Somerset Spartan Rowers Fourth in Region

Over 400 Somerset Spartan Rowers took part in the South Queensland Regional Championships at Wyaralong Dam on July 16 and 17. For Somerset College this is a step up to Championship events after the school-based competition of Term Two. 

With nearly twice as many competitors than Term Two, most athletes had to progress through heats to finals. With a medal haul of four Gold, five Silver and two Bronze, it was a great weekend for Somerset Spartans out on the water.

The first race on Saturday for Somerset College was the heat for the Year 8 Boys single scull with Angus Riddle winning comfortably and setting up a successful weekend. Two races later Byron Taylor crossed the line first in his heat setting up a great final with Angus coming home with the Gold Medal. Angus and Byron were then able to back this up with a Gold Medal in the Year 8 Boys Double scull.

The Year 8 Girls quads took to the water next with three crews racing for Somerset College. It was the crew of Brooke Bowden, Maddi McLaughlin, Isabella Vujanovic, Natalia Zotti and coxed by Josh Rosentreter that won their heat and headed to the final. In an outstanding effort against a tough field, they came home with the Silver Medal. Callum McClure and Thomas Gray have mastered rowing together winning both the Open Boys Pair and Open Boys Double scull. Four Gold Medals and a Silver made for a fantastic Saturday of racing.

Sunday’s racing saw Maddi McLaughlin win her Semi Final in the Year 8 Girls Single scull and progress to the Final, who with Aanika Soni also progressed to the Final in the Year 8 Girls Double scull. They were joined by Brooke Bowden and Alanja Thomasson who put in a fantastic row at the end of the day to win the Silver Medal. Maddi was pipped by half a length to come fourth in the Final of the Year 8 Girls Single. Bowen Mansell and Callum Miles were also pipped in the Final of the Year 10 Boys Double scull to come in fourth.

Georgia Daly and Eliza Strong took to the Year 11 Girls Pair and came home with a Silver Medal, not bad for their second row in that boat. They were joined by Emelia Fink, Maya Pearse and coxed by Zoe Benson to win Bronze in the Year 11 Girls Quad. Callum McClure and Thomas Gray returned on Sunday to race the Open Boys Single Scull with Callum McClure winning Silver and an impressive three medal haul. 

There were three Year 8 Boys Quads entered with high hopes of taking a clean sweep and giving Angus Riddle his third Gold Medal. Unfortunately, the crew of Angus Riddle, Byron Taylor, Xavier Brand, Will Hoult and coxed by Kite Weintrop were beaten by Trinity Lutheran and won the Silver Medal, while the crew of Luis Pearse, Hugo Derksema, Michael Zeng, Xavier Foster and coxed by Raffi Brand won the Bronze Medal.

With a term of training ahead in preparation of the State Championships at Bucca Weir on September 17 to 19 these results should help spur the athletes on as they work hard in the cold and early mornings.

Gold Medals

• Boys Year 8 Single Scull – Angus Riddle
• Boys Year 8 Double Scull – Angus Riddle and Byron Taylor
• Open Boys Pair – Callum McClure and Thomas Gray
• Open Boys Double Scull – Callum McClure and Thomas Gray

Silver Medals

• Year 11 Girls Pair – Eliza Strong Georgia Daly
• Year 8 Girls Quad – Brooke Bowden, Maddi McLaughlin, Isabella Vujanovic, Natalia Zotti and Kite Weintrop
• Year 8 Boys Quad – Angus Riddle, Byron Taylor, Xavier Brand, Will Hoult and Josh Rosentreter
• Open Boys Single Scull – Callum McClure
• Year 8 Girls Double Scull – Brooke Bowden and Alanja Thomasson

Bronze Medals

• Year 11 Girls Quad – Eliza Strong, Georgia Daly, Emelia Fink, Maya Pearse and Zoe Benson
• Year 8 Boys Quad – Luis Pearse, Hugo Derksema, Michael Zeng, Xavier Foster and Raffi Brand