TWO crews, two opposite ends of the spectrum, one goal.
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Ballarat Clarendon College’s boys’ and girls’ crews enter Sunday’s Head of the Lake with varying fortunes from years gone by.
The girls enter on the back of one of the most dominant performances in Head of the Lake history, winning every open title last year.
The boys, however, hold the unenviable title of now holding the longest current drought, having not won since 2001.
Co-head of rowing Grace McDonald said the performances by both crews in former years added a slight pressure, not that they were not up to handling it.
“There is pressure to go back-to-back for the girls I guess but given we’ve got a completely new firsts crew this year, there’s probably not as much pressure,” she said.
“Yes, we haven’t won the main boys race for a while so I guess there is always that bit of pressure if it’s been a while since you won, but at the same time there is the pressure if you have won it so I don’t think it changes too much.”
The crews headed up to Nagambie for a five-day training camp in January, where they sweated it out in blistering conditions.
It is unlikely crews will face the same weather on Sunday (the forecast is for 19 degrees and cool winds), but McDonald said she was not stressed about the weather conditions.
The more pressing issue has been keeping the firsts crews in the best frame of mind before the biggest race of their careers to date.
“A big part of the lead-up is preparing them to race in the main event of the day whereas previously they have been in earlier races for the day,” she said.
In the girls’ crew, there is a certain sense of deja-vu from the year 10 division crew from last year.
Three rowers (Georgie Jackson, Julia Kittelty and Alice Coltman) have advanced from that winning crew, with captain Lucy Joyce joining from last year’s seconds.
For the boys, only captain Samuel Hayden remains from last year.
The Clarendon boys also remain somewhat of an unknown, having been absent from recent regattas, instead focussing on training sessions.
“The boys preparation has been really good, the crews have been set for a while,” McDonald said.
“They haven’t competed in regattas for the last few weekends, they have been preferring extra training sessions rather than regattas.”
patrick.nolan@fairfaxmedia.com.au
Girls' squad:
GEORGIE JACKSON
STROKE, YEAR 11
Stepping up to the firsts can be a daunting task, but for Jackson it comes with the familiarity of rowing with two other crew members from last year.
Jackson was victorious in the year 10 division one girls alongside Julia Kittetly and Alice Coltman last year.
LUCY JOYCE
CAPTAIN, THREE SEAT, YEAR 12
The only member of the crew that did not row together last year. Joyce took out the seconds last year and now it is her time to defend the title as firsts captain.
“I’ve fitted in well, the girls have all been welcoming,” she said.
JULIA KITTELTY
TWO SEAT, YEAR 11
Like her fellow crew members, tasted victory in the lower divisions last year. Now it is time to step up and make it count in the main race.
“It’s both nerves and excitement at this time but we just have to overcome it and row to our best,” she said.
ALICE COLTMAN
BOW, YEAR 11
Cotlman believes having three crew members sticking together from last year can only serve as an advantage for College.
“We all know each other really well which I think helps,” she said. “It’s really exciting, it’s the most exciting week of the year.”
ELIZA MILLEN
COX, YEAR 12
Millen describes herself as the bossiest and most chatty member of the crew – exactly what a cox should be.
“It’s all about trying to motivate the girls and making sure you are the loudest voice on the water,” she said.
Boys' squad:
CODY GRANT
STROKE, YEAR 12
In his first year rowing at Clarendon, Grant said he took up the sport after witnessing the atmosphere at Lake Wendouree last year.
Formerly a single sculler from Geelong, he is relishing the opportunity to row in a team with some of his closest friends.
ROBERT CORDEN-MCKINLEY
THREE SEAT, YEAR 11
Rowing is in Corden-McKinley’s blood. His father rowed in College’s firsts in 1968 and 1969 and went on to become national champion.
His mother rowed for Victoria. “I always wanted to follow in their footsteps,” he said.
HENRY WOODWARD
TWO SEAT, YEAR 11
Even though it is his first year in the firsts crew, Woodward still uses previous defeats in lower divisions as motivation.
“We’ve put in so much work this year,” he said. “I use other races that we haven’t won as motivation, definitely.”
SAMUEL HAYDEN
CAPTAIN, BOW, YEAR 12
The only returning member from last year’s crew, Hayden this year takes on the responsibility of captaining the boat.
“We don’t want it to be the case like last year where we just go down so we have worked that much harder,” he said.
BEN DOWLING
COX, YEAR 11
Dowling last year watched his sister, Ellie, take out the girls’ title as cox. Now he feels it is his time to claim some glory.
“I’m just ready to get out there on the day and do everything I can to help the boys over the line,” he said.