St Pat's firsts, Ballarat High School firsts, Ballarat Clarendon College firsts and Ballarat Grammar seconds ranked top three in yesterday's schoolboy coxed four heats to dodge this morning's repechages

at Nagambie.

Each crew has advanced straight to this evening's semi-finals to bid for a spot in the A final.

Grammar's firsts and St Pat's seconds have been sent to the repechage.

High School finished third in heat one with a time of six minutes, 58.80 seconds across the 2000-metre course, behind Canberra Grammar and Scotch College.

Grammar firsts were off the pace, finishing last and more than 22 seconds behind the Canberra crew.

Ballarat Grammar fared better in heat two with its seconds finishing third in 7:02.52 and edging out St Pats' seconds for a spot in the semis.

St Pat's firsts crew finished 12.77 seconds clear of its nearest rival in heat three with a winning time of 5:06.89.

Ballarat Clarendon College firsts placed third in the same heat.

Racing was tougher for Ballarat crews in the schoolgirl coxed four heats.

All five crews will be put through repechages, with only the first-placed boat of each heat moving straight to the A final.

Ballarat Grammar firsts were the best performing Ballarat Associated School crew, finishing clear ahead of Head of the Lake winner Ballarat Clarendon College.

Grammar finished a narrow third in heat one to Kinross Wolaroi (7:45.24) and Lauriston Girls' School (7:50.15) with a time of 7:50.32.

College was 11 seconds behind in fourth and Loreto College rounded out the field in sixth place.

Grammar girls' seconds claimed third place in heat two in 8:50.17, about 30 seconds behind the battle for first and second.

Ballarat High School was fourth in the same heat.

The schoolboy and girl coxed four finals will be raced tomorrow morning.