New entry for Head of the Lake features

Damascus College has been officially accepted into the field for the open girls and boys division one races at Lake Wendouree on Sunday, February 26.

Damascus College’s head of rowing Sharon Waters said the decision to enter a boys team in the division one event was driven by three of the current crew members, who are set to finish their schooling at the end of the year.

Waters admitted it will be tough to win the race, but said the trio wished to compete in the feature event, a desire that has been supported by the school.

“The rate of improvement over the last couple of weeks has been absolutely fabulous across the senior boys program,” she said.

Waters expects the girls crew to be right in contention.

“On their best performance, yeah they’re definitely a chance to win it,” she said.

“We are looking for a top three finish, ideally top two for our girls.”

Waters said there is a real buzz about the rowing program at Damascus College, with more than 15 crews set to compete at the Head of the Lake.

This program has only been up and running since 2014.

“We’ve really got sights on the next couple of years of becoming a dominant force in local rowing and beyond,” she said.

Ballarat Associated Schools executive officer Sharyn Canny said the school’s inclusion into the top level of competition is a great boost for the annual regatta.

“In all our sport we aim to have as many students participating at the highest level that they can so it’s certainly very reflective of our mission...” Canny told The Courier.

Canny said the news helps give young rowers at Damascus College something to aspire towards.

“Obviously the program is only going to go from strength to strength with those pathways open now,” she said.

“The hype certainly extends beyond the rowing shed - it goes to the whole school.”

Damascus College has drawn lane five for the boys race and lane two for the girls.

Meanwhile, Lake Wendouree hosted the 2017 Head of the Schoolboys Regatta at the weekend.

Here, St Patrick’s College took out the Male School Coxed Four Open Division 1 final in a time of 7:21.24min.

St Pat’s beat a team from Melbourne and was well clear of Ballarat Claredon College and Ballarat Grammar.