TAS rowers have had a cracking start to the season, returning with four gold medals from Newcastle Grammar School Regatta held at Berry Park near Maitland on Saturday.
Georgia Henderson, who won gold at the NSW Schoolgirl Head of the River earlier in the year, was a comfortable winner in the women’s under 16 Single Scull over 1000m, crossing the line in 5:19:57, nearly 15 seconds ahead of the second place getter. Georgia then teamed up with Isabelle Coddington to take the honours in the women’s under 15/16 Double Scull in 3:58:50.
Elder sister Isabella Henderson also came home with a gold medal, rowing with Beatrice Thibault to finish first in the women’s under 19 Double Scull in a time of 4:50:22.
Junior boy rowers also had a terrific day on the water. Competing in the men’s under 17 Quad Scull over 1750m, the Year 9 First Quad comprising Jackson Welch, Archie Quinn, Tyler Nielsen, Joe Gordon (Year 8) and Hamish Pengilley (coxswain), out-rowed boys years older than themselves to record the fastest time in the event, crossing in 7:24:52 ahead of crews from Northern Beaches Secondary and Cranbrook School.
“We didn’t have a great start with one of our rowers losing control of his oar, and were also rowing against the tide with a strong wind,” Hamish said.
“But we gained our momentum and shadowed the boat that was coming first and set a good pace, and then with five hundred metres to go, we did a quick, hard row, increasing our stroke rate to get two boat-lengths ahead and come away with our first win of the season.”
TAS Head of Rowing Ben MacDougall said the crews did exceptionally well, particularly given the conditions which ultimately caused the last races of the day to be cancelled.
“The time were very competitive compared to others on the day, and for a regatta at this stage of the season. We were all very happy with the results, especially as the crews have really only been training for a bit over two weeks.”
Coddington (left) in the women’s under 15/16 Double Scull
The rowers will have a mini training camp at Malpas Dam this weekend, in preparation for NSW All Schools Championships at SIRC on 16 November.
Top image: Joe Gordon, Tyler Neilsen, Hamish Pengilley, Archie Quinn and Jackson Welch took out the men’s under 17 Quad Scull
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