The 2023 Victorian rowing Championships began on Friday at Lake Nagambie over the 2,000m course. Day 1 featured three Corowa crews competing, with Amy Underwood leading the way in the Open Lightweight single scull. Two heats were required to narrow the field down to seven for the final. Amy was in the first heat and after an even 1000m the field spread out, rowed strongly to finish in 2nd place.
The final was a hotly contested affair with the field split with 4 singles racing for the three medals. The race favourite from Geelong was sitting out in front with less than a second separating 2nd to 4th. Amy was well placed for the finish as she made her move, passing the sculler who beat her in the heat, to claim the bronze medal.
Abby Richards was up next in the competitive U13 single scull. The final featured scullers selected for National trials as Abby gave her all over the 2000m course to finish 7th.
The final race for the club was the Open Lightweight double with Amy teaming up with year 11 sculler Adelaide Robb. With four crews lining up the girls were hoping for a medal. After a great start, to the girls were up with the leaders as they made their push. By the 1000m the girls had their nose in front and full of confidence increased their lead to record a fantastic 2-length win.
Day 2
Racing was again over the 2000m course. The club’s first race featured Bradley Pearsall in the Open Club single scull. With 8 scullers lining up in the final Brad had a great race keeping up with the field to finish strongly in 4th place, just missing out on a medal.
The Male and Female Open School double sculls featured Lachie and Erik Hogan, and Anastasia McFarlane and Sommers Hogan. The male event ended up being a straight final with Lachie and Erik working hard in the blustery conditions to finish 6th. The female event required 2 heats with Anastasia and Sommers needing a top 4 finish to progress to the A final. The heat was a great warm up for the Corowa crew who was in total control of the race, taking the lead and move away from the field to record a with a confidence building win.
The final featured 8 doubles with a tough battle for the first 1000m. As the race pace picked up 6 crews were in medal contention. With 500m to go, 2 crews moved clear as Anastasia and Sommers sprinted to the line winning the bronze medal.
The last event for the day was the Open School girl quad scull division 2. Bella Heagney, Clancy Tomlinson, Eva Broad, Adelaide Robb and Cox Imogen Tomlinson were well placed at the 1000m and in with a strong finish claimed 2nd place moving into the final. The final was a great battle with the favourite moving clear with battle on for the silver and bronze medals. Catching the 3rd place crew with every stroke the Corowa crew fell just short on the line finishing 4th.
Day 3
Blustery tail cross winds greeted the crews with racing over the 1000m course.
First up was the B grade female quad featuring Adelaide, Emily Tidd, Clancy, Bella Heagney and Cox Harvey McFarlane. With 2 heats the crew showed their class to lead all the way and move into the final. They improved on their heat time to lead all the way and claim the gold medal.
Corowa had two crews entered in the Male B Grade double scull, Brad and Lachie and Brodie Julian teaming with Simon McFarlane.
After winning the C grade double two weeks ago, this was a real step up in competition for Brodie and Simon. The crew worked hard and kept pace with the middle of the field finishing in 6th place.
Up next was Brad and Lachie who showed great teamwork to lead all the way and claim the win. In a hotly contested final the Corowa and Mercantile crews moved clear of the rest of the field with a final sprint to the line the Mercantile crew moved in front wining by less than a second with Corowa taking Silver.
The new C grade double scull combination of Julie Underwood and Liz Sandow lined up in the 2nd heat needing a top 4 place to progress through the final. In tough conditions, the Corowa crew battled hard to finish 4th place.
The 8-crew final was a tight battle as the Corowa gave their all to finish 6th.
The female Under 17 single scull featured Sommers against the medallist from the National Championships and the inform sculler from Mercantile. Sommers had a fierce battle with the Mercantile sculler to take the bronze medal.
Sienna McFarlane was up next in Under 15 single scull featuring 8 scullers in the final. Recording a great time, Sienna finished strongly falling just short of the bronze medal.
The unbeaten mixed double combination of Abby and Brad lined up in the first heat and continued their great form to take the win. The final featured the best double combinations as the Corowa crew showed great boat speed to lead all the way to win gold.
The Female C grade eight featured Anastasia, Bella, Emily, Clancy, Sommers, Maddison, Eva, Adelaide and Cox Harvey. Moving away from the sculling, the club lined up against the Richmond crew. The Corowa crew struck trouble and after regaining the oar, couldn’t make up the margin, but gaining great experience in the sweep oared boat.
Scullers Adelaide and Anastasia teamed up in the B grade double scull. Rowing a well-timed heat race the girls claimed the win to progress to the final. As the wind picked the Corowa crew struggled in the conditions to finish in 5th place but gained valuable experience.
Winning in Sydney in December and Nagambie two weeks ago, Lachie confidently rowed a smart heat race to finish in 2nd place a progress to the final. In the final he flew out of the blocks with a catch me if you can attitude, leading all the way to claim the gold medal.
C Grade single sculler Liz lined up in the first heat with Maddison Pasqualotto in the second. Liz came up against a fast heat, although recording a fast time, finished in 5th place. Maddison, who keeps improving with each row, rowed her own race she was well placed finishing in 3rd place, earning a spot in the final where she finished 7th.
The club’s Under 17 girls Anastasia, Sommers, Eva, Imogen Cox Sienna teamed up in the quad scull.
A large field entered the 2 heats with a top 4 finish required to progress to the final. Corowa had a great battle with Gippsland/Mercantile composite crew, finishing in 2nd place.
The 8 crew final was another great battle with the Composite and Corowa Crews moving clear. A great sprint to the line saw Corowa win silver.
The new B grade quad combination of Brad, Lachie, Simon, Erik and Cox Harvey surprised the field to take the early lead and claim the heat win. The same race plan was used in the final, as the Corowa crew shot out for the early lead to record another gold medal.
The Female C grade quad scull featured Sommers, Eva, Imogen, Maddison and Cox Sienna in a straight final featuring 5 crews. The Richmond and Corowa quads moved clear and in a close battle the Corowa crew claiming the silver medal.
Liz and Abbyghail teamed up in the C grade pair to row down the course and claim the gold.
The club’s last event was the female B grade single with Julie Underwood and Adelaide entered. Both scullers progressed to the final with Julie finishing in 2nd and Adelaide in 3rd. Both scullers worked hard in the tough conditions with Adelaide wining the bronze medal and Julie finishing in 6th.
Thanks to all the rowers, parents and supporters who helped with boat loading. The club now focuses on the School Girls regatta in Geelong on Friday, March 17,18 and 19. The club has nine girls competing for their schools .
The last regatta will be the sprint races at Footscray and Essendon on the Maribyrnong River.
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