Ballarat Grammar powered to Head of the Lake glory in convincing fashion on Sunday, returning to the top of boys rowing in Ballarat.
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In a dominant display, it was Grammar which pulled clear from Ballarat High School after a tight start to win the main race by a massive 13 seconds.
Their time of seven minutes and 16 seconds was more than half a minute slower than last year’s record time set by Ballarat High, although head winds meant times were slow throughout the day.
Ballarat High snuck home for second ahead of a fast-finishing St Patrick’s College crew, with Ballarat Clarendon College crossing the line in fourth position.
The win was the fourth in five years for Grammar, which was narrowly beaten by Ballarat High last year.
Captain of boats Nic Williams said last year’s loss had provided the motivation for the win.
“It’s unreal, it is the best feeling ever to come back from the loss last year,” he said.
“It gave me so much more motivation to come back and try this year and give it my all.”
Williams and cox Thom Leadbetter were the only returning members from last year’s crew, with Ted Hunt, Lloyd Meek and Ben Trotter entering the fold this year.
But there are no big celebrations planned yet, with national championships on later in the month.
“It’s about getting back in the boat and training for nationals,” Williams said.
“We leave on March 25 so we have to prepare to that.”
patrick.nolan@fairfaxmedia.com.au