The two-day regatta featured 24 Corowa crews taking home 12 medals; five gold, four silver and three bronze medals – a fantastic return by all our crews.
Amy Underwood started her rowing program on Saturday in her final trial for the Victorian Lightweight quad scull at the National Championships held in Sydney.
Amy won her heat and in a battle in the tough cross wind conditions Amy fought her way back from 4th position at the halfway mark to make a late challenge to finish with the silver medal.
The result will enhance Amy’s selection chances. Amy teamed with the girls from the NSW Championships crew to race the heavy weight quad scull and in a confidence-building row finished four seconds behind the bigger crew.
Sunday’s racing featured the rest of the club’s crews. First up was Emily Tidd who is prepared to row in every boat class in the D grade sculling events over the 1,000m course. Improving with each single scull race Emily finished in 5th place in her heat. Teaming with Olivia Hughes in the D grade double needing a top two finish in the heat the crew did a great job to fall just short in 3rd place.
The club had a second double entered with Tamasin teaming with Liz, rowing well together finished in 5th place. The D grade quad scull of Emily Claire MacDonald, Susan Scott, Grietje Cox Yasmine finished 2nd in their heat securing a place in the final.
With another great row the crew was in a tight battle down the course to finish in 5th place. Jayden Collier had a full day’s of rowing stepping up to the B grade single scull. Winning his heat the standard stepped up in the final with Jayden finishing well in 4th place. Teaming with Will Julian in the C grade double needing a top two finish in the heat the crew fell just short in 3rd place.
The boys team with Matt Vogel and Alex Schultz in the C grade quad scull, winning the heat the crew felt short of a medal to finish in 5th place. The club entered in the D grade sweep oared events for the first time this season. With limited training in the boat the crew of Paige Cooper Tamasin, Liz, Grietje Cox Eva finished in 6th place.
Paige teamed with Olivia in the D grade pair and in their first race in the boat the crew led all the way to win the gold medal. The C grade sculling events saw the club record a silver and bronze medal. The quad scull of Paige, Julie, Susan, Claire Cox Adelyn Holland won their heat and in a quick final the crew improved on their heat time to claim the bronze medal. Julie continued her great form in the single to win her heat and in a tough battle with the ex-Australian representative finished strongly to claim the silver medal.
Julie also teamed with daughter Amy to take on the full 2000m course in the A grade double scull. Up against a strong field the Corowa combination showed their hard work at training was paying off to race strongly to the line and claim the bronze medal.
The junior members featured in the male and female U15 sculling events. With limited entries the quad sculls Lachie Hogan, Spencer Holland, Brodie Julian, Marcus Maclean Cox Adelyn improved on the time from the Regatta in February to take the win. The crew broke into two double sculls with Spencer and Brodie against Lachie and Marcus. In a great battle Spencer and Brodie led all the way but it was a much improved row from Marcus and Lachie. Brodie took the clean sweep in the U15 events to take a confidence building win in the single scull. Spencer had a mishap before the start falling in from the speed boat wash and unable to start the race.
The females not to be out done took home a swag of medals. The quad scull of Bella Heagney, Emily Price, Clancy Tomlinson, Sommers Hogan Cox Aleisha Price keep improving to record a great time for the win. The crew also split into double sculls with Bella and Emily taking the silver medal while a strong row from Clancy and Sommers take the bronze medal.
Bella completed the day with the single scull event with a strong field featuring six scullers. Bella rowed a strong race to claim the silver medal as she prepares for the upcoming school girl regattas.
The male D grade quad scull featured some of the club’s newest rowers with Will and Alex teaming with Cameron Budic and Liam Fitzgerald cox Imogen. A strong row in the heat saw the crew finish in 2nd place and a spot in the final. A tight battle all the way down the course saw the Corowa crew finish well in fourth place.
Thanks to all the helpers over the weekend, particularly Sunday. To have so many crews entered and doing so well at such a high standard regatta is a credit to the rowers and their families.
The club now turns their attention to the school regattas. With the Vic school sports regatta leading into the largest female regatta the Head of School girls at Geelong, where our rowers will represent their schools.
The final club regatta will be the popular Footscray and Essendon regattas on the Maribrnyong River, a great opportunity for the rowers to enjoy the fun sprint racing over the shorter courses. The masters regattas kick off in April with the State Championships in May.
We wish Amy the best with her selection for Victoria – we hope to have news soon.