The South Queensland Schools Conference Trophy Regatta saw 14 Schools meet at Wyaralong Dam on June 10. With perfect conditions everything was set for some fast times and great racing. It was an even contribution from both the Boys and Girls with the Boys earning 423 Points coming third in the overall Boy’s competition, while the Girls earned 421 Points coming second in the overall Girl’s competition. Overall, Somerset College came second with Trinity Lutheran College winning the Overall Trophy for 2023.
Hugo Derksema started the day with a win in Division 2 of the Year 8 Boys Single Scull followed by Michael Zeng winning Bronze in the Division 1 of the Year 8 Boys Single Scull. The Year 7 rowers Ethan Hu and Edward Hoult teamed up and took on the Year 8 competition winning Bronze in Division 3 of the Year 8 Boys Double Scull. Then it was the Year 7 and Year 8 girls turns to hit the water with the Division 3 Quad winning Silver and the Division 2 Quad winning Gold. Byron Taylor won Gold in the Division 2 Year 9 Boys Single Scull with Angus Riddle winning Silver in the next race Division 1 of the Year 9 Boys Single Scull. Xavier Brand and Tony Stephens won Silver in Division 2 of the Year 9 Boys Double scull while Will Hoult and Benji Strong won Silver in Division 1 of the Year 9 Boys Double scull. The Year 9 girls have been working hard all season to lift the standard of the competition and did so winning Gold in both the Division 1 and 2 of the Year 9 Girls Quads. Rowing Captain Bowen Mansell clocked his fastest time of the year so far with an 8:10 to win Bronze in the Division 1 Open Boys Single Scull. New to rowing this year Alex Newing teamed up with Callum Miles to win Bronze in the Division 1 Open Boys Double Scull. A late injury saw a last-minute crew change for the Open Girls Quad. Rather than scratch from the event, Year 8 rower Esther Fink stepped up and helped the Quad to a brave fourth place, only missing Bronze by a second.
After the break in racing, it was a return of the Year 8 girls with Tamar Chester-Haviv winning Silver in Division 2 of the Year 8 Girls Single scull and Esther Fink winning Bronze in the Division 1 Year 8 Girls Single Scull after having to back up so quickly after helping the Open Girls Quad. Liana Warwick and Kite Weintrop teamed up in Division 2 of the Year 8 Girls Double scull to win Gold and another new rower Beth Curry rowed with Trinity TJ-Wilson to win Silver in the Division 1 of the Year 8 Girls Double Scull. This was followed by the Year 7 boys taking on the Year 8 competition in Division 3 of the Year 8 Boys quad winning Silver. Somerset College continued the success in the Year 8 Boys Quads winning Silver in Division 2 and Gold in Division 1. Maddi McLaughlin was pipped by 0.31 of a second in Division 2 of the Year 9 Girls Single Scull to win Silver, while the doubles of Noku Mhlanga and Aanika Soni, and Alanja Thomasson and Bella Vujanovic both won Gold in the Division 2 and 3 of the Year 9 Girls Double Sculls. Anna Zeng and Natalia Zotti teamed up for Division 1 of the Year 9 Girls Double scull coming away with a Bronze Medal. The Year 9 Boys Quads found competition tough against the crews from St Peters Lutheran with the Division 2 Quad coming third for Bronze and the Division 1 Quad winning Silver. The Open Rowers took to the water to finish off the day with Rowing Captain Eliza Strong and Maya Pearse winning Silver in the Open Girls Double. Just as the Open Girls Quad needed a late crew change so too did the Open Boys with a late withdrawal, Year 8 rower Hugo Derksema stepped up to fill the seat and help the Open Rowers contribute to the points tally finishing just a boat length off St Peters for fourth place.
While the Term of local racing is over for another year, it is just the warmup for the tougher competition ahead. Next term will see the South Queensland Championships back at Wyaralong in July and the School State Championships in Bundaberg in September. It’s never too late to join the Rowing programme as we search to get stronger and stronger. If you are up for the challenge, make sure you give it a go!
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