Ballarat Clarendon College’s boys’ firsts crew produced a memorable performance on Lake Wendouree last year to clinch the school’s first triumph in the Head of the Lake race since 2001.
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But with all five members of that crew now gone from the school, the responsibility falls on a new group of boys to deliver success.
Two year 11 students – Joe Tyndall and Fraser Davies – have combined with year 12s Sam Robinson, Mackenzie Spark and Will Taylor to form the new crew, which will try to deliver more glory this Sunday.
BCC head of rowing Ross Henderson said the boys have been training well leading into the big race.
“Obviously form is important and St Pat’s have been really good this year, so they’re the crew to beat,” Henderson, whose name is now on the boys’ boat, said.
“But stranger things have happened, so we’ll see.
“At the start of rowing camp I made the comment this year that it’s not about winning, it’s about trying to win. So the fact that these kids have actually worked hard to get to the point where they’re at – that’s the important thing.”
Henderson cast his mind back to the victory by the boys last year, which came under the guidance of coach Andrew McKinley, who is again in charge.
“It was big for the school,” he said.
Henderson is coach of the girls’ firsts program, which has achieved plenty of success at the regatta in recent years.
College has claimed four Head of the Lake triumphs since 2010 – most recently in 2015.
Like the boys, a fully new crew will represent the school this year.
Bryony Donald and Genevieve Chapman are the year 12 rowers, with year 11s Sarah Phillips, Jelena Black and Abbey Flower filling the boat.
“Strong programs are about the depth and we’ve always had good numbers in the girls. We’ve got a whole new crew, three year 11s and they are only little, but power to weights is there and they’ll give it a real shot,” Henderson said.
Henderson said Loreto College appears the front-runners for the crown.
“I don’t think they’ve been beaten this season by anybody in Victoria. I think we’re probably the closest to them in any race, so they’re the ones who rightfully hold the title as favourite,” he said.
BCC will have 28 crews in action on Sunday.