Lily-Rose and Jo receiving their medals after winning the B Grade double sculls at Ballarat.
The rowing season is in full swing with a major regatta almost every weekend. Wendouree – Ballarat Rowing Club hosted last weekend’s two-day regatta on the picturesque Lake Wendouree.
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From Rutherglen Lake Rowing Club sculler Jo Somerville competed with her doubles partner Lily-Rose Hall in two events over the weekend.
The weather on Saturday was a typical Ballarat day, with a slight drizzle and a south westerly wind that blew up the course and made the first 700m of the course quite choppy and challenging for rowing.
The first event for the Rutherglen crew was the Open Schoolgirls Double scull over the Olympic distance of 2,000m.
In the heats the girls had a steady row while managing to learn to handle the difficult rowing conditions. As the conditions settled out in the last 1,000m of the race, the crew were able to push out to a clear second place to qualify for the A final.
In the Schoolgirls double scull final, the wind blew up even more and made the conditions at the start line very difficult. Their main competition of the Yarra Yarra and Essendon combinations were able to handle the waves much better through the first 500m leaving Lily and Jo in the race for 3rd spot.
Once again, the crew was able to improve their rowing has the conditions progressively moderated through the race. At the end of the race, they were able to consolidate the third position against two very good double scull combinations from Yarra Yarra and Essendon Rowing Clubs.
On the Sunday, Lily and Jo were entered in the B grade double sculls. With the wind easing overnight, the rowing conditions at Lake Wendouree were close to ideal.
Lily Rose Hall and Jo Somerville keeping a close eye on their competition as they cross the line.
The girls qualified for the A final with a solid race in the heat.
In the Final, the girls had their best race of the season. They had a great start and put the pressure on the rest of the field in the first 250m by storming out of the starting blocks. Over the next 500m the crew were able to hold their lead with only the crew from Corio Bay in a position to challenge the Rutherglen crew over the last 500m. The Corio With 400m to go, the Corio Bay crew lifted their intensity and moved their boat to just overlap with the Rutherglen crew.
With the challenge on, Lily and Jo responded with a well-timed wind for the finish line and won the B Grade double sculls by 3 seconds to the Corio Bay crew.
Due to cycling commitments, Lily-Rose and Jo will next compete at the State Championships in Nagambie at the start of March.
