The Loreto Firsts Crew, from left, Ella Pipkorn, Molly Wheatland, Eliza Dodd, Tayla Seeary and Penny Compton are well prepared for the Head of the Lake race this weekend.
THE FIRSTS
When the Loreto first crew was first matched together they became a team instantly and they hope that will show on the water at Head of the Lake on Sunday.
The crew started training together in term four last year, with a couple of the girls in crews together from the year before.
“We clicked straight away as a crew – it was a change, but we started working well together straight away,” Pipkorn said.
The Loreto program is only in its seventh year, so the school has never taken the number one spot at Head of the Lake.
And this year’s crew have their eye on the prize, but aren’t saying that its theirs.
“It would mean a lot to win, but we’re not hanging the race on that,” Pipkorn said.
“It would be great though – it’d be something you’d never forget, and something to be remembered for at school.”
THE RIVALS
LORETO wasn’t pointing the finger at any particular school it would like to finish ahead of.
“We’re there to beat them all – not just any one of them,” Wheatland said.
In the boys’ races, all girls said they put their support behind St Pat’s.
“They’re our brother school ... and we don’t have to race against them.”
Captain of boats Gabi Howard said there was a bit of competition out there on the day, but it was all good spirited.
“There are always rivals – the day is a competition after all, and each crew is competing for themselves,” she said.
THE TRAINING
THE cox, Dodd, said training had been difficult this year and was really full on.
The girls meet five or six times a week for a combination of on and off-water training.
But not all the training has been intense.
“We’re going out for dinner the Friday before the race – get some pasta and carbo load,” Dodd said.
Rowing director Nathan Sims said the first crew had been working hard and doing the best they could.
“We don’t put any extra pressure on them,” he said.
“The crews have answered our call that we put out at the start of the season, and for an exceptional standard – and they’ve raised the bar.”
THE FLEET
THE all-girls school has 16 crews that will compete in boat race this year, including six in the senior division.
Rowing director Nathan Sims said that the senior crews weren’t the only ones to watch at boat race. “Our juniors did exceptionally last year, so we’re having some strong rowers come through the ranks,” Sims said.
THE SUPPORTERS
SUPPORT for rowers has been growing throughout the school and captain of boats Gabi Howard said the spit crew would have a few new things up their sleeve.
“Everyone around school has been getting really pumped about boat race,” Howard said.
She said lots of new chants were in the pipeline, including individualised chants for different crews.
“Good luck to all crews from Loreto and other schools racing on the day,” she said.