Corowa Rowers headed to Nagambie for two spectacular days of rowing leading into the Victorian State Championships held at the same venue in the first weekend in March.
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Saturday’s racing was over the 2,000m course with the club’s younger members racing in the School and Lightweight events. Tough conditions greeted the rowers on day one with hot temperatures and cross winds making racing interesting.
First up was the Open Lightweight sculler, Adelaide Robb. The year 11 student lined up in the 6-crew final and with the favourite taking the early lead the race for the minor placing was on. Adelaide worked hard in the tough conditions and finished strongly to finish in fourth place.
The Open Schoolboy double scull combination featured Corowa High students Lachie and Erik Hogan. With 5 crews entered, two from Albert Park College and Geelong College a preliminary race for lane selections was required. The number one Albert Park and the Corowa crew moved clear and by the 1,000m mark were well positioned as the Albert Park crew crossed the finish first and Corowa in second place.
The final saw the two seeded crews in the middle lanes and the race followed the preliminary racing script with Albert Park taking the lead and holding on for the win with the Corowa students in second place.
The Open School girls featured Scots Schools year 10 students Anastasia McFarlane and Sommers Hogan, looking forward to the challenge of the 2,000m course. With 14 doubles entered, two heats were required with the Corowa girls in heat 1. In a commanding row the crew lead from the start to take the win and move into the 8-crew final. A great race was on show, with the field split into two by the 1,000m mark.
The Corowa crew were sitting in fourth place as they raced strongly to the line and another confidence building row for the year 10 double in the coming weeks.
Sunday’s racing was over the 1,000m course as the rest of the club’s members made the trip to Nagambie.
Once again it was warm but unlike Saturdays racing the wind was not an issue.
First up were the heats of the Female C grade Double with Eva Broad and Imogen Tomlinson teaming up. Needing a top four finish to make the final, the Corowa crew finished in third place.
With 8 crews lining up in the final, the Corowa crew improved on their heat row time to finish strongly in sixth position.
The first final for the club was the B grade quad scull featuring Adelaide, Emily Tidd, Clancy Tomlinson, Bella Heagney and Cox Harvey McFarlane. With four crews lining up the Essendon and Corowa quads moved clear of the field. The Essendon crew were in the lead at the 500m mark as Corowa made a last effort to close the gap but fell short by half a length.
The male B grade double scull featured the new combination of Brodie Julian and Erik Hogan. Six crews lined up in the final and the Corowa crew improved throughout the race to finish in third place.
The Female Under 17 and 15 sculling events were combined with Sommers under 17 and Sienna under 15.With four scullers lining up ,as expected Sommers took the lead with Sienna in 2nd place overall, passing an under 15 and under 17 sculler. The results remained the same throughout the race with Sommers winning the under 17 and Sienna claiming her first rowing win.
The club had great entries in the female masters events with Julie Underwood off first in the single scull. Against a quality field pressing for Victorian selection for the master quad scull Julie finished in fifth place.
The next master’s event was the quad scull, with Julie teaming with Susie Scott, Grietje, Liz Sandow and Cox Harvey. With the handicap starting time for the different age groups the Corowa crew gave a 23 second head start. Chasing the pack, the Corowa crew moved their way through the field to finish a great race in 3rd place. The quad split into 2 double sculls with Julie teaming with Susie, Liz and Grietje in the other double.
Facing each other in the final Julie and Susie finished in second place with Liz and Grietje in fourth place.
With mixed events on the program, the club teamed the father and daughter combination of Simon and Anastasia McFarlane together. A tight race down the course with the Melbourne combination holding of the McFarlane team. Lachie Hogan and Clancy Tomlinson were in the next division and showed great team work to take the early lead and hold on for a great win.
A large field of Female B grade double sculls were entered with Corowa entering 2 doubles Emily Tidd and Bella Heagney, Anastasia and Sommers, with two heats and a top 4 finish was required to make the final. Up first was Emily and Bella who raced strongly to sit comfortably in third place. In the second heat, Anastasia and Sommers continued their great form to lead all the way and move into the final with their crew mates.
With 8 crews lining up in the final the Corowa crews were well placed at the 500m mark. Anastasia and Sommers made their move with the Yarra crew as they moved clear for the sprint home. The Corowa crew made a last ditched effort but fell just short on the line with Emily and Bella holding of the field to finish in fifth place.
Lachie and Brodie were entered in the B grade single scull with both scullers also needing a top 4 finish to make the final. Brodie was off first and with limited preparation he showed great form to finish in fourth place. Lachie was up next and continuing his confidence building row from Saturday he moved into the all-important third place and join Brodie in the final. With a full field in the final the Corowa scullers held their own with Lachie finishing third and Brodie in 7th place.
The club’s Female C grade single scullers were up next with 2 heats a top 4 finish was also required to make the final. Sienna was first up, backing up her confidence building win earlier in the day she was determined to make the final. Following her race plan Sienna had a great row finishing in third place. The second heat featured Imogen and Maddison Pasqualotto. Imogen continues to improve with each row as she finished in second place. Maddison has been training hard and her efforts paid off with her having her best race, finishing third and making her first A final. The 8 lane final featured the 3 Corowa scullers ,the girls gave their all with Maddison finishing fourth, Imogen fifth and Sienna in eighth places.
Corowa entered a C grade quad scull with Imogen and Maddison teaming with Eva and Sommers with Sienna showing her skills in the coxswain seat. The girls showed how much they have improved, by taking the win in the second heat and progressing into the final.
A great sight with 8 quad sculls lining up in the final. The Essendon crew got out fast to take the early lead as the Corowa crew made their move. With less than a length separating 5 crews a battle was playing out over the last 250m.The Essendon crew were being challenged by the Corowa crew who was catching with every stroke ,but the Corowa crew fell short by a meter on the line.
The Men’s C grade double scull featured Brodie and Simon McFarlane in the final. The new Corowa combination took the early lead , moving clear of the field to record a great win. The Clubs final event featured Adelaide Robb in the B grade single scull. Lining up in the final Adelaide lead all the way against a strong field to record another win.
The Club had a great regatta at the venue of the Victorian State Championships.
Coming away with 5 fantastic wins and confidence building races will set the club up for the Championships. Thanks to all the parents who assisted throughout the regatta getting crews on and off the water.
The club’s next regatta is held in Geelong for the Victorian Junior School Championships. Representing their schools will be Anastasia and Sommers in the year 10 double scull, Imogen and Sienna in the year 10 single and Sienna will double up in the year 9 single.
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