Head of the Lake: St Patrick's College crew hungry to defend crown

FOR three years the boys' Head of the Lake prize - the Dowling Challenge Cup - has shone in the St Patrick's College trophy cabinet.This year's crop of firsts rowers are hungry to keep it. Two have held it aloft on the podium before.On Sunday, St Patrick's College will vie to become the first school to win the Ballarat Associated Schools' crown four consecutive times since Ballarat Grammar School in the late 1970s.There are expectations on this firsts crew but St Pat's director of rowing Jamie Lynn said this was an essentially new line-up seeking to win its first BAS title as a crew.St Patrick's College, host of this season's event, will also be rowing to capture a sixth consecutive Harold Deveson Cup for the best boys' aggregate.The college last achieved this feat in the 1990s in a run of seven straight premierships, including its seventh in a tie with Ballarat Clarendon College.Crews have been shaping up well and today The Courier takes a look at the St Patrick's College campaign.THE FIRSTSSt PAT'S captain of boats Jake Belsar (bow) might be the only returning member of the 2009 premiership crew but back in the boat is former coxswain Samuel Morrissey.The cox-turned-rower guided St Pats to its 2007 and 2008 Head of the Lake glory.After a season hiatus rowing in the sixths, Morrissey (three) will cap off his St Pat's rowing career in the firsts and is keen to finish on a bright note.Belsar said Morrissey's experience was highly valuable."It's a bit of a transition for him from cox to the firsts, but it just sort of works,'' Belsar said."There is plenty of hype and build-up in Head of the Lake and he knows what to expect.''Surprise packet Alex Fraser will make his debut as firsts' cox in his debut rowing season and has plenty of support in the boat.As well as Morrissey, Daniel Baxter (stroke) also made a successful switch from cox to rower and is ready to make his Head of the Lake debut.Experienced rower Dermot Conaughton completes the boat, joining the firsts crew in his fourth rowing season.THE RIVALSWHEN St Patrick's College edged out Ballarat Grammar by a canvas last summer, it flared up a thrilling rivalry and set the stage for an exciting boys' Head of the Lake in 2010.Grammar has played second-fiddle to St Pat's the past three summers.Belsar said his crew was well aware how hard it would be to capture a fourth consecutive title, especially with Ballarat Clarendon College and Ballarat High School fighting just as hard for the same prize."There is a bit of pressure like every year but if we do everything right and work on things we need to, we just have to hope for the perfect row,'' Belsar said."All schools are our main rival in Boat Race."On the day, anything can happen."The hype, the build-up can affect people in different ways.''Coaches have encouraged the crew to focus on producing its best row rather and take each event as it comes.THE TRAININGTWO camps in Sale has formed the bulk of St Pat's on-water training along with visits to Nagambie and the Head of the Lake course in Geelong.Junior crews have also rowed in extra Geelong regattas.Belsar said the firsts crew had been progressing "all right'' but there had still been a few things to work on the past month.THE FLEETST PAT'S director of rowing Jamie Lynn said all crews were "getting there'', in line with the standard they should be at for Boat Race.Lynn said crews were doing everything right in their preparations and there was a positive vibe about the boat shed."It is a credit to all the boys that they are still training as hard as they are - that goes for all Ballarat schools,'' Lynn said."Most rowers have never experienced rowing on Lake Wendouree. A lot have never even seen rowing on the lake."THE SUPPORTERSBOOMING vocal and colourful support on the banks of the Barwon has become a St Pat's trademark.Crews have been rallying support from the student body to join the chorus and rowers tip they will be able to fill a few buses for this year's event.