Rowing report by Director of Rowing Nick Bartlett

The boy’s squad at Scotch Mercantile: Alex Coleman, Thomas Condron, Matthew Thompson, Cameron Rule, Lindsay Hamilton, Jonty Condron, Regan Farley, Lachlan McCole, Billy Osborne, Rhys Harper, Camden Beyer, Anthony Smith, Ethan Davies, Thomas Gilham, Hagen Cook, Evan Lewis. (Not pictured: Jack Campbell, Lagan Joshi, Jadah Frith, Samuel Reynolds and Thomas Miles.) Photo: Ailish McGrath.

THE past 12 months has been a rollercoaster for Gippsland Grammar Rowing. In March last year the Head of the Schoolgirls Regatta was cancelled the day before the event and one week later we also received confirmation that the Nationals and the Rowing Dinner would not be happening either.

Fast forward to the start of Term 4 and things were looking up; we were back on the water, regattas were happening again and students and coaches looked with optimism towards the possibility of Rowing Camp and a full Term 1 of racing. Which is exactly what has happened.

Our Rowing Camp in January was a wonderful experience with students from Year 8 through to Year 12 in attendance as well as several Old Scholars. The days were long and the sessions were tough (and there were plenty of new blisters formed) but everyone had a fantastic time before attentions turned towards racing at Barwon and Ballarat.

Our early forays into racing this year were highly successful with a good number of wins at the Barwon and Wendouree Ballarat Regattas. Seeing the new Year 8 rowers getting stuck in and racing hard was a real highlight of the rowing season. At the three State Championship Regattas at Barwon, Ballarat and Nagambie Gippsland Grammar finished second on the medal table with nine golds, nine silvers and two bronze medals. This achievement also placed the School second in the Victorian Rowing Club Championship; a tremendous achievement.

Following the high of the State Championships training began in earnest for the Head of the School Girls, Scotch Mercantile and Nationals - the exact three regattas that were cancelled last year. At Head of the Schoolgirls in March the girls had an amazing experience and represented the school with aplomb from Year 8 all the way to Year 12. Our Senior Women’s squad came home with two Open Division 1, 4th place finishes which was a fantastic achievement to top off a tough year. In March we finished our season off in style at the Australian Rowing Championships in Tasmania (see page 3) before celebrating together at the Rowing Dinner on March 31.

The girls squad at Head of the Schoolgirls: (top row, l-r) Amy Hoernlein, Elouise Godfrey, Katie Waller, Miya Hancock, Eleanor Brinkhoff, Sarah Beyer, Freya Hamilton, Elana Krcevinac, Malia Wheal and Rhianne Grimble. (middle row) Lily Reynolds, Jess Thompson, Lucy Hodges, Ace Wilson, Lily Dwyer, Ailish McGrath, Kaylah Young, Hannah Roberts, Zahrarose Beaty, Jess Norman, Ella Gerrand, Scartlett Tavasci, Ivy Johnson. Averil Watkinson, Zoe Hoernlein, Tilly Fox, April Harrison, Tali Oates, Zara Rozite, Anastacia Buhagiar, Emma Best, Ruby Lindrea, Ruby Christian, Head of Rowing Nick Bartlett and Harry Roach. (Not pictured: Olive Blake.) Photo: Ailish McGrath