Rowing Report
King’s/PLC Regatta and Newington College Regatta Report
Last weekend, the Shore Boat Club went to battle in separate regattas. Our Juniors took to the race course in Hen and Chicken Bay at the annual Newington College regatta, whilst our Year 10 and Senior squad travelled to Penrith to compete in the King’s/PLC regatta.
Our Junior quads got the day off to a great start, with our Year 8 quads recording wins in five of the eight divisions as well as two 2nd place finishes. The standout performance for this squad was the First Year 8 quad of Tom A, Will S, Lawson W, Louis C and Sam B, who continued their impressive form, recording a very strong result against Riverview, King’s and Newington.
Our Year 9 quads had a tough day at the office but fought bravely to record four 2nd place positions from their 5 starts. There were great tussles down the track with this age group, none tighter than the race that our Second quad was involved in to tie down 2nd place with Riverview. The crew of Micha M, Xavier D-V, Harry F, Oliver K and Harry L showed great grit to hold on to 2nd place as the crews crossed the line.
Almost to the minute, as racing finished in Hen and Chicken Bay, our Year 10 and Seniors got started in sunny Penrith. Our Year 10 VIII’s Squad recorded 2 x 1st and 2 x 2nd places from their 4 starts. It does look like it is due to be another Riverview vs Shore drag race in most of these races, with both schools trading blows down the course, with the only exception being the First Year 10 crew, where our standout performers, the First Year 10 crew of Henry W, George S, Hamish G, Ben M, Luke R, Harrison F, Harry F, Oliver P and Oscar M recorded a season first victory for the Shore Boat Club. This crew showed great courage to take an early lead and defend that down the 2000 metre course against a previously undefeated King’s combination.
Our GPS IV’s raced next and recorded 3 x 2nd place performances and a 3rd from their four starts against GPS opposition. In the Fourth, Third and Second IV all our combinations here are locked in a battle with Riverview, with the First crew race being a little more open, with strong combinations being seen from King’s also. Standout performers here would go to our Second IV combination of Henry F, Ethan N, Josh S, Lachlan P and Jethro C, who posted the fastest time of the Shore fleet and a time that would have beaten the King’s First IV in the higher division. Well done men!
The First and Second VIII closed out this regatta with two improved performances. Our Second VIII showed great courage to peel out of the blocks with great speed but had a costly second 500 metres. From there, though, they showed great mettle to establish a better rhythm and stabilise their speed. There were a lot of lessons learned there, and I know they will be better for the journey. The crew finished in 4th place. The First VIII pushed their way onto the podium for the first time this season. This was done through a very measured and controlled middle 1000 metres. Whilst both Joeys and Riverview were locked in a battle for 1st and 2nd, the Shore crew of Preston S, Liam M, Oliver E, Ben M, Charlie G, Oliver H, Rory H, Alex S and Mackenzie S kept their cool and set about establishing that middle 1000 metre rhythm that would see off challenges from Newington and Scots. This crew, like the Seconds boat, will be much better for the run down the course and will benefit greatly from seeing the positive results from the December and January training blocks.
Mr G Bates
MIC Rowing