Corowa Rowing Club made the trip down to Geelong to represent their schools at the School Sports Victoria and Head of School Girls regattas beginning on Thursday.
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Coach and Corowa High teacher Matthew Bell led the way with the parents looking after his students as well as the Scots School and Xavier High rowers.
The morning racing was the year 9 single with Sommers Hogan and Imogen Tomlinson from Corowa High and Anastasia McFarlane from Scots School.
In the Preliminary race the girls lined up against the Galen Catholic College sculler. All the scullers got out cleanly over the 1000m course before Anastasia made her move and took the lead.
The Corowa rowers had a great race filling the trifecta and great preparation for the final. The final followed the same script as Anastasia continued her great form to take the lead early from Sommers in 2nd and Imogen in 3rd place.
Sommers and Imogen teamed up together for the year 9 double taking on the Hamilton Alexandria College crews. Sommers and Imogen showed their liking to the Geelong course to take an early lead and record a great win.
Clancy Tomlinson was preparing for HOSG event by rowing in the Open single scull over the 1000m course. With limited preparation in the single scull, Clancy showed great technique and strength to win her heat and final giving her great confidence for the weekend’s regatta.
Eva Broad from Xavier High rowed in the Year 10 single scull as she prepares for double scull event over the weekend. Eva has continued to improve with each row in the single as she raced strongly down the course to finish in 3rd place.
The male rowers featured Brodie Julian, Lachie and Eric Hogan competing in the year 10 and Open events. Lachie and Eric lined up in the Open double scull against year 12 students.
The Corowa crew raced strongly and were well placed in both the Preliminary and Final finishing in 3rd place in both races. Brodie was entered in the year 10 single scull, following his great form in the State Championships he won his heat.
In a great battle in the final Brodie fell just short to finish in 2nd place.
The final race for the day was the Male Open quad scull featuring the 3 boys and Clancy with Imogen as coxswain. In the heat the crew had a great race taking the lead and holding on for a win and moving into the final.
The pace was a lot quicker as the older quads moved out the Corowa High crew. The 4 quads had a great race down the course with the Corowa crew finishing in 3rd place.
Friday Day 1 HOSG
Day 1 featured the heats for all crews. Up first was the Open events over the 1500m course with Emily Tidd and Clancy in the single scull and Bella Heagney and Eva in the double scull.
Emily was representing Galen Catholic College in a heat featuring 3 scullers with 1st going through to the Quarter final. Emily had a great start and was well placed before hitting a buoy and nearly falling in.
Regaining control of her boat Emily made a late charge to take back the lead but fell short to finish 2nd and into Saturday’s repechage.
Clancy was full of confidence from her win Thursday and rowing over the longer course she rowed a controlled race to finish in 2nd and move into the repechage.
Bella and Eva from Xavier High lined up for the heat of the double scull. The new combination was improving with every training row so they were ready to race.
With the experience of Bella stroking the crew, Eva was ready to row over the 1500m course. The combination rowed a great race to take the lead from the start and lead all the way for a great win and into Saturday afternoons semifinal.
Adelaide Robb representing Victory Lutheran in the year 10 single scull was in the 3rd heat. Adelaide continued her great training form to take the lead and record a great win and move into the quarter final.
The year 9 scullers from Thursday’s regatta lined up in the largest field of 24 scullers. Anastasia was first up and continuing on from her great form in the lead up regattas she took the lead and was in total control to take the win.
Sommers was up next and as one of the youngest competitors in the event she showed great technique and strength to record a great win. Imogen was the last rower on the course for the club; she has improved with each race over the season. Imogen continued a great day for the club to race strongly down the course for another win.
All the girls moved through to the quarter finals.
Saturday Day 2
The morning events featured Clancy and Emily in the repechage needing to win to move into the quarter finals. Emily was drawn a tough draw as she worked hard throughout the race but couldn’t reel in the early leader to finish in 2nd place.
Clancy continues to improve with every row as she powered her way down the course to record a great win.
The afternoons quarter finals saw the year 9 scullers up first needing a top two finish to move into the A and B semifinals.
Sommers was first up as she continued her great form to settle into 2nd place and into the semis.
Anastasia keeps improving with every row as she gets out fast and takes control of the race.
She continued her race plan and led all the way for the win.
Imogen is a real fighter on the water as she works hard in every race.
Taking on 4 scullers she showed great technique and power over the course to finish in 3rd place and into the C final.
Sunday Day 3
Sundays racing featured the Semifinals in the morning needing a top 2 placing to move into the A final.
The year 9 scullers Anastasia and Sommers were in separate semis and were ready to race. Anastasia was first up and getting out to a great start she took the lead and rowed her best race to take the win.
Sommers was keen to join her teammate in the final as she lined up on the start line.
Sommers followed her race plan with a fast start she took the lead and controlled the race to record a great win.
Adelaide was up next in her semi against a quality field of 4 scullers a great race was in order. Adelaide got out and was in the mix before hitting a buoy and coming to a complete stop.
She regained her composure and got back on the course chasing down the field who had moved clear.
Adelaide was moving through the field and chasing down the sculler for the all-important 2nd place. In a great battle and sheer determination Adelaide fell just short by 1.8 seconds and into the B final.
Clancy continues to improve and against a quality field of year 12 rowers Clancy finished in 3rd place and into the B final.
The afternoons racing featured the finals with Imogen up first.
Imogen has improved throughout the regatta and in her final race she had her best row and fastest time to finish the C final in 2nd place. Imogen’s improved from last year when she won the F final.
Emily was determined to finish her school girl rowing in style as she rowed the perfect race to row her best time and win her final.
Adelaide was keen to get back on the water and row the B final and have her best row. Showing her class and technique she dominated the final to record the win, in her fastest time for the regatta.
Clancy was in the B final and rowing better with each row over the 1500m course she powered down the course to finish in 2nd place and 6th overall.
The afternoon’s A finals featured Anastasia and Sommers in the year 9 single and Bella and Eva in the Open double with 4 crews in each race.
The year nine singles started with the Corowa scullers in the middle lanes. Sommers had the best of starts to take the early lead as the pace picked up the Fairbank sculler moved out with Anastasia moving up.
Over the last 500m the race was on as Anastasia finished with silver and Sommers with the bronze medal.
Bella and Eva were determined to get a medal against their older opposition in the Open double. As the Gippsland and Albert Park doubles moved out early the battle was on for the bronze medal.
The Xavier High Girls showed great determination and patience as they made their move into 3rd place and winning the bronze medal.
Thanks goes to all the rowers, families and coaches for a great 4 days of competition.
The club continues to support our rowers to represent their schools at these regattas.
Emily Tidd received her Morongo Medal for her continued rowing at the HOSG regatta and we support Maddison who was unable to compete for Marian Catholic College due to Covid.
The focus quickly turns to the weekend’s Footscray and Essendon regattas on the Maribrynong River.
Update regards the National Championships due to be held in Penrith.
Due to the flooding in Sydney the Championships have been relocated to Nagambie.
This change has given the opportunity to the younger rowers to compete closer to home.
So joining Adelaide in the Under 17 events with be bottom age under 17 girls Anastasia and Sommers.
Under 17 boys Spencer Holland, Brodie Julian, Lachie Hogan, Erik Hogan and coxswain Harvey McFarlane will now also be competing in the U17 doubles and quad sculls.
A lot of logistics to be done as we prepare for the change at short notice.