Rowing Report
SBHS Regatta Report – Juniors Make Big Impact in First Full Hitout for Season 2023/24
Last weekend, the Shore Boat Club competed in the annual Sydney Boys High Regatta in our familiar stomping ground of Hen and Chicken Bay. This regatta was the first opportunity this year for our full complement of Juniors to compete, from our new rowers in the Year 8 quads right through to our Year 10 VIII’s.
There was a lot of excitement (and nerves) the morning of the regatta from our Year 8 quads. Competing for the first time can involve a whirlwind of emotions, and quite often, this can lead to mistakes being made, but I am very happy and proud to report not from our squad!!
An early statement was made here by our Year 8 Sixth Quad, who went out to record an amazing winning margin by an amazing 1 minute and 24 seconds, but was later bettered by our Year 8 Eighth Quad, who went out and won by an even bigger margin. This is pretty impressive in a race that is only 1000 metres long.
The fastest Year 8 Quad of the day sat with our Year 8 First Quad of Tom A, Will S, Lawson W, Louis C and Sam B, who recorded a great time of 4 minutes and 8 seconds to take out the win in their division and importantly, set a time that was considerably faster than the other side of the draw.
In what was a brilliant first regatta from our new rowers, the Year 8 squad were able to record eight wins from our eight starts. Absolutely brilliant!!
Our Year 9 Quads were determined to go out and repeat the success of our Year 8 Quads. This year, we welcomed a number of new rowers into this squad, and it was great to see the standard lift across all these crews in their first official hit out of the season. The 5th Year Quad, which features four new rowers of the crew of five, recorded a great win over the Newington and Scots College combination. This was repeated by our Fourth, Third and Second combinations, recording good hard fought wins against combinations that in the previous season had finished over the top of them. Our First Year 9 Quad of Will R, Oli M, Ed M, Sam B and Harry L finished with a hard fought 2nd place in their race with what looks like to be a very tough division this year with the top four boats all within five seconds of each other.
Our Year 10 VIII’s had a great day at the office with three great performances from their three starts despite what seemed to be a massive boat wash coming from the maritime services that decided to go up and down the regatta venue. It was very pleasing to see that all three of these boats have continued to build on their earlier race experience at SIRC and recorded double digit finishing margins in each of their contests. This squad will next compete in Geelong at the annual Barwon Regatta at the end of January before heading back for Term 1 next year.
Pennant Progress In The Final Weekend Of The Calander Year
The Shore Boat Club finished the 2023 racing in 3rd place in the Senior Pennant and, thanks to last weekend’s performances, 1st in the Junior Pennant. Both these pennants recommence in the new year, with the first racing at the King’s/PLC regatta (Seniors) and the Newington regatta (Juniors) all counting towards the overall pointscore pennants.
| Senior Pennant | Junior Pennant |
|---|---|
| 1st Riverview | 1st Shore |
| 2nd Joeys | 2nd King’s |
| 3rd Shore | 3rd Joeys |
Ben Muffett Stakes His Claim For The AAGPS Combined Eight
Last Friday (at the back end of the Year 11 assessment week), our First VIII travelled to Penrith to take part in the AAGPS combined VIII sculling trials. This trial consists of the boys competing in a 1900 metre Time Trial and then 90 minutes later competing over 2000 metres in their single scull. We had three boys qualify for the A/B final (Liam M, Alex S and Ben M), and it is with great pleasure to report back that Ben M had a brilliant race to record a very impressive 2nd place in the A-Final.
Mr G Bates
MIC Rowing