the narrowest of margins to record the win by .7 of a second. Our Third Year 10 VIII raced next and were able to lead from start to finish in their division and record a clear water margin. The Year 10 Second VIII had a much close affair, coming under fire from the crew from Riverview from the very beginning of the Regatta. Both crews could not be separated through the race with the Shore crew hanging on for a win by a very narrow margin of .62 of a second.
Unfortunately for our Year 10 First crew, their race in a new combination did not pan out the way they desired.
The AAGPS IV raced next with the Fourth IV placing 2nd in the final after a start that saw them back in the field, the crew of Oli Betar, Hamish Bergin, Thomas Mitchell, Nick Stacker and James Gray showed great tenacity to move back into the places. The AAGPS Third IV found the pace a little too fast for them and had to settle for 4th place, missing the podium by .18 of a second. The Second IV raced next and continued their strong form this season, this time having a close race with Kings who finished 2nd with the Riverview combination finishing back in 3rd place. Our AAGPS First IV raced next and after having the race of their lives the weekend before found themselves under fire early by the Riverview crew, the third 500m proving to be the difference with Riverview opening up a seven second lead and holding that till the end of the race.
The AAGPS Second VIII had a blistering start, leading to the first 500m station. A strong push from Riverview saw the lead change and again, like in the First IV race it was the third 500m that proved to be the difference with Kings and Riverview locking horns in the final 500m, leaving Shore, Newington and Joeys to fight out for the final place on the podium. This time it was Shore’s turn to miss the podium with a single second separating three crews for 3rd place.
The AAGPS First VIII finished the programme for Shore. After a great start, the field slowly wound in the Shore boat which had led through the early stages of the race, with the Shore boat fighting it out for 3rd place with Kings and unfortunately having to settle for 4th place by just under a second.
Mr G Bates
MIC Rowing