Rowers on Lake Wendouree. PICTURE: JEREMY BANNISTER
BRIGHTON Grammar’s rowing director Richard Bartlett hasn’t seen Lake Wendouree in several years.
But yesterday he praised its condition and said he would consider bringing school rowing camps back to Ballarat.
Brighton Grammar crews yesterday came from a nine-day camp at Geelong for a one-day visit at the invitation of Ballarat Grammar School.
“It’s really good,” Mr Bartlett said. “The last time I was here was many years ago when I was rowing myself. It’s great to see it full again.”
Mr Bartlett said Brighton Grammar crews will be competing in a regatta in Ballarat in two weeks’ time and he wanted to familiarise the students with the lake.
The two-day Wendouree Ballarat Rowing Club regatta will return to the lake for the first time in a decade.
“We did about 20 kilometres. The level is fine at the moment but it has dropped a little bit, which makes it a bit harder to access the pontoons,” Mr Bartlett said.
“You wouldn’t want it to be much lower or it could be a problem.”
Mr Bartlett said a slightly lower depth than usual had exposed more weeds, which had to be pulled off motor boat rudders four to five times a session.
“But the course itself is fine.”